Vehicle back door lock device

Abstract

To provide a back door lock device for a vehicle, which is high in the degree of freedom of the arrangement of components or parts in an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing an engagement mechanism, low in the variation of an operation stroke, small in size, and light in weight.SOLUTION: A sector gear 5 of an opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes a meshing mechanism is configured such that a switch action member 6 is attached to the sector gear 5 whose return to a neutral position is detected by a neutral switch 60a, the switch action member 6 being separate from the sector gear 5 and having a switch action portion 60 that comes into contact with a detection portion 60a of the neutral switch 600a. This back door lock device for the vehicle is constituted by selecting an arrangement constitution of an open lever action part 61 and a latch lever action part 51 in a switch action member 6 and a sector gear 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle back door lock device, and more particularly to a vehicle back door lock device that has a high degree of freedom in the arrangement of parts or portions in the opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the engagement mechanism, has low variation in operating stroke, and is small and lightweight. [Background technology]

[0002] Some vehicle back door locking devices, which are installed on the back door of a vehicle such as an automobile and lock the back door by engaging an engagement mechanism including a latch and a ratchet with a striker on the vehicle body, are equipped with an electric closing mechanism and an electric opening mechanism. The closing mechanism has the function of moving the latch that engages with the striker from a half-latched position to a full-latched position using the power of a motor, and the opening mechanism has the function of operating a ratchet that engages with the latch to maintain the engagement between the striker and the latch, and disengaging the latch and the ratchet.

[0003] As such a vehicle back door lock device, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-14929 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-207341 (Patent Document 2) disclose: a latch that engages with the striker to hold the striker in the half-latched position and the full-latched position; a ratchet that engages with the latch to maintain the engagement between the striker and the latch; a latch lever associated with the latch; An open lever that works in conjunction with the ratchet, a sector gear engageable with the open lever and engageable with the latch lever when the latch is in the half-latched position; When the sector gear is rotated in one direction while the latch is in the half latch position, it engages with the latch lever, moving the latch to the full latch position, The document describes a device that, when the latch is in the full latch position or half latch position and the sector gear is rotated in the opposite direction to the one direction described above, engages with an open lever to release the engagement between the latch and the ratchet.

[0004] In the devices of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the sector gear reverses and returns to the neutral position after each opening and closing operation is completed. During this return operation to the neutral position, the neutral switch detects that the sector gear has returned to the neutral position and stops the motor.

[0005] The device in Patent Document 1 is designed to switch the neutral switch using a resin switch detector attached to the sector gear, but because the pin-type pressing part of the sector gear, which acts on the open lever and latch lever to open and close, and the switch detector are separate parts, there is a risk that deviation in the mounting position will cause variations in the position when returning to the neutral position, resulting in uneven operating strokes. Therefore, high dimensional precision is required for each part, which poses a cost issue.

[0006] In the device of Patent Document 2, the switch detector is formed directly on the sector gear by cutting and raising, which makes it possible to reduce the variation in the mounting position of the switch detector as in Patent Document 1, but it is necessary to provide the close operating part, open operating part, and switch detector between the gear part and the pivot on one surface of the sector gear, which places significant restrictions on the placement of each of these parts.In addition, because each of these parts needs to be accommodated on one surface of the sector gear, the sector gear becomes larger, which leads to an increase in weight. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2013-14929 [Patent Document 2] JP 2006-207341 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle tailgate lock device that has a high degree of freedom in the arrangement of parts or portions in the opening and closing mechanism that opens and closes the engagement mechanism, has low variation in the operating stroke, and is small and lightweight. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] As a result of intensive research in light of the above-mentioned objectives, the inventors discovered that by configuring a sector gear of an opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes an engaging mechanism, the sector gear having a switch action member that is separate from the sector gear and has a switch action portion that contacts the detection portion of the neutral switch, and by selecting the arrangement of the open lever action portion and the latch lever action portion on the switch action member and the sector gear so that at least one of an open lever action portion and a latch lever action portion is provided on the switch action member, a vehicle tailgate lock device can be obtained that has a high degree of freedom in the arrangement of parts or components in the opening / closing mechanism, has low variation in operating stroke, and is small and lightweight, and thus conceived of the present invention.

[0010] That is, the vehicle back door lock device of the present invention is a latch that engages with a striker provided on a vehicle body; a ratchet that engages with the latch to maintain an interlocked state between the striker and the latch; a latch lever that rotates in conjunction with the latch; an open lever that releases the engagement between the striker and the latch by operating the ratchet; a sector gear that rotates in forward and reverse directions from a neutral position by the driving force of a drive actuator, the sector gear rotating in one direction actuating the open lever to perform an opening operation that releases the engagement between the striker and the latch, and rotating in the other direction actuating the latch lever to perform a closing operation that moves the latch to a fully latched position, and the sector gear returning to the neutral position by reversing the driving direction of the drive actuator after the opening operation and the closing operation are completed; a neutral switch that detects the sector gear returning to the neutral position and stops the drive actuator; It is equipped with The sector gear is provided with a switch action member having a switch action portion that contacts the detection portion of the neutral switch, and the switch action member is attached to the sector gear separately, the neutral switch is disposed so as to detect the return of the sector gear to the neutral position by the switch action portion coming into contact with the detection portion, The arrangement of the latch lever action portion and the open lever action portion in the switch action member and the sector gear is selected so that the switch action member is provided with at least one of a latch lever action portion that engages with the latch lever to activate the latch lever, and an open lever action portion that engages with the open lever to activate the open lever.

[0011] In the vehicle back door lock device of the present invention, the switch action portion and the open lever action portion and / or latch lever action portion are integrated into a switch action member that is a single member separate from the sector gear, thereby reducing the impact that variations in the installation of each action portion relative to the sector gear have on the operating stroke. Furthermore, by providing the switch action portion and the open lever action portion and / or the latch lever action portion in a member separate from the sector gear, it is not necessary to fit each action portion within the physical size of the sector gear, increasing the degree of freedom in designing the placement, stroke, etc. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to provide the switch action portion and the open lever action portion and / or the latch lever action portion within the sector gear, the sector gear can be made smaller and lighter.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sector gear is made of a fan-shaped plate, and a gear portion is provided on the arc-shaped outer periphery thereof, The switch action member has a base extending along one radial outer periphery of the fan-shaped plate, and first and second arms extending from the base toward the sector gear, the first arm extending on a first rotation surface which is one rotation surface of the sector gear, and the second arm extending on a second rotation surface which is the other rotation surface of the sector gear, and is thus attached to one radial outer periphery of the fan-shaped plate so that the sector gear is clamped in the thickness direction by the first and second arms.

[0013] By configuring the switch action member to sandwich the sector gear from both sides, rattle in the thickness direction can be suppressed, improving the detection accuracy of the neutral switch.

[0014] In another preferred example of the present invention, the switch action member is provided with the open lever action portion, and one and the other of the switch action portion and the open lever action portion are respectively provided on the edge ends of the base side of the first and second arms, thereby the switch action portion and one and the other of the open lever action portion are respectively arranged on the first and second rotating surface sides of the sector gear in the thickness direction of the sector gear.

