JPH07103277A - Rotary damper - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Between two members that are relatively movably connected
A built-in circuit that controls the relative speed of movement between these members.
A simple and inexpensive structure for a rolling damper
Can be realized, and the relative moving speed can be controlled to be constant.
To do so. [Structure] Cap 32 is fitted to cylindrical casing 31
The rotation axis that receives the rotation input from the outside
33 is B₁, B₂Is supported rotatably in the direction and its peripheral surface
To B₁, B₂The pitch changes according to the rotation angle in the direction.
A spiral-shaped groove 34 is formed. casing
A disk-shaped wall member 35 is arranged in the groove 31, and this is a groove 3
B of the rotary shaft 33 while engaging with 4₁, B₂To rotate in the direction
In conjunction with C ₁, C₂Slide in the direction. In casing 31
Is filled with oil 37 which is a viscous fluid substance.
ing. The wall member 35 is provided with an opening 39 and its vicinity
A valve 41 having an opening 40 smaller than this is opened.
It is provided so that it can be closed freely and opens depending on the moving direction of the wall member 35.
The rate is changed to adjust the passage resistance of the oil 37.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary damper incorporated between two members which are relatively movably connected to each other and which controls a relative moving speed between these two members.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a printer device, a copying machine, a facsimile device or the like whose main body can be opened / closed in a so-called shell-open type, the opening / closing speed is improved for the purpose of improving operability at the time of opening / closing and improving safety. It is common to provide an airframe opening / closing mechanism for controlling (in particular, suppressing the speed at the time of closing). As such a mechanism, conventionally, one using elasticity such as a torsion bar or a torsion spring has been used, but with such a structure, the stress due to the elastic force always remains applied when the machine body is in the closed state. However, if this state continues for a long time, the fuselage may be distorted, so that the strength of the fuselage must be increased. Therefore, in order to eliminate such a problem, a rotary damper (rotary oil damper) is proposed and put into practical use.

FIG. 8 shows an airframe opening using a conventional rotary damper.
The schematic structure of a closing mechanism is shown. This machine opening and closing mechanism is a device book
Lower body M₁And upper fuselage M₂Device divided into and
(For example, the printer device described above)
The lower body M is₁Against
Part machine M₂If you connect the shell open type to open and close freely
Both, using the rotary damper 2, the upper fuselage M₂Closing action
It is configured to reduce the impact at the time. In detail
Has a gear portion in a semicircular portion centered on the support shaft 1.
The fan-shaped fixed gear 3 is the lower body M₁Is provided integrally with
Also, the upper fuselage M ₂While engaging with the fixed gear 3,
Upper fuselage M₂Rotating gear that can rotate in conjunction with opening and closing of
4 and a rotation speed control function for the rotation of the rotary gear 4.
The rotary damper 2 having is arranged.

As the rotary damper 2, the upper body M ₂
There are those that have a rotation speed control function for both rotation directions of the rotary gear 4 corresponding to the opening and closing operation of the rotation gear, and those that have a rotation speed control function only in the rotation direction when closed (so-called one-way function). , A concrete example of the latter is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the cover 12 covers the cylindrical casing 11 with one end opened so that the one end is closed.
A movable body 14 having a plurality of windmill-shaped blades 14a is rotatably supported by a ring-shaped boss 11a, which is fitted through a ring 13 and projects from the inner center of the casing 11. In addition, the rotary body 16 having a rotary shaft 16a into which the rotary gear 4 (see FIG. 8) is press-fitted at one end is coaxially mounted on a boss-shaped shaft portion 15 protruding from the center of the movable body 14. The space between the movable body 14 and the casing 11 is filled with oil 17, which is a viscous fluid substance such as silicon grease. Furthermore, the movable body 14 and the rotating body 16 are formed by a one-way clutch mechanism including a pair of collars 18 and 19 attached to their respective outer peripheral surfaces and a coil spring 20 fitted to their outer peripheral surfaces. The rotating body 16 can be connected (locked) in one rotation direction and can be released in the other rotation direction. The entire rotary damper 2 is fixed to the frame of the upper machine body M ₂ by a fixing means such as a screw 22 via a mounting portion 21 protruding from the outer surface of the casing 11.

