Rotational reflector

Abstract

Provided is a novel rotational reflector capable of forming a desired light distribution pattern. This rotational reflector comprises: a rotating part; and a resin body part that is provided around the rotating part and includes a blade that functions as a reflective surface. A sleeve 46 into which a rotating shaft of a motor is press-fitted is fixed to the rotating part. In the sleeve 46, a rotation stopping part 46c is formed on an outer peripheral surface 46d. The rotation stopping part 46c includes a plurality of first surfaces 46a, and a second surface 46b connecting the first surfaces to each other and having a curvature radius larger than that of the first surfaces. The rotation stopping part 46c is configured such that a boundary 46e between the first surface 46a and the second surface 46b protrudes outward.

Description

Rotating Reflector

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotating reflector.

[0002] Conventionally, an optical unit equipped with a rotating reflector that rotates in one direction around a rotation axis while reflecting light emitted from a light source has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). The rotating reflector equipped in this optical unit has a reflective surface so that the light from the light source reflected while rotating forms a desired light distribution pattern.

[0003] In the aforementioned rotating reflector, a sleeve is fixed to the rotating part, which serves as the center of rotation, by insert molding. The sleeve is a cylindrical member with a hole formed therein into which the rotating shaft of the motor is inserted and fitted. The sleeve must also be fixed to the rotating part so that it does not come off the rotating reflector body or spin freely. Therefore, methods have been devised for firmly fixing the sleeve to the rotating part by forming knurling on the outer periphery of the sleeve or forming multiple grooves (splines) in the axial direction of the outer periphery.

[0004] International Publication No. 2020 / 080134

[0005] However, knurling and splines cause large changes in shape due to unevenness. As a result, localized stress concentrations can occur at the joint between the sleeve and the rotating reflector body when the rotating reflector rotates. In this case, deformation occurs at the center of the rotating reflector, which can cause the reflective surface to be displaced from its normal position or the rotation axis to become eccentric, preventing the light distribution pattern from being formed with high precision.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one of its objects is to provide a new rotating reflector that can stably form a desired light distribution pattern.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the rotating reflector of the present invention is a rotating reflector comprising a rotating part and a resin main body part that is arranged around the rotating part and has blades that function as a reflective surface, wherein the rotating part has a sleeve fixed thereto into which the rotating shaft of the motor is press-fitted, and the sleeve has a rotation prevention part formed on its outer surface that includes a plurality of first surfaces and second surfaces that connect the first surfaces and have a larger radius of curvature than the first surfaces, and the rotation prevention part is configured so that the boundary between the first surface and the second surface is convex outward.

[0008] According to this embodiment, the boundary of the anti-rotation portion is convex outward. Meanwhile, the inner peripheral surface of the rotating portion to which the sleeve is fixed is formed with a concave portion corresponding to the convex portion. Since stress is less likely to concentrate in the concave portion and is dispersed to the gently curved or flat surface adjacent to the concave portion, the portion of the rotating portion to which the sleeve is fixed is less likely to deform, even if it is made of resin.

[0009] The anti-rotation portion may have an n-fold symmetry (where 2≦n≦6) shape when viewed along the rotation axis, whereby the parts to which stress is applied are arranged symmetrically, making it less likely that localized stress concentrations will occur.

[0010] The first surface may be an arc and the second surface may be a plane, whereby when the rotating reflector rotates, stress can be distributed on the inner circumferential surface of the rotating part that contacts the second surface of the sleeve.

[0011] The outer peripheral surface may be formed with a retaining portion having a recess that is recessed toward the center more than the anti-rotation portion when viewed from the direction along the rotation axis, thereby preventing movement of the sleeve in the direction of the rotation axis even when a force is applied to the sleeve in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0012] The sleeve may be symmetrical in the vertical direction when the direction along the rotation axis is taken as the vertical direction. This prevents the sleeve from being fixed to the rotating part with the wrong top and bottom, improving workability during manufacturing.

[0013] The recess may be covered with the resin of the main body, whereby the resin covering the recess functions as a locking portion to prevent it from coming off.

[0014] The sleeve may be fixed to the rotating part by resin that is insert-molded together with the main body part, thereby enabling the rotating reflector with the sleeve fixed thereto to be manufactured in a simple process.

[0015] The sleeve may be a machined metal component. The cutting oil used during the machining process may affect the properties of the resin. For example, even if the resin is easily deformed by the cutting oil, the shape of the sleeve fixed to the rotating part is designed to prevent a decrease in rotation accuracy due to deformation of the rotating part.

