Switching device

Abstract

To provide a switch that can more reliably activate the fault detection device. [Solution] The opening / closing device includes an obstacle detection device that detects contact with an obstacle 11 during the downward movement of the opening / closing body 2, and stops or raises the opening / closing body 2 based on the detection signal of the obstacle detection device, and comprises a bottom rail 13 provided at the lower end of the opening / closing body 2 and having an opening 25 at its upper end that opens along the longitudinal direction, a switch 15 disposed within the bottom rail 13 that activates the obstacle detection device by pressing or releasing the press, and a long movable member 16 provided so as to be movable within the bottom rail 13 so as to be able to press or release the switch 15, and the lower end of the opening / closing body 2 is connected to it, and the movable member 16 presses or releases the switch 15 by descending a predetermined amount relative to the bottom rail 13 during the downward movement of the opening / closing body 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening / closing device provided with an obstacle detection device that detects contact with an obstacle during the downward movement of an opening / closing body.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, there is known an electric rolling screen including limit switches provided at both ends of a weight bar, an obstacle sensing member provided in the weight bar so as to partially protrude from the lower end of the weight bar, and a signal line attached along the side edge of a screen. In this electric rolling screen, a signal of a limit switch activated when the obstacle sensing member abuts against an obstacle is transmitted to a control device via the signal line, and the downward movement of the weight bar is configured to be stopped.

[0003] That is, the above electric rolling screen includes an obstacle detection device, and the downward movement of the weight bar can be automatically stopped by the operation of the obstacle detection device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the above electric rolling screen, since the contact area of the obstacle sensing member with respect to the obstacle is small, there is a problem that the obstacle sensing member may not abut against the obstacle and the obstacle detection device may not operate even though there is an obstacle below the weight bar.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an opening / closing device capable of more reliably operating an obstacle detection device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The inventors of this invention believe that the above problems can be solved by using a bottom rail provided at the lower end of the opening / closing body to detect obstacles, and based on this, they have invented the following new opening / closing device.

[0008] (1) The opening and closing device according to the present invention is equipped with an obstacle detection device that detects contact with an obstacle during the downward movement of the opening and closing body, and stops or raises the opening and closing body based on the detection signal of the obstacle detection device, and comprises a bottom rail provided at the lower end of the opening and closing body and having an opening at its upper end that opens along the longitudinal direction, a switch disposed within the bottom rail that activates the obstacle detection device by pressing or releasing the press, and a long movable member provided so as to be movable within the bottom rail so as to be able to press or release the switch, and to which the lower end of the opening and closing body is connected, wherein the movable member presses or releases the switch by descending a predetermined amount relative to the bottom rail during the downward movement of the opening and closing body.

[0009] (2) In the above (1), it is preferable that the bottom rail has an opening at its lower end that is open along the longitudinal direction, and is further supported within the bottom rail so as to be able to move up and down with a part of it protruding from the opening at the lower end, and is capable of closing the gap between the bottom rail and the opposing surface below it.

[0010] (3) In (1) above, it is preferable that the movable member is provided so as to be movable and rotatable within the bottom rail, and that the switch is pressed against the circumferential surface of the movable member to activate the fault detection device.

[0011] (4) In any of (1) to (3) above, it is preferable that a plurality of switches are provided spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, and that the movable member is a long member having a predetermined rigidity.

[0012] (5) In any of (1) to (4) above, the invention further provides a holding means for holding the switch within the bottom rail, wherein the holding means comprises a mounting portion that allows the switch formed within the bottom rail to be slidably mounted along the longitudinal direction, and a plate that can be attached to the mounting portion, and it is preferable that the plate is attached between a plurality of switches attached to the mounting portion to fix the switch in the bottom rail in a non-slidable manner. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] This invention provides an opening / closing device that detects obstacles using a bottom rail provided at the lower end of the opening / closing body. Therefore, it is possible to provide an opening / closing device that can operate the obstacle detection device more reliably. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing the operating state of the opening / closing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the bottom rail portion of the opening / closing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an exploded perspective view showing the bottom rail portion of the opening / closing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing the bottom rail portion of an opening / closing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This figure shows a switch for an opening / closing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view showing the switch being held in the holder, (b) is a perspective view of the switch being held in the holder as seen from above, and (c) is a perspective view of the switch being held in the holder as seen from below. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing a fault detection device provided in a switchgear according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7]This diagram shows an example of the operation of an opening / closing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the opening / closing body comes into contact with an obstacle, in chronological order: (a) shows the state before the bottom rail comes into contact with the obstacle, (b) shows the state immediately after the bottom rail comes into contact with the obstacle, and (c) shows the state in which the opening / closing body descends further from the state in (b) and the obstacle detection device is activated. [Figure 8] The diagram shows an example of the operation of an opening / closing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention when the opening / closing body comes into contact with an obstacle, in chronological order: (a) shows the state immediately after the gap prevention member comes into contact with the obstacle, (b) shows the state after the opening / closing body has descended from the state in (a), and (c) shows the state after the opening / closing body has descended further from the state in (b) and the obstacle detection device has been activated. [Figure 9] This diagram shows an example of the operation of an opening / closing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention when the opening / closing body comes into contact with an obstacle, in chronological order: (a) shows the state before the bottom rail comes into contact with the obstacle, (b) shows the state immediately after the bottom rail comes into contact with the obstacle, and (c) shows the state in which the opening / closing body descends further from the state in (b) and the obstacle detection device is activated. [Figure 10] This diagram shows an example of the operation of an opening / closing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention when the opening / closing body comes into contact with an obstacle, in chronological order: (a) shows the state before the bottom rail comes into contact with the obstacle, (b) shows the state immediately after the bottom rail comes into contact with the obstacle, and (c) shows the state in which the opening / closing body descends further from the state in (b) and the obstacle detection device is activated. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the opening / closing device 1 of the first embodiment is installed in an opening such as a window frame of a building. The opening / closing device 1 is installed indoors partitioned by window glass or the like with respect to the outside of the building. The opening / closing device 1 of the first embodiment is, for example, an electric rolling screen, and includes an opening / closing body 2 that is a screen, a winding pipe 3 to which the opening / closing body 2 is connected, a pair of side brackets 4, 4 that can support both ends of the winding pipe 3, a pair of bracket covers 5, 5 provided on the pair of side brackets 4, 4, and a set frame 6 on which the pair of side brackets 4, 4 are provided. In this specification, in the state where the opening / closing device 1 is installed, the axial direction of the winding pipe 3 is the left-right direction, the vertical direction is the up-down direction, and the direction orthogonal to the left-right direction is the front-back direction. Also, regarding the front-back direction, the indoor side is the front, and the outdoor side is the back.

