EP1627980A1 - Dispositif de guidage d'un objet de type plaque - Google Patents

Dispositif de guidage d'un objet de type plaque Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1627980A1
EP1627980A1 EP04730017A EP04730017A EP1627980A1 EP 1627980 A1 EP1627980 A1 EP 1627980A1 EP 04730017 A EP04730017 A EP 04730017A EP 04730017 A EP04730017 A EP 04730017A EP 1627980 A1 EP1627980 A1 EP 1627980A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plate
rail
runner
sliding door
support bracket
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04730017A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1627980A4 (fr
Inventor
K. SUGATSUNE KOGYO CO. LTD. Oshima
H. SUGATSUNE KOGYO CO. LTD. Masuda
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sugatsune Kogyo Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Sugatsune Kogyo Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sugatsune Kogyo Co Ltd filed Critical Sugatsune Kogyo Co Ltd
Publication of EP1627980A1 publication Critical patent/EP1627980A1/fr
Publication of EP1627980A4 publication Critical patent/EP1627980A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00—Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/10—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane
    • E05D15/1042—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving carriage
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00—Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/10—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane
    • E05D15/1065—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving track
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00—Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/10—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane
    • E05D15/1042—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving carriage
    • E05D2015/1063—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving carriage disconnecting the carriage from the track
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00—Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/10—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane
    • E05D15/1065—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving track
    • E05D2015/1071—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving track the track being directly linked to the fixed frame, e.g. slidingly
    • E05D2015/1076—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving track the track being directly linked to the fixed frame, e.g. slidingly swinging transversely, e.g. on arms
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2201/00—Constructional elements; Accessories therefor
    • E05Y2201/40—Motors; Magnets; Springs; Weights; Accessories therefor
    • E05Y2201/404—Function thereof
    • E05Y2201/41—Function thereof for closing
    • E05Y2201/412—Function thereof for closing for the final closing movement
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2201/00—Constructional elements; Accessories therefor
    • E05Y2201/60—Suspension or transmission members; Accessories therefor
    • E05Y2201/622—Suspension or transmission members elements
    • E05Y2201/684—Rails; Tracks
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2600/00—Mounting or coupling arrangements for elements provided for in this subclass
    • E05Y2600/10—Adjustable
    • E05Y2600/30—Adjustment motion
    • E05Y2600/32—Rotary motion
    • E05Y2600/322—Rotary motion around a horizontal axis
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
    • E05Y2900/20—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for furniture, e.g. cabinets

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a guide apparatus for guiding one or a plurality of plate-like objects in a left and right direction.
  • Sliding doors open and close an opening of a window or furniture by moving in a left and right direction, often guided by a guide apparatus.
  • guide apparatus which open an opening by guiding the sliding door from a closed position (set position) to an opening preparation position (preparation position) located in front of or behind the closed position, and then from the opening preparation position to an open position (non-set position) located to the left or right of the opening preparation position.
  • Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-269217 discloses an opening and closing apparatus for a window of a house.
  • the opening and closing apparatus comprises two identically-shaped doors.
  • One of the doors is immovably fixed in the right side of the window.
  • the other being provided as a sliding door, is movable in a left and right direction and opens and closes an opening adjacent to the fixed door.
  • the sliding door is in a closed position, it is flush with the fixed door providing a good appearance.
  • To open the opening the sliding door is pulled to the front from the closed position to an opening preparation position and moved to an open position, where it is overlapped with the fixed door located in the right direction.
  • a guide apparatus for bringing about such a sliding door movement comprises rails disposed on upper and lower edges of a window, upper and lower runners which run along the rails and pantograph mechanisms for connecting the runners to upper and lower edges of the sliding door respectively.
  • the pantograph mechanisms are folded when the sliding door is in the closed position. When the sliding door is pulled to the front, the pantograph mechanisms extend and the sliding door is moved to the open position being supported by the extended pantograph mechanisms.
  • Japanese Utility Model Publication No. S59-26066 discloses furniture including three sliding doors. Sliding doors at the left and right move guided along first tracks disposed on upper and lower edges of the opening to open and close left and right opening sections, respectively. A sliding door in the middle moves guided along second tracks disposed on upper and lower edges of the opening to open and close a middle opening section. The second tracks are parallel to the first tracks and located behind the first tracks. Upper and lower runners which run on the second track are connected to upper and lower edges of the sliding door in the middle respectively by means of pantograph mechanisms. When the sliding door in the middle is in a closed position being flush with the sliding doors to the left and right, the pantograph mechanism is extended. When the sliding door in the middle is pushed to the rear, the pantograph mechanism is folded, which enables the sliding door to move to left and right open positions.
  • a guide apparatus for guiding a movement of a plate-like object with respect to a main body between a set position and a preparation position in front of or behind the set position, and between the preparation position and a non-set position to the left or right of the preparation position, comprising:
  • the plate-like object is supported in the set position or in the preparation position by means of the rotatable member disposed on the main body. Therefore, a complex mechanism such as a pantograph mechanism is not required, which means that the apparatus is less likely to fail.
  • the guide apparatus according to the present invention may be used as an opening and closing apparatus for opening and closing a window or furniture or the like.
  • the main body has an opening formed therein. The opening is closed by the plate-like object in the set position and the opening is open when the plate-like object is in the non-set position.
  • the guide apparatus comprises a holding mechanism for holding the rotatable member in the second rotation position. This feature allows the plate-like object to return smoothly from the non-set position to the preparation position.
  • the rotatable member has a rail portion formed on a distal edge thereof, the rail portion having a substantially circular cross-section and extending parallel to the main track.
  • the supporting surface comes to the top of a circumferential surface of the rail portion when the rotatable member is in the first rotation position.
  • the auxiliary track comes to the top of the circumferential surface of the rail portion when the rotatable member is in the second rotation position.
  • the runner includes a fitting groove into which the rail portion is to be fitted. This arrangement enables the rotatable member to engage securely with the plate-like object and to follow the plate-like object when the plate-like object moves between the set position and the preparation position. This arrangement further simplifies the structure of the guide apparatus.
  • the guide apparatus further comprises a biasing member for biasing the rotatable member to the first rotation position and thus biasing the plate-like object to the set position. This enables the plate-like object to be securely held at the set position.
  • One or a plurality of the plate-like objects may be provided in the above-mentioned embodiment.
  • all of the plate-like objects are flush with each other when they are all in the set position and arranged side by side with each other.
  • Each of the plate-like objects is provided with a rail member including an additional track of the same length as the auxiliary track of the rotatable member.
  • the rail member of each one of the plate-like objects in the set position serves as at least a part of the main rail for the other of the plate-like objects. This arrangement enables the plate-like objects to move to the non-set position, overlapped with the other plate-like objects in the set position.
  • the main body is provided with a fixed rail extending to the left and right.
  • the main rail comprises the fixed rail and the rail member of the plate-like object in the set position.
  • the main rail is composed solely of the rail member of the plate-like object in the set position, in which case the length of the rail member of the plate-like object is generally the same as the width of the plate-like object.
  • the rotatable member in another embodiment, includes a receiving groove parallel to the main track.
  • An inner surface of the receiving groove includes the supporting surface and the auxiliary track. The runner is received in the receiving groove when the plate-like object is in the set position and in the preparation position. This arrangement enables the rotatable member to engage securely with the plate-like object and to follow the plate-like object when the plate-like object moves between the set position and the preparation position.