[0016] The number of blades may be n, and by making the number of blades equal to the number of anti-rotation portions, rotation accuracy can be improved.

[0017] Any combination of the above components, and conversion of the present invention between a manufacturing method, a lighting fixture or lighting device, a light emitting module, a light source, etc. are also valid aspects of the present invention.

[0018] According to the present invention, a new rotating reflector capable of forming a desired light distribution pattern can be provided.

[0019] [Correction based on Rule 91 08.07.2024] This is a horizontal cross-sectional schematic diagram of a vehicle headlamp according to the present embodiment. It is a front view of a vehicle headlamp according to the present embodiment. It is a perspective view showing the main parts of an optical unit according to the present embodiment. It is a perspective view of a rotating reflector according to the present embodiment. It is a front view of a rotating reflector according to the present embodiment. It is a side view of the rotating reflector shown in FIG. 5, seen from direction A. It is a cross-sectional view of the rotating reflector shown in FIG. 5, taken along line B-B. FIG. 8(a) is a perspective view of a sleeve according to a reference example, and FIG. 8(b) is a top view of a sleeve according to the reference example. It is a schematic diagram showing the results of a simulation of stress generated in the tubular portion of the main body according to the reference example. FIG. 10(a) is a perspective view of a sleeve according to Example 1, and FIG. 10(b) is a top view of a sleeve according to Example 1. It is a schematic diagram showing the results of a simulation of stress generated in the tubular portion of the main body according to Example 1. FIGS. 12(a) to 12(c) are schematic diagrams for explaining the mechanism by which the sleeve is displaced within the through-hole due to thermal cycling. It is a perspective view of a sleeve according to Example 2. Fig. 14(a) is a side view of the sleeve shown in Fig. 13, Fig. 14(b) is a top view of the sleeve shown in Fig. 13, and Fig. 14(c) is a CC cross-sectional view of the sleeve shown in Fig. 14(b).

[0020] The present invention will be described below based on embodiments with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent components, parts, and processes shown in each drawing will be given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted where appropriate. Furthermore, the embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the invention, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention.

[0021] The rotating reflector according to the present embodiment rotates while reflecting light emitted from a light source, and can be used in various vehicle lamps. First, an outline of a vehicle headlamp that can be equipped with the rotating reflector according to the embodiment described below will be described.

[0022] (Vehicle Headlamp) Fig. 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a vehicle headlamp according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is a front view of the vehicle headlamp according to the present embodiment. Note that some components are omitted in Fig. 2.

[0023] The vehicle headlamp 10 according to this embodiment is a right-side headlamp mounted on the right side of the front end of an automobile, and has the same structure as the headlamp mounted on the left side except that it is bilaterally symmetrical. Therefore, the following will describe the right-side vehicle headlamp 10 in detail, and a description of the left-side vehicle headlamp will be omitted.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, a vehicle headlamp 10 includes a lamp body 12 with a recessed portion that opens forward. The front opening of the lamp body 12 is covered by a transparent front cover 14, forming a lamp chamber 16. The lamp chamber 16 functions as a space that houses one optical unit 18. The optical unit 18 is a lamp unit configured to emit a variable high beam. The variable high beam is controlled to change the shape of the high beam light distribution pattern, and can, for example, create a non-illuminated area (light-blocking portion) in part of the light distribution pattern.

[0025] The optical unit 18 according to this embodiment includes a first light source 20, a focusing lens 24 as a primary optical system (optical element) that changes the optical path of the first light L1 emitted from the first light source 20 and directs the first light L1 toward the blades 22a of the rotating reflector 22, a rotating reflector 22 that rotates around the rotation axis R while reflecting the first light L1, a convex lens 26 as a projection lens that projects the first light L1 reflected by the rotating reflector 22 in the light irradiation direction of the optical unit (toward the right in Figure 1), a second light source 28 arranged between the first light source 20 and the convex lens 26, a diffusing lens 30 as a primary optical system (optical element) that changes the optical path of the second light L2 emitted from the second light source 28 and directs the second light L2 toward the convex lens 26, and a heat sink 32 on which the first light source 20 and the second light source 28 are mounted.

[0026] Each light source uses a semiconductor light emitting element such as an LED, an EL, or an LD. In the first light source 20 according to this embodiment, a plurality of LEDs 20a are arranged in an array on a circuit board 33. Each LED 20a is configured to be able to be turned on and off individually.

