Charging device

Abstract

To provide a charging device capable of easily pulling out and pulling back a charging cable.SOLUTION: A charging device A1 charges a storage battery of a moving electricity mobile object by driving an electric motor with an electric power of the storage battery. The charging device A1 includes a power supply part that outputs a power for charging the storage battery, a main body part 2 that accommodates the power supply part, a charging plug 4 that is connected to the electricity mobile object and supplies the power output by the power supply part to an electricity mobile object, a charging cable 3 that is connected to one end of the charging plug 4 and supplies the power output by the power supply part to the charging plug 4, and a plurality of guide rollers 51 on which the charging cable 3 is wound, and comprises a cable housing part 5 that houses the charging cable 3. The plurality of guide rollers 51 include a movable roller 511 whose rotation axis is movable. The cable storage part 5 includes a drive unit 52 that moves the movable roller 511. The driving part 52 moves the movable roller 511 to feed out and pull back the charging cable 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charging device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, with the widespread use of electric vehicles and other electric mobile bodies, the development of charging devices for charging storage batteries of electric mobile bodies has progressed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a conventional charging device. The charging stand described in Patent Document 1 includes a charging cable housing section that houses a charging cable, and the charging cable housing section is provided with a hook section for hanging the charging cable. The charging cable housing section also includes an auxiliary hook section below the hook section. A user of the charging stand houses the charging cable in the charging cable housing section by winding the charging cable alternately around the hook section and the auxiliary hook section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-150396 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When charging an electric vehicle, a user of the charging station described in Patent Document 1 connects the charging gun at the end of the charging cable to the charging port of the electric vehicle. At this time, the user must unwind the charging cable, which is wound alternately around the hook and auxiliary hook. After charging the electric vehicle is complete, the user must rewind the unwound charging cable while rewinding it alternately around the hook and auxiliary hook. Because charging cables can be thick and heavy, unwrapping and winding the charging cable requires effort. For example, some charging cables for quick chargers weigh as much as 1.5 kg / m.

[0005] The present disclosure has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a charging device that allows a charging cable to be easily pulled out and retracted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The charging device provided by the present disclosure is a charging device that charges the storage battery of an electric vehicle that moves by driving an electric motor with power from the storage battery, and includes: a power supply unit that outputs power for charging the storage battery; a main body that houses the power supply unit; a charging plug that is connected to the electric vehicle and supplies the power output by the power supply unit to the electric vehicle; a charging cable that has one end connected to the charging plug and supplies the power output by the power supply unit to the charging plug; and a cable storage unit that includes a plurality of guide rollers around which the charging cable is hung and stores the charging cable, wherein the plurality of guide rollers include movable rollers whose rotation axis is movable, and the cable storage unit includes a drive unit that moves the movable rollers, and the drive unit moves the movable rollers to send out and retract the charging cable.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the charging device, the plurality of guide rollers include at least one fixed roller having a fixed rotation axis, and the cable storage section feeds out the charging cable by moving the movable roller in a direction toward the at least one fixed roller, and retracts the charging cable by moving the movable roller in a direction away from the at least one fixed roller.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the charging device, the at least one fixed roller includes two fixed rollers spaced apart in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the vertical direction of the main body, the movable roller is movable in the vertical direction and is located higher in the vertical direction than the two fixed rollers, and the cable storage section moves closer to the two fixed rollers as the movable roller moves downward in the vertical direction, and moves away from the two fixed rollers as the movable roller moves upward in the vertical direction.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the charging device, the cable storage section includes an additional movable roller, thereby including two movable rollers, and is arranged outside the main body section, the two movable rollers including an inner roller closer to the main body section and an outer roller farther from the main body section, and the drive unit moves the outer roller and then the inner roller in order when feeding out the charging cable, and moves the inner roller and then the outer roller in order when retracting the charging cable.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the charging device, the charging device further includes a plug holder that stores the charging plug and a detection unit that detects that the charging plug has been removed from the plug holder, and the drive unit moves the movable roller when the detection unit detects that the charging plug has been removed from the plug holder.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the charging device, the cable storage section includes a housing that covers the guide rollers and a portion of the charging cable, and the charging plug is disposed outside the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] In the charging device of the present disclosure, the charging cable is fed out from the cable storage compartment and retracted into the cable storage compartment as the drive unit moves the movable roller. Therefore, with the charging device of the present disclosure, the user of the charging device can easily pull out and retract the charging cable. Therefore, the charging device of the present disclosure can reduce the user's effort in storing the charging cable. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a charging device according to a first embodiment, in which FIG. 1A is an example of the arrangement of the charging device, and FIG. 1B is a front view of the charging device. [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the charging device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a front view of a charging device according to a first embodiment, in which a part (housing) of a cable storage section is shown by imaginary lines. [Figure 4] 1 is a side view of a charging device according to a first embodiment, with part (housing) of a cable storage unit omitted. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a front view of a charging device according to a second embodiment, in which a part (housing) of a cable storage section is shown by imaginary lines. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side view of a charging device according to a second embodiment, with part (housing) of a cable storage unit omitted. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side view of a charging device according to a modified example of the second embodiment, with part (housing) of the cable storage section omitted. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a front view of a charging device according to a third embodiment, in which a part (housing) of a cable storage section is shown by imaginary lines. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a front view showing another configuration example of the charging device of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view showing another example of the configuration of the charging device of the present disclosure, in which a part (housing) of the cable storage section is omitted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the charging device of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, identical or similar components will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0015] 1 to 4 show a charging device A1 according to a first embodiment. The charging device A1 is a facility for charging an electric vehicle 9. The electric vehicle 9 is a vehicle equipped with an electric motor as a power source and a storage battery 91 that supplies power to the electric motor, and includes not only so-called electric vehicles powered only by an electric motor, but also hybrid vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine. The object to be charged by the charging device A1 is not limited to automobiles, and may also be other electric mobile objects equipped with an electric motor as a power source and a storage battery that supplies power to the motor. The charging device A1 supplies power (hereinafter referred to as "charging power") to the electric vehicle 9 for charging the storage battery 91.

