Wiper device

Abstract

The present invention prevents a wiper rubber from sticking to a window, while utilizing a wiper arm drive motor. This wiper device is provided with: a wiper arm (11A) that can be displaced so as to cause a wiper rubber (11C) to contact or separate from a window; a link mechanism (12) that oscillates the wiper arm; a drive motor (13) that applies rotational force to the link mechanism; a rotating body (14) that is provided so as to be rotatable by the drive motor, and that has two fulcrum parts (14A, 14B) having different distances from the center of the rotation (rotating shaft (13A)) and a communication part (14C) providing communication between the fulcrum parts; a moving member (15) that is connected to the link mechanism and is provided so as to be movable along the communication part, the moving member (15) being disposed at one fulcrum part according to forward rotation of the rotating body and at the other fulcrum part according to reverse rotation of the rotating body; and a variable part that, as the moving member moves from one fulcrum part to the other fulcrum part, displaces the wiper arm, which oscillates via the link mechanism, to separate the wiper rubber from the window.

Description

wiper device

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiper device.

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wiper arm lifting device for preventing the wiper rubber from adhering to the windshield. This wiper arm lifting device has a push rod attached to the wiper blade that moves forward and backward when a DC motor rotates forward and backward.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-222193

[0004] The wiper arm lifting device as disclosed in Patent Document 1 needs to further include a DC motor that is independent of the drive motor that swings the wiper arm.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a wiper device that can prevent the wiper rubber from sticking to the window while utilizing a drive motor for the wiper arm.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a wiper device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a wiper arm that can be displaced so as to bring a wiper rubber into contact with or away from a window; a link mechanism that swings the wiper arm; a drive motor that applies a rotational force to the link mechanism; a rotating body that is rotatable by the drive motor and has two fulcrum sections that are at different distances from the center of rotation and a communication section that connects the fulcrum sections; a movable member that is connected to the link mechanism and movably arranged along the communication section, and is disposed at one of the fulcrum sections in response to forward rotation of the rotating body and at the other fulcrum section in response to reverse rotation of the rotating body; and a variable section that displaces the wiper arm that swings due to the link mechanism as the movable member moves from one fulcrum section to the other fulcrum section, thereby moving the wiper rubber away from the window.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the wiper rubber from sticking to the window while utilizing the drive motor of the wiper arm.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wiper body according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wiper device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an operation diagram of the wiper device according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is an operation diagram of the wiper device according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is an operation diagram of details of the wiper device according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is an operation diagram of details of the wiper device according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is an operation diagram of details of another example of the wiper device according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is an operation diagram of details of another example of the wiper device according to an embodiment. FIG. 9 is an operation diagram of details of another example of the wiper device according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is an operation diagram of details of another example of the wiper device according to an embodiment.

[0009] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those that are within the so-called equivalent range. Furthermore, the components disclosed in the following embodiments can be combined as appropriate.

[0010] The wiper device of the embodiment can be installed on the outside of the vehicle, for example, on a front or rear window.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 , the wiper device of the embodiment includes a wiper body 11 , a link mechanism 12 , a drive motor 13 , a rotating body 14 , a moving member 15 , and a variable portion 16 .

[0012] The wiper body 11 includes a wiper arm 11A, a wiper blade 11B, and a wiper rubber 11C.

[0013] The wiper arm 11A forms the base of the wiper body 11. The wiper arm 11A has a base 11Aa that is connected to the link mechanism 12 and forms part of the link mechanism 12, and a support 11Ab that supports the wiper rubber 11C. The support 11Ab is connected to the base 11Aa via a shaft 11Ac and is configured to be able to swing around the shaft 11Ac. The swing of the support 11Ab is configured to move the wiper rubber 11C it supports between a position where it contacts the surface 21A of the window 21 (see FIG. 5) and a position where it is separated from the surface 21A of the window 21. The support 11Ab is attached to the base 11Aa so that a biasing member such as a spring (not shown) presses the wiper rubber 11C against the surface 21A of the window 21 at the position where the wiper rubber 11C contacts the surface 21A of the window 21.