[0027] The second light source 28 according to the present embodiment includes two LEDs 28a arranged horizontally in an array, and each LED 28a can be turned on and off individually. The second light source 28 is arranged such that the second light L2 is incident on the convex lens 26 without being reflected by the rotating reflector 22. This allows the optical characteristics of the second light L2 emitted from the second light source 28 to be selected without taking into consideration reflection by the rotating reflector 22. Therefore, for example, the light emitted from the second light source 28 can be diffused by the diffusing lens 30 before being incident on the convex lens 26, thereby illuminating a wider area. This allows the second light source 28 to be used as a light source for illuminating an area outside the vehicle.

[0028] The rotating reflector 22 rotates in one direction around a rotation axis R by a drive source such as a motor 34. The rotating reflector 22 has two blades 22a of the same shape provided around a cylindrical rotating portion 22b. The blades 22a function as a reflective surface configured to scan the light emitted from the first light source 20 forward with the reflected light while rotating, thereby forming a desired light distribution pattern.

[0029] The rotation axis R of the rotating reflector 22 is oblique to the optical axis Ax and is provided in a plane including the optical axis Ax and the first light source 20. In other words, the rotation axis R is provided approximately parallel to the scanning plane of the light (illumination beam) of the LED 20a that scans in the left-right direction by rotation. This allows the optical unit to be made thinner. Here, the scanning plane can be considered as, for example, a sector-shaped plane formed by continuously connecting the trajectories of the light of the LED 20a, which is the scanning light.

[0030] The shape of the convex lens 26 may be selected appropriately depending on the required light distribution characteristics, such as the light distribution pattern and illuminance distribution, but an aspherical lens or a free-form lens may also be used. For example, the convex lens 26 according to this embodiment can be formed with a notch 26a, in which part of the outer periphery is cut out in the vertical direction, by devising the arrangement of the light sources and the rotating reflector 22. This allows the size of the optical unit 18 in the vehicle width direction to be reduced.

[0031] Furthermore, the presence of the cutout portion 26a makes it less likely that the blade 22a of the rotating reflector 22 will interfere with the convex lens 26, allowing the convex lens 26 to be closer to the rotating reflector 22. Furthermore, when the vehicle headlamp 10 is viewed from the front, the formation of a non-circular (straight line) portion on the outer periphery of the convex lens 26 makes it possible to realize a vehicle headlamp with an innovative design having a lens with an external shape that combines curves and straight lines when viewed from the front of the vehicle.

[0032] (Optical unit) Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the main parts of the optical unit according to this embodiment. Of the components that make up the optical unit 18, Fig. 3 mainly shows the first light source 20, the rotating reflector 22, and the convex lens 26, and for the sake of convenience, some components are not shown.

[0033] 3, the optical unit 18 includes a first light source 20 consisting of a plurality of LEDs 20a arranged in a horizontal line, and a convex lens 26 that projects light emitted from the first light source 20 and reflected by a rotating reflector 22 in the light irradiation direction (optical axis Ax) of the optical unit. The rotating reflector 22 is disposed so that its rotation axis R extends horizontally and obliquely with respect to the light irradiation direction (optical axis Ax). The first light source 20 is disposed so that the light-emitting surface of each of the plurality of LEDs 20a is oblique with respect to the reflecting surface.

[0034] The reflecting surface 22d of the blade 22a has a twisted shape such that the angle formed between the optical axis Ax and the reflecting surface changes in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis R. The shape of the reflecting surface will be described in more detail later.

[0035] (Rotating Reflector) Next, the structure of the rotating reflector 22 according to this embodiment will be described in detail. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rotating reflector according to this embodiment. Fig. 5 is a front view of the rotating reflector according to this embodiment. Fig. 6 is a side view of the rotating reflector shown in Fig. 5 as seen from direction A. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of the rotating reflector shown in Fig. 5.

[0036] The rotating reflector 22 is a resin component having a rotating portion 22b and a plurality (two) of blades 22a that are provided around the rotating portion 22b and function as a reflective surface. The blades 22a are arc-shaped, and the outer peripheries of adjacent blades 22a are connected by connecting portions 22c to form a ring. This makes the rotating reflector 22 less likely to bend, even when rotating at high speeds (e.g., 50 to 240 rotations per second).

[0037] A cylindrical sleeve 36 having a hole 36a formed therein, into which the rotation shaft of the rotating reflector 22 is inserted and fitted, is fixed by insert molding to the center of the rotating part 22b. In addition, an annular groove 38 formed on the outer periphery of the rotating part 22b and inside the blade 22a has two recesses 40 formed as marks corresponding to the gate positions of the mold.