[0017] The winding pipe 3 is cylindrical, and both axial ends are open. Bearings 7, 7 are provided at both axial ends of the winding pipe 3. The winding pipe 3 is provided so as to span between a pair of side brackets 4, 4 arranged at a distance in the left-right direction. The winding pipe 3 is attached to the pair of side brackets 4, 4 via the bearings 7, 7. In the state where the winding pipe 3 is attached to the pair of side brackets 4, 4, the winding pipe 3 is rotatable about its axis. Inside the cylindrical winding pipe 3, a motor 8 for rotating the winding pipe 3 is provided. The opening / closing body 2 is connected to the winding pipe 3. The opening / closing body 2 is a shielding material and is provided so as to be wound around and unwound from the winding pipe 3. The upper end of the opening / closing body 2 is connected to the winding pipe 3, and the lower end hangs down from the winding pipe 3.

[0018] A pair of side brackets 4, 4 for rotatably holding the winding pipe 3 are plate-shaped. The pair of side brackets 4, 4 are provided at both longitudinal ends of a long set frame 6. For example, the pair of side brackets 4, 4 are attached to the set frame 6 by screws. In a state where the side brackets 4, 4 are attached to the set frame 6, the side brackets 4, 4 extend downward. The outside of each side bracket 4 is covered by a bracket cover 5. The pair of bracket covers 5, 5 are each detachably attached to the corresponding side bracket 4.

[0019] As described above, the opening / closing body 2 is a screen of an electric roll screen. Therefore, by rotating the winding pipe 3 by the motor 8, the opening / closing body 2 can be raised and lowered. Specifically, the opening / closing body 2 can be wound around the winding pipe 3 by rotating the winding pipe 3 in one direction by the motor 8, and can be unwound from the winding pipe 3 by rotating the winding pipe 3 in the other direction by the motor 8. By driving the motor 8 in this way to raise and lower the opening / closing body 2, the opening of the building can be opened and closed.

[0020] The motor 8 for rotating the winding pipe 3 is controlled by a control device 9. The motor 8 is connected to the control device 9 via a cable. External power is supplied to the control device 9, the motor 8, etc. via a power cable 10. The control device 9 is provided on the set frame 6. The opening / closing device 1 of the first embodiment can be operated by, for example, a remote controller not shown. In this case, the control device 9 controls the motor 8 for rotating the winding pipe 3 based on a signal from the remote controller.

[0021] When lowering the opening / closing body 2, operating the lowering switch located on the remote controller outputs a lowering signal from the remote controller to the control device 9 to lower the opening / closing body 2. When the lowering signal is input to the control device 9, the control device 9 drives the motor 8 to rotate the winding pipe 3 in the direction of unwinding the opening / closing body 2. When raising the opening / closing body 2, operating the raising switch located on the remote controller outputs an raising signal from the remote controller to the control device 9 to raise the opening / closing body 2. When the raising signal is input to the control device 9, the control device 9 drives the motor 8 to rotate the winding pipe 3 in the direction of winding the opening / closing body 2. Note that the opening / closing device 1 of the first embodiment is configured to be operated by a remote controller, but is not limited to this. For example, the opening / closing device 1 may be configured to be operated by an operating switch provided on the wall of a building.

[0022] The opening / closing device 1 of the first embodiment includes an obstacle detection device (see Figure 6, etc., described later) 12 that detects when the opening / closing body 2 comes into contact with an obstacle (see Figure 7, etc., described later) 11 during its downward movement, and the opening / closing body 2 can be stopped or raised based on the detection signal from this obstacle detection device 12. Therefore, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, the opening / closing device 1 includes a bottom rail 13, a holding means 14, a switch 15, and a movable member 16.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 6, the fault detection device 12 comprises a sensor unit 17 including a transmitter, a switch 15 (described later), and a receiver 18. The sensor unit 17 includes a button battery, a circuit, and a light-emitting diode. These are housed in a box-shaped case 19. With this configuration, when a signal from the switch 15 is transmitted to the sensor unit 17 via the wiring 20, a detection signal is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver 18 via the transparent section 21 of the case 19. In the illustrated example, the receiver 18 is located inside the bracket cover 5. Therefore, the detection signal from the transmitter reaches the receiver 18 via the transparent section 22 of the bracket cover 5.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 to 4 and Figure 7, the bottom rail 13 has a rail material 23 and a pair of caps 24, 24. The rail material 23 is hollow and roughly rectangular in side view, and is formed in an elongated shape with the left-right direction as its longitudinal direction. The rail material 23 is made of a metal material such as aluminum. Both the left and right ends of the rail material 23 are open to the outside. The rail material 23 has an opening 25 that opens upward. The opening 25 is formed along the left-right direction on the upper wall of the rail material 23. Therefore, the rail material 23 has an opening 25 that opens along its longitudinal direction at its upper end. Inside the rail material 23, a retaining means 14 is provided for holding a switch 15, which will be described later, inside the bottom rail 13. The retaining means 14 includes a mounting portion 26 and a plate 27.

[0025] The mounting portion 26 is formed in the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13. In the illustrated example, a pair of front and rear mounting portions 26, 26 are formed within the rail material 23. The front mounting portion 26 and the rear mounting portion 26 are symmetrical. Therefore, the front mounting portion 26 will be described here. The mounting portion 26 is a groove-shaped section that is roughly rectangular in side view and opens forward. The mounting portion 26 is a long groove-shaped section that extends along the left-right direction. The mounting portion 26 is provided at the lower part of the front wall of the rail material 23. In this case, the opening of the mounting portion 26 is closed by the front wall of the rail material 23. The side walls of the groove-shaped mounting portion 26 extend rearward from the bottom wall of the groove-shaped mounting portion 26. The central part of the bottom wall of the mounting portion 26 bulges rearward in a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from the side. Due to this configuration, a pair of upper and lower recesses 28, 28 are formed in the bottom wall of the mounting portion 26. The pair of upper and lower recesses 28, 28 are recessed forward and align with the left-right direction.

[0026] The plate 27 can be attached to the mounting portion 26. The plate 27 is a plate-like structure that is roughly rectangular in plan view, with its surface facing up and down. The plate 27 is rectangular in shape with the left-right direction as its longitudinal direction.

[0027] A switch 15 is held in the holding means 14 of this configuration. The switch 15 activates the fault detection device 12 by pressing or releasing the pressure. As shown in Figure 5, the switch 15 has an elastically deformable lever 29. The switch 15 activates the fault detection device 12 by pressing the lever 29. In the illustrated example, the switch 15 is a microswitch with a lever 29, but it is not limited to this.

