Flip-up gate

Abstract

To provide a flip-up type gate door capable of manually opening / closing the door even when a motor is not operated due to an accident such as a power failure, a motor malfunction, and an electrical system malfunction.SOLUTION: A flip-up type gate door has a lock / unlock mechanism for fixing a motor cylinder of a linear motion motor to the inside of a first gate post 11a and for releasing the fixation of the motor cylinder to the inside of the first gate post 11a. The flip-up type gate door 10A can be switched between an electric operation in which, in a locked state in which the motor cylinder of the linear motion motor is fixed to the inside of the first gate post 11a by the lock / unlock mechanism, tips 27 of first and second arms 12a, 12b are vertically rotated using the linear motion motor to rotate a door 13 to a fully open position and a fully closed position, and a manual operation in which, in an unlocked state in which the fixation of the motor cylinder of the linear motion motor to the inside of the first gate post 11a is released by the lock / unlock mechanism, the door 13 is manually rotated to the fully open position and the fully closed position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lift-up gate. [Background technology]

[0002] A lift-up gate is disclosed that has a pair of hollow, rectangular pillars, a pair of arms rotatably supported at one end on the pillars, a door attached to the other end of the arms and that moves upward toward the fully open position when the arms are rotated in one direction and moves downward toward the fully closed position when the arms are rotated in the other direction, an arm rotating means that rotates the arm by rotating the output rotating shaft of an electric motor, an elastic force applying means that applies an elastic force to the arm in a lift-up direction that resists the weight of the door and arm, a resistance force applying means that applies a resistance force to the door that resists upward movement of the door from a position just before it is fully closed toward the fully closed position, and an inhibiting means that prevents the door from moving upward in the fully closed position and prevents the door from moving downward in the fully closed position (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] The arm rotation means includes an electric motor built into the support column and a transmission means for transmitting the rotation of the electric motor's output rotary shaft to the arm. The transmission means is installed between the electric motor and the arm and transmits the forward rotational force of the electric motor's output rotary shaft and the reverse rotational force of the output rotary shaft to the arm. The transmission means has a rotary shaft connected to the electric motor's output rotary shaft and a reduction mechanism, and reduces the rotation of the electric motor's output rotary shaft by the reduction mechanism and transmits the reduced rotation of the output rotary shaft to the rotating shaft. The reduction mechanism has a spiral gear provided on the rotary shaft and a gear fixed to the rotating shaft and having a tooth row formed on its periphery that meshes with the spiral gear. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-255341 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Lift-up gates are space-saving designs that allow for effective use of small lots, and are primarily installed in front of garages. The lift-up gate disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an electric type that opens and closes using an electric motor, and can be opened and closed by remote control while remaining in a vehicle. However, if the electric motor stops working due to a power outage, electric motor failure, electrical system failure, or other reasons, the gate cannot be opened or closed, losing its function as a gate and preventing vehicles from entering or leaving the garage. Furthermore, the lift-up gate disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses an output rotating shaft that rotates as an electric motor, and transmits the torque of the output rotating shaft of the electric motor to an arm using a reduction mechanism (gear mechanism). However, the reduction mechanism (gear mechanism) must be installed inside the gatepost, which complicates the structure and makes it difficult to reduce the installation costs of the lift-up gate.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a flip-up gate that can be opened and closed manually even when the motor does not operate due to a power outage, motor failure, electrical system failure, etc. Another object of the present invention is to provide a flip-up gate that can be opened and closed without using a reduction mechanism (gear mechanism), that can simplify the structure, and that can reduce installation costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The premise of the present invention to solve the above problem is a lift-up gate having a pair of gateposts that are spaced apart and facing each other in the width direction, a pair of arms whose base ends are rotatably mounted on the upper ends of the gateposts and whose tip ends rotate vertically, a door that is mounted on the tip ends of the arms and is perpendicular to the arms, and that rotates upward from the fully closed position to the fully open position as the tip ends of the arms rotate upward, and rotates downward from the fully open position to the fully closed position as the tip ends of the arms rotate downward, and an electric motor that rotates the base ends of the arms.

[0008] The feature of the present invention based on the above premise is that the electric motor is a linear motor arranged inside the gatepost, and the linear motor is equipped with a motor cylinder and a motor rod that rises upward in the vertical direction from the upper end of the motor cylinder to pivot the tip of the arm upward, and descends downward in the vertical direction toward the inside of the motor cylinder to pivot the tip of the arm downward, and the lift-up gate fixes the motor cylinder of the linear motor to the inside of the gatepost and has a lock / unlock mechanism that releases the fixation of the motor cylinder from the inside of the gatepost, and the lift-up gate can be switched between electric operation in which, in a locked state where the motor cylinder of the linear motor is fixed to the inside of the gatepost by the lock / unlock mechanism, the linear motor is used to pivot the tip of the arm in the vertical direction to pivot the door to a fully open position or a fully closed position, and manual operation in which, in an unlocked state where the fixation of the motor cylinder of the linear motor to the inside of the gatepost is released by the lock / unlock mechanism, the door can be manually rotated to a fully open position or a fully closed position.

[0009] In one example of the present invention, a lock / unlock mechanism includes a cylinder holder that supports a motor cylinder of a linear motor, a pin insertion hole that is drilled in the cylinder holder and extends in a radial direction that intersects the up-down direction, a casing that is located on one side wall of the gatepost and has a rear end opening and a front end pin protrusion hole and extends in the radial direction, an insertion pin that is housed in the casing and moves forward or backward in the radial direction, a biasing means that is housed in the casing and biases the insertion pin to move forward, a slanted opening edge that surrounds the rear end opening of the casing and is slanted from the rear end opening of the casing toward the front end pin protrusion hole, and a base end edge that supports the rear end of the insertion pin and is inclined toward the slanted opening edge. and a switching lever that abuts against the casing, is exposed from the rear end opening, and rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. In the lock / unlock mechanism, in the locked state where the front end of the engagement pin that has advanced radially protrudes from the front end pin protrusion hole of the casing and is engaged in the pin engagement hole of the cylinder holder, when the switching lever is rotated in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, one end edge of the switching lever slides along the inclined opening edge and the switching lever gradually retreats radially. As the switching lever retreats, the engagement pin retreats radially against the biasing force of the biasing means, and the front end of the engagement pin withdraws from the pin engagement hole, entering the unlocked state.

[0010] As another example of the present invention, in the lock / unlock mechanism, in an unlocked state in which the front end of the engagement pin has withdrawn from the pin engagement hole, the switching lever is rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to restore the biasing force of the biasing means, and then the door is manually rotated to the fully open position or the fully closed position.When the front end of the engagement pin is positioned in the pin engagement hole drilled in the cylinder holder, the biasing force of the biasing means causes the front end of the engagement pin to move forward and engage in the pin engagement hole, thereby entering a locked state.

[0011] In another example of the present invention, the lock / unlock mechanism includes a pair of rotating rollers that are housed in the pin engagement hole of the cylinder holder and rotate as the engagement pin advances or retreats, and in the lock / unlock mechanism, when the front end of the engagement pin is engaged in the pin engagement hole, the front end is positioned between the rotating rollers and the outer peripheral surfaces of the front end of the engagement pin abut against the outer peripheral surfaces of the rotating rollers, and when the front end of the engagement pin withdraws from the pin engagement hole, the rotating rollers rotate and the front end of the engagement pin withdraws smoothly from the pin engagement hole.

[0012] In another example of the present invention, a lock / unlock mechanism comprises a fastening holder fixed to one side wall of a gatepost and clamping and holding the outer peripheral surface of the motor cylinder of a linear motor, a cam lever installed on one side wall of the fastening holder and capable of adjusting the clamping force of the fastening holder, a pin engagement hole drilled in the fastening holder and extending radially, an engagement pin attached to the outer peripheral surface of the fastening holder and moving forward or backward radially, and a biasing means for biasing the engagement pin to move forward, and in the lock / unlock mechanism, the engagement pin advances radially due to the biasing force of the biasing means and its front end engages into the pin engagement hole, and the cam lever rotates in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, applying a clamping force to the fastening holder and causing the fastening holder to clamp and hold the outer peripheral surface of the motor cylinder of the linear motor, thereby entering a locked state.

[0013] As another example of the present invention, in the lock / unlock mechanism, the cam lever rotates in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, thereby releasing the fastening force of the fastening holder, and after rotating the cam lever in either direction, the engagement pin is retracted, causing the front end of the engagement pin to exit the pin engagement hole and enter an unlocked state.