[0038] 4 to 7 is used in the vehicle headlamp 10 for a right-side headlamp, and rotates counterclockwise in a front view of the reflective surface 22d. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the reflective surface 22d of the blade 22a is configured so that the axial height (thickness direction of the blade) of the outer periphery gradually increases counterclockwise in a front view. Conversely, the axial height of the reflective surface 22d at the inner periphery near the rotating portion 22b gradually decreases counterclockwise.

[0039] The reflecting surface 22d is configured to gradually increase in height from the end 22e, which is the outer periphery with a lower axial height, toward the center (rotating portion 22b). Conversely, the reflecting surface 22d is configured to gradually decrease in height from the end 22f, which is the outer periphery with a higher axial height, toward the center.

[0040] As described above, the rotating reflector 22 according to this embodiment includes a rotating portion 22b and a main body portion 42 having blades 22a that function as reflective surfaces and are provided around the rotating portion. The main body portion 42 is an integrated resin component extending from a cylindrical portion 42b, which has a through-hole 42a to which a sleeve 36 is fixed, to the blades 22a. A metal sleeve 36, into which the rotation shaft R of the motor 34 is press-fitted, is fixed to the cylindrical portion 42b. In other words, the sleeve 36 is fixed to the rotating portion 22b by resin that is insert-molded together with the main body portion 42. This allows the rotating reflector 22 with the sleeve 36 fixed thereto to be manufactured through a simple process.

[0041] At least a portion of the outer periphery of the sleeve 36 has a non-circular shape (anti-slip shape) to prevent the sleeve 36 from spinning freely relative to the cylindrical portion 42b. Fig. 8(a) is a perspective view of a sleeve according to a reference example, and Fig. 8(b) is a top view of the sleeve according to the reference example. The sleeve 44 shown in Figs. 8(a) and 8(b) has grooves 44b (ridges 44c) formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer circumferential surface 44a. The sleeve 44 according to the reference example has 22 grooves 44b formed along the axial direction.

[0042] If the sleeve 44 is made of metal (specifically, for example, brass), it is stronger than the resin main body 42 of the rotating reflector 22, and therefore when the rotating reflector 22 is rotating at high speed, the groove 44b (protrusion 44c) of the sleeve causes local stress concentration on the inner surface of the tubular portion 42b.

[0043] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the results of a simulation of stress generated in the tubular portion 42b of the main body 42 according to the reference example. The inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion 42b shown in FIG. 9 has alternating ridges 42c and grooves 42d. The ridges 42c have a shape corresponding to the grooves 44b of the sleeve 44, and the grooves 42d have a shape corresponding to the ridges 44c of the sleeve 44. In the simulation shown in FIG. 9, the stress generated in the regions R1 and R2 of the ridges 42c is approximately 15 MPa. Therefore, deformation of a portion of the resin main body 42 may cause deformation of the blades 22a or decentering of the rotating reflector 22, which may hinder the formation of a highly accurate light distribution pattern.

[0044] Therefore, the inventors of the present application devised a new outer peripheral shape for the sleeve. Fig. 10(a) is a perspective view of the sleeve according to Example 1, and Fig. 10(b) is a top view of the sleeve according to Example 1. The sleeve 46 has a rotation prevention portion 46c formed on its outer peripheral surface 46d. The rotation prevention portion 46c includes a plurality of first surfaces 46a and a second surface 46b connecting the first surfaces and having a larger radius of curvature than the first surfaces 46a. The rotation prevention portion 46c is configured so that a boundary 46e between the first surfaces 46a and the second surfaces 46b is convex outward. The first surfaces 46a are arc-shaped, and the second surfaces 46b are flat.

[0045] As described above, in the sleeve 46 according to Example 1, the boundary 46e of the anti-rotation portion 46c is convex outward, while the inner circumferential surface of the rotating portion to which the sleeve 46 is fixed is formed with a concave portion corresponding to the convex portion. Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the results of a simulation of stress generated in the tubular portion 47b of the main body according to Example 1. The concave groove 47c shown in Fig. 11 corresponds to the convex portion of the boundary 46e, but because the change in the convex shape is gradual, the stress generated in the concave groove 47c is not large. Regions R3 and R4, where the stress is highest, are the plane 47a that contacts the plane that is the second surface 46b of the sleeve 46, and the stress is easily dispersed.