  • a runner support bracket is rotatably mounted on the plate-like object in such a way that the runner support bracket can rotate about another rotation axis extending to the left and right and the runner is supported in the runner support bracket.
  • the runner is of a disc shape and is turnably supported in a distal end portion of the runner support bracket, so that the runner lies down with a side surface thereof abutting the supporting surface of the guide groove when the rotatable member is in the first rotation position and the runner stands up with a circumferential surface thereof abutting the auxiliary track when the rotatable member is in the second rotation position.
  • the another rotation axis of the runner support bracket is located behind the rotation axis of the rotatable member when the rotatable member is in the first rotation position, and the another rotation axis of the runner support bracket is located in front of the rotation axis of the rotatable member when the rotatable member is in the second rotation position.
  • This arrangement reduces the amount of vertical displacement of the plate-like object accompanying the movement of the plate-like object between the set position and the preparation position.
  • the guide apparatus further comprises a biasing member which applies rotation torque to the runner support bracket, thereby biasing the plate-like object to the set position.
  • a biasing member which applies rotation torque to the runner support bracket, thereby biasing the plate-like object to the set position.
  • a plurality of the rotatable members correspond to the plate-like objects respectively, each of the rotatable members including an additional track of the same length as the auxiliary track.
  • the additional track of the rotatable member corresponding to each one of the plate-like objects serves as at least a part of the main rail for the other of the plate-like objects when the rotatable member is in the first rotation position.
  • the rotatable member is generally of the same length as the plate-like object and the main track is composed solely of the additional track of the rotatable member corresponding to the plate-like object in the set position. This simplifies the construction of the guide apparatus.
  • the runner support bracket is mounted on each of the plate-like objects.
  • the runner support bracket includes an additional track of the same length as the auxiliary track.
  • the additional track of the runner support bracket corresponding to each one of the plate-like objects serves as at least a part of the main rail for the other of the plate-like objects when the rotatable member is in the first rotation position.
  • the plate-like object In a case where the runner is disposed in an upper edge portion of the plate-like object, the plate-like object is suspendedly supported by the rotatable member when the plate-like object is in the set position or in the preparation position. It is not necessary to restrict back and forth movements of the plate-like object at the lower edge of the plate-like object.
  • the runner is disposed in either the upper or lower edge portion of the plate-like object and serves as a main runner, with a secondary runner being disposed in the other of the upper and lower edge portions of the plate-like object.
  • the guide apparatus further comprises a guide member which guides the secondary runner when the plate-like object moves between the set position and the preparation position and a secondary rail which guides the secondary runner when the plate-like object moves between the preparation position and the non-set position. This arrangement enables the guide apparatus to guide the plate-like object more securely.
  • the secondary runner includes a projection projecting at least either to the left or right and the guide member includes a guide groove which guides the projection.
  • This arrangement enables the guide apparatus to guide the plate-like object securely by means of the secondary runner when the plate-like object moves between the set position and the preparation position.
  • the secondary runner includes a running portion which runs in a groove formed in the secondary rail and a running portion support bracket which is mounted on the plate-like object to support the running portion, and the running portion support bracket is provided with the projection.
  • the guide groove of the guide member is linearly inclined corresponding to the displacement of the plate-like object.
  • the guide member includes a vertical groove continuous with the guide groove.
  • the projection of the secondary runner is received in the vertical groove when the plate-like object is in the set position. This arrangement enables the plate-like object to be securely maintained in the set position.
  • the guide groove includes a horizontal portion extending in a front and rear direction and a back end portion extending upward or downward from a rear end of the horizontal portion. This arrangement enables the height of the guide member to be reduced.
  • all of the plate-like objects are flush with each other when they are all in the set position and arranged side by side with each other.
  • the secondary runner includes a rail portion which is continuous with the secondary rail when the plate-like object is in the set position. This arrangement enables the plate-like object to move to the non-set position, overlapped with the other plate-like objects in the set position.
  • a partition shown in FIG. 1 is portable and used for dividing space such as in a room.
  • the partition includes a horizontally rectangular frame 1 (main body).
  • Left and right frame portions 1a, 1b of the frame 1 extends vertically serving as support columns, with lower ends thereof fixed on bases (not shown) placed on a floor.
  • a horizontally long opening 2 defined by the frame 1 is closed by a plurality of (four, for example) sliding doors 3 (plate-like objects) arranged side by side with each other.
  • the sliding doors 3 are composed of vertically rectangular plates of the same dimensions with pulls 3a attached on a front surface thereof. The pulls 3a are grabbed and the sliding door 3 is pulled out of a closed position (set position) to an opening preparation position (preparation position) located in front and then moved to the left or right to be opened.
  • An area of the opening 2 corresponding to each of the sliding doors 3 is referred to as an opening section 2x.
  • Four opening sections 2x are continuous.
  • each of the sliding doors 3 can move from the left end to the right end of the frame 1.
  • a support bracket 10 (runner support bracket) is mounted on left and right ends of an upper edge portion of the sliding door 3.
  • a support bracket 20 (running portion support bracket) is mounted at the center of a lower edge portion of the sliding door 3.
  • the support brackets 10, 20 will be described in details later.
  • a pair of right and left support brackets 30 is mounted on an upper surface of an upper frame portion 1c of the frame 1 (an upper edge portion of the opening) corresponding to each of the opening sections 2x. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the support brackets 30 are located a predetermined distance inward from the left and right ends of the upper edge portion of the sliding door 3 in a closed condition.
  • the support bracket 30 includes a column portion 31 extending horizontally along the upper frame portion 1c. As shown in FIG. 8, the column portion 31 is located above and in front of the upper frame portion 1c. The amount of projection of the center axis of the column portion 31 from the upper surface of the upper frame portion 1c is indicated with P and that of the same center axis from the front surface of the upper frame portion 1c is indicated with Q.
  • a pipe 35 is laid between the column portions 31 of each pair of the right and left support brackets 30 corresponding to each opening section 2x.
  • the outer diameter of the pipe 35 is the same as that of the column portion 31.
  • the pipe35 is supported at both ends, each fitted onto a protrusion 31 a formed on an end surface of the column portion 31.
  • the pair of right and left column portions 31 and the pipe 35 serve as a fixed linear rail 39 fixed on the frame 1 corresponding to each opening section 2x.
  • An upper surface of the fixed rail 39 serves as a fixed track 39x (reference numeral 39x is shown only in FIGS. 4 and 5).
  • Each fixed rail 39 runs along the full length, except for right and left end portions, of the upper edge portion of the opening section 2x.
  • Four fixed rails 39 are arranged in a straight line.
  • an connecting shaft 40 is laid between the left and right support brackets 30 running parallel to and behind the pipe 35.
  • the support bracket 30 includes a cylindrical portion 32 behind the column portion 31. Inner space of the cylindrical portion 32 comprises a bearing hole 32a and a receiving hole 32b formed continuously in an axial direction.
  • the interlock shaft 40 includes an elongated base portion 40a of circular cross-section and a connection portion 40b of non-circular cross-section extending coaxially from opposite ends of the base portion 40a. Each of opposite end portions of the base portion 40a of the interlock shaft 40 passes through the bearing hole 32a and the receiving hole 32b of the support bracket 30 and is rotatably supported by bearing in the bearing hole 32a.