[0016] The charging device A1 is provided for one parking space P1 in a parking lot of a facility (for example, a public facility or a commercial facility). The charging device A1 is located outside the parking space P1, and in the illustrated example, is located behind the parking space P1. Note that the location of the charging device A1 relative to the parking space P1 is not limited to the illustrated example. The charging device A1 is installed on the ground. The parking space P1 is a parking space for an electric vehicle 9.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the charging device A1 includes a power supply unit 11, a control unit 12, a main body unit 2, a charging cable 3, a charging plug 4, a cable storage unit 5, and a plug holder 61. FIG. 1(a) is a diagram showing an example of the layout of the charging device A1, and FIG. 1(b) is a front view of the charging device A1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the charging device A1. FIG. 3 is a front view of the charging device A1, in which a part of the cable storage unit 5 (a housing 50 described later) is shown by an imaginary line (a two-dot chain line). FIG. 4 is a side view of the charging device A1, in which a part of the cable storage unit 5 (a housing 50 described later) is omitted. FIGS. 3(a) and 4(a) each show the charging cable 3 in a retracted state (a state stored in the cable storage unit 5), and FIGS. 3(b) and 4(b) each show the charging cable 3 in an extended state.

[0018] The power supply unit 11 outputs charging power in response to a command from the control unit 12. The charging power is, for example, DC power, and as shown in FIG. 2 , the power supply unit 11 converts AC power input from the power grid K into DC power and outputs it. Note that the AC power may be input to the power supply unit 11 from the power grid K via a main breaker (not shown). The power supply unit 11 includes, for example, a converter and a smoothing circuit. The converter converts the AC power input from the power grid K into DC power in response to a command from the control unit 12. The smoothing circuit smoothes the DC power output by the converter and outputs it. Note that the specific configuration of the power supply unit 11 is not limited as long as it can output charging power (DC power in this embodiment). For example, the power supply unit 11 may include a transformer that boosts the AC voltage input from the power grid K. The power supply unit 11 is housed in the main body 2.

[0019] The control unit 12 controls the charging device A1 and is realized by, for example, a microcomputer. The control unit 12 controls the output power of the power supply unit 11. As shown in FIG. 2 , the control unit 12 receives AC power from a power grid K. The control unit 12 may also receive AC power from the power grid K via a control breaker (not shown). For example, the control unit 12 converts the input AC power into DC power and operates using the DC power. The control unit 12 is housed in the main body 2.

[0020] In addition to the power supply unit 11 and the control unit 12, the charging device A1 may include a display unit that notifies the user of the charging status, an operation unit that allows the user to operate the charging device A1, and a communication unit that communicates with the electric vehicle 9. The display unit and the operation unit are attached to the main body unit 2 so that, for example, a portion of them is exposed to the outside, and the communication unit is housed in the main body unit 2.