[0046] 11, the maximum stress generated in regions R3 and R4 of the flat surface 47a corresponding to the second surface 46b is approximately 5 MPa. Therefore, it can be seen that the stress generated in regions R3 and R4 of the flat surface 47a is significantly lower than the stress generated in regions R1 and R2 of the ridge 42c of the cylindrical portion 42b according to the reference example. As such, stress is less likely to concentrate in the recessed groove 47c, and the stress is dispersed to the gently curved surface and flat surface 47a adjacent to the recessed groove 47c. This makes it less likely for the portion of the rotating portion 22b to which the sleeve 46 is fixed to be deformed, even if it is made of resin.

[0047] Although the anti-rotation portion 46c of the sleeve 46 has a shape with four-fold symmetry when viewed along the rotation axis, the anti-rotation portion may have n-fold symmetry (2≦n≦6). This allows the parts to which stress is applied to be symmetrically arranged, making it less likely that localized stress concentrations will occur.

[0048] Furthermore, the sleeve 46 has a vertically symmetrical shape when the direction along the rotation axis is defined as the vertical direction, which prevents the sleeve 46 from being fixed to the rotating part 22b with the top and bottom sides reversed, improving workability during manufacturing.

[0049] The sleeve 46 is a machined metal member. The cutting oil used during the cutting process can affect the properties of the resin. For example, even if the resin is easily deformed by the cutting oil, the shape of the sleeve 46 fixed to the rotating portion 22b is designed to prevent a decrease in rotation accuracy due to deformation of the rotating portion 22b.

[0050] The sleeve 46 according to the first embodiment has an ingenious outer peripheral surface shape that prevents the rotating reflector from rotating relative to the main body portion while reducing stress generated on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 42a of the main body portion 42. However, the cross-sectional shape of the sleeve (a cross section perpendicular to the motor shaft) is uniform throughout the axial direction. Therefore, when an axial force is applied to the sleeve 46 fitted into the through hole 42a of the main body portion 42, there is no interference between the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 42a and the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 46, and the contact area between them is smaller than that of the sleeve 44 according to the reference example. In addition, because the stress generated in the main body portion 42 is reduced, the sleeve is more likely to be displaced (easily removed) in the axial direction.

[0051] 12(a) to 12(c) are schematic diagrams illustrating the mechanism by which the sleeve is displaced within the through-hole due to thermal cycling. A vehicle headlamp equipped with a rotating reflector 22 is located near the engine compartment and is used in a variety of environments. Therefore, the ambient temperature of the rotating reflector can vary from approximately -30°C to 90°C. The rotating reflector 22 has a resin body 42 and a brass sleeve 46. As shown in FIG. 12(a), the brass sleeve 46 shrinks first due to the difference in thermal conductivity between the resin and brass. This results in a gap G between the sleeve 46 and the body 42.

[0052] Thereafter, as the resin shrinks, stress is applied from the cylindrical portion 42b of the main body 42 to the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 46, as shown in Fig. 12(b), but this stress is not uniform. Therefore, repeated thermal cycles may cause the sleeve 46 to gradually lift off the cylindrical portion 42b of the main body 42, as shown in Fig. 12(c).

[0053] [Correction based on Rule 91 08.07.2024] Taking this into consideration, a new sleeve with an improved outer peripheral shape was devised. Figure 13 is a perspective view of a sleeve according to Example 2. Figure 14(a) is a side view of the sleeve shown in Figure 13, Figure 14(b) is a top view of the sleeve shown in Figure 13, and Figure 14(c) is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve shown in Figure 14(b) taken along the line CC. The sleeve 48 according to Example 2 is the same as the sleeve 36 shown in Figure 7.

[0054] The sleeve 48 has a rotation prevention portion 48c formed on its outer peripheral surface 48d. The rotation prevention portion 48c includes a first surface 48a and a second surface 48b that connects the first surfaces 48a and has a larger radius of curvature than the first surface 48a. The rotation prevention portion 48c is configured so that a boundary 48e between the first surface 48a and the second surface 48b is convex outward. The first surface 48a is an arc, and the second surface 48b is a flat surface. Note that while the rotation prevention portion 48c of the sleeve 48 according to the second embodiment includes two first surfaces 48a and two second surfaces 48b, it may also be configured by connecting both sides of one first surface 48a with one second surface 48b.

