Aftermarket drive unit

Abstract

To provide an add-on drive unit for automatically opening or closing an opening / closing body, which is easy to install or remove. [Solution] A retrofit drive unit 1 that is installed to automatically open or close an opening / closing body, comprising a housing 11 installed in a fixed structure, and a rotating body 121 provided in the housing 11 that rotates in direct contact with the opening / closing body to cause the opening / closing body to open or close.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive unit that is retrofitted to automatically open or close an opening / closing body.

Background Art

[0002] As an opening / closing device having, for example, a sliding door or the like provided at an entrance / exit or the like, a so-called automatic door device that can automatically open and close the door has been used. A technology relating to such an automatic door device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Further, Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose technologies for motorizing a suspended arc-shaped door device, and Patent Document 3 discloses a technology that enables motorization of an existing door device in addition to new installation.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As shown in Patent Document 3, there are devices that can be retrofitted to existing door systems to motorize them. However, their installation requires attaching components such as the guide member 8, first connecting member 9, transmission belt 10, opening / closing mechanism 12, second connecting members 13 and 14, and drive sprocket 15 to the fixed structure side, such as the guide rail, and the door body 5, which is the opening / closing body, while positioning and engaging them with each other. This makes it difficult for users to install them easily. Furthermore, the removal process also requires the removal of numerous components, making it difficult for users to remove them easily.

[0005] In view of the above, the present invention aims to provide a retrofit drive unit that is installed afterwards to automatically open or close an opening or closing body, and which is easy to install or remove. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (Composition 1) A retrofit drive unit for automatically opening or closing an opening / closing body, comprising a housing installed in a fixed structure, and a rotating body provided in the housing that rotates in direct contact with the opening / closing body to cause the opening / closing body to open or close.

[0007] (Configuration 2) A retrofit drive unit for automatically opening or closing an opening / closing body, comprising: a housing installed on the opening / closing body; and a rotating body provided on the housing, which rotates in direct contact with a fixed structure to cause the opening / closing body to open or close.

[0008] (Composition 3) The retrofit drive unit according to configuration 1 or 2, wherein the opening and closing body is a sliding door, and the dimension of the housing along the opening and closing direction of the door is less than or equal to the remaining length of the door.

[0009] (Composition 4) An add-on drive unit according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, comprising a motor provided in the aforementioned housing, which supplies rotational force to the rotating body and has a rotation axis in the vertical direction.

[0010] (Composition 5) A retrofit drive unit according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the opening and closing body is a sliding door, and the vertical dimension of the housing is less than or equal to the dimension from the lower end of the door handle or lock to the floor.

[0011] (Composition 6) A retrofit drive unit according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, wherein the opening / closing body is a sliding door, and the dimension along the depth direction of the housing is less than or equal to the protrusion dimension of the handle of the opening / closing body or less than or equal to the depth dimension of the mullion.

[0012] (Composition 7) A retrofit drive unit according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, comprising a switching mechanism for switching between contact and non-contact of the rotating body with respect to the opening / closing body or the fixed structure.

[0013] (Composition 8) An add-on drive unit according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, comprising an auxiliary rotating body installed on the fixed structure side, the auxiliary rotating body being provided at a position opposite to the side on which the rotating body is located relative to the opening / closing body.

[0014] (Composition 9) The add-on drive unit according to configuration 8, wherein a holding mechanism for rotatably holding the auxiliary rotating body is connected to the housing.

[0015] (Composition 10) The retrofit drive unit according to configuration 1, wherein the fixed structure is a mullion, and the housing is provided with a positioning engagement portion for the mullion.

[0016] (Composition 11) The retrofit drive unit according to configuration 2, wherein the opening and closing body is a sliding door, and the housing has a positioning engagement portion for the door's edge.

[0017] (Configuration 12) The retrofit drive unit according to any one of Configurations 1 to 11, wherein the housing is detachable from and attachable to the fixing structure or the opening / closing body. Effects of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, there can be provided a retrofit drive unit that is retrofitted for automatically opening or closing an opening / closing body, and that allows easy installation work or removal work. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] Perspective view viewed from the front side of the portable automatic operator (retrofit drive unit) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention [Figure 2] Perspective view viewed from the rear side of the portable automatic operator of Embodiment 1 [Figure 3] Perspective view of the portable automatic operator of Embodiment 1 with a cover portion removed [Figure 4] Perspective view showing a drive mechanism portion of Embodiment 1 [Figure 5] Drawing showing a drive mechanism portion of Embodiment 1 [Figure 6] Drawing showing an opening / closing device using the portable automatic operator of Embodiment 1 [Figure 7] Drawing for explaining the operation of the portable automatic operator of Embodiment 1 [Figure 8] Flowchart for explaining an outline of processing of the portable automatic operator of Embodiment 1 [Figure 9] Drawing for explaining the operation of the portable automatic operator of Embodiment 2 [Figure 10] Flowchart for explaining an outline of processing of the portable automatic operator of Embodiment 2 [Figure 11] Drawing showing the portable automatic operator of Embodiment 3 [Figure 12] Drawing showing an example of another usage mode of the portable automatic operator of Embodiment 1 [Figure 13] Diagram illustrating the operation of the opening / closing device of Embodiment 4. [Figure 14] Diagram illustrating the operation of the opening / closing device of Embodiment 5. [Figure 15] Diagram illustrating the operation of the opening / closing device of Embodiment 6. [Figure 16] Diagram showing the opening and closing device of Embodiment 7 [Figure 17] Flowchart illustrating the general operation of the switchgear in Embodiment 7 [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples of how the present invention can be implemented, and do not limit the present invention to their scope.

[0021] <Embodiment 1> Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a portable automatic operator (retrofit drive unit) 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, where Figure 1(a) is a perspective view from the bottom and right side of the front, Figure 1(b) is a perspective view from the top and left side of the front, Figure 2(a) is a perspective view from the bottom and left side of the rear, and Figure 2(b) is a perspective view from the top and right side of the rear. For convenience, in the installed state of the portable automatic operator 1 (Figure 6), the front side (front in Figure 6) is referred to as the front, the opposite side as the rear, the top side (top in Figure 6) as the top, and the opposite side as the bottom. Also, the left side in Figure 6 is referred to as the left side, and the right side as the right side. These directional concepts will be the same in subsequent explanations. Note that these are for the convenience of explanation, and which side is designated as the top, etc., can be determined arbitrarily.

[0022] The portable automatic operator (retrofit drive unit) 1 of this embodiment is a portable device that converts an existing sliding door with a door closer into an automatic door, and is a device that can be installed with a single touch. In other words, it is a "drive unit that is retrofitted to automatically open or close the opening / closing mechanism." The portable automatic operator 1 of this embodiment is A drive mechanism 12 for automatically opening the opening / closing body (a sliding door in this embodiment) 21, The housing 11, which has a drive mechanism 12 inside and is installed on the fixed structure side, A motor unit 13 is provided inside the housing 11 and includes a motor that supplies rotational force to the first rotating body 121, Remote control device 14 and It is equipped with.

[0023] The housing 11 includes a cover portion 111, a mounting portion 112, and an installation height adjustment member 113. Figure 3 shows the cover portion 111 removed. Figure 3(a) is a perspective view from the bottom and right side of the front, and Figure 3(b) is a perspective view from the top and right side of the rear. The mounting portion 112 is, in its basic form, an angle-shaped member having two surfaces: a front side and a right side. The motor unit 13 is fixed to the mounting portion 112 (screwed in this embodiment), and the rotating shaft is rotatably held by a rotating shaft holding plate 1122 provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the two angle-shaped surfaces. As a result, the drive mechanism 12 and the motor unit 13, which are provided for the rotating shaft, are held by the mounting portion 112. The mounting portion 112 also has an engaging portion 1121 formed by bending the rear end of the right side into a crank shape, and a magnet M is attached to the right side. The portable automatic operator 1 of this embodiment is attached to the corner portion of the mullion (metal) 221 of the opening / closing device 2 (see Figures 6(a) and 7), and the engaging portion 1121 functions as a positioning engaging portion for the mullion 221 (see Figure 7(a)), allowing it to be attached to the mullion 221 by the magnet M, and the device can be attached (and removed) with a single touch. The cover portion 111 generally covers the entire device. In this embodiment, it has a front surface, a top surface, and a left side surface, with the front surface and left side surface connected via an inclined surface. Furthermore, the rear end of the left side surface is bent inward to form a reinforcing end surface 1111, and the right side surface is formed in an area that excludes the area where the magnet M is provided. The cover portion 111 only needs to generally cover the entire device, and can be any shape while considering safety, including strength, and design, and no further explanation is given here. In this embodiment, the bottom side is given as an example, but the bottom side may also have sides (partially or entirely). Similarly, in this embodiment, the rear side is given as an example, but the rear side may be provided in an area that does not interfere with the function of the drive mechanism 12 described below. In this embodiment, the device is generally covered by two components, a cover portion 111 and a mounting portion 112. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the housing may be integrally formed from a single component, or it may be composed of three or more components, etc. The installation height adjustment member 113 contacts the floor at its lower end and adjusts the installation height of the portable automatic operator 1. The installation height adjustment member 113 is a substantially L-shaped member having a ground surface and a mounting surface, and the screw holes are configured as elongated holes so that the mounting position (height) of the mounting surface relative to the mounting part 112 can be adjusted (see Figure 3(a)). Note that the installation height adjustment member 113 is not an essential component, and it may be omitted.

