JP2021123933A - Door lock device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a door lock device for a vehicle capable of shortening time required for a release operation.SOLUTION: A door lock device 20 for a vehicle includes: a pole 33 movable to an initial position in which a latch 31 is held in a half-latch position or a full-latch position and a release position in which the movement of the latch 31 to an unlatch position is permitted; a close lever 53 for moving the latch 31 to the full-latch position by moving to a full-latch corresponding position; an open lever 55 for moving the pole 33 to the release position by moving to an actuation position; and a driving force switching mechanism 60 for moving the open lever 55 to the actuation position by a rotary member 61 moving from the initial position to a second position in the case where the latch 31 is positioned in the full-latch position, and not moving the open lever 55 to the actuation position in the case where the latch 31 is positioned in the half-latch position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle door lock device.

The vehicle door lock device disclosed in Patent Document 1 switches the latch mechanism to the full latch state by rotating in one direction from the neutral position toward the closed position, and rotates in the other direction from the neutral position toward the release position. It has an operating lever that switches the latch mechanism to the unlatch state. According to such a vehicle door lock device, by switching the rotation direction of one electric motor that drives the operating lever, a closing operation that switches the latch mechanism to the full latch state and a release operation that switches the latch mechanism to the unlatch state are performed. It can be carried out.

In a configuration in which the closing position and the release position of the operating lever are located opposite to each other from the neutral position, when the operating lever is moved from the closed position to the neutral position, the rotating member does not stop at the neutral position due to inertia, and the rotating member does not stop at the neutral position. It may move to the side of the release position. Then, when the operating lever moves from the neutral position to the release position side, the vehicle door may be opened and closed. In Patent Document 1, a neutral region that does not switch to a state in which the vehicle door can be opened and closed is provided between the closed position and the release position, and the neutral position is provided in this neutral region. With such a configuration, when moving the rotating member from the closed position to the neutral position, even if the rotating member passes through the neutral position, the latch mechanism does not switch to the released state if it stops in the neutral region. ..

However, in a configuration in which a neutral region having a predetermined size is provided between the closed position and the release position and the neutral position is located within the neutral region, the distance between the neutral position and the release position becomes large. Therefore, the time required for the rotating member to move from the neutral position to the release position becomes long. That is, the time required for the release operation becomes long.

JP-A-2017-89186

(Problems to be solved by the invention)
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the time required for the release operation in a vehicle door lock device that performs a closing operation and a releasing operation by one driving force source. That is.

(Means to solve problems)
In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle door lock device (20) according to the present invention is
An unlatch position where the vehicle door (10) can move to the open position, a full latch position where the vehicle door (10) is held in the fully closed position by holding the striker (12) provided on the vehicle body (11), and the unlatch position. A half-latch position that is located between the position and the full-latch position and holds the vehicle door (10) in a semi-closed position by holding the striker, and a latch (31) that can be moved to.
It is movable between the initial position and the release position, and when it is located at the initial position, it engages with the latch (31) to hold the latch (31) at the half latch position or the full latch position, and at the release position. When positioned, the engagement with the latch (31) is disengaged, and the pole (33) configured to allow the latch (31) to move to the unlatch position.
When the latch (31) is located at the half latch position, it is located at the half latch compatible position, when the latch (31) is located at the full latch position, it is located at the full latch compatible position, and from the half latch compatible position to the full latch compatible position. A latch switching member (close lever (53)) configured to move the latch (31) from the half latch position to the full latch position by moving.
A pole switching member (open lever (55)) configured to move the pole (33) from the initial position to the release position by moving from the initial position to the operating position.
Depending on the driving force of the driving force source (electric motor (51)), the initial position, the first position which is a position rotated in a predetermined direction from the initial position, and the initial position and the first position. A rotating member (61) configured to rotate to a second position,
When the latch (31) is located at the full latch position, the rotating member (61) moves from the initial position to the second position to move the pole switching member (open lever (55)) to the initial position. When the latch (31) is located at the half latch position or the unlatch position, even if the rotating member (61) moves from the initial position to the second position, the pole The switching member (open lever (55)) is configured not to move from the initial position to the operating position, and the rotating member (61) moves from the initial position to the first position beyond the second position. A driving force switching mechanism (60) configured to move the latch switching member (close lever (53)) to the full latch compatible position by rotating and moving.
Have.

According to the present invention, the first position and the second position of the rotating member (61) are provided on the same side when viewed from the initial position. That is, the rotation direction of the rotating member (61) is the same during the closing operation (the operation of switching the latch mechanism (30) from the half-latch state to the full-latch state) and the release operation (the operation of switching the latch mechanism (30) from the unlatch state). Is. Then, by providing the first position and the second position of the rotating member (61) on the same side as viewed from the initial position, when the rotating member (61) is moved from the first position to the initial position after the closing operation is completed. , The rotating member (61) does not "pass the initial position and move to the second position". Therefore, since it is not necessary to provide a neutral region as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the distance between the initial position and the second position can be reduced. Therefore, since the amount of movement (rotation angle) of the rotating member during the release operation can be reduced, the time required for the release operation can be shortened.

The driving force switching mechanism (60)
A first member (rack (63)) configured to move linearly in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member (61),
A second member (link member (64)) that is attached so as to be relatively movable with respect to the first member (rack (63)) and is configured to be linearly movable together with the first member (rack (63)). When,
It is attached so as to be relatively movable with respect to the pole switching member (open lever (55)), and can be integrally moved to the initial position and the operating position together with the pole switching member (open lever (55)). At the same time, when the latch (31) is located at the unlatch position or the half-latch position, it is located at a retracted position which is a position outside the trajectory of the linear movement of the second member (link member (64)). When the latch (31) is located at the full latch position, the third member (link member (64)) is configured to be located at an engageable position which is a position inside the locus of the linear movement of the second member (link member (64)). Slide member (68)) and
It may be configured to have.

When the latch (31) is located at the full latch position, the first member (rack (63)) is interlocked with the rotational movement of the rotating member (61) from the initial position to the second position. ) Moves linearly, so that the second member (link member (64)) attached to the first member (rack (63)) presses the third member (slide member (68)) and the pole. Move the switching member (open lever (55)) from the initial position to the operating position,
When the latch (31) is located at the half latch position, the first member (rack (63)) moves in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member (61) from the initial position to the second position. Even when moving linearly, the second member (link member (64)) attached to the first member (rack (63)) switches the pole without pressing the third member (slide member (68)). The member (open lever (55)) may be configured not to move from the initial position to the operating position.

The driving force switching mechanism (60)
A fourth member (locking lever (67)) configured to move the third member (slide member (68)) by moving in conjunction with the movement of the latch switching member (close lever (53)). Has more,
When the latch switching member (close lever (53)) is located at the unlatch compatible position or the half latch compatible position, the third member (slide member (68)) is located at the retracted position and the latch switching member ( The third member (slide member (68)) may be configured to be positioned at the engageable position by locating the close lever (53)) at the position corresponding to the full latch.