[0021] The main body 2 is a housing that houses the power supply unit 11 and the control unit 12. In the illustrated example, the main body 2 is a vertically long box-like structure, but the shape of the main body 2 is not limited thereto. The main body 2 is placed, for example, on the ground where the parking stall P1 is defined. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the main body 2 is disposed behind the parking stall P1. The surface of the main body 2 that faces the parking stall P1 is referred to as the "front surface," and the surface opposite thereto is referred to as the "rear surface." Furthermore, the surface of the main body 2 that faces (contacts) the ground is referred to as the "bottom surface," and the surface opposite thereto is referred to as the "top surface." Furthermore, the surfaces of the main body 2 that face left and right are referred to as "side surfaces." The main body 2 has a base portion 21 from which the charging cable 3 extends from the inside to the outside of the main body 2. In the illustrated example, the base portion 21 is disposed on the side surface of the main body 2.

[0022] Power lines and signal lines are arranged inside the charging cable 3. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the power lines inside the charging cable 3 are connected to the power supply unit 11. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the charging cable 3 extends from the side surface (base portion 21) of the main body unit 2.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2 , 3(b), and 4(b), the charging plug 4 is attached to the tip of the charging cable 3. Charging power is supplied to the charging plug 4 from the power supply 11 via the charging cable 3. The charging plug 4 includes a main body and a connector. The main body of the charging plug 4 is the part that the user holds and is formed with a handle. Inside the main body of the charging plug 4, a power line connected to the power line in the charging cable 3 and a signal line connected to the signal line in the charging cable 3 are arranged. The connector of the charging plug 4 is a cylindrical member made of, for example, metal, located at the tip of the main body and is the part that connects to the plug-in connector 92 of the electric vehicle 9. Inside the connector of the charging plug 4, a power terminal that is electrically connected to the power line in the main body and a signal terminal that is electrically connected to the signal line in the main body are arranged. In addition to the main body and connector, the charging plug 4 includes a mechanism for locking the charging plug 4 to the plug-in connector 92 and a button for removing the charging plug 4. Note that the configuration of the charging plug 4 is not limited to this. In this embodiment, the charging device A1 is a single plug type that can be powered from one charging plug 4.

[0024] The plug holder 61 stores and holds the charging plug 4. In this embodiment, the plug holder 61 is attached to the main body 2. The plug holder 61 has a portion that protrudes from the front surface of the main body 2 and a recessed fitting into which at least a portion (e.g., the tip portion) of the charging plug 4 is fitted. When the charging plug 4 is not in use, the charging plug 4 is fitted into the recessed fitting and stored in the plug holder 61, as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 3(a). Note that the configuration of the plug holder 61 is not limited to this.

[0025] The cable storage unit 5 stores the charging cable 3. The cable storage unit 5 includes a plurality of guide rollers 51 and a drive unit 52. The cable storage unit 5 also includes a housing 50.

[0026] The housing 50 covers each part of the cable storage unit 5, including the multiple guide rollers 51 (a movable roller 511 and two fixed rollers 512, which will be described later) and the drive unit 52. The housing 50 is located on the side of the main body 2 where the base portion 21 is located. The housing 50 also covers part of the charging cable 3. As shown in FIG. 1(b), an opening 500 is formed in the housing 50, and the charging cable 3 is inserted through the opening 500. The charging plug 4 is located on the outside of the housing 50.

[0027] The charging cable 3 is hung on the plurality of guide rollers 51. The plurality of guide rollers 51 are attached to, for example, the side surfaces of the main body 2. The plurality of guide rollers 51 include a movable roller 511 and two fixed rollers 512.

[0028] The movable roller 511 has a pair of rotation shafts and a pair of roll units individually attached to each of the pair of rotation shafts. The charging cable 3 is sandwiched between the pair of roll units and supported by the movable roller 511. Each rotation shaft of the movable roller 511 is movable. The structure of the movable roller 511 is not limited to the example described above. For example, in the configuration in which the positional relationship between the base portion 21, the movable roller 511, and the two fixed rollers 512 is as shown in FIG. 4, the movable roller 511 may be composed of a rotation shaft and roll units on the lower side in the vertical direction of the main body 2.