[0028] The switch 15 is held in the holder 30. The holder 30 is a roughly rectangular box shape with an opening at the bottom. The bottom plate of the holder 30 extends forward of the front plate and backward of the rear plate. A through hole 31 for the lever 29 of the switch 15 is formed in the bottom plate of the holder 30. The front plate and the rear plate of the holder 30 have inwardly projecting protrusions 32. The front and rear ends of the switch 15 have recesses 33 that engage with the protrusions 32 of the holder 30. With this configuration, the switch 15 is detachably held within the holder 30. When the switch 15 is positioned within the holder 30, the protrusions 32 of the holder 30 are inserted into the recesses 33 of the switch 15. With the switch 15 positioned inside the holder 30, the lever 29 of the switch 15 extends upward through the through-hole 31 of the holder 30.

[0029] When attaching the switch 15 to the holder 30, simply insert the switch 15 into the holder 30 from below. When the switch 15 is inserted into the holder 30, it comes into contact with the protrusion 32 of the holder 30, causing the front plate and rear plate of the holder 30 to elastically deform outward, allowing the switch 15 to be inserted into the holder 30. After the switch 15 is inserted into the holder 30, the front plate and rear plate of the holder 30 return to their original state. As a result, the protrusion 32 of the holder 30 is inserted into the recess 33 of the switch 15. Therefore, the switch 15 will not come out of the holder 30 downwards.

[0030] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 7, the switch 15 held in the holder 30 is attached to a pair of front and rear mounting parts 26, 26. To attach the switch 15 to the pair of front and rear mounting parts 26, 26, the front end of the bottom plate of the holder 30 is inserted into the recess 28 located above the front mounting part 26, and the rear end of the bottom plate of the holder 30 is inserted into the recess 28 located above the rear mounting part 26. At this time, the lever 29 of the switch 15 held in the holder 30 extends upward from the bottom plate of the holder 30. When attaching the switch 15 to the pair of front and rear mounting parts 26, 26, the switch 15 is slid in the left-right direction with the bottom plate of the holder 30 inserted into the recess 28 of the mounting part 26. Therefore, the mounting part 26 can mount the switch 15 so that it can slide freely along the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail 13.

[0031] When attaching multiple switches 15 to the mounting section 26, the switches 15 should be inserted into the mounting section 26 one by one. In this case, the plate 27 is inserted into the mounting section 26 after the switch 15 has been inserted into the mounting section 26. Then, the switch 15 is inserted into the mounting section 26 after the plate 27 has been inserted into the mounting section 26. By repeating this process, multiple switches 15 and multiple plates 27 can be attached to the mounting section 26. To attach the plate 27 to the mounting section 26, the front end of the plate 27 should be inserted into the recess 28 located on the underside of the front mounting section 26, and the rear end of the plate 27 should be inserted into the recess 28 located on the underside of the rear mounting section 26. When attaching the plate 27 to the mounting section 26, the plate 27 should be slid left and right while it is inserted into the recess 28 of the mounting section 26.

[0032] With multiple switches 15 and plates 27 attached to the mounting portion 26, the plates 27 are positioned between the switches 15 that are spaced apart to the left and right. Therefore, by attaching the plates 27 between the multiple switches 15 attached to the mounting portion 26, the switches 15 are fixed so as not to slide within the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13. In this way, the switches 15 are arranged within the bottom rail 13 and are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail 13. Although a pair of upper and lower recesses 28, 28 are formed in the front and rear mounting portions 26, each of the front and rear mounting portions 26 may have only one recess formed in each. In this case, the bottom plate portion of the holder 30 and the plates 27 can be inserted into the single recess formed in the front and rear mounting portions 26.

[0033] The left and right ends of the rail material 23 are closed by caps 24. In the illustrated example, the left cap 24 and the right cap 24 are symmetrical. Therefore, the left cap 24 will be described here. The cap 24 has a main body piece 34 and a fitting piece 35. The main body piece 34 is a plate-like shape with a roughly rectangular shape in side view, with its plate surface facing left and right. A columnar fitting piece 35, also with a roughly rectangular shape in side view, is provided on the right plate surface of the main body piece 34. The fitting piece 35 protrudes to the right from the right plate surface of the main body piece 34. The fitting piece 35 has four insertion parts 36 that are inserted into recesses 28 of the mounting part 26 provided on the bottom rail 13. The four insertion parts 36 are plate-like shapes with a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction, and their plate surfaces facing up and down. Of the four insertion portions 36, two insertion portions 36, 36 are provided at the front end of the fitting piece 35, and the remaining two insertion portions 36, 36 are provided at the rear end of the fitting piece 35. The two insertion portions 36, 36 located on the front side are separated vertically and protrude forward from the fitting piece 35. The two insertion portions 36, 36 located on the rear side are separated vertically and protrude rearward from the fitting piece 35.

[0034] A cap 24 with this configuration is detachably attached to the left end of the rail material 23. Specifically, the two front insertion parts 36, 36 are inserted from the left into the recesses 28, 28 of the mounting part 26 located on the front, and the two rear insertion parts 36, 36 are inserted from the left into the recesses 28, 28 of the mounting part 26 located on the rear. With this position, the cap 24 is slid to the right until the main body piece 34 contacts the left end of the rail material 23. By attaching the cap 24 to the left end of the rail material 23 in this way, the left end of the rail material 23 is closed by the main body piece 34 of the cap 24. The cap 24 located on the right side is detachably attached to the right end of the rail material 23 in the same manner as the cap 24 located on the left side.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6, a sensor unit 17 is detachably mounted on the bottom rail 13. As shown in Figure 6, the case 19 of the sensor unit 17 has an engaging portion 37 for attachment to the rail material 23. The engaging portion 37 is a roughly rectangular block shape with its longitudinal direction in the left-right direction and is provided on the rear surface of the case 19. The engaging portion 37 protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the case 19. The tip of the engaging portion 37 protrudes upward and downward. The rail material 23 has an engaging groove 38 into which the engaging portion 37 of the case 19 of the sensor unit 17 engages. The engaging groove 38 is a notch shape opening to the left and is provided on the front wall of the rail material 23.

[0036] To attach the sensor unit 17 to the rail material 23, the case 19 is slid to the right relative to the rail material 23, and the engaging portion 37 of the case 19 is inserted into the engaging groove 38 of the rail material 23 from the left. With the engaging portion 37 inserted into the engaging groove 38, the cap 24 is attached to the rail material 23 as described above. As a result, the opening of the notched engaging groove 38 is closed by the cap 24. Therefore, the sensor unit 17 will not fall out to the left from the engaging groove 38. With the engaging portion 37 inserted into the engaging groove 38, the upper and lower protruding tips of the engaging portion 37 are in contact with the inner surface of the front wall of the rail material 23. Therefore, the sensor unit 17 will not fall out forward from the rail material 23. In this way, the sensor unit 17 is provided at the left end of the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13. The receiver 18 that receives the detection signal from the sensor unit 17 is provided inside the left bracket cover 5. The receiver 18 is connected to the control device 9 via a cable.

