Switching device

Abstract

To provide technology allowing an operative mechanism executing operations on closing / opening a shield device according to the state of a shield material.SOLUTION: A switching device 6 provided at a shield device opening / closing a shield material comprises a gear shaft 62 into which a rotation of a drive shaft lifting / lowering the shield material is input, a movable part 65 moving in an axial direction of the gear shaft 62 according to a rotation of the gear shaft 62, a transmission part 66 transmitting rotational force to an operational mechanism 67 executing operations on lifting / lowering or opening / closing of the shield material, or transmitting force generated at the operational mechanism 67 to the drive shaft, and a switching part 64 switching between a transmission state where the transmission is executed by the transmission part 66 and a non-transmission state where the transmission is released according to the movement of the movable part 65.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , ,

[0005] , , , , ,

[0001] This embodiment relates to a switching device for a shielding device that opens and closes a shielding material.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a technique for braking the operation of a shielding material in a shielding device, a braking device that limits the rotational speed of a drive shaft that raises and lowers the shielding material to a predetermined speed or less is known (see Patent Document 1). According to this braking device, when the shielding material descends due to its own weight, it is possible to prevent members such as a weight bar or a bottom rail at the lowermost end of the shielding device from colliding forcefully with the floor surface. However, according to this technique, since the rotation of the drive shaft is constantly braked, a situation may occur where the shielding material does not descend to the desired position due to its own weight.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Provide a technique that can switch and operate an operating mechanism that performs an operation related to the opening and closing of a shielding device according to the state of the shielding material.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a switching device provided in a shielding device for opening and closing a shielding material, comprising: a gear shaft to which the rotation of a drive shaft for raising and lowering the shielding material is input; a moving part that moves in the axial direction of the gear shaft in accordance with the rotation of the gear shaft; a transmission part that transmits the rotational force of the drive shaft to an operating mechanism that performs an operation related to raising and lowering or opening and closing the shielding material, or transmits the force generated in the operating mechanism to the drive shaft; and a switching part that switches between a transmission state in which transmission by the transmission part is performed and a non-transmission state in which the transmission is released in accordance with the movement of the moving part. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, the operating mechanism that performs the opening and closing of the shielding device can be switched and operated according to the state of the shielding material. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing the configuration of the shielding device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic plan perspective view showing the configuration of the shielding device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a front view showing the shielding device with the bottom rail raised. [Figure 4] This is a schematic plan view showing a shielding device in which the first drive shaft is rotated. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the brake system. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing the internal components of the braking system. [Figure 7] This is a right-side view showing the internal configuration of the braking system. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of the movable part. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of the transmission unit. [Figure 10] This is a left side view showing a brake system in a non-transmission state. [Figure 11] This is a left side view showing the brake system in a braking state. [Figure 12]It is a front view showing a shielding device in a state where only the first brake is operating. [Figure 13] It is a perspective view showing a brake device in a non-transmission state. [Figure 14] It is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 12. [Figure 15] It is a front view showing a shielding device in a state where the first brake and the brake device are operating. [Figure 16] It is a perspective view showing a brake device in a transmission state. [Figure 17] It is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 15. [Figure 18] It is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a shielding device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19] It is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a brake device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 20] It is a schematic side view showing a shielding device in which the bottom rail is at the lower end position. [Figure 21] It is a schematic side view showing a shielding device in which the slats are rotated. [Figure 22] It is a schematic side view showing a shielding device in which the slats are raised. [Figure 23] It is a schematic side view showing a shielding device in which the bottom rail is at the upper limit position. [Figure 24] It is a schematic side view showing a shielding device in which a lowering operation has been performed. [Figure 25] It is a schematic side view showing a shielding device in which the bottom rail descends due to its own weight. [Figure 26] It is a schematic side view showing a shielding device in which the slats are rotated in conjunction. [Figure 27] It is a schematic side view showing a shielding device in which the slats are fully closed and the bottom rail is at the lower end position.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the shading device to which the present invention is applied as a shading material will be described as a pleated screen equipped with two types of screens that can be raised and lowered. In this embodiment, the indoor side of the shading device when it is installed will be referred to as the front, the outdoor side as the back, the direction consisting of the front and back will be referred to as the front-to-back direction, and the longitudinal direction of the shading device will be referred to as the left-to-right direction. Furthermore, in this specification and drawings, components having substantially the same function will be denoted by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanation.

