Sliding door structure

Abstract

To provide a sliding door structure with a high level of safety and with a sliding door whose thickness can be changed.SOLUTION: A sliding door structure, which is configured to include a sliding door 16 that opens and closes an opening in a door frame, the sliding door 16 has a sliding door body 22 that can move in the direction of opening and closing the opening, and at least one door plate 24 that is supported by the sliding door body 22 and can move outward in the door thickness direction, the sliding door structure further includes a first moving portion 26 that moves the door end side of the door plate 16 outward in the door thickness direction in response to a movement of the sliding door body 22 in the closing direction, and then moves the door end side of the door plate 16 outward in the door thickness direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sliding door structure.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when the thickness of a sliding door is thicker than the thickness of a door pocket that houses the sliding door, a sliding door structure is known that changes the thickness of the sliding door so that it can be housed in the door pocket (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes a structure provided with a guide portion that makes it possible to adjust the interval in the thickness direction between two door panels and guides the two door panels to approach each other when the sliding door is shifted from the closed state to the open state. A spring that biases the door panels in a direction to increase the thickness is disposed between the two door panels.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the structure of Patent Document 1, the door panels are always biased in a direction to increase the thickness of the sliding door. When opening and closing the sliding door, it is desirable to smoothly adjust the biasing force applied to the door panels.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a sliding door structure having a sliding door with a variable thickness and high safety.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a sliding door structure including a sliding door that opens and closes an opening provided in a door frame. The sliding door includes a sliding door body movable in a direction to open and close the opening, and at least one door panel supported by the sliding door body and movable in the door thickness direction. The sliding door structure further includes a door panel moving mechanism that moves the door tip side of the door panel outward in the door thickness direction in response to the movement of the sliding door body in the closing direction, and then moves the door butt side of the door panel outward in the door thickness direction.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. In the embodiments, a detailed description will be given using an example in which a sliding door structure is provided on a fixed wall of a living space. As the structure to which the sliding door structure is attached, a structure such as a movable wall may be used in addition to the fixed wall.

[0010] In the following embodiments, directions may be described using a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system composed of an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis. The X-axis extends along the opening and closing direction of the sliding door. The Y-axis is orthogonal to the X-axis in the horizontal plane. The Z-axis extends along the vertical direction.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a living space to which a sliding door structure is applied. The sliding door structure 10 includes a sliding door 16 that opens and closes an opening 14 connecting spaces partitioned by a fixed wall 12. The sliding door 16 is movable between two positions: a closed position where the opening 14 is closed and an open position where the opening 14 is opened. The sliding door 16 is substantially flush with the surface of the fixed wall 12 in the closed position. This can improve the aesthetics of the sliding door structure 10. The sliding door 16 is housed in a space (a door pocket S described later) provided inside the fixed wall 12 in the open position.

[0012] A blind 18 is provided above the opening 14. Inside the blind 18, a drive unit (omitted in FIG. 1) such as a motor, a pulley, and a timing belt for driving the sliding door 16 is housed.

[0013] The sliding door structure 10 includes a signal output unit 20 disposed on the fixed wall 12. The signal output unit 20 outputs a drive signal for the sliding door 16 in response to an operation by an operator. The signal output unit 20 is constituted by a contact-type or non-contact-type operation switch. In this case, when the operator operates the operation switch, the signal output unit 20 outputs a drive signal. The drive unit drives the sliding door 16 in response to the drive signal. A sensor for detecting whether there is a person or the like within a predetermined range in front of the sliding door 16 may be provided in the blind 18.

[0014] Figs. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of the sliding door structure, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sliding door body. Specifically, Fig. 2 shows the sliding door 16 in the closed position, and Fig. 3 shows the sliding door 16 in the open position. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the door thickness (the thickness along the Y-axis direction) of the sliding door 16 in the closed position is thinner than the door thickness of the sliding door 16 in the open position. The thickness of the sliding door 16 in the open position is slightly thinner than the thickness of the door pocket S (the thickness along the Y-axis direction). The thickness of the sliding door 16 in the closed position is substantially the same as the thickness of the opening 14 closed by the sliding door 16 (that is, the distance between the two surfaces of the fixed wall 12 facing the opposite side). Thereby, the sliding door 16 forms a flat surface with the surface of the fixed wall 12 in the open position. The door thickness of the sliding door 16 increases as it moves from the open position to the closed position. On the other hand, the door thickness of the sliding door 16 decreases as it moves from the closed position to the open position.

