JP7473447B2 - Engagement Structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an engagement structure.

In a cable-driven actuator, an end of a cable (cable end) is connected to a connection object such as a slider inside the casing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this case, the cable end is engaged with a wall portion of the connection object that extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the axial direction of the cable. Specifically, when connecting a cable to a connection object, with the casing open, the cable end of the cable is positioned above the wall portion of the connection object, and the cable is moved downward so that the cable end can engage with the inner surface of the wall portion of the connection object. At this time, the cable is passed through a cable insertion groove formed in the wall portion. After the cable is connected to the connection object, the casing is closed and cable assembly is completed.

On the other hand, there is a demand for actuators that allow the cable to be attached without opening the actuator casing; for example, the actuator and cable can be transported separately and then the cable can be attached to the actuator later to create a finished product.

As a structure that allows a cable to be retrofitted to a connection target, Patent Document 2 discloses a structure in which the cable end of a cable is moved in the axial direction of the cable, so that the cable end moves along a guide surface and overcomes the engagement part of the connection target in the axial direction of the cable, allowing it to engage with the engagement part.

JP 2019-183994 A International Publication No. 2012/147949

However, even if a structure like that of Patent Document 2 is used, the cable is flexible, making it difficult to stably move the cable end to the engagement point. In addition, if another member such as a spring is provided beyond the guide surface where the cable end passes, the other member may become an obstacle, making it even more difficult to push the cable end in further.

The present invention aims to provide an engagement structure that does not require opening the casing when assembling the cable to the connection target inside the casing, and makes it easy to move the cable end in the axial direction of the cable so that the cable end reaches the engagement part of the connection target.

The engagement structure of the present invention is an engagement structure that includes a cable having a cable end and a cable body, a connection object to which the cable is connected, and a casing in which the connection object is provided, and the connection object includes an insertion portion through which the cable body can be inserted in the axial direction of the cable, and an engagement portion that faces the rear end of the cable end and engages with the rear end of the cable end in the axial direction of the cable, and the engagement structure is configured such that the rear end of the cable end can be engaged with the engagement portion by moving the cable end in the axial direction of the cable relative to the connection object so that the cable end passes over the insertion portion in the axial direction of the cable, and the engagement structure further includes a pressing member that presses the rear end of the cable end at a passing position where the cable end passes over the insertion portion in the axial direction of the cable.

The engagement structure of the present invention makes it possible to assemble the cable to the connection object inside the casing without having to open the casing, and it is easy to move the cable end in the axial direction of the cable so that the cable end reaches the engagement part of the connection object.

1 is a top view showing an initial state of a drive device provided with an engagement structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the slider, the pressing member, and the casing taken along line AA in FIG. 1. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the drive unit is driven and the slider is moved from the state shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the slider and the casing taken along line BB in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slider used in the drive device of FIG. 1 . 2 is a perspective view showing a guide portion and an insertion opening provided in a casing of the drive device of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 2 shows an insertion opening in the casing of the drive device of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pressing member through which a cable is inserted. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 9. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a cable end is slightly inserted through an insertion opening of a casing. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the cable end has further moved in the axial direction from the state shown in FIG. 11 and has come into contact with an inclined surface of a guide portion. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the cable end has moved further in the axial direction from the state shown in FIG. 12 and is positioned within a passage opening which is a passage position. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the pressing member is inserted into the insertion opening and abuts against the rear end of the cable end from the state shown in FIG. 13 . FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the rear end of the cable end is pressed by a pressing member and the coil spring is pressed by a front end of the cable end from the state shown in FIG. 14 . FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the rear end of the cable end is further pressed by the pressing member from the state shown in FIG. 15 and a part of the rear end of the cable end is engaged with an engaging portion. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a cable main body is temporarily held by a pressing member and is inserted into a casing in an engagement structure of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E in Figure 17. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the cable end is inserted into the casing from the state shown in FIG. 17 and the cable end comes into contact with a contact portion. FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the rear end of the cable end is pressed by a pressing member from the state shown in FIG. 19, so that the cable main body is released from the temporary holding portion and the cable end is engaged with the engaging portion. FIG.

The engagement structure of one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment shown below is merely an example, and the engagement structure of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

First Embodiment
As shown in Figure 1, the engagement structure 1 of this embodiment comprises a cable 2 having a cable end 2a and a cable body 2c, a connection object 3 to which the cable 2 is connected, and a casing 4 in which the connection object 3 is provided.

