Rotation mechanism

Abstract

To reduce the size of a vehicle seat device in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of a rotary member, the vehicle seat device being designed such that the rotary member supporting a seat body is supported by the base member, and a rotary drive device is provided between the rotary member and a base member so as to allow the rotary member to be rotated and driven, in which the rotary drive device has an actuator, an output gear which is rotated by rotational power exerted by the actuator, and an input gear which is engaged with the output gear.SOLUTION: At least a part of an input gear 52 is disposed inside an outer periphery 30d of a rotary member 30 in a plan view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat device in which a rotating member supporting a seat body is rotatably supported by a base member, and a rotational drive device having an actuator, an output gear that rotates by rotational power exerted by the actuator, and an input gear that meshes with the output gear is provided between the rotating member and the base member so as to enable the rotating member to be rotationally driven. [Background technology]

[0002] Such a vehicle seat device is known from Patent Document 1, for example. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-123044 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the device disclosed in the above Patent Document 1, an arc-shaped rotating gear (corresponding to the input gear of the present invention) is fixed to a rotating mechanism main body (corresponding to the base member of the present invention) that supports a rotating ring (corresponding to the rotating member of the present invention), an actuator including a rotating motor is attached to a bracket extending from the rotating ring and disposed outside the rotating mechanism main body, and an output gear of the actuator is meshed with the rotating gear. This results in an increase in size of the vehicle seat device in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating member.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a vehicle seat device that can be made smaller in size in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of a rotating member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a vehicle seat device in which a rotating member supporting a seat body is rotatably supported by a base member, and a rotational drive device having an actuator, an output gear that rotates by the rotational power exerted by the actuator, and an input gear that meshes with the output gear is provided between the rotating member and the base member so as to enable the rotating member to be rotationally driven, wherein at least a portion of the input gear is positioned inside the outer periphery of the rotating member when viewed in a plane.

[0007] In addition to the configuration of the first characteristic, the present invention has a second characteristic in that at least a part of a gear portion of the input gear is disposed inside the outer periphery of the rotating member in a plan view.

[0008] A third feature of the present invention is that, in addition to the configuration of the second feature, the gear portion is arranged facing the rotation axis side of the rotating member.

[0009] In addition to the configuration of the first or second characteristic, the present invention has a fourth characteristic in that at least a portion of the output gear is disposed inside the outer periphery of the rotating member in a plan view.

[0010] In addition to the configuration of any one of the first to fourth characteristics, the present invention has a fifth characteristic in that the actuator is disposed inside the outer periphery of the rotating member in a plan view.

[0011] A sixth feature of the present invention is that, in addition to any one of the configurations of the first to fifth features, an attachment member is attached to the rotating member and is positioned inside the outer periphery of the rotating member in a planar view, and the output gear is disposed on the attachment member.

[0012] A seventh feature of the present invention is that, in addition to the configuration of the sixth feature, the actuator is attached to the attachment member.

[0013] The present invention has an eighth feature in that, in addition to any one of the configurations of the first to seventh features, a circular accommodating section that is open at least upwardly is formed in the center of the rotating member, and at least a portion of the output gear is disposed within the accommodating section.

[0014] A ninth feature of the present invention is that, in addition to the configuration of the sixth feature, a circular accommodating section that is open at least upwardly is formed in the center of the rotating member, and the mounting member having an accommodated section that is accommodated in the accommodating section is attached to the rotating member.

[0015] Furthermore, in addition to the configuration of the ninth characteristic, the present invention has a tenth characteristic in that the seat body comprises a seat cushion supported on a seat cushion frame connected to the rotating member via a connecting member, a seat back supported on a seat back frame connected to the seat cushion frame and positioned above the seat cushion, and a headrest supported so as to be height adjustable by a guide tube provided on the seat back frame, wherein the connecting member is positioned above an upper end opening of the storage portion, and the actuator is attached to an upper surface of the storage portion of the mounting member. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the first feature of the present invention, at least a portion of the input gear is located inside the outer periphery of the rotating member in a planar view, so that the vehicle seat device can be made smaller in size in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating member compared to conventional devices in which the input gear is located outside the rotating member.