[0015] The sliding door 16 includes a sliding door body 22, two door panels 24, a first moving part 26, and a second moving part 28. The sliding door body 22 is composed of a frame body. The sliding door body 22 holds other components of the sliding door 16 (such as the door panel 24, the first moving part 26, the second moving part 28, etc.). The sliding door body 22 is mechanically connected to a driving part such as the motor described above. Therefore, the driving force from the driving part is input to the sliding door body 22, and when the sliding door body 22 is driven, the entire sliding door 16 is driven. By using the frame body as the sliding door body 22, the weight of the sliding door body 22 can be reduced. Also, by using the frame body as the sliding door body 22, components such as the first moving part 26 and the second moving part 28 can be built into the opening of the frame body, and the door thickness of the sliding door 16 can be reduced.

[0016] The two door panels 24 are arranged to sandwich the sliding door body 22 along the Y-axis. Each door panel 24 is composed of a plate-like member having a first main surface 30 facing the outside in the door thickness direction of the sliding door 16 and a second main surface 32 facing the inside in the door thickness direction. The first main surface 30 may be decorated, for example, with the same decoration as the surface of the fixed wall 12. Thereby, the integrality between the sliding door 16 and the fixed wall 12 can be improved when the sliding door 16 is closed. The door panel 24 is suspended from the sliding door body 22. The door panel 24 moves outward or inward in the door thickness direction with respect to the sliding door body 22 as the sliding door 16 moves. By changing the position of the door panel 24 with respect to the sliding door body 22, the door thickness of the sliding door 16 changes. In this embodiment, an example in which the two door panels 24 move along the Y-axis with respect to the sliding door body 22 will be described. However, one door panel 24 may be fixed to the sliding door body 22, and only the other door panel 24 may be made movable with respect to the sliding door body 22.

[0017] The two door panels 24 and the sliding door body 22 have substantially the same length in the width direction (X-axis direction). When the sliding door 16 is in the closed position, the ends (ends on the ±X sides) of the two door panels 24 and the sliding door body 22 are arranged substantially in a straight line. On the other hand, when the sliding door 16 is in the open position, the ends on the door tip side of the two door panels 24 are located on the +X side with respect to the sliding door body 22.

[0018] The first moving part 26 and the second moving part 28 form a part of a sliding door moving mechanism that moves the door panel 24 with respect to the sliding door body 22 as the sliding door 16 moves. The first moving part 26 is arranged on the door butt side rather than the center in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the sliding door 16, and the second moving part 28 is arranged on the door tip side rather than the center in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the sliding door 16. The first moving part 26 and the second moving part 28 independently change the position of the door panel 24 with respect to the sliding door body 22.

[0019] The first moving part 26 includes a pair of rear arms 34, 36 (corresponding to "closed link members") and a pair of slide arms 38, 40. The second moving part 28 includes a pair of front arms 42, 44 (corresponding to "open link members") and a linear guide 46. A combination of the pair of rear arms 34, 36 and the slide arms 38, 40 is provided in a set respectively above and below the sliding door 16. Also, a pair of the front arms 42, 44 is provided in a pair respectively above and below the sliding door 16. Thereby, the thickness can be simultaneously changed in the vertical direction of the sliding door 16.

[0020] The rear arms 34, 36 each have an end on the door butt side and an end on the door tip side. The ends of the rear arms 34, 36 on the door butt side are respectively fixed to the sliding door body 22 and are rotatably supported around an axis Z1 extending in the Z-axis direction. The ends of the rear arms 34, 36 on the door tip side are respectively attached to the second main surfaces 32 of the two door panels 24. The ends of the rear arms 34, 36 on the door tip side are respectively rotatably attached to the second main surface 32 around axes Z2, Z3. The rear arms 34, 36 are respectively arranged on the +X side and the -X side so as to sandwich the sliding door body 22 in a top view.