[0009] <First Embodiment> (Overall structure) The overall configuration of the shielding device according to the first embodiment will now be described. Figures 1 and 2 are a front view and a schematic plan perspective view, respectively, showing the configuration of the shielding device according to this embodiment. In Figure 1, the shielding device is shown with the bottom rail lowered to its lower end position, and only the interior of its headbox is shown.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shielding device 1 according to this embodiment comprises a headbox 2, a bottom rail 31 as a first moving member, two lifting cords 32 formed in the shape of a string or tape, a screen 33 as a first shielding material, an intermediate bar 41 as a second moving member, two dimming cords 42 formed in the shape of a string or tape, a screen 43 as a second shielding material, and an operating unit 5.

[0011] The headbox 2 is formed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape that defines an internal storage space and is fixed to a window frame or the like (not shown) via a plurality of brackets 21. The headbox 2 houses a first drive shaft 201A, two first winding drums 202A, a first stopper 203A, a first brake 204A, a second drive shaft 201B, two second winding drums 202B, a second stopper 203B, a second brake 204B, an interlocking gear 205, and a brake device 6.

[0012] The first drive shaft 201A, two first winding drums 202A, a first stopper 203A, and a first brake 204A constitute a first drive system for raising and lowering the bottom rail 31. The second drive shaft 201B, two second winding drums 202B, a second stopper 203B, and a second brake 204B constitute a second drive system for raising and lowering the intermediate bar 41. The interlocking gear 205 is configured to interlock the second drive system with the first drive system under predetermined conditions. In this embodiment, the first drive system is located on the rear side, and the second drive system is located on the front side, with the first and second drive systems arranged side by side with their positions differing in the front-rear direction. For example, the first and second drive systems may be arranged side by side with their positions differing in the vertical direction, or the arrangement of the first and second drive systems may be reversed in the front-rear direction or vertical direction.

[0013] The first drive shaft 201A and the second drive shaft 201B are each prismatic members extending in the left-right direction, and are pivotally supported within the headbox 2 so as to be rotatable with their axial direction in the left-right direction. Here, the axis of the first drive shaft 201A is located at the same position and rearward as the axis of the second drive shaft 201B in the vertical direction, but the positions of their axes are different in the front-rear direction.

[0014] Each of the two first winding drums 202A is inserted through the first drive shaft 201A so as to rotate integrally with the first drive shaft 201A, and one end of each of the two lifting cords 32 is connected to the corresponding lifting cord 32 so as to be able to be wound up and unwound. Each of the two second winding drums 202B is inserted through the second drive shaft 201B so as to rotate integrally with the second drive shaft 201B, and one end of each of the two dimming cords 42 is connected to the corresponding dimming cord 42 so as to be able to be wound up and unwound.

[0015] The first stopper 203A restricts the rotation of the first drive shaft 201A in the unwinding direction. The second stopper 203B restricts the rotation of the second drive shaft 201B in the unwinding direction. Furthermore, the first stopper 203A and the second stopper 203B are configured to be switchable between restricting and allowing the rotation of the first drive shaft 201A and the second drive shaft 201B, respectively.

[0016] The first brake 204A reduces the rotational speed of the first drive shaft 201A in the unwinding direction. The second brake 204B reduces the rotational speed of the second drive shaft 201B in the unwinding direction. By reducing the rotational speeds of the first drive shaft 201A and the second drive shaft 201B, respectively, the first brake 204A and the second brake 204B mitigate the impact force generated when the bottom rail 31 and intermediate bar 41 descend to their lower end positions.

[0017] The bottom rail 31 is a member that is elongated in the left-right direction and is suspended and supported from the headbox 2 so as to be located at the lowest point of the shielding device 1, with the other ends of the two lifting cords 32 connected to it. The intermediate bar 41 is a member that is elongated in the left-right direction and is suspended and supported from the headbox 2 so as to be located between the headbox 2 and the bottom rail 31 in the vertical direction, with the other ends of the two dimming cords 42 connected to it.

[0018] The screen 33 is a shielding member whose upper end is connected to the lower surface of the intermediate bar 41 and whose lower end is connected to the upper surface of the bottom rail 31, and is formed in a pleated shape that can be folded vertically, with two lifting cords 32 partially inserted vertically. The screen 43 is a shielding member whose upper end is connected to the lower surface of the headbox 2 and whose lower end is connected to the upper surface of the intermediate bar 41, and is formed in a pleated shape that can be folded vertically, with two dimming cords 42 partially inserted vertically.