In this case, the fourth member (locking lever (67)) is provided with a cam groove (671).
The third member (slide member (68)) is provided with a cam follower (682) that engages with the cam groove (671).
The third member (slide member (68)) is configured to move relative to the pole switching member (open lever (55)) when the fourth member (locking lever (67)) moves. May be good.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration example of a vehicle door. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of a vehicle door. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration example of the door lock device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the latch mechanism. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the latch mechanism. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the latch mechanism. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 12A is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 12B is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 13A is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 13B is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 14A is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 14B is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 15A is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism. FIG. 15B is a diagram showing a configuration example and operation of the driving force switching mechanism.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the vehicle door lock device according to the embodiment of the present invention may be abbreviated as "door lock device".

1 and 2 are schematic views showing a configuration example of a vehicle door 10 to which the door lock device 20 is applied. Note that FIG. 1 is a side view of the vehicle door 10 and is a view seen from the inside of the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the rear end portion of the vehicle door 10, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. The front end of the vehicle door 10 is rotatably supported around the rotation axis in the vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body 11, and the vehicle door 10 is in a closed position (completely closed) that closes the opening formed on the side surface of the vehicle body 11. It can be moved to a closed position (including a semi-closed position that is in a so-called "half-door" state) and an open position that is not blocked.

The vehicle door 10 includes a door main body 101 constituting the lower half thereof and a door sash 107 provided in the upper half thereof. The door body 101 is formed of an outer panel 102 forming an outer surface, an inner panel 103 fixed to the inner surface of the outer panel 102, and a resin fixed to the inner surface of the inner panel 103 and forming the inner surface of the door body 101. It is provided with a trim 104 made of. Further, an outside door handle 105 is rotatably attached to the outer panel 102, and an inside door handle 106 is rotatably attached to the trim 104 with respect to the vehicle door 10. The outside door handle 105 and the inside door handle 106 can be moved to the initial position and the latch release position by rotating, respectively, and are urged toward the initial position by the urging member.

As shown in FIG. 2, the door lock device 20 is located inside the vehicle door 10 (between the outer panel 102 and the inner panel 103). A part of the door lock device 20 is exposed to the outside at the rear end of the vehicle door 10. Then, the door lock device 20 is fixed to the inner panel 103 by a fixing means such as a screw. A striker 12 is attached to the vehicle body 11.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration example of the door lock device 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the door lock device 20 has a meshing portion 21 and an actuator portion 40. The meshing portion 21 has a meshing portion body 211 formed of a resin material, a base plate 212 formed of metal, and a latch mechanism 30. The meshing portion body 211 and the base plate 212 are housings of the meshing portion 21. The latch mechanism 30 has a latch state in which the vehicle door 10 is held in the closed position (a full latch state in which the vehicle door 10 is held in the fully closed position and a half latch state in which the vehicle door 10 is held in the semi-closed position) and an unlatch state in which the vehicle door 10 can be moved to the open position. It is configured to be switchable between states.

The actuator unit 40 includes an actuator unit body 41, a housing 42, and a latch mechanism switching unit 50. The actuator unit body 41 and the housing 42 are housings for the actuator unit 40. The configuration of the actuator unit body 41 and the housing 42 is not particularly limited. The latch mechanism switching unit 50 is configured to be able to switch the state of the latch mechanism 30 by the driving force of the electric motor 51.

4 to 6 are diagrams showing a configuration example and operation of the latch mechanism 30. Note that FIG. 4 shows an unlatch state, FIG. 5 shows a half-latch state, and FIG. 6 shows a full-latch state. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the latch mechanism 30 includes a latch 31, a pole 33, and a block lever 35.

The latch 31 is made of metal. The latch 31 has a full latch claw 311, a half latch claw 312, a striker holding groove 313, and a closed lever engaging portion 314. The latch 31 is arranged between the meshing portion body 211 and the base plate 212, and is rotatably supported by the meshing portion body 211 and the base plate 212 via the latch support shaft 32. The full latch claw 311 and the half latch claw 312 are configured to be detachably engaged with the pole 33 described later. The striker holding groove 313 is configured so that the striker 12 provided on the vehicle body 11 can be freely inserted and removed. The configurations of the full latch claw 311, the half latch claw 312, and the striker holding groove 313 are not particularly limited, and various conventionally known configurations can be applied.

The latch 31 can rotate and move to the unlatch position (sometimes referred to as “release position”) shown in FIG. 4, the half latch position shown in FIG. 5, and the full latch position shown in FIG. The unlatch position is a position that can be freely engaged with and detached from the striker 12 provided on the vehicle body 11, and is a position in which the vehicle door 10 can be opened (a state in which the vehicle door 10 can be moved to the open position). The unlatch position is the position of one end of the range in which the latch 31 can rotate and move. The half-latch position and the full-latch position are positions where the vehicle door 10 is held in the closed position by engaging with the striker 12 (by holding the state in which the striker 12 is in the striker holding groove 313). The half-latch position is a position rotated by a predetermined angle from the unlatch position (in FIGS. 2 to 4, the position is rotated in the counterclockwise direction from the unlatch position). The full latch position is a position rotated by a predetermined angle from the half latch position. Then, the latch 31 is constantly urged toward the unlatch position by the latch return spring (not shown).

The close lever engaging portion 314 of the latch 31 is configured to be freely engaged with and detached from the latch engaging portion 531 of the close lever 53, which will be described later. The closed lever engaging portion 314 of the latch 31 has, for example, a protrusion-like structure that protrudes in the circumferential direction of the locus of rotational movement of the latch 31. The closed lever engaging portion 314 of the latch 31 may be configured so as to be able to engage and disengage with the latch engaging portion 531 of the closed lever 53 so as to be freely engaged with each other, and the specific shape is not limited.

The pole 33 is arranged between the meshing portion body 211 and the base plate 212 like the latch 31, and is rotatably supported by the meshing portion body 211 and the base plate 212 via the pole support shaft 34. The pole 33 has an engaging portion 331 that can be engaged with and disengaged from each of the full latch claw 311 and the half latch claw 312 of the latch 31. The pole 33 can rotate and move to the initial position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and the release position shown in FIG. The initial position is a position where the half latch claw 312 and the full latch claw 311 of the latch 31 can be engaged with each other. In other words, the initial position of the pole 33 is that the engaging portion 331 of the pole 33 is located inside the locus of rotational movement of the full latch claw 311 and the half latch claw 312 of the latch 31 (becomes inside the locus of rotational movement). ) Position. The release position is a position where the pole 33 does not engage with the latch 31. In other words, the release position of the pole 33 is a position where the pole 33 is retracted out of the locus of rotational movement of the full latch claw 311 and the half latch claw 312 of the latch 31. Then, the pole 33 is constantly urged toward the initial position by the pole return spring (not shown).

The block lever 35 is rotatably supported with respect to the meshing portion body 211 and the base plate 212, and can be rotationally moved to an initial position and an operating position. 4 to 6 show a state in which the block lever 35 is located at the initial position. Then, the block lever 35 is configured to move the pole 33 from the initial position to the release position by rotating and moving from the initial position to the operating position. In FIGS. 4 to 6, the block lever 35 rotates in the clockwise direction from the initial position to push the pole 33, and the pole 33 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 4 to 6. As a result, the pole 33 moves from the initial position to the release position. Further, the block lever 35 is constantly urged toward the initial position by the urging force of the block lever spring (not shown). The block lever 35 does not restrict the movement of the pole 33 when it is located at the initial position. That is, when the block lever 35 is located at the initial position, the pole 33 can move from the initial position to the release position by resisting the urging force of the pole return spring.