[0029] Each of the two fixed rollers 512 has a pair of rotation shafts and a pair of roll portions individually attached to the pair of rotation shafts. The charging cable 3 is sandwiched between the pair of roll portions and supported by the corresponding fixed roller 512. The rotation shafts of each fixed roller 512 are fixed. At least one of the two fixed rollers 512 is arranged relative to the base portion 21 in the direction in which the charging cable 3 extends from the base portion 21. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, one of the two fixed rollers 512 is arranged below the base portion 21 in the up-down direction of the main body 2. The structure of each fixed roller 512 is not limited to the example described above. For example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 4, where the positional relationship between the base portion 21, the movable roller 511, and the two fixed rollers 512 is the same as that shown in FIG. 4, each fixed roller 512 may be formed by a rotation shaft and roll portion located on the upper side in the up-down direction of the main body 2.

[0030] In the cable storage section 5, the charging cable 3 extending from the root portion 21 is hung in the order of one of the two fixed rollers 512, the movable roller 511, and the other of the two fixed rollers 512, and extends from the opening 500 in the housing 50 to the outside of the housing 50.

[0031] In the illustrated example, the two fixed rollers 512 are spaced apart in the front-rear direction of the main body 2. The movable roller 511 is located between the two fixed rollers 512 in the front-rear direction of the main body 2. When the charging cable 3 is retracted (when the charging cable 3 is stored), the movable roller 511 is located above the two fixed rollers 512 in the up-down direction of the main body 2, as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 4(a). When the charging cable 3 is pulled out, the movable roller 511 is located in the same position as the two fixed rollers 512 in the up-down direction of the main body 2, as shown in FIGS. 3(b) and 4(b). The arrangement of the one movable roller 511 and the two fixed rollers 512 is not limited to the illustrated example. For example, the arrangement can be changed as appropriate depending on the position of the base portion 21 of the main body 2 and the direction in which the charging cable 3 extends from the base portion 21.

[0032] The drive unit 52 moves the movable rollers 511. As a result, the drive unit 52 feeds out and retracts the charging cable 3. In this embodiment, the drive unit 52 feeds out and retracts the charging cable 3 by moving the movable rollers 511 up and down. When the drive unit 52 moves the movable rollers 511 downward, the movable rollers 511 approach the two fixed rollers 512, and the charging cable 3 is fed out from the cable storage unit 5. On the other hand, when the drive unit 52 moves the movable rollers 511 upward, the movable rollers 511 move away from the two fixed rollers 512, and the charging cable 3 is retracted into the cable storage unit 5. The specific configuration of the drive unit 52 is not limited in any way, and a mechanism that can move the movable rollers 511 linearly, such as a rack-and-pinion mechanism, a link mechanism, or a slider-crank mechanism, may be used. The driving unit 52 may move the movable roller 511 by operating an operation button (not shown), or may move the movable roller 511 by detecting the tension applied to the charging cable 3.

[0033] The charging device A1 configured as described above includes a cable storage unit 5 that stores the charging cable 3. The cable storage unit 5 includes multiple guide rollers 51 around which the charging cable 3 is hung, and the multiple guide rollers 51 include movable rollers 511 whose rotation axes are movable. The cable storage unit 5 also includes a drive unit 52 that moves the movable rollers 511, and the drive unit 52 moves the movable rollers 511 to feed out and retract the charging cable 3. With this configuration, the movement of the movable rollers 511 by the drive unit 52 feeds out the charging cable 3 from the cable storage unit 5 and retracts the charging cable 3 into the cable storage unit 5. This allows a user of the charging device A1 to easily pull out and retract the charging cable 3. As a result, the charging device A1 can reduce the effort required by the user to store the charging cable 3.

[0034] In the charging device A1 configured as described above, the multiple guide rollers 51 include at least one fixed roller 512 with a fixed rotation axis. The cable storage unit 5 can shorten the charging cable 3 in the cable storage unit 5 and feed out the charging cable 3 by moving the movable roller 511 in a direction approaching the at least one fixed roller 512. On the other hand, the cable storage unit 5 can lengthen the charging cable 3 in the cable storage unit 5 and pull back the charging cable 3 by moving the movable roller 511 in a direction away from the at least one fixed roller 512.

[0035] In the charging device A1 configured as described above, the multiple guide rollers 51 include two fixed rollers 512. The two fixed rollers 512 are spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction of the main body 2. The movable roller 511 is movable in the up-and-down direction of the main body 2 and is located above the two fixed rollers 512 in the up-and-down direction. In this configuration, the cable storage unit 5 approaches the two fixed rollers 512 as the movable roller 511 moves downward in the up-and-down direction of the main body 2, and moves away from the two fixed rollers 512 as the movable roller 511 moves upward in the up-and-down direction of the main body 2. This allows the charging cable 3 to be fed out or retracted by the up-and-down movement of the movable roller 511 by the drive unit 52.