[0015] By providing either the switch action portion or the open lever action portion on the edge portions of the base sides of the first and second arms, respectively, the switch action portion and the open lever action portion can be arranged in a well-balanced manner, resulting in stable operation over a long period of time.Furthermore, by arranging either the switch action portion or the open lever action portion on the first and second rotation surface sides of the sector gear in the thickness direction of the sector gear, respectively, the degree of freedom in designing the positions of the neutral switch and the open lever can be increased, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in designing the timing of the opening operation, the timing of switching the neutral switch, etc.

[0016] In yet another preferred example of the present invention, the first and second arms of the switch action member are provided at positions spaced apart in the extension direction of the base, and the latch lever action portion is formed as a part of the sector gear so as to be positioned between the switch action portion and the open lever action portion, which are provided at positions spaced apart in the extension direction of the base.

[0017] In yet another preferred example of the present invention, the sector gear is provided with an engaging portion and a boss portion for fixing the switch action member at approximately symmetrical positions with respect to the rotation axis of the sector gear, the first and second arm portions of the switch action member are provided at positions spaced apart in the extending direction of the base portion, one of the first and second arm portions is provided with an engaged portion corresponding to an engaging portion of the sector gear, and the other of the first and second arm portions is provided with a fitting hole that fits into a boss portion of the sector gear, The switch action member is fixed to the sector gear by fitting the boss portion of the sector gear into the fitting hole of the switch action member and connecting the engaging portion of the sector gear to the engaged portion of the switch action member.

[0018] By fitting the switch action member into the boss portion of the sector gear and fixing the switch action member with a fastening member at a position approximately symmetrical to the boss portion across the sector gear shaft, the switch action member can be fixed to the sector gear in a balanced manner while suppressing rattling.

[0019] In a more preferred example, the engaging portion of the sector gear has a cylindrical protrusion provided on a surface of the sector gear, the engaged portion of the switch action member is provided on one of the first and second arms on which the switch action portion is provided, the engaged portion of the switch action member has a cylindrical recess provided on a surface of the switch action member at a position facing the cylindrical protrusion and having a shape complementary to the cylindrical protrusion, a plurality of protrusions protruding inward of the cylindrical recess are provided on a side surface of the cylindrical recess, When the cylindrical protrusions are inserted into the columnar recesses to connect the engaging portion of the sector gear to the engaged portion of the switch action member, the plurality of protrusions are deformed or destroyed.

[0020] During assembly, the cylindrical protrusion of the sector gear deforms or destroys the multiple protrusions in the cylindrical recess, eliminating any rattle after assembly and improving the detection accuracy of the neutral switch.

[0021] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sector gear is made of metal, and the switch action member is made of resin material.

[0022] The sector gear is preferably made of metal from the viewpoint of strength, but as described above, the present invention allows the sector gear to be made smaller, which is advantageous in that the weight of the sector gear can be reduced. The switch action member is preferably made of a resin material, which allows the vehicle back door lock device to be made lighter.

[0023] In a more preferred example, the sector gear is made of metal and the switch action member is made of resin material, and when the cylindrical protrusion is inserted into the cylindrical recess and the engaging portion of the sector gear is connected to the engaged portion of the switch action member, the multiple protrusions are plastically deformed.

[0024] In yet another preferred example of the present invention, with respect to a vertical line passing through the axis of the sector gear, the open lever, the switch action portion of the switch action member, the latch lever action portion, and the open lever action portion are arranged on one side, and the gear portion of the sector gear and the reduction mechanism connecting the drive actuator and the sector gear are arranged on the other side.

[0025] By separating and arranging the parts related to the opening and closing operations and the motor-driven drive parts based on a vertical line passing through the axis of the sector gear, an efficient layout is achieved, making it possible to make the device more compact. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] The vehicle back door lock device of the present invention is configured such that a switch action member separate from the sector gear of the opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the engagement mechanism, and the sector gear is configured so that its return to the neutral position is detected by a neutral switch, and the switch action member has a switch action portion that contacts the detection portion of the neutral switch, and the arrangement of the open lever action portion and the latch lever action portion in the switch action member and the sector gear is selected so that at least one of an open lever action portion and a latch lever action portion is provided on the switch action member, thereby providing a high degree of freedom in the arrangement of parts or portions in the opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the engagement mechanism, there is little variation in the operating stroke, and the device is small and lightweight. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle back door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing the vehicle back door lock device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a front view showing the internal structure of the vehicle back door lock device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal structure of the vehicle back door lock device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a perspective view showing a sector gear and a switch action member of the vehicle back door lock device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 6] 6(a) is an exploded perspective view showing the sector gear and switch action member shown in FIG. 5, (b) is a partial perspective view showing the cylindrical protrusion on the opposite side of part A shown in (a), (c) is a partial perspective view showing the cylindrical recess of the switch action member shown in (a), and (d) is a partial front view showing the cylindrical recess of the switch action member shown in (c). [Figure 7]6(a) is a front view showing the sector gear and switch action member shown in FIG. 5, (b) is a plan view showing the sector gear and switch action member shown in (a), and (c) is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the sector gear and switch action member shown in (a) and the housing. [Figure 8] 1A is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the main parts of the opening and closing mechanism when the latch is in the open position, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the engagement mechanism at that time. [Figure 9] 1A is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the main parts of the opening and closing mechanism when the latch has rotated to the half-latched position, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the engagement mechanism at that time. [Figure 10] 10(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the main parts of the opening and closing mechanism when the sector gear rotates from the state shown in FIG. 9 to press the latch lever, and FIG. 10(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the engagement mechanism at that time. [Figure 11] 1A is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the main parts of the opening and closing mechanism when the latch has rotated to the fully latched position, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the engagement mechanism at that time. [Figure 12] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the switch that detects the position of the latch and ratchet when the latch is in the open position, (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the position of the latch and ratchet when the latch has rotated to the half-latch position and the state of the switch, (c) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the position of the latch and ratchet during rotation when the sector gear rotates from the state shown in (b) and presses the latch lever and the state of the switch, and (d) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the position of the latch and ratchet when the latch has rotated to the full-latch position and the state of the switch. [Figure 13] 1A is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the main parts of the opening and closing mechanism when the latch is in the fully latched position, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the engagement mechanism at that time. [Figure 14]14(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the main parts of the opening / closing mechanism when the sector gear rotates from the state shown in FIG. 13 to press the open lever, and FIG. 14(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the meshing mechanism at that time. [Figure 15] 15(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the main parts of the opening and closing mechanism when the ratchet pressed by the open lever rotates from the state shown in FIG. 14 to the open position, and FIG. 15(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the meshing mechanism at that time. [Figure 16] 16(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the main parts of the opening and closing mechanism when the latch rotates from the state shown in FIG. 15 to the open position, and FIG. 16(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the engagement mechanism at that time. [Figure 17] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the positions of the latch and ratchet when the latch is in the fully latched position and the state of the switch; (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the positions of the latch and ratchet and the state of the switch when the ratchet pressed by the open lever rotates from the state shown in (a) to the open position; (c) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the switch that detects the position of the latch as it rotates in the unlatching direction from the state shown in (b); and (d) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the switch that detects the positions of the latch and ratchet when the latch rotates from the state shown in (c) to the open position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the following description is not intended to be limiting, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0029] The vehicle back door locking device of the present invention is installed in a back door attached to the vehicle body (car body) by a hinge or the like at the rear of a vehicle such as an automobile. The back door is usually supported at the upper rear edge of the car body and opens and closes the rear end opening of the car body by rotating around an axis along the left-right direction, so the vehicle back door locking device is usually installed in the lower part of the back door. In the following description and the attached drawings, unless otherwise specified, up-down, front-rear, left-right directions are expressed based on the direction of the vehicle, but the orientation of the back door locking device on the car body varies depending on the installation position, etc.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, 8 to 17, the vehicle back door lock device 1 keeps the back door closed relative to the vehicle body by engaging an engaging mechanism with a striker S provided on the body of an automobile or the like, and is an electrically operated opening / closing type lock device having an electrically operated opening / closing mechanism.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the vehicle tailgate lock device 1 includes a cover plate 10, a body 11 provided within the storage section 101 of the cover plate 10, a back plate 12 that covers the storage section 101 of the cover plate 10, a housing 13 that stands on the back side of the cover plate 10, a front cover 14 that covers the upper side of the cover plate 10 and the front side of the housing 13, an engagement mechanism arranged in the storage section 101 of the cover plate 10 on the lower side of the body 11, and an opening / closing mechanism whose main part is housed between the front cover 14 and the housing 13.