[0017] In addition, according to the second feature of the present invention, at least a portion of the gear portion of the input gear is located inside the outer periphery of the rotating member in a planar view, so that the vehicle seat device can be made smaller in size in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating member.

[0018] According to the third feature of the present invention, since the gear portion of the input gear faces the rotation axis of the rotating member, the output gear is positioned inside the input gear, which contributes to miniaturization of the vehicle seat device in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating member.

[0019] According to the fourth feature of the present invention, at least a portion of the output gear is located inside the outer periphery of the rotating member in a plan view, thereby making it possible to reduce the size of the vehicle seat device in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating member.

[0020] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the actuator is disposed inside the outer periphery of the rotating member in a plan view, it is possible to reduce the size of the vehicle seat device in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating member.

[0021] According to the sixth feature of the present invention, an attachment member that is positioned inside the outer periphery of the rotating member in a planar view is attached to the rotating member, and an output gear is arranged on this attachment member. Therefore, even when the attachment member for arranging the output gear is arranged, it is possible to avoid the vehicle seat device becoming larger in size in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating member.

[0022] According to the seventh feature of the present invention, since the actuator is attached to the mounting member, the mounting member on which the output gear is arranged can also have a support function for the actuator, thereby making it possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts while avoiding an increase in size of the vehicle seat device in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating member.

[0023] According to an eighth feature of the present invention, at least a portion of the output gear is arranged within a circular accommodating portion in the center of the rotating member, thereby making it possible to effectively utilize the empty space in the center of the rotating member and arrange the output gear compactly.

[0024] According to a ninth feature of the present invention, the circular accommodating portion in the central part of the rotating member accommodates the accommodated portion of the mounting member to be attached to the rotating member, thereby improving the workability of mounting the mounting member and making it easier to check the installation.

[0025] Furthermore, according to the tenth feature of the present invention, the connecting member that connects the seat cushion frame to the rotating member is located above the upper end opening of the accommodating portion, and the actuator is attached to the upper surface of the accommodated portion of the mounting member, so that the attachment of the actuator to the mounting member does not increase the size in the vertical direction, and this contributes to making the vehicle seat apparatus more compact in the vertical direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat device with a seat body omitted; [Diagram 2] 2 is a plan view of a main part of the vehicle seat device as viewed from above. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a view of the slide rail and the rotation mechanism seen from the same direction as FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a view of the slide rail and the rotation mechanism as seen from the opposite side to that in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In the following description, the terms "front / rear," "left / right," and "up / down" refer to directions as viewed from a seated occupant in a seat position facing forward.

[0028] First, in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat device includes a pair of slide rails 13 extending linearly and parallel to each other with a gap between them in the left-right direction to enable a seat body 11 to slide, and a rotation mechanism 14 that supports the seat body 11 rotatably and can move along the slide rails 13.

[0029] The seat body 11 includes a seat cushion 11a supported by a seat cushion frame 16, a seat back 11b supported by a seat back frame 17 connected to the seat cushion frame 16 and positioned above the seat cushion 11a, and a headrest 11c supported by a guide tube 18 provided on the seat back frame 17 so as to allow height adjustment.

[0030] The seat cushion frame 16 has a pair of side frames 16a arranged to extend linearly in the front-to-rear direction so as to be aligned at positions spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, a pan frame 16b serving as one-end connecting member connecting the front ends of the side frames 16a, and a rear pipe 16c serving as the other-end connecting member connecting the rear ends of the pair of side frames 16a.

[0031] In FIG. 2, a cushion side pressure-receiving member 19 that receives a load from above the seat cushion 11a is attached to the seat cushion frame 16. This cushion side pressure-receiving member 19 has a plurality of seat springs 20 (four in this embodiment) that are formed by bending a metal wire in a zigzag pattern so that it meanders left and right. The seat springs 20 are arranged so that adjacent seat springs 20 are symmetrical on the left and right, and adjacent seat springs 20 are connected to each other by a plurality of resin intermediate connecting members 21 that are molded integrally with the seat springs 20 by insert molding.