When the vehicle door 10 is in the open position, the latch 31 is held in the unlatch position shown in FIG. 4 by the urging force of the latch return spring. This state is the unlatch state of the latch mechanism 30. When the vehicle door 10 moves from the open position to the semi-closed position and the fully closed position, the striker 12 provided on the vehicle body 11 comes into contact with the latch 31. When the vehicle door 10 further moves from the position shown in FIG. 4 toward the semi-closed position and the fully closed position, the latch 31 is pushed by the striker 12 and moves toward the half-latch position shown in FIG. At this time, the pole 33 is pushed by the latch 31 and moves from the initial position to the release position against the urging force of the pole return spring.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the latch 31 is located at the half latch position, the pole 33 moves from the release position to the initial position by the urging force of the pole return spring. Then, the half latch claw 312 of the latch 31 engages with the engaging portion 331 of the pole 33. Therefore, the movement of the latch 31 from the half latch position to the unlatch position is restricted. That is, the vehicle door 10 is held in the semi-closed position. The state of the latch mechanism 30 in this case is the half-latch state.

When the vehicle door 10 further moves toward the fully closed position, the latch 31 is pushed by the striker 12 and moves toward the full latch position shown in FIG. At this time, the pole 33 is pushed by the latch 31 and moves from the initial position to the release position against the urging force of the pole return spring. Then, when the latch 31 is positioned at the full latch position, the pole 33 moves from the release position to the initial position by the urging force of the pole return spring. Then, the full latch claw 311 of the latch 31 is in a state of engaging with the engaging portion 331 of the pole 33. Therefore, the latch 31 is restricted from moving from the full latch position to the half latch position and the unlatch position. That is, the vehicle door 10 is held in the fully closed position. The state of the latch mechanism 30 in this case is the full latch state.

7A to 15B are diagrams showing a configuration example and operation of the latch mechanism switching unit 50. 7B, 8B, 9B, 10B, 11B, 12B, 13B, 14B and 15B are FIGS. 7A, 8A, 9A, 10A, 11A, 12A, respectively. 13A, 14A and 15A are views showing an enlarged view of the vicinity of the locking lever 67 and the slide member 68. In addition, in FIGS. 7A to 15B, some lines are omitted in order to make it easy to understand the relationship between the members. As shown in these figures, the latch mechanism switching unit 50 includes a close lever 53 which is an example of a latch switching member, an open lever 55 which is an example of a pole switching member, an electric motor 51 (not shown), and a driving force. It has a switching mechanism 60. The close lever 53, the open lever 55, the electric motor 51, and the driving force switching mechanism 60 are assembled to the actuator unit body 41 which is the housing of the actuator unit 40.

The close lever 53 is rotatably supported with respect to the actuator portion body 41 via the close lever support shaft 54 and the bracket 57 (see FIG. 3). The close lever 53 can be rotationally moved to an "unlatch compatible position", a "half latch compatible position", and a "full latch compatible position". The unlatch compatible position is the position of the close lever 53 when the latch 31 is located at the unlatch position, and is the position of one end of the rotatable range of the close lever 53. The half-latch compatible position is the position of the close lever 53 when the latch 31 is located at the half-latch position, and is a position between the unlatch compatible position and the full latch compatible position. The full latch compatible position is the position of the close lever 53 when the latch 31 is located at the full latch position, and is the position of the other end of the rotatable range of the close lever 53.

The close lever 53 is constantly urged toward the full latch compatible position by the close lever spring 58, and the latch engagement portion 531 of the close lever 53 is in constant contact with the close lever engagement portion 314 of the latch 31. There is. Therefore, the position of the close lever 53 and the position of the latch 31 have a one-to-one correspondence with the above relationship. The closed lever spring 58 may be configured so that the closed lever 53 can always be urged toward the full latch compatible position, and the specific configuration is not limited. For example, a torsion coil spring having arms at both ends can be applied to the closed lever spring 58. Then, a coil-shaped portion of the torsion coil spring is mounted on the outer circumference of the close lever support shaft 54, one arm engages with the close lever 53, and the other arm engages with the actuator portion body 41 or the bracket 57. ..

The closing lever 53 has a latch engaging portion 531, a pressed portion 532, and a locking lever engaging portion 533. The latch engaging portion 531 of the close lever 53 is configured to be detachably engaged with the closed lever engaging portion 314 of the latch 31, and is located inside the locus of rotational movement of the closed lever engaging portion 314 of the latch 31. The latch engagement portion 531 of the close lever 53 is the close lever engagement of the latch 31 located at the unlatch position or the half latch position when the close lever 53 rotates from the unlatch compatible position or the half latch compatible position to the full latch compatible position. It is configured to push the unit 314. Then, when the latch engaging portion 531 of the close lever 53 contacts and pushes the closed lever engaging portion 314 of the latch 31, the latch 31 can be moved from the unlatch position or the half latch position to the full latch position. On the other hand, when the latch 31 moves from the full latch position to the unlatch position, the latch engaging portion 531 of the close lever 53 is pushed by the close lever engaging portion 314 of the latch 31, and the close lever 53 moves to the unlatch compatible position.

The urging force of the close lever spring 58 is smaller than the urging force of the latch return spring. Therefore, when the latch 31 moves from the full latch position to the unlatch position by the urging force of the latch return spring, the close lever 53 moves from the full latch compatible position to the unlatch compatible position against the urging force of the close lever spring 58.

The pressed portion 532 of the close lever 53 is configured to be detachably engaged with the closed lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63, which will be described later. For example, the pressed portion 532 has a protruding structure that protrudes in a direction parallel to the axis of the closed lever support shaft 54 (a direction parallel to the rotation center line of the closed lever 53). The pressed portion 532 of the close lever 53 is located inside the trajectory of the linear movement of the close lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63, which will be described later. The pressed portion 532 of the close lever 53 may be detachably engaged with the closed lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63, and the specific configuration is not limited.

The locking lever engaging portion 533 of the closing lever 53 engages with the closing lever engaging portion 675 of the locking lever 67, which will be described later. The locking lever engaging portion 533 penetrates, for example, in a direction parallel to the axis of the closing lever support shaft 54, and extends in the radial direction of the locus of rotational movement of the closing lever 53 (a circle centered on the closing lever supporting shaft 54). A long hole is provided in the radius method).

In the present embodiment, the close lever 53 has a substantially "L" shape in the axial direction of the close lever support shaft 54. A latch engaging portion 531 is provided at a position corresponding to one end of the "L" shape, a pressed portion 532 is provided at a position corresponding to the bent portion of the "L" shape, and the other of the "L" shapes is provided. A locking lever engaging portion 533 is provided at a position corresponding to the tip of the. Further, it is rotatably supported with respect to the actuator portion body 41 via the close lever support shaft 54 at a position between the latch engaging portion 531 and the pressed portion 532.