[0024] Figures 4 and 5 show parts of the drive mechanism 12, with Figure 4 being a perspective view, Figure 5(a) a rear view, and Figure 5(b) a bottom view (excluding the installation height adjustment member 113). The drive mechanism 12 is A first rotating body 121 that directly contacts the opening / closing body 21 and drives it to open the opening / closing body 21, The system includes a switching mechanism 122 that switches between contact and non-contact of the first rotating body 121 with respect to the opening / closing body 21. The drive mechanism 12 is driven by the motor unit 13. More specifically, as shown in Figure 5(a), the drive mechanism 12 is driven by the motor unit 13 by the rotating shaft 133, which is connected to the output shaft 131 of the motor unit 13 via a coupler 132 or the like, on which the sun gear 1221 and arm members 1223 (two of them) described below are provided. Note that the output shaft 131 and the rotating shaft 133 may be the same (in which case the coupler 132 is not necessary). Furthermore, the configuration for connecting the output shaft 131 and the rotating shaft 133 of the motor unit 13 (coupler 132, etc.) and the configuration used for the relative arrangement of each component (washers, spacers, bearings, etc.) are provided as appropriate according to the specific configuration of the individual device, and a detailed explanation is omitted here.

[0025] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the switching mechanism 122 is The sun gear 1221 is a drive rotating body that drives the rotation of the first rotating body 121, A planetary gear 1222 is immovably attached to the first rotating body 121 and meshes with the sun gear 1221, An arm member 1223 is an orbital holding mechanism that holds or guides the orbital movement of the first rotating body 121 around the sun gear (driving rotating body) 1221, Spring washer (friction force adjusting member) 1224, It is equipped with. The sun gear 1221 is mounted so as not to rotate with respect to the rotation axis 133, and therefore rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotation axis 133. The arm member 1223 is mounted at one end to the rotation axis (the rotation axis of the sun gear) 133 so as to be rotatable around that axis, and at the other end it holds the rotation axis of the planetary gear 1222. Therefore, the arm member 1223 holds the planetary gear 1222 so that the planetary gear 1222 revolves around the sun gear 1221. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5(b), the portion of the arm member 1223 in which the planetary gear 1222 is pivotally supported is offset to the rear side with respect to the direction in which the arm of the arm member 1223 extends, and a locking projection 12231 is formed on the opposite side (front side) from the portion in which the planetary gear 1222 is pivotally supported. The locking projection 12231 abuts against the housing 11 (mounting portion 112) when the first rotating body 121 is in the storage position (the "closed operation position" described below), thereby defining the storage position. The arm member 1223 in this embodiment consists of two plate-shaped members having a similar configuration, and is arranged to sandwich the sun gear 1221 as shown in Figure 5(a) (however, the arm member is not limited to two plate-shaped members; for example, the arm member may be composed of a single structure). The planetary gear 1222 meshes with the sun gear 1221 and therefore rotates (rotates) in conjunction with the rotation of the sun gear 1221. Furthermore, the rotation axis of the planetary gear 1222 is held by the arm member 1223, which is rotatable relative to the rotation axis 133, causing it to revolve around the sun gear 1221. As shown in Figure 5(a), the spring washer 1224 is provided between the nut N, which is used to attach the sun gear 1221 and the arm member 1223 to the rotating shaft 133, and the arm member 1223. The presence of the spring washer 1224 makes it easy to adjust the frictional force of the arm member 1223 against the sun gear 1221 (i.e., the driving force that rotates the arm member 1223) by adjusting the tightness of the nut N. Therefore, the arm member 1223 is attached to the sun gear 1221 with a constant frictional force, and when the sun gear 1221 rotates, a constant rotational force is applied to the arm member 1223, causing it to rotate, while against a force exceeding a certain level, it will spin freely relative to the rotation of the sun gear 1221. Here, a spring washer is used as an example of a friction force adjusting member, but any member that can generate a predetermined friction force that allows the arm member to rotate while simultaneously preventing it from spinning freely against a force exceeding a certain level can be used (if the friction force can be adjusted solely by the tightness of the nut N itself, a separate friction force adjusting member (spring washer) may not be provided). In this embodiment, the arm member 1223 is configured to have a predetermined frictional force with respect to the sun gear 1221. However, it is also possible to configure the arm member 1223 to have a predetermined frictional force with respect to the rotating shaft 133, for example.

[0026] The first rotating body 121, which is immovably attached to the planetary gear 1222 (i.e., rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the planetary gear 1222 and revolves in conjunction with the revolution of the planetary gear 1222), is composed of friction rollers (wheels whose contact portion is made of a material having a relatively high coefficient of friction, such as rubber or silicone) and operates to open the opening / closing body 21 by rotating in direct contact with the opening / closing body 21.

[0027] The motor unit 13 includes, internally (though not specifically shown), a motor with a vertical axis as its rotation axis, a power supply unit that supplies power to the motor (which may be battery-powered or powered externally via a power cord), a control unit that controls the motor, a receiving unit that receives signals from the remote control device 14, and a reduction gear provided between the motor shaft and the output shaft 131 to reduce the rotational speed. The remote control device 14 is equipped with "open," "stop," and "close" buttons, and a transmitter that sends signals corresponding to these inputs. Two remote control devices 14 are provided, one for installation on the indoor side and one for installation on the outdoor side. With these configurations, the motor is controlled based on "open," "stop," and "close" inputs from the user (processes described later). In addition, the motor unit may be equipped with known functions to sense changes in rotational speed and drive load and detect abnormalities. In that case, the sensitivity of abnormality detection at the time when the first rotating body comes into contact with the opening / closing body and starts driving the opening / closing body should be lowered or the detection should not be performed at that time, so as not to judge the fluctuations in speed and load as abnormalities. Furthermore, the motor unit may be equipped with a function to limit the amount of movement (number of rotations) in accordance with the opening / closing width of the opening / closing body (for example, a function that automatically stops at the fully open (or fully closed) position and reduces the speed as it approaches the fully open (or fully closed) position). Note that any motor unit and remote control device capable of rotating / stopping the rotating shaft 133 according to the processing operations described below can be used, so a detailed explanation is omitted here (here, a unitized motor drive part is used as an example, but it may also be configured within the housing 11 without being unitized). The remote control device is not mandatory, and for example, the housing 11 may have an input means. Furthermore, any input means such as voice input may be used as the input means. Moreover, instead of an input means such as a remote control (user input means), various sensors such as a human presence sensor may be used to obtain a signal instructing the opening and closing of the opening / closing body.

[0028] Figure 6 shows the switchgear 2 with the portable automatic operator 1 installed, and Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the portable automatic operator 1. The opening / closing device 2 is, The opening / closing mechanism 21 is a sliding door (a sliding door), A frame 22 for attaching the opening / closing mechanism 21 to the opening of the building, A rail member 23 on which the suspension wheels 211 of the opening / closing mechanism 21, which is a sliding door, A door closer 24 operates to close the opening / closing mechanism 21 (closes it automatically), It is equipped with. Regarding the above configuration of the opening / closing device 2 as a sliding door (including the mullion 221), any configuration of an opening / closing device (sliding door) can be used, so a detailed explanation is omitted here (door closers are also a well-known mechanism, and any device can be used as the door closer 24, so a detailed explanation is omitted here).