[0032] The front ends of the plurality of seat springs 20 are engaged with locking portions 22 provided on the pan frame 16b of the seat cushion frame 16. The rear ends of the adjacent seat springs 20 are engaged with the rear pipe 16c of the seat cushion frame 16 and are connected by a resin rear end connecting member 23 molded integrally with the seat springs 20 by insert molding, and the rear end connecting member 23 is formed so as to cover the rear pipe 16c.

[0033] That is, the cushion side pressure-receiving member 19 is bridged between the pan frame 16b and the rear pipe 16c of the seat cushion frame 16, and is disposed between the pair of side frames 16a in a plan view.

[0034] Referring again to FIG. 1, the seatback frame 17 has a pair of seatback side frames 17a extending in the vertical direction and aligned at positions spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, an upper frame 17b connecting upper ends of the seatback side frames 17a, and a lower frame 17c connecting lower ends of the pair of seatback side frames 17a.

[0035] A back-side pressure-receiving member 24 made of resin or the like and capable of elastically deforming is disposed between the pair of seatback side frames 17a, and this back-side pressure-receiving member 24 is bridged between the left and right seatback side frames 17a via an upper connecting wire 25 and a lower connecting wire 26.

[0036] Referring also to Figures 3 to 5, the seat cushion frame 16 is placed on the rotating mechanism 14, and this rotating mechanism 14 includes a base member 29 movable along the slide rail 13, a rotating member 30 that supports the seat frame 15 and is rotatably supported on the base member 29, and a cover member 31 that covers a portion of the rotating member 30 from above and is fixed to the base member 29.

[0037] The base member 29 has a first bottom wall portion 29a which is annular, a cylindrical first side wall portion 29b which rises upward from the outer periphery of the first bottom wall portion 29a, and a first flange portion 29c which protrudes outward from the upper end portion of the first side wall portion 29b, and the first flange portion 29c is formed in a rectangular shape.

[0038] The cover member 31 also has an annular second bottom wall portion 31a that abuts against the first bottom wall portion 29a of the base member 29 from above, a cylindrical second side wall portion 31b that rises slightly upward from the outer periphery of the second bottom wall portion 31a, a first tapered portion 31c that is formed so that its diameter increases toward the top and is connected to the upper end of the second side wall portion 31b, an annular first flat wall portion 31d that protrudes laterally from the upper end of the first tapered portion 31c, and a cylindrical third side wall portion 31e that rises upward from the outer periphery of the first flat wall portion 31d, and the second bottom wall portion 31a is joined to the first bottom wall portion 29a of the base member 29 with a plurality of rivets 32.

[0039] The rotating member 30 has a second tapered portion 30a arranged at a position facing the first tapered portion 31c of the cover member 31 from the outside and formed so as to have a larger diameter toward the top, a cylindrical fourth side wall portion 30b rising upward from the upper end of the second tapered portion 30a so as to face the third side wall portion 31e of the cover member 31 from the outside, and a second flange portion 30c projecting outward from the fourth side wall portion 30b, the second flange portion 30c being formed in a rectangular shape. A connecting member 33 extending parallel to the slide rail 13 is fastened to the second flange portion 30c by a plurality of first bolts 34 and second nuts 35. The side frames 16a of the seat cushion frame 16 are connected to this connecting member 33, and the side frames 16a extend linearly while being aligned at a distance from each other, and are fixedly positioned on the second flange portion 30c of the rotating member 30 via the connecting member 33.

[0040] The rotating member 30 is rotatably supported by a ring-shaped rotating support portion 36 of the base member 29 via a bearing 37, and the rotating support portion 36 is formed so that its cross-sectional shape is approximately L-shaped by a first bottom wall portion 29a of the base member 29 and the first side wall portion 29b.

[0041] The bearing 37 is configured by holding balls 39 at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction of an annular retainer 38, and an annular recess 40 for allowing the balls 39 to roll is formed in the first tapered portion 31c of the rotating member 30.