[0021] The slide arms 38, 40 each have an end on the door butt side and an end on the door tip side. The ends of the slide arms 38, 40 on the door butt side are respectively attached to the second main surfaces 32 of the two door panels 24. More specifically, the ends of the slide arms 38, 40 on the door butt side are rotatably attached to the door panel 24 around the same axes Z2, Z3 as the ends of the rear arms 34, 36 on the door tip side. The ends of the slide arms 38, 40 on the door tip side are movable along the X-axis with respect to the sliding door body 22.

[0022] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the sliding door body. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a gear 100 and a gear damper 102 are provided at the door tip ends of the slide arms 38 and 40. The door tip ends of the slide arms 38 and 40 are attached to the shaft of the gear 100. By the combination of the gear 100 and the gear damper 102, a decelerating force is applied to the movement of the slide arms 38 and 40 in the closing direction (the acute angle with the X-axis becomes smaller). The combination of the gear 100 and the gear damper 102 is slidably supported on a support member 104 extending in the X-axis direction of the sliding door body 22.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the door butt ends of the rear arms 34 and 36 and the door tip ends of the slide arms 38 and 40 are held so as to be relatively movable along the X-axis. The door tip ends of the rear arms 34 and 36 and the door butt ends of the slide arms 38 and 40 are held so as to be rotatable about the same axes Z2 and Z3. According to the first moving part 26 having such a configuration, as the distance between the door butt ends of the rear arms 34 and 36 and the door tip ends of the slide arms 38 and 40 becomes shorter, the angle of the rear arms 34 and 36 with respect to the X-axis (the acute angle between them), and the angle of the slide arms 38 and 40 with respect to the X-axis (the acute angle between them) increase. Thereby, the door panel 24 moves away from the sliding door body 22 in the vicinity of the first moving part 26. Conversely, as the distance between the door butt ends of the rear arms 34 and 36 and the door tip ends of the slide arms 38 and 40 becomes longer, the door panel 24 approaches the sliding door body 22 in the vicinity of the first moving part 26. That is, by changing the distance between the door butt ends of the rear arms 34 and 36 and the door tip ends of the slide arms 38 and 40, the distance between the door panel 24 and the sliding door body 22 can be changed in the vicinity of the first moving part 26. It can also be said that the length of the first moving part 26 along the X-axis and the length of the first moving part 26 along the Y-axis are inversely proportional.

[0024] The second moving part 28 is arranged at a position shifted toward the door tip along the X-axis with respect to the first moving part 26. The ends of the front arms 42, 44 on the door butt side are fixed to respective ones of the two door panels 24 and are rotatably supported about axes Z4, Z5 extending in the Z-axis direction. The ends of the front arms 42, 44 on the door tip side are supported by linear guides 46 respectively. Specifically, the ends of the front arms 42, 44 on the door tip side are rotatably supported about an axis Z6 passing through the linear guide 46.

[0025] The linear guide 46 is slidably held along a shaft 48 forming part of the sliding door body 22 in the X-axis direction. When the linear guide 46 slides toward the door butt side, the angle of the front arms 42, 44 with respect to the X-axis (the acute angle between them) increases. Thereby, the door panel 24 moves away from the sliding door body 22 in the vicinity of the second moving part 28. Conversely, when the linear guide 46 slides toward the door tip side, the door panel 24 approaches the sliding door body 22 in the vicinity of the second moving part 28. That is, by changing the position of the linear guide 46, the distance between the door panel 24 and the sliding door body 22 can be changed in the vicinity of the second moving part 28. It can also be said that the length of the second moving part 28 along the X-axis is inversely proportional to the length of the first moving part 26 along the Y-axis.

[0026] On the upper surface of each door panel 24 on the door tip side, a guide roller 50 (corresponding to the "protrusion") protruding from the door panel 24 toward the +Z side protrudes. The guide roller 50 includes a roller that rotates about the Z-axis.