  • a rotatable link 50 (rotatable member) is disposed adjacent to the left and right support brackets 30.
  • the left and right rotatable links 50 are arranged on the left and right end portions of the upper edge portion of the opening section 2x.
  • the connection portions 40b on the left and right of the interlock shaft 40 protrude from the left and right support brackets 30.
  • Onto the connection portion 40b an engagement hole 50a formed on a basal end portion of the rotatable link 50 is fitted (see FIG. 7).
  • This arrangement allows the left and right rotatable links 50 to simultaneously rotate forward and backward via the interlock shaft 40.
  • a rotation axis of the rotatable link 50 extends horizontally in parallel to the fixed rail 39.
  • the rotatable link 50 has an L-shaped vertical cross-section and has a cylindrical rail portion 51 integrally formed at an end thereof.
  • the rail portion 51 is of the same outer diameter as, but shorter in length than the fixed rail 39.
  • the rail portion 51 and the fixed rail 39 are parallel to each other.
  • a circumferential surface of the rail portion 51 comprises an auxiliary track 51x and a supporting surface 51y, adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction (see FIG. 7).
  • the rail portion 51 moves between a first position right above the upper frame portion 1c of the frame 1 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 (A)) and a second position located more forward and lower than the first position (shown in FIG. 7 (B)) while the rotatable link 50 rotates between a first rotation position and a second rotation position.
  • the supporting surface 51y is at the top and when the rail portion is in the second position, the auxiliary track 51x is at the top and arranged in a straight line with the fixed track 39x of the fixed rail 39.
  • the rotatable link 50 is biased to the rear by a torsion spring 55 (biasing member) received in the receiving hole 32b of the support bracket 30 so that the rotatable link 50 is maintained in the first rotation position.
  • a torsion spring 55 biasing member
  • One end of the torsion spring 55 is caught in a catching groove 32c formed to be continuous with the receiving hole 32b of the support bracket 30 and the other end of the torsion spring 55 enters into a catching groove 50c formed in a side surface of the rotatable link 50.
  • the catching groove 50c is arc-shaped.
  • An adjustment screw 56 is screwed into the rotatable link 50 and a tip of the adjustment screw 56 is abutted with the other end of the torsion spring 55 so that biasing force of the torsion spring 55 is adjusted by the amount of screwing of the adjustment screw 56.
  • the holding mechanism 60 is provided in the left rotatable link 50 corresponding to each opening section 2x. More specifically, a catching rod 61 is received in the cylindrical rail portion 51 of the rotatable link 50.
  • the rotatable link 50 has a receiving recess 50d formed on an upper surface thereof. In the receiving recess 50d a plate-shaped slider 62 is received in such a manner that it can slide back and forth.
  • a pressing spring 63 composed of a compression coil spring is received in the receiving recess 50d as well and biases the slider 62 to the front.
  • the slider 62 passes through an elongated hole 51a formed in the rail portion 51 and an elongated hole 61a formed in the catching rod 61 and projects forward of the rail portion 51.
  • a font edge of the slider 62 is arc-shaped and, as shown in FIG. 11 (A), is to be engaged with a sphere-shaped engagement surface 10a formed in a rear surface of the support bracket 10 of the sliding door 3.
  • the catching rod 61 and the slider 62 are connected to each other by means of a cam mechanism 65.
  • the cam mechanism 65 includes a cam hole 66 formed in the slider 62 and a follower pin 67 provided on the catching rod 61 and to be engaged with the cam hole 66.
  • the cam hole 66 includes a first portion 66a extending in a front and rear direction and a second portion 66b extending obliquely backward from an rear end of the first portion 66a.
  • the follower pin 67 is inserted into an elongated hole 51b formed in the rail portion 51 and extending in an axial direction of the rail portion 51. Owing to this arrangement, the catching rod 61 is allowed to move in an axial direction while prohibited from rotating.
  • the catching rod 61 moves in the axial direction of the rail portion 51 and is engaged with or disengaged from the catching recess 31b formed on an end surface of the column portion 31 of the support bracket 30. The details will be described later.
  • a plurality of secondary rails 70 are mounted in a horizontal straight line along the lower frame portion 1d.
  • the secondary rails 70 are separated by a gap 71 at the center of each opening section 2x.
  • a guide plate 72 (guide member) is fixed on each of end surfaces of the secondary rails 70 facing the gap 71.
  • the secondary rail 70 includes a guide groove 70a (secondary track) opening at a bottom thereof as shown in FIG. 14 (A). Both side surfaces of the guide groove 70a are vertical.
  • the guide plate 72 includes a cutout 72a of the same shape as the guide groove 70a of the secondary rail 70. The cutout 72a is continuous with the guide groove 70a.
  • a surface of the guide plate 72 facing the gap 71 serves as a guide surface 72x which is vertical and perpendicular to the secondary rail 70.
  • the guide surface 72x has a straight groove 72b (guide groove) inclined downward to the front formed thereon.
  • a lower end of the inclined groove 72b is continuous with a short cutout 72c extending vertically.
  • the cutout 72c is open to a lower edge of the guide plate 72.
  • the inclined groove 72b is not formed through is not formed through the guide plate 72 in the thickness direction in this embodiment, but it may be formed through the guide plate to form a slit.
  • the pair of support brackets 10 mounted on the left and right end portions of the upper edge portion of the sliding door 3 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.
  • the support bracket 10 has a lower portion thereof fixed on the rear surface of the sliding door 3.
  • the support bracket 10 has a rail member 11 integrally formed on a front surface of a center portion thereof.
  • the rail member 11 is parallel to and of the same length as the rail portion 51.
  • An upper surface of the rail member 11 serves as an additional track 11x (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 7).
  • rollers 15, 16 are rotatably supported at vertically separated locations.
  • An outer circumference of the roller 15 includes a fitting groove 15a of arch-shaped cross section into which the rail portion 51 and the fixed rail 39 can be fitted.
  • the support bracket 10 on the left when viewed from front has the engagement surface 10a mentioned earlier formed between the rollers 15 and 16 on the rear surface thereof.
  • the support bracket 10 on the right does not include the engagement surface 10a.
  • the support bracket 20 mounted at the center of the lower edge portion of the sliding door 3 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 13, 14 (C) and 15.
  • the support bracket 20 includes a vertical, plate-shaped fixed portion 20a fixed on the rear surface of the sliding door 3, a horizontal portion 20b extending from a center of the fixed portion 20a backward in a horizontal direction, a rising position 20c rising from a rear end of the horizontal portion 20b, a pair of projections 20d projecting to the left and right from an upper end of the rising portion 20c and a rail portion 20e.
  • the rail portion 20e has a guide groove 20f of the same shape as the guide groove 70a of the secondary rail 70 formed therein.
  • a roller 25 (running portion) having a vertical rotation axis is rotatably mounted on an upper surface of the horizontal portion 20b of the support bracket 20, a roller 25 (running portion) having a vertical rotation axis is rotatably mounted on an upper surface of the horizontal portion 20b of the support bracket 20, a roller 25 (running portion) having a vertical rotation axis is rotatably mounted on an upper surface of the horizontal portion 20b of the support bracket 20, a roller 25 (running portion) having a vertical rotation axis is rotatably mounted.