[0019] The operating unit 5 has an endless operating cord 51, which is configured as, for example, a ball chain, and rotates the first drive shaft 201A and the second drive shaft 201B to raise and lower the bottom rail 31 and the intermediate bar 41 in response to the user's lifting and lowering operation on the operating cord 51.

[0020] (Configuration of the braking system) The configuration of the braking system will now be described. Figure 3 is a front view showing the shielding device with the bottom rail raised. Figure 4 is a schematic plan perspective view showing the shielding device with the first drive shaft rotating. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the braking system. Figures 6 and 7 are a perspective view and a right side view, respectively, showing the internal configuration of the braking system. Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views showing the configuration of the moving part and the transmission part, respectively. Figures 10 and 11 are left side views showing the braking system in a non-transmission state and a transmission state, respectively.

[0021] As shown in Figure 3, when the bottom rail 31 is raised, if the operation cord 51 of the operation unit 5 is released after being pulled a predetermined distance, the rotation restriction on the first drive shaft 201A by the first stopper 203A is released, and the bottom rail 31 descends to the lower end position by its own weight, as shown in Figure 1. The brake device 6 is connected to the first drive shaft 201A, as shown in Figure 4, and reduces the rotational speed of the first drive shaft 201A before the bottom rail 31 reaches the lower end position. While the first brake 204A constantly reduces the rotation of the first drive shaft 201A in the unwinding direction, the brake device 6 reduces the rotation according to the position of the bottom rail 31, specifically the amount of rotation of the first drive shaft 201A. The amount of rotation here refers to the amount of rotation of the first drive shaft 201A required to lower the bottom rail 31 from the reference position to the current position. That is, the amount of rotation of the first drive shaft 201A at the reference position is zero. Furthermore, the reference position may be the upper limit position or a predetermined position.

[0022] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the brake device 6 comprises a housing member 60, an input gear 61, a gear shaft 62, a support shaft 63, a switching unit 64, a moving unit 65, a transmission unit 66, and a brake 67. The housing member 60 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, defining a housing space and being a member that can be fixed to one end (left side in Figures 1 to 4) inside the head box 2. The housing space of the housing member 60 houses the input gear 61, gear shaft 62, support shaft 63, switching unit 64, moving unit 65, transmission unit 66, and brake 67.

[0023] The input gear 61 is a gear that is pivotally supported so as to rotate around an axis oriented in the left-right direction. The input gear 61 is also connected to the first drive shaft 201A so as to be able to rotate integrally with it, and the rotational force of the first drive shaft 201A is input to it. The gear shaft 62 is positioned in front of the input gear 61 and is pivotally supported in the housing member 60 so as to be able to rotate in the left-right direction, and is a member that has a tooth profile that extends substantially over the entire left-right direction. The gear shaft 62 is also provided so as to mesh with the input gear 61 on its inward side in the left-right direction.

[0024] The support shaft 63 is positioned in front of the gear shaft 62 and has a shaft portion 630 and a projection portion 631. The shaft portion 630 is a member that extends in the left-right direction, with its axial direction facing left-right, and has screw grooves formed on its outer circumferential wall. The projection portion 631 is formed to protrude inward in the left-right direction (lower right side in Figure 6) from a wall portion that extends radially outward in the left-right direction (upper left side in Figure 6) of the shaft portion 630.

[0025] The switching section 64 is formed as a substantially plate shape extending in the front-rear and left-right directions, and is provided on the housing member 60 so as to be movable only in the front-rear direction. The switching section 64 has a guide section 641, and a bearing section 642 (see Figure 7) is formed behind the guide section 641. The guide section 641 is formed as a slit that extends in the left-right direction and penetrates in the up-down direction, and has a non-transmission region R1 located inward in the left-right direction, a transmission region R2 located outward in the left-right direction relative to the non-transmission region R1, and a transition region R3 located between the non-transmission region R1 and the transmission region R2 in the left-right direction. The non-transmission region R1 is a slit that extends linearly in the left-right direction for a predetermined distance. The transmission region R2 is a slit located in front of the non-transmission region R1 and extends substantially linearly in the left-right direction for a predetermined distance. The transition region R3 is a slit that connects the non-transmission region R1 and the transmission region R2.