[0014] As another example of the present invention, in the lock / unlock mechanism, the arrangement of the cam lever and the engagement pin relative to the fastening holder is adjusted so that when the cam lever rotates in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the cam lever abuts against the rear end of the engagement pin, and when the front end of the engagement pin has withdrawn from the pin engagement hole, the cam lever abuts against the rear end of the engagement pin, preventing the cam lever from rotating by the engagement pin, maintaining an unlocked state in which the fastening holder is no longer clamping the outer surface of the motor cylinder of the linear motor.

[0015] As another example of the present invention, in the lock / unlock mechanism, when the door is manually rotated between the fully open position and the fully closed position in an unlocked state in which the front end of the engagement pin has withdrawn from the pin engagement hole, when the front end of the engagement pin is positioned in the pin engagement hole drilled in the fastening holder, the front end of the engagement pin moves forward due to the biasing force of the biasing means and engages into the pin engagement hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the flip-up gate of the present invention, in a locked state in which the motor cylinder of the linear motor is fixed to the inside of the gatepost by the lock / unlock mechanism, the linear motor is used to rotate the tip of the arm in the vertical direction to rotate the gate to the fully open position and the fully closed position. In an unlocked state in which the lock / unlock mechanism releases the fixation of the motor cylinder of the linear motor to the inside of the gatepost, the gate can be switched between electric operation, in which the linear motor is used to rotate the tip of the arm in the vertical direction to rotate the gate to the fully open position and the fully closed position. Therefore, even if the linear motor does not operate due to a power outage, a failure of the linear motor, a failure of the electrical system, etc., the door can be opened and closed manually, and the gate function is not lost even when the linear motor is not operating, making the flip-up gate usable. The flip-up gate opens and closes by rotating the arm using the driving force generated by the linear movement of the motor rod of the linear motor, so the door can be opened and closed automatically without any effort using the linear movement of the linear motor. When a lift-up gate uses a motor with a rotating motor shaft, a reduction mechanism needs to be installed inside the gatepost, which complicates the structure, increases the risk of malfunction, and makes it difficult to install inexpensively.However, by using the linear motion of a linear motor, the door can be opened and closed without using a reduction mechanism, which eliminates the need to install a reduction mechanism inside the gatepost, simplifies the structure, reduces the risk of malfunction, and reduces installation costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lift-up gate shown as an example. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a balancer mechanism and a linear motor. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the mounting state of the lock / unlock mechanism with respect to the linear motor. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged side view of the lock / unlock mechanism showing the locked state. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged side view of the lock-unlock mechanism showing the unlocked state. [Figure 6]FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial view illustrating the opening and closing of the door by electric operation using a linear motor. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating manual opening and closing of the door. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating manual opening and closing of the door. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a flip-up gate as another example. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view showing another example of a balancer mechanism and a linear motor. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a linear motor, a fastening holder, and a cam lever. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another example of a lock / unlock mechanism. [Figure 13] 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the lock / unlock mechanism. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the engagement pin 96 is not positioned in the engagement hole 94. [Figure 15] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the opening and closing of a door by electric operation using a linear motor. [Figure 16] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating manual opening and closing of the door. [Figure 17] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating manual opening and closing of the door. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The details of the flip-up gate according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a flip-up gate 10A as an example. Fig. 1 shows the electric operation of opening and closing a door 13 using a linear motor 14. In Fig. 1, the up-down direction is indicated by arrow X, the width direction by arrow Y, and the front-rear direction by arrow Z. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a balancer mechanism 15 and linear motor 14.

[0019] The lift-up gate 10A (including the lift-up gate 10B described below) is mainly installed in a garage and is used to open and close the garage. The lift-up gate 10A has a pair of first and second gateposts 11a and 11b, a pair of first and second arms 12a and 12b, a door 13, a linear motor 14, a balancer mechanism 15, and a lock / unlock mechanism 16.

[0020] The first and second gateposts 11a, 11b are made of metal, such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel, and are shaped like vertically elongated hollow rectangular pillars. They are spaced apart in the width direction and face each other at a predetermined distance. Each gatepost 11a, 11b has a front wall 17, a rear wall 18, a top wall 19, an inner wall 20, an outer wall 21, an upper end 22, and a lower end 23, the lower end 23 of which is fixed to the ground. An internal storage space 24 is defined within each gatepost 11a, 11b, surrounded by the walls 17-21. The inner end of a rotating shaft 31 (described below) is exposed in the inner wall 20 at the upper end 22 of the first and second gateposts 11a, 11b. A rectangular opening 25 is formed in the inner wall 20 at the upper end 22 of the first gatepost 11a, facing the front wall 17.

[0021] The first and second arms 12a, 12b are made of metal such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel, formed into a rectangular column shape, and arranged side by side facing each other with a predetermined distance between them in the width direction. The first and second arms 12a, 12b have a base end 26 and a tip end 27, and the base end 26 is connected via a bearing (not shown) to a rotation shaft 31 exposed from the inner wall 20 of the gateposts 11a, 11b. The tip ends 27 of the arms 12a, 12b pivot upward and downward as the base ends 26 rotate. The arms 12a, 12b collapse forward and backward when the door 13 is in the fully closed position, and stand upright when the door 13 is in the fully open position.

[0022] The door 13 is made of metal such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel, is shaped like a rectangle that is long in the width direction, and is located between the gateposts 11a, 11b. The door 13 has a number of openings lined up in the vertical and width directions. There are no particular limitations on the front shape of the door 13, and doors 13 with any other front shape can be used. The door 3 is perpendicular to the first and second arms 12a, 12b, and both upper sides of the door 13 are connected and fixed to the tip ends 27 of the arms 12a, 12b by connecting means (bolts and nuts, welding).

[0023] The door 13 pivots upward from the fully closed position to the fully open position as the tips 27 of the arms 12a, 12b pivot upward as indicated by arrow A1, and pivots downward from the fully open position to the fully closed position as the tips 27 of the arms 12a, 12b pivot downward as indicated by arrow A2. When the door 13 is in the fully closed position, it extends straight in the vertical direction parallel to the first and second gateposts 11a, 11b, and when it is in the fully open position, it extends straight in the front-to-rear direction so as to intersect with the first and second gateposts 11a, 11b.

[0024] The linear motor 14 includes a motor cylinder 28 and a motor rod 29, and is disposed in the internal storage space 24 of the first gatepost 11a. The motor rod 29 rises upward from the upper end opening of the motor cylinder 28, gradually becoming exposed from the cylinder 28, and then descends downward, gradually entering the interior of the cylinder 28. Electricity is supplied to the linear motor 14 from a power source (not shown). The control unit of the linear motor 14 is connected to a remote control (not shown) via a predetermined communication means.

[0025] The linear motor 14 is started or stopped by an operation switch (not shown) attached to the first gatepost 11a of the lift-up gate 10A, and also by operating a remote control (not shown). Note that a switch gatepost with an operation switch attached to it, separate from the first and second gateposts 11a and 11b, may be installed near the lift-up gate 10A.

[0026] The operation switch and remote control are provided with an open (ON) button (open operation), a stop (OFF) button, and a close (ON) button (close operation). Pressing the open (ON) button causes the motor rod 29 to rise upward in the vertical direction, and pressing the close (ON) button causes the motor rod 29 to fall downward in the vertical direction. Pressing the stop (OFF) button stops the motor rod 29 from rising or falling.

[0027] The balancer mechanism 15 is disposed in the internal storage space 24 of the first and second gateposts 11a and 11b, and applies an upward pivoting force to the tip ends 27 of the first and second arms 12a and 12b when the door 13 is opened from the fully closed position toward the fully open position. The balancer mechanism 15 includes a housing 30, a rotating shaft 31, a rotating plate cam 32, a chain 33, an axis rod 34, an upper contact member 35, a lower contact member 36, and a coil spring 37.

[0028] The housing 30 is made of metal such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel, and has an upper storage section 38 and a lower storage section 39. The housing 30 is placed in the internal storage space 24 of the first and second gate posts 11a, 11b with the upper storage section 38 facing up and the lower storage section 39 facing down. The upper storage section 38 of the housing 30 is formed from a guide 40 with a U-shaped cross section that is located on the side of the front wall 17 of the gate doors 11a, 11b and extends in the vertical direction, and a pair of rotating shaft first support plate 41 and rotating shaft second support plate 42 that face each other and spaced apart in the width direction, sandwiching the guide 40. The rotating shaft first and second support plates 41, 42 have extensions 43 that extend downward and rearward from the guide 40.

[0029] The guide 40 is formed from a first guide plate 44 extending in the vertical direction of the gate, and a second guide plate 45 and a third guide plate 46 positioned opposite each other on either side of the first guide plate 44 and extending in the vertical direction. The first to third guide plates 44 to 46 are integrally molded. The rotating shaft first support plate 41 is firmly fixed to the top of the second guide plate 45 with a plurality of bolts and a plurality of nuts. The rotating shaft second support plate 42 is firmly fixed to the top of the third guide plate 46 with a plurality of bolts and a plurality of nuts. The rotating shaft first support plate 41 and the rotating shaft second support plate 42 are connected by a connecting pin 47.