[0032] The engagement mechanism includes a latch 2 that engages with a striker S provided on the vehicle body, and a ratchet 3 that engages with the latch 2 to maintain the engagement state between the striker S and the latch 2.

[0033] The opening / closing mechanism includes a drive actuator (motor) 4, a sector gear 5 that rotates in both forward and reverse directions from a neutral position by the driving force of the motor to open and close the meshing mechanism and then returns to the neutral position, an open lever 7 that is actuated by the rotation of the sector gear 5 in one direction to release the engagement between the latch 2 and the ratchet 3, a latch lever 8 that is actuated by the rotation of the sector gear 5 in the other direction to move the latch 2 to the fully latched position, a reduction mechanism 9 that connects the motor 4 and the sector gear 5, a neutral switch 60a that detects the return of the sector gear 5 to the neutral position and stops the motor 4, a switch action member 6 that is attached to the sector gear 5 and has a switch action portion 60 that contacts the detection portion 600a of the neutral switch 60a, and first and second latch switches 20a, 20b and a ratchet switch 30a that work together to start, stop and reverse the drive direction of the motor 4 when in a closed position, and that work together to stop and reverse the drive direction of the motor 4 when in an open position.

[0034] The cover plate 10 serves as the base of the vehicle back door lock device 1 and is formed from a relatively thick metal plate. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the cover plate 10 has a plate base 100 that forms a rectangular recessed accommodation portion 101 that becomes gradually shallower from the front end to the rear end, and a striker entrance groove 102 is provided in the plate base 100. A latch shaft 103 and a ratchet shaft 104 are provided on both sides of the striker entrance groove 102.

[0035] The accommodation portion 101 is a recess that accommodates the latch 2 and ratchet 3 that constitute the engagement mechanism, as well as the latch lever 8, ratchet switch 30a, and first and second latch switches 20a, 20b of the opening / closing mechanism. The striker entrance groove 102 is a notch formed from the center of the front end of the plate base 100 toward the back, and is formed with a width that allows the striker S to pass through. The latch shaft 103 and the ratchet shaft 104 protrude from the inner surface of the plate base 100 and are arranged parallel to each other. The latch 2 is rotatably supported on the latch shaft 103, and the ratchet 3 is rotatably supported on the ratchet shaft 104.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 , the body 11 is fitted and fixed into the housing 101 from above the latch 2, ratchet 3, and latch lever 8 disposed on the upper surface of the plate base 100. The body 11 has a cylindrical latch shaft holder 110 and a cylindrical ratchet shaft holder 111 formed at positions corresponding to the latch shaft 103 and the ratchet shaft 104, respectively, and a buffer groove 112 formed at a position corresponding to the striker entrance groove 102. The latch shaft holder 110 and the ratchet shaft holder 111 are protrusions having holes with inner diameters that fit the latch shaft 103 and the ratchet shaft 104. The buffer groove 112 is a notch extending from the center of the front end of the main body 11 toward the base end, and is formed to have a width slightly narrower than the striker entrance groove 102. The buffer groove 112 has an opening large enough to allow the striker S to pass through, and its width gradually narrows toward the back. At the deepest part of the buffer groove 112, an elastic member (not shown) for cushioning is provided.

[0037] The back plate 12 is a plate-like member that covers the housing portion 101, in which the main body 11 is disposed, from the front end to a portion slightly rearward of the center, and is formed from a metal plate that is thinner than the cover plate 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the back plate 12 has shaft mounting holes 120 and 121 formed in positions corresponding to the latch shaft 103 and the ratchet shaft 104, respectively. The back plate 12 is attached to the cover plate 10 by crimping the tip end of the latch shaft 103 and the tip end of the ratchet shaft 104 into the shaft mounting holes 120 and 121, respectively, and covers a portion of the housing portion 101 (from the front end to the middle portion).

[0038] The housing 13 is a plate-like member that stands upright in the vertical direction behind the engagement mechanism and is made of a resin material. The housing 13 is fixed integrally with the cover plate 10 and the front cover 14.

[0039] The engagement mechanism will now be described. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the latch 2 is a plate-like member with a latch shaft 103 inserted through a through-hole formed approximately in the center and rotatably supported. The latch 2 has an engagement groove 20 that opens on its outer circumferential surface and engages with the striker S, a hook portion 21 located on the unlatch direction side of the engagement groove 20, a full latch engagement portion 22 located on the latch direction side of the engagement groove 20, a half latch engagement portion 23 located on the latch direction side of the full latch engagement portion 22, an engagement groove 24 that opens on its outer circumferential surface at a position on the unlatch direction side of the hook portion 21 and engages with the claw portion 80 of the latch lever 8, and a protrusion 25 that protrudes upward along the outer periphery between the half latch engagement portion 23 and the engagement groove 24, engages one end of a latch spring 110a that urges the latch 2 in the unlatch direction, and comes into contact with the first and second latch switches 20a and 20b.

[0040] The latch 2 rotates around the axis of the latch shaft 103 so that the engagement groove 20 intersects with the striker entrance groove 102 of the cover plate 10 and the buffer groove 112 of the body 11. The latch shaft 103 is inserted into a cylindrical latch shaft holding portion 110 provided in the body 11, and its upper end is supported in a shaft mounting hole 120 provided in the back plate 12, with its lower end rotatably supporting the latch 2. The latch 2 is biased in the unlatch direction (counterclockwise in FIGS. 2 to 4 ) around the latch shaft 103 by a latch spring 110a attached to the latch shaft holding portion 110 of the body 11, one end of which is engaged with the protrusion 25 of the latch 2 and the other end of which is engaged with the body 11.