[0055] The sleeve 48 according to the second embodiment has a height H1 of 4 to 8 mm, a height H2 of 2 to 5 mm, a diameter D1 of a hole 48f into which the rotating shaft of the motor is inserted and fitted of 2 to 4 mm, a diameter D2 of a circular arc-shaped first surface 48a of 5 to 8 mm, and a distance D3 between two second surfaces 48b of 4 to 7.5 mm. Note that the size of each part does not necessarily have to be within these ranges and can be selected as appropriate within a range that achieves the object of the invention.

[0056] Furthermore, when viewed along the rotation axis, the outer peripheral surface 48d of the sleeve 48 has a retaining portion formed thereon, which has a recess 48g recessed toward the center of the hole 48f more than the anti-rotation portion 48c. The retaining portion of the sleeve 48 is formed by a step between the recess 48g and the first and second surfaces 48a and 48b. This prevents the sleeve 48 from moving in the rotation axis direction even when a force is applied to the sleeve 48 in the rotation axis direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the recess 48g is covered with the resin of the main body 42. This allows the resin covering the recess 48g to function as a retaining portion.

[0057] The rotating reflector 22 according to this embodiment has two blades 22a and two anti-rotation portions 48c. By making the number of blades 22a and the number of anti-rotation portions 48c equal, rotation accuracy can be improved.

[0058] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a sleeve according to a third embodiment. The sleeve 50 shown in FIG. 15 has a first surface 50a and a second surface 50b connecting the first surfaces 50a and having a larger radius of curvature than the first surface 50a. The anti-rotation portion 50c is formed on an outer peripheral surface 50d. The anti-rotation portion 50c is configured such that a boundary 50e between the first surface 50a and the second surface 50b is convex outward. The first surface 50a is an arc, and the second surface 50b is a flat surface. The anti-rotation portion 50c of the sleeve 50 is provided in two stages spaced apart in the axial direction of the hole 50f. Between the two stages of the anti-rotation portion 50c, a recess 50g is formed, recessed toward the center of the hole 50f from the anti-rotation portion 50c. The recess 50g is covered with the resin of the main body 42, and the resin covering the recess 48g functions as a locking portion to prevent disengagement.

[0059] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and suitable combinations and substitutions of the configurations of the embodiments are also included in the present invention. Furthermore, it is possible to suitably rearrange the combinations and processing orders in the embodiments based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and to make modifications to the embodiments such as various design changes, and such modified embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0060] This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-105418, filed on June 27, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0061] The above descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms described. Numerous modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above description.

[0062] 10 Vehicle headlamp, 18 Optical unit, 22 Rotating reflector, 22a Blade, 22b Rotating portion, 22c Connecting portion, 22d Reflecting surface, 34 Motor, 36 Sleeve, 36a Hole, 38 Groove, 40 Recessed portion, 42 Main body portion, 42a Through hole, 42b Cylindrical portion, 46 Sleeve, 46a First surface, 46b Second surface, 46c Anti-rotation portion, 46d Outer circumferential surface, 46e Boundary, 47a Flat surface, 47b Cylindrical portion, 47c Groove, R Rotating axis.

Claims

1. A rotating reflector comprising: a rotating part; and a resin main body having blades arranged around the rotating part and functioning as a reflective surface, wherein the rotating part has a sleeve fixed thereto into which a rotating shaft of a motor is press-fitted, and the sleeve has a rotation prevention part formed on its outer surface, the rotation prevention part including a plurality of first surfaces and second surfaces connecting the first surfaces and having a larger radius of curvature than the first surfaces, and the rotation prevention part is configured so that the boundary between the first surface and the second surface is convex outward.

2. A rotating reflector according to claim 1, characterized in that the anti-rotation portion has a shape with n-fold symmetry (2≦n≦6) when viewed from a direction along the rotation axis.

3. A rotating reflector as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first surface is a circular arc and the second surface is a plane.

4. A rotating reflector as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outer peripheral surface is formed with a slip-out prevention portion having a recess that is recessed toward the center more than the anti-rotation portion when viewed from a direction along the rotation axis.

5. A rotating reflector according to claim 4, characterized in that the sleeve has a vertically symmetrical shape when the direction along the rotation axis is taken as the up-down direction.

6. A rotating reflector according to claim 4, characterized in that the recess is covered with the resin of the main body.

7. A rotating reflector according to claim 6, characterized in that said sleeve is fixed to said rotating portion by resin that is insert-molded together with said main body portion.

8. A rotating reflector as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sleeve is a machined metal member.

9. A rotating reflector according to claim 2, characterized in that the number of said blades is n.

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