[0030] The lower accommodating portion 39 is formed by a guide 40 extending downward from the lower ends of the first and second rotary shaft support plates 41, 42, an axle rod support plate 48 attached to the lower end of the guide 40 and extending in the front-to-rear direction, an upper bearing 49 installed and fixed to the guide 40 of the lower accommodating portion 39 on the first and second rotary shaft support plates 41, 42 side, and a lower bearing 50 installed and fixed to the guide 40 facing and spaced a predetermined distance downward from the upper bearing 49. An extension portion 51 extending rearward in the front-to-rear direction is formed in the center in the up-down direction of the second guide plate 45 that forms the lower accommodating portion 39.

[0031] The extending portion 51 of the second guide plate 45 is drilled (formed) with an insertion hole 52 into which an engagement pin 69 (described later) can be inserted and removed, as well as with a plurality of screw holes (not shown). The shaft rod support plate 48 has a through hole 53 drilled in the center thereof, through which a lower rod 63 (described later) of the shaft rod 34 is inserted. The first guide plate 44 is firmly fixed to the front walls 17 of the first and second gateposts 11a, 11b with a plurality of bolts and a plurality of nuts, thereby fixing the housing 30 to the internal storage space 24 of the first and second gateposts 11a, 11b.

[0032] A linear motor 14 is disposed and accommodated in the lower accommodation portion 39 of the housing 30 installed on the first gatepost 11a. In the lower accommodation portion 39 of the housing 30, the upper part of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 is slidably inserted into an upper bearing 49, and the lower part of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 is slidably inserted into a lower bearing 50. Note that the linear motor 14 is not disposed in the lower accommodation portion 39 of the housing 30 installed on the second gatepost 11b. Only a balancer mechanism 15 is installed in the internal accommodation space 24 of the second gatepost 11b.

[0033] The rotating shaft 31 is disposed between a first rotating shaft support plate 41 and a second rotating shaft support plate 42 of the upper storage section 38 and extends in the width direction. The rotating shaft 31 is rotatably attached to these support plates 41, 42. The rotating plate cam 32 is disposed between the first rotating shaft support plate 41 and the second rotating shaft support plate 42 of the upper storage section 38 of the housing 30, and is disposed in the internal storage space 24 of the gatepost 11a at the upper end 22 of the gatepost 11a.

[0034] The rotating plate cam 32 is attached to the rotating shaft 31. The rotating plate cam 32 has a first connecting portion 54 located on the front wall 17 side of the gatepost 11a and a second connecting portion 55 located on the top wall 19 side of the gatepost 11a. A tip end 57 of the motor rod 29 is connected to the first connecting portion 54 of the rotating plate cam 32 via a connecting pin. The rotating plate cam 32 rotates a predetermined angle in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions around the rotating shaft 31.

[0035] The chain 33 is disposed between the first rotary shaft support plate 41 and the second rotary shaft support plate 42 in the upper accommodation portion 38 of the housing 30, and is disposed at the upper end portion 22 of the gatepost 11a in the internal accommodation space 24 of the gatepost 11a. The chain 33 has one end portion 58 located on the side of the second connecting portion 55 of the rotary plate cam 32, the other end portion 60 located on the side of the shaft rod 34, and an intermediate portion 59 extending between the one end portion 58 and the other end portion 60.

[0036] One end 58 of the chain 33 is connected to the second connecting portion 55 of the rotating plate cam 32 via a connecting pin 61, and the other end 60 of the chain 33 is connected to the upper end of the shaft rod 34 (lower rod 63) via the connecting pin 61. When the rotating plate cam 32 rotates counterclockwise, the chain 33 is wound and guided around the upper cam edge 62 of the rotating plate cam 32 with its middle portion 59 abutting against the upper cam edge 62 of the rotating plate cam 32. The chain 33 wound around the upper cam edge 62 of the rotating plate cam 32 is unwound downward from the second connecting portion 55 of the rotating plate cam 32 when the rotating plate cam 32 rotates clockwise.

[0037] The shaft rod 34 is a vertically long, cylindrical metal rod that is disposed in the internal storage space 24 of the gateposts 11a, 11b, and is positioned in the housing 30 while extending vertically below the rotating plate cam 32. The shaft rod 34 has a lower rod 63 with a small diameter and an upper rod 64 with a larger diameter than the lower rod 63 and slidably housing the lower rod 63 therein. The upper end of the upper rod 64 of the shaft rod 34 is positioned between the first and second support plates 41, 42 of the rotating shaft of the housing 30, and the upper end of the upper rod 64 is connected to the other end 60 of the chain 33 via a connecting pin 61. A flange 65 that protrudes radially is formed at the upper end of the upper rod 64 of the shaft rod 34.

[0038] The shaft rod 34 has a lower rod 63 slidably inserted into an insertion hole 53 of a shaft rod support plate 48 attached to the lower end of the guide 40. When the rotating plate cam 32 rotates counterclockwise and the chain 33 is wound around the upper cam edge 62 of the rotating plate cam 32, the shaft rod 34 moves upward, and when the rotating plate cam 32 rotates clockwise and the chain 33 is unwound downward from the second connecting portion 55 of the rotating plate cam 32, the shaft rod 34 moves downward.

[0039] The upper abutment member 35 is located between the extending portions 43 of the first and second rotary shaft support plates 41, 42 of the housing 30, and is firmly fixed to the extending portions 43 of the first and second rotary shaft support plates 41, 42 with a plurality of bolts and a plurality of nuts. An insertion hole 66 is drilled in the center of the upper abutment member 35. The upper rod 64 of the shaft rod 34 is slidably inserted through the insertion hole 66 of the upper abutment member 35. The lower abutment member 36 is fixed to the lower part of the upper rod 63 of the shaft rod 34.

[0040] The coil spring 37 is inserted through the upper rod 64 of the shaft rod 34 and extends in the vertical direction. A compression coil spring is used as the coil spring 37. The upper end of the coil spring 37 abuts against the upper contact member 35, and the lower end of the coil spring 37 abuts against the lower abutment member 36. Between the upper abutment member 35 and the lower abutment member 36, the coil spring 37 exerts elastic force even when it is fully extended in the vertical direction.

[0041] 3 is a perspective view showing the attachment state of the lock / unlock mechanism 16 to the linear motion motor 14. The lock / unlock mechanism 16 fixes the motor cylinder 28 (including the cylinder holder 67 and the plate 73) of the linear motion motor 14 to the guide 40, and also releases the fixation of the motor cylinder 28 (including the cylinder holder 67 and the plate 73) to the guide 40.

[0042] The lock / unlock mechanism 16 is made up of a cylinder holder 67, a casing 68, an engagement pin 69, a pin engagement hole 70, a switching lever 71, a coil spring 72 (biasing means), a pair of plates 73, and a pair of rotating rollers 74. The cylinder holder 67 is made of a metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium, or a synthetic resin, and is molded into a substantially square pillar shape. An insertion opening 75 is drilled in the center of the cylinder holder 67. The motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 is inserted into the insertion opening 75 of the cylinder holder 67.

[0043] The cylinder holder 67 is disposed in the longitudinal center of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14. The cylinder holder 67 surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 and supports the motor cylinder 28 so that it cannot rotate. As shown in Figure 3, the cylinder holder 67 has a screw 76 threaded into a threaded hole, and is fixed to the motor cylinder 28 by tightening the outer peripheral surface of the motor cylinder 28.

[0044] The pin insertion hole 70 is drilled in the side wall of the cylinder holder 67 facing the inner wall 20 at the upper end 22 of the first gate 11a, and extends radially. The pin insertion hole 70 has a predetermined opening volume. Two axial holes 77 are drilled in the side wall of the cylinder holder 67 directly above the pin insertion hole 70, perpendicular to the pin insertion hole 70, two screw holes 78 are drilled directly above the axial holes 77 and extending radially, and four screw holes 79 are drilled on both sides of the pin insertion hole 70 and extending radially. Female threads are formed in these screw holes 78, 79.

[0045] The casing 68 is made of a metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium, or a synthetic resin, and is located on the side of the inner wall 20 at the upper end 22 of the first gate 11a, and is exposed to the outside of the gatepost 11a through an opening 25 made in the upper end 22 of the inner wall 20 of the gatepost 11a. The casing 68 has a hollow storage section 80 that extends inward in the width direction, and a connecting plate section 81 that extends vertically from the hollow storage section 80.