  • the support bracket 20 and the roller 25 constitutes a secondary runner 29.
  • the upper roller 15 of the support bracket 10 rides on the support surface 51y of the rail portion 51 of the rotatable link 50, whereby the sliding door 3 is suspendedly supported by the pair of rotatable links 50.
  • the lower roller 16 abuts with an undersurface of the rail portion 51 or is opposed to it separated by a slight gap.
  • the rotatable link 50 is biased to the rear by a biasing force of the torsion spring 55, whereby, as shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 7 (A), the rail portion 51 of the rotatable link 50 is maintained at the first position above the upper frame portion 1c of the frame 1.
  • Backward rotation of the rotatable link 50 is prohibited by a stopper (not shown) mounted on the upper frame portion 1c behind the rotatable link 50.
  • the backward rotation of the rotatable link 50 may be prohibited by abutment of the sliding door 3 against the frame 1.
  • the rail member 11 of the support bracket 10 When all the sliding doors 3 are closed, as shown in FIG. 1 (A), the rail member 11 of the support bracket 10 is arranged in a straight line with the fixed rail 39 fixed on the frame 1.
  • the additional tracks 11x of the plurality of the rail members 11 and the fixed tracks 39x of the plurality of the fixed rails 39 constitute a straight continuous track M (see FIG. 5).
  • the support bracket 20 mounted at the center of the lower edge portion of the sliding door 3 is received between a pair of the guide plates 72.
  • the right and left projections 20d of the support bracket 20 are located near upper ends of the inclined grooves 72b of the left and right guide plates 72 facing each other across the gap 71, thereby prohibiting the lower edge of the sliding door from swinging back and forth.
  • the guide groove 20f of the rail portion 20e of the support bracket 20 is continuous with the cutout 72a of the guide plate 72, and the guide groove 20f is continuous with the guide groove 70a of the secondary rail 70 via the cutout 72a.
  • Opening movement of the sliding door 3 will now be described taking the sliding door 3 second from the left as an example.
  • the pulls 3a are grabbed and the sliding door 3 is pulled out to the opening preparation position located in the front.
  • the rotatable link 50 is rotated forward against the biasing force of the torsion spring 55 through engagement between the roller 15 of the sliding door 3 and the rail portion 51 of the rotatable link 50.
  • the rail portion 51 of the rotatable link 50 reaches the second position to form a straight line with the fixed rail 39.
  • the auxiliary track 51x replaces the supporting surface 51y at the top of the rail portion 51 and supports the roller 15.
  • the continuous track M arranged in one straight line is composed of the fixed tracks 39x of the four fixed rails 39, the auxiliary tracks 51x of the two rail portions 51 supporting the sliding door 3 in the opening preparation position and the additional tracks 11x of the rail members 11 of the remaining three sliding doors 3.
  • the rotatable link 50 is prohibited from rotating further forward by a stopper (not shown) mounted on the upper frame portion 1c in front of the rotation link 50.
  • the roller 25 of the support bracket 20 is located in a position corresponding to the cutout 72a and the rail portion 20e of the support bracket 20 comes away from the secondary rail 70.
  • the sliding door 3 is moved to an open position in the left or right.
  • the roller 15 of the support bracket 10 comes away from the auxiliary track 51x of the rail portion 51 of the rotatable link 50.
  • FIG. 1 (C) when the sliding door 3 is moved to the right, the roller 15 of the support bracket 10 on the right transfers onto the additional track 11x of the rail member 11 of the support bracket 10 of the sliding door 3 adjacent on the right, then onto the fixed track 39x of the fixed rail 39.
  • the roller 15 of the support bracket 10 on the left transfers from the auxiliary track 51x of the rail portion 51 onto the fixed track 39x of the fixed rail 39 adjacent on the right.
  • the fixed track 39x and the additional track 11x of the sliding door 3 in the closed condition constitutes a main track 100 for the sliding door 3 moving to the open position.
  • the fixed rail 39 and the rail member 11 of the sliding door 3 in the closed position constitute a main rail including the main track 100.
  • the open position of the sliding door 3 in this specification refers to any position of the sliding door 3 between when the opening section 2x is partially opened and when the sliding door 3 is entirely overlapped with one of the other sliding doors at the left or right end.
  • the follower pin 67 of the catching rod 61 is located at a crossing of the first portion 66a and the second portion 66b of the cam hole 66 of the slider 62 and the catching rod 61 is in a backward positon where an end surface thereof is generally flush with an end surface of the rail portion 51.
  • the follower pin 67 moves relative to the slider 62 along the first portion 66a and the second portion 66b to a rear end of the second portion 66b.
  • the catching rod 61 projects from the end surface of the rail portion 51 to be fitted into the catching recess 31b of the column portion 31 of the support bracket 30.
  • the rail portion 51 of the left rotatable link 50 is held coaxial with the fixed rail 39. Since the right rotatable link 50 is connected with the left rotatable link 50 via the interlock shaft 40, the rail portion 51 of the right rotatable link 50 is held coaxial with the fixed rail 39 as well.
  • the auxiliary track 51x of the rotatable link 50 corresponding to that sliding door 3 remains as a part of the continuous track M, and the sliding door 3 can move freely from one end to the other of the continuous tack M.
  • a load of the sliding door 3 is supported by a portion of the continuous track M where the roller 15 rides on.
  • the roller 25 of the support bracket 20 in a lower portion of the sliding door 3 enters the guide groove 70a of the secondary rail 70 via the cutout 72a of the guide plate 72 and runs along the guide groove 70a.
  • the support bracket 20 is released from restriction of the guide plate 72.
  • the roller 25 of the support bracket 20 moves freely along the rail portions 20e of the support brackets 20 of other sliding doors 3 and the cutouts 72a of the guide plates 72 and the secondary rails 70.
  • the sliding door 3 in the open position can be returned to the opening preparation position, and then pushed back to the closed position. Since the rail portion 51 of the rotatable link 50 is held and maintained coaxial with the fixed rail 39 as mentioned earlier, the roller 15 of the sliding door 3 can ride on the rail portion when the sliding door 3 moves back to the opening preparation position.
  • the distal edge of the slider 62 of the holding mechanism 60 is pushed by the support bracket 10 to be fitted into the engagement surface 10a, thereby positioning the sliding door 3 and releasing the rotatable link 50 from a locked condition by the holding mechanism 60.
  • partitions of a variety of length can be easily made by using a desired number of the sliding doors 3, each of the sliding doors 3 accompanying various components, i.e. the support brackets 10, 20, the rotatable link 50, the support bracket 30, and the pipe 35 as one set.
  • Short secondary rails 70 located on the left and right end of the partition and the guide plates 72 fixed on these short secondary rails 70 may be omitted.
  • the sliding doors 3 on both ends are guided by a single guide plate 72 while moving from the closed position to the opening preparation position.
  • the fixed rail 39 is mounted not in a middle portion of the upper edge portion of each opening section 2x, but over two adjacent opening sections 2x.
  • the pair of support brackets 10 of each sliding door 3 is mounted not at the left and right end portions but at locations nearer to the center of the sliding door3.
  • Left and right rotatable links of a similar shape to those of the first embodiment are mounted at locations corresponding to the support brackets 10.