[0041] 2 to 4, the ratchet 3 is a plate-like member that is rotatably supported with a ratchet shaft 104 inserted through a through-hole formed in the approximate center. The ratchet 3 has a latch engagement portion 30 that extends radially outward from the outer periphery of the through-hole through which the ratchet shaft 104 is inserted, a release operation portion 31 that protrudes upward from the top surface of the housing side end portion adjacent to the latch engagement portion 30 (the rear end portion in FIG. 4) and engages with the open lever 7, and a stop piece 32 that bulges radially outward from the front end portion (the near end portion in FIG. 4) on the opposite side of the ratchet shaft 104 from the latch engagement portion 30 and the release operation portion 31.

[0042] The ratchet 3 rotates around the axis of the ratchet shaft 104. The ratchet shaft 104 is inserted into a cylindrical ratchet shaft holder 111 provided in the body 11, with its upper end supported in a shaft mounting hole 121 provided in the back plate 12 and its lower end rotatably supporting the ratchet 3. The ratchet 3 is biased in an engagement direction (clockwise in FIGS. 2 to 4 ) around the ratchet shaft 104 so as to engage with each of the full latch engagement portion 22 and the half latch engagement portion 23 of the latch 2 by a ratchet spring 111a attached to the ratchet shaft holder 111 of the body 11, one end of which is engaged in a hole provided on the top surface of the ratchet 3 and the other end of which is engaged with the body 11.

[0043] The latch engagement portion 30 extends radially outward from the ratchet shaft 104 and engages with each of the full latch engagement portion 22 and half latch engagement portion 23 of the latch 2, thereby restricting rotation of the latch 2 in the unlatch direction (counterclockwise in Figures 9 and 11), as shown in Figures 9 and 11, etc.

[0044] The release operation part 31 of the ratchet 3 functions as an operation part when the open lever 7 comes into contact with it, causing the ratchet 3 to rotate in a direction away from the latch 2, which is the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 14, thereby releasing the engagement state with the latch 2 and returning the latch 2 to the open position. In other words, by operating the release operation part 31, the engagement state between the meshing mechanism and the striker S shown in Fig. 13 (the engagement state between the latch 2 and the ratchet 3) can be released.

[0045] The stop piece 32 bulges outward radially from the front end on the opposite side of the ratchet shaft 104 from the latch engagement portion 30 and the release operation portion 31, and by abutting against the inside of the side wall of the cover plate 10, it restricts the clockwise rotation of the ratchet 3 in Figure 11.

[0046] The opening and closing mechanism will now be described. The opening and closing mechanism has a close function that rotates the latch 2 from the half-latched position to the full-latched position, and an open function that rotates the ratchet 3 that is engaged with the latch 2 to release the engagement between the latch 2 and the ratchet 3. The opening and closing mechanism is provided above the engagement mechanism along the housing 13.

[0047] 2 to 4 and 8 to 17, the opening / closing mechanism includes a motor 4, a sector gear 5, a switch action member 6, an open lever 7, a latch lever 8, a speed reduction mechanism 9, a neutral switch 60a, a ratchet switch 30a, and first and second latch switches 20a, 20b. The motor 4, the sector gear 5, the speed reduction mechanism 9, and the neutral switch 60a are supported on the inner surface of the housing 13, the switch action member 6 is attached to the sector gear 5, the latch lever 8, the ratchet switch 30a, and the first and second latch switches 20a, 20b are housed in the housing portion 101 of the cover plate 10 together with the engagement mechanism, and the open lever 7 is supported on the inner surface of the front cover 14.

[0048] 2 to 4, the sector gear 5 is rotatably supported by a sector gear shaft 130 fixed to the housing 13 at a position slightly below the center of the housing 13. The sector gear 5 is disposed between the front cover 14 and the housing 13 and is made of a fan-shaped plate, and has a gear portion 50 formed on its arc-shaped outer periphery, a latch lever action portion 51 that protrudes forward from the radial outer periphery that is on the meshing mechanism side when in the neutral position, and has a pressing portion 510 that is bent so as to protrude perpendicular to the radial direction from the end of the latch lever action portion 51 and presses the latch lever 8, and a switch action member 6 attached to the radial outer periphery where the latch lever action portion 51 is provided.

[0049] A neutral switch 60a supported on the inner surface of the housing 13 is provided slightly diagonally downward to the right of the sector gear shaft 130 (diagonally downward to the left in FIG. 4) and almost directly below the open lever shaft 140. When the sector gear 5, which has rotated forward and backward from the neutral position to open and close the meshing mechanism, returns to the neutral position, the neutral switch 60a detects that the sector gear 5 has returned to the neutral position and stops the motor 4.

[0050] 5, 6(a), 7(a), and 7(b), the switch action member 6 is comprised of a U-shaped plate having a base 62 extending along the radial outer periphery of the sector gear 5, first and second arms 63, 64 spaced apart in the extension direction of the base 62 and extending onto the first and second rotation surfaces 52, 53, which are the one and the other rotation surfaces of the sector gear 5, a switch action portion 60 provided on the edge of the first arm 63 on the base 62 side and in contact with the detection portion 600a of the neutral switch 60a, and an open lever action portion 61 provided on the edge of the second arm 64 on the base 62 side. The switch action member 6 is preferably made of a resin material, which enables the vehicle back door lock device 1 to be made lighter.

[0051] In the illustrated example, the latch lever action portion 51 is provided on the sector gear 5, and the open lever action portion 61 is provided on the switch action member 6, but the present invention selects the arrangement of the open lever action portion 61 and the latch lever action portion 51 on the switch action member 6 and the sector gear 5 so that at least one of the open lever action portion 61 and the latch lever action portion 51 is provided on the switch action member 6. In other words, the open lever action portion 61 may be provided on the sector gear 5, and the latch lever action portion 51 may be provided on the switch action member 6, or both the open lever action portion 61 and the latch lever action portion 51 may be provided on the switch action member 6. Regarding the shapes of the sector gear 5 and the switch action member 6 in these examples not shown, for example, the shapes of the sector gear 5 and the switch action member 6 may be appropriately changed so that the combined shape of the sector gear 5 and the switch action member 6 is similar to that shown in FIG. 5, that is, so that when the sector gear 5 and the switch action member 6 are combined, the positions and shapes of the switch action portion 60, the latch lever action portion 51, and the open lever action portion 61 are similar to those shown in FIG. 5.

[0052] By consolidating the switch action portion 60 and the open lever action portion 61 and / or the latch lever action portion 51 into the switch action member 6, which is a single member separate from the sector gear 5, the effect of variations in the mounting of each action portion relative to the sector gear 5 on the actuation stroke can be reduced. Also, by providing the switch action portion 60 and the open lever action portion 61 and / or the latch lever action portion 51 on a member separate from the sector gear 5, it is not necessary to fit each action portion within the physical size of the sector gear 5, increasing the degree of freedom in designing the arrangement, stroke, etc. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to provide the switch action portion 60 and the open lever action portion 61 and / or the latch lever action portion 51 within the sector gear 5, the sector gear 5 can be made smaller. While the sector gear 5 is preferably made of metal from the standpoint of strength, being able to make the sector gear 5 smaller has a significant advantage in that it can be made lighter.