[0014] The wiper blade 11B is attached to the tip of the swinging support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A, and has a wiper rubber 11C attached thereto. The wiper blade 11B has, for example, a pantograph structure that causes the wiper rubber 11C to follow the surface 21A of the window 21 when the support portion 11Ab swings so as to press the wiper rubber 11C against the surface 21A of the window 21.

[0015] The link mechanism 12 swings the wiper arm 11A so that the wiper rubber 11C can move along the surface 21A of the window 21. The link mechanism 12 may have various structures as long as it is configured to swing the wiper arm 11A, and examples of such structures are shown in Figures 2 to 4 in this embodiment. The link mechanism 12 in this embodiment includes a drive link 12A, a movable link 12B, a fixed link 12C, a driven link 12D, and shaft portions 12Aa, 12Ab, 12Ba, and 12Ca.

[0016] The drive link 12A is provided so as to be movable around the rotary shaft 13A in accordance with the rotation of the rotary shaft 13A of the drive motor 13. A rotating body 14, to which the rotational force of the drive motor 13 is applied, is attached to the rotary shaft 13A of the drive motor 13. One side of the rod-shaped drive link 12A is rotatably attached to the rotating body 14 via a shaft portion 12Aa. This allows the drive link 12A to move around the rotary shaft 13A in accordance with the rotational movement of the rotating body 14 about the rotary shaft 13A.

[0017] The movable link 12B is attached to the other rod-shaped side of the driving link 12A via a shaft portion 12Ab so as to be rotatable relative to the movable link 12B.

[0018] The fixed link 12C is a stationary link, and is fixed to, for example, a wiper device or a stationary part of the vehicle (not shown).

[0019] One side of the rod-shaped driven link 12D is attached to the movable link 12B via a shaft 12Ba so as to be rotatable relative to the movable link 12B. The other side of the rod-shaped driven link 12D is attached to the fixed link 12C via a shaft 12Ca so as to be rotatable relative to the fixed link 12C. Therefore, the driven link 12D connects the movable link 12B and the fixed link 12C via the shafts 12Ba and 12Ca. This driven link 12D is formed by the wiper arm 11A.

[0020] 2, when the rotor 14 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotary shaft 13A of the drive motor 13, the drive link 12A moves around the rotary shaft 13A. When the drive link 12A moves around the rotary shaft 13A, the movable link 12B connected to the fixed link 12C via the driven link 12D moves back and forth. When the movable link 12B moves back and forth, the wiper arm 11A, which is the driven link 12D, swings around the shaft 12Ca connected to the fixed link 12C. As a result, in the wiper device, the wiper rubber 11C moves along the surface 21A of the window 21.

[0021] The wiper device of the embodiment has two wiper bodies 11, and is configured to swing together. Specifically, the wiper device of the embodiment has two driven links 12D (wiper arms 11A) provided in the link mechanism 12. Although not explicitly shown in the drawings, the link mechanism 12 may be provided with a single driven link 12D (wiper arm 11A), or may be provided with two or more driven links 12D (wiper arms 11A).

[0022] The rotating body 14 has two fulcrum portions 14A and 14B and a communication portion 14C that connects the fulcrum portions 14A and 14B.

[0023] Each fulcrum 14A, 14B is provided as a hole penetrating the plate of the disc-shaped rotating body 14, a groove formed in the plate, or a protrusion formed on the plate. One fulcrum 14A and the other fulcrum 14B are at different distances from the rotation shaft 13A of the drive motor 13, which is the center of rotation of the rotating body 14. One fulcrum 14A is closer to the rotation shaft 13A, while the other fulcrum 14B is farther from the rotation shaft 13A. Therefore, as the rotating body 14 rotates, one fulcrum 14A moves along a first circular locus S, which is closer to the rotation shaft 13A. Meanwhile, the other fulcrum 14B moves along a second circular locus L, which is farther from the rotation shaft 13A.

[0024] Furthermore, each of the fulcrums 14A, 14B is disposed at a predetermined angle θ around the rotation shaft 13A of the drive motor 13, which is the center of rotation of the rotor 14. In the wiper device of the embodiment, this angle θ may be within 360 degrees or may exceed 360 degrees.