The open lever 55 is rotatably supported with respect to the actuator body 41 via the open lever support shaft 56 and the bracket 57 (in other words, pendulum-like swingable around the open lever support shaft 56). .. The open lever 55 is rotatably supported coaxially with the locking lever 67 described later. The open lever 55 can rotate and move between the initial position and the operating position. 7A-13B, 15A and 15B show the state where the open lever 55 is located in the initial position, and FIGS. 14A and 14B show the state where the open lever 55 is located in the operating position.

Then, the open lever 55 is configured to push the block lever 35 of the latch mechanism 30 by moving from the initial position to the operating position, and to move the block lever 35 from the initial position to the operating position. When the block lever 35 is pushed by the open lever 55 and moves from the initial position to the operating position, the pole 33 moves from the initial position to the release position in conjunction with the movement of the block lever 35, and the pole 33 and the latch 31 are engaged with each other. Is released. Then, the latch 31 moves to the unlatch position by the urging force of the latch return spring.

By moving the open lever 55 from the initial position to the operating position in this way, the latch mechanism 30 switches from the latch state (half-latch state or full-latch state) to the unlatch state. Further, since the block lever 35 is urged toward the initial position by the block lever spring, the open lever 55 is always urged toward the initial position by the urging force of the block lever spring transmitted via the block lever 35. Be forced.

The electric motor 51 is a driving force source for switching the state of the latch mechanism 30. The electric motor 51 only needs to be able to output rotational power in both forward and reverse directions, and the specific configuration is not limited.

The driving force switching mechanism 60 switches to a state in which the driving force of the electric motor 51 is not transmitted to the open lever 55 when the latch 31 is located at the half latch position or the full latch position, and the latch 31 is located at the full latch position. Is configured to switch to a state in which the driving force of the electric motor 51 can be transmitted to the open lever 55.

The driving force switching mechanism 60 includes a rotating member 61, a rack 63 which is an example of the first member, a link member 64 which is an example of the second member, a locking lever 67 which is an example of the fourth member, and a third member. It has a slide member 68 which is an example of.

The rotating member 61 is rotatably supported with respect to the actuator unit body 41 via the rotating member support shaft 62 and the bracket 57, and is configured to be rotated by the rotational power of the electric motor 51. For example, the rotating member 61 has a worm wheel 613 (see FIG. 3) and meshes with a worm 52 provided on the rotating shaft of the electric motor 51. Then, the rotating member 61 can rotate and move from the initial position to the first position and the second position. The initial position is the position of one end of the rotatable range of the rotating member 61. The first position is a position rotated in a predetermined direction from the initial position, and is the position of the other end of the rotatable range of the rotating member 61. The second position is a position rotated in a predetermined direction from the initial position, and is a position between the initial position and the first position. That is, the first position and the second position are located on the same side as viewed from the initial position, and the distance (rotation angle) from the initial position is different. The distance (rotation angle) from the initial position to the second position is smaller than the distance from the initial position to the first position.

The rotating member 61 engages with the rack 63 so that the rack 63 can be linearly moved by rotating. Specifically, the rotating member 61 has a rack engaging portion 611, and the rack engaging portion 611 engages with the rack 63. The rack engaging portion 611 has a rod-like shape extending radially from the center of rotation. The rack engaging portion 611 is provided with an elongated hole 612 that penetrates the rack engaging portion 611 in a direction parallel to the axis of the rotating member 61 and is long in the radial direction of the rotating member 61.

The rack 63 is a long rod-shaped member. The rack 63 is supported so as to be linearly reciprocating with respect to the actuator unit body 41. The long direction of the rack 63 and the direction of the linear reciprocating movement of the rack 63 are parallel. The rack 63 can be moved to an initial position, a release start position, a release completion position, a close start position, and a close completion position by linearly moving. The initial position is the position of one end of the range in which the linear reciprocating movement is possible, and the closing completion position is the position of the other end of the range in which the linear reciprocating movement is possible. Then, from the side of the initial position, the release start position, the release completion position, the close start position, and the close completion position are arranged in this order. Each position of the rack 63 will be described later.

At one end of the rack 63 in the elongated direction, a rotating member engaging portion 631 that engages with the rack engaging portion 611 of the rotating member 61 is provided. For example, the rotating member engaging portion 631 of the rack 63 is a protrusion that projects in a direction parallel to the axis of the rotating member support shaft 62 (the rotation center line of the rotating member 61). Then, the rotating member engaging portion 631 of the rack 63 is inserted into the elongated hole 612 of the rack engaging portion 611 of the rotating member 61. Therefore, when the rotating member 61 rotates, the rack 63 moves linearly. The initial position of the rack 63 is a position corresponding to the initial position of the rotating member 61, and when the rotating member 61 is located at the initial position, the rack 63 is located at the initial position. The release completion position of the rack 63 is a position corresponding to the second position of the rotating member 61, and when the rotating member 61 is located at the second position, the rack 63 is located at the release completion position. The closing completion position of the rack 63 is a position corresponding to the first position of the rotating member 61, and when the rotating member 61 is located at the first position, the rack 63 is located at the closing completion position.

A close lever pressing portion 633 is provided at the other end of the rack 63 in the elongated direction (the end opposite to the side on which the rotating member engaging portion 631 is provided). The close lever pressing portion 633 is configured to be detachably engaged with the pressed portion 532 of the closing lever 53. In the present embodiment, the other end surface of the rack 63 in the elongated direction is the close lever pressing portion 633. When the rack 63 is located between the initial position and the release completion position (that is, when the rotating member 61 is located between the initial position and the second position), the close lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63 is a close lever. Regardless of the position of 53, the closing lever 53 is separated from the pressed portion 532 without contacting the pressed portion 532.

When the close lever 53 is located at the position corresponding to the half latch, the close lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63 contacts the pressed portion 532 of the close lever 53 at a predetermined position between the release completion position and the close completion position. do. This position is the closing start position of the rack 63. That is, the closing start position of the rack 63 is located closer to the closing completion position than the release completion position.

When the rack 63 moves from the closing start position to the closing completion position (that is, when the rotating member 61 moves from the initial position to the first position beyond the second position), the closing lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63 of the closing lever 53 Press the pressed portion 532. As a result, the close lever 53 moves to the position corresponding to the full latch. That is, when the rack 63 is located at the closing completion position (when the rotating member 61 is located at the first position), the closing lever 53 is located at the full latch corresponding position. In this way, the rack 63 is configured to move the close lever 53 from the half latch compatible position to the full latch compatible position by moving from the close start position to the close complete position.

The link member 64 is a long rod-shaped member. One end (base end) of the link member 64 in the elongated direction is rotatably supported with respect to the rack 63 via the link member support shaft 65. A guide pin 642 is provided at the other end (tip) of the link member 64 in the elongated direction. The guide pin 642 is loosely inserted into the guide groove 634 provided in the rack 63. The guide groove 634 provided in the rack 63 has an arc shape centered on the link member support shaft 65. Therefore, the link member 64 can swing around the link member support shaft 65 in a pendulum shape with respect to the rack 63.