[0037] As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 7, the movable member 16 is hollow and approximately rectangular in side view, and is formed as an elongated length with the left-right direction as its longitudinal direction. The movable member 16 is an elongated member with a predetermined rigidity. The movable member 16 is made of a metal material such as aluminum. Both the left and right ends of the movable member 16 are open to the outside. The movable member 16 has a groove 39 that opens upward. The groove 39 extends along the left-right direction and is provided inside the movable member 16. The upper end of the groove 39 extends upward from the upper wall of the movable member 16. The groove 39 has a pair of front and rear retaining parts 40, 40 so that it can be provided on the opening / closing body 2. The retaining part 40 located on the front side is plate-shaped and protrudes rearward from the front wall of the groove 39, and is aligned in the left-right direction. The retaining part 40 located on the rear side is plate-shaped and protrudes forward from the rear wall of the groove 39, and is aligned in the left-right direction. A gap is formed between the front retaining portion 40 and the rear retaining portion 40. The movable member 16 has an upper opening 41 that opens upward. Here, the upper opening 41 is the opening of the groove portion 39.

[0038] A groove 39 is provided in the movable member 16, creating a space 42 that runs in the left-right direction between the groove 39 and the front wall of the movable member 16, and between the groove 39 and the rear wall of the movable member 16. A plate-shaped weight 77 is provided in this space 42. A projection 43 is provided on the lower wall of the movable member 16. The projection 43 protrudes downward from the lower wall of the movable member 16. The projection 43 extends in the left-right direction.

[0039] The movable member 16 is provided at the lower end of the opening / closing body 2. In the illustrated example, a rod-shaped shaft 44 is provided at the lower end of the opening / closing body 2. The shaft 44 is provided along the left-right direction within the pocket portion formed by folding back the lower end of the opening / closing body 2. To attach the movable member 16 to the opening / closing body 2, the shaft 44 should be positioned below the retaining portion 40 of the groove portion 39 of the movable member 16. In this case, the shaft 44 is provided within the pocket portion of the opening / closing body 2. As a result, the movable member 16 will not fall off the opening / closing body 2 because the shaft 44 contacts the retaining portion 40. When the movable member 16 is attached to the opening / closing body 2, the lower end of the opening / closing body 2 is housed within the groove portion 39 of the movable member 16 via the upper opening 41. In this way, the movable member 16 is connected to the lower end of the opening / closing body 2.

[0040] The movable member 16 is provided within the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13. In this configuration, the upper end of the groove 39 of the movable member 16 extends upward through the opening 25 of the rail material 23. When the movable member 16 is provided within the rail material 23, the upper wall of the rail material 23 abuts against the upper wall of the movable member 16 from above. As a result, the rail material 23 is supported by the movable member 16. Since the rail material 23 is supported by the movable member 16, the bottom rail 13 is provided at the lower end of the opening / closing body 2.

[0041] With the rail material 23 supported by the movable member 16, the rail material 23 is movable vertically relative to the movable member 16. In other words, the movable member 16 is provided within the rail material 23 so as to be movable vertically. With the movable member 16 provided within the rail material 23, the switch 15 provided within the rail material 23 is positioned below the movable member 16. Therefore, the switch 15 can be pressed from above by the movable member 16 to activate the fault detection device 12. In this way, the movable member 16 is provided so as to be movable within the bottom rail 13 so as to be able to press the switch 15.

[0042] The operation of the opening / closing device 1 when an obstacle 11 is placed on the opposing surface 45 below the bottom rail 13 will be explained using Figures 7(a) to 7(c). The opposing surface 45 below the bottom rail 13 is, for example, the floor. Here, the obstacle 11 is located in front of the bottom rail 13, rather than directly below it. As shown in Figure 7(a), the opening / closing body 2 descends as it is unwound from the winding pipe 3. As the opening / closing body 2 descends further from the state in Figure 7(a), the front side of the lower end of the rail material 23 comes into contact with the obstacle 11, as shown in Figure 7(b). As the opening / closing body 2 descends further from the state in Figure 7(b), the movable member 16 moves downward relative to the bottom rail 13, as shown in Figure 7(c). As a result, the movable member 16 presses the lever 29 of the switch 15 from above. The lever 29 of the switch 15 is pressed by the protruding part 43 of the movable member 16. The movable member 16 presses the switch 15 by descending a predetermined amount relative to the bottom rail 13 during the downward movement of the opening / closing body 2. This activates the fault detection device 12, stopping the downward movement of the opening / closing body 2. When the switch 15 is pressed, a detection signal is sent from the transmitter to the receiver 18, causing the control device 9 to stop the motor 8. This stops the downward movement of the opening / closing body 2. In addition, the opening / closing body 2 may be raised when the fault detection device 12 is activated. In this case, the control device 9 drives the motor 8 so that the opening / closing body 2 is wound onto the winding pipe 3. In the first embodiment, since a weight 77 is housed inside the movable member 16, the weight of the movable member 16 is increased. Therefore, the movable member 16 can reliably push the lever 29 of the switch 15.

[0043] In the case of the opening / closing device 1 of the first embodiment, the movable member 16 moves within the bottom rail 13, thereby activating the obstacle detection device 12. Therefore, according to the opening / closing device 1 of the first embodiment, since the obstacle 11 can be detected across the entire lower surface of the bottom rail 13, the obstacle detection device 12 can be activated more reliably when an obstacle 11 is present between the bottom rail 13 and the opposing surface 45.

[0044] In the case of the opening / closing device 1 of the first embodiment, the movable member 16 is a long member with a predetermined rigidity. Therefore, according to the opening / closing device 1 of the first embodiment, since the movable member 16 is less likely to bend, the obstacle detection device 12 can be reliably activated regardless of the position of the obstacle 11 in the longitudinal direction.

[0045] In the case of the opening / closing device 1 of the first embodiment, the switch 15 is positioned within the bottom rail 13 by the holding means 14. Therefore, according to the opening / closing device 1 of the first embodiment, the switch 15 can be positioned at any longitudinal position, so that the obstacle 11 can be detected with greater accuracy. In addition, the wiring 20 of the switch 15 can be routed in the space below the plate 27, so that the wiring 20 does not protrude above the plate 27, and the wiring 20 does not interfere with the movable member 16.