[0025] The communication portions 14C are provided as holes that penetrate the plate of the disk-shaped rotor 14, grooves that are formed in the plate, or protrusions that are formed in the plate, in accordance with the respective fulcrums 14A, 14B. The communication portions 14C are formed in an arc shape that matches the angle θ of the respective fulcrums 14A, 14B so as to communicate between the respective fulcrums 14A, 14B.

[0026] The moving member 15 is disposed at each of the fulcrums 14A, 14B, and is movable along the communicating portion 14C between the fulcrums 14A, 14B. If the fulcrums 14A, 14B and communicating portion 14C are holes, the moving member 15 is provided to be inserted into the holes; if the fulcrums 14A, 14B and communicating portion 14C are grooves, the moving member 15 is provided to be fitted into the grooves; or if the fulcrums 14A, 14B and communicating portion 14C are protrusions, the moving member 15 is provided to be fitted into the protrusions. The moving member 15 is provided on the shaft 12Aa on one side of the drive link 12A in the link mechanism 12. The moving member 15 may be constituted by the shaft 12Aa on one side of the drive link 12A. Therefore, the moving member 15 is disposed on each of the fulcrums 14A, 14B together with the shaft 12Aa on one side of the drive link 12A, and is movable along the communication portion 14C between the fulcrums 14A, 14B.

[0027] 2 to 4, the operations of the wiper body 11, the link mechanism 12, the drive motor 13, the rotating body 14, and the moving member 15 in the wiper device of this embodiment will be described.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 2, in the wiper device of this embodiment, the drive motor 13 rotates the rotor 14 around the rotary shaft 13A in a forward rotation direction R1. As the rotor 14 rotates in the forward rotation direction R1, the moving member 15 is disposed on one fulcrum 14A and rotates together with the rotor 14 in the forward rotation direction R1. Then, the shaft 12Aa on one side of the drive link 12A also rotates in the forward rotation direction R1. When the shaft 12Aa on one side of the drive link 12A rotates once around the rotary shaft 13A, the wiper body 11 swings back and forth via the link mechanism 12 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. In the wiper device of this embodiment, when the wiper body 11 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the wiper body 11 (wiper arm 11A) is in an open position, that is, an advanced position in which the wiper body 11 is advanced toward the vehicle window 21. 3, the wiper body 11 (wiper arm 11A) is closed, which is the standby position where the wiper body 11 is normally not in use. In the wiper device of the embodiment, this operation in which the moving member 15 is disposed on one fulcrum 14A and rotates in the forward rotation direction R1 together with the rotating body 14 is called normal operation. In addition, in the standby position for normal operation, the link mechanism 12 is in a state in which the drive link 12A connected to the rotating body 14 and the movable link 12B connected to the drive link 12A are fully extended.

[0029] In the wiper device of the embodiment, the standby position for normal operation described above can be detected by a rotation angle detection sensor (not shown) that detects the rotation angle of the rotary shaft 13A of the drive motor 13 during forward rotation of the rotary shaft 13A. The wiper device of the embodiment can perform normal operation by rotating the rotary shaft 13A of the drive motor 13 in the forward rotation direction R1 based on the rotation angle of the rotary shaft 13A at the standby position.

[0030] In addition, in the wiper apparatus of the embodiment, from the standby position shown in FIG. 3 , the drive motor 13 rotates the rotor 14 around the rotation shaft 13A in the reverse rotation direction R2 as shown in FIG. 4 . As the rotor 14 rotates in the reverse rotation direction R2, the moving member 15 moves from one fulcrum 14A through the communication portion 14C to the other fulcrum 14B. As described above, the other fulcrum 14B is located farther from the rotation shaft 13A than the one fulcrum 14A. Therefore, the link mechanism 12, which is in the standby position for normal operation shown in FIG. 3 , moves further away from the rotation shaft 13A as shown in FIG. 4 with the drive link 12A and the movable link 12B fully extended. Then, in the wiper apparatus of the embodiment, the wiper body 11 moves from the standby position shown in FIG. 3 via the link mechanism 12 in the direction opposite to that of normal operation, away from the advanced position, as shown in FIG. 4 . 4, where the wiper body 11 (wiper arm 11A) moves away from the advanced position at the standby position, is called the retracted position. In the wiper device of the embodiment, the rotational movement of the rotor 14 in the reverse rotation direction R2, whereby the movable member 15 is moved from one fulcrum 14A at the standby position to the other fulcrum 14B at the retracted position, is called the retraction operation.