Further, a slide member engaging portion 641 is provided at an intermediate portion of the link member 64 in the elongated direction. The slide member engaging portion 641 is freely engaged with and detached from the slide member 68 described later. For example, the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 is a surface facing the tip end side (the side opposite to the link member support shaft 65) of the link member 64.

The link member 64 can move to the initial positions shown in FIGS. 7A to 8B and 11A to 15B and to the retracted positions shown in FIGS. 9A to 10B by rotating and moving relative to the rack 63. .. Then, the link member 64 is constantly urged toward the initial position by the link member spring 66. For example, the rack 63 is provided with a stopper (not shown), and the link member 64 is positioned at the initial position by abutting against the stopper by the urging force of the link member spring 66. Further, the link member 64 can be moved to the retracted position by moving in a direction away from the stopper. The initial position and retracted position of the link member 64 will be described later.

The locking lever 67 is rotatably supported with respect to the actuator body 41 via the open lever support shaft 56 and the bracket 57. The locking lever 67 can rotate coaxially with the open lever 55 and can rotate independently of the open lever 55. The locking lever 67 is configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the closing lever 53. Specifically, the locking lever 67 has a protruding closed lever engaging portion 675 that projects in a direction parallel to the axis of the open lever support shaft 56, and the closed lever engaging portion 675 is the closed lever 53. It has entered the elongated hole provided in the locking lever engaging portion 533 of the above. The position of the locking lever 67 when the close lever 53 is located at the unlatch compatible position is referred to as the "first position", and the position of the locking lever 67 when the close lever 53 is located at the half latch compatible position is referred to as the "second position". The position of the locking lever 67 when the closing lever 53 is located at the position corresponding to the full latch is referred to as a "position" and is referred to as a "third position".

Further, the locking lever 67 is provided with a cam groove 671. The cam groove 671 has a first portion 672, a second portion 673, and a third portion 674. The first portion 672 and the second portion 673 extend in an arc shape coaxial with the open lever support shaft 56 (that is, the center of rotation of the locking lever 67). The first portion 672 and the second portion 673 have different distances from the center of the open lever support shaft 56. Specifically, the first portion 672 is provided at a position farther from the center of rotation than the second portion 673. The third portion 674 is provided between the first portion 672 and the second portion 673, and is configured to connect the first portion 672 and the second portion 673.

The slide member 68 is attached to the open lever 55 so as to be reciprocally movable in the long direction of the open lever 55 (radial direction of the locus of rotational movement of the open lever 55). However, the slide member 68 cannot move relative to the open lever 55 in the circumferential direction around the open lever support shaft 56, and rotates integrally with the open lever 55 around the open lever support shaft 56. Therefore, the slide member 68 can move to the initial position and the operating position together with the open lever 55.

The slide member 68 has a link member engaging portion 681 and a cam follower 682. The link member engaging portion 681 and the cam follower 682 are provided at positions separated from the center line of the open lever support shaft 56. The link member engaging portion 681 and the cam follower 682 have a protruding structure that projects in a direction parallel to the center line of the open lever support shaft 56 and in opposite directions to each other. In FIGS. 7A to 15B, the link member engaging portion 681 projects toward the front side of the paper surface, and the cam follower 682 projects toward the back side of the paper surface. The cam follower 682 of the slide member 68 is inserted into the cam groove 671 of the locking lever 67. Therefore, the slide member 68 moves linearly with respect to the open lever 55 in the longitudinal direction in conjunction with the rotation of the locking lever 67.

Specifically, when the locking lever 67 is located in the first or second position (that is, when the closing lever 53 is located in the unlatch compatible position or the half latch compatible position), the cam follower 682 of the slide member 68 is the locking lever 67. It is located in the first portion 672 of the cam groove 671. On the other hand, when the locking lever 67 is located at the third position (that is, when the closing lever 53 is located at the full latch corresponding position), the cam follower 682 of the slide member 68 is located at the second portion 673 of the cam groove 671 of the locking lever 67. ..

Since the distances from the rotation center of the open lever 55 are different between the first portion 672 and the second portion 673 of the cam groove 671, the cam follower 682 of the slide member 68 is the first of the cam grooves 671 of the locking lever 67. The relative position of the slide member 68 with respect to the open lever 55, that is, the distance from the open lever support shaft 56 differs depending on whether the slide member 68 is located at the portion 672 or the second portion 673. When the cam follower 682 of the slide member 68 is located at the second portion 673 of the cam groove 671 of the locking lever 67, it is located at the center of rotation of the open lever 55 as compared with the case where it is located at the first portion 672. approach. In the present embodiment, the position of the slide member 68 when the cam follower 682 is located in the first portion 672 of the cam groove 671 is referred to as a "retracted position", and the cam follower 682 is located in the second portion 673 of the cam groove 671. The position of the slide member 68 in this case is referred to as an "engageable position".

Here, the relationship between the link member 64 and the slide member 68 will be described. The link member 64 can rotate and move around the link member support shaft 65 (in other words, can swing like a pendulum). Specifically, the link member 64 can be rotationally moved in a direction in which the slide member engaging portion 641 approaches and away from the rotation center of the open lever 55. In the present embodiment, of the positions at both ends of the link member 64 in the rotatable range, the position of the end of the slide member engaging portion 641 far from the rotation center of the open lever 55 is defined as the initial position of the link member 64. Refer to.

The retracted position of the slide member 68 is a position farther from the rotation center of the open lever 55 than the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 located at the initial position. When the slide member 68 is located in the retracted position, even if the rack 63 moves from the initial position to the release start position (described later), the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 is the link member of the slide member 68. Does not contact the engaging portion 681. The engageable position of the slide member 68 is a position closer to the rotation center of the open lever 55 than the retracted position of the slide member 68. Specifically, the engageable position of the slide member 68 is a position inside the trajectory of the linear movement of the slide member engaging portion 641 when the link member 64 is located at the initial position. In other words, the initial position of the link member 64 is such that when the slide member 68 is located at an engageable position, the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 is engaged with the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68. It is a position that can be adjusted. Therefore, when the slide member 68 is located at the engageable position, when the rack 63 moves from the initial position to the release start position, the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 engages with the link member of the slide member 68. Contact part 681. As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the release start position of the rack 63 is the slide member 68 located at the initial position when the link member 64 moves from the initial position to the closing completion position together with the rack 63. This is the position where the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 comes into contact with the link member engaging portion 681.

The retracted position of the link member 64 is a position closer to the open lever support shaft 56 than the initial position of the link member 64, and is a position pushed and moved by the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68. That is, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 15B, a step is provided on the side surface of the link member 64 (meaning the surface of the slide member 68 facing the link member engaging portion 681), and the step portion is provided. Is provided with a slide member engaging portion 641. Then, on the side surface of the link member 64, the portion closer to the base end side (the side closer to the link member support shaft 65) than the slide member engaging portion 641 is on the tip end side (to the guide pin 642) than the slide member engaging portion 641. It is provided at a position farther from the rotation center (open lever support shaft 56) of the open lever 55 as compared with the portion (closer side). Therefore, when the link member 64 is located at the initial position, the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68 interferes with the link member 64 depending on the position of the rack 63. In this case, the slide member 68 can be moved to the engageable position by moving the link member 64 from the initial position to the retracted position which is a position closer to the rotation center of the open lever 55. As described above, the retracted position of the link member 64 is a position closer to the open lever support shaft 56 than the initial position of the link member 64. The specific retracted position of the link member 64 is determined based on the relationship with the slide member 68. Further, on the side surface of the link member 64, the portion on the tip end side of the slide member engaging portion 641 is provided at a position where it does not come into contact with the slide member 68 located at the engageable position.