[0046] The opening / closing device 1a according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 8(a) to 8(c). Note that components having the same reference numerals as those used in the above embodiment have the same function and therefore their descriptions may be omitted below. In the second embodiment, the opening / closing device 1a further includes a gap-preventing member 46. The gap-preventing member 46 is provided on the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13. Therefore, the configuration of the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13 differs from that of the first embodiment.

[0047] The rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13 is hollow and roughly rectangular in side view, and is formed in an elongated shape with the left-right direction as its longitudinal direction. Both the left and right ends of the rail material 23 are open outwards. The rail material 23 has an opening 25 that opens upward. The opening 25 is formed along the left-right direction on the upper wall of the rail material 23. Therefore, the rail material 23 has an opening 25 that opens along its longitudinal direction at its upper end. The rail material 23 has an opening 47 that opens downward. The opening 47 is formed along the left-right direction on the lower wall of the rail material 23. Therefore, the rail material 23 has an opening 47 that opens along its longitudinal direction at its lower end. The rail material 23 has a groove 48 that opens downward. The groove 48 extends along the left-right direction and is provided inside the rail material 23. In the illustrated example, the groove 48 opens on the lower wall of the rail material 23. Therefore, the opening 47 of the rail material 23 is the opening of the groove 48.

[0048] A gap-preventing member 46 is supported on the rail material 23. The gap-preventing member 46 can close the gap between the bottom rail 13 and the opposing surface 45 below it. In the illustrated example, the gap-preventing member 46 is made of an elastic material such as synthetic resin or rubber, and is a long member with its longitudinal direction in the left-right direction. The gap-preventing member 46 has a support portion 49 located on the upper side and a closing portion 50 located on the lower side. In the first embodiment, the gap-preventing member 46 is integrally formed.

[0049] The support portion 49 is a rod-shaped structure with a roughly rectangular shape in side view, and its axis runs in the left-right direction. The support portion 49 is a long rod-shaped structure that extends in the axial direction. A through hole 51 is provided in the support portion 49. The through hole 51 is aligned in the left-right direction. A rod-shaped shaft 52, which serves as a weight, is inserted into this through hole 51.

[0050] The closing portion 50 has one piece 53 located on the upper side and another piece 54 located on the lower side, and is formed to be elongated with the left-right direction as its longitudinal direction. One piece 53 is plate-shaped with a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from the side. One piece 53 is provided on the support portion 49 with its plate surface facing front to back. When one piece 53 is provided on the support portion 49, one piece 53 protrudes downward from the support portion 49. The front-to-back length of the support portion 49 is greater than the front-to-back length of one piece 53. Therefore, when one piece 53 is provided on the support portion 49, both the front and rear ends of the lower wall portion of the support portion 49 are exposed downward. A groove-shaped insertion portion 55 that opens to the rear is formed on the rear surface of one piece 53. The insertion portion 55 is oriented in the left-right direction. The other piece 54 is plate-shaped with a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from the side, and is formed to be thinner than one piece 53. The other piece 54 is provided on one piece 53 with its plate surface facing front to back. In the state where the other piece 54 is attached to the piece 53, the other piece 54 protrudes downward from the piece 53. The other piece 54 is curved. Specifically, the other piece 54 is curved in a roughly arc shape such that the lower end of the other piece 54 is located behind the upper end of the other piece 54.

[0051] The closing portion 50 of the gap-preventing member 46 protrudes outward from both the left and right ends of the support portion 49 of the gap-preventing member 46. The shaft 52 provided on the gap-preventing member 46 protrudes outward from both the left and right ends of the support portion 49 of the gap-preventing member 46. Therefore, the end of the shaft 52 is located above the end of the closing portion 50. A sag-restricting member 56 is provided at the end of the closing portion 50 of the gap-preventing member 46. The sag-restricting member 56 is formed, for example, by bending a plate material. The sag-restricting member 56 is groove-shaped and opens downward. The lower end of the rear wall portion of the sag-restricting member 56 is bent forward. As a result, the sag-restricting member 56 has a bent portion 57. As shown in Figure 8, the sag-restricting member 56 is positioned to cover the shaft 52 provided on the gap-preventing member 46 from above. In this case, the bent portion 57 of the sagging-restricting member 56 is inserted into the insertion portion 55 formed in the closing portion 50 of the gap-preventing member 46. This prevents the end of the closing portion 50 of the gap-preventing member 46, which is an elastic member, from sagging.

[0052] As shown in Figure 8, the gap-preventing member 46 protrudes downward from the rail material 23. In the illustrated example, the gap-preventing member 46 is supported by the rail material 23. Typically, with the support portion 49 of the gap-preventing member 46 housed within the groove portion 48 of the rail material 23, the lower wall portion of the support portion 49 abuts against the inner surface of the lower wall portion of the rail material 23, thereby supporting the gap-preventing member 46 within the rail material 23. In this case, the closing portion 50 of the gap-preventing member 46 protrudes downward from the rail material 23 through the opening 47 of the rail material 23. Therefore, the gap-preventing member 46 is supported within the bottom rail 13 with a portion of it protruding from the opening 47 at the lower end of the bottom rail 13. Because the gap-preventing member 46 is supported by the bottom rail 13 in this manner, the gap-preventing member 46 is movable vertically relative to the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13.

[0053] A switch 15 is provided within the rail material 23. The rail material 23 has a pair of mounting parts 26, 26 with the same configuration as in the first embodiment. The switch 15, which is located inside the holder 30, is attached to the front and rear pair of mounting parts 26, 26. To attach the switch 15 to the mounting part 26, the front end of the bottom plate of the holder 30 is inserted into the recess 28 located above the front mounting part 26, and the rear end of the bottom plate of the holder 30 is inserted into the recess 28 located above the rear mounting part 26. At this time, the lever 29 of the switch 15 held in the holder 30 extends upward from the bottom plate of the holder 30. A plate 27 is attached to the front and rear pair of mounting parts 26, 26. To attach plate 27 to mounting portion 26, insert the front end of plate 27 into the recess 28 located below the front mounting portion 26, and insert the rear end of plate 27 into the recess 28 located below the rear mounting portion 26.

[0054] The rail material 23 is supported by the movable member 16, as in the first embodiment. The movable member 16 has the same configuration as the rail material 23 in the first embodiment and is connected to the lower end of the opening / closing body 2. The movable member 16 is provided within the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13. In this case, the upper end of the groove 39 of the movable member 16 extends upward through the opening 25 of the rail material 23. When the movable member 16 is provided within the rail material 23, the upper wall of the rail material 23 abuts against the upper wall of the movable member 16 from above. As a result, the rail material 23 is supported by the movable member 16. When the rail material 23 is supported by the movable member 16, the rail material 23 is movable vertically relative to the movable member 16. In other words, the movable member 16 is provided within the rail material 23 so as to be movable vertically. With the movable member 16 installed within the rail material 23, the switch 15 installed within the rail material 23 is positioned below the movable member 16. Therefore, the switch 15 can be activated by being pressed from above by the movable member 16, thereby activating the fault detection device 12.