[0026] As shown in Figure 8, the movable part 65 has a slide gear 651 and a slider 652. The slide gear 651 is a gear that is inserted through and supported by the shaft portion 630 of the support shaft 63 and is formed to mesh with the gear shaft 62, and has an engagement groove 651a, an insertion hole 651b, and a protrusion 651c. The slider 652 is a member that is pushed by the slide gear 651 and moves along the guide portion 641 of the switching part 64, and has an engaged portion 652a and a guided portion 652b.

[0027] The engagement groove 651a is a groove formed so as to be recessed inward in diameter along the entire circumference of the slide gear 651. When the slide gear 651 is pivotally supported on the support shaft 63 and the slider 652 is attached to the switching part 64, the engaged part 652a of the slider 652 is positioned within the engagement groove 651a. The engaged part 652a is formed in a substantially U-shape corresponding to the engagement groove 651a, thereby increasing the contact area when it is engaged in the left-right direction by the engagement groove 651a without hindering the rotation of the slide gear 651.

[0028] The through hole 651b is a hole formed so that the shaft portion 630 of the support shaft 63 can be inserted through it, thereby rotatably supporting the slide gear 651 on the support shaft 63. Threads are formed on the inner circumferential wall of the slide gear 651 through the through hole 651b, which engage with the thread grooves formed on the outer circumferential wall of the shaft portion 630. As a result, the slide gear 651 moves in the left-right direction when rotated, as shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 7, the input gear 61 meshes with the gear shaft 62, and the gear shaft 62 meshes with the slide gear 651, so the gear shaft 62 rotates in the opposite direction to the input gear 61, and the slide gear 651 rotates in the same direction as the input gear 61. In this embodiment, when the first drive shaft 201A is rotated in the unwinding direction, the slide gear 651 rotates clockwise when viewed from the right side, moving outward in the left-right direction.

[0029] The guided portion 652b is formed at the lower end of the slider 652 and is designed to be insertable into the guide portion 641, which is formed as a slit, and to slide along the guide portion 641. When the slide gear 651 is moved in the left-right direction, the slider 652 is pushed by the slide gear 651 via the engaged portion 652a which is engaged with the engagement groove 651a, and the slider 652 moves in the left-right direction along the guide portion 641 of the switching portion 64.

[0030] The protrusion 651c is formed to protrude outward in the left-right direction from the left-right outer side surface of the slide gear 651. When the slide gear 651 is moved outward in the left-right direction and reaches the left-right outer end of the support shaft 63, the protrusion 651c and the protrusion 631 of the support shaft 63 engage in the rotational direction of the slide gear 651, preventing the slide gear 651 from rotating and moving further outward in the left-right direction.

[0031] As shown in Figure 9, the transmission unit 66 has an annular portion 660, a first arm portion 661, a second arm portion 662, and an intermediate gear 663. The annular portion 660 is formed in an annular shape and is pivotally supported on the gear shaft 62 so as to be rotatable around an axis oriented in the left-right direction by a cylindrical portion formed at the left-right outward end of the gear shaft 62 through which it is inserted. The first arm portion 661 is a member that extends radially from the annular portion 660 so as to be connectable to a switching portion 64 located below the annular portion 660, and a connecting shaft 661a extending inward in the left-right direction is provided at its tip. The second arm portion 662 is located behind the first arm portion 661 and is a member that extends radially from the annular portion 660 so as to form a predetermined angle with the first arm portion 661 with the center of the annular portion 660 as its apex, and a support shaft 662a extending inward in the left-right direction is provided at its tip.

[0032] In this embodiment, the brake 67 is configured as a centrifugal brake and has a main body 670 and a driven gear 671. The main body 670 is a member that defines a space inside, and in this space is housed a rotating body (not shown) that rotates around an axis oriented in the left-right direction, and in which the brake shoe is configured to slide against the inner wall of the main body 670 by centrifugal force. The driven gear 671 is connected to the rotating body inside the main body 670 so as to be able to rotate integrally with it and is configured to mesh with the intermediate gear 663. The brake 67 may be any device that generates a braking force to reduce rotational force, and may be any other type of reduction device. An example of this type of reduction device is an oil brake that generates a braking force by the resistance of a highly viscous oil.

[0033] The intermediate gear 663 is rotatably supported on the support shaft 662a and is formed to mesh with the gear shaft 62 and the driven gear 671 of the brake 67, and is provided to be constantly meshed with the gear shaft 62. The transmission unit 66 is connected to the switching unit 64 by having its connecting shaft 661a rotatably fitted into the bearing unit 642 of the switching unit 64, thereby causing the transmission unit 66 to rotate in accordance with the forward and backward movement of the switching unit 64.