As described above, when the close lever 53 is located at the unlatch compatible position or the half latch compatible position, the slide member 68 is located at the retracted position where the slide member 64 does not engage with the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64. On the other hand, when the close lever 53 is located at the full latch compatible position, the slide member 68 is located at an engageable position where it can engage with the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64.

Further, the door lock device 20 has a latch position sensor (not shown) for detecting the position of the latch 31 and a motor driver for driving the electric motor 51. The vehicle has a door ECU 13 as a control means for controlling the operation of the door lock device 20, and a release switch which is an operation member for causing the door lock device 20 to perform a release operation described later. The door ECU 13 is a computer having a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. A computer program for controlling the door lock device 20 is stored in the ROM of the computer in advance. The CPU of the computer reads this computer program from the ROM and executes it. As a result, the door lock device 20 is controlled. Further, the door ECU 13, the latch position sensor provided in the door lock device 20, the motor driver, and the release switch are connected via CAN (Control Area Network). Therefore, the door ECU 13 can acquire the detection result of the position of the latch 31 by the latch position sensor and the operation of the release switch, and can drive the electric motor 51 by controlling the motor driver.

In addition, the door lock device 20 has an operation mechanism for switching the latch mechanism 30 from the latch state to the unlatch state by the manual operation of the outside door handle 105 or the inside door handle 106 by the user. For example, the operation mechanism moves the outside door handle 105 or the inside door handle 106 when the outside door handle 105 or the inside door handle 106 of the vehicle door 10 is moved from the initial position to the latch release position. Is transmitted to the pole 33 of the latch mechanism 30, so that the pole 33 is moved from the initial position to the release position. The configuration of the operation mechanism is not particularly limited, and various known configurations can be applied.

(Operation of door lock device)
(Close operation)
Next, the operation of the door lock device 20 will be described. The closing operation is an operation of switching the latch mechanism 30 from the half-latch state shown in FIG. 5 to the full-latch state shown in FIG. 6 by the driving force of the electric motor 51. 7A to 9B show the closing operation. Before the start of the closing operation, the latch 31 is located at the half latch position, and the rotating member 61 and the rack 63 are located at the initial positions, respectively. In this state, the close lever 53 is positioned at the half latch corresponding position shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B by the urging force of the close lever spring 58.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the closing lever 53 is located at the position corresponding to the half latch, the locking lever 67 that engages with the closing lever 53 is located at the second position, and the slide that engages with the locking lever 67. The member 68 is located in the retracted position. Therefore, the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68 is located outside the trajectory of the linear movement of the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64. Further, when the rack 63 is located at the initial position and the close lever 53 is located at the position corresponding to the half latch, the close lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63 and the pressed portion 532 of the close lever 53 do not come into contact with each other and are predetermined. Separate at a distance.

When the door ECU 13 detects that the latch 31 is located at the half latch position by the latch position sensor, the door ECU 13 controls the electric motor 51 so that the door lock device 20 closes. Specifically, the door ECU 13 operates the electric motor 51 to rotate and move the rotating member 61 from the initial position to the first position.

When the electric motor 51 operates in the state shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B and the rotating member 61 rotates and moves from the initial position to the first position (in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the rotating member 61 rotates in the counterclockwise direction). ), The rack 63 and the link member 64 move linearly integrally. In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the rack 63 and the link member 64 are integrally moved upward. Then, when the rotating member 61 exceeds the second position and the rack 63 is positioned at the closing start position shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the closing lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63 comes into contact with the pressed portion 532 of the closing lever 53.

When the rotating member 61 further rotates from the state shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the close lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63 pushes the pressed portion 532 of the close lever 53. 9A and 9B show a state in which the rotating member 61 is located at the first position and the rack 63 is located at the closing completion position. When the rotating member 61 moves to the first position, the close lever 53 moves from the half latch compatible position to the full latch compatible position, and the latch engaging portion 531 of the close lever 53 pushes the close lever engaging portion 314 of the latch 31. As a result, the latch 31 moves from the half latch position shown in FIG. 5 to the full latch position shown in FIG. Therefore, the latch mechanism 30 switches from the half-latch state to the full-latch state. The door ECU 13 stops the electric motor 51 when the rotating member 61 is located at the first position. As a result, the closing operation is completed.

When the rotating member 61 is located between the initial position and the second position while rotating from the initial position to the first position, the close lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63 is pressed by the close lever 53. Separated from the portion 532 without contacting it. Therefore, even if the rotating member 61 is positioned at the second position between the initial position and the first position during the closing operation, the closing lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63 does not push the pressed portion 532 of the closing lever 53. .. Then, when the rotating member 61 moves from the initial position to the first position beyond the second position, the close lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63 pushes the pressed portion 532 of the close lever 53, and the close lever 53 is in the half latch compatible position. Move to the full latch compatible position. As described above, the driving force switching mechanism 60 is configured to move the closing lever 53 to the full latch compatible position by rotating the rotating member 61 from the initial position to the first position beyond the second position.

As shown in FIGS. 7A to 8B, when the close lever 53 is located at the position corresponding to the half latch, the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68 is a straight line of the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64. It is located outside the locus of movement. Therefore, in this case, even if the rack 63 moves from the initial position to the closing start position, the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 does not come into contact with the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68. Since the slide member 68 is not pushed by the link member 64, the open lever 55 does not move from the initial position. Specifically, the open lever 55 is held in the initial position by the urging force of the block lever spring.

In this way, when the latch 31 is located at the half-latch position, the driving force of the electric motor 51 is not transmitted to the open lever 55, so that the latch mechanism 30 does not switch to the unlatch state. That is, the driving force switching mechanism 60 is configured so that the driving force of the electric motor 51 is not transmitted to the open lever 55 when the latch mechanism 30 is in the half-latch state. Even when the latch 31 is located at the unlatch position, the driving force of the electric motor 51 is not transmitted to the open lever 55. Therefore, the driving force switching mechanism 60 does not transmit the driving force of the electric motor 51 to the open lever 55 even when the latch mechanism 30 is in the unlatch state.

When the close lever 53 moves from the half latch compatible position (see FIGS. 7A to 8B) to the full latch compatible position (see FIGS. 9A and 9B), the locking lever 67 moves to the second position (see FIGS. 9A and 9B) in conjunction with the movement of the close lever 53. It moves from the third position (see FIGS. 9A and 9B) from (see FIGS. 7A to 8B). Therefore, the cam follower 682 of the slide member 68 moves from the first portion 672 to the third portion 674 of the cam groove 671 of the locking lever 67 to the second portion 673. As a result, the slide member 68 moves from the retracted position (see FIGS. 7A to 8B) to the engageable position (see FIGS. 9A and 9B).