[0029] As can be seen from Figures 6 and 7, the portable automatic operator 1 of this embodiment is The vertical dimension of the housing 11 is less than or equal to the distance from the lower end of the handle 212 of the opening / closing body (sliding door) 21 (or the lower end of the lock, if there is a lock) to the floor. The dimension of the housing 11 along the depth direction (vertical direction in Figure 7) is less than or equal to the depth dimension of the mullion 221. Furthermore, the dimensions of the opening / closing body 21 of the housing 11 along the opening / closing direction (left-right direction in Figure 6) are less than or equal to the remaining extension dimension of the opening / closing body. The "remaining extension dimension" refers to the portion of the opening / closing body 21 that protrudes inside the frame when the opening / closing body 21, which is a sliding door, is opened, so that the handle 212, etc., does not hit the mullion 221. Regarding the vertical dimensions of the housing 11, the distance from the bottom of the key to the floor is generally about 600 mm, and therefore, it is preferable that the dimensions be 550 mm or less, or 500 mm or less. The dimensions of the housing 11 in the depth direction are preferably less than or equal to the depth of the mullion 221 or less than or equal to the projection of the handle 212. The projection of the handle is generally about 70 mm, and therefore, it is preferable that the dimensions be 70 mm or less. Regarding the left-right dimensions of the housing 11, the remaining space is generally 120mm to 160mm, and therefore, it is preferable that it be 120mm or less. The portable automatic operator 1 of this embodiment, with the above configuration, does not adversely affect the opening and closing operation of the opening / closing body 21, and since there are no protruding parts in its construction, it does not get in the way and has a superior appearance. Furthermore, it can be attached to / detached with a single touch from the fixed structure side (or the opening / closing side) of the mullion 221, making it extremely convenient.

[0030] Next, the function of the drive mechanism 12 with the configuration described above will be explained with reference to Figure 7. Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the portable automatic operator 1 of this embodiment attached to the opening / closing device 2 (the drive mechanism 12 is shown transparently to make the operation of the drive mechanism 12 easier to understand), and shows the area around the mullion 221 to which the portable automatic operator 1 is attached. Figure 7(a) shows the initial state after the installation of the portable automatic operator 1. In this state, the first rotating body 121 is not in contact with the opening / closing body 21, and therefore the opening / closing device 2 can be opened manually as a sliding door with a normal door closer, and the opening / closing body 21 can be closed automatically by the door closer 24 (the portable automatic operator 1 does not interfere with these operations).

[0031] The rotation of the output shaft 131 of the motor unit 13 causes the rotation shaft 133 to rotate, and as shown in Figure 7(b), the sun gear 1221 rotates in the first direction (counterclockwise in Figure 7(b)). Consequently, the arm member 1223 also rotates in the first direction around the rotation shaft 133, and therefore the first rotating body 121 also revolves in the first direction. As a result, the first rotating body 121 comes into contact with the opening / closing body 21. After the first rotating body 121 comes into contact with the opening / closing body 21, the arm member 1223 rotates freely relative to the rotation of the sun gear 1221, so the sun gear 1221 continues to rotate, but the arm member 1223 does not rotate (continuing to press the first rotating body 121 against the opening / closing body 21 with a predetermined force). The first rotating body 121 is immovably mounted to the planetary gear 1222, and since the planetary gear 1222 meshes with the counterclockwise rotating sun gear 1221, the first rotating body 121 rotates clockwise. Therefore, the first rotating body 121 travels along the side of the opening / closing body 21 (relatively to the left in Figure 7(b)) to open the opening / closing body 21 (moving to the right in Figure 7(b)). As a result, the opening / closing body 21 opens automatically. At this time, along with the rotational force of the arm member 1223, the first rotating body 121, which attempts to move leftward along the side surface of the opening / closing body 21, causes the first rotating body 121 to engage between the sun gear 1221 and the opening / closing body 21. As a result, the first rotating body 121 is sandwiched between the sun gear 1221 and the opening / closing body 21, and the first rotating body 121 is strongly pressed against the opening / closing body 21. This action provides a high anti-slip effect on the movement of the first rotating body 121 against the opening / closing body 21.

[0032] On the other hand, when the output shaft 131 of the motor unit 13 rotates in the opposite direction, causing the rotation shaft 133 to rotate in the opposite direction, the sun gear 1221 rotates in the second direction (clockwise in Figure 7(c)), as shown in Figure 7(c). Consequently, the arm member 1223 also rotates in the second direction around the rotation shaft 133, and therefore the first rotating body 121 also revolves in the second direction. As a result, the first rotating body 121 separates from the opening / closing body 21 and becomes non-contact. Since the opening / closing body 21 is biased in the closing direction by the door closer 24, when the first rotating body 121 becomes non-contact with the opening / closing body 21, the opening / closing body 21 automatically closes and returns to the state shown in Figure 7(a) (i.e., a state in which manual opening or closing by the door closer 24 is possible). In this invention, "non-contact" refers to a state in which the first rotating body (or the second and third rotating bodies described below) does not provide substantial resistance to the opening and closing operation of the opening / closing body, such as by manual operation. This concept also includes, for example, a state in which there is slight contact, but no substantial resistance is provided to the opening and closing operation of the opening / closing body.

[0033] As described above, the drive mechanism 12 is configured such that "as the planetary gears revolve in a first direction relative to the sun gear, the first rotating body directly (or indirectly) contacts the opening / closing body (or fixed structure), and as the planetary gears revolve in a second direction, the first rotating body becomes non-contact with the opening / closing body (or fixed structure)." Furthermore, "the rotational direction of the planetary gear during its revolution in the first direction is such that the rotational direction of the planetary gear causes the first rotating body to move relative to the opening / closing body (or fixed structure) in a direction that allows the first rotating body to enter between the sun gear and the opening / closing body (or fixed structure)."

[0034] Next, with reference to Figure 8, an overview of the processing operation of the portable automatic operator 1 will be described. This processing is mainly performed by the control unit provided in the motor unit 13.

[0035] The portable automatic operator 1 is waiting for an operation from the remote control device 14, and when an operation is made to the remote control device 14 (S801: Yes), it performs processing according to the content of that operation (S802).

[0036] If the operation by the remote control device 14 is an input to the "open" switch, the motor is rotated in the first direction (in a rotational direction such that the sun gear 1221 rotates in the first direction (counterclockwise in Figure 7(b))) (S802: open → S803). As described above, the rotation of the motor causes the first rotating body 121 to come into contact with the opening / closing body 21, resulting in the opening / closing body 21 automatically opening. While the motor is rotating (while the opening / closing body 21 is opening), the loop processing in S804-805 determines whether or not there has been an operation on the remote control device 14 and whether or not the opening / closing body 21 has reached the fully open position. The determination of whether or not it is in the fully open position can be done by any method, such as by providing various sensors to detect the position of the opening / closing body 21 or by detecting when the motor load exceeds a certain value. As mentioned above, the speed may be reduced as it approaches the fully open position. When the opening / closing body 21 reaches the fully open position, the motor is stopped (S805: Yes → S806). When the motor stops, the rotation of the first rotating body 121 stops while the first rotating body 121 remains in contact with the opening / closing body 21, thereby stopping the opening / closing body 21 against the biasing force of the door closer 24. In this embodiment, as described above, a reduction gear is provided between the motor shaft and the output shaft 131, so the opening / closing body 21 can be stopped against the biasing force of the door closer 24 simply by stopping the motor without applying any brakes. However, depending on the presence or absence of a reduction gear and the strength of the biasing force of the door closer, a braking device may be provided, and the braking process in S806 may be performed. If the motor is stopped during the loop processing in S806-807, and the opening / closing body 21 is maintained in the open state, and a "close" switch input is received, the process proceeds to S808-809. Furthermore, during the loop processing of S804-805 while the motor is rotating (while the opening / closing body 21 is opening), if there is an operation on the remote control device 14 (S804: Yes), the process proceeds to S802, and processing is carried out according to the input switch (if it is "open", the processing from S803 onwards described here is carried out, so it is practically the same as if nothing had been input. If it is "closed", the processing of S808-809 described below is carried out, and if it is "stop", the processing of S810-813 described below is carried out).

[0037] If it is determined in S802 or S807 that the "close" switch has been input, the process proceeds to S808, where it is determined whether the first rotating body (friction roller) 121 is in the "open position" or the "closed position". The "open position" is the state in which the first rotating body 121 is in contact with the opening / closing body 21 in order to open it, and the "closed position" is the state in which the rotating body 121 is not in contact with the opening / closing body 21. The determination of whether the first rotating body 121 is in the "open position" or the "closed position" may be made by providing a sensor to determine the position of the first rotating body 121, or by providing a contact sensor, a pressure sensor, etc., or by any method, such as determining based on state transitions (for example, it is in the "open position" during and immediately after the opening operation, and in the "closed position" in the initial state and after the closing operation). For example, if the process has transitioned from S807, the motor is in the "open position," so the process transitions from S808 to S809, and the motor is rotated by a predetermined amount in a second direction (a rotational direction such that the sun gear 1221 rotates in the second direction (clockwise in Figure 7(c))). "Rotation by a predetermined amount" means the amount of rotation necessary for the first rotating body 121 to move away from the opening / closing body 21 and into the storage position (the position where the locking projection 12231 of the arm member 1223 contacts the housing 11 (mounting part 112)). "Rotation by a predetermined amount" may be controlled by sensing the number of rotations, by controlling the rotation time, or by providing a sensor, contact sensor, or pressure sensor to determine the position of the first rotating body 121 and rotating it until it reaches a predetermined position (any control that can return the first rotating body 121 to the storage position is acceptable). Once the first rotating body 121 is returned to its storage position by S809, the process returns to S801 and the subsequent steps are repeated. If the first rotating body 121 is already in the stowed position (S808: closed position), such as when the "close" switch is pressed in the initial state, S809 is skipped (i.e., nothing is done), and the process returns to S801 and the subsequent steps are repeated.