[0027] On the upper part of the sliding door body 22, a connecting part 108 connected to the driving part is provided. The connecting part 108 is fixed to the endless timing belt of the driving part.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the upper part of the opening. FIG. 6 shows a view when looking from the -Z side to the +Z side (that is, when looking at the upper part of the opening 14 from below). On the lower surface of the opening 14, two grooves 52 (corresponding to the "guide part" and the "open guide part") for guiding the guide rollers 50 when the door panel 24 moves are formed. The guide rollers 50 are inserted into the grooves 52. The grooves 52 change the position of the guide rollers 50 and the position of the end of the door panel 24 on the door tip side. The two grooves 52 extend parallel to the X-axis from the end on the door butt side to the door tip side beyond the center in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the sliding door 16. The two grooves 52 have a transition part 54 that extends in a direction away from each other (in the XY plane) near the end on the door tip side. On the door tip side of the transition part 54, the two grooves 52 extend parallel to the X-axis again. Note that the grooves 52 may be provided on the door panel 24 side, and the guide rollers 50 may be provided on the lower surface of the opening 14.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the sliding door structure. FIG. 7 shows a functional block diagram in which each component of the sliding door structure is classified based on its function. As shown in FIG. 7, the sliding door structure 10 includes a sliding door 16, a signal output unit 20, a driving unit 60, and a door panel moving mechanism 62. The driving unit 60 corresponds to the frame driving unit, includes a motor, a pulley, a timing belt, etc., and drives the sliding door 16 to open or close. The door panel moving mechanism 62 changes the thickness of the sliding door 16. In FIG. 7, for clearer explanation, the driving unit 60 that drives the sliding door 16 from a functional perspective and the door panel moving mechanism 62 that changes the thickness of the sliding door 16 are separated. The door panel moving mechanism 62 includes a first moving part 26, a second moving part 28, and a guide mechanism 64 including the grooves 52 and the guide rollers 50.

[0030] Hereinafter, the operation of the sliding door structure will be described. At this time, it is assumed that the sliding door 16 is in a state of closing the opening 14. At this time, each door panel 24 is in a position away from the sliding door body 22, and the sliding door 16 is in a bulged state.

[0031] When an operator who attempts to open the sliding door 16 operates the signal output unit 20, the signal output unit 20 outputs an opening drive signal to the drive unit 60. Thereby, the drive unit 60 drives a motor or the like to start opening the sliding door 16. When the sliding door 16 starts to open, mainly the first moving unit 26 brings the door panel 24 closer to the door body 22 on the door butt side, and reduces the thickness of the sliding door 16 on the door butt side. Next, as the sliding door 16 continues to open, the door panel moving mechanism 62 brings the door panel 24 closer to the door body 22 on the door tip side, and reduces the thickness of the sliding door 16 on the door tip side. Thereby, the sliding door 16 is shrunk to a thickness that can fit into the door pocket S.

[0032] When the sliding door structure 10 determines that there is no person or the like around the sliding door 16, the sliding door structure 10 closes the sliding door 16. When closing the sliding door 16, the sliding door structure 10 drives the drive unit 60 to move the sliding door 16 along the X-axis. When the sliding door 16 moves a predetermined amount, mainly due to the action of the second moving unit 28, the guide roller 50, and the groove 52, the door panel 24 moves away from the door body 22. Thereby, the thickness of the sliding door 16 increases on the door tip side, and the door tip side of the sliding door 16 bulges in the door thickness direction. When continuing to close the sliding door 16, mainly due to the action of the first moving unit 26, the door panel 24 moves away from the door body 22 on the door butt side. Thereby, the thickness of the sliding door 16 increases on the door butt side, and the door butt side of the sliding door 16 bulges in the door thickness direction. Thereby, the sliding door 16 forms a flat surface with the surface of the fixed wall 12.