  • Rail portions 51' (corresponding to the rail portions 51 of the first embodiment) of the left and right rotatable links and a pipe 151 connected between the rail portions 51' constitute a long auxiliary track.
  • Rail members 11' (corresponding to the rail members 11 of the first embodiment) of the left and right support brackets 10 and a pipe 111 connected between the rail members 11' constitute a long additional track.
  • the second embodiment is of the same construction as the first embodiment.
  • the number of the fixed rails 39 is smaller in the second embodiment than in the first embodiment.
  • a third embodiment as shown in FIG. 17 the fixed rail 39 used in the first and the second embodiments is not used. Instead, an auxiliary track composed of the rail portion 51' and the pipe 151 and an additional track composed of the rail portion 11' and the pipe 111 are generally of the same length as a width of the sliding door 3. In this embodiment, when one of the sliding doors moves, a main track for the moving sliding door is composed only of the additional tracks of the sliding doors in the closed condition.
  • an opening and closing apparatus comprising one sliding door which may be applicable to a window of a house.
  • the fixed rail 39 is arranged immediately above a part of the upper frame portion 1c defining the opening section 2x as in the first embodiment.
  • a pair of rotatable links is mounted adjacent to the left and right ends of the fixed rail 39.
  • another fixed rail 39 is mounted above a part of the upper frame portion 1c extending from the opening section 2x.
  • the secondary rail 70 extending from a middle of the opening section 2x to a middle of an extended portion of the lower frame portion 1d is fixed.
  • the guide plate 72 is fixed.
  • the sliding door 3 and other elements mounted on the sliding door 3 are the same as those of the first embodiment, except that the additional track is not formed.
  • the sliding door 3 moves in a front and rear direction when it moves between the closed position and the opening preparation position. By making the frame 1 closely contact the sliding door 3, airtightness of a house can be enhanced.
  • a sliding door may be received in a door case in the open position and the sliding door may be flush with the door case in the closed position.
  • FIG. 19 there is also provided an opening and closing apparatus comprising one sliding door which may be applicable to a window of a house.
  • An opening and closing apparatus comprising one sliding door which may be applicable to a window of a house.
  • Basic structure of this embodiment is similar to that of the second embodiment as shown in FIG. 16.
  • the load of the sliding door 3 is supported by the rotatable link 50 and the fixed rail 39 mounted on the upper frame portion 1c, the sliding door 3 being suspendedly supported by them. Therefore, elements in the lower edge portion of the sliding door 3, such as the support bracket 20 and the secondary rail 70, may be omitted.
  • the support brackets 10, 20 mounted on the sliding door 3 and the elements supporting the sliding door 3 are arranged upside down compared to the first embodiment.
  • the load of the sliding door 3 is supported by the roller 16 of the support bracket 10 fixed on a lower edge portion of the sliding door 3, the roller 16 riding on the rail portion 51 of the rotatable link 50 or the fixed rail 39.
  • the roller 16 is provided with a fitting groove in a circumferrential surface thereof, in which the rail portion 51 is to be fitted.
  • the sliding door 3 moves upward when it moves from the closed position to the opening preparation position.
  • the sixth embodiment is of the same construction and operation as the first embodiment, and therefore the explanation thereof will be omitted.
  • FIGS. 21 to 30 Lower structure of a sliding door guide apparatus will first be described with reference to FIGS. 21 to 25.
  • a pair of left and right support brackets 80 (only one of the pair is shown) are fixed separated by almost the entire width of the opening section 2x.
  • the support bracket 80 includes a load receiving portion 80a extending horizontally from a lower edge.
  • the support brackets 80 of adjacent opening sections 2x are abutted back to back with each other.
  • a rotatable rail 81 (rotatable member) made of an extruded material is rotatably supported via rotation shafts 80b extending horizontally to the left and right.
  • the rotatable rail 81 is of a wide elongated plate and includes two flat surfaces 81 a, 81b which are parallel to each other.
  • the length of the rotatable rail 81 is generally same as the width of the opening section 2x, in other words the width of the sliding door 3.
  • the rotatable rail 81 is rotatable within an angle range of around 90 degrees between a horizontal down position (first rotation position) in the rear and a standing position (second rotation position) in the front.
  • the rotatable rail 81 is held at the horizontal down position by riding on the load receiving portion 80a of the support bracket 80 with the flat surface 81a abutting the upper surface of the load receiving portion 80a.
  • the other flat surface 81b of the rotatable rail 81 has a receiving groove 82 formed at a center in a width direction thereof.
  • the receiving groove 82 has an opening in an upper side thereof when the rotatable rail 81 is in the horizontal down position.
  • a pair of overhangs 82x facing each other is formed at an opening edge of the receiving groove 82.
  • the receiving groove 82 includes a wide bottom first surface 82a, a narrow second surface 82b and a narrow third surface 83c located at the opposite sides of the bottom surface 82a, and a fourth surface 82d on the inner side of the overhand 82x.
  • the first surface 82a serves as a supporting surface and the second surface 82b which is nearer to a rotation center serves as an auxiliary track.
  • a surface portion near the rotation shaft 80b serves as an additional track 81x.
  • the rotatable rail 81 has a restriction wall 81y projecting from the additional track 81 and an engaging portion 81z projecting perpendicular to the restriction wall 81y in the opposite direction of the additional track 81x. As shown in FIG. 22, when the rotatable rail 81 is in the standing position, the rotatable rail 81 is prevented from falling in the front by abutment of the engaging portion 81z with a front edge of the load receiving portion 80a.
  • the holding mechanism 83 is disposed near a free edge portion of the rotatable rail 81 in one end side in a longitudinal direction of the rotatable rail 81.
  • the holding mechanism 83 includes a holder case 83a fitted into the end of the rotatable rail 81, a ball 83b disposed at an opening end of the holder case 83a, a coil spring 83c received in the holder case 83a and pushes the ball 83b toward a side wall of the support bracket 80 and a sphere-shaped recess 83d formed in the side wall of the support bracket 80.
  • the ball 83b fits into the recess 83d, thereby maintaining the rotatable rail 81 in the standing position.
  • the rotatable rail 81 is further provided with a positioning mechanism 84 shown in FIGS. 21 and 25.
  • the positioning mechanism 84 positions the sliding door 3 while it moves from the open position to the opening preparation position.
  • the positioning mechanism 84 includes a holder 84a of an L-shaped cross-section and a movable member 84b.
  • a first part of the holder 84a is fixed to the free edge portion of the rotatable rail 81 with a fixing member 84e.
  • the movable member 84b is arranged between a second part of the holder 84a and the flat surface 81b of the rotatable rail 81.
  • a pair of left and right pins 84c is fixed.
  • the movable member 84b includes a pair of elongate holes 84h in the left and right.
  • Each elongate hole 84h is of a shape of an arc which is a section of a circle centered at an end of the other elongate hole 84h (an upper end of the other elongate hole 84h when the rotatable rail 81 is in the standing position as shown in FIG. 22).
  • the pins 84c are inserted in the elongate holes 84h. Owing to this arrangement, the movable member 84b is allowed to swing and to move vertically.
  • the movable member 84b includes a hole in a surface thereof facing the first part of the holder 84a.
  • the hole receives a coil spring 84d therein.
  • the coil spring 84d biases the movable member 84b toward a direction away from the first part of the holder 84a.