[0031] In addition, in the wiper device of the embodiment, when the wiper device is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 , the drive motor 13 rotates the rotor 14 around the rotation shaft 13A in the forward rotation direction R1 as shown in FIG. 3 . As the rotor 14 rotates in the forward rotation direction R1, the moving member 15 moves from the other fulcrum portion 14B through the communication portion 14C and back to the one fulcrum portion 14A. As described above, the one fulcrum portion 14A is located closer to the rotation shaft 13A than the other fulcrum portion 14B. Therefore, the link mechanism 12 in the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 moves to a position close to the rotation shaft 13A as shown in FIG. 3 , with the drive link 12A and the movable link 12B fully extended together. Then, in the wiper device of the embodiment, the wiper body 11 moves from the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 back to the standby position via the link mechanism 12 as shown in FIG. 3 . In the wiper device of the embodiment, the operation in which the rotor 14 rotates in the forward rotation direction R1 and the movable member 15 is moved from the other fulcrum portion 14B to the one fulcrum portion 14A and returns to the standby position is called a standby operation. Note that in the wiper device of the embodiment, it is also possible to perform the standby operation and the normal operation consecutively by rotating the rotor 14 in the forward rotation direction R1.

[0032] In the wiper device of the embodiment, in the retraction operation, the angle θ of each of the fulcrums 14A, 14B is set in advance, and the rotation angle detection sensor (not shown) rotates the rotary shaft 13A of the drive motor 13 in the reverse rotation direction R2 with the retraction position as the reference while limiting the rotation angle to the angle θ, thereby reaching the retraction position. In the wiper device of the embodiment, in the retraction operation, the angle θ of each of the fulcrums 14A, 14B is set in advance, and the rotation angle detection sensor (not shown) rotates the rotary shaft 13A of the drive motor 13 in the forward rotation direction R1 with the retraction position as the reference while limiting the rotation angle to the angle θ, thereby reaching the retraction position.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the variable portion 16 is configured as a protrusion and is fixed at a position where the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A abuts when the wiper arm 11A of the wiper body 11 moves from the standby position (see FIG. 5 ) to the retracted position (see FIG. 6 ). The variable portion 16 is fixed, for example, to the vehicle side. When the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A moves from the standby position to the retracted position, the variable portion 16 abuts against the protrusion and rides on the upper surface 16B of the protrusion, causing the support portion 11Ab to swing and displace relative to the base portion 11Aa. That is, by swinging the support portion 11Ab, the variable portion 16 brings the wiper rubber 11C supported by the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A into contact with the surface 21A of the window 21 at the standby position before abutment as shown in FIG. 5 , and moves the wiper rubber 11C away from the surface 21A of the window 21 at the retracted position after abutment as shown in FIG. 6 .

[0034] The variable section 16 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has a slope 16A that moves the support section 11Ab, which moves from the standby position to the retracted position, away from the window 21 along with the wiper rubber 11C. The slope 16A is inclined so as to move away from the window 21 from the standby position toward the retracted position while the support section 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A moves from the standby position to the retracted position. In other words, the slope 16A is inclined so as to move closer to the window 21 from the retracted position toward the standby position while the support section 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A returns from the retracted position to the standby position. Therefore, the variable section 16 has the slope 16A that moves the support section 11Ab, which returns from the retracted position to the standby position, closer to the window 21 along with the wiper rubber 11C. In this way, the slope 16A of the variable section 16 abuts against the support section 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A, displacing the position of the support section 11Ab (wiper rubber 11C).

[0035] 7 and 8 are detailed operational diagrams of another example of the wiper device according to the embodiment.