The engagement structure 1 is a structure that connects the cable 2 and the connection object 3 provided in the casing 4. Specifically, the engagement structure 1 is a structure that connects the cable end 2a to the connection object 3 in the casing 4 by moving the cable end 2a in the direction of the axis X (see FIG. 1) of the cable 2, as described later. In this embodiment, the cable 2 and the connection object 3 are connected, so that an operating force can be transmitted between the cable 2 and the connection object 3. The use and structure of the engagement structure 1 are not particularly limited as long as it is a use and structure that connects the cable 2 and the connection object 3 provided in the casing 4. In this embodiment, the engagement structure 1 is applied to a drive device D that operates the cable 2 by the operation of the connection object 3. The engagement structure of the present invention will be described below using a drive device D provided with the engagement structure 1 as an example. However, the structure of the engagement structure and the drive device provided with the engagement structure is not limited to the following example.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the drive device D including the engagement structure 1 includes a cable 2, a connection object 3 (hereinafter also referred to as slider 3) which is a slider to which the cable 2 is connected and which is movable in the axial direction X of the cable 2 within a casing 4, and a drive unit 5 which drives the connection object, the slider 3. In this embodiment, the drive device D includes a biasing member 6 which biases the slider 3 in a predetermined movement direction.

In this specification, the axis X of the cable 2 refers to the axis of the cable 2 (for example, the portion extending into the casing 4) near the cable end 2a when the cable 2 is connected to the connection object 3 provided in the casing 4 (as shown in Figures 1 and 2), and the axis X direction refers to the direction in which the axis X extends. In addition, in this specification, the direction in which the connection object (slider) 3 moves is called the movement direction D1. In this embodiment, the movement direction D1 is the same as the axis X direction, and the movement direction D1 of the connection object (slider) 3 can be referred to as the axis X direction, and the axis X direction can be referred to as the movement direction D1 of the connection object (slider) 3. In addition, one of the movement directions D1 is called the first movement direction D11, and the other movement direction is called the second movement direction D12. In this embodiment, the first movement direction D11 coincides with the direction in which the cable 2 is moved when the cable 2 is attached to the connection object 3. In this specification, a direction perpendicular to the moving direction D1, particularly a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface (sliding surface) 41a (see FIG. 2) of the casing 4 on which the connection object (slider) 3 slides, is called the height direction D2, and a direction perpendicular to both the moving direction D1 and the height direction D2 is called the width direction D3 (see FIG. 4). Note that in this specification, "perpendicular" includes not only a state completely perpendicular to a reference direction, line, surface, etc., but also a state that is approximately perpendicular close to perpendicular.

The driving device D moves the slider 3 in the moving direction D1 by the driving force of the driving unit 5, and moves the cable 2 connected to the slider 3. In this embodiment, the driving device D is configured to operate the operation object OP connected to the cable 2, as shown in FIG. 1. More specifically, as described later, when the slider 3 is moved in a first moving direction D11, which is one direction in the moving direction D1, by the driving force of the driving unit 5, and the cable 2 is pulled in the first moving direction D11 (see FIG. 3), the operation object OP is operated by the cable 2. On the other hand, when the driving force of the driving unit 5 is released, the slider 3 is moved in a second moving direction D12, which is the opposite direction to the first moving direction D11, by the biasing force of the biasing member 6, and the slider 3 is returned to the initial position shown in FIG. 1. Note that in this embodiment, the driving device D has only a single cable 2, but the driving device D may have two or more cables.

The use of the drive device D is not particularly limited as long as it can move the slider 3 by the driving force of the drive unit 5 and move the cable 2 connected to the slider 3. Specifically, the drive device D can be an unlocking drive device that unlocks a locking device, for example, when the operation target OP is a locking device for a reclining mechanism of a vehicle seat or a locking device for a fuel lid.