[0036] In the charging device A1 configured as described above, the cable storage unit 5 includes a housing 50. The housing 50 covers the guide rollers 51 and a portion of the charging cable 3. This configuration can prevent accidents (such as the user getting caught in the cable) or damage to the charging cable 3 (such as rubbing against the ground) when the charging cable 3 is pulled out or pulled back.

[0037] In the first embodiment described above, an example was shown in which the two fixed rollers 512 were arranged apart in the front-rear direction of the main body 2. However, unlike this example, the two fixed rollers 512 may be arranged apart in the left-right direction of the main body 2. In other words, in the charging device of the present disclosure, the two fixed rollers 512 may be arranged in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction of the main body 2, as long as they are apart in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the up-down direction of the main body 2.

[0038] 5 and 6 show a charging device A2 according to a second embodiment. The charging device A2 differs from the charging device A1 in the number of guide rollers 51. Specifically, in the charging device A2, the guide rollers 51 include two movable rollers 511 and three fixed rollers 512.

[0039] The two movable rollers 511 are arranged on the side of the main body 2 in two tiers, one above the other, in the up-down direction of the main body 2. The two movable rollers 511 include an inner roller 511A closer to the main body 2 and an outer roller 511B farther from the main body 2. In the example shown, the outer roller 511B is located below the inner roller 511A in the up-down direction of the main body 2. By including the inner roller 511A and the outer roller 511B in the two movable rollers 511, that is, by arranging the two movable rollers 511 with an inward and outward offset, it is possible to prevent interference between the charging cable 3 hung on the inner roller 511A and the charging cable 3 hung on the outer roller 511B. Note that the two movable rollers 511 do not have to be offset inward or outward. 5, the three fixed rollers 512 are arranged such that two fixed rollers 512 are arranged on one side of two movable rollers 511 and one fixed roller 512 is arranged on the other side in the front-rear direction of the main body 2. Note that the arrangement of the two movable rollers 511 and the three fixed rollers 512 is not limited to the example shown in the figure.

[0040] As can be seen from FIGS. 5(a) to 5(c) and 6(a) to 6(c) , in charging device A2, drive unit 52 first moves outer roller 511B of the two movable rollers 511 when feeding out charging cable 3, and then moves inner roller 511A after outer roller 511B has moved. On the other hand, when retracting charging cable 3, drive unit 52 first moves inner roller 511A of the two movable rollers 511, and then moves outer roller 511B after inner roller 511A has moved. Alternatively, inner roller 511A and outer roller 511B may be moved simultaneously. In such a configuration in which they are moved simultaneously, the roll portion of inner roller 511A and the roll portion of outer roller 511B may be attached to a common rotation shaft.

[0041] In the charging device A2 configured as described above, similar to the charging device A1, the drive unit 52 moves the movable roller 511 to feed out and retract the charging cable 3. Therefore, a user of the charging device A2 can easily pull out and retract the charging cable 3, just like a user of the charging device A1. Therefore, the charging device A2 can reduce the user's effort in storing the charging cable 3. In addition, the charging device A2 has the same configuration as the charging device A1, and thus achieves the same effects as the charging device A1.

[0042] In the charging device A2 configured as described above, the plurality of guide rollers 51 includes two movable rollers 511, and the two movable rollers 511 (inner roller 511A and outer roller 511B) are arranged in two stages outside the main body 2. With this configuration, the charging cable 3 can be made longer when the plurality of guide rollers 51 includes one movable roller 511 compared to when there is only one (for example, the charging device A1 described above).

[0043] In the second embodiment, the plurality of guide rollers 51 includes two movable rollers 511. However, the plurality of guide rollers 51 may include three or more movable rollers 511, which may be arranged in multiple stages. In this case, when feeding out the charging cable 3, the movable rollers 511 may be moved in the order from the movable roller 511 farthest from the main body 2 to the movable roller 511 closest to the main body 2, and when retracting the charging cable 3, the movable rollers 511 may be moved in the order from the movable roller 511 closest to the main body 2 to the movable roller 511 farthest from the main body 2.