[0038] If the “stop” switch is pressed (S802: stop), the process proceeds to S810, where it is determined whether the first rotating body 121 is in the “open position” or the “closed position”. This is the same concept as S808 described above. If the first rotating body 121 is in the "closed position" (i.e., the rotating body 121 is not in contact with the opening / closing body 21), the process proceeds to S811, where the motor is rotated by a predetermined amount in the first direction (in a rotational direction such that the sun gear 1221 rotates in the first direction (counterclockwise in Figure 7(b))). This rotation is sufficient to bring the first rotating body 121 into contact with the opening / closing body 21, and the concept is the same as S809, just with the operation reversed. When the first rotating body 121 is brought into contact with the opening / closing body 21 by S811 (or when the rotating body 121 is already in contact with the opening / closing body 21 (in the open position), and S811 is skipped and the process proceeds from S810), the motor is stopped (S812). This is a similar concept to S806, including the use of a brake depending on the configuration. This stops the opening / closing body 21. These processes allow the opening / closing body to be stopped in response to the input of the stop switch, even when, for example, the door is moving in the closing direction by the door closer (when the rotating body 121 is not in contact with the opening / closing body 21). During the loop processing of S812-813 while the motor is stopped (while the opening / closing body 21 is stopped), if there is an operation on the remote control device 14 (S813: Yes), the process proceeds to S802, and processing is carried out according to the input switch (if it is "closed", the processing from S810 onwards described here is carried out, so it is essentially the same as if nothing had been input. If it is "open", the processing of S803-807 described above is carried out, and if it is "closed", the processing of S808-809 described above is carried out). In the processing operation of this embodiment described above, both the opening operation (S803-S807) triggered by the input of the "open" switch and the stopping operation (S810-S813) triggered by the input of the "stop" switch are scheduled to be followed by a closing operation (S808-S809) triggered by the input of the "close" switch. Once the closing operation (S808-S809) is performed, the first rotating body 121 and the opening / closing body 21 become non-contact. Therefore, in this state, the portable automatic operator 1 does not generate any resistance to the opening and closing operation of the opening / closing body 21.

[0039] As described above, the portable automatic operator (retrofit drive unit) 1 of this embodiment can be attached to the opening and closing device with a single touch, making it extremely convenient. Conventional automatic door devices, for example, have a drive belt and a mechanism for rotating it, and a mechanism for connecting the drive belt to the opening and closing body, or they are of the rack and pinion type, with a rack on the door side (the rack installation work requires precise work because if the rack is not level, the engagement with the pinion will be disengaged), and then a drive device for the pinion is installed, resulting in a large number of parts to install and a complicated installation work (they are not something that can be simply attached). In contrast, as can be understood from the above description, the portable automatic operator 1 of this embodiment can be used simply by attaching it to a fixed structure such as a mullion, making it extremely convenient. In addition, the portable automatic operator 1 of this embodiment is extremely easy to remove. Conventional automatic door systems, as described above, are relatively complicated to install, and similarly, removal is also relatively complicated (in some cases, destructive removal may be required). In contrast, the portable automatic operator 1 of this embodiment can be installed and removed with a single touch, and can be used repeatedly. For example, in places where users change periodically, such as nursing homes or hospital rooms, the need for automatic doors may change relatively frequently depending on the type of user, and the portable automatic operator 1 of this embodiment can flexibly respond to such needs. Furthermore, by providing a switching mechanism that switches between contact / non-contact between the first rotating body and the opening / closing body, manual opening and closing operations using a door closer are possible (the portable automatic operator 1 does not interfere with these operations). Conventional automatic door systems are always connected to a drive source for driving the opening / closing body, which creates resistance to manual opening and closing operations using a door closer (manual use or use in conjunction with a door closer was not considered). In contrast, with the portable automatic operator 1 of this embodiment, as described above, the portable automatic operator 1 can be prevented from creating resistance to the opening and closing operations of the opening / closing body 21, and in addition to manual opening and closing under normal circumstances, it is possible to perform smooth opening and closing operations (manual opening and closing operations using a door closer) without being affected by resistance caused by being connected to a drive source, for example, in the event of a power outage or battery failure. In addition, the switching mechanism for switching between contact / non-contact between the first rotating body and the opening / closing body can absorb slight differences in the distance from the opening / closing body, thus being tolerant of various dimensional differences in individual opening / closing devices and offering greater convenience (further enhancing the ease of "plug and play" mentioned above). Furthermore, the drive mechanism 12 of this embodiment can simultaneously perform the operation of bringing the first rotating body into and out of contact with the opening / closing body 21, and the operation of rotating the first rotating body (on its own axis) to open the opening / closing body, even though the drive source is only one motor. Moreover, this is achieved with a relatively simple mechanism and control. Therefore, it is possible to make a low-cost, compact, and lightweight device, which is extremely useful (in this respect as well, the ease of "plug and play" mentioned above is further enhanced).

[0040] In this embodiment, the mullion 221 of the opening / closing device 2 is made of metal (steel), and the portable automatic operator 1 (housing 11) is attached detachably by magnet M as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any mounting method may be used, such as attaching with screws, adhesive, or double-sided tape, depending on the material of the object to be attached, or attaching a bracket (engaging member) to the object to be attached in advance and then engaging the portable automatic operator (housing) with this bracket to attach it detachably. Furthermore, although this embodiment uses a mullion 221 as an example of the mounting target for the portable automatic operator 1 (housing 11), the mounting target for the portable automatic operator (housing) is not limited to this, and it is possible to mount it to any "fixed structure" such as a floor or wall (the building frame or other building structure itself, or a member fixed thereto that is adjacent to the opening / closing body).

[0041] In this embodiment, the portable automatic operator 1 (housing 11) is shown as being attached to the fixed structure side as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in Figure 6(b) as an example, the portable automatic operator (housing) may be attached to the opening / closing body side. When the portable automatic operator (housing) is attached to the opening / closing body side, the first rotating body rotates in direct contact with the fixed structure (floor, wall, or the upper frame of the opening / closing device frame, ceiling, etc.) to open or close the opening / closing body. When it is to travel on the floor, the first rotating body will naturally be positioned in a direction that allows it to travel on the floor, but the concept is the same as described above (for example, the direction of the drive mechanism is changed by using bevel gears or universal joints to change the direction of the rotation axis, but the concept is the same). In the case of an opening / closing device 2 illustrated in this embodiment, where the opening / closing body is housed in a door pocket, the portable automatic operator 1 must be installed within the range of the "remaining length" on the door edge side of the opening / closing body, as shown in Figure 6(b) (to avoid the portable automatic operator interfering with the mullion when the opening / closing body is opened). In such cases, it is preferable to provide the housing with a positioning engagement part for the door edge of the opening / closing body (for example, a hook-shaped member that catches on the corner of the door edge, similar to the positioning engagement part 1121 for the mullion). In opening / closing devices where there is no door pocket and the entire front side of the opening / closing body is exposed, the portable automatic operator can be installed at any location, not just the door edge.

[0042] In Embodiment 1, a device for automating the opening operation of a sliding door with a door closer (a sliding door that closes automatically) was described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may also be a device for automating the closing operation of a sliding door that opens automatically by a mechanism opposite to that of a door closer (the concept is the same). Furthermore, in opening and closing devices that do not have a door closer (or the reverse mechanism), this device may be used to automate both the opening and closing operations. Below, as Embodiment 2, an example of a portable automatic operator for automating such opening and closing operations is described.