[0036] In the variable section 16 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the slope 16A is formed with a gentle slope 16Aa and a steep slope 16Ab with different slopes. The gentle slope 16Aa is positioned at an initial contact position where the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A, moving from the standby position to the retracted position, contacts the slope 16A. The steep slope 16Ab is positioned at a later contact position where the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A, moving from the standby position to the retracted position, contacts the slope 16A. It is desirable that the gentle slope 16Aa and the steep slope 16Ab be connected and change shape via a curved surface. The gentle slope 16Aa and the steep slope 16Ab may also be formed as curved surfaces. That is, when the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A, moving from the standby position to the retracted position, contacts the gentle slope 16Aa and then the steep slope 16Ab. For this reason, in the wiper device of the embodiment, when the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A moves from the standby position to the retracted position, it first moves away from the window 21 gently via the gentle slope 16Aa, and then moves away from the window rapidly via the steep slope 16Ab. Therefore, in the wiper device of the embodiment, when moving from the standby position to the retracted position, the wiper rubber 11C first moves away from the window 21 gently via the gentle slope 16Aa, and then moves away from the window rapidly via the steep slope 16Ab. Also, when returning from the retracted position to the standby position, the wiper rubber 11C first moves toward the window 21 rapidly via the steep slope 16Ab, and then moves into contact with the window gradually via the gentle slope 16Aa. In this way, the slope 16A of the variable portion 16 abuts against the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A, displacing the position of the support portion 11Ab (wiper rubber 11C).

[0037] 9 and 10 are detailed operational diagrams of another example of the wiper device according to the embodiment.

[0038] 9 and 10 is provided at a position where it abuts against the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A when the wiper arm 11A of the wiper body 11 moves from the standby position (see FIG. 9) to the retracted position (see FIG. 10). The variable portion 17 has a fixed base 17A and a movable body 17B.

[0039] The fixed base 17A supports the movable body 17B and is fixed at a position where the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A abuts against the movable body 17B when the wiper arm 11A moves from the standby position to the retracted position. The movable body 17B is attached to the fixed base 17A via a shaft 17Ba and is movably attached around the shaft 17Ba in the direction in which the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A moves between the standby position and the retracted position. The movable body 17B has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and a bent portion of the L-shape is attached to the fixed base 17A via the shaft 17Ba. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , the movable body 17B is positioned so that one end 17Bb of the L-shape abuts against the support portion 11Ab when the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A moves from the standby position to the retracted position. 9 and 10, the movable body 17B is positioned so that the other end 17Bc of the L-shape abuts against the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A when the support portion 11Ab moves from the retracted position to the standby position.

[0040] 9, in the wiper device of the embodiment, the movable body 17B is arranged upright so that one end 17Bb of the L-shape is positioned midway as the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A passes to the retracted position when the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A is in the standby position. When the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A is in the standby position, the movable body 17B is arranged with the other end 17Bc of the L-shape lying face down on the first support surface 17Aa of the fixed base 17A so that the one end 17Bb is maintained in the upright position.

[0041] In the wiper device of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 10, the movable body 17B is positioned so that one end 17Bb of the L-shape and a protrusion 17Bd on the other end 17Bc of the movable body 17B abut against the support portion 11Ab when the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A is in the retracted position. When the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A is in the retracted position, the one end 17Bb of the L-shape of the movable body 17B is pushed by the support portion 11Ab, causing the movable body 17B to tilt diagonally from the upright position shown in Fig. 9. Accordingly, the other end 17Bc of the L-shape rises, and the protrusion 17Bd pushes the support portion 11Ab in a direction away from the window 21. As a result, the wiper rubber 11C moves away from the window 21 together with the support portion 11Ab. At this retracted position, the movable body 17B is positioned such that one end 17Bb of the L-shape abuts against the inclined second support surface 17Ab of the fixed base 17A so as to maintain an inclined position in which one end 17Bb of the L-shape abuts against the support portion 11Ab, as shown in Fig. 10 . Also, at the retracted position, the movable body 17B is positioned such that the protrusion 17Bd of the other end 17Bc of the L-shape supports the support portion 11Ab, as shown in Fig. 10 . Because the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A is pushed from the standby position toward the retracted position by the link mechanism 12 at the retracted position, the one end 17Bb of the L-shape of the movable body 17B is pressed against the inclined second support surface 17Ab of the fixed base 17A, and the protrusion 17Bd of the other end 17Bc of the L-shape supports the support portion 11Ab.