[0055] The operation of the opening / closing device 1a when an obstacle 11 is placed on the opposing surface 45 will be explained using Figures 8(a) to 8(c). Here, the obstacle 11 is located directly below the gap-preventing member 46. As shown in Figure 8(a), when the opening / closing body 2 descends, the other piece 54 of the gap-preventing member 46 comes into contact with the obstacle 11. If the opening / closing body 2 descends further from the state in Figure 8(a), as shown in Figure 8(b), the other piece 54 of the gap-preventing member 46 is pushed downward by the bottom rail 13, causing it to be crushed and bent. In this state, the movable member 16 does not press the lever 29 of the switch 15 from above. If the opening / closing body 2 descends further from the state in Figure 8(b), as shown in Figure 8(c), the bottom rail 13 comes into contact with the obstacle 11 via the gap-preventing member 46. As a result, the movable member 16 moves downward relative to the bottom rail 13, pressing the lever 29 of the switch 15 from above. The lever 29 of the switch 15 is pressed by the protruding portion 43 of the movable member 16. Therefore, as the opening / closing body 2 descends, the movable member 16 descends a predetermined amount relative to the bottom rail 13, causing the movable member 16 to press against the switch 15. As a result, the fault detection device 12 operates as described above.

[0056] In the case of the opening / closing device 1a of the second embodiment, the opening / closing device 1a is equipped with a gap-preventing member 46. Therefore, the opening / closing device 1a of the second embodiment is designed to improve shielding performance by closing the gap between the bottom rail 13 and the opposing surface 45 at the lower limit position, while also enabling more reliable operation of the fault detection device 12.

[0057] The opening / closing device 1b according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 9(a) to 9(c). Note that components having the same reference numerals as those used in the above embodiments have the same function, and therefore their descriptions may be omitted below.

[0058] In the opening / closing device 1b of the third embodiment, the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13 is hollow and roughly oval in shape when viewed from the side, and is formed in an elongated length with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the upper wall portion of the rail material 23 bulges upward in a roughly arc shape, and the lower wall portion of the rail material 23 bulges downward in a roughly arc shape. Both the left and right ends of the rail material 23 are open outwards. The rail material 23 has an opening 25 that opens upward. The opening 25 is formed in the upper wall portion of the rail material 23 along the left-right direction. Therefore, the rail material 23 has an opening 25 that opens along the longitudinal direction at its upper end.

[0059] The interior of the rail material 23 is divided vertically by a plate-shaped partition wall 58. As a result, a housing portion 59 for the movable member 16, described later, is formed above the partition wall 58 inside the rail material 23. The inner surface of the housing portion 59 is an arcuate surface. The housing portion 59 opens upward through the aforementioned opening 25. The housing portion 59 also opens downward through an opening 60 formed in the partition wall 58. The opening 60 is formed in the partition wall 58 along the left-right direction. As a result, the front portion and the rear portion of the partition wall 58 are formed inside the rail material 23, separated front to back. Here, the front portion of the partition wall 58 is a mounting portion 26 located at the front, and the rear portion of the partition wall 58 is a mounting portion 26 located at the rear. The front mounting portion 26 has a pair of upper and lower recesses 28, 28 that are recessed forward, and the rear mounting portion 26 has a pair of upper and lower recesses 28, 28 that are recessed rearward. Through holes 61 are formed in the front mounting portion 26 and the rear mounting portion 26, extending in the left-right direction. Rod-shaped weights 62 are housed in the through holes 61 of the front mounting portion 26 and the rear mounting portion 26.

[0060] A switch 15, located inside the holder 30, is attached to a pair of front and rear mounting sections 26, 26. To attach the switch 15 to the mounting section 26, the front end of the bottom plate of the holder 30 is inserted into the recess 28 located above the front mounting section 26, and the rear end of the bottom plate of the holder 30 is inserted into the recess 28 located above the rear mounting section 26. At this time, the lever 29 of the switch 15 held by the holder 30 extends upward from the bottom plate of the holder 30. A plate 27 is attached to a pair of front and rear mounting sections 26, 26. To attach the plate 27 to the mounting section 26, the front end of the plate 27 is inserted into the recess 28 located below the front mounting section 26, and the rear end of the plate 27 is inserted into the recess 28 located below the rear mounting section 26.

[0061] With the switch 15 attached to the front and rear pair of mounting parts 26, 26, the bottom plate portion of the holder 30 housing the switch 15 is exposed within the housing portion 59. In the third embodiment, a groove-shaped recess 63 that is recessed downward is formed in the bottom plate portion of the holder 30. The groove-shaped recess 63 is oriented in the left-right direction. The corner portion 64 between the inner surface of the side wall located in front of the groove-shaped recess 63 and the upper surface of the side wall located in front of the groove-shaped recess 63, and the corner portion 65 between the inner surface of the side wall located behind the groove-shaped recess 63 and the upper surface of the side wall located behind the groove-shaped recess 63 are formed in an arc shape. As a result, the inner surface of the housing portion 59 and the corner portions 64, 65 are smoothly continuous.

[0062] In the opening / closing device 1b of the third embodiment, the movable member 16 is substantially cylindrical and elongated in the axial direction. A groove-shaped recess 66 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the movable member 16. The groove-shaped recess 66 extends along the left-right direction. The depth direction of the groove-shaped recess 66 is along the radial direction of the movable member 16. On opposing inner surfaces of the groove-shaped recess 66, protrusions 67 are formed that project inward. The protrusions 67 are plate-shaped and extend along the left-right direction. The protrusions 67, 67 face each other in the front-rear direction. On one of the opposing inner surfaces of the groove-shaped recess 66, an engagement portion 68 of the opening / closing body 2 is formed. The engagement portion 68 is a substantially L-shaped plate that extends inward from the inner surface of the recess 66 and then extends toward the bottom of the recess 66, and extends along the left-right direction. The movable member 16 has an upper opening 41 that opens upward. Here, the upper opening 41 is the opening of the groove-shaped recess 66.

[0063] Through holes 69 are formed in the movable member 16 between one of the opposing inner surfaces of the recess 66 and the outer circumferential surface of the movable member 16, and between the other opposing inner surface of the recess 66 and the outer circumferential surface of the movable member 16. In the illustrated example, two through holes 69, 69 are formed between one of the inner surfaces of the recess 66 and the outer circumferential surface of the movable member 16, and between the other inner surface of the recess 66 and the outer circumferential surface of the movable member 16. A rod-shaped weight 70 is housed in the through holes 69.