[0046] The hollow storage section 80 of the casing 68 has a rear end opening 82 drilled at its rear end and a front end pin protrusion hole 83 drilled at its front end. The front end pin protrusion hole 83 communicates with the pin engagement hole 70 of the cylinder holder 67 and the insertion hole 52 of the extending portion 51 of the second guide plate 45. The rear end opening 82 of the hollow storage section 80 of the casing 68 has an inclined opening edge 84 formed thereat that surrounds the rear end opening 82 and inclines from the rear end opening 82 toward the front end pin protrusion hole 83. The connecting plate portion 81 of the casing 68 has threaded holes 85 drilled in the vertical direction.

[0047] The engagement pin 69 is made of a metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium, or synthetic resin, and is formed into a long cylindrical rod shape extending in the radial direction. The engagement pin 69 is housed in a hollow housing portion 80 of the casing 68. A flange 87 that projects radially from the engagement pin 69 is formed behind the front end portion 86 of the engagement pin 69.

[0048] The front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 advances outward in the width direction within the hollow storage section 80 of the casing 68 or retreats inward in the width direction, protruding outward from the front end pin protrusion hole 83 of the hollow storage section 80 and the insertion hole 52 of the extension portion 51 of the second guide plate 45, and retreats into the hollow storage section 80 from the insertion hole 52 and the front end pin protrusion hole 83.

[0049] Furthermore, when the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 advances outward in the width direction and engages with the pin engagement hole 70 of the cylinder holder 67, the flange 87 of the engagement pin 69 abuts against the inside of the front end pin protrusion hole 83 of the hollow storage section 80, preventing the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 from advancing any further.

[0050] The switching lever 71 is made of a metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium, or a synthetic resin, and is connected to the rear end of the engagement pin 69 to support the rear end, and is integral with the engagement pin 69. The switching lever 71 is exposed from a rear end opening 82 of the hollow storage section 80 of the casing 68, perpendicular to the engagement pin 69, and extends in a direction perpendicular to the engagement pin 69. The base end edge of the switching lever 71 abuts against an inclined opening edge 84 formed in the rear end opening 82. The switching lever 71 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. The switching lever 71 is exposed to the outside of the gate post 11a through the opening 25 of the first gate post 11a.

[0051] The coil spring 72 (biasing means) is housed in the hollow storage portion 80 of the casing 68. A compression coil spring is used as the coil spring 72. The engagement pin 69 is inserted through the coil spring 72. The front end of the coil spring 72 abuts against a flange 87 at the front end portion 86 of the engagement pin 69, and the rear end is located at the rear end of the casing 68. The coil spring 72 biases the engagement pin 69 in the hollow storage portion 80 of the casing 68 so as to move it forward in the radial direction.

[0052] The plate 73 is made of a metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium, and extends vertically parallel to the outer circumferential surface of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14. A threaded hole 88 is drilled at the opposite end of the plate 73. The rotating rollers 74 are made of a metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium, and are housed in the pin engagement holes 70, which have a predetermined opening volume. The rotating rollers 74 are rotatably inserted on shafts 89, which are also made of a metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium. The rotating rollers 74 rotate as the engagement pins 69 advance (the engagement pins 69 enter the pin engagement holes 70) or retreat (the engagement pins 69 withdraw from the pin engagement holes 70).

[0053] In the lock / unlock mechanism 16, the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 is inserted through the upper bearing 49 and the lower bearing 50 installed in the guide 40, and then the motor cylinder 28 is inserted through the insertion opening 75 of the cylinder holder 67. As shown in Figure 3, after the cylinder holder 67 is positioned in the vertical center of the motor cylinder 28, the rotating rollers 74 are housed in the pin engagement holes 70 of the cylinder holder 67 so that they face each other.

[0054] Next, shafts 89 are inserted into the shaft holes 77 of the cylinder holder 67, and after inserting the rotating rollers 74 onto the shafts 89, the cover fittings 90 are placed on the shaft holes 77, and screws 76 are screwed into the threaded holes 78 drilled directly above the shaft holes 77 of the cylinder holder 67. The cylinder holder 67 is fastened with the screws 76 to fix the cylinder holder 67 to the center of the motor cylinder 28, and the cover fittings 90 are then fixed to the cylinder holder 67. The cover fittings 90 prevent the shafts 89 from falling out of the shaft holes 77 of the cylinder holder 67. The rotating rollers 74, with the shafts 89 inserted therethrough, are rotatably housed in the pin engagement holes 70.

[0055] After the cover fitting 90 is fixed to the cylinder holder 67, the plates 73 are placed parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14, and the screws 91 are inserted into the screw holes 88 drilled in the opposing ends of the plates 73, and the screws 91 are screwed into the screw holes 79 drilled on both sides of the pin engagement hole 70 to fix the plates 73 to the cylinder holder 67. When the plates 73 are fixed to the cylinder holder 67, the plates 73 extend vertically parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14.

[0056] After the linear motor 14, to which the cylinder holder 67 and the plate 73 are attached, is accommodated in the lower accommodation portion 39 of the housing 30, the tip of the motor rod 29 is connected to the first connecting portion 54 of the rotary plate cam 32 via the connecting pin 56. Next, the connecting plate portion 81 of the casing 68 is placed on the extending portion 51 of the second guide plate 45 of the guide 40, which forms the lower accommodation portion 39, and screws are screwed into the threaded holes 85 of the connecting plate portion 81 of the casing 68 and the threaded holes in the extending portion 51 of the second guide plate 45, thereby fixing the connecting plate portion 81 of the casing 68 to the extending portion 51 of the second guide plate 45.

[0057] Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged side view of the lock / unlock mechanism 16 showing the locked state, and Fig. 5 is a partially enlarged side view of the lock / unlock mechanism 16 showing the unlocked state. Figs. 4 and 5 show the lock / unlock mechanism 16 in cross section. When the switching lever 71 is rotated downward in the vertical direction, as shown in Fig. 4, the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 moves forward radially due to the biasing force of the coil spring 72 housed in the hollow housing portion 80 of the casing 68, so that the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 protrudes from the front end pin protrusion hole 83 of the casing 68 and engages with the pin engagement hole 70 of the cylinder holder 67. The motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 is connected to the guide 40 via the engagement pin 69 engaged in the pin engagement hole 70, and the motor cylinder 28 is fixed to the guide 40, resulting in a locked state. In the locked state where the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 is engaged in the pin engagement hole 70 of the cylinder holder 67, the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 is positioned between the rotating rollers 74 housed in the pin engagement hole 70, and the outer surface of the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 abuts against the outer surface of the rotating rollers 74.

[0058] In the locked state of FIG. 4 , when the switching lever 71 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow L1, the base end edge of the switching lever 71 slides along the inclined opening edge 84 formed in the rear end opening 82 of the casing 68, and the switching lever 71 gradually moves backward in the radial direction as indicated by the arrow L2. As the switching lever 71 moves backward, the engaging pin 69 in the hollow storage portion 80 of the casing 68 gradually moves backward in the radial direction against the biasing force of the coil spring 72.

[0059] 4, the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 retracts from the pin engagement hole 70 of the cylinder holder 67, and the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 is positioned in the front end pin protrusion hole 83 of the hollow storage section 80 of the casing 68, as shown in FIG. 5, whereby the connection between the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 and the guide 40 by the engagement pin 69 is released, resulting in an unlocked state. Note that, when the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 retracts from the pin engagement hole 70, the rotating rollers 74 rotate, causing the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 to smoothly retract from the pin engagement hole 70.

[0060] When the switching lever 71 is rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise to set the unlocked state, if the load of the door 13 and arms 12a, 12b acts on the cylinder holder 67, the load is applied to the engagement pin 69, causing a large pull-out resistance to act on the engagement pin 69, preventing the engagement pin 69 from smoothly retracting from the pin engagement hole 70, and the switching lever 71 must be rotated with considerable force to set the unlocked state. However, in the flip-up gate 10A, when in the locked state, the outer surface of the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 abuts against the outer surface of the rotating rollers 74, and when the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 retracts from the pin engagement hole 70, the rotating rollers 74 rotate, so the pull-out resistance acting on the engagement pin 69 is reduced by the rotating rollers 74, allowing the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 to smoothly retract from the pin engagement hole 70, making it easy to switch from the locked state to the unlocked state.

[0061] FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view illustrating the opening and closing of the door 13 of the flip-up gate 10A by electric operation using the linear motor 14. FIG. 6 shows the door 13 in a fully closed position. To open the door 13 from the fully closed position shown in FIG. 6, the open (ON) button on the operation switch attached to the gatepost 11a or gatepost 11b of the flip-up gate 10A is pressed, or the open (ON) button on a remote control is pressed while in a car, for example. In the electric operation, when the open (ON) button is pressed, the control unit of the linear motor 14 starts the linear motor 14, and the motor rod 29 of the linear motor 14 rises upward from the upper end opening of the motor cylinder 28 and gradually becomes exposed from the cylinder 28, and the motor rod 28 pushes the first connecting portion 54 of the rotary plate cam 32 upward.