  • the movable member 84b On a side opposite to a direction of the first part of the holder 84a, the movable member 84b includes an inclined guiding surface 84x in the left and right and an arc-shaped engagement surface 84y in the middle. Operation of the positioning mechanism 84 will be described later.
  • a pair of left and right support brackets 85 are mounted on a rear surface of the lower edge portion of the sliding door 3.
  • an auxiliary roller 89 is rotatably supported.
  • a long support bracket 86 (runner support bracket) having a generally Z-shaped cross-section is connected with basal end portion thereof rotatably connected via a rotation shaft 86a.
  • a rotation axis of the support bracket 86 runs parallel to a rotation axis of the rotatable rail 81 and extends horizontally to the left and right.
  • the support bracket 86 includes a first part 86x in a distal end side and a second part 86y in the middle, which are orthogonal to each other, and a third part 86z in a basal end side being parallel to the first part 86x.
  • the support bracket 86 is biased counter-clockwise by a torsion spring 87 (biasing member).
  • the torsion spring 87 is coiled around the rotation shaft 86a with one end thereof being hooked to a pin 87a fixed to the support bracket 85 and the other end being hooked to the second part 86y of the support bracket 86.
  • a disc-shaped roller 88 (runner) is turnably supported via a support shaft 88x orthogonal to the first part 86x.
  • the roller 88 is received in the receiving groove 82 of the rotatable rail 81.
  • a support bracket 120 (running portion support bracket) is fixed to a rear surface of the right end of an upper edge portion in the sliding door 3.
  • the support bracket 120 includes a vertical fixed portion 120a fixed on the rear surface of the sliding door 3 and projecting upward, a horizontal portion 120b projecting horizontally backward from an upper end of the fixed portion 120a, a standing portion 120c standing from an rear end of the horizontal portion 120b and a pair of projections 120d projecting to the left and right from the upper end of the standing portion 120c.
  • a rail portion 120e constituting a part of the support bracket 120 is fixed on a front surface of the fixed portion 120a of the support bracket 120.
  • the rail portion 120e has a guide groove 120f formed therein.
  • the guide groove 120f has a narrow space 120g formed at an upper portion thereof.
  • a roller 125 (runner) having a vertical rotation axis is turnably mounted on an upper surface of the horizontal portion 120b of the support bracket 120.
  • the support bracket 120 and the roller 125 constitute a secondary runner 129.
  • a pair of support brackets 171 are fixed on the upper surface of the upper frame portion 1c of the frame 1 and located at a right end of each opening section 2x.
  • a guide plate 172 (guide member) is fixed on each of opposing surfaces of the support brackets 171 opposing each other. As best shown in FIG. 27, the guide plate 172 has a straight inclined groove 172b (guide groove) inclined downward to the front formed on an opposing surface (guide surface) thereof.
  • An upper end of the inclined groove 172b is continuous with a short vertical groove 172a extending upward, and a lower end of the inclined groove 172a is continuous with a short cutout 172c extending vertically.
  • the cutout 172c opens to the lower edge of the guide plate 172.
  • a secondary rail 170 is disposed.
  • the secondary rails 170 four in all, extend in a straight line.
  • the secondary rail 170 is of the length equal to the width of the sliding door 3 minus a gap between the pair of the support brackets 171.
  • the secondary rail 170 is fixed between the support brackets 171.
  • the secondary rail 170 includes a guide groove 170a (secondary track) which is open to the bottom. Both side surfaces of the guide groove 170a are vertical.
  • the guide groove 170a has a narrow space 170b formed at an upper portion thereof.
  • the guide groove 170a and the space 170b are of the same shape as the guide groove 120f and the space 120g of the support bracket 120 of the sliding door 3, respectively.
  • the rotatable rail 81 When the sliding door 3 is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 21, the rotatable rail 81 is in the horizontal down position and the roller 88 is down and received in the receiving groove 82 of the rotatable rail 81.
  • the roller 88 rides on the first surface 82a (supporting surface) with a side surface thereof abutting the first surface 82a, thereby the weight of the sliding door 3 is supported.
  • the support bracket 86 is provided with rotation torque by an elastic force of the torsion spring 87. The rotation torque biases the sliding door 3 towards the closed position, thereby maintaining the sliding door 3 in the closed position.
  • the additional track 81 x and the restriction wall 81 y of the rotatable rail 81 and the second and the third parts 86y, 86z of the support bracket 86 define a space 180 for the roller 88 of other sliding doors 3 to run therein.
  • the support bracket 120 mounted on the upper edge portion of the sliding door 3 is received between a pair of the guide plates 172 when the sliding door 3 is in the closed position.
  • the left and right projections 120d of the support bracket 120 is located in the vertical groove 172a of the pair of the guide plates 172 and is prohibited from moving in a front and rear direction.
  • the guide groove 120f of the support bracket 120 is continuous with the guide groove 170a of the secondary rail 170 via a slight gap.
  • Opening movement of selected one of the sliding doors 3 will now be described.
  • the pulls are grabbed and the sliding door 3 is pulled out to the opening preparation position located in the front.
  • the roller 88 of the sliding door 3 engages with the receiving groove 82 of the rotatable rail 81, and thereby the rotatable rail 81 is rotated forward, taking a vertical standing position.
  • the support bracket 86 rotates 90 degrees against the torsion spring 87, allowing the roller 88 to stand up.
  • the additional track 81x of the rotatable rail 81 comes away from the continuous track, and instead an auxiliary track 82b of the rotatable rail 81 becomes a part of the continuous track.
  • the roller 88 rides on the auxiliary track 82b of the rotatable rail 81, with a circumferential surface thereof abutting the auxiliary track 82b.
  • the roller 88 of the support bracket 85 comes away from the auxiliary track 51x of the rotatable rail 81, and as shown in FIG. 23, transfers onto the additional track 81x of the adjacent rotatable rail 81 corresponding to the adjacent sliding door 3.
  • the additional track 81x of the sliding door 3 in the closed condition constitutes a main track for the sliding door 3 moving to the open position
  • the rotatable rails 81 corresponding to the sliding doors 3 in the closed position solely constitutes the main rail.
  • the roller 88 of the sliding door 3 moving to the open position runs in the space 180 defined by the support bracket 86 of the sliding door 3 in the closed position and the rotatable rail 81.
  • the auxiliary roller 89 is guided by the restriction wall 81y and the engaging portion 81 z.
  • the roller 125 of the sliding door 3 runs in the guide groove 170a of the secondary rail 170 and a guide groove 120f of the support bracket 120 of the sliding door 3 in the closed condition.
  • the standing portion 120c of the support bracket 120 of the sliding door 3 moving to the open position moves in the cutout 172c of the guide plate 172, the space 170b of the secondary rail 170 and the space 120g of the support bracket 120 of the sliding door 3 in the closed condition.
  • the sliding door in the open position is overlapped with one of the other sliding doors 3 in the closed position.
  • the rotatable rail 81 left by the sliding door 3 which has moved to the open position is maintained in the standing condition by the holding mechanism 83 as described earlier.