[0064] The movable member 16 is provided at the lower end of the opening / closing body 2. In the illustrated example, a plate-shaped stopper plate 71 is provided at the lower end of the opening / closing body 2. The stopper plate 71 is provided on the rear surface of the lower end of the opening / closing body 2. To attach the movable member 16 to the opening / closing body 2, the portion of the opening / closing body 2 on which the stopper plate 71 is provided is folded backward, and the lower end of the opening / closing body 2 is housed in the recess 66 of the movable member 16. At this time, the end of the stopper plate 71 is engaged with the engaging portion 68 of the movable member 16. When the movable member 16 is attached to the opening / closing body 2, the lower end of the opening / closing body 2 is housed in the recess 66 of the movable member 16 through the upper opening 41 which opens upward. In this way, the movable member 16 is connected to the lower end of the opening / closing body 2.

[0065] The movable member 16 is provided within the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13. Specifically, the movable member 16 is housed in the housing portion 59 of the rail material 23. When the movable member 16 is housed in the housing portion 59, its axial direction is aligned with the left-right direction. When the movable member 16 is provided within the housing portion 59, the upper wall portion of the rail material 23 abuts against the outer circumferential surface of the movable member 16 from above. As a result, the rail material 23 is supported by the movable member 16. When the movable member 16 is provided within the housing portion 59, the lower end of the opening / closing body 2 is housed within the recess 66 of the movable member 16 via the opening 25 of the rail material 23 and the upper opening 41 of the movable member 16.

[0066] In the third embodiment, the vertical length of the housing 59 is greater than the diameter of the movable member 16. Therefore, the movable member 16 is provided to be movable and rotatable within the bottom rail 13 when housed within the housing 59. When the movable member 16 is provided within the housing 59, the switch 15 provided within the rail material 23 is positioned below the movable member 16. Therefore, the switch 15 can be pressed by the circumferential surface of the movable member 16 to activate the fault detection device 12. In this way, the movable member 16 is provided to be movable and rotatable in the vertical direction within the bottom rail 13 so as to be able to press the switch 15.

[0067] The operation of the opening / closing device 1b when an obstacle 11 is placed on the opposing surface 45 below the bottom rail 13 will be explained using Figures 9(a) to 9(c). Here, the obstacle 11 is located directly below the bottom rail 13. As shown in Figure 9(a), the opening / closing body 2 descends as it is unwound from the winding pipe 3. As the opening / closing body 2 descends further from the state in Figure 9(a), the lower end of the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13 comes into contact with the obstacle 11, as shown in Figure 9(b). As the opening / closing body 2 descends further from the state in Figure 9(b), the rail material 23 rotates around the movable member 16, and the movable member 16 moves downward relative to the rail material 23, as shown in Figure 9(c). As a result, the movable member 16 presses the lever 29 of the switch 15 from above. The lever 29 of the switch 15 is pressed by the outer circumferential surface of the movable member 16. The movable member 16 presses the switch 15 by descending a predetermined amount relative to the bottom rail 13 during the downward movement of the opening / closing body 2. As a result, the fault detection device 12 operates as described above.

[0068] In the case of the opening / closing device 1b of the third embodiment, the movable member 16 is provided so as to be movable and rotatable within the bottom rail 13. Therefore, according to the opening / closing device 1b of the third embodiment, even if the bottom rail 13 comes into contact with an obstacle 11 and tilts, the movable member 16 can descend while rotating relative to the rail material 23 and press the switch 15 with its circumferential surface, thereby enabling more reliable activation of the obstacle detection device 12.

[0069] The switchgear 1c according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 10(a) to 10(c). Note that components having the same reference numerals as those used in the above embodiments have the same function, and therefore their descriptions may be omitted below. In the fourth embodiment, the switch 15 activates the fault detection device 12 when the pressure is released.

[0070] In the opening / closing device 1c of the fourth embodiment, the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13 is hollow and approximately rectangular in side view, and is formed in an elongated shape with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction. Both the left and right ends of the rail material 23 are open outward. The rail material 23 has an opening 25 that opens upward. The opening 25 is formed along the left-right direction on the upper wall of the rail material 23. Therefore, the rail material 23 has an opening 25 that opens along the longitudinal direction at its upper end. A switch pressing piece 72 is provided inside the rail material 23. The switch pressing piece 72 is plate-shaped and approximately rectangular in plan view, and is formed in an elongated shape with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction. The switch pressing piece 72 protrudes rearward from the front wall of the rail material 23. The inside of the rail material 23 is divided vertically by a plate-shaped partition wall 73. As a result, the inside of the rail material 23 is divided into an upper region 74 above the partition wall 73 and a lower region 75 below the partition wall 73. The upper region 74 is provided with a movable member 16, which will be described later, and the lower region 75 is provided with a thick plate-shaped weight 76 along the left-right direction.

[0071] In the opening / closing device 1c of the fourth embodiment, the movable member 16 is hollow and approximately rectangular in side view, and is formed to be elongated with the left-right direction as its longitudinal direction. The movable member 16 has a main body piece 78 housed in the bottom rail 13 and a connecting piece 79 provided on the main body piece 78. The main body piece 78 is cylindrical and approximately rectangular in side view, and is elongated in the axial direction. Since the main body piece 78 is rectangular, it has a front wall portion and a rear wall portion. Here, the front wall portion of the main body piece 78 is a mounting portion 26 located on the front side, and the rear wall portion of the main body piece 78 is a mounting portion 26 located on the rear side. The front mounting portion 26 has a pair of upper and lower recesses 28, 28 that are recessed forward, and the rear mounting portion 26 has a pair of upper and lower recesses 28, 28 that are recessed backward.

[0072] A switch 15, located inside the holder 30, is attached to a pair of front and rear mounting portions 26, 26. In the fourth embodiment, the holder 30 has basically the same configuration as in the previous embodiment. The holder 30 is box-shaped with an opening at the bottom. A flange portion 81 extending outward is formed at the lower end of the front plate portion and the lower end of the rear plate portion of the holder 30. The bottom plate portion of the holder 30 does not extend outward more than the front plate portion and the rear plate portion.

[0073] To attach the switch 15 to the mounting portion 26, the flange portion 81 of the front plate portion of the holder 30 is inserted into the recess 28 located below the front mounting portion 26, and the flange portion 81 of the rear plate portion of the holder 30 is inserted into the recess 28 located below the rear mounting portion 26. At this time, the lever 29 of the switch 15 held by the holder 30 extends upward from the bottom plate portion of the holder 30. A plate 27 is attached to the pair of front and rear mounting portions 26, 26. In the fourth embodiment, to attach the plate 27 to the mounting portion 26, the front end of the plate 27 is inserted into the recess 28 located above the front mounting portion 26, and the rear end of the plate 27 is inserted into the recess 28 located above the rear mounting portion 26.

