JP2022095298A - Attachment removal device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an attachment removal device for achieving space saving.SOLUTION: An attachment removal device includes a nozzle, a lead screw, and a rotation mechanism. The nozzle has a first fitting part on an end opposite to a jet port for jetting fluid toward a detection surface of a sensor. The lead screw has a through hole penetrating in a rotary shaft direction, has one end formed with a second fitting part fit to the first fitting part and the other end connected with a fluid supply device, and thereby the through hole communicates with the nozzle and the fluid supply device. The rotation mechanism rotates the lead screw, and thereby changes the fit state of the first fitting part and the second fitting part, and moves the nozzle in the rotary shaft direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a deposit removing device.

Conventionally, there is known a deposit removing device that removes deposits adhering to a lens by injecting a fluid such as a cleaning liquid or compressed air from a nozzle having an injection port arranged toward the lens of an in-vehicle camera. This type of deposit removing device has a technique in which a nozzle is provided so as to be movable along a extending direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2020-152326

However, in the prior art, there is room for improvement in terms of space saving.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a deposit removing device capable of realizing space saving.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the deposit removing device according to the present invention includes a nozzle, a lead screw, and a rotation mechanism. The nozzle has a first fitting portion at an end opposite to the injection port for injecting fluid toward the detection surface of the sensor. The lead screw has a through hole penetrating along the rotation axis direction, a second fitting portion to be fitted to the first fitting portion is formed at one end, and a fluid supply device is connected to the other end. This allows the through hole to communicate with the nozzle and the fluid supply device. By rotating the lead screw, the rotation mechanism changes the fitting state of the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion to move the nozzle in the rotation axis direction.

According to the present invention, space saving can be realized.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle provided with an in-vehicle camera. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line AA'shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the deposit removing device according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a deposit removing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a deposit removing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a deposit removing device according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the deposit removing apparatus disclosed in the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown below.

Further, in the following, a case where the sensor to which the deposit removing device is attached is an in-vehicle camera 5 mounted on the vehicle V will be described as an example. It is assumed that the vehicle-mounted camera 5 is a rear camera that is arranged at the rear of the vehicle V and photographs the rear of the vehicle V.

First, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle V provided with an in-vehicle camera 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle-mounted camera 5 is installed, for example, at a position above the license plate 93 at the rear of the vehicle V and substantially at the center of the vehicle V in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle-mounted camera 5 captures, for example, a back view image behind the vehicle V from such a position.

Subsequently, FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line AA'shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 2 illustrates an in-vehicle camera 5 that does not have a nozzle for ejecting a fluid for convenience of explanation.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the rear part of the vehicle V, the license plate 93 is attached to the metal body panel 91. Further, in the upper part of the license plate 93, a garnish 92 made of, for example, resin is attached to the vehicle body panel 91.

A space 94 in which parts and the like can be placed is formed between the vehicle body panel 91 and the garnish 92. The bottom surface 92a of the garnish 92 is provided so that its plane direction is substantially parallel to, for example, the horizontal direction. A garnish hole 92b is opened in the bottom surface 92a.

The vehicle-mounted camera 5 is supported with respect to the vehicle body panel 91 via, for example, a bracket 7. The bracket 7 is fixed so as to cover the body hole 91a opened in the vehicle body panel 91. The vehicle-mounted camera 5 is attached to the bracket 7 and is supported by the bracket 7 in a state where the optical axis direction is tilted with respect to the vertical direction so that the rear of the vehicle V can be imaged.

The base end side of the vehicle-mounted camera 5 is arranged inside the vehicle, and wiring is connected. The tip side is arranged on the space 94 side, and the lens 5a (an example of the detection surface) is exposed from the garnish hole 92b. The clearance between the vehicle-mounted camera 5 and the garnish 92 may be about several millimeters depending on the type of the vehicle V, and is almost closed.

Here, the deposit removing device 10 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the deposit removing device 10 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the deposit removing device 10 includes a nozzle 11. The nozzle 11 is connected to the fluid supply device 100 and injects the fluid (for example, compressed air, cleaning liquid, etc.) supplied from the fluid supply device 100 toward the lens 5a of the vehicle-mounted camera 5.

Here, conventionally, there has been a technique for making the nozzle movable in the extending direction of the nozzle. In the prior art, when moving the nozzle, the lead screw is arranged in parallel with the flow path of the nozzle, and the female screw portion protruding from the nozzle and the male screw portion of the lead screw are engaged with each other.

However, in the case of the conventional configuration, a space between the lead screw and the protruding portion serving as the female screw portion is required, which may make it difficult to miniaturize the product.