[0062] In the flip-up gate 10A, the first connecting part 54 is pushed upward by the motor rod 29, causing the rotary plate cam 32 to rotate clockwise around the rotary shaft 31, and as the rotary plate cam 32 rotates clockwise, the chain 33 connected to the second connecting part 55 of the rotary plate cam 32 is unwound downward from the upper cam edge 62 of the rotary plate cam 32, causing the chain 33 to move downward. As the chain 33 is unwound from the upper cam edge 62, the shaft rod 34 gradually moves downward. At this time, the elastic force of the coil spring 37, which is inserted through the upper rod 64 of the shaft rod 34 and is positioned between the upper abutment member 35 and the lower abutment member 36, acts, promoting the downward movement of the shaft rod 34.

[0063] Furthermore, when the lift-up gate 10A is opened by electric operation, the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 engages with the pin engagement hole 70 of the cylinder holder 67, and the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 is connected to the guide 40 via the engagement pin 69, so the lock / unlock mechanism 16 maintains the linear motor 14 fixed to the guide 40, and the linear motor 14 does not move up or down on its own during electric operation.

[0064] As the shaft rod 34 moves downward, the coil spring 37 expands in the vertical direction, and the elastic force of the coil spring 37 gradually decreases. As the rotating shaft 31 rotates clockwise, the arms 12a and 12b gradually pivot upward, and the door 13 gradually pivots upward from the fully closed position to the fully open position as indicated by arrow A1 in Figure 1, thereby opening the door 13. When the door 13 pivots to the fully open position, the flange 65 formed on the upper end of the upper rod 64 of the shaft rod 34 abuts against the upper abutment member 35, and the lower end of the upper rod 64 of the shaft rod 34 abuts against the shaft rod support plate 48 attached to the lower end of the guide 40, stopping the downward movement of the shaft rod 34. In the flip-up gate 10A, when the stop (OFF) button on the operation switch or remote control is pressed while the door 13 is swinging upward toward the fully open position, the linear motor 14 stops, and the swing of the door 13 stops between the fully closed position and the fully open position. By pressing the open (ON) button again, the door 13 swings upward toward the fully open position.

[0065] To close the door 13 from its fully open position, the close (ON) button on the operation switch and remote control is pressed. Pressing the close (ON) button starts the linear motor 14, causing the raised motor rod 29 of the linear motor 14 to descend vertically and gradually enter the motor cylinder 28 from the upper opening thereof, and the motor rod 29 presses downward the first connecting portion 54 of the rotary plate cam 32 against the elastic force of the coil spring 37. Note that, in the closing operation of the flip-up gate 10A by electric operation, as in the opening operation, the linear motor 14 remains fixed to the guide 40 by the lock / unlock mechanism 16, and the linear motor 14 does not move vertically on its own during electric operation.

[0066] In the flip-up gate 10A, when the first connecting portion 54 of the rotating plate cam 32 is pushed downward, the rotating plate cam 32 rotates counterclockwise around the rotation shaft 31, and as the rotating plate cam 32 rotates counterclockwise, the chain 33 connected to the second connecting portion 55 of the rotating plate cam 32 moves upward toward the upper cam edge 62 of the rotating plate cam 32, and the chain 33 is wound around the upper cam edge 62 of the rotating plate cam 32. As the chain 33 is wound around the upper cam edge 62, the shaft rod 34 gradually moves upward.

[0067] In the flip-up gate 10A, when the shaft rod 34 moves upward, the distance between the upper abutment member 35 and the lower abutment member 36 gradually decreases, and the coil spring 37 located between the upper abutment member 35 and the lower abutment member 36 contracts in the vertical direction, gradually increasing the elastic force of the coil spring 37. As the rotating shaft 31 rotates counterclockwise, the arms 12a and 12b gradually pivot downward, and the door 13 gradually pivots downward as indicated by arrow A2 from the fully open position to the fully closed position, thereby closing the door 13.

[0068] When the door 13 swings to the fully closed position, the linear motor 14 stops operating and the downward movement of the shaft rod 34 stops. When the door 13 swings to the fully closed position, the elastic force of the coil spring 37 becomes maximum, and the upward swing force acting on the tip ends 27 of the arms 12a and 12b becomes maximum. In the flip-up gate 10A, if the stop (OFF) button on the operation switch or remote control is pressed while the door 13 swings downward toward the fully closed position, the linear motor 14 stops and the swing of the door 13 stops between the fully closed position and the fully open position. Pressing the close (ON) button again causes the door 13 to swing downward toward the fully closed position.

[0069] 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating the opening and closing of the door 13 by manual operation in the flip-up gate 10A. Fig. 7 shows a state in which the door 13 is being manually closed after being fully opened by electric operation, and Fig. 8 shows a state in which the door 13 is being manually opened after being fully closed by electric operation. In the flip-up gate 10A, when the door 13 is being opened or closed by electric operation in the state shown in Fig. 6, if the electric motor 14 does not operate due to a power outage, a malfunction of the electric motor, a malfunction of the electrical system, or the like, the gate switches from electric operation to manual operation.

[0070] To switch from electric operation to manual operation, as described above, the switching lever 71 is rotated 180° upward from the state in Figure 4 to the state in Figure 5, causing the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 to retract from the pin engagement hole 70 of the cylinder holder 67, releasing the connection between the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 and the guide 40 and entering an unlocked state. After entering the unlocked state, the arms 12a, 12b or the door 13 are grasped and the arms 12a, 12b or the door 13 are manually rotated upward.

[0071] When the arms 12a, 12b or the door 13 are manually rotated upward, the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 inserted through the upper bearing 49 and the lower bearing 50 slides on the upper bearing 49 and the lower bearing 50, and the linear motor 14 (motor rod 29, motor cylinder 28), cylinder holder 67, and plate 73 move gradually upward in the vertical direction as a unit. In the flip-up gate 10A, the elastic force of the coil spring 37 is at its maximum when the door 13 is in the fully closed position, and the upward rotation force acting on the tip ends 27 of the arms 12a, 12b is also at its maximum, so the weight of the arms 12a, 12b and the door 13 is reduced by the elastic force of the coil spring 37 of the balancer mechanism 15, and the door 13 rotates upward with little force (the same applies to the flip-up gate 10B described below).

[0072] When the arms 12a, 12b and the door 13 are manually rotated upward and the linear motor 14 (motor rod 29, motor cylinder 28, cylinder holder 67, plate 73) gradually moves upward, the motor rod 29 of the linear motor 14 pushes upward the first connecting part 54 of the rotary plate cam 32, causing the rotary plate cam 32 to rotate clockwise around the rotary shaft 31, and as the rotary plate cam 32 rotates clockwise, the chain 33 is unwound downward from the upper cam edge 62 of the rotary plate cam 32, and the elastic force of the coil spring 37 acts to gradually move the shaft rod 34 downward. The door 13 is gradually rotated upward from the fully closed position to the fully open position, and the door 13 is opened.

[0073] To manually close the door 13 in the fully open position, the arms 12a, 12b and the door 13 are grasped and manually rotated downward in the vertical direction. When the arms 12a, 12b and the door 13 are rotated downward, the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 slides on the upper bearing 49 and the lower bearing 50, and the linear motor 14 (motor rod 29, motor cylinder 28, cylinder holder 67, plate 73) gradually moves downward, causing the rotating plate cam 32 to rotate counterclockwise around the rotating shaft 31, winding the chain 33 around the upper cam edge 62 of the rotating plate cam 32 and gradually moving the shaft rod 34 upward. The door 13 is rotated from the fully open position to the fully closed position to close it.

[0074] In manual operation, when the door 13 is rotated between the fully open position and the fully closed position with the linear motor 14 stopped, the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 slides vertically on the upper bearing 49 and the lower bearing 50, and the motor cylinder 28, motor rod 29, cylinder holder 67, and plate 73 of the linear motor 14 move vertically. When the door 13 is positioned at the fully closed position, the coil spring 37 located between the upper contact member 45 and the lower contact member 36 contracts vertically, and the elastic force of the coil spring 37 increases to its maximum. Note that the elastic force of the coil spring 37 is adjusted so that when the door 13 is manually positioned at the fully closed position, the elastic force of the coil spring 37 does not exceed the weight of the arms 12a, 12b and the door 13, causing the door 13 to automatically rotate upward.