[0043] <Embodiment 2> Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the portable automatic operator (aftermarket drive unit) 1-2 of Embodiment 2 (a horizontal cross-sectional view that transparently shows the drive mechanism). For configurations that have a similar concept to those in Embodiment 1, the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 1 are used, and their explanations here are simplified or omitted. The drive mechanism of the portable automatic operator 1-2 of this embodiment includes a second rotating body 123 whose rotation direction when in contact with the opening / closing body 21 (or fixed structure) is opposite to that of the first rotating body 121 described in Embodiment 1, and includes a second switching mechanism for switching between contact and non-contact of the second rotating body 123 with respect to the opening / closing body 21 (or fixed structure). The second switching mechanism is, The second rotating body 123 is mounted so as not to rotate, and the planetary gear 1222-2 meshes with the sun gear 1221, The sun gear 1221 drives the rotation of the planetary gear 1222-2, An arm member 1223-2 is rotatably mounted on the rotation axis of the sun gear 1221 and holds the rotation axis of the planetary gear 1222-2, causing the planetary gear 1222-2 to revolve around the sun gear 1221, It is equipped with. The second switching mechanism in this embodiment is integrally configured with the switching mechanism 122 described in Embodiment 1 (which switches between contact and non-contact of the first rotating body 121 with respect to the opening / closing body 21 (or fixed structure)). More specifically, the sun gear 1221 is identical to (shared with) that of the switching mechanism 122, and the arm member 1223-2 is shared with the arm member 1223 of Embodiment 1.

[0044] The arm member 1223-2 is configured to rotatably hold the second rotating body 123 (planetary gear 1222-2) by extending the side of the arm member 1223 in Embodiment 1 that is opposite to the side to which the first rotating body 121 is attached. The arm member 1223-2 has a configuration that is symmetrical with respect to a straight line passing through the rotation axis 133. With respect to the sliding direction of the opening / closing body 21 (left-right direction in Figure 9), the sun gear 1221 is in the middle, and the first rotating body 121 (planetary gear 1222) is rotatably supported on one side of it, and the second rotating body 123 (planetary gear 1222-2) is rotatably supported on the rotation axis 133. As with Embodiment 1, it is attached by a nut N via a spring washer 1224. Therefore, the arm member 1223-2 is attached to the sun gear 1221 with a constant frictional force, and when the sun gear 1221 rotates, a constant rotational force is applied and it rotates, but against a force exceeding a certain level, it spins freely relative to the rotation of the sun gear 1221. As can be seen from Figure 9, the arm member 1223-2 moves in a seesaw-like manner in conjunction with the rotation and reverse rotation of the sun gear 1221 (the first rotating body 121 and the second rotating body 123 revolve around the sun gear 1221, selectively bringing one of them into contact with the opening / closing body 21 (or fixed structure), or keeping both of them out of contact with the opening / closing body 21 (or fixed structure)). Note that the locking projection 12231 present on the arm member 1223 of Embodiment 1 is absent on the arm member 1223-2 (because either the first rotating body 121 or the second rotating body 123 needs to rotate (oscillate) to a range where it contacts the opening / closing body 21, and once either the first rotating body 121 or the second rotating body 123 contacts the opening / closing body 21, it will not rotate any further).

[0045] The planetary gear 1222-2 itself is conceptually similar to the planetary gear 1222 of Embodiment 1, and meshes with the sun gear 1221, and therefore rotates (rotates) in conjunction with the rotation of the sun gear 1221. Furthermore, the rotation axis of the planetary gear 1222-2 is held by the arm member 1223-2 which is rotatable relative to the rotation axis 133, causing it to revolve around the sun gear 1221. The second rotating body 123 itself is based on the same concept as the first rotating body 121 in Embodiment 1, and is immovably mounted to the planetary gear 1222-2 (i.e., it rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the planetary gear 1222-2 and revolves in conjunction with the revolution of the planetary gear 1222-2), and is composed of friction rollers. The second rotating body 123 operates to close the opening / closing body 21 by rotating on its own axis while in direct contact with the opening / closing body 21.

[0046] The portable automatic operator 1-2 of Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in that its housing is larger in the left-right direction due to the inclusion of the above-described drive mechanism. However, the configuration other than the second rotating body 123 and the second switching mechanism described above is conceptually the same as that of Embodiment 1, so a description of these configurations will be omitted here. Furthermore, the opening and closing device in which the portable automatic operator 1-2 is used is the same as the opening and closing device 2 of Embodiment 1, except that it does not have a door closer (or the opposite mechanism).

[0047] Next, with reference to Figure 10, an overview of the processing operation of the portable automatic operator 1-2 of this embodiment will be described. This processing is mainly performed by the control unit provided in the motor unit 13. Note that components with the same processing concepts as in Embodiment 1 will use the same reference numerals, and their explanation here will be simplified or omitted.

[0048] The processing in S801 to S802 is the same as in Embodiment 1, and the processing in S803 to S805 when the operation by the remote control device 14 is an input for the "open" switch is also the same as in Embodiment 1. When the opening / closing body 21 automatically opens to the fully open position as a result of this processing, the motor is rotated by a predetermined amount in the second direction (in a rotation direction such that the sun gear 1221 rotates in the second direction (clockwise in Figure 9)) (S805: Yes → S1001). This is basically the same concept as S809 in Embodiment 1, and the first rotating body 121 (and the second rotating body 123) are rotated as much as necessary to separate from the opening / closing body 21, resulting in the state shown in Figure 9(a). Note that it is sufficient that the first rotating body 121 and the second rotating body 123 are in a non-contact state with the opening / closing body 21 (or fixed structure), and they do not necessarily have to be in the position shown in Figure 9(a) (parallel to the opening / closing body). Hereafter, the state in which the first rotating body 121 and the second rotating body 123 are not in contact with the opening / closing body 21 (or fixed structure) will be referred to as the "neutral state". In the neutral position, the opening / closing mechanism does not have a door closer, so the opening / closing body 21 is in a stopped state, and manual opening and closing operations are possible. As a result of the processing in S803 to S805, the first rotating body 121 comes into contact with the opening / closing body 21 and rotates, as shown in Figure 9(b), causing the opening / closing body 21 to open automatically (this is the same concept as in Embodiment 1). After that, S1001 returns the system to a neutral state (the state shown in Figure 9(a)), and then the process returns to S801 and is repeated.

[0049] If the operation by the remote control device 14 is an input to the "close" switch (S802: closed), the process proceeds to S1002-S1005. The processes of S1002-S1005 differ from those of S803-S805 and S1001 in that the direction of rotation is reversed, but the processing concept is the same. As a result of the processes in S1102 to S1104, the second rotating body 123 comes into contact with the opening / closing body 21 and rotates, as shown in Figure 9(c), causing the opening / closing body 21 to close automatically. After that, S1005 returns the system to the neutral state (the state shown in Figure 9(a)), and then the process returns to S801 and is repeated.

[0050] If the operation by the remote control device 14 is an input to the “stop” switch (S802: stop), the procedure proceeds to S810 to determine whether the first rotating body 121 and the second rotating body 123 are in the “open position”, “closed position”, or “neutral”. This is basically the same concept as S810 in Embodiment 1, where the state in which the first rotating body 121 is in contact with the opening / closing body 21 (or fixed structure) is the “open position”, the state in which the second rotating body 123 is in contact with the opening / closing body 21 (or fixed structure) is the “closed position”, and the state in which neither is in contact is the “neutral position”. If the motor is in the "closed position," the process proceeds to S1006 (same processing concept as S1005) to rotate the motor by a predetermined amount in the first direction. If the motor is in the "open position," the process proceeds to S1007 (same processing concept as S1001) to rotate the motor by a predetermined amount in the second direction. If the motor is in the "neutral" position, nothing is done. These processes bring the motor to the neutral state (the state shown in Figure 9(a)) (i.e., the opening / closing body 21 is brought to a stopped state). The opening / closing body 21 is stopped if the stop switch is input during the loop processing of S804-S805, which is in the opening operation, or during the loop processing of S1003-S1004, which is in the closing operation. After returning to a neutral state, the process returns to S801 and repeats. Here, we have given an example in which the opening / closing body is stopped by separating the rotating body from the opening / closing body. However, it is also possible to stop the opening / closing body by keeping the first or second rotating body in contact with the opening / closing body and stopping the motor's rotation (or even applying a brake) (a concept similar to Embodiment 1).

[0051] As described above, the portable automatic operator 1-2 of this embodiment provides the same effects as in Embodiment 1, and can automate the opening and closing operation of opening and closing devices that do not have door closers or the like.

[0052] In this embodiment, the drive mechanism for the revolution and rotation of the second rotating body is shared with the drive mechanism for the first rotating body 121, but separate mechanisms are also possible. That is, the sun gear, planetary gears, and arm members for the revolution and rotation of the second rotating body may be added as separate components from the sun gear, planetary gears, and arm members for the revolution and rotation of the first rotating body. Furthermore, it is possible to perform the opening and closing operation without providing a second rotating body. If the first rotating body continues to revolve (clockwise) due to the rotation of the motor in the second direction, the first rotating body can be moved to the position of the second rotating body. Once the first rotating body is moved to the position of the second rotating body, it will have the same function as the second rotating body described above. Therefore, although space is required for the first rotating body to move to the position of the second rotating body, it is possible to provide the same function as the portable automatic operator 1-2 described in Embodiment 2 using only the first rotating body.