[0033] When opening the sliding door 16, the sliding door structure 10 drives the drive unit 60 to move the sliding door 16 along the X-axis. When the sliding door 16 moves a predetermined amount, mainly due to the action of the first moving unit 26, the door panel 24 approaches the door body 22. Thereby, the thickness of the sliding door 16 decreases on the door tip side, and the door butt side of the sliding door 16 shrinks in the door thickness direction. When continuing to close the sliding door 16, mainly due to the action of the second moving unit 28, the door panel 24 approaches the door body 22 on the door tip side. Thereby, the thickness of the sliding door 16 decreases on the door tip side, and the door tip side of the sliding door 16 shrinks in the door thickness direction. Thereby, the sliding door 16 becomes a thickness that can be accommodated in the door pocket S.

[0034] In the above description, the expression "mainly acting" also includes the case where the corresponding component mainly acts and other components also act subsidiarily. For example, when moving the sliding door 16 from the closed position to the open position, mainly the first moving part 26 thins the sliding door 16, but when the thickness of the sliding door 16 decreases, other components such as the front arms 42, 44 and the guide rollers 50 also act subsidiarily to hold the position of the door panel 24 with respect to the door body 22.

[0035] Hereinafter, the operation of the sliding door structure 10 will be described in more detail. FIGS. 8 to 10 are horizontal cross-sectional views showing a series of operations when moving the sliding door in the closed position to the open position. For the convenience of explanation, in FIGS. 8 to 10, the cross-section of the sliding door 16, the groove 52 and the guide roller 50 are shown in the same plane.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 8, when the sliding door 16 is in the closed position, the end of the sliding door 16 on the door tip side is in contact with the vertical rail 66. The rear arms 34, 36, the slide arms 38, 40 and the front arms 42, 44 are in the most open state (that is, the state where the acute angle with the X-axis is the largest). In this state, the door panel 24 is held parallel to the X-axis at a position away from the door body 22. When the drive unit 60 (see FIG. 7) is driven in this state to drive the door body 22 to the -X side, it shifts to the state shown in FIG. 9.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 9, when the sliding door 16 is driven to the -X side, as the main body 22 of the sliding door is pulled to the -X side, the ends of the rear arms 34 and 36 on the door end side are pulled to the -X side. The ends of the slide arms 38 and 40 on the door leading side and the linear guide 46 are not fixed to the main body 22 of the sliding door. Therefore, immediately after the main body 22 of the sliding door is driven, the ends of the slide arms 38 and 40 on the door leading side and the linear guide 46 tend to stay at their current positions. When the ends of the rear arms 34 and 36 on the door end side are pulled to the -X side, a tensile force acts in the axial direction of the rear arms 34 and 36. As a result, while the ends of the rear arms 34 and 36 on the door end side rotate around the axis Z1 extending in the Z-axis direction, the ends of the rear arms 34 and 36 on the door leading side rotate around the axes Z2 and Z3, and a force F1 that brings the door panel 24 closer to the main body 22 of the sliding door is generated. The force F1 acts in the direction of pulling the door panel 24 into the door pocket S. Accordingly, the ends of the slide arms 38 and 40 on the door leading side slide toward the door leading side along the X-axis, and the angle (acute angle) formed by the slide arms 38 and 40 and the X-axis becomes smaller. That is, the first moving part 26 extends in the X-axis direction and contracts in the Y-axis direction. At this time, the distance between the two door panels 24 on the door leading side hardly changes. When the driving part 60 (see FIG. 7) is driven in this state to drive the main body 22 of the sliding door to the -X side, the state shown in FIG. 10 is entered.

[0038] If the driving part 60 (see FIG. 7) is continuously driven, as shown in FIG. 10, as the main body 22 of the sliding door is pulled to the -X side, the door panel 24 is also pulled to the -X side. As the door panel 24 moves, the guide roller 50 also moves along the groove 52. When the guide roller 50 enters the transition part 54, the two door panels 24 move in the direction of approaching each other. As a result, on the door leading side, the door panel 24 approaches the main body 22 of the sliding door. Thereby, the sliding door 16 becomes a thickness that can be accommodated in the door pocket S.

[0039] Thereafter, by continuously driving the driving part 60, as shown in FIG. 11, the sliding door 16 is accommodated in the door pocket S.

[0040] Figures 12 and 13 are horizontal cross-sectional views showing a series of operations when moving a sliding door in the open position to the closed position. For convenience of explanation, in Figures 12 and 13, the cross-section of the sliding door 16, the groove 52, and the guide roller 50 are shown in the same plane.