The cable 2 is connected to the connection object 3. The cable 2 may be a driven cable operated by the connection object 3, or may be a drive cable that operates the connection object 3 by operating the cable 2. In this embodiment, the cable 2 is connected to the slider 3, which is the connection object, and is operated by the movement of the slider 3. In this embodiment, the cable 2 has a cable end 2a provided on one end side of the cable 2, a cable end 2b provided on the other end side of the cable 2, and a cable body 2c, as shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the cable end 2a of the cable 2 is connected to the slider 3, and the cable end 2b on the other end side of the cable 2 is connected to the operation object OP. In addition, when the cable 2 is a drive cable that operates the connection object 3, the cable end 2b is connected to an operation unit (not shown) that operates the cable 2 to operate the connection object 3.

In this embodiment, the cable 2 is an inner cable of the control cable, and is inserted into the outer casing OC of the control cable as shown in FIG. 1. The cable 2 is routed in a predetermined routing path by the outer casing OC in an attachment object such as a vehicle body. In this embodiment, a pressing member 7 (described later) is provided at an end of the outer casing OC, and the outer casing OC is attached to the casing 4 via the pressing member 7. The cable main body 2c of the cable 2 is inserted into the outer casing OC and the pressing member 7, and is introduced from the outside of the casing 4 to the inside of the casing 4.

The cable end 2a is engaged with and connected to the connection object 3. Specifically, the cable end 2a is configured such that the rear end R of the cable end 2a engages with the connection object 3 as shown in FIG. 2. The shape and structure of the cable end 2a are not particularly limited as long as it can engage with and connect to the connection object 3. In this embodiment, the rear end R of the cable end 2a is configured by a flat surface perpendicular to the axis X of the cable 2 as shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the tip T of the cable end 2a is configured to be tapered as shown in FIG. 8. Note that the cable end 2b may have the same shape and structure as the cable end 2a, or may have a different shape and structure.

The casing 4 is a container in which the connection object 3 is provided. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the casing 4 accommodates the slider 3, which is the connection object, as well as some of the components of the drive device D. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the casing 4 accommodates the drive unit 5, the slider 3, and the urging member 6. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the casing 4 includes a connection object accommodating section 41 (hereinafter referred to as the slider accommodating section 41) that slidably accommodates the slider 3, which is the connection object, and a drive unit accommodating section 42 that accommodates the drive unit 5. In addition, the casing 4 includes a cable introduction section 43 that introduces the cable 2 into the inside of the casing 4 on one side (the second moving direction D12 side) of the slider accommodating section 41 in the axial X direction. In this embodiment, the casing 4 includes a guide section 44 that guides the cable end 2a in a predetermined direction between the cable introduction section 43 and the slider accommodating section 41 in the axial X direction, as described later. In this embodiment, the casing 4 has a first casing member 4A and a second casing member 4B (see FIG. 2, etc.) that can be opened and closed relative to each other, and is configured to house each member inside by closing the second casing member 4B relative to the first casing member 4A. However, the overall shape and structure of the casing 4 are not particularly limited.

In this embodiment, the casing 4 has a sliding surface 41a on which the slider 3 slides, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The casing 4 (slider accommodating portion 41) also has a pair of guide walls 41c, 41d that are substantially perpendicular to the sliding surface 41a and extend along the movement direction D1 of the slider 3, as shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment, the sliding surface 41a and the pair of guide walls 41c, 41d are provided in the slider accommodating portion 41. The slider accommodating portion 41 has an internal space in which the slider 3 can slide with a predetermined stroke in the movement direction D1. In this embodiment, the internal space of the slider accommodating portion 41 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped space, and is defined by a bottom surface (hereinafter also referred to as the bottom surface 41a) that serves as the sliding surface 41a of the slider 4, an upper surface 41b (see FIG. 2) that faces the bottom surface 41a, a pair of side walls (see FIG. 4; hereinafter also referred to as the side walls 41c and 41d) that serve as guide walls 41c and 41d provided on both sides in the width direction D3 of the slider 3, and end walls 41e and 41f (see FIG. 1) provided on both sides in the moving direction D1 of the slider 3. In this embodiment, the bottom surface 41a is formed as a flat surface, but the bottom surface 41a does not need to be a flat surface as long as the slider 3 can slide. In addition, the side walls 41c and 41d are spaced apart by a width corresponding to the width of the slider 3 in the width direction D3. As a result, the side walls 41c and 41d function as guide parts that stably move the slider 3 along the moving direction D1. In this embodiment, in addition to the bottom surface 41a of the casing 4, the sliding surface 41g is provided in a stepped shape from the side walls 41c and 41d, allowing the sliding portion 34 (described later) to slide.