[0044] In the second embodiment described above, an example was shown in which two movable rollers 511 were arranged in two tiers, one above the other, on the side surface of the main body 2. However, unlike this example, the two movable rollers 511 may be arranged side by side in either the front-rear direction or the left-right direction of the main body 2. FIG. 7 shows a charging device A21 according to such a modified example in which the two movable rollers 511 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction of the main body 2. In the charging device A21, as shown in FIG. 7, when the charging cable 3 is retracted, the charging cable 3 is stored in a zigzag shape. As can be seen from the charging device A21, in the charging device of the present disclosure, the multiple movable rollers 511 may be arranged in multiple tiers with respect to the main body 2, or may be arranged side by side in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction of the main body 2.

[0045] 8 shows a charging device A3 according to the third embodiment. The charging device A3 differs from the charging device A1 in that it includes a detection unit 62.

[0046] The detection unit 62 detects that the charging plug 4 has been removed from the plug holder 61. There are no particular limitations on the method by which the detection unit 62 detects the removal of the charging plug 4, but for example, the detection is performed as follows. A spring-loaded latch is provided in the aforementioned fitting recess of the plug holder 61. The latch is biased by the elastic force of the spring so as to protrude from the inner surface of the fitting recess. When the charging plug 4 is stored in the plug holder 61, the tip of the latch is pressed in further than when the charging plug 4 is not stored in the plug holder 61. The detection unit 62 can detect whether the charging plug 4 has been removed from the plug holder 61 based on the position of this latch. The detection unit 62 also detects the storage of the charging plug 4 in the plug holder 61. There are no particular limitations on the method by which the detection unit 62 detects the storage of the charging plug 4, but for example, detection can be performed using a part of the latch. The detection result of the detector 62 (the detection result of the removal of the charging plug 4 from the plug holder 61 and the detection result of the insertion of the charging plug 4 into the plug holder 61) is output to the driver 52.

[0047] The detection result of the detection unit 62 is input to the drive unit 52 of the charging device A3, and when the detection unit 62 detects that the charging plug 4 has been removed from the plug holder 61, the drive unit 52 moves the movable roller 511. When the detection unit 62 detects that the charging plug 4 has been stored in the plug holder 61, the drive unit 52 moves the movable roller 511 in the opposite direction (in the direction of pulling back the charging cable 3).

[0048] In the charging device A3 configured as described above, similar to the charging device A1, the drive unit 52 moves the movable roller 511 to feed out and retract the charging cable 3. Therefore, a user of the charging device A3 can easily pull out and retract the charging cable 3, similar to a user of the charging device A1. Therefore, the charging device A3 can reduce the user's effort in storing the charging cable 3. In addition, the charging device A3 has a common configuration with the other charging devices A1 and A2, and thus achieves the same effects as the charging devices A1 and A2.

[0049] In the charging device A3 configured as described above, when the detection unit 62 detects that the charging plug 4 has been removed from the plug holder 61, the drive unit 52 moves the movable roller 511 (downward in the up-down direction of the main body 2). With this configuration, when a user of the charging device A3 removes the charging plug 4 from the plug holder 61, the charging cable 3 is automatically fed out. This allows the charging device A3 to reduce the user's effort in pulling out the charging cable 3. Furthermore, in the charging device A3 configured as described above, when the detection unit 62 detects that the charging plug 4 has been stored in the plug holder 61, the drive unit 52 moves the movable roller 511 (upward in the up-down direction of the main body 2). With this configuration, when a user of the charging device A3 stores the charging plug 4 in the plug holder 61, the charging cable 3 is automatically retracted. This allows the charging device A3 to reduce the user's effort in retracting the charging cable 3.

[0050] In a configuration different from the first to third embodiments, the plug holder 61 of the charging device of the present disclosure may be provided in the cable storage unit 5 (e.g., the housing 50) instead of the main body 2, as shown in FIG. 9(a). Also, in a configuration different from the first to third embodiments, the cable storage unit 5 may be separated from the main body 2, as shown in FIG. 9(b). In this configuration, the cable storage unit 5 preferably includes the housing 50, but may not include the housing 50. Note that FIG. 9(b) shows a configuration in which the plug holder 61 is provided in the main body 2, but it may also be provided in the housing 50 of the cable storage unit 5, as in FIG. 9(a). Also, in a configuration different from the first to third embodiments, the cable storage unit 5 may be provided inside the main body 2 (housing).