In the machine body opening / closing mechanism of FIG. 8 using the rotary damper 2 having such a structure, when the upper machine body M ₂ is closed, the rotary gear 4 and the fixed gear 3 are associated with the operation.
When rotating while revolving on the circumference of, the one-way clutch mechanism of the rotary damper 2 is locked,
The movable body 14 of the rotary damper 2 also rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotary gear 4, and the blade 14a receives the viscous resistance of the oil 17 at this time, and this resistance acts as a damper to close the machine. Time speed control is performed. That is, when the closing operation the upper body M _2, smooth closing is possible so as to have a braking effect on the operation. During the opening operation of the upper machine body M ₂ , the one-way clutch mechanism of the rotary damper 2 is unlocked, so that a light operation that does not receive viscous resistance due to the oil 17 is possible.

[0006]

The rotary damper using the above-mentioned rotary damper is quite practical, but the structure of the rotary damper itself is very complicated as shown in FIG. Since the number of points increases, there is a problem that not only the cost increases but also the failure rate increases.

Further, in general, as the upper body is closed from the open position to the closed position, the force for rotating the upper body toward the closed position increases, which causes the rotary damper to gradually rotate. Although a large force is applied, on the other hand, since the rotational torque of the rotary damper during the closing operation is always constant, it is impossible to cope with the increase in the force. That is, as the upper airframe approaches the closed position, the force to rotate the rotary damper becomes larger than the rotational torque of the rotary damper, and the closing speed of the upper airframe gradually increases. As a result, it is unavoidable that impact is applied to the upper and lower fuselage at the end of the closing operation, and there is still a problem in terms of safety and operability.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a rotary damper capable of realizing a damper action with a simple and inexpensive structure and capable of controlling a relative moving speed between two members to be constant. The purpose is to

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides first and second relatively movably coupled members.
A rotary damper that is disposed between the members and that receives a rotary input from one member to control the relative movement speed between the two members, and a rotary shaft that is provided to receive the rotary input, and at least one end of the rotary shaft. A cylindrical casing that rotatably surrounds the rotating shaft and rotatably surrounds the rotating shaft; and an opening that engages with the inner surface of the casing and the rotating shaft and moves in the casing in association with the rotation of the rotating shaft. And a viscous fluid substance filled in a space inside the casing, and configured to generate a damper action based on a resistance force when the viscous fluid substance passes through the opening. And

[0010]

When the rotation shaft receives a rotation input from the outside and tries to rotate, the wall member tries to move in the casing in association with the rotation. At that time, since the viscous fluid substance is filled in the casing, the wall member cannot move freely in the casing, and the viscous fluid substance is separated from the one region in the casing separated by the wall member to the other region. As the wall member gradually passes through the opening of the wall member while generating a resistance force, the wall member can be moved at a speed according to the passing amount. By controlling the moving speed of the wall member in this manner, the rotating speed of the rotary shaft is controlled, and as a result, the relative moving speed between the two members is also controlled.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 (a) and 1 (b) are cross-sectional views of a rotary damper D according to an embodiment of the present invention cut along a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis and cross-sections cut along a plane along the rotation axis. Is. As shown in the figure, a cap 32 is fitted in a cylindrical casing 31 having one end opened so as to close the one end, and a rotary shaft 33 for receiving a rotation input from the outside is provided therein. The arrow B ₁ , with one end protruding to the outside through the central opening of the cap 32,
It is rotatably supported in the B ₂ direction. The circumferential surface of the rotary shaft 33 will be described later in detail, but within a range within the casing 31, a spiral groove (helix portion) 34 as shown in FIG.
Are formed. In addition, a disk-shaped wall member 35 is arranged in the casing 31 so as to divide the internal space into two.
The wall member 35 engages with the groove 34 and also engages with the linear rib 36 provided on the inner wall of the casing 31 along the directions of the arrows C ₁ and C _2, and the arrow B of the rotary shaft 33.
It is configured to slide in the directions of arrows C ₁ and C ₂ in association with the rotation in the directions of ₁ and B ₂ . The space inside the casing 31 is filled with oil 37, which is a viscous fluid substance such as silicon grease, and prevents the oil 37 from leaking through the gap between the opening of the cap 32 and the rotary shaft 33. An O-ring 38 for mounting is attached.