[0034] As shown in Figure 10, the second arm 662 is configured such that when the switching unit 64 is in a forward position, the intermediate gear 663 and the driven gear 671 are separated, and as shown in Figure 11, when the switching unit 64 is moved backward, the intermediate gear 663 is moved upward and engages with the driven gear 671. When the intermediate gear 663 and the driven gear 671 engage, the first drive shaft 201A is decelerated by the brake 67 via the intermediate gear 663, gear shaft 62, and input gear 61.

[0035] A regulating mechanism is formed by the gear shaft 62, the support shaft 63, and the slide gear 651 of the moving part 65. This regulating mechanism limits the range of movement of the slide gear 651 on the shaft portion 630 of the support shaft 63, thereby limiting the rotation range of the first drive shaft 201A, and thus limiting the range of movement of the bottom rail 31 and screen 33 raised and lowered by the first drive shaft 201A. In this embodiment, the lower end position of the bottom rail 31 is set by the regulating mechanism.

[0036] Furthermore, the switching mechanism is formed by the switching unit 64, the slider 652 of the moving unit 65, and the transmission unit 66. This switching mechanism moves the moving unit 65 in the forward and backward direction when the slider 652 of the moving unit 65 is guided to a region in the guide unit 641 of the switching unit 64 that is shifted in the forward and backward direction from other parts, thereby switching the brake device 6 between a transmission state and a non-transmission state. When the brake device 6 is in the transmission state, the intermediate gear 663 of the transmission unit 66 meshes with the driven gear 671 of the brake 67, thereby transmitting the braking force of the brake 67 to the first drive shaft 201A. On the other hand, when the brake device 6 is in the non-transmission state, the transmission of the braking force of the brake 67 to the first drive shaft 201A is released. In this embodiment, the brake device 6 is set to be in the transmission state within a range (transmission region R2) corresponding to the lower end position of the bottom rail 31 set by the regulating mechanism.

[0037] (Operation of the braking system) The operation of the braking system will now be explained. Figures 12 and 15 are front views showing the shielding device in the state where only the first brake is activated and in the state where both the first brake and the braking system are activated, respectively. Figures 13 and 16 are perspective views showing the braking system in the non-transmission state and the transmission state, respectively. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of Figure 12. Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of Figure 15.

[0038] As shown in Figure 12, in the shielding device 1, when the bottom rail 31 is lowered by its own weight and is located relatively far from the lower end, as shown in Figure 13, the slider 652 of the moving part 65 is located within the non-transmission region R1 of the guide part 641 of the switching part 64. In this case, as shown in Figure 14, the brake device 6 is in a non-transmission state where the intermediate gear 663 and the driven gear 671 are separated and the first drive shaft 201A is not connected to the brake 67. In the non-transmission state, the rotation of the first drive shaft 201A in the shielding device 1 is reduced only by the first brake 204A.

[0039] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 15, when the bottom rail 31 in the shielding device 1 is lowered by its own weight and is relatively close to the lower end position, the slider 652 moves beyond the transition region R3 in the guide portion 641 into the transmission region R2, as shown in Figure 16. At this time, as shown in Figure 17, the brake device 6 enters a transmission state where the intermediate gear 663 and the driven gear 671 mesh and the first drive shaft 201A is connected to the brake 67. In the transmission state, the rotation of the first drive shaft 201A in the shielding device 1 is further reduced by the brake device 6.

[0040] Thus, according to the brake device 6 of this embodiment, by switching the transmission state between the intermediate gear 663 and the driven gear 671 according to the amount of rotation of the first drive shaft 201A, the rotation of the first drive shaft 201A can be decelerated by the brake 67 according to the position of the bottom rail 31. In other words, through the cooperation of the regulating mechanism and the switching mechanism, the rotation of the first drive shaft 201A can be decelerated by the brake 67 according to the position of the bottom rail 31.

[0041] In this embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to a shielding device 1 equipped with two screens 33 and 43 as shielding materials, but the present invention is applicable to all shielding devices in which the opening and closing state of the shielding material can be operated by the rotation of a shaft member.

[0042] Furthermore, by appropriately changing the slit shape of the guide portion 641 in this embodiment, the position of the bottom rail 31, where the rotation of the first drive shaft 201A is further reduced by the brake 67, can be arbitrarily determined, thus enabling flexible device design.