  • the positioning mechanism 84 When the sliding door 3 moves back from the open position to the opening preparation position, it is positioned by the positioning mechanism 84. To be more specific, when the sliding door 3 is moved back to the opening preparation position from the right, for example, the support shaft 88x of the roller 88 abuts with the inclined guiding surface 84x on the right side of the movable member 84b of the positioning mechanism 84, thereby inclining the movable member 84b right up. When the sliding door 3 moves further, the roller 88 engages with an engagement surface 84y, positioning the sliding door 3 in the opening preparation position.
  • the support bracket 86 and the rotatable rail 81 rotates 90 degrees respectively, going back to the state illustrated in FIG. 21.
  • the sliding door 3 initially needs to be lifted with a force equivalent to the weight of the sliding door 3 minus the biasing force of the torsion spring 87. From a certain point, however, it reaches automatically to the closed position by the force of the torsion spring 87.
  • FIGS. 31 to 36 An eighth embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 31 to 36.
  • an upper structure and a lower structure are similar to those of the seventh embodiment, but are arranged upside down.
  • the sliding door 3 moves upward when it moves from the closed position to the opening preparation position.
  • the inclined groove 172b of the guide plate 172 is inclined upward to the front.
  • the eighth embodiment is different from the seventh embodiment in the following points: As shown in FIG. 31, when the sliding door 3 is in the closed position, the side surface of the roller 88 in the down position abuts with the fourth surface 82d of the receiving recess 82. That is, the fourth surface 82d serves as a supporting surface to support the roller 88. As shown in FIG. 31, when the sliding door 3 is in the closed position, the side surface of the roller 88 in the down position abuts with the fourth surface 82d of the receiving recess 82. That is, the fourth surface 82d serves as a supporting surface to support the roller 88. As
  • the roller 88 in the standing position rides on the third surface 82c distanced from the center of rotation.
  • the third surface 82c serves as an auxiliary track.
  • the third part 86z of the support bracket 86 of the sliding door 3 in the closed position serves as an additional track for other sliding doors 3 moving to the open position.
  • a biasing mechanism 200 as shown in FIG. 35 is used to maintain the sliding door 3 in the closed position.
  • the biasing mechanism 200 comprises a pair of cams 201, 202 of cylindrical shape, a compression coil spring 203, a shaft 204 and a pair of brackets 205, 206.
  • One of the brackets 205 is fixed on the rear surface of the sliding door 3.
  • One of the cams 201 is fixed on the bracket 205.
  • the other bracket 206 is fixed on the third part 86z of the support bracket 86.
  • a right portion of the shaft 204 is inserted into the bracket 205 and the cam 201 to be rotatably supported thereby.
  • the shaft 204 has a key 204a extending in an axial direction provided on a circumferential surface in a left portion thereof.
  • the key 204a is inserted into the bracket 206 and the cam 202 to be non-rotatably supported thereby.
  • the shaft 204 is arranged on a straight line with the rotation shaft 86a of the support bracket 86.
  • the coil spring 203 biases the cam 202 toward the cam 201. End surfaces of the cams 201 and 202 opposed to each other are cam surfaces 201a and 202a as shown in FIG. 36, abutted with each other forced by the coil spring 203.
  • the cam surface 201a of the cam 201 includes two mountain portions 201 x and the cam surface 202a of the cam 202 includes two mountain portions 202x.
  • FIGS. 37 to 42 This embodiment is of a similar construction to the seventh embodiment shown in FIGS. 21 to 30.
  • the lower structure of the ninth embodiment is different from that of the seventh embodiment in the following points: As shown in FIG. 37, when the sliding door 3 is in the closed position and the rotatable rail 81 is in the first rotation position, the rotation shaft 86a of the support bracket 86 is positioned in the rear with respect to the rotation shaft 80b of the rotatable rail 81. On the other hand, when the sliding door 3 is in the opening preparation position and the rotatable rail 81 is in the second rotation position, as shown in FIG.
  • the rotation shaft 86a of the support bracket 86 is positioned in the front with respect to the rotation shaft 80b of the rotatable rail 81. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 42, while the sliding door 3 moves from the closed position to the opening preparation position, the rotation shaft 86a moves along an arc-shaped trajectory with the highest point reached when the rotation shaft 86a is above the rotation shaft 80b.
  • an amount of vertical displacement ⁇ H' of the rotation shaft 86a that is the difference in height of the rotation shaft 86a between when it is in the highest point and when it is in the first rotation position, is smaller an amount of horizontal displacement ⁇ L of the rotation shaft 86a made during the movement of the rotational rail 81 from the first rotation position to the second rotation position. Difference in height ⁇ H of the rotation shaft 86a between when it is in the first rotation position and when it is in the second rotation position is smaller than ⁇ H'.
  • the lower edge portion of the sliding door 3 moves along the same trajectory as the rotation shaft 86a.
  • a stopper 84z is formed on the holder 84a.
  • the stopper 84z abuts with a drooping part 80c of the support bracket 80, thereby maintaining the rotatable rail 81 in the standing position.
  • Two torsion springs 301, 302 are coiled around the rotation shaft 86a separately from each other in an axial direction.
  • the torsion spring 301 shown in FIG. 37 biases the support bracket 86 clockwise and the torsion spring 302 shown in FIG. 38 biases the support bracket 86 counterclockwise. Therefore, before the sliding door 3 is installed to the main body 1, the roller 88 is maintained at a neutral position where the roller 88 is inclined with respcet to the sliding door 3, making installation work easy.
  • both end parts of a secondary rail 400 serve as guide members 401 and the secondary rail 400 is fixed in the upper edge portion of the main body 1 via holders 410.
  • small guide members 402 are fixed by the holders 410.
  • the guide member 402 and the guide member 401 are separated in a left and right direction opposed to each other and the secondary rail 400 and the guide member 402 are made of an extruded material of the same cross-sectional configuration.
  • a partition wall portion 403 is cut off to form a guide groove 405.
  • the guide groove 405 includes a horizontal portion 405a and a vertical portion 405b (back-end portion) continuing from a rear end of the horizontal portion 405a.
  • a front end of the horizontal portion 405a is slightly bent down and continues to an opening section 405c.
  • an arc-shaped recess 405d is formed on an upper surface of the horizontal portion 405a nearer to the rear end thereof.
  • a support bracket 420 is fixed on the upper edge portion of the sliding door 3.
  • the support bracket 420 includes a horizontal portion 421 and the standing portion 422.
  • a column-shaped slider 425 (running portion) is fixed on an upper end of the standing portion 422. Both end portions of the slider 425 is provided as projections projecting to the left and right.
  • the horizontal portion 421 is located between the guide members 401 and 402 and the slider 425 is located in the guide groove 405.
  • the support bracket 420 and the slider 425 constitute a secondary runner 429.
  • amount of horizontal displacement of the slider 425 is equal to amount of horizontal displacement ⁇ L of the rotation shaft 86a of the support bracket 86 in the lower structure and amount of vertical displacement of the slider 425 is equal to the difference in height ⁇ H of the rotation shaft 86a between when it is in the first rotation position and when it is in the second rotation position. Since the amount of vertical displacement of the slider 425 ⁇ H is thus reduced, the height of the guide members 401 and 402 can be low, thereby contributing to reduce dimensions of the guide apparatus as a whole.
  • the trajectory of the rotation shaft 86a of the support bracket 86 that is the trajectory of the lower edge portion of the sliding door 3 is different from a trajectory of the slider 425, that is a trajectory of the upper edge portion of the sliding door 3.