[0053] As described above, the switch action member 6 is attached to the radially outer periphery of the sector gear 5 so as to sandwich the sector gear 5 in the thickness direction with the first and second arms 63, 64 extending on the first and second rotation surfaces 52, 53 of the sector gear 5, respectively (see FIGS. 5, 6(a), 7(a), and 7(b)). By sandwiching the sector gear 5 from both sides with the switch action member 6 in this manner, rattle in the thickness direction can be suppressed, improving the detection accuracy of the neutral switch 60a. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7(c), the first arm 63 of the switch action member 6 abuts against the inner surface of the housing 13 supporting the motor 4 at a position relatively far from the rotation axis 130 of the sector gear 5. This suppresses not only rattle between the switch action member 6 and the sector gear 5 but also rattle (such as tipping) of the sector gear 5 caused by the motor 4.

[0054] By configuring the switch action portion 60 and the open lever action portion 61 to be provided on the edge end portion of the base 62 side of the first and second arm portions 63, 64, respectively, the switch action portion 60 and the open lever action portion 61 can be positioned in a balanced manner, resulting in stable operation over a long period of time.

[0055] Furthermore, as described above, the switch action portion 60 is disposed on the first rotation surface 52 side, and the open lever action portion 61 is disposed on the second rotation surface side in the thickness direction of the sector gear 5. In this way, by configuring one of the switch action portion 60 and the open lever action portion 61 to be disposed on the first and second rotation surface 52, 53 side of the sector gear 5, respectively, in the thickness direction of the sector gear 5, the degree of freedom in setting the positions of the neutral switch 60a and the open lever 7 can be increased, and therefore the degree of freedom in setting the timing of the opening operation, the switching timing of the neutral switch 60a, etc. can be increased.

[0056] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the sector gear 5 is provided with a boss portion 55 and an engagement portion (cylindrical protrusion portion) 56 for fixing the switch action member 6, at approximately symmetrical positions on either side of the sector gear shaft 130, and a fitting hole 66 that fits into the boss portion 55 of the sector gear 5 is provided in the second arm portion 64, and an engaged portion (cylindrical recess) 67 having a shape complementary to the engaging portion (cylindrical protrusion portion) 56 is provided in the first arm portion 63 at a position opposite the engaging portion (cylindrical protrusion portion) 56 of the sector gear 5, and the switch action member 6 is fixed to the sector gear 5 by fitting the boss portion 55 of the sector gear 5 into the fitting hole 66 provided in the switch action member 6 and connecting the cylindrical protrusion portion 56 of the sector gear 5 to the cylindrical recess 67 of the switch action member 6. In this way, by fitting the switch action member 6 into the boss portion 55 of the sector gear 5 and connecting the cylindrical protrusion portion 56 of the sector gear 5 to the cylindrical recess portion 67 of the switch action member 6 at a position approximately symmetrical to the boss portion 55 across the sector gear shaft 130, the switch action member 6 can be fixed to the sector gear 5 in a balanced manner while suppressing rattling.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 6(a) to 6(d), the cylindrical protrusion 56 of the sector gear 5 is provided with a fastening hole 54, which is a through-hole formed as a hollow portion thereof, and a fastening hole 65, which is a through-hole, is also provided in the center of the bottom of the cylindrical recess 67 of the switch action member 6. With the boss 55 of the sector gear 5 fitted into the fitting hole 66 of the switch action member 6, fastening members 57 are attached to both the fastening holes 54, 65 of the sector gear 5 and the switch action member 6, thereby fixing the switch action member 6 to the sector gear 5. In the illustrated example, screws are used as the fastening members 57 and are threaded into both the fastening holes 54, 65, but the fastening members 57 are not limited to screws, and rivets, clips, etc. can also be used as the fastening members 57. Fixing the switch action member 6 to the sector gear 5 with the fastening members 57 at a position close to the switch action member 60 in this way reduces rattling of the switch action member 60 and improves the detection accuracy of the neutral switch 60a.

[0058] As shown in Figures 6(c) and 6(d), the side surface of the cylindrical recess 67 is provided with multiple small protrusions 68 that protrude inward of the cylindrical recess 67. When the cylindrical protrusion 56 is inserted into the cylindrical recess 67 and the fastening member 57 is attached to the fastening holes 54, 65 of the switch action member 6 and the sector gear 5, the multiple protrusions 68 are deformed or destroyed. In this way, the cylindrical protrusion 56 of the sector gear 5 deforms or destroys the multiple small protrusions 68 in the cylindrical recess 67 during assembly, eliminating rattle after assembly and improving the detection accuracy of the neutral switch 60a. The protruding height of the protrusions 68 can be set as appropriate within a range that achieves the above-mentioned effect, but it is preferably greater than the gap between the cylindrical protrusion 56 and the cylindrical recess 67, for example, 0.5 mm or more. In the illustrated example, the protrusion 68 is formed as a semi-cylindrical protrusion extending in the depth direction of the cylindrical recess 67, but the shape and orientation direction of the protrusion 68 can be set appropriately within the range in which the above-mentioned effects can be obtained.

[0059] When the sector gear 5 is made of metal and the switch action member 6 is made of resin, when the cylindrical protrusion 56 is inserted into the cylindrical recess 67 and the fastening member 57 is attached to both the fastening holes 54, 65 of the switch action member 6 and the sector gear 5, the multiple small protrusions 68 are plastically deformed.

[0060] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the reduction gear mechanism 9 is provided with a compound gear 90 that can rotate forward and backward around a pivot axis based on the power of the motor 4, and has a spur gear portion 90a that constitutes a worm wheel that meshes with the worm 40 that rotates integrally with the rotating shaft of the motor 4, and a helical gear portion 90b that is integrally formed on the back surface of the spur gear portion 90a, a helical gear 91 that meshes with the helical gear portion 90b of the compound gear 90 and has a larger diameter than the helical gear portion 90b, and a pinion gear 92 that is fitted in the center of the helical gear 91, rotates integrally with it, and meshes with the gear portion 50 of the sector gear 5.

[0061] 2 to 4, the motor 4 is fixed to the inner surface of the upper part of the housing 13 with the rotating shaft side protruding in the longitudinal direction tilted slightly downward with respect to the horizontal direction (left-right width direction). The driving force of the motor 4 rotates the compound gear 90, helical gear 91, and pinion gear 92 that make up the reduction mechanism 9 forward and reverse, respectively, thereby rotating the sector gear 5 forward and reverse around the sector gear shaft 130.