[0053] <Embodiment 3> Figure 11 shows the portable automatic operator (retrofit drive unit) 1-3 of Embodiment 3, and is divided into three sections: Figure 11(a): left side view, Figure 11(b): left side view with the portable automatic operator 1-3 attached to the opening / closing device (showing the internal mechanism transparently), and Figure 11(c): horizontal cross-sectional view showing the portable automatic operator 1-3 attached to the opening / closing device, near the mullion 221.

[0054] The portable automatic operators 1-3 of this embodiment are equipped with an auxiliary rotating body 151, and differ from Embodiment 1 in their housing configuration. However, other aspects are the same as Embodiment 1, so the description of the drive mechanism and its processing operation, which have the same configuration as Embodiment 1, will be omitted here. Furthermore, components that are the same as those in Embodiment 1 will be described using the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 1. The portable automatic operators 1-3 of this embodiment include an auxiliary rotating body 151 which is installed on the fixed structure side and is located on the opposite side from the side where the first rotating body 121 is located relative to the opening / closing body 21. The auxiliary rotating body 151 is provided to be able to rotate freely relative to the rotating shaft member (holding mechanism) 152. The rotating shaft member 152 is connected to the housing 11-3 via a connecting member 153 (a member that passes between the lower end of the opening / closing body 21, which is a sliding door, and the floor), so that "the holding mechanism that rotatably holds the auxiliary rotating body is connected to or integrated with the housing." As described in Embodiment 1, the housing 11-3 is attached to the mullion 221 (fixed structure), so the auxiliary rotating body 151 is installed on the fixed structure side via the housing 11-3, etc. As can be seen from Figure 11(b), the auxiliary rotating body 151 is positioned to sandwich the opening / closing body 21 between itself and the first rotating body 121, and has the function of supporting the opening / closing body 21 from the rear side. Due to its structure, the sliding door may have some play in the depth direction, but when the first rotating body 121 is pressed against the opening / closing body 21 from the front side, the auxiliary rotating body 151 provides rear support, ensuring the contact force of the first rotating body 121 with the opening / closing body 21, resulting in more stable operation. In this example, the rotating shaft member (holding mechanism) 152 that holds the auxiliary rotating body 151 is connected to the housing 11-3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the holding mechanism that rotatably holds the auxiliary rotating body may be fixed to a fixed structure such as a floor, independently of the housing.

[0055] Furthermore, similar to the portable automatic operators 1-3 of this embodiment, in order to suppress rattle in the forward direction and achieve more stable operation, two portable automatic operators 1 of Embodiment 1 may be used, as shown in Figure 12. That is, a portable automatic operator 1' with a configuration symmetrical to portable automatic operator 1 may be attached to the mullion 221 on the rear side of the opening / closing body 21, and the system may be operated by two portable automatic operators (which perform similar processing operations using a common remote control device). Similarly, two portable automatic operators 1-2 of Embodiment 2 may be used. However, in this case, two drive sources (motors) would be used. In contrast, embodiments 4 to 6 show examples of devices that use only one drive source (motor) and have rotating bodies that rotate in contact with the opening / closing body on both sides of the opening / closing body.

[0056] <Embodiment 4> Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the opening / closing device 2-4 of Embodiment 4 (a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the drive mechanism transparently). Figure 13(a) shows the neutral state, and Figure 13(b) shows the closed state. For configurations that have a similar concept to those in Embodiment 1, the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 1 are used, and their explanations here are simplified or omitted.

[0057] The opening / closing device 2-4 of this embodiment is A drive mechanism similar to Embodiment 1 (first rotating body 121, sun gear 1221, planetary gear 1222, arm member 1223), The opening / closing body 21, the frame 22 including the mullion 221 (see Figure 6), the rail member 23, and the door closer 24, The third rotating body 124 rotates in the opposite direction to the first rotating body 121 and is located on the opposite side of the opening / closing body 21 from where the first rotating body 121 is located (on the rear side of the opening / closing body 21). A second sun gear 1221-4 rotates in the opposite direction to the sun gear 1221, A second planetary gear 1222-4 is immovably mounted to the third rotating body 124 and meshes with the second sun gear 1221-4, A second arm member 1223-4 is an orbital holding mechanism that holds or guides the orbital movement of the third rotating body 124 around the second sun gear 1221-4, A friction force adjusting member (not shown in particular) adjusts the friction force between the second sun gear 1221-4 and the second arm member 1223-4, The system includes connecting gears 161 and 162 that transmit the rotational force of the sun gear 1221 to the second sun gear 1221-4 in the opposite direction of rotation.

[0058] The drive mechanism, specifically the first rotating body 121, sun gear 1221, planetary gear 1222, and arm member 1223, is based on the same concepts as in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, the opening and closing device (opening / closing body 21, frame 22, rail member 23, and door closer 24) is also based on the same concepts as in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, the third rotating body 124, the second sun gear 1221-4, the second planetary gear 1222-4, and the second arm member 1223-4 have a structure symmetrical to the drive mechanism of Embodiment 1 (first rotating body 121, sun gear 1221, planetary gear 1222, arm member 1223), and are basically based on the same concept. Therefore, as the second sun gear 1221-4 rotates, the third rotating body 124 revolves (contacts / does not contact the opening / closing body 21), and the third rotating body 124 also rotates on its own axis. The second sun gear 1221-4 is connected to the sun gear 1221 via connecting gears 161 and 162 and is configured to rotate in the opposite direction to the sun gear 1221. The connecting gears 161 and 162 are positioned at the upper or lower part of the opening / closing body 21, and each component is appropriately positioned accordingly.

[0059] With the above configuration, as shown in Figure 13(b), when the sun gear 1221 rotates in the first direction (counterclockwise), the first rotating body 121 comes into contact with the opening / closing body 21 and travels along the front side of the opening / closing body 21, as described in Embodiment 1, to open the opening / closing body 21. Furthermore, the rotation of the sun gear 1221 in the first direction causes the second sun gear 1221-4 to rotate in the second direction (clockwise), and as can be understood from the above explanation, the third rotating body 124 comes into contact with the opening / closing body 21 and travels along the rear side of the opening / closing body 21 to open it. When the sun gear 1221 rotates by a predetermined amount in the second direction, the first rotating body 121 moves away from the opening / closing body 21, and the second sun gear 1221-4 rotates by a predetermined amount in the first direction, so the third rotating body 124 also moves away from the opening / closing body 21. The opening and closing operation can be performed by the same process as the process described in Embodiment 1 (Figure 8).

[0060] <Embodiment 5> Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the opening / closing device 2-5 of Embodiment 5 (a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the drive mechanism transparently). Figure 14(a) shows the neutral state, and Figure 14(b) shows the closed state. For configurations that have a similar concept to those in Embodiment 1, the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 1 are used, and their explanations here are simplified or omitted.

[0061] The opening / closing device 2-5 of this embodiment is A drive mechanism similar to Embodiment 1 (first rotating body 121, sun gear 1221, planetary gear 1222, arm member 1223), The opening / closing body 21, the frame 22 including the mullion 221 (see Figure 6), the rail member 23, and the door closer 24, The third rotating body 124 rotates in the opposite direction to the first rotating body 121 and is located on the opposite side of the opening / closing body 21 from where the first rotating body 121 is located (on the rear side of the opening / closing body 21). A second sun gear 1221-5, which has the same direction of rotation as sun gear 1221, The third planetary gear 1222-51 meshes with the second sun gear 1221-5, The second planetary gear 1222-52 is immovably mounted to the third rotating body 124 and meshes with the third planetary gear 1222-51, A second arm member 1223-5 is an orbital holding mechanism that holds or guides the orbital movement of the third rotating body 124 around the second sun gear 1221-5, A friction force adjusting member (not shown in particular) adjusts the friction force between the second sun gear 1221-5 and the second arm member 1223-5, It is equipped with a connecting belt 163 that transmits the rotational force of the sun gear 1221 to the second sun gear 1221-5.

[0062] The drive mechanism, specifically the first rotating body 121, sun gear 1221, planetary gear 1222, and arm member 1223, is based on the same concepts as in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, the opening and closing device (opening / closing body 21, frame 22, rail member 23, and door closer 24) is also based on the same concepts as in Embodiment 1. The second planetary gear 1222-52, attached to the third rotating body 124, is connected to the second sun gear 1221-5 via the third planetary gear 1222-51 (the second planetary gear 1222-52 does not directly mesh with the second sun gear 1221-5), and therefore rotates in the same direction as the sun gear 1221 and the second sun gear 1221-5. The second planetary gear 1222-52 and the third planetary gear 1222-51 are pivotally supported by the second arm member 1223-5. Consequently, as the second sun gear 1221-5 rotates, the third rotating body 124 revolves (contacts / does not contact the opening / closing body 21) and the third rotating body 124 rotates on its axis. The connecting belt 163 connects the second sun gear 1221-5 to the sun gear 1221, causing the second sun gear 1221-5 to rotate in the same direction as the sun gear 1221. The connecting belt 163 is positioned above or below the opening / closing body 21, and the other components are positioned accordingly.