[0042] Furthermore, in the retracted position, the other end 17Bc of the L-shape of the movable body 17B is positioned on the side where the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A moves to the standby position. Therefore, when the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A moves from the retracted position to the standby position, the other end 17Bc of the L-shape of the movable body 17B is returned toward the lay-down position shown in Fig. 9, the protrusion 17Bd is removed from the position supporting the support portion 11Ab, and one end 17Bb of the L-shape is returned toward the upright position shown in Fig. 9. In this way, the variable portion 17 displaces the position of the support portion 11Ab (wiper rubber 11C) when the movable body 17B comes into contact with the support portion 11Ab of the wiper arm 11A and moves.

[0043] The wiper device of the above-described embodiment includes a wiper arm 11A (support portion 11Ab) that can be displaced so that a wiper rubber 11C contacts or separates from a window 21, a link mechanism 12 that swings the wiper arm 11A, a drive motor 13 that applies a rotational force to the link mechanism 12, two fulcrum portions 14A and 14B that are rotatable by the drive motor 13 and are at different distances from the center of rotation (rotation shaft 13A), and a communication portion 14C that communicates between the fulcrum portions 14A and 14B. The wiper arm 11A includes a rotating body 14, a movable member 15 connected to the link mechanism 12, movable along the connecting portion 14C, and disposed at one fulcrum portion 14A in response to the forward rotation of the rotating body 14, and disposed at the other fulcrum portion 14B in response to the reverse rotation of the rotating body 14, and a variable portion 16 (or variable portion 17) that displaces the wiper arm 11A, which is swung by the link mechanism 12, as the movable member 15 moves from one fulcrum portion 14A to the other fulcrum portion 14B, thereby moving the wiper rubber 11C away from the window 21.

[0044] The wiper device of the embodiment can be moved from the standby position to the retracted position by turning off the main switch of the vehicle, and can be moved from the retracted position to the standby position by turning on the main switch of the vehicle. Also, the wiper device of the embodiment is provided with a temperature detection sensor (not shown) that can detect the temperature outside the vehicle, and can be moved from the standby position to the retracted position when the temperature detection sensor detects, for example, a temperature below 0°C or above 30°C.

[0045] With this wiper device, by distributing the moving member 15 to each of the fulcrum portions 14A, 14B depending on whether the rotor 14 is rotating forward or backward, the wiper arm 11A is swung, and the variable portion 16 (or variable portion 17) displaces the wiper arm 11A to move the wiper rubber 11C away from the window 21. As a result, with this wiper device, it is possible to prevent the wiper rubber 11C from sticking to the window 21 during snowfall or in the hot sun, while still utilizing the drive motor 13 of the wiper arm 11A.

[0046] In addition, in the wiper device of the embodiment, when the rotating body 14 rotates in the reverse direction, the rotation angle of the rotating body 14 is limited to the range of the communication portion 14C where the moving member 15 moves from one fulcrum portion 14A to the other fulcrum portion 14B.

[0047] When the rotating body 14 is rotated in the reverse direction, if the reverse rotation exceeds the range of the communicating portion 14C, the wiper arm 11A (support portion 11Ab) will swing with a large stroke, including to the retracted position, with the moving member 15 positioned at the other fulcrum portion 14B. In this regard, according to this wiper device, by limiting the rotation angle of the rotating body 14 to the range of the communicating portion 14C, it is possible to prevent the wiper arm 11A from swinging with the moving member 15 positioned at the other fulcrum portion 14B.

[0048] The range of the communication portion 14C becomes shorter as the angle θ between the one fulcrum portion 14A and the other fulcrum portion 14B becomes smaller, thereby reducing the rotation angle during reverse rotation of the rotating body 14. On the other hand, the range of the communication portion 14C becomes longer as the angle θ between the one fulcrum portion 14A and the other fulcrum portion 14B becomes larger, thereby increasing the torque required to move the rotating body 14 to the retracted position via the link mechanism 12 during reverse rotation of the rotating body 14 and increasing the force that separates the wiper rubber 11C from the window 21.

[0049] In the wiper device of the embodiment, the variable portion 16 has the inclined surface 16A that abuts against the wiper arm 11A (support portion 11Ab) to displace the wiper arm 11A (support portion 11Ab).

[0050] According to this wiper device, the inclined surface 16A of the variable portion 16 allows the wiper arm 11A (support portion 11Ab) to be smoothly displaced to move the wiper rubber 11C away from the window 21.