[0075] In the lock / unlock mechanism 16, in the unlocked state where the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 has retracted from the pin engagement hole 70, the switch lever is rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise to release the biasing force of the biasing means, and then the door 13 is manually rotated from the fully open position to the fully closed position. When the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 abuts against the surface of the plate 73 and slides on the surface of the plate 73, the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 is positioned in the pin engagement hole 70 drilled in the cylinder holder 67. Then, the biasing force of the coil spring 72 causes the front end 86 of the engagement pin 69 to advance and engage in the pin engagement hole 70, and the switch lever 71 rotates (pivots) either clockwise or counterclockwise while advancing radially to enter the locked state shown in Figure 4.

[0076] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another example of a flip-up gate 10B, showing the electric operation of opening and closing the gate 13 using a linear motor 14. In FIG. 9, the up-down direction is indicated by arrow X, the width direction is indicated by arrow Y, and the front-to-rear direction is indicated by arrow Z. FIG. 10 is a side view showing another example of a balancer mechanism 15 and a linear motor 14. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the linear motor 14, fastening holder 92, and cam lever 93. In FIG. 11, the casing 95 and the engagement pin 96 are not shown. FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another example of a lock / unlock mechanism 16. FIG. 12 shows a locked state in which the front end 109 of the pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96 is engaged with the pin engagement hole 94 of the plate 99.

[0077] The flip-up gate 10B has a pair of first and second gateposts 11a, 11b, a pair of first and second arms 12a, 12b, a door 13, a linear motor 14, a balancer mechanism 15, and a lock / unlock mechanism 16. The first and second gateposts 11a, 11b, the first and second arms 12a, 12b, the door 13, the linear motor 14, and the balancer mechanism 15 are the same as those of the flip-up gate 10A shown in Fig. 1, so the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1 are used and the description of the flip-up gate 10A in Fig. 1 will be used, and the description of the first and second gateposts 11a, 11b, the first and second arms 12a, 12b, the door 13, the linear motor 14, and the balancer mechanism 15 of the flip-up gate 10B will be omitted.

[0078] The lock / unlock mechanism 16 is made up of a fastening holder 92, a cam lever 93, a pin engagement hole 94, a casing 95, an engagement pin 96, a coil spring 97 (biasing means), a pair of motor fixing members 98a, 98b, and a plate 99. The fastening holder 92 is made of metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium, or synthetic resin, and is molded into a substantially square pillar shape. An insertion hole 100 is drilled in the center of the fastening holder 92. The motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 is inserted into the insertion hole 100 of the fastening holder 92.

[0079] The fastening holder 92 is disposed in the longitudinal center of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14. The fastening holder 92 surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 to fasten and support the motor cylinder 28, and also releases the fastening from the outer peripheral surface of the motor cylinder 28 to allow the linear motor 14 to move in the vertical direction. The fastening holder 92 is fixed to the first guide plate 44 of the guide 40, and is thereby fixed to the front wall 17 of the first gatepost 11a.

[0080] The cam lever 93 is made of a metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium, and has a lever portion 101 and a bolt portion 102. The cam lever 93 is installed on one side wall of the fastening holder 92, with the lever portion 101 rotatably connected to the top of the bolt portion 102 via a pin (not shown), and the bolt portion 102 is screwed onto the side wall of the fastening holder 92. The lever portion 101 of the cam lever 93 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise around the pin. When the lever portion 101 of the cam lever 93 rotates either clockwise or counterclockwise, a fastening force is applied to the fastening holder 92, and when the lever portion 101 rotates either clockwise or counterclockwise, the fastening force of the fastening holder 92 is released.

[0081] The pin engagement hole 94 is drilled in the vertical center of a plate 99 facing the inner wall 20 at the upper end 22 of the first gate 11a and extends radially. The casing 95 is made of a metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium, or a synthetic resin, and is located on the inner wall 20 at the upper end 22 of the first gate 11a, and is exposed to the outside of the gate post 11a through an opening 25 in the first gate post 11a. The front end of the casing 95 is fixed to the second guide plate 45 of the guide 40.

[0082] The casing 95 has a rear end opening 103 formed at its rear end, a front end pin protrusion hole 104 formed at its front end, and a hollow storage section 105 extending inward in the width direction between the rear end opening 103 and the front end pin protrusion hole 104. The front end pin protrusion hole 104 communicates with the insertion hole 52 of the second guide plate 45.

[0083] The engagement pin 96 is made of a metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium, or a synthetic resin, and has a knob 106 and a pin body 107. A flange 108 that protrudes radially is formed on the pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96. The front end 109 of the pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96 advances outward in the width direction toward the pin engagement hole 94 drilled in the plate 99, or retracts inward in the width direction. Note that when the front end 109 of the pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96 advances outward in the width direction and is engaged with the pin engagement hole 94 of the plate 99, the flange 108 of the engagement pin 96 abuts against the outer surface of the plate 99, preventing the front end 109 from advancing further.

[0084] The coil spring 97 is housed in a hollow storage portion 105 of the casing 95. A compression coil spring is used as the coil spring 97. A pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96 is inserted into the coil spring 97. The front end of the coil spring 97 abuts against a flange 108 of the pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96, and the rear end of the coil spring 97 abuts against a rear end opening 103 of the casing 95. The coil spring 97 biases the front end portion 109 of the pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96 so as to move forward in the radial direction within the hollow storage portion 105 of the casing 95.

[0085] The motor fixing members 98a, 98b are made of metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium, and are formed into a ring shape. One of the motor fixing members 98a is disposed and fixed to the upper part of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14, and the other motor fixing member 98b is disposed and fixed to the lower part of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14. Two screw holes are drilled in the parts of the motor fixing members 98a, 98b that face the plate. Female threads are formed in the screw holes.

[0086] The plate 99 is made of a metal such as steel, stainless steel, or titanium, and extends vertically parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14. Two screw holes 110 are drilled at both ends of the plate 99, and a pin insertion hole 94 is drilled in the center of the plate 99. The plate 99 is fixed to the motor fixing members 98a, 98b by inserting screws into the screw holes 110 drilled at both ends and screwing the screws into screw holes drilled in the motor fixing members 98a, 98b.

[0087] In the lock / unlock mechanism 16, the linear motor 14, motor fixing members 98a, 98b, and plate 99 are integrally connected. In the lock / unlock mechanism 16, the positions of the lever portion 101 of the cam lever 93 and the engaging pin 96 (pin engaging hole 94 formed in the plate 99) relative to the fastening holder 92 are adjusted so that when the lever portion 101 of the cam lever 93 is rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise to enter the locked state, as shown in Fig. 12 , the lever portion 101 of the cam lever 93 is positioned directly above the knob 106 of the engaging pin 96.

[0088] FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the operation procedure of the lock / unlock mechanism 16, and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the engagement pin 96 is not positioned in the engagement hole 94.

[0089] In the locked state shown in Figure 12, the engaging pin 96 moves forward in the radial direction due to the biasing force of the coil spring 97, so that the front end 109 of the pin body 107 engages with the pin engaging hole 94 of the plate 99, and the lever portion 101 of the cam lever 93 pivots to the fastening position so that the lever portion 101 is positioned directly above the knob 106 of the engaging pin 96.

[0090] In the locked state, the front end 109 of the pin body 107 engages with the pin engagement hole 94, and the fastening holder 92 clamps and holds the outer surface of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14, thereby connecting the linear motor 14 (motor fixing members 98a, 98b, plate 99) to the fastening holder 92 and fixing the motor cylinder 28 (motor fixing members 98a, 98b, plate 99) of the linear motor 14 to the guide 40.

[0091] An example of the procedure for changing from the locked state shown in Fig. 12 to the unlocked state is as follows: As shown by arrow M1 in Fig. 12, lever portion 101 of cam lever 93 is rotated in a direction (either clockwise or counterclockwise) away from knob 106 of engagement pin 96. When lever portion 101 of cam lever 93 is rotated, the fastening force of fastening holder 92 is released, and the fastening of fastening holder 92 against the outer circumferential surface of motor cylinder 28 is released.

[0092] Next, the knob 106 of the engagement pin 96 is grasped and pulled inward in the width direction as shown by arrow M2 in Fig. 13, causing the front end 109 of the pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96 to move back inward in the width direction against the biasing force of the coil spring 97, and causing the front end 109 to retract from the pin engagement hole 94. With the front end 109 retracted from the pin engagement hole 94, the knob 106 of the engagement pin 96 is turned as shown by arrow M3 in Fig. 13. When the knob 106 is turned, the front end 109 of the pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96 remains retracted from the pin engagement hole 94, despite the biasing force of the coil spring 97 acting on it. The fastening of the motor cylinder 28 by the fastening holder 92 is released, and the front end 109 of the pin body 107 withdraws from the pin engagement hole 94, thereby releasing the motor cylinder 28 (motor fixing members 98a, 98b, plate 99) of the linear motor 14 from the guide 40 and entering an unlocked state.