[0063] With the above configuration, as shown in Figure 14(b), when the sun gear 1221 rotates in the first direction (counterclockwise), the first rotating body 121 comes into contact with the opening / closing body 21 and travels along the front side of the opening / closing body 21, as described in Embodiment 1, to open the opening / closing body 21. Furthermore, the rotation of the sun gear 1221 in the first direction causes the second sun gear 1221-5 to also rotate in the first direction, and as can be understood from the above explanation, the third rotating body 124 comes into contact with the opening / closing body 21 and travels along the rear side of the opening / closing body 21 to open it. When the sun gear 1221 rotates by a predetermined amount in the second direction (clockwise), the first rotating body 121 separates from the opening / closing body 21. Also, since the second sun gear 1221-5 rotates by a predetermined amount in the second direction, the third rotating body 124 also separates from the opening / closing body 21. The opening and closing operation can be performed by the same process as the process described in Embodiment 1 (Figure 8).

[0064] <Embodiment 6> Figure 15 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the opening / closing device 2-6 of Embodiment 6 (a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the drive mechanism transparently). Figure 15(a) shows the neutral state, and Figure 15(b) shows the closed state. For configurations that have a similar concept to those in Embodiment 1, the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 1 are used, and their explanations here are simplified or omitted.

[0065] The opening / closing device 2-6 of this embodiment is A drive mechanism similar to Embodiment 1 (first rotating body 121, sun gear 1221, planetary gear 1222, arm member 1223), The opening / closing body 21, the frame 22 including the mullion 221 (see Figure 6), the rail member 23, and the door closer 24, The third rotating body 124 rotates in the opposite direction to the first rotating body 121 and is located on the opposite side of the opening / closing body 21 from where the first rotating body 121 is located (on the rear side of the opening / closing body 21). The second sun gear 1221-6 meshes with the sun gear 1221, and rotates in the opposite direction. A second planetary gear 1222-6 is immovably mounted to the third rotating body 124 and meshes with the second sun gear 1221-6, A second arm member 1223-6 is an orbital holding mechanism that holds or guides the orbital movement of the third rotating body 124 around the second sun gear 1221-6, The system includes a friction force adjusting member (not shown) for adjusting the frictional force between the second sun gear 1221-6 and the second arm member 1223-6.

[0066] The drive mechanism, specifically the first rotating body 121, sun gear 1221, planetary gear 1222, and arm member 1223, is based on the same concepts as in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, the opening and closing device (opening / closing body 21, frame 22, rail member 23, and door closer 24) is also based on the same concepts as in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, the third rotating body 124, the second sun gear 1221-6, the second planetary gear 1222-6, and the second arm member 1223-6 are fundamentally similar in concept to the drive mechanism of Embodiment 1 (first rotating body 121, sun gear 1221, planetary gear 1222, arm member 1223). Therefore, as the second sun gear 1221-6 rotates, the third rotating body 124 revolves (contacts / does not contact the opening / closing body 21), and the third rotating body 124 also rotates on its own axis. The second sun gear 1221-6 meshes with sun gear 1221 and therefore rotates in the opposite direction to sun gear 1221. The second sun gear 1221-6 is positioned above or below the opening / closing body 21, and the other components are appropriately positioned accordingly.

[0067] With the above configuration, as shown in Figure 15(b), when the sun gear 1221 rotates in the first direction (counterclockwise), the first rotating body 121 comes into contact with the opening / closing body 21 and travels along the front side of the opening / closing body 21, as described in Embodiment 1, to open the opening / closing body 21. Furthermore, the rotation of the sun gear 1221 in the first direction causes the second sun gear 1221-6 to rotate in the second direction (clockwise), and as can be understood from the above explanation, the third rotating body 124 comes into contact with the opening / closing body 21 and travels along the rear side of the opening / closing body 21 to open it. When the sun gear 1221 rotates by a predetermined amount in the second direction, the first rotating body 121 separates from the opening / closing body 21, and the second sun gear 1221-6 rotates in the first direction, so the third rotating body 124 also separates from the opening / closing body 21. The opening and closing operation can be performed by the same process as the process described in Embodiment 1 (Figure 8).

[0068] <Embodiment 7> Figure 16 shows the opening / closing device 2-7 of Embodiment 7. The opening / closing device 2-7 of this embodiment uses a portable automatic operator that is basically the same as that of Embodiment 1, but it differs from Embodiment 1 in that it is equipped with an exit confirmation lock (locking device) 3 as an opening / closing device and is linked with the exit confirmation lock 3. For configurations that are conceptually similar to those in Embodiment 1, the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 1 are used, and their explanations here are simplified or omitted.

[0069] The exit confirmation lock 3 is configured to allow detection of whether it has been locked with a key from the inside or outside, and works in conjunction with an exit confirmation system (not shown in particular) to confirm whether the person is inside or out of the room. Such an exit confirmation lock 3 has been used conventionally, and in order to send a signal from the exit confirmation lock 3 to the exit confirmation system (electric key control panel), an electrical contact is used that runs from the sliding opening / closing part to the fixed frame. However, problems such as interference and entanglement with the electrical contact could occur while using (sliding) the sliding door. In contrast, the opening / closing device 2-7 of this embodiment connects the exit confirmation lock 3 with a remote control device 14 provided on the opening / closing body, and the remote control device 14 acquires a signal from the exit confirmation lock 3 and transmits it wirelessly, thereby preventing the above-mentioned problem.

[0070] Next, the general operation of the opening / closing device 2-7 will be described with reference to Figure 17. Note that explanations of processes similar to those in Embodiment 1 (Figure 8) will be simplified or omitted here.

[0071] In S1701, it is determined whether or not the lock on the exit confirmation lock 3 has been opened. This determination is made by a control unit provided in the motor unit 13, which receives a signal transmitted from the remote control device 14 that has acquired a signal from the exit confirmation lock 3.

[0072] If the lock is opened, the process proceeds to S1702, where the opening / closing body 21 is opened. This process is conceptually similar to S803-S807 in Figure 8, and therefore its explanation is omitted here. This results in the opening / closing mechanism 21 automatically opening when the lock is opened. While this example shows the mechanism automatically opening when the lock is opened, it is also possible to configure the mechanism to open only after receiving an opening command from a remote control device, as in Embodiment 1.

[0073] In the loop processing from S1703 to S1704 following S1702, it is determined whether the lock on the exit confirmation lock 3 has been locked and whether or not an operation has been performed on the remote control device 14. If an operation (input of any of the open, close, or stop switches) is performed on the remote control device 14 (S1704: Yes), the process proceeds to S1705 to perform the open, close, or stop operation. This process is conceptually similar to S802-S813 in Figure 8, and therefore its explanation is omitted here. On the other hand, if the door is locked (S1703: Yes), the process proceeds to S1706, where the door-to-door / door-in signal obtained from the door-to-door confirmation lock 3 is transmitted to the door-to-door confirmation system (electric key control panel). The door-to-door / door-in signal is, for example, a signal indicating "out of room" if the door is locked from the outside, and a signal indicating "in-room" if the door is locked from the inside. After S1706, the process returns to S1701 and the above steps are repeated.

[0074] As described above, the switchgear 2-7 of this embodiment eliminates the need for conventional electrical contacts, thereby reducing the causes of trouble and simplifying installation. Furthermore, the system detects whether the lock is open and, if not, does not accept any opening operations, thus avoiding operations that attempt to forcibly open a locking mechanism that is locked. If the "open" switch is pressed while the lock is locked, the system may also emit a warning sound or output a message indicating that the lock is locked (by providing an output unit such as a speaker or display).

[0075] In this embodiment, the processing operation is described assuming that the initial state is that the lock is closed. However, if it is unclear whether the initial state is locked or not, it is sufficient to first determine whether the lock is locked or not. If it is locked, proceed to S1701; otherwise, proceed to the loop processing in S1703-S1704.

[0076] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the processing operation performed by the control unit provided in the motor unit 13 involves transmitting the departure / entry signal obtained from the departure confirmation lock 3 to the departure confirmation system (electric key control panel) (therefore, basically, the motor unit 13 sends a signal to the departure confirmation system). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the remote control device may directly transmit a signal to the departure confirmation system (transmitting the signal obtained from the departure confirmation lock 3 wirelessly to the departure confirmation system without performing any discrimination processing, etc.).