[0042] Incidentally, a circular storage portion 41 constituted by the second tapered portion 30a and the fourth side wall portion 30b of the rotating member 30 is formed in the center of the rotating member 30 so as to be open upward and downward, and the cover member 31 is stored and disposed within the storage portion 41. Moreover, since the connecting member 33 for connecting the side frame 16a of the seat cushion frame 16 is fixed to the upper surface of the second flange portion 30c of the rotating member 30, the connecting member 33 is disposed above the upper end opening of the storage portion 41.

[0043] The slide rail 13 comprises a fixed rail 45 extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and a movable rail 46 slidably fitted into the fixed rail 45, and the first flange portion 29c of the base member 29 is fastened to the movable rail 46 by a plurality of second bolts 47 and second nuts 48.

[0044] The rotating member 30 is rotationally driven by a rotational drive device 49 provided between the rotating member 30 and the base member 29, and this rotational drive device 49 includes an actuator 50, an output gear 51 that rotates by the rotational power exerted by the actuator 50, and an input gear 52 that meshes with the output gear 51.

[0045] The actuator 50 and the output gear 51 are disposed on one of the rotating member 30 and the base member 29, that is, on the rotating member 30 side in this embodiment, and the input gear 52 is fixed to the other of the rotating member 30 and the base member 29, that is, on the base member 29 in this embodiment.

[0046] The actuator 50 includes an electric motor 53 having a rotation axis extending in the vehicle width direction, a gear box 55 connected to a case 54 of the electric motor 53, and an output shaft 56 projecting from the gear box 55 with its rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis C of the rotating member 30, and the output gear 51 is provided on the output shaft 56. A gear reduction mechanism (not shown) is housed in the gear box 55, which reduces the speed of the rotational power of the electric motor 53, changes the rotation direction by 90 degrees, and transmits the rotational power to the output shaft 56, and this gear reduction mechanism includes a worm gear so as to prevent the rotational power from the output shaft 56 side from being transmitted to the electric motor 53 side.

[0047] At least a portion of the input gear 52 is positioned inwardly of the outer periphery 30d of the rotating member 30, i.e., the outer edge of the second flange portion 30c, in a planar view, and at least a portion of the gear portion 52a of the input gear 52 is positioned inwardly of the outer periphery 30d of the rotating member 30 in a planar view.

[0048] In this embodiment, the rotating member 30 is driven to rotate within a range of 180 degrees, and the input gear 52 has a gear portion 52a on its inner periphery, is formed in an arc shape spanning approximately 180 degrees, and is fixed to the lower surface of the inner periphery of the first bottom wall portion 29a of the base member 29 so that the gear portion 52a protrudes radially inward from the inner periphery of the first bottom wall portion 29a. As a result, the gear portion 52a is disposed facing the rotation axis C of the rotating member 30.

[0049] When the input gear 52 is fixed to the base member 29, some of the rivets 32 that are adapted to connect the second bottom wall portion 31a of the cover member 31 to the first bottom wall portion 29a of the base member 29 are used to connect the second bottom wall portion 31a and the input gear 52 to the first bottom wall portion 29a across the first bottom wall portion 29a. In this case, when the circumferential end portion of the input gear 52 is disposed at a position corresponding to the rivets 32 for connecting the second bottom wall portion 31a and the input gear 52 to the first bottom wall portion 29a, in order to avoid the circumferential length of the input gear 52 being unnecessarily long, a notch 57 may be formed in the circumferential end portion of the input gear 52 as shown in FIG.

[0050] At least a portion of the output gear 51 is positioned inwardly of the outer periphery 30d of the rotating member 30 in a planar view. In this embodiment, the input gear 52, with its gear portion 52a facing the rotation axis C of the rotating member 30, is fixed to the first bottom wall portion 29a of the base member 29, and the output gear 51 meshes with the gear portion 52a of the input gear 52, so that the entire output gear 51 is positioned inwardly of the outer periphery 30d of the rotating member 30 in a planar view.

[0051] Moreover, the actuator 50 having an output shaft 56 on which the output gear 51 is provided is also disposed inside the outer periphery 30d of the rotating member 30 in a plan view.