[0051] In a configuration different from the first to third embodiments, the guide rollers 51 of the charging device of the present disclosure may be electrically rotated. In this configuration, the feeding and retracting of the charging cable 3 can be assisted by the electrically rotated guide rollers 51, thereby reducing the effort required by the user of the charging device A1 to move the charging plug 4.

[0052] In a configuration different from the first to third embodiments, the movable roller 511 of the charging device of the present disclosure may move in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction of the main body 2, rather than in the up-down direction of the main body 2. FIG. 10 shows such a modified charging device in which the movable roller 511 moves in the front-rear direction of the main body 2. FIG. 10(a) shows a state in which the charging cable 3 is retracted, and FIG. 10(b) shows a state in which the charging cable 3 is extended. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the two fixed rollers 512 are spaced apart in the up-down direction of the main body 2. The movable roller 511 is located between the two fixed rollers 512 in the up-down direction of the main body 2. In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 10(a), the drive unit 52 moves the movable roller 511 rearward in the front-rear direction of the main body 2, thereby moving the movable roller 511 away from the two fixed rollers 512 and retracting the charging cable 3. 10(b), the driving unit 52 moves the movable roller 511 forward in the front-to-rear direction of the main body 2, thereby moving the movable roller 511 in a direction approaching the two fixed rollers 512 and feeding out the charging cable 3. As can be understood from this modification, the charging device of the present disclosure may be configured to feed out and retract the charging cable 3 by moving the movable roller 511 not only in the up-and-down direction of the main body 2 but also in the front-to-rear direction or the left-to-right direction of the main body 2.

[0053] In a configuration different from the first to third embodiments, the cable storage unit 5 does not need to include the housing 50. However, as described above, it is preferable that the cable storage unit 5 includes the housing 50 in order to prevent accidents (such as the user getting caught in it) or damage to the charging cable 3 (such as rubbing against the ground) when pulling out or retracting the charging cable 3.

[0054] The charging device according to the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the specific configuration of each part of the charging device according to the present disclosure can be freely modified in various ways. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] A1, A2, A21, A3: charging device, 11: power supply unit, 2: main body, 3: charging cable, 4: charging plug, 5: cable storage unit, 50: housing, 51: guide roller, 511: movable roller, 511A: inner roller, 511B: outer roller, 512: fixed roller, 52: driving unit, 61: plug holder, 62: detection unit, 91: storage battery

Claims

1. A charging device that charges a storage battery of an electric vehicle that moves by driving an electric motor with power from the storage battery, a power supply unit that outputs power for charging the storage battery; a main body that houses the power supply unit; a charging plug connected to the electric vehicle and supplying the electric power output from the power supply unit to the electric vehicle; a charging cable having one end connected to the charging plug and configured to supply power output from the power supply unit to the charging plug; a cable storage section that includes a plurality of guide rollers around which the charging cable is hung and that stores the charging cable; Equipped with the plurality of guide rollers include a movable roller having a movable rotation shaft, the cable storage unit includes a drive unit that moves the movable roller; The driving unit moves the movable roller to feed and retract the charging cable.

2. the plurality of guide rollers include at least one fixed roller having a fixed rotation axis; 2. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the cable storage unit feeds out the charging cable when the movable roller moves in a direction toward the at least one fixed roller, and retracts the charging cable when the movable roller moves in a direction away from the at least one fixed roller.

3. the at least one fixed roller includes two fixed rollers spaced apart in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the up-down direction of the main body portion, the movable roller is movable in the up-down direction and is located above the two fixed rollers in the up-down direction, 3. The charging device of claim 2, wherein the cable storage section moves closer to the two fixed rollers as the movable roller moves downward in the vertical direction, and moves away from the two fixed rollers as the movable roller moves upward in the vertical direction.

4. the cable storage section includes an additional movable roller, thereby including two movable rollers, and is disposed outside the main body section; the two movable rollers include an inner roller closer to the main body and an outer roller farther from the main body; 4. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit moves the outer roller and then the inner roller in that order when feeding out the charging cable, and moves the inner roller and then the outer roller in that order when pulling back the charging cable.

5. a plug holder that houses the charging plug; and a detection unit that detects when the charging plug is removed from the plug holder, 4. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit moves the movable roller when the detecting unit detects that the charging plug has been removed from the plug holder.

6. the cable storage section includes a housing that covers the plurality of guide rollers and a portion of the charging cable, 4. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the charging plug is disposed outside the housing.

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