[0077] In each embodiment, the “switching mechanism” is shown as being composed of a sun gear and planetary gears, but the present invention is not limited to this. The “switching mechanism” may be any mechanism that can switch between contact and non-contact of the first rotating body (or second and third rotating bodies) with respect to the opening / closing body (or fixed structure), for example, by using various actuators. However, the switching mechanism described in the embodiment is highly suitable because, as mentioned above, it is possible to simultaneously bring the first rotating body (or the second and third rotating bodies) into contact with and out of contact with the opening / closing body (or fixed structure), and to move (rotate) the first rotating body (or the second and third rotating bodies) using a single drive source, and this can be achieved with a relatively simple mechanism and control. It should be noted that the diameters of the sun gear, planetary gears, rotating body, etc., and the gear ratios shown in the illustrations of each embodiment are examples only, and the present invention is not limited to these. They can be appropriately set according to the driving force and opening / closing speed required to open and close the opening / closing body.

[0078] In each embodiment, a friction force adjusting member (spring washer 1224) is provided to adjust the friction force between the arm member and the sun gear, thereby applying rotational force to the arm member. However, adjusting the friction force is not necessarily required. The arm member holds the planetary gear, and the planetary gear meshes with the sun gear. Therefore, even if the arm member has almost no frictional force against the sun gear (or the axis of rotation), when the sun gear rotates, rotational torque is generated in the arm member holding the planetary gear that meshes with it, and the arm member rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the sun gear. Furthermore, the movement due to the rotation of the first rotation described above can cause the first rotating body to fit between the opening / closing body and the sun gear, resulting in the first rotating body being sandwiched between the sun gear and the opening / closing body and pressed against the opening / closing body. Therefore, it is not always necessary to apply rotational force to the arm member by adjusting the frictional force (however, if the arm member needs to rotate to lift the rotating body due to the mounting direction or arrangement, the rotational torque generated by meshing with the planetary gear may be insufficient, and in such cases, it will be necessary to utilize the frictional force between the arm member and the sun gear (or the axis of rotation)).

[0079] In Embodiments 1 to 3, a drive unit (a device independent of the opening / closing device) that is retrofitted to automatically open or close the opening / closing body was described as an example. However, as is clear from Embodiments 4 to 6, an opening / closing device (a device in which the drive mechanism is pre-built into a frame or the like as an automatic opening / closing device) may also be provided that has a drive mechanism (and a configuration having a function equivalent to a motor unit) as understood from the concepts described in the embodiments. Thus, when the system is installed rather than being portable, it is sufficient that the drive mechanism and the opening / closing body are installed in a manner that corresponds to the same position as understood from the above explanation, and part or all of the drive mechanism may be placed inside the door pocket, inside the mullion, inside the transom, etc. Furthermore, as can be seen from Figure 6(b), it is also possible to equip the opening / closing body with a drive mechanism (and a configuration having a function equivalent to a motor unit) as understood from the concepts described in the embodiments (i.e., the opening / closing body has the drive mechanism etc. pre-installed). This is, so to speak, a "self-propelled door" and can be used with any opening / closing device. In the embodiment, a device that can be attached and detached by a magnet is described, but it may also be installed in a way that prevents it from being detached.

[0080] In the drive mechanism 12 described in Embodiment 1, etc., an example is given in which the planetary gear to which the first rotating body is attached and the sun gear mesh directly. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as can be seen from the example of the third rotating body 124 and the second sun gear 1221-5 in Embodiment 5, it is also possible for another gear to be interposed between the planetary gear to which the first rotating body is attached and the sun gear. Furthermore, as can be understood from this point (that the direction of rotation changes when another gear is involved), the “first direction (and the second direction which is the opposite of it)” used in the description of the embodiment does not refer to an absolute direction, but rather to a direction determined based on the configuration of the drive mechanism (the direction that produces the movement of the first rotating body as understood from the above description (the movement that moves the opening and closing body in the desired direction)).

[0081] In each embodiment, the orbital holding mechanism is shown as being composed of an arm member, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the orbital holding mechanism only needs to be capable of "holding or guiding the orbital movement of the first rotating body (or the second and third rotating bodies)." For example, the orbital holding mechanism may be composed of an arc-shaped slit that guides the movement of the rotation axis of the first rotating body (or the second and third rotating bodies).

[0082] In each embodiment, the first rotating body (or the second and third rotating bodies) is shown as directly contacting the opening / closing body (or fixed structure), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a rack and pinion structure may be used, with a rack provided on the opening / closing body side, and the first rotating body being a pinion that engages with the rack (the first rotating body (pinion) indirectly contacting the opening / closing body via the rack). In this case, the first rotating body can be a planetary gear itself.

[0083] In each embodiment, sliding doors are used as an example of an opening and closing device, but the present invention is not limited to these, and can be applied to any opening and closing device in which the opening and closing body slides open and closed, such as shutters, overhead doors, or arc-shaped door devices as described in Patent Documents 2 and 3. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to hinged doors, for example, by connecting an arc-shaped rail along the opening and closing trajectory of the hinged door to the hinged door and having the first rotating body run on it, or by oriented the first rotating body provided on the hinged door so that it runs in a direction tangent to the arc which is the opening and closing trajectory (running relative to a fixed structure such as the floor). In addition, the direction of the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing body of the opening and closing device is not limited to the left-right direction as shown in the embodiment, but may also be in the up-and-down direction, the front-and-back direction horizontally, or a combination of these directions (such as diagonal directions). Furthermore, when the opening and closing mechanism is a sliding door, the present invention can be applied not only to the single sliding door shown in the embodiment, but also to double sliding doors, double (multiple) sliding doors using multiple doors, and double (multiple) sliding doors. In the case of double sliding doors, double (multiple) sliding doors, and double (multiple) sliding doors, multiple doors may be linked together, in which case, for example, if one door of a double sliding door is driven by this device, both doors can be opened and closed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1...Portable automatic operator (aftermarket drive unit) 11... Cabinet 1121...Engaging part (positioning engaging part) 12... Drive mechanism 121...First solid of revolution 122... Switching mechanism 1221...Sun gear (driving rotating body) 1222...Planetary gear 1223...Arm member (orbital holding mechanism) 1224...Spring washer (friction force adjustment component) 123...Second solid of revolution 124...Third solid of revolution 13...Motor Unit 151...Auxiliary Rotating Body 152...Rotating shaft member (holding mechanism) 2...Opening and closing device 21...Opening / closing mechanism (sliding door) 22...Frame 221...Mulled (fixed structure)

Claims

1. A drive unit that is retrofitted to automatically open or close an opening / closing body, A housing that is installed in a fixed structure, A retrofit drive unit comprising a rotating body provided in the housing, which rotates in direct contact with the opening / closing body to cause the opening / closing body to open or close.

2. A drive unit that is retrofitted to automatically open or close an opening / closing body, A housing installed on the opening / closing body, A retrofit drive unit comprising a rotating body provided in the housing, which rotates in direct contact with a fixed structure to cause the opening or closing body to open or close.

3. The retrofit drive unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening and closing body is a sliding door, and the dimension of the housing along the opening and closing direction of the door is less than or equal to the remaining length of the door.

4. The retrofit drive unit according to claim 3, comprising a motor provided in the housing that supplies rotational force to the rotating body and has a rotation axis in the vertical direction.

5. The retrofit drive unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening and closing body is a sliding door, and the vertical dimension of the housing is less than or equal to the dimension from the lower end of the door handle or lock to the floor.

6. The retrofit drive unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening / closing body is a sliding door, and the dimension along the depth direction of the housing is less than or equal to the projection dimension of the handle of the opening / closing body or less than or equal to the depth dimension of the mullion.

7. The retrofit drive unit according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a switching mechanism for switching between contact and non-contact of the rotating body with the opening / closing body or the fixed structure.

8. The retrofit drive unit according to claim 1, comprising an auxiliary rotating body installed on the fixed structure side, the auxiliary rotating body being provided at a position opposite to the side on which the rotating body is located relative to the opening / closing body.

9. The add-on drive unit according to claim 8, wherein a holding mechanism for rotatably holding the auxiliary rotating body is connected to the housing.

10. The retrofit drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the fixing structure is a mullion, and the housing is provided with a positioning engagement portion for the mullion.

11. The retrofit drive unit according to claim 2, wherein the opening and closing body is a sliding door, and the housing is provided with a positioning engagement portion for the door's edge.

12. The retrofit drive unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing is detachable from the fixed structure or the opening / closing body.

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