[0074] An opening 80 is formed in the front wall portion of the main body piece 78, opening forward and above the recess 28. The opening 80 is formed in the front wall portion of the main body piece 78 along the left-right direction. The connecting piece 79 is groove-shaped and opens upward, extending along the left-right direction. The connecting piece 79 has a pair of front and rear retaining portions 40, 40 so that it can be provided on the opening / closing body 2. The front retaining portion 40 is plate-shaped and protrudes rearward from the front wall portion of the connecting piece 79, along the left-right direction. The rear retaining portion 40 is plate-shaped and protrudes forward from the rear wall portion of the connecting piece 79, along the left-right direction. A gap is formed between the front retaining portion 40 and the rear retaining portion 40. The movable member 16 has an upper opening 41 that opens upward. Here, the upper opening 41 is the opening of the groove-shaped connecting piece 79 that opens upward.

[0075] The movable member 16 is provided at the lower end of the opening / closing body 2. In the illustrated example, a rod-shaped shaft 44 is provided at the lower end of the opening / closing body 2. The shaft 44 is provided along the left-right direction within a pocket formed by folding back the lower end of the opening / closing body 2. To attach the movable member 16 to the opening / closing body 2, the shaft 44 should be positioned below the retaining portion 40 of the connecting piece 79 of the movable member 16. In this case, the shaft 44 is provided within the pocket of the opening / closing body 2. As a result, the movable member 16 does not fall off the opening / closing body 2 because the shaft 44 contacts the retaining portion 40. When the movable member 16 is attached to the opening / closing body 2, the lower end of the opening / closing body 2 is housed within the connecting piece 79 of the movable member 16 via the upper opening 41. In this way, the movable member 16 is connected to the lower end of the opening / closing body 2.

[0076] The movable member 16 is provided within the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13. Specifically, the main body piece 78 of the movable member 16 is provided within the upper region 74 of the rail material 23. At this time, the connecting piece 79 of the movable member 16 extends upward through the opening 25 of the rail material 23. When the main body piece 78 of the movable member 16 is provided within the rail material 23, the upper wall of the rail material 23 abuts against the upper wall of the main body piece 78 of the movable member 16 from above. As a result, the rail material 23 is supported by the movable member 16.

[0077] With the rail material 23 supported by the movable member 16, the rail material 23 is movable vertically relative to the movable member 16. In other words, the movable member 16 is provided to be movable vertically within the rail material 23. With the rail material 23 supported by the movable member 16, the switch 15 provided within the main body piece 78 of the movable member 16 is positioned within the upper region 74 of the rail material 23 of the bottom rail 13. At this time, the switch pressing piece 72 extends into the main body piece 78 through the opening 80 of the main body piece 78. The lever 29 of the switch 15 is pressed from below against the switch pressing piece 72 by the movable member 16. Therefore, the fault detection device 12 can be activated by releasing the pressure on the switch 15 from the movable member 16. In this way, the movable member 16 is provided to be movable within the bottom rail 13 so as to be able to release the pressure on the switch 15.

[0078] The operation of the opening / closing device 1c when an obstacle 11 is placed on the opposing surface 45 below the bottom rail 13 will be explained using Figures 10(a) to 10(c). Here, the obstacle 11 is located in front of the bottom rail 13, rather than directly below it. As shown in Figure 10(a), the opening / closing body 2 descends as it is unwound from the winding pipe 3. As the opening / closing body 2 descends further from the state in Figure 10(a), the front side of the lower end of the rail material 23 comes into contact with the obstacle 11, as shown in Figure 10(b). As the opening / closing body 2 descends further from the state in Figure 10(b), the movable member 16 moves downward relative to the bottom rail 13, as shown in Figure 10(c). As a result, the movable member 16 releases the pressure of the lever 29 of the switch 15 on the switch pressing piece 72. That is, as the movable member 16 moves downward, the lever 29 of the switch 15 is separated from the switch pressing piece 72. The movable member 16 releases the pressure on the switch 15 by descending a predetermined amount relative to the bottom rail 13 during the downward movement of the opening / closing body 2. As a result, the fault detection device 12 operates as described above.

[0079] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and any modifications or improvements that can achieve the objectives of the present invention are included within the scope of the present invention.

[0080] In each of the above embodiments, the opening and closing device 1 was a roller screen, but it is not limited to this, and may be a horizontal blind, pleated screen, honeycomb screen, Roman shade, shutter, retractable screen door, projection screen, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1. Switching device 2 Opening / closing mechanism 11 Obstacles 12. Fault detection device 13 Bottom Rail 14 Retention means 15 switches 16 Movable member 25 Opening 26 Mounting part 27 plates 46 Gap prevention member 47 Opening

Claims

1. An opening / closing device comprising an obstacle detection device that detects contact with an obstacle during the downward movement of the opening / closing body, and stopping or raising the opening / closing body based on the detection signal from the obstacle detection device, A bottom rail is provided at the lower end of the opening / closing body and has an opening at its upper end that is open along the longitudinal direction, A switch is positioned within the bottom rail and activates the fault detection device by pressing or releasing the pressure, The switch is provided to be movable within the bottom rail so as to be able to be pressed or released, and the lower end of the opening / closing body is connected to a long movable member, The movable member is an opening / closing device that presses or releases the switch by descending a predetermined amount relative to the bottom rail during the downward movement of the opening / closing body.

2. The bottom rail has an opening at its lower end that is open along the longitudinal direction, The opening and closing device according to claim 1, further comprising a gap-preventing member that is supported within the bottom rail so as to be vertically movable with a portion of it protruding from the opening at the lower end, and capable of closing the gap between the bottom rail and the opposing surface below it.

3. The movable member is provided within the bottom rail so as to be movable and rotatable. The opening / closing device according to claim 1, wherein the switch is pressed against the circumferential surface of the movable member to activate the fault detection device.

4. Multiple switches are provided spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. The opening and closing device according to claim 1, wherein the movable member is a long member having a predetermined rigidity.

5. The bottom rail further comprises a holding means for holding the switch, The opening and closing device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises a mounting portion that allows the switch formed in the bottom rail to be slidably mounted along the longitudinal direction, and a plate that can be attached to the mounting portion, and the plate is attached between a plurality of the switches attached to the mounting portion, thereby fixing the switches in the bottom rail so that they cannot slide.

Images