[0052] Meanwhile, a mounting member 58 is attached to the rotating member 30, which is disposed on the inside of the outer periphery 30d of the rotating member 30 in a plan view, and the output gear 51 is disposed on the mounting member 58, and the actuator 50 is attached to the mounting member 58. That is, in this embodiment, the gear box 55 of the actuator 50 is attached to the upper surface of the mounting member 58, and the output gear 51 is provided on the output shaft 56 that penetrates the mounting member 58, so that the output gear 51 is disposed on the mounting member 58.

[0053] Further, the inner peripheral lower surface of the first bottom wall portion 29a of the base member 29 is at approximately the same height as the lower end of the rotating member 30, i.e., the lower small diameter end of the second tapered portion 30a, and the input gear 52 fixed to the inner peripheral lower surface of the first bottom wall portion 29a is located below the lower end of the storage portion 41 that the rotating member 30 has in its central portion. Therefore, the meshing portion of the output gear 51 that meshes with the input gear 52 is located below the lower end of the storage portion 41, but the portion above the meshing portion is stored in the storage portion 41, and at least a part of the output gear 51 is disposed in the storage portion 41.

[0054] In this embodiment, the mounting member 58 is disposed forward of the rotation axis C of the rotating member 30, has coupled plate portions 58a at both ends which are coupled to the upper surface of the second flange portion 30c of the rotating member 30, and extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slide rail 13. Between the pair of coupled plate portions 58a, a recessed accommodated portion 58b is formed so as to enter the accommodation portion 41 whose upper end opening is lower than the connecting member 33, and the actuator 50 is attached to the upper surface of this accommodated portion 58b. The actuator 50 is disposed below the cushion side pressure receiving member 19 while avoiding interference with the cushion side pressure receiving member 19, and the actuator 50 is attached to the upper surface of the accommodated portion 58b of the mounting member 59 below the cushion side pressure receiving member 19.

[0055] An annular slider 60 is interposed between the first tapered portion 31c of the cover member 31 and the second tapered portion 30a of the rotating member 30, and is in sliding contact with the tapered portions 31c, 30a. This slider 60 is used to make the cover member 31 and the rotating member 30 compatible with a vehicle seat device in which the rotating member 30 is rotated by applying human power to the rotation mechanism 14 instead of the electric power of the actuator 50. In a vehicle seat device in which rotation by human power is possible, an annular member constituting a part of a mechanism for suppressing rattling of the rotating member 30 in a locked state in which the rotation of the rotating member 30 is prevented is interposed between the first tapered portion 31c and the second tapered portion 30a instead of the slider 60.

[0056] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. A rotational drive device 49 is provided between the rotating member 30 and the base member 29 to enable the rotating member 30 to be rotationally driven. The rotational drive device 49 has an actuator 50, an output gear 51 which rotates by the rotational power exerted by the actuator 50, and an input gear 52 which meshes with the output gear 51. At least a portion of the input gear 52 is positioned inside the outer periphery 30d of the rotating member 30 in a plan view. Therefore, the vehicle seat device can be made smaller in size in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis C of the rotating member 30 compared to conventional devices in which the input gear is located outside the rotating member.

[0057] Furthermore, since at least a portion of the gear portion 52a of the input gear 52 is positioned inside the outer periphery 30d of the rotating member 30 in a planar view, the vehicle seat device can be made smaller in size in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis C of the rotating member 30.

[0058] Furthermore, since the gear portion 52a is positioned facing the rotation axis C of the rotating member 30, the output gear 51 is positioned inside the input gear 52, which contributes to reducing the size of the vehicle seat device in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis C of the rotating member 30.

[0059] Furthermore, since at least a portion of the output gear 51 is disposed inside the outer periphery 30d of the rotating member 30 in a plan view, the vehicle seat device can be made compact in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis C of the rotating member 30.

[0060] Moreover, since the actuator 50 is disposed inside the outer periphery 30d of the rotating member 30 in a plan view, the vehicle seat device can be made compact in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis C of the rotating member 30.

[0061] In addition, a mounting member 58 is attached to the rotating member 30, which is positioned inside the outer periphery 30d of the rotating member 30 in a planar view, and the output gear 51 is arranged on the mounting member 58. Therefore, the arrangement of the mounting member 58 for arranging the output gear 51 can also avoid an increase in size of the vehicle seat device in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis C of the rotating member 30.