[0093] An example of the procedure for returning from the unlocked state to the locked state is as follows: With the front end 109 of the pin body 107 removed from the pin engagement hole 94, the knob 106 of the engagement pin 96 is turned in the opposite direction to the direction in which the knob 106 was turned. When the knob 106 is turned in the opposite direction, the biasing force of the coil spring 97 causes the pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96 to move forward in the radial direction, and the front end 109 of the pin body 107 is again engaged into the pin engagement hole 94 of the plate 99.

[0094] Next, as shown by arrow M4 in Figure 14, the lever portion 101 of the cam lever 93 is rotated in a direction (either clockwise or counterclockwise) toward the knob 106 of the engagement pin 96. When the lever portion 101 rotates toward the knob 106 and reaches the fastening position as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 14 and is positioned directly above the knob 106, the fastening holder 92 tightens and holds the outer circumferential surface of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motion motor 14, and the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motion motor 14 (motor fixing members 98a, 98b, plate 99) is connected to the fastening holder 92, resulting in a locked state. Note that in Figure 14, the engagement pin 96 is not positioned in the engagement hole 94 and the rotation of the lever portion 101 is prevented by the knob 106, so the lever portion 101 cannot be rotated to the fastening position and cannot be locked.

[0095] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the opening and closing of a flip-up gate 10B by electric operation using the linear motor 14. FIG. 15 shows the gate 13 in the fully closed position. To open the gate 13 from the fully closed position shown in FIG. 15, an operation switch attached to the gatepost 11a or 11b of the flip-up gate 10B or an open (ON) button on a remote control is pressed. In electric operation, pressing the open (ON) button activates the linear motor 14, causing the motor rod 29 of the linear motor 14 to rise upward from the upper opening of the motor cylinder 28 and gradually become exposed from the cylinder 28. The motor rod 29 then pushes upward the first connecting portion 54 of the rotary plate cam 32. The movements of the rotary plate cam 32, chain 33, coil spring 37, and shaft rod 34 during the electrically operated opening of the flip-up gate 10B are the same as those of the flip-up gate 10A.

[0096]

[0033] Furthermore, during the opening operation of the flip-up gate 10B by electric operation, the front end 109 of the pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96 engages with the pin engagement hole 94 of the fastening holder 92 and the plate 99, the fastening holder 92 clamps and holds the outer peripheral surface of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14, and the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 is connected to the guide 40 via the engagement pin 96 and the fastening holder 92, so that the linear motor 14 remains fixed to the guide 40 and the linear motor 14 (motor fixing members 98a, 98b, plate 99) does not move up or down during electric operation. During the opening operation, the arms 12a, 12b gradually pivot upward, and the door 13 gradually pivots upward as shown by arrow A1 from the fully closed position to the fully open position, and the door 13 opens. The electric operation for closing the door 13 from the state where the door 13 is in the fully closed position is the same as that of the lift-up gate 10A.

[0097] 16 and 17 are diagrams illustrating the opening and closing of the door 13 by manual operation in the flip-up gate 10B. Fig. 16 shows the state in which the door 13 is being manually fully closed after being fully opened by electric operation, and Fig. 17 shows the state in which the door 13 is being manually fully opened after being fully closed by electric operation. In the flip-up gate 10B, in the state shown in Fig. 15 in which the door 13 is being opened or closed by electric operation, if the electric motor 14 does not operate due to a power outage, a malfunction of the electric motor, a malfunction of the electrical system, or the like, the gate will switch from electric operation to manual operation.

[0098] To switch from electric operation to manual operation, as described above, the lever portion 101 of the cam lever 93 is rotated 180° from the state shown in FIG. 12 to the state shown in FIG. 13, the fastening force of the fastening holder 92 is released, and the fastening holder 92 is released from the clamping of the outer circumferential surface of the motor cylinder 28. Next, the knob 106 of the engagement pin 96 is pulled inward in the width direction, causing the front end 109 of the pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96 to retract inward in the width direction and remove the front end 109 from the pin engagement hole 94, and the knob 106 of the engagement pin 96 is turned to maintain the state in which the front end 109 of the pin body 107 is removed from the pin engagement hole 94, thereby achieving an unlocked state. After achieving the unlocked state, the arms 12a, 12b or the door 13 are gripped and manually rotated upward.

[0099] When the arms 12a, 12b or the door 13 are manually rotated upward, the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 inserted into the insertion hole 100 of the fastening holder 92 slides along the fastening holder 92, and the linear motor 14 (motor rod 29, motor cylinder 28), motor fixing members 98a, 98b, and plate 99 move gradually upward in the vertical direction as a unit. The door 13 is gradually rotated upward from the fully closed position to the fully open position, thereby opening the door 13. Note that the movements of the rotating plate cam 32, chain 33, coil spring 37, and shaft rod 34 during the manual opening operation of the flip-up gate 10B are the same as those of the flip-up gate 10A.

[0100] To manually close the door 13 in the fully open position, the arms 12a, 12b or the door 13 are grasped and manually rotated downward in the vertical direction. When the arms 12a, 12b or the door 13 are rotated downward, the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 slides along the fastening holder 92, causing the linear motor 14 (motor rod 29, motor cylinder 28, motor fixing members 98a, 98b, and plate 99) to gradually move downward, causing the rotating plate cam 32 to rotate counterclockwise around the rotating shaft 31, winding the chain 44 around the upper cam edge 62 of the rotating plate cam 32 and gradually moving the shaft rod 34 upward. The door 13 is rotated from the fully open position to the fully closed position to close it.

[0101] In manual operation, when the door 13 is rotated between the fully open position and the fully closed position with the linear motor 14 stopped, the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 slides vertically in the fastening holder 92, and the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14, the motor rod 29, the motor fixing members 98a, 98b, and the plate 99 move vertically. When the door 13 is positioned at the fully closed position, the coil spring 37 located between the upper contact member 35 and the lower contact member 36 contracts vertically, and the elastic force of the coil spring 37 increases to a maximum.

[0102] In the lock / unlock mechanism 16, in the unlocked state in which the front end 109 of the pin body 107 of the engagement pin 96 has withdrawn from the pin engagement hole 94, when the knob 106 of the engagement pin 96 is turned in the opposite direction and the door 13 is manually rotated from the fully open position to the fully closed position, the front end 109 of the pin body 107 is positioned in the pin engagement hole 94 drilled in the center of the side wall and plate 99 of the fastening holder 92 in the vertical direction, and the front end 109 of the pin body 107 moves forward due to the biasing force of the coil spring 97 and engages into the pin engagement hole 94. After the front end 109 of the pin body 107 is engaged with the pin engagement hole 94, the lever portion 101 of the cam lever 93 is rotated toward the knob 106 of the engagement pin 96, the lever portion 101 is brought into contact with the knob 106, and the fastening holder 92 tightens and holds the outer surface of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14, thereby achieving a locked state.

[0103] In the flip-up gate 10B, in the process of manually rotating the gate 13 from the fully open position to the fully closed position, the front end 109 of the pin body 107 of the engaging pin 96 slides on the plate 99 with the front end 109 abutting against the surface of the plate 99, but in this case, the knob 106 of the engaging pin 96 protrudes inward in the width direction from the casing 95. When the lever portion 101 of the cam lever 93 is rotated toward the knob 106 of the engaging pin 96 with the knob 106 protruding from the casing 95, the lever portion 101 abuts against the protruding knob 106 and cannot be rotated to the fastening position, and the fastening holder 92 does not clamp and hold the outer circumferential surface of the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14, making it impossible to enter the locked state.

[0104] Because the flip-up gates 10A and 10B can release the linear motor 14 from the guide 40 when it is locked, the door 13 can be opened and closed manually even when the linear motor 14 is not operating due to a power outage, a failure of the linear motor, a failure of the electrical system, etc., and the functionality of the flip-up gates 10A and 10B is not lost even when the linear motor 14 is not operating, making the flip-up gates 10A and 10B usable. When the flip-up gates 10A and 10B are installed in a garage, the door 13 can be opened and closed manually to allow cars to enter and leave the garage even when the linear motor 14 is not operating.

[0105] The flip-up gate 10A and the flip-up gate 10B open and close the door 13 by rotating the arms 12a, 12b using the driving force generated by the linear movement of the motor rod 29 of the linear motor 14, and therefore the door 13 can be opened and closed automatically without any effort by using the linear movement of the linear motor 14. If a motor with a rotating motor shaft is used, a speed reduction mechanism must be installed inside the first gatepost 12a, which complicates the structure, increases the risk of malfunction, and makes it difficult to install the flip-up gates 10A, 10B inexpensively. However, the flip-up gate 10A and the flip-up gate 10B can open and close the door 13 without using a speed reduction mechanism by using the linear movement of the linear motor 14, and therefore does not require the installation of a speed reduction mechanism inside the gateposts 11a, 11b, which simplifies the structure, reduces the risk of malfunction, and reduces installation costs.