[0051] In the wiper device of the embodiment, the inclined surface 16A is formed so as to change from a gentle slope 16Aa to a steep slope 16Ab from the initial contact stage to the later contact stage of the wiper arm 11A (support portion 11Ab).

[0052] According to this wiper device, by forming the gentle slope 16Aa at the initial stage of contact of the wiper arm 11A (support portion 11Ab), for example, when the wiper rubber 11C is about to stick to the window 21, the wiper rubber 11C can be gradually released from the window 21, and then in the later stage of contact, the wiper rubber 11C can be reliably released from the window 21 with a large force. As a result, the wiper rubber 11C can be released from the window 21 while preventing damage to the wiper rubber 11C.

[0053] In the wiper device of the embodiment, the variable portion 17 has the moving body 17B that moves in contact with the wiper arm 11A (support portion 11Ab), thereby displacing the wiper arm 11A (support portion 11Ab).

[0054] According to this wiper device, a configuration including a moving body 17B like the variable part 17 can be used, and the wiper rubber 11C can be prevented from sticking to the window 21.

[0055] The above-described embodiments include the following inventions: [Invention 1] A wiper device comprising: a wiper arm that can be displaced so that a wiper rubber contacts or moves away from a window, a link mechanism that swings the wiper arm, a drive motor that applies a rotational force to the link mechanism, a rotor that is rotatable by the drive motor and has two fulcrums at different distances from the center of rotation and a communication part that connects the fulcrums, a moving member that is connected to the link mechanism and movably provided along the communication part, and that is disposed at one of the fulcrums in response to forward rotation of the rotor and at the other fulcrum in response to reverse rotation of the rotor, and a variable part that displaces the wiper arm that swings by the link mechanism as the moving member moves from one fulcrum to the other fulcrum. [Invention 2] The wiper device according to Invention 1, wherein, during reverse rotation of the rotor, the rotation angle of the rotor is limited to the range of the communication section through which the moving member moves from one of the fulcrum sections to the other of the fulcrum sections. [Invention 3] The wiper device according to Invention 1 or 2, wherein the variable section has a slope that comes into contact with the wiper arm to displace the wiper arm. [Invention 4] The wiper device according to Invention 3, wherein the slope changes from a gentle slope to a steep slope from an initial stage of contact of the wiper arm to a later stage of contact. [Invention 5] The wiper device according to Invention 1 or 2, wherein the variable section has a moving body that comes into contact with the wiper arm and moves to displace the wiper arm.

[0056] The present disclosure can prevent the wiper rubber from sticking to the window while utilizing the drive motor of the wiper arm.

[0057] 11A Wiper arm 11Ab Support part 11C Wiper rubber 12 Link mechanism 13A Rotation axis (center of rotation) 13 Drive motor 14 Rotating body 14A, 14B Fulcrum part 14C Communication part 15 Moving member 16 Variable part 16A Inclined surface 16Aa Gentle slope 16Ab Steep slope 17 Variable part 17B Moving body 21 Window

Claims

1. A wiper device comprising: a wiper arm that can be displaced so as to bring a wiper rubber into contact with or away from a window; a link mechanism that swings said wiper arm; a drive motor that imparts a rotational force to said link mechanism; a rotor that is rotatable by said drive motor and has two fulcrum parts at different distances from the center of rotation and a communication part that connects said fulcrum parts; a moving member that is connected to said link mechanism and movably provided along said communication parts, and is disposed on one of the fulcrum parts in response to forward rotation of said rotor, and is disposed on the other fulcrum part in response to reverse rotation of said rotor; and a variable part that displaces the wiper arm that swings by said link mechanism as the moving member moves from one fulcrum part to the other fulcrum part, thereby moving said wiper rubber away from said window.

2. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation angle of the rotating body is limited to the range of the communicating portion in which the moving member moves from one of the fulcrums to the other of the fulcrums during reverse rotation of the rotating body.

3. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the variable portion has a slope that abuts against the wiper arm to displace the wiper arm.

4. The wiper device according to claim 3, wherein the inclined surface is formed so as to change from a gentle slope to a steep slope from an initial stage of contact of the wiper arm to a later stage of contact.

5. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the variable portion has a moving body that moves in contact with the wiper arm to displace the wiper arm.

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