[0041] As shown in Figure 11, when the sliding door 16 is in the open position, the rear arms 34, 36, the slide arms 38, 40, and the front arms 42, 44 are in the most closed state (that is, the state where the acute angle with the X-axis is the smallest). In this state, the door panel 24 is held parallel to the X-axis at a position close to the sliding door body 22. When the drive unit 60 (see Figure 7) is driven in this state to drive the sliding door body 22 to the +X side, as the sliding door body 22 moves to the +X side, the door panel 24 also moves together with the sliding door body 22.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 12, when the guide roller 50 enters the transfer portion 54, the two door panels 24 begin to move away from each other. As a result, the door thickness increases on the door tip side of the sliding door 16. At this time, the ends of the front arms 42 and 44 on the door tip side rotate around the axis Z6, and the acute angle formed by the front arms 42 and 44 with respect to the X-axis increases. Along with this, the linear guide 46 moves toward the door butt side with respect to the sliding door body 22. The ends of the two door panels 24 on the door tip side are located on the +X side with respect to the sliding door body 22. Therefore, when the sliding door 16 is moved to the +X side, the ends of the door panels 24 on the door tip side contact the vertical rail 66 earlier than the ends of the sliding door body 22 on the door tip side. Even after the ends of the door panels 24 on the door tip side contact the vertical rail 66, if the sliding door body 22 is continuously driven in the +X direction, the door panels 24 do not move along the +X direction, but the sliding door body 22 moves in the +X direction. That is, the sliding door body 22 moves independently of the door panels 24. As a result, with the X-axis direction positions of the ends of the rear arms 34 and 36 on the door tip side fixed, the ends of the rear arms 34 and 36 on the door butt side move in the +X direction. Thereby, the acute angle formed by the rear arms 34 and 36 with respect to the X-axis increases, and a force F2 acting in the direction of opening the door panels 24 with respect to the door panels 24 acts. As a result, the door thickness increases on the door butt side of the sliding door 16. The drive unit 60 stops at the timing when the sliding door body 22 contacts the vertical rail 66. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13, the door thickness of the sliding door 16 becomes the same on the door butt side and the door tip side.

[0043] Thus, according to the sliding door structure 10, in conjunction with the operation of the sliding door 16 along the X-axis, the thickness of the sliding door 16 can be changed by making the door tip side and the door butt side independent. At this time, since the thickness of the sliding door 16 can be smoothly adjusted without using a biasing member such as a spring, high safety can be obtained. Also, since it can be changed, it can prevent the door panel 16 from suddenly popping out. Furthermore, it can prevent the door panel 24 from popping out and the door panel 24 from contacting the vertical rail and the sliding door 16 from accelerating. Thereby, the safety can be enhanced.

[0044] Also, by using the second moving part 28 including the front arms 42 and 44 with one end fixed to the door panel 24 and the other end slidably held, when the sliding door 16 is driven to close, the sliding door 16 can be bulged according to the sliding door 16 without using a biasing means such as a spring. Thereby, the safety can be enhanced.

[0045] Also, by using the groove 52 and the guide roller 50 as the guide part, the sliding door 16 can be surely bulged when the sliding door 16 is driven to close.

[0046] Also, by driving the driving part 60 according to the drive signal from the signal output part 20 and thereby driving the sliding door 16, the sliding door structure 10 can be applied to an automatic door.

[0047] Also, as the sliding door main body 22 moves in the opening direction, by bringing the door panel 24 closer to the sliding door main body 22, the thickness of the sliding door 16 can be changed to a thickness that can be accommodated in the door pocket S.

[0048] At this time, by using the first driving part 26 including the rear arms 34 and 36 with one end fixed to the door panel 24 and the other end slidably held, when the sliding door 16 is driven to open, the sliding door 16 can be shrunk according to the sliding door 16 without using a biasing means such as a spring. Thereby, the safety can be enhanced.