Therefore, in the deposit removing device 10 according to the embodiment, space saving is realized by the configurations shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. 4 to 6 are views showing the configuration of the deposit removing device 10 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, in the deposit removing device 10 according to the embodiment, the lead screw 14 itself is provided with a through hole 14a (see FIG. 5) as a fluid path, whereby the fluid path and the lead screw 14 are provided. Since it is not necessary to arrange the and in parallel, space saving can be realized. Hereinafter, the configuration of the deposit removing device 10 according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

FIG. 4 shows a view seen from the front with respect to the lens 5a of the vehicle-mounted camera 5. FIG. 5 shows a cross section cut along the line AA of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 shows a cross section cut along the line BB of FIG. In FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, the internal structure of the housing 12 is shown so as to be visible, but in reality, the housing 12 is provided so as to cover the internal structure.

As shown in FIG. 4, the deposit removing device 10 according to the embodiment includes a nozzle 11, a housing 12, a rotation mechanism 13, and a lead screw 14.

The nozzle 11 injects the fluid supplied from the fluid supply device 100 from the injection port 11c (see FIG. 6) toward the lens 5a. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the nozzle 11 has a first fitting portion 11b at an end portion opposite to the injection port 11c.

Specifically, the first fitting portion 11b is provided on the inner diameter side of the nozzle 11. More specifically, the first fitting portion 11b is provided on the wall portion of the flow path 11a through which the fluid passes. Further, the first fitting portion 11b has a female screw shape that meshes with the second fitting portion 14b described later.

The housing 12 accommodates the nozzle 11, the rotation mechanism 13, and the lead screw 14, and is provided so that a part of the nozzle 11 on the injection port 11c side protrudes. Specifically, the nozzle 11 projects outward from the through hole 12b provided in the housing 12.

Further, the through hole 12b provided in the housing 12 has the same shape as the outer peripheral shape of the nozzle 11, and fits with the nozzle 11. The outer peripheral shape of the nozzle 11 and the through hole 12b are preferably non-circular, for example, elliptical.

As a result, when the lead screw 14 described later rotates, the through hole 12b functions as a stopper, so that the nozzle 11 can be prevented from rotating together with the lead screw 14.

The non-circular outer peripheral shape may be formed only on a part of the nozzle 11. Specifically, only the fitting portion between the nozzle 11 and the through hole 12b may be non-circular.

Further, the housing 12 is provided with a connection portion 12a on the surface opposite to the through hole 12b. The connection portion 12a has a through hole 121a, a lead screw 14 is connected to the inner side, and a fluid supply device 100 is connected to the outer side.

That is, the flow path of the fluid supply device 100 and the through hole 14a of the lead screw 14 are connected to the through hole 121a of the connecting portion 12a.

The rotation mechanism 13 includes a motor 13a and a first gear 13b. The first gear 13b meshes with the second gear 14c of the lead screw 14. The rotation mechanism 13 rotates the first gear 13b by the rotation of the motor 13a.

As a result, the lead screw 14 can be moved by rotating the second gear 14c.

The lead screw 14 has a through hole 14a penetrating along the rotation axis direction (left-right direction on the paper surface of FIGS. 5 and 6). Further, the lead screw 14 has a second fitting portion 14b formed at one end on the nozzle 11 side.

The second fitting portion 14b fits with the first fitting portion 11b. Specifically, the second fitting portion 14b has a male screw shape provided on the outer diameter side of the lead screw 14.

That is, the second fitting portion 14b is fitted to the inner diameter side of the first fitting portion 11b by engaging with the first fitting portion 11b having a female screw shape. As a result, the flow path 11a of the nozzle 11 and the through hole 14a of the lead screw 14 communicate with the fluid supply device 100, and the female screw shape and the male screw shape mesh with each other, so that the nozzle 11 is driven by the drive of the lead screw 14. The stroke can be finely controlled.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the flow path 11a of the nozzle 11, the through hole 14a of the lead screw 14, and the flow path of the fluid supply device 100 are arranged coaxially. Specifically, the flow path 11a of the nozzle 11, the through hole 14a of the lead screw 14, and the through hole 121a of the connecting portion 12a are coaxially arranged.

In other words, the flow path 11a of the nozzle 11, the through hole 14a of the lead screw 14, and the flow path of the fluid supply device 100 are aligned in a straight line.

As a result, the fluid supplied from the fluid supply device 100 does not stay in the through hole 14a or the flow path 11a, so that the fluid can be efficiently injected from the injection port 11c.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the deposit removing device 10 includes a first sliding member 15a, a second sliding member 15b, and a third sliding member 15c.

The first sliding member 15a, the second sliding member 15b, and the third sliding member 15c are, for example, sealing members (or sealing agents). The first sliding member 15a is provided between the housing 12 and the nozzle 11.

Specifically, the first sliding member 15a is provided so as to close between the through hole 12b of the housing 12 and the nozzle 11, and slides with respect to the nozzle 11. As a result, the nozzle 11 can be moved, and water, dust, and the like can be suppressed from entering the housing 12 through the through hole 12b.