A spiral-shaped groove 34 provided on the rotary shaft 33.
2 is set so that the pitch changes according to the rotation angles in the directions of the arrows B ₁ and B ₂ as shown in FIG. Figure 2
(B) is the figure which expanded the peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 33 to planar shape, H is equivalent to one circumference of the rotating shaft 33, ie, 360 degrees, G is when the rotation damper D is attached to an apparatus. Actual rotation angle of rotating shaft 33 (opening and closing angle of equipment)
Equivalent to. The groove 34 is provided in the above range G,
The wall member 35 engaged with the groove 34 can move from one end portion 34a of the groove 34 to the other end portion 34b according to the rotation of the rotating shaft 33 (see the effective movement range of the wall member 35). 2 as L). At that time, the groove 34 is temporarily formed as shown in FIG.
If it is formed in a straight line as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in (b), the movement rate of the wall member 35 becomes constant regardless of the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 33, but in the present embodiment, the straight line ( Since it has a spiral shape that is curved to one side from the one-dot chain line), the movement rate of the wall member 35 changes according to the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 33. That is, for example, considering the case where the wall member 35 rotates at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow B ₁ , the wall member 35 moves from one end 34b side of the groove 34 to the other end 34.
It moves in the direction of arrow C ₁ toward the side a, but at this time, the moving speed increases as the wall member 35 approaches the end 34a side.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the wall member 35 is provided with a plurality of openings 39 (here, three as an example, of course, one may be provided) 39, and further shown in FIG. 1B. As described above, in the vicinity of each opening 39 on the arrow C ₁ side, a valve 41 having an opening 40 smaller than the opening 39 is provided so as to be openable and closable with one end as a fulcrum. Rotating shaft 3
3 is rotated in the direction of the arrow B ₂ so that the wall member 35 moves toward the arrow C ₂
When moving in the direction, the valve 41 opens as shown in FIG. 3 (a), and the oil 37 moves in a large amount through the two openings 39 and 40 as shown by the arrow, while the arrow of the rotary shaft 33 moves. When the wall member 35 moves in the direction of the arrow C ₁ along with the rotation in the direction of B ₁ , the valve 41 remains closed as shown in FIG. 3 (b), and the oil 37 flows through the small opening 40 only. Move in small increments as shown in. That is, the valve 41
Acts as a control valve that changes the opening ratio of the opening through which the oil 37 passes in accordance with the moving direction of the wall member 35. As the opening ratio changes, the oil 37 causes the wall member 35 to move.
The resistance force when passing through the opening is also small in the case of FIG. 3A and is large in the case of FIG.

From this, the wall member 35 can move in the direction of arrow C ₂ with almost no resistance, and can move in the direction of arrow C ₁ while receiving a large resistance. Therefore, the rotary damper D Is an arrow B ₁ transmitted to the rotating shaft 33
Therefore, a so-called one-way function of exerting a damper action based on the resistance force of the oil 37 when the oil passes through the opening is provided only for the rotational movement in the direction. Moreover, the strength of the damper action (that is, the resistivity when the oil 37 passes through the opening of the wall member 35) changes according to the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 33 according to the spiral shape of the groove 34 described above.

FIG. 6 shows an application of the rotary damper D of the present embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration to a machine body opening / closing mechanism of a printer apparatus as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This body opening / closing mechanism is applied to a body whose body is divided into a lower body M ₁ as a _first member and an upper body M ₂ as a second member, as shown in FIG. With the support shaft 51 at one end of the machine body as a fulcrum, the lower machine body M ₁ is supported by the upper machine body M _1.
2 is connected in a shell-open manner so that it can be opened and closed, and the support shaft 51 that rotates integrally with the upper machine body M ₂ is
As shown in FIG. 6, the rotary damper D is coaxially and integrally formed with the rotary shaft 33 (may be connected in some form), and the casing 31 of the rotary damper D is attached to the lower body M.
By fixing the upper body M ₂ to the frame _{No. 1} , the impact at the closing operation of the upper body M ₂ is reduced.