[0062] The latch lever 8 constitutes a closing mechanism that rotates the latch 2 from the half-latched position to the full-latched position. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 , the latch lever 8 is housed in the housing 101 of the cover plate 10 together with the latch 2 and is rotatably supported by a latch shaft 103 above the latch 2. That is, the latch lever 8 is provided coaxially with the latch 2. The latch lever 8 has a claw portion 80 bent downward from the outer periphery of the through-hole through which the latch shaft 103 is inserted and engaged with the engagement groove 24 of the latch 2, and a lever portion 81 that protrudes upward and radially outward in a hook-like shape from the outer periphery of the through-hole. The latch lever 8 is pivotally supported coaxially with the latch 2, and the claw portion 80 is engaged with the engagement groove 24 of the latch 2, so that the latch lever 8 rotates integrally with the latch 2. The height and length of the lever portion 81 of the latch lever 8 are set so that the input portion 810 of the lever portion 81 of the latch lever 8 abuts against the latch lever operating portion 51 of the sector gear 5.

[0063] The lever portion 81 of the latch lever 8 extends to the right of the vehicle body (left in Figure 8) when the latch 2 is in the open position, and extends almost to the rear of the vehicle body (back in Figure 11) when the latch 2 is in the fully latched position.

[0064] When the back door is closed, the striker S enters and the latch 2 reaches the half-latched position, which starts the motor 4, causing the sector gear 5 to rotate in the door closing direction (counterclockwise in Figure 9), causing the latch lever action portion 51 to come into contact with the input portion 810 of the lever portion 81 of the latch lever 8, which rotates the latch lever 8 and thereby rotates the latch 2 to the full-latched position.

[0065] The open lever 7 constitutes a release means for releasing the engagement between the latch 2 and the ratchet 3, and as shown in Figures 2 to 4, it is positioned on the right side of the sector gear 5 (left side in Figures 2 to 4) and extends in the vertical direction, with its approximate center rotatably supported on the open lever shaft 140 that protrudes from the inner surface of the front cover 14.

[0066] As shown in Figure 4, the open lever 7 has an output portion 70 provided at the lower end and abutting against the release operating portion 31 of the ratchet 3, an input portion 71 provided on the sector gear 5 side between the open lever shaft 140 and the output portion 70 and abutting against the open lever operating portion 61 of the switch operating member 6, and an auxiliary input portion 72 provided at the upper end and exposed from the front cover 14.

[0067] As shown in Fig. 3, the output portion 70 is disposed adjacent to the left side (right side in Fig. 3) of the release operation portion 31 of the ratchet 3, with the direction of the vehicle as the reference. As shown in Figs. 14 to 16, when the open lever 7 rotates clockwise from the initial position around the axis of the open lever shaft 140, the output portion 70 presses the release operation portion 31 to the right (left side in Figs. 14 to 16), rotating the ratchet 3 to the open position, thereby releasing the engagement between the latch 2 and the ratchet 3 and switching the latch 2 to the open position (unlatched position).

[0068] 4, an open lever spring 140a that constantly rotates the open lever 7 counterclockwise in Fig. 4 is interposed between the open lever 7 and the front cover 14. One end of the open lever spring 140a is engaged with a convex portion on the inner surface of the front cover 14, and the other end is engaged with a concave portion of the open lever 7 provided near the open lever shaft 140.

[0069] The input portion 71 is a plate-like portion that is bent rearward (toward the rear in FIG. 3) from the side portion on the sector gear 5 side and extends in the vertical direction between the open lever shaft 140 and the output portion 70. The input portion 71 is the portion that abuts against the open lever action portion 61 of the switch action member 6 provided on the sector gear 5, and is shaped so that when the sector gear 5 is rotated in the door opening direction (clockwise in FIG. 14), the open lever action portion 61 can stably press and operate the open lever 7.

[0070] 4, the auxiliary input portion 72 is formed by bending the upper end of the open lever 7 forward and upward, and is exposed from the front cover 14. By providing such an auxiliary input portion 72, in an emergency in which, for example, power cannot be supplied to the motor 4 due to a failure in the electrical system or a dead battery, and the vehicle back door lock device 1 cannot be unlatched, the auxiliary input portion 72 can be exposed by removing a cover or the like (not shown) from the inside of the back door, and the open lever 7 can be manually rotated to release the engagement between the latch 2 and the ratchet 3.

[0071] As shown in Figure 3, with respect to the vertical line L passing through the axis of the sector gear 5, the open lever 7, the switch action portion 60 of the switch action member 6, the latch lever action portion 51, and the open lever action portion 61 are arranged on one side (see Figure 5 for the arrangement of the switch action portion 60, latch lever action portion 51, and open lever action portion 61), and the gear portion 50 of the sector gear 5 and the reduction mechanism 9 connecting the drive actuator (motor) 4 and the sector gear 5 are arranged on the other side. In this way, by separating and arranging the parts related to the opening and closing operations and the motor-driven drive part with respect to the vertical line L passing through the axis of the sector gear 5, an efficient arrangement is achieved, enabling the device to be made more compact.

[0072] The closing operation of the tailgate will now be described. When the tailgate is open, i.e., in the open position, as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), the opening of the engagement groove 20 aligns with the opening of the striker entrance groove 102 formed in the plate base 100, the hook portion 21, which is located on the unlatch direction side of the engagement groove 20, is retracted from the striker entrance groove 102, and the latch 2 is not engaged with the striker S. The latch lever 8 is positioned in an unlatch lever position corresponding to the open position (unlatched position) of the latch 2, the sector gear 5 is in a neutral position in which the switch action portion 60 is adjacent to the open lever 7, which is in contact with the detection portion 600a of the neutral switch 60a, and the ratchet 3 is in contact with the latch 2 due to the biasing force of the ratchet spring 111a. The position shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), in which the latch 2 is not engaged with the striker S, is referred to as the "unlatched position" of the latch 2.

[0073] 12(a), the protrusion 25 of the latch 2 is in contact with the detection portions 200a and 200b of the first and second latch switches 20a and 20b, respectively, the ratchet 3 is not in contact with the detection portion 300a of the ratchet switch 30a, and the first and second latch switches 20a and 20b detect that the latch 2 is in the unlatched position. When the latch 2 is in the unlatched position, the back door can be opened and closed.

[0074] When the tailgate, which was in the open position, is closed, the striker S provided on the vehicle body enters the striker entrance groove 102 of the cover plate 10 of the vehicle tailgate lock device 1 and abuts against the engagement groove 20 of the latch 2. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), the latch 2 engages with the striker S and accordingly rotates in the latch direction (clockwise in FIG. 9) about the latch shaft 103 against the biasing force of the latch spring 110a, so that the hook portion 21 gradually moves from the front end side to the back end side of the striker entrance groove 102, crossing it. In this state, the latch 2 engages with the striker S just before the full-latch position (described later). However, because the latch engagement portion 30 of the ratchet 3 engages with the half-latch engagement portion 23, rotation in the unlatch direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 9) is restricted. The position of the latch 2 shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) is referred to as the "half-latch position" of the latch 2. When the latch 2 is in the half-latched position, the latch lever 8 that rotates integrally with the latch 2 is also in the half-latch lever position that corresponds to the half-latched position of the latch 2.