Further, the second sliding member 15b is provided so as to close between the first fitting portion 11b and the second fitting portion 14b, and the first fitting portion 11b and the second fitting portion 14b slide with each other. .. As a result, it is possible to prevent water, dust, and the like from entering the flow path 11a and the through hole 14a from between the first fitting portion 11b and the second fitting portion 14b.

Further, the third sliding member 15c is provided in the connecting portion 12a to which the fluid supply device 100 and the lead screw 14 are connected. Specifically, the third sliding member 15c is provided so as to close between the lead screw 14 and the connecting portion 12a, and slides with respect to the lead screw 14. As a result, the lead screw 14 can be rotated, and water, dust, and the like can be prevented from entering the through hole 14a from the connecting portion 12a.

Next, the moving mechanism of the nozzle 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, first, the rotation mechanism 13 rotates the first gear 13b by rotating the motor 13a. As a result, the power of the motor 13a is transmitted to the second gear 14c that meshes with the first gear 13b, and the second gear 14c rotates.

Then, as the second gear 14c rotates, the fitting state of the first fitting portion 11b and the second fitting portion 14b changes. Specifically, the second fitting portion 14b rotates with the rotation of the second gear 14c, so that the meshing state of the female screw shape of the first fitting portion 11b and the male screw shape of the second fitting portion 14b changes. By doing so, the lens is moved in the direction of the rotation axis.

More specifically, as the amount of engagement between the female screw shape and the male screw shape increases, the nozzle 11 is pulled toward the lead screw 14, so that the nozzle 11 moves in the direction away from the lens 5a (to the right of the paper surface in FIG. 6). do.

Further, as the amount of meshing between the female screw shape and the male screw shape decreases, the nozzle 11 is pushed away from the lead screw 14, so that the nozzle 11 moves in the direction closer to the lens 5a (to the left of the paper surface in FIG. 6).

As described above, the deposit removing device 10 according to the embodiment includes a nozzle 11, a lead screw 14, and a rotation mechanism 13. The nozzle 11 has a first fitting portion 11b at an end opposite to the injection port 11c that injects fluid toward the detection surface (lens 5a) of the sensor (vehicle-mounted camera 5). The lead screw 14 has a through hole 14a penetrating along the rotation axis direction, a second fitting portion 14b that fits into the first fitting portion 11b is formed at one end, and a fluid supply device 100 is formed at the other end. By being connected, the through hole 14a communicates with the nozzle 11 and the fluid supply device 100. By rotating the lead screw 14, the rotation mechanism 13 changes the fitting state of the first fitting portion 11b and the second fitting portion 14b to move the nozzle 11 in the rotation axis direction. As a result, space saving can be realized.

Further effects and variations can be easily derived by those skilled in the art. For this reason, the broader aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details and representative embodiments described and described above. Thus, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the overall concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

5 In-vehicle camera 5a Lens 7 Bracket 10 Adhesion removing device 11 Nozzle 11a Flow path 11b First fitting part 11c Injection port 12 Housing 12a Connection part 12b Through hole 13 Rotating mechanism 13a Motor 13b First gear 14 Lead screw 14a Through hole 14b 2nd fitting part 14c 2nd gear 15a 1st sliding member 15b 2nd sliding member 15c 3rd sliding member 91 Body panel 91a Body hole 92 Garnish 92a Bottom 92b Garnish hole 93 License plate 94 Space 100 Fluid supply device V vehicle

Claims (5)

A nozzle having a first fitting portion at the end opposite to the injection port for injecting fluid toward the detection surface of the sensor,
It has a through hole that penetrates along the rotation axis direction, a second fitting portion that fits into the first fitting portion is formed at one end, and a fluid supply device is connected to the other end, whereby the penetration. A lead screw whose holes communicate with the nozzle and the fluid supply device,
It is characterized by comprising a rotation mechanism for changing the fitting state of the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion to move the nozzle in the rotation axis direction by rotating the lead screw. Deposit remover. The first fitting portion is
It has a female screw shape provided on the inner diameter side of the nozzle.
The second fitting portion is
The deposit removing device according to claim 1, wherein the lead screw has a male screw shape provided on the outer diameter side. In addition to accommodating the nozzle, the lead screw and the rotation mechanism, the housing further includes a housing in which a part of the nozzle on the injection port side protrudes.
The nozzle is
The deposit removing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a part of the outer peripheral shape is non-circular. A first sliding member provided between the housing and the nozzle,
A second sliding member provided between the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion, and
The deposit removing device according to claim 3, further comprising the fluid supply device and a third sliding member provided at a connection portion to which the lead screw is connected. The housing is
A connection having a through hole to which the through hole of the lead screw and the flow path of the fluid supply device are connected is provided.
The deposit removing device according to claim 3, wherein the flow path of the nozzle, the through hole of the lead screw, and the through hole of the connection portion are arranged coaxially.

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