Further, when the rack 63 is located at the closing completion position, when the slide member 68 moves from the retracted position to the engageable position, the link member 64 is pushed by the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68 from the initial position. Move to the retracted position. In this way, the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68 pushes the link member 64 and moves it to the retracted position, so that the slide member 68 is an engageable position which is a position inside the trajectory of the linear movement of the link member 64. You can move to.

The elongated direction of the open lever 55 intersects with the direction of linear movement of the rack 63 and the link member 64. Then, in the axial direction view of the open lever support shaft 56, a part of the open lever 55 and a part of the link member 64 are overlapped with each other. Therefore, as the slide member 68 reciprocates in the elongated direction of the open lever 55, the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68 is inside the trajectory of the linear movement of the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64. And can move to the outside.

When the slide member 68 moves from the retracted position to the engageable position during the closing operation, the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 pushes the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68, and the open lever 55 Moves from the initial position to the operating position. Therefore, in order to prevent the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 from pushing the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68 during the closing operation, the cam groove 671 of the locking lever 67 is set to the link member 64. After the slide member engaging portion 641 of the above moves to a position where it does not engage with the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68 (in other words, the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 is engaged with the link member of the slide member 68. After moving closer to the pressed portion 532 of the close lever 53 than the joint portion 681), the slide member 68 is later moved to an engageable position.

(Return operation)
The return operation is an operation of moving the rotating member 61 to the initial position after the closing operation, which is the state shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, is completed. 10A to 12B show the return operation. The door ECU 13 controls the electric motor 51 so that the door lock device 20 performs the return operation after the closing operation is completed. Specifically, the door ECU 13 controls the electric motor 51 to rotate the rotating member 61 in the direction opposite to that in the closing operation, and moves the rotating member 61 from the first position to the initial position.

When the rotating member 61 moves from the first position to the initial position by the rotational power of the electric motor 51, the rack 63 moves toward the initial position and presses the close lever of the rack 63, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. The portion 633 separates from the pressed portion 532 of the close lever 53. Since the latch 31 is held at the full latch position after the closing operation is completed, the closing lever 53 is held at the full latch compatible position by the urging force of the closing lever spring 58. Therefore, the locking lever 67 is held in the third position, and the slide member 68 is held in the engageable position. That is, the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68 is held in a state of being inside the trajectory of the linear movement of the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 when it is located at the initial position.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, when the rack 63 moves from the first position to the initial position, the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 slides at a position intermediate between the first position and the initial position. It passes through the link member engaging portion 681 of the member 68. Then, the link member 64 moves from the retracted position to the initial position by the urging force of the link member spring 66. Then, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, when the rotating member 61 is positioned at the initial position, the rack 63 is located at the initial position. The door ECU 13 stops driving the electric motor 51 when the rotating member 61 is located at the initial position. This completes the return operation. After the return operation is completed, the close lever 53 is located at the full latch compatible position, the link member 64 is located at the initial position, and the slide member 68 is located at the engageable position.

(Release operation)
The release operation is an operation of switching the latch mechanism 30 from the full latch state to the unlatch state by the driving force of the electric motor 51. When the door ECU 13 detects that the release switch has been operated when the vehicle door 10 is in the fully closed position (that is, when the latch mechanism 30 is in the full latch state), the door lock device 20 causes the door lock device 20 to operate. The electric motor 51 is controlled so as to perform a release operation. Specifically, the door ECU 13 controls the motor driver to operate the electric motor 51, and moves the rotating member 61 from the initial position to the second position.

The release operation is started from the state shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B (the state in which the rotating member 61 and the rack 63 are located at the initial positions and the close lever 53 is located at the position corresponding to the full latch). 13A to 15B show the release operation. When the rotating member 61 starts rotating from the initial position shown in FIG. 12A to the second position by the driving force of the electric motor 51, the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 slides as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. It comes into contact with the link member engaging portion 681 of the member 68. As described above, this position is the release start position of the rack 63. The release start position is located closer to the initial position than the above-mentioned close start position.

When the rotating member 61 further rotates and is positioned at the second position, the rack 63 is positioned at the release completion position. 14A and 14B show a state in which the rotating member 61 is located at the second position and the rack 63 is located at the release completion position. When the rack 63 moves to the release completion position, the slide member engaging portion 641 of the link member 64 pushes the link member engaging portion 681 of the slide member 68, and the slide member 68 and the open lever 55 are integrally moved from the initial position. Move to the operating position. Then, the open lever 55 moves the block lever 35 of the latch mechanism 30 from the initial position to the operating position by moving from the initial position to the operating position. As a result, the pole 33 moves from the initial position to the release position. Therefore, the engagement between the full latch claw 311 of the latch 31 and the engaging portion 331 of the pole 33 is released, and the latch 31 moves from the full latch position to the unlatch position by the urging force of the latch return spring. That is, the latch mechanism 30 switches from the latch state (full latch state) to the unlatch state (release state).

When the open lever 55 rotates and moves from the initial position to the operating position, the slide member 68 also rotates and moves together with the open lever. Therefore, the cam follower 682 of the slide member 68 moves relative to the locking lever 67. However, even if the slide member 68 moves relative to the locking lever 67, the cam follower 682 is held in a state of being located in the second portion 673 of the cam groove 671. Since the second portion 673 of the cam groove 671 of the locking lever 67 has an arcuate shape centered on the open lever support shaft 56, the slide member 68 does not move relative to the open lever 55, and the slide member 68 does not move relative to the open lever 55. Is held in an engageable position. The length of the second portion 673 of the cam groove 671 (dimension in the circumferential direction of the arc) is such that when the open lever 55 moves from the initial position to the operating position, the cam follower 682 of the slide member 68 moves to the cam groove 671. The dimensions are set so as not to deviate from the second part 673 of.

When the latch 31 moves from the full latch position to the unlatch position, the latch engagement portion 531 of the close lever 53 is pushed by the close lever engagement portion 314 of the latch 31, and the close lever 53 is unlatched as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B. Move to the corresponding position. Then, the locking lever 67 moves to the third position in conjunction with the movement of the closing lever 53 to the unlatch compatible position, and the slide member 68 moves from the engageable position to the retracted position in conjunction with the movement of the locking lever 67. .. When the slide member 68 moves to the retracted position, the link member 64 and the slide member 68 are disengaged, and the open lever 55 is pushed by the block lever 35 to move to the initial position.

The release start position and the release completion position of the rack 63 are located closer to the initial position than the close start position. That is, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, even if the latch 31 moves to the unlatch position by moving the rack 63 to the release completion position, the close lever pressing portion 633 of the rack 63 is pressed by the close lever 53. Does not contact part 532. By making the distance from the initial position to the second position of the rotating member 61 smaller than the distance from the initial position to the first position in this way, the rack 63 and the close lever 53 do not interfere with each other, and the open lever 55 Can be moved to the operating position.