[0075] When the latch 2 has moved to the half-latched position, the back door cannot be opened unless the operating handle or the like is operated to switch the latch 2 to the unlatched position. At this time, as shown in Figure 12(b), the ratchet 3 does not contact the detection portion 300a of the ratchet switch 30a, and the protrusion 25 of the latch 2 does not contact the detection portion 200a of the first latch switch 20a but contacts the detection portion 200b of the second latch switch 20b. From the state of the ratchet switch 30a and the states of the first and second latch switches 20a and 20b, it can be determined that the latch 2 has moved to the half-latched position.

[0076] As described above, when the first and second latch switches 20a, 20b detect that the latch 2 has moved to the half-latched position, the motor 4 starts, and as shown in Figures 10(a) and 10(b), the motor 4 starts to rotate the sector gear 5 in the door closing direction (counterclockwise in Figure 10), and the latch lever action portion 51 of the sector gear 5 comes into contact with the input portion 810 of the lever portion 81 of the latch lever 8, rotating the latch lever 8. At this stage, as in the half-latched position, as shown in Figure 12(b), the ratchet 3 is not in contact with the detection portion 300a of the ratchet switch 30a, and the protrusion 25 of the latch 2 is not in contact with the detection portion 200a of the first latch switch 20a but is in contact with the detection portion 200b of the second latch switch 20b.

[0077] When the latch 2, which rotates integrally with the latch lever 8, rotates further in the latch direction from the half-latch position, as shown in Figure 12(c), while the latch 2 is rotating in the latch direction, the ratchet 3 rotates in the open direction along the outer shape of the latch 2, and the edge of its housing side end comes into contact with the detection part 300a of the ratchet switch 30a.

[0078] When the latch 2, which rotates integrally with the latch lever 8, further rotates in the latching direction from the state shown in FIG. 12(c), the latch 2 first reaches the closed position, the protrusion 25 comes out of contact with the second latch switch 20b, and the motor 4 stops. Immediately thereafter, the ratchet 3 rotates in the engagement direction due to the biasing force of the ratchet spring 111a. As shown in FIG. 12(d), the latch meshing portion 30 engages with the full latch engagement portion 22 of the latch 2, and the ratchet 3 comes out of contact with the detection portion 300a of the ratchet switch 30a. When the latch 2 reaches the closed position, the hook portion 21 crosses the innermost portion of the striker entrance groove 102, thereby closing the opening of the striker entrance groove 102, as shown in FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b). In this state, the latch 2 is fully engaged with the striker S, and the latch meshing portion 30 abuts against the full latch engagement portion 22, restricting rotation in the open direction. 11(a) and (b), the state in which latch 2 is in the closed position is called the "fully latched position" of latch 2. When latch 2 is in the fully latched position, the back door cannot be opened unless an open switch or the like is operated to drive the opening and closing mechanism and switch latch 2 to the unlatched position.

[0079] As described above, when the latch 2 reaches the closed position, the second latch switch 20b switches, and when the latch meshing portion 30 of the ratchet 3 engages with the full latch engagement portion 22 of the latch 2, the ratchet switch 30a switches, reversing the drive direction of the motor 4 and rotating the sector gear 5 clockwise in FIG. 11 . Then, when the switch action portion 60 of the sector gear 5 contacts the detection portion 600a of the neutral switch 60a, the neutral switch 60a detects that the sector gear 5 has returned to the neutral position and stops the motor 4. As described above, by using a configuration in which the second latch switch 20b switches to stop the motor 4 and the ratchet switch 30a switches to reverse the drive direction of the motor 4, the drive direction of the motor 4 can be reversed after the meshing mechanism has reliably reached the full latch state.

[0080] In this way, in the opening and closing mechanism, the motor 4, the reduction mechanism 9 (compound gear 90, helical gear 91 and pinion gear 92), the sector gear 5 (latch lever action part 51) and the latch lever 8 (input part 810 of the lever part 81) mainly function as a closing mechanism, electrically moving the latch 2 from the half latch position to the full latch position, thereby closing the tailgate.

[0081] The operation of opening the back door will now be described. When the back door is in the fully latched position shown in Figures 13(a) and 13(b) (at this time, as shown in Figure 17(a), the ratchet 3 is not in contact with the detection portion 300a of the ratchet switch 30a, and the protrusion 25 of the latch 2 is not in contact with the detection portions 200a and 200b of the first and second latch switches 20a and 20b), the motor 4 is started by operating the open switch or the like, and the sector gear 5 is rotated in the door opening direction (clockwise in Figure 13).

[0082] Then, as shown in Figures 14(a) and (b), the open lever action portion 61 of the switch action member 6 abuts against the input portion 71 of the open lever 7, causing the open lever 7 to rotate from the initial position in the open direction (clockwise direction in Figure 14) against the biasing force of the open lever spring 140a, and the output portion 70 presses the release operation portion 31 of the ratchet 3 in the open direction (counterclockwise direction in Figure 14).

[0083] When the ratchet 3 rotates in the open direction, as shown in Figures 15(a), (b) and 17(b), the latch meshing portion 30 of the ratchet 3 disengages from the full latch engagement portion 22 of the latch 2, the ratchet 3 rotates to the open position, and the edge of the housing side end of the ratchet 3 comes into contact with the detection portion 300a of the ratchet switch 30a. When the ratchet 3 rotates to the open position, the meshing between the latch 2 and the ratchet 3 is released, so the latch 2 rotates in the unlatch direction, and as shown in Figure 17(c), the protrusion 25 of the latch 2 comes into contact with the detection portion 200b of the second latch switch 20b. When the ratchet switch 30a and the second latch switch 20b are switched in this way, the motor 4 stops.

[0084] When the latch 2 further rotates in the unlatching direction from the state shown in FIG. 17(c), the latch 2 reaches the unlatched position (open position) as shown in FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b), and the protrusion 25 also comes into contact with the detection portion 200a of the first latch switch 20a as shown in FIG. 17(d). In this way, when the latch 2 reaches the open position, if both the second latch switch 20b and the first latch switch 20a are switched, the driving direction of the motor 4 is reversed, and the sector gear 5 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 16. Then, when the switch action portion 60 of the sector gear 5 comes into contact with the detection portion 600a of the neutral switch 60a, the neutral switch 60a detects that the sector gear 5 has returned to the neutral position and stops the motor 4. As described above, by configuring the motor 4 to stop by switching the second latch switch 20b and the drive direction of the motor 4 to reverse by switching the first latch switch 20a, the drive direction of the motor 4 can be reversed after the meshing mechanism is reliably opened.

[0085] As the sector gear 5 returns to the neutral position, the open lever 7 returns to its initial position, and the ratchet 3 rotates due to the biasing force of the ratchet spring 111a and comes into contact with the latch 2 (see FIG. 12(a)).

[0086] It should be noted that the back door can be opened in the same manner as described above even when the back door is in the half-latched position shown in FIG.

[0087] In this way, in the opening and closing mechanism, the motor 4, reduction mechanism 9 (compound gear 90, helical gear 91 and pinion gear 92), sector gear 5, switch action member 6 (open lever action portion 61), and open lever 7 (input portion 71) mainly function as an opening mechanism, electrically moving the latch 2 from the full latch position or half latch position to the unlatched position, thereby opening the back door.