[0049] Hereinafter, a modification of the embodiment will be described. FIG. 14 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a sliding door structure according to the modification. As shown in FIG. 14, an inclined surface 200 may be provided at the entrance to the door pocket S. The inclined surface 200 is formed on the surface on the inner side in the door thickness direction of the vertical rail on the door butt side (-X side). The inclined surface 200 has a shape in which the width in the door thickness direction narrows as it goes toward the -X side. When the sliding door 16 is shifted to the open position, the end on the door butt side of the sliding door 16 contacts the inclined surface 200 and is guided inward in the door thickness direction. Thereby, the operation of the sliding door 16 can be made smooth when the sliding door 16 is shifted from the closed position to the open position.

[0050] Note that the present disclosure is also applicable to a manual sliding door structure. In this case, a handle that the user grasps when moving the sliding door may be directly connected to the sliding door body. As a result, the user can directly apply a force to the sliding door body.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0051] 10: Sliding door structure, 16: Sliding door, 20: Signal output unit, 22: Sliding door body, 24: Door panel, 26: First moving part, 28: Second moving part, 34: Rear arm, 36: Rear arm, 38: Slide arm, 40: Slide arm, 42: Front arm, 44: Front arm, 46: Linear guide, 50: Guide roller, 52: Groove, 60: Driving part, 62: Door panel moving mechanism, 64: Guide mechanism

Claims

1. A sliding door structure including a sliding door for opening and closing an opening provided in a door frame, wherein the sliding door includes a sliding door body movable in a direction for opening and closing the opening, and at least one door panel supported by the sliding door body and movable in the door thickness direction, and the sliding door structure further includes a door panel moving mechanism configured to move the leading end side of the door panel outward in the door thickness direction in response to the movement of the sliding door body in the closing direction, and then move the trailing end side of the door panel outward in the door thickness direction, wherein the door panel moving mechanism includes a closing link member having one end fixed to the door panel, the other end fixed to the sliding door body, and the other end rotatable about an axis extending in the vertical direction.

2. The sliding door structure according to claim 1, wherein the door panel moving mechanism includes a guide portion configured to guide the door panel in a direction away from the sliding door body as the sliding door body moves in the closing direction.

3. The door panel includes a protruding portion protruding in the vertical direction, and the guide portion has a groove configured to guide the protruding portion when the door panel moves, according to claim 2.

4. A signal output unit configured to output a drive signal in response to an operation of an operator, and a drive unit configured to drive the sliding door body in the closing direction in response to the drive signal, according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A sliding door structure including a sliding door for opening and closing an opening provided in a door frame, wherein the sliding door includes a sliding door body movable in a direction for opening and closing the opening, and at least one door panel supported by the sliding door body and movable in the door thickness direction, and the sliding door structure further includes a door panel moving mechanism configured to move the leading end side of the door panel outward in the door thickness direction in response to the movement of the sliding door body in the closing direction, and then move the trailing end side of the door panel outward in the door thickness direction, wherein the door panel moving mechanism is configured to move the door panel in a direction approaching the sliding door body as the sliding door body moves in the opening direction.

6. The sliding door structure according to claim 5, wherein the door panel moving mechanism includes an opening link member having one end fixed to the door panel and the other end rotatably supported by the sliding door body about an axis extending in the vertical direction.

7. The sliding door structure according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the door panel moving mechanism includes an opening guide portion configured to guide the door panel in a direction approaching the sliding door body as the sliding door body moves in the opening direction.

8. The sliding door structure according to claim 7, wherein the opening guide portion has an inclined surface provided on the door frame.

9. A sliding door structure including a sliding door that opens and closes an opening provided in a door frame, wherein the sliding door includes a sliding door body that is movable in the opening and closing direction of the opening, and at least one door panel that is supported by the sliding door body and is movable in the door thickness direction, and the sliding door structure further includes a door panel moving mechanism that moves the door butt side of the door panel inward in the door thickness direction in response to the movement of the sliding door body in the opening direction, and then moves the door leading end side of the door panel inward in the door thickness direction, wherein the door panel moving mechanism includes a closing link member having one end fixed to the door panel, the other end fixed to the sliding door body, and the other end being rotatable about an axis extending in the vertical direction.

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