The operation of the rotary damper D when opening and closing the upper body M ₂ will be described below. First, when an attempt is made to close the upper machine body M ₂ from the completely opened state (the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 4), the rotary shaft 33 (integrated with the support shaft 51) of the rotary damper D in FIG. The rotation starts in the B ₁ direction, and with this rotation, the wall member 35 starts moving in the arrow C ₁ direction. Here, on the aircraft side, as shown in FIG.
According opening angle θ of the upper machine body M ₂ increases (when the weight of the upper body M ₂ and W, F = W · sinθ) force F to rotate the upper body M ₂ in the arrow B ₁ direction is large It will become. On the other hand, on the rotary damper D side, the rotary shaft 33 gradually rotates in the direction of arrow B ₁ corresponding to the opening / closing angle θ of the upper body M ₂ , and accordingly, the wall member 35 moves in the direction of arrow C.
As it moves in _one direction, the resistivity when the oil 37 passes through the opening of the wall member 35 (in this case, the opening 40 of the valve 41) changes gradually to a large value based on the spiral groove 34, as described above. However, along with this, the rotational torque of the rotary shaft 33 also increases. From these things, when the upper machine body M ₂ is gradually closed, the force F for rotating the upper machine body M ₂ also gradually increases, and accordingly, the rotation shaft 33 of the rotary damper D tries to rotate. Although the force also increases, at the same time, the rotational torque of the rotary shaft 33 (that is, the force that resists the force F or the strength of the damper action) gradually increases, so during the closing operation of the upper body M ₂ , Power of F
And the above-mentioned rotational torque are held at a substantially constant ratio, and as a result, the closing speed of the upper machine body M ₂ is controlled to be constant, and an extremely smooth closing operation is possible.

On the other hand, when trying to open the upper machine body M ₂ from the completely closed state (position shown by the solid line in FIG. 4), the rotary shaft 33 (support shaft 51) of the rotary damper D in FIG.
Starts to rotate in the direction of arrow B ₂ , and the wall member 35 starts to move in the direction of arrow C ₂ with this rotation. In this case,
As shown in (a), the valve 41 opens, the resistance of the oil 37 when passing through the opening becomes extremely small, and the rotating torque of the rotating shaft 33 becomes very small, that is, the one-way function works. ₂ can be opened with extremely light force.

As described above, according to the rotary damper D of this embodiment, the structure itself is much simpler than the conventional rotary damper shown in FIG. 9, and the number of parts is reduced. . Therefore, it is possible to realize a rotary damper with a small failure rate while achieving a small size and a low price.

Further, when the rotary damper D of this embodiment is attached to the machine body which opens and closes up and down, since the closing speed of the upper machine body M ₂ can be controlled to be constant during the closing operation, the closing operation is completed. At the same time, the impact applied to both the upper and lower fuselage can be minimized, and safety and operability can be significantly improved.

Further, since the one-way function can be realized by providing the regulating valve (valve 41) on the wall member 35, the desired damper action as described above can be obtained when the airframe is closed, and the damper action is suppressed when the airframe is opened. The opening operation can be performed with extremely light force.

When the rotary damper D of the above-described embodiment is incorporated into a device, a fan-shaped fixed gear 3 is provided on the lower machine body M ₁ side as shown in FIG. 8, and the rotary damper D is engaged so as to mesh with the fixed gear 3. The rotary gear 4 connected to the rotary shaft 33 may be directly engaged, or an idle gear (transmission gear) may be interposed between the fixed gear 3 and the rotary gear 4. Further, a concentric internal gear arrangement and set as a fixed gear and the support shaft 51 which is the rotation fulcrum on the upper body M ₂ side (Fig. 4), the rotary damper D of the upper body M ₂ side in mesh with the internal gear You may make it arrange | position.