The door ECU 13 stops the electric motor 51 when the rotating member 61 is located at the second position. After that, the door ECU 13 controls the electric motor 51 to move the rotating member 61 from the second position to the initial position. This completes the release operation. As described above, the door ECU 13 moves the rotating member 61 from the initial position to the second position in the release operation, but does not move the rotating member 61 to the side closer to the first position than the second position.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the rotation direction of the rotating member 61 for the closing operation and the releasing operation is the same. According to such a configuration, the time required for the release operation can be shortened as compared with the configuration in which the rotation directions of the rotating member 61 are opposite to each other in the closing operation and the releasing operation. That is, in a configuration in which the rotation directions of the rotating members are opposite between the closing operation and the releasing operation as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the closing position (corresponding to the first position of the present embodiment) and the release position (this). A neutral position (corresponding to the initial position of the present embodiment) is provided between the position (corresponding to the second position of the embodiment). In such a configuration, when the rotating member is returned from the closed position to the neutral position, a neutral region is provided so that the rotating member does not move to the release position due to inertia or the like, and the neutral position and the release position are separated to some extent. Must be provided. Therefore, the distance from the neutral position to the release position becomes large, and the time required for the rotating member to move from the neutral position to the release position becomes long.

On the other hand, when the latch 31 is located at the half latch position, the driving force switching mechanism 60 of the door lock device 20 makes the open lever 55 even if the rotating member 61 moves from the initial position to the second position. It is configured so that it does not transmit the driving force (it does not move from the initial position to the operating position). The first position and the second position are provided on the same side as viewed from the initial position. Since the first position and the second position are provided on the same side as viewed from the initial position, the rotating member moves when the rotating member 61 is moved from the first position to the initial position in the return operation after the closing operation is completed. There is no such thing as "passing the initial position and moving to the second position". Therefore, since it is not necessary to provide a neutral region, the distance between the initial position and the second position can be reduced. Therefore, since the amount of movement (rotation angle) of the rotating member during the release operation can be reduced, the time required for the release operation can be shortened.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The present invention can be modified in various ways as long as it does not deviate from the gist thereof, and these are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, the latch mechanism 30 is not limited to the above configuration. The latch mechanism 30 has a latch 31 that can rotate and move to an unlatch position, a half-latch position, and a full-latch position, and when the latch 31 is located at the unlatch position, the vehicle door 10 can be opened (latch 31 and striker 12). The vehicle door 10 may be held in the closed position when the latch 31 is in the half-latch position or the full-latch position.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the close lever 53 is shown as an example of the latch switching member, and the open lever 55 is shown as an example of the pole switching member. However, the latch switching member is not limited to the closed lever, and the pole switching member is an open lever. Not limited to 55. In short, the latch switching member may be any member that can move the latch 31 from the unlatch position to the full latch position. The pole switching member may be any member that can move the pole 33 from the initial position to the release position.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the latch mechanism 30 has the block lever 35, and the open lever 55 moves the block lever 35 of the latch mechanism 30, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the open lever 55 may be configured to directly move the pole 33 of the latch mechanism 30. In addition, the open lever 55 may be configured to move the pole 33 via a member other than the block lever 35. For example, the door lock device 20 may have a member interlocking with the pole 33, and the open lever 55 may be configured to move this member. In short, it is sufficient that the latch mechanism 30 can be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state by moving the open lever 55 from the initial position to the operating position.

Further, in the above embodiment, the worm 52 is attached to the rotating shaft of the electric motor 51, and the rotating member 61 has the worm wheel 613. However, for transmitting rotational power from the electric motor 51 to the rotating member 61, The mechanism is not limited to the combination of the worm 52 and the worm wheel 613. In short, it suffices that the rotating member 61 can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions by the rotational power of the electric motor 51.

Further, the configuration of the bracket 57 is not limited. Further, the actuator unit 40 does not have to have the bracket 57.

10 ... vehicle door, 11 ... car body, 12 ... striker, 20 ... door lock device, 21 ... meshing part, 30 ... latch mechanism, 31 ... latch, 33 ... pole, 40 ... actuator part, 50 ... latch mechanism switching part, 51 ... Electric motor, 53 ... Close lever, 55 ... Open lever, 60 ... Driving force switching mechanism, 61 ... Rotating member, 63 ... Rack, 64 ... Link member, 68 ... Slide member

Claims (4)

The unlatch position where the vehicle door can be moved to the open position, the full latch position where the vehicle door is held in the fully closed position by holding the striker provided on the vehicle body, and the position between the unlatch position and the full latch position. A half-latch position that holds the vehicle door in a semi-closed position by holding the striker, and a movable latch.
It is movable between the initial position and the release position, and by being located at the initial position, it engages with the latch and holds the latch at the half latch position or the full latch position, and by being located at the release position. A pole configured to disengage the latch and allow the latch to move to the unlatch position.
When the latch is located at the half-latch position, it is located at the half-latch compatible position, when the latch is located at the full-latch position, it is located at the full-latch-compatible position, and by moving from the half-latch-compatible position to the full-latch-compatible position. A latch switching member configured to move the latch from the half-latch position to the full-latch position.
A pole switching member configured to move the pole from the initial position to the release position by moving from the initial position to the operating position.
Due to the driving force of the driving force source, the initial position is rotationally moved to the first position, which is a position rotated in a predetermined direction from the initial position, and the second position between the initial position and the first position. With a rotating member configured to
When the latch is located at the full latch position, the rotating member moves from the initial position to the second position to move the pole switching member from the initial position to the operating position, and the latch moves from the initial position to the operating position. When it is located at the latch position or the unlatch position, the pole switching member is not moved from the initial position to the operating position even if the rotating member moves from the initial position to the second position. A driving force switching mechanism configured to move the latch switching member to the full latch compatible position by rotating the rotating member from the initial position to the first position beyond the second position.
A door lock device for vehicles. In the vehicle door lock device according to claim 1.
The driving force switching mechanism is
A first member configured to move linearly in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member,
A second member that is attached so as to be relatively movable with respect to the first member and is configured to be linearly movable together with the first member.
It is attached so as to be relatively movable with respect to the pole switching member, and can be integrally moved to the initial position and the operating position together with the pole switching member, and the latch is the unlatch position or the half latch position. When it is located at, it is located at a retracted position which is a position outside the linear movement locus of the second member, and when the latch is located at the full latch position, it is a position inside the linear movement locus of the second member. A third member configured to be in an engageable position,
Have and
When the latch is located at the full latch position, the first member moves linearly in conjunction with the rotational movement of the rotating member from the initial position to the second position, thereby moving the first member to the first member. The attached second member presses the third member to move the pole switching member from the initial position to the operating position.
When the latch is located at the half-latch position, even if the first member moves linearly in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member from the initial position to the second position, the first member moves to the first member. The attached second member does not move the pole switching member from the initial position to the operating position without pressing the third member.
Vehicle door lock device. The vehicle door lock device according to claim 2.
The driving force switching mechanism is
Further having a fourth member configured to move the third member by moving in conjunction with the movement of the latch switching member.
When the latch switching member is located at the half latch compatible position, the third member is located at the retracted position, and the latch switching member is located at the full latch compatible position so that the third member is in the engageable position. Configured to be located in
Vehicle door lock device. In the vehicle door lock device according to claim 3.
The fourth member is provided with a cam groove.
The third member is provided with a cam follower that engages with the cam groove.
The movement of the fourth member causes the third member to move relative to the pole switching member.
Vehicle door lock device.

Images