[0043] Furthermore, although this embodiment has been described as further decelerating the rotation of the first drive shaft 201A by the brake 67 when the bottom rail 31 descends to a predetermined position (near the lower end position), it is also possible to apply this to other shielding devices having a different configuration from the shielding device 1. For example, if the shielding device to be applied is a roll screen, when the screen is wound onto the winding pipe and the weight bar at the end of the screen rises to a predetermined position (near the upper end position), the brake may be activated by the cooperation of a similar regulating mechanism and switching mechanism to decelerate the rotation of the winding pipe. This prevents the screen from being wound up too quickly and the weight bar from bouncing up.

[0044] <Second Embodiment> (composition) The configurations of the shielding device and clutch device according to the second embodiment will now be described. Figure 18 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the shielding device according to this embodiment. Figure 19 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the brake device according to this embodiment.

[0045] As shown in Figure 18, the shielding device 1A according to this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it is configured as a horizontal blind and has a clutch device 6A instead of a brake device 6. The shielding device 1A comprises a headbox 7, an operating unit 9 provided inside the headbox 7, a bottom rail 81, and a plurality of slats 82. Inside the headbox 7 are a first drive shaft 701 and a second drive shaft 702, two lifting drums 703 rotated by the first drive shaft 701, two rotating drums 704 rotated by the second drive shaft 702, and a clutch device 6A.

[0046] The operating unit 9 is located on the right side in Figure 18 within the headbox 7 and includes an operating cord 91 and an operating rod 92 that hang down from the headbox 7. The operating unit 9 rotates the first drive shaft 701 when the operating cord 91 is pulled, and rotates the second drive shaft 702 when the operating rod 92 is rotated around its axis. The operating cord 91 is configured to maintain its lower end position and to be wound up within the operating unit 9. The operating unit 9 rotates the first drive shaft 701 when the operating cord 91 is pulled beyond a predetermined distance. Furthermore, when the operating cord 91 is not operated, the operating unit 9 restrains the rotation of the first drive shaft 701, and this restraint is released when the operating cord 91 is pulled to a predetermined distance or less.

[0047] The slats 82 are supported by ladder cords 84 arranged in multiple vertical directions between the headbox 7 and the bottom rail 81. One end of the ladder cords 84 is connected to the rotating drum 704 and hangs down from the headbox 7, while the other end is connected to the bottom rail 81 and positioned in front of and behind the slats 82, individually supporting the slats 82. As the rotating drum 704 rotates, the front and rear ladder cords 84 move relative to each other in the vertical direction, causing the slats 82 to tilt and rotate to fully closed, horizontal (fully open), or partially closed positions.

[0048] The bottom rail 81 is suspended and supported at the lowest end of the shielding device 1A by connecting it to the other end of a lifting cord 83, one end of which is connected to a lifting drum 703 so as to be able to be wound up and unwound. As the lifting cord 83 is wound up and unwound by the lifting drum 703, the bottom rail 81 is raised and lowered, and in turn the multiple slats 82 are raised and lowered.

[0049] The clutch device 6A differs from the brake device 6 in that it omits the input gear 61, replaces the gear shaft 62 with a gear shaft 62A, and replaces the brake 67 with a clutch 68. The clutch 68 has a main body 680 and a driven gear 681. The driven gear 681 meshes with the intermediate gear 663 and inputs rotational force to the main body 680. The main body 680 is connected to the second drive shaft 702 and transmits only one direction of rotational force from the input rotational force of the driven gear 681 to the second drive shaft 702.

[0050] In this embodiment, the clutch 68 transmits only the rotational force in the rotational direction when the bottom rail 81 is lowered to the second drive shaft 702. Furthermore, since the input gear 61 is omitted and the gear shaft 62A is connected to the first drive shaft 701 so as to be able to rotate integrally with it, when the rotation of the first drive shaft 701 is transmitted to the second drive shaft 702, the first drive shaft 701 and the second drive shaft 702 rotate in the same direction.

[0051] (operation) The operation of the shielding device according to the second embodiment will now be described. Figures 20 to 27 are schematic side views of the shielding device, showing the state in which the bottom rail is at its lower end, the state in which the slats are rotating, the state in which the slats are rising, the state in which the bottom rail is at its upper limit, the state in which the lowering operation has been performed, the state in which the bottom rail is descending due to its own weight, the state in which the slats are rotating in conjunction, and the state in which the slats are fully closed and the bottom rail is at its lower end.