Further, if it is not particularly desired to control the closing speed of the machine body to be constant, the shape of the groove 34 formed in the rotary shaft 33 is as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 2 (b). It may be a straight line. Further, by appropriately changing the shape of the groove 34, not only the closing speed of the body is controlled to be constant, but for example, the closing speed of the airframe is moved fast at the beginning of closing and moved slowly at the end of closing, or conversely, the rotation angle. It is possible to perform various speed controls, such as a configuration in which the rotational torque gradually decreases in accordance with the above.

Further, as a means for engaging the wall member 35 and the rotary shaft 33, a concave portion (groove 34) is provided in the rotary shaft 33 so as to engage with the convex portion of the wall member 35. The configuration can be reversed. Further, the shapes of the casing 31 and the wall member 35 do not have to be cylindrical or disc-shaped as in the above-described embodiment, and the wall member 35 smoothly moves in the cylindrical casing 31 while receiving viscous resistance. If possible, various ones can be adopted.

In addition, the present invention can be applied not only to the printer device as shown in FIG. 4, but also to the printer device as long as it is connected between two members which are relatively movable vertically and horizontally. It is possible.

[0025]

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a rotary damper which is much simpler than the conventional rotary damper and can be reduced in the number of parts, and therefore can be reduced in size and cost and have a low failure rate.

Further, if the spiral portion having a predetermined shape is formed on the rotary shaft so as to be engaged with the wall member, the rotary torque can be changed according to the rotation angle of the rotary shaft. The relative movement speed between the two members such as the lower body can be controlled to be constant, and the safety and operability can be significantly improved.

Further, by providing the adjusting valve for changing the opening ratio in the vicinity of the opening of the wall member, it is possible to easily realize the one-way function which can exert the damper action only in one rotation direction, The operability can be further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a rotary damper D according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, and (b) is a plane along the rotation axis. It is sectional drawing when it cut | disconnects by.

2A and 2B are views for explaining a groove 34 formed in a rotary shaft 33, FIG. 2A is a view showing an engagement relationship between the rotary shaft 33 and a wall member 35, and FIG. It is the figure which developed the peripheral surface in the shape of a plane.

3A and 3B are diagrams showing a function of a valve 41 provided on the wall member 35, FIG. 3A shows a case where the wall member 35 moves in a direction of an arrow C ₂ , and FIG. _The case of moving in _one direction is shown.

FIG. 4 is an overall view of a printer device to which a rotary damper D is attached.

5 is an external perspective view of the printer device shown in FIG.

6A and 6B are views showing an example of how the rotary damper D is attached to the printer device; FIG. 6A is a front view of the printer device to which the rotary damper D is attached, and FIG. 6B is a side view of the printer device. It is the figure seen from the side.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the opening / closing angle θ of the upper machine body M ₂ of the printer device and the force F for rotating it.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an apparatus including a body opening / closing mechanism using a conventional rotary damper.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional rotary damper.

[Explanation of symbols]

31 Casing 32 Cap 33 Rotating Shaft 34 Groove 35 Wall Member 36 Rib 37 Oil 38 O-ring 39 Opening 40 Opening 41 Valve D Rotating Damper M ₁ Lower Aircraft M ₂ Upper Aircraft

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first and a second movably connected to each other.
A rotary damper that is disposed between the members and that controls the relative movement speed between both members by receiving a rotary input from one member, and a rotary shaft provided to receive the rotary input, and at least one end of the rotary shaft. A cylindrical casing that rotatably surrounds the rotation shaft and rotatably surrounds the rotation shaft; and an opening that engages with the inner surface of the casing and the rotation shaft and moves in the casing in association with the rotation of the rotation shaft. And a viscous fluid substance filled in a space inside the casing, and configured to generate a damper action based on a resistance force when the viscous fluid substance passes through the opening. Rotating damper to be. 2. The rotating shaft is formed with a spiral portion having a pitch that changes in correspondence with a rotation angle within a range within the casing, and the spiral portion is engaged with the wall member, and the wall member is 2. The rotary damper according to claim 1, wherein the movement rate changes according to the rotation angle of the rotation shaft, and the resistivity changes due to the passage of the viscous fluid substance through the opening during movement. 3. An adjusting valve which is provided in the vicinity of the opening of the wall member and changes the opening ratio of the opening to a different opening ratio depending on the moving direction of the wall member. The described rotary damper.