[0088] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and may be modified in various ways within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the sector gear 5 is provided with the latch lever action portion 51 and the switch action member 6 is provided with the open lever action portion 61. However, the sector gear 5 may be provided with the open lever action portion 61 and the switch action member 6 with the latch lever action portion 51, or the switch action member 6 may be provided with both the open lever action portion 61 and the latch lever action portion 51. The shapes of the sector gear 5 and the switch action member 6 in these examples not shown may be appropriately modified so that the combined shape of the sector gear 5 and the switch action member 6 is similar to that shown in FIG. 5, i.e., so that the positions and shapes of the switch action portion 60, the latch lever action portion 51, and the open lever action portion 61 are similar to those shown in FIG. 5 when the sector gear 5 and the switch action member 6 are combined. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 1. Vehicle back door lock device 2. Latch 20 Engagement groove 21 Hook part 22 Full latch engagement part 23 Half latch engagement part 24 Locking groove 25...Protrusion 3. Ratchet 30 Latch engagement part 31...Release operation section 32 Stop piece 4. Drive actuator (motor) 40···Warm 5. Sector gear 50 Gear section 51 Latch lever action part 510 Pressing part 52...First rotation surface 53... Second rotation surface 54...fastening hole 55 Boss part 56 Engagement portion (cylindrical protrusion portion) 57 Fastening member 6. Switch action member 60 Switch action part 61 Open lever action part 62...Base 63 First Arm 64 Second Arm 65...fastening hole 66...Mating hole 67 Engaged portion (cylindrical recess) 68...Protrusion 7. Open lever 70 Output section 71 Input section 72 Auxiliary input section 8. Latch lever 80···Claw part 81 Lever part 810 Input section 9...Reduction mechanism 90... Compound gear 90a···Spur gear section 90b···Helical gear part 91 Helical gear 92···Pinion gear 10. Cover plate 100···Plate base 101... Storage unit 102 Striker entry groove 103 Latch shaft 104 Ratchet shaft 11. Body 110 Latch shaft holding part 110a···Latch spring 111 Ratchet shaft holder 111a···Ratchet spring 112...Buffer groove 12. Backplate 120,121...Shaft mounting hole 13. Housing 130 Sector gear shaft 14 Front cover 140···Open lever shaft 140a···Open lever spring 20a First latch switch 200a···Detection unit 20b Second latch switch 200b···Detection unit 30a ratchet switch 300a···Detection unit 60a···Neutral switch 600a···Detection unit S... Striker

Claims

1. a latch that engages with a striker provided on a vehicle body; a ratchet that engages with the latch to maintain an interlocked state between the striker and the latch; a latch lever that rotates in conjunction with the latch; an open lever that releases the engagement between the striker and the latch by operating the ratchet; a sector gear that rotates in forward and reverse directions from a neutral position by the driving force of a drive actuator, the sector gear rotating in one direction actuating the open lever to perform an opening operation that releases the engagement between the striker and the latch, and rotating in the other direction actuating the latch lever to perform a closing operation that moves the latch to a fully latched position, and the sector gear returning to the neutral position by reversing the driving direction of the drive actuator after the opening operation and the closing operation are completed; a neutral switch that detects the sector gear returning to the neutral position and stops the drive actuator; A vehicle back door lock device comprising: The sector gear is provided with a switch action member having a switch action portion that contacts the detection portion of the neutral switch, and the switch action member is attached to the sector gear separately, the neutral switch is disposed so as to detect the return of the sector gear to the neutral position by the switch action portion coming into contact with the detection portion, The arrangement of the latch lever action portion and the open lever action portion on the switch action member and the sector gear is selected so that the switch action member is provided with at least one of a latch lever action portion that engages with the latch lever to actuate the latch lever and an open lever action portion that engages with the open lever to actuate the open lever. A vehicle back door lock device.

2. The sector gear is made of a fan-shaped plate, and a gear portion is provided on the arc-shaped outer periphery thereof. The switch action member has a base extending along one radial outer periphery of the fan-shaped plate, and first and second arms extending from the base toward the sector gear, the first arm extending on a first rotation surface which is one rotation surface of the sector gear, and the second arm extending on a second rotation surface which is the other rotation surface of the sector gear, and is thus attached to one radial outer periphery of the fan-shaped plate so that the sector gear is clamped in the thickness direction by the first and second arms.

3. The vehicle tailgate lock device described in claim 2, characterized in that the switch action member is provided with the open lever action portion, and one and the other of the switch action portion and the open lever action portion are respectively provided on the edge ends of the base side of the first and second arms, thereby the switch action portion and one and the other of the open lever action portion are respectively arranged on the first and second rotating surface sides of the sector gear in the thickness direction of the sector gear.

4. The vehicle tailgate lock device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first and second arm portions of the switch action member are provided at positions spaced apart in the extension direction of the base, and the latch lever action portion is formed as part of the sector gear so as to be positioned between the switch action portion and the open lever action portion, which are provided at positions spaced apart in the extension direction of the base.

5. The sector gear is provided with an engagement portion and a boss portion for fixing the switch action member at approximately symmetrical positions with respect to the rotation axis of the sector gear, the first and second arm portions of the switch action member are provided at positions spaced apart in the extending direction of the base portion, one of the first and second arm portions is provided with an engaged portion corresponding to an engaging portion of the sector gear, and the other of the first and second arm portions is provided with a fitting hole that fits into a boss portion of the sector gear, A vehicle tailgate lock device as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the switch action member is fixed to the sector gear by fitting a boss portion of the sector gear into a fitting hole of the switch action member and connecting an engaging portion of the sector gear to an engaged portion of the switch action member.

6. The engaging portion of the sector gear has a cylindrical protrusion provided on a surface of the sector gear, the engaged portion of the switch action member is provided on one of the first and second arms on which the switch action portion is provided, the engaged portion of the switch action member has a cylindrical recess provided on a surface of the switch action member at a position facing the cylindrical protrusion and having a shape complementary to the cylindrical protrusion, a plurality of protrusions protruding inward of the cylindrical recess are provided on a side surface of the cylindrical recess, 6. A vehicle back door lock device as described in claim 5, characterized in that when the cylindrical protrusion is inserted into the cylindrical recess to connect the engaging portion of the sector gear to the engaged portion of the switch action member, the multiple protrusions are deformed or destroyed.

7. 3. The vehicle back door lock device according to claim 1, wherein the sector gear is made of metal, and the switch action member is made of resin.

8. The vehicle back door lock device according to claim 6, characterized in that the sector gear is made of metal, the switch action member is made of resin material, and when the cylindrical protrusion is inserted into the cylindrical recess and the engaging portion of the sector gear is connected to the engaged portion of the switch action member, the multiple protrusions are plastically deformed.

9. A vehicle tailgate lock device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that with respect to a vertical line passing through the axis of the sector gear, the open lever, the switch action portion of the switch action member, the latch lever action portion, and the open lever action portion are arranged on one side, and the gear portion of the sector gear and a reduction mechanism connecting the drive actuator and the sector gear are arranged on the other side.

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