[0052] As shown in Figure 20, when the raising and lowering of the slat 82 is stopped, as shown in Figure 21, when the operating rod 92 is rotated around its axis by the operator, the rotation of the second drive shaft 702 causes the rotating drum 704 to rotate and the slat 82 to tilt.

[0053] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 22, when the operator pulls the control cord 91 by a distance greater than a predetermined distance, the lifting drum 703 is rotated by the rotation of the first drive shaft 701, and the bottom rail 81 is raised. When this pulling operation is performed multiple times, the bottom rail 81 is raised to the upper end position, as shown in Figure 23.

[0054] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 24, when the operation cord 91 is pulled by the operator by a predetermined distance or less, the restraint on the first drive shaft 701 is released, the bottom rail 81 descends by its own weight, and as shown in Figure 25, when the bottom rail 81 reaches near the lower end, the slider 652 in the clutch device 6A moves beyond the transition region R3 in the guide section 641 into the transmission region R2. As a result, the clutch device 6A enters a transmission state in which the intermediate gear 663 and the driven gear 681 mesh, and the first drive shaft 701 is connected to the clutch 68.

[0055] In the transmission state, the rotation of the first drive shaft 701 in the shielding device 1A is transmitted to the second drive shaft 702 via the clutch 68, and as shown in Figure 26, the lifting drum 703 and the rotating drum 704 rotate in conjunction, causing the bottom rail 81 to descend and the slats 82 to tilt, and as shown in Figure 27, the bottom rail 81 stops at the lower end position and the shielding device 1A becomes fully closed.

[0056] Thus, the switching mechanism can switch not only the brake 67 but also the clutch 68. That is, the switching mechanism can switch between transmitting force to the drive shaft that raises or lowers the shielding material to the operating mechanism that performs the operation of raising or lowering or rotating the shielding material, i.e., opening and closing the shielding material, or transmitting force to the drive shaft by the operating mechanism. Furthermore, the rotation range of the first drive shaft 701 does not necessarily need to be restricted, and a switching device that switches the transmission state may be configured by a support shaft 63 that does not restrict the movement range of the gear shaft 62, switching unit 64, moving unit 65, transmission unit 66, and slide gear 651.

[0057] The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from its essence or main features. Therefore, the embodiments described above are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be construed restrictively. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims and is not restricted in any way by the text of the specification. Furthermore, all variations, improvements, substitutions, and modifications falling within the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 Shielding device 6. Brake system 61 Input Gear 62, 62A Gear shaft 63 Support shaft 64 Switching section 65 Mobile section 66 Transmission section 67 Brake 68 Clutch

Claims

1. A switching device provided in a shielding device that opens and closes a shielding material, a gear shaft to which rotation of a drive shaft that raises and lowers the shielding material is input; a moving part that moves in the axial direction of the gear shaft in response to rotation of the gear shaft; a transmission unit that transmits the rotational force of the drive shaft to an operating mechanism that performs an operation related to raising and lowering or opening and closing the shielding material, or that transmits a force generated in the operating mechanism to the drive shaft; a switching unit that switches between a transmission state in which transmission is performed by the transmission unit and a non-transmission state in which the transmission is released in response to movement of the moving unit; A switching device comprising:

2. the actuating mechanism has a driven gear for operating the actuating mechanism; 2. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission portion has an intermediate gear that meshes with the gear shaft and meshes with the driven gear when the switching device is in a transmission state.

3. the switching portion is provided so as to be movable in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and a guide portion is formed to guide the moving portion, the guide portion including a non-transmission region that guides the moving portion along the axial direction, and a transmission region that guides the moving portion along the axial direction at a different position on one side of the non-transmission region in the orthogonal direction, The switching device according to claim 2 , wherein the transmission unit causes the intermediate gear and the driven gear to mesh together when the switching unit is moved to the opposite side in the orthogonal direction.

4. 4. The switching device according to claim 3, wherein the moving portion includes a slide gear that meshes with the gear shaft, and a slider that is pushed by the slide gear to move along the guide portion in the axial direction.

5. The slide gear is further provided with a support shaft that rotatably supports the slide gear, 5. The switching device according to claim 4, wherein the slide gear is moved in the axial direction of the support shaft by being rotated.

Images