[0062] Furthermore, since the actuator is attached to the mounting member 58, the mounting member 58 on which the output gear 51 is arranged also has a support function for the actuator 50, thereby making it possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts while avoiding an increase in size of the vehicle seat device in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis C of the rotating member 30.

[0063] In addition, a circular storage section 41 that is open at least upward is formed in the center of the rotating member 30, and at least a portion of the output gear 51 is arranged within the storage section 41, so that the output gear 51 can be arranged compactly by effectively utilizing the empty space in the center of the rotating member 30.

[0064] Furthermore, since the mounting member 58, having an accommodated portion 58b which is accommodated within the accommodating portion 41 at the center of the rotating member, is attached to the rotating member 30, the workability of installing the mounting member 58 can be improved and installation confirmation can be made easier.

[0065] Furthermore, the connecting member 33 that connects the seat cushion frame 16 that supports the seat cushion 11a of the seat body 11 to the rotating member 30 is located above the upper end opening of the storage portion 41, and the actuator 50 is attached to the upper surface of the stored portion 58b of the mounting member 58. Therefore, the mounting of the actuator 50 to the mounting member 58 prevents the seat device from becoming larger in the vertical direction, and contributes to making the vehicle seat device more compact in the vertical direction.

[0066] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the present invention described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 11 Seat body 11a Seat cushion 11b Seat back 11c Headrest 16···Seat cushion frame 17 Seat back frame 18 Guide tube 29...Base member 30...Rotating member 30d: Outer circumference of rotating member 33...Connecting member 41... Storage section 49...Rotational drive unit 50 Actuator 51 Output gear 52 Input gear 52a Gear section 58 Mounting member 58b...Accommodated part C Rotation axis

Claims

1. A rotation mechanism that rotatably supports a seat body, A base member; a rotation member rotatably supported on the base member to support the seat main body; a mounting member attached to the rotating member; an actuator attached to the mounting member; an output gear disposed on the mounting member and rotated by rotational power generated by the actuator; an input gear provided on the base member and meshing with the output gear, The base member is supported by a pair of slide rails that extend linearly and are parallel to each other with a gap in between in the left-right direction, the input gear and the mounting member are disposed in a position that is inward from an outer periphery of the rotating member and avoids a rotation axis of the rotating member in a plan view, In a plan view, the mounting member is a rotation mechanism that is arranged inside the outer edges of the pair of slide rails in the left-right direction.

2. A rotation mechanism as described in Claim 1, wherein a portion of the mounting member is positioned below the upper ends of each of the slide rails.

3. A storage section that opens upward and downward is formed in the center of the rotating member, The mounting member is formed with a recessed accommodated portion so as to fit into the accommodation portion, The rotation mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the actuator is attached to an upper surface of the accommodated portion.

4. A rotation mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein, in a plan view, the mounting member extends in the normal direction of a virtual circle centered on the rotation axis.

5. A rotation mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein when the seat body is facing forward, the mounting member is positioned between the front end of the rotating member and the rotation axis.

6. The rotating member is rotatably supported on the base member via a bearing, The output gear extends vertically, The rotation mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein a portion of the bearing is disposed below an upper end of the output gear and above a lower end of the output gear.

7. The input gear is disposed below an upper end of the output gear and above a lower end of the output gear, The rotation mechanism according to claim 6 , wherein a portion of the bearing is disposed below an upper end of the input gear and above a lower end of the input gear.

8. The bearing has an annular retainer and a plurality of balls held in the retainer, The retainer is disposed about the axis of rotation, The rotation mechanism according to claim 6 , wherein, in a plan view, the output gear is disposed inside the retainer, and the pair of slide rails are disposed outside the retainer.

9. The output gear is provided on the output shaft of the actuator, 2. The rotation mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the output shaft extends vertically and passes through the mounting member.

10. A rotation mechanism as described in Claim 9, wherein, in a plan view, the output gear is positioned so as to overlap with the mounting member.

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