[0106] The lift-up gate 10A and the lift-up gate 10B can automatically engage the front ends 86, 109 of the engagement pins 69, 96 into the pin engagement holes 70, 94 by utilizing the biasing force of the coil springs 72, 97, and compared to manually fixing the linear motor 14 to the guide 40 from the unlocked state, the linear motor 14 can be easily fixed to the guide 40 and locked without requiring time and effort.

[0107] In the process of manually rotating the gate 13 of the lift-up gate 10A and the lift-up gate 10B between the fully open position and the fully closed position, if the front ends 86, 109 of the engagement pins 69, 96 are not positioned in the pin engagement holes 70, 94, the front ends 86, 109 of the engagement pins 69, 96 will not engage with the pin engagement holes 70, 94. Therefore, the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 will not be fixed to the guide 40 at any position other than the preset lock position, and the motor cylinder 28 of the linear motor 14 can be locked to the guide 40 at the preset lock position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0108] 10A Flip-up Gate 10B Flip-up gate 11a First Gatepost 11b 2nd gatepost 12a First Arm 12b Second Arm 13 Door 14 Linear motor 15 Balancer mechanism 16 Lock / unlock mechanism 17 Front wall 18 Rear wall 19 Top Wall 20 Inner wall 21 Outer wall 22 Upper end 23 Lower end 24 internal storage space 25 Aperture 26 Proximal end 27 Tip 28 Motor Cylinder 29 Motor Rod 30 Housing 31 Rotation axis 32 Rotating plate cam 33 Chain 34 Axle rod 35 Upper abutment member 36 Lower abutment member 37 coil spring 38 Upper storage section 39 Lower storage section 40 Guide 41 Rotating shaft first support plate 42 Rotating shaft second support plate 43 Extending part 44 First guide plate 45 Second guide plate 46 Third guide plate 47 Connecting pin 48 Axle rod support plate 49 Upper bearing 50 Lower bearing 51 Extending part 52 Insertion hole 53 Insertion hole 54 1st connection part 55 2nd connection part 56 Connecting pin 57 Tip 58 One end 59 Middle section 60 Other end 61 Connecting pin 62 Upper cam edge 63 Lower Rod 64 Upper Rod 65 flange 66 Insertion hole 67 Cylinder holder 68 Casing 69 Engagement pin 70 Pin insertion hole 71 Switching lever 72 coil spring 73 Plate 74 Rotating Roller 75 Insertion opening 76 bis 77 Shaft hole 78 Screw hole 79 Screw hole 80 Hollow storage section 81 Connecting plate part 82 Rear end opening 83 Front end pin projection hole 84 Sloped opening edge 85 screw hole 86 Front end 87 Flange 88 screw hole 89 axes 90 Lid fittings 91 Bis 92 Fastening holder 93 Cam lever 94 Pin insertion hole 95 Casing 96 Engagement pin 97 coil spring 98a,b Motor fixing member 99 Plate 100 Insertion hole 101 Lever part 102 Bolt section 103 Rear end opening 104 Front end pin projection hole 105 Hollow storage section 106 Knob 107 pin body 108 flange 109 Front end 110 screw hole

Claims

1. A flip-up gate door having a pair of gateposts spaced apart and facing each other in the width direction, a pair of arms whose base ends are rotatably attached to the upper ends of the gateposts and whose tip ends rotate in the vertical direction, a gate door attached to the tip ends of the arms and perpendicular to the arms, which rotates upward toward the fully open position as the tip ends of the arms rotate upward and rotates downward toward the fully closed position as the tip ends of the arms rotate downward, and an electric motor that rotates the base ends of the arms, The electric motor is a linear motor arranged inside the gatepost, and the linear motor includes a motor cylinder and a motor rod that rises upward in the vertical direction from the upper end of the motor cylinder to rotate the tip of the arm upward, and that descends downward in the vertical direction toward the inside of the motor cylinder to rotate the tip of the arm downward, The flip-up gate has a lock / unlock mechanism that fixes the motor cylinder of the linear motor to the inside of the gatepost and releases the fixation of the motor cylinder to the inside of the gatepost, The flip-up gate is characterized in that it can be switched between an electric operation in which, in a locked state in which the motor cylinder of the linear motor is fixed to the inside of the gatepost by the lock / unlock mechanism, the tip of the arm is rotated in the vertical direction using the linear motor to rotate the door to a fully open position or a fully closed position, and a manual operation in which, in an unlocked state in which the motor cylinder of the linear motor is released from being fixed to the inside of the gatepost by the lock / unlock mechanism, the door is manually rotated to a fully open position or a fully closed position.

2. The lock / unlock mechanism includes a cylinder holder that supports the motor cylinder of the linear motor, a pin insertion hole that is drilled in the cylinder holder and extends in a radial direction that intersects with the up-down direction, a casing that is located on one side wall of the gatepost and has a rear end opening and a front end pin protrusion hole, an insertion pin housed in the casing, a biasing means that is housed in the casing and biases the insertion pin to move forward, a slanted opening edge that surrounds the rear end opening of the casing and is slanted from the rear end opening of the casing toward the front end pin protrusion hole, and a base end edge that supports the rear end of the insertion pin and is exposed from the rear end opening while abutting against the slanted opening edge, and is rotated clockwise. and a switching lever that rotates in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and in the lock / unlock mechanism, when the front end of the advanced engagement pin protrudes from the front end pin protrusion hole of the casing and engages in the pin engagement hole of the cylinder holder in the locked state, when the switching lever is rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, one end edge of the switching lever slides along the inclined opening edge and the switching lever gradually retreats, and as the switching lever retreats, the engagement pin retreats against the biasing force of the biasing means, and the front end of the engagement pin withdraws from the pin engagement hole, thereby entering the unlocked state.

3. In the lock / unlock mechanism, when the front end of the engagement pin is in the unlocked state in which it has withdrawn from the pin engagement hole, the switching lever is rotated in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction to restore the biasing force of the biasing means, and then when the door is rotated to the fully open position or the fully closed position by the manual operation, when the front end of the engagement pin is positioned in the pin engagement hole drilled in the cylinder holder, the biasing force of the biasing means causes the front end of the engagement pin to move forward and engage in the pin engagement hole, thereby entering the locked state.

4. A lift-up gate as described in claim 3, wherein the lock / unlock mechanism includes a pair of rotating rollers that are housed in the pin engagement hole of the cylinder holder and rotate as the engagement pin moves forward or backward, and in the lock / unlock mechanism, when the front end of the engagement pin is engaged in the pin engagement hole, the front end of the engagement pin is positioned between the rotating rollers and the outer surface of the front end of the engagement pin abuts the outer surface of the rotating rollers, and when the front end of the engagement pin withdraws from the pin engagement hole, the rotating rollers rotate and the front end of the engagement pin withdraws smoothly from the pin engagement hole.

5. The lock / unlock mechanism comprises a fastening holder fixed to one side wall of the gate post and clamping and holding the outer surface of the motor cylinder of the linear motor, a cam lever installed on one side wall of the fastening holder and capable of adjusting the clamping force of the fastening holder, a pin engagement hole drilled in the fastening holder, an engagement pin installed on the outer surface of the fastening holder, and a biasing means for biasing the engagement pin to move forward, and in the lock / unlock mechanism, the engagement pin moves forward due to the biasing force of the biasing means and its front end engages with the pin engagement hole, and the cam lever rotates in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, applying a fastening force to the fastening holder, causing the fastening holder to clamp and hold the outer surface of the motor cylinder of the linear motor, thereby entering the locked state.

6. In the lock / unlock mechanism, the cam lever rotates in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, thereby releasing the fastening force of the fastening holder, and after rotating the cam lever in either direction, the engagement pin is retracted so that the front end of the engagement pin exits the pin engagement hole, thereby entering the unlocked state.

7. In the lock / unlock mechanism, the position of the cam lever and the engagement pin relative to the fastening holder is adjusted so that when the cam lever rotates in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the cam lever abuts against the rear end of the engagement pin, and when the front end of the engagement pin is withdrawn from the pin engagement hole, the cam lever abuts against the rear end of the engagement pin, preventing the cam lever from rotating by the engagement pin, and the unlocked state is maintained in which the fastening holder is released from tightening the outer surface of the motor cylinder of the linear motor.

8. In the lock / unlock mechanism, when the front end of the engagement pin is in the unlocked state in which the front end of the engagement pin has withdrawn from the pin engagement hole and the door is rotated to the fully open position or the fully closed position by the manual operation, when the front end of the engagement pin is positioned in the pin engagement hole drilled in the fastening holder, the front end of the engagement pin moves forward and engages into the pin engagement hole due to the biasing force of the biasing means.

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