  • the difference in the trajectories is compensated by the slight inclination of the sliding door 3.
  • inclination of the sliding door 3 is reduced by the entrance of the slider 425 into the recess 405d of the guide groove 405.
  • the sliding door 3 when moving from the opening preparation position to the open position, the sliding door 3 rides on the additional track 81x of the rotatable rail 81 of other sliding doors in the closed position. In doing so, the slider 425 runs in the opening section 405c of the secondary rail 400, that is on the secondary track.
  • the opening section 405c is located above and is further from the main body 1 than the support bracket 420 of the sliding door 3 in the closed position. Therefore, the support bracket 420 of the sliding door 3 moving to the open position and the support bracket 420 of the sliding door 3 in the closed position do not interfere with each other.
  • the structures of the guide apparatus according to the seventh to the ninth embodiment as described above, may be used for opening and closing a single sliding door 3.
  • a rail member having a fixed track shall be used as a main track.
  • All the embodiments mentioned above may be applicable to an apparatus for opening and closing an opening section of other structures such as a house, a closet, furniture and a large refrigerator as well. Opening sections corresponding to a plurality of sliding doors may be divided from each other.
  • An opening preparation position of a sliding door may be in the rear of a closed position. In such a case, the sliding door is pushed to the rear to be moved to the opening preparation position from the closed position.
  • the continuous track may be in a shape of an arc having a large curvature.
  • a cross-section of the sliding door is in a shape of an arc matching to the shape of a rail.
  • the slider instead of the roller, may be mounted on the sliding door as the main runner.
  • the sliding door When applying the present invention to an apparatus for guiding a single sliding door to open and close a window, the sliding door may be flush with a door case in a closed position and be received in the door case in an open position.
  • the present invention can be applied not only to a sliding door for opening and closing an opening section, but also to a panel (plate-like object) supported on a wall surface to guide movement thereof.
  • a plate-like object can be guided between a set position and a preparation position, and between the preparation position and a non-set position in a simple structure relatively free from failure.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Support Devices For Sliding Doors (AREA)
  • Curtains And Furnishings For Windows Or Doors (AREA)
  • Wing Frames And Configurations (AREA)
EP04730017A 2003-05-07 2004-04-28 Dispositif de guidage d'un objet de type plaque Withdrawn EP1627980A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2003128816 2003-05-07
PCT/JP2004/006143 WO2004099540A1 (fr) 2003-05-07 2004-04-28 Dispositif de guidage d'un objet de type plaque

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EP1627980A1 true EP1627980A1 (fr) 2006-02-22
EP1627980A4 EP1627980A4 (fr) 2008-10-01

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EP04730017A Withdrawn EP1627980A4 (fr) 2003-05-07 2004-04-28 Dispositif de guidage d'un objet de type plaque

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EP (1) EP1627980A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP4297906B2 (fr)
CN (1) CN1816676B (fr)
HK (1) HK1091527A1 (fr)
TW (1) TWI251051B (fr)
WO (1) WO2004099540A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1862625A1 (fr) * 2005-03-23 2007-12-05 Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd. Dispositif de guidage d'objet de type plaque
EP1954905A2 (fr) * 2005-11-29 2008-08-13 Hardoor Mechanism Production Ltd. Systeme de positionnement de portes coulissantes
ITPN20120071A1 (it) * 2012-11-30 2014-05-31 Intechse Innovation & Technology Se Rvice Di Paolo Dispositivo di sostegno e di azionamento di porte scorrevoli, in particolare per aramadi

Families Citing this family (7)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060090401A1 (en) * 2003-01-10 2006-05-04 Jamison Door Company Air heated, flexible door panel
ITBL20070017A1 (it) * 2007-06-29 2008-12-30 Bortoluzzi Mobili Srl Dispositivo perfezionato per la chiusura complanare di porte scorrevoli, in particolare per mobili a due o piu ante.
JP4768048B2 (ja) * 2009-04-08 2011-09-07 スガツネ工業株式会社 ヒンジ装置及びヒンジ装置用取付部材
TWI398569B (zh) * 2009-11-27 2013-06-11 Univ Nat Cheng Kung 智慧型建築體
CN106639781A (zh) * 2016-11-22 2017-05-10 李长杰 能滑移至任意门位置的滑移门结构
CN109339647B (zh) * 2018-09-14 2023-07-25 大连金蝴蝶科技有限公司 双向错位式推拉开合机构
KR102272098B1 (ko) * 2019-10-23 2021-07-02 원일오토(주) 이중창 동시 개폐 장치

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GB1375414A (fr) * 1971-10-08 1974-11-27
AT339531B (de) * 1976-01-09 1977-10-25 Hans Stoisser Ohg Ing Fuhrung fur schiebeturen von mobeln, insbesondere schranken
DE3619775A1 (de) * 1986-06-12 1987-12-17 Heinz Hanewinkel Schiebetuerschrank
JPH01151681A (ja) * 1987-12-07 1989-06-14 Shinkansai Bearing Co Ltd 開口の気密閉止装置

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JPS4331658Y1 (fr) * 1965-03-20 1968-12-23
US5417272A (en) * 1993-07-02 1995-05-23 Sterling Plumbing Group, Inc. Bathing door unit
CN1132304A (zh) * 1995-03-27 1996-10-02 张效东 单轨推拉窗

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GB1375414A (fr) * 1971-10-08 1974-11-27
AT339531B (de) * 1976-01-09 1977-10-25 Hans Stoisser Ohg Ing Fuhrung fur schiebeturen von mobeln, insbesondere schranken
DE3619775A1 (de) * 1986-06-12 1987-12-17 Heinz Hanewinkel Schiebetuerschrank
JPH01151681A (ja) * 1987-12-07 1989-06-14 Shinkansai Bearing Co Ltd 開口の気密閉止装置

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1862625A1 (fr) * 2005-03-23 2007-12-05 Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd. Dispositif de guidage d'objet de type plaque
EP1862625A4 (fr) * 2005-03-23 2010-04-28 Sugatsune Kogyo Dispositif de guidage d'objet de type plaque
EP1954905A2 (fr) * 2005-11-29 2008-08-13 Hardoor Mechanism Production Ltd. Systeme de positionnement de portes coulissantes
EP1954905A4 (fr) * 2005-11-29 2013-08-21 Hardoor Mechanism Production Ltd Systeme de positionnement de portes coulissantes
ITPN20120071A1 (it) * 2012-11-30 2014-05-31 Intechse Innovation & Technology Se Rvice Di Paolo Dispositivo di sostegno e di azionamento di porte scorrevoli, in particolare per aramadi
WO2014083415A1 (fr) * 2012-11-30 2014-06-05 Intechse Innovation & Technology Service Di Fornasari Paolo & C. S.A.S. Dispositif de support et d'actionnement pour portes coulissantes, en particulier pour garde-robes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
TW200426291A (en) 2004-12-01
JPWO2004099540A1 (ja) 2006-07-13
CN1816676A (zh) 2006-08-09
TWI251051B (en) 2006-03-11
EP1627980A4 (fr) 2008-10-01
HK1091527A1 (en) 2007-01-19
JP4297906B2 (ja) 2009-07-15
WO2004099540A1 (fr) 2004-11-18
CN1816676B (zh) 2010-09-29

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