The cable introduction section 43 is a section where the cable 2 is introduced from the outside of the casing 4 to the inside of the casing 4 so that the cable end 2a of the cable 2 can be connected to the slider 3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the cable introduction section 43 is provided on one side of the casing 4 in the axial X direction (the side of the second moving direction D12). The cable introduction section 43 has an insertion opening 431 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) that connects the outside and inside of the casing 4.

The insertion opening 431 is an opening through which the cable 2 can be inserted from the outside of the casing 4 into the inside of the casing 4 so that the cable end 2a of the cable 2 can be connected to the slider 3. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the insertion opening 431 is provided in a side wall 43a of the casing 4 provided at one end (the second moving direction D12 side) of the casing 4 in the axial X direction. In this embodiment, the insertion opening 431 is configured to allow the pressing member 7 described later to be inserted. Specifically, the insertion opening 431 allows the cylindrical portion 71 (see Fig. 8) of the pressing member 7 described later to be inserted from the outside of the casing 4. The shape and structure of the insertion opening 431 are not particularly limited as long as the cable 2 can be inserted from the outside of the casing 4 into the inside of the casing 4, but in this embodiment, it has a key-shaped structure (see Figs. 6 and 7) as described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drive unit housing 42 houses the drive unit 5. Specifically, the drive unit housing 42 is provided at a position adjacent to the slider housing 41 in the width direction D3, and is in communication with the slider housing 41. In this embodiment, the drive unit housing 42 is configured to house the motor 51 of the drive unit 5 and multiple transmission members 52a, 52b, 52c, and 52d, as described below.

The driving unit 5 generates a driving force to move the slider 3. In this embodiment, the driving unit 5 has a motor 51 and one or more transmission members 52a, 52b, 52c, and 52d, as shown in FIG. 1. The motor 51 moves the slider 3 in the moving direction D1 through the transmission members 52a, 52b, 52c, and 52d by the rotational force of the motor 51. In this embodiment, the transmission members 52a, 52b, 52c, and 52d are gears configured to transmit the rotational force generated by the motor 51 toward the slider 3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the driving unit 5 has a pinion gear P that engages with the slider 3 having a rack portion (power transmission portion) 35 as described later, and transmits the driving force of the driving unit 5 to the slider 3. More specifically, the output shaft of the motor 51 and each of the transmission members 52a, 52b, 52c, and 52d are configured to rotate about a rotation axis extending in the width direction D3, and the pinion gear P of the transmission member 52d is configured to engage with the rack portion 35 of the slider 3 to move the slider 3. The structure of the drive unit 5 is not limited to the structure shown in the figure, as long as it can generate a driving force to move the slider 3. For example, in this embodiment, the drive unit 5 is configured to transmit a rotational driving force to the slider 3, but the drive unit 5 may be configured to transmit a linear driving force to the slider 3.

The connection object 3 is an object to which the cable 2 provided inside the casing 4 is connected. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the connection object 3 has an insertion portion 31 through which the cable portion of the cable main body 2c adjacent to the cable end 2a (hereinafter simply referred to as the cable main body 2c) can be inserted in the axial X direction of the cable 2, and an engagement portion 32 that faces the rear end R of the cable end 2a and engages with the rear end R of the cable end 2a in the axial X direction of the cable 2.

The structure of the connection object 3 is not particularly limited as long as it can connect the cable 2 and has an insertion portion 31 and an engagement portion 32. In this embodiment, the connection object 3 is a slider that can move in the axial direction X of the cable 2 inside the casing 4, as described above.

In this embodiment, the slider 3, which is the connection target, can move in the movement direction D1 (first movement direction D11) by the driving force of the drive unit 5, and operates the cable 2 connected to the slider 3. In this embodiment, the slider 3 has a biasing member accommodating portion 33 extending along the movement direction D1, which accommodates a part of the biasing member (coil spring) 6, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Also, in this embodiment, the slider 3 has a sliding portion 34 (see Figures 2 and 4) that slides along the sliding surfaces 41a, 41g of the casing 4, and a power transmission portion 35 that is connected to the drive unit 5 and transmits the driving force of the drive unit 5. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the slider 3 has a pair of plate-shaped guided surfaces 36a, 36b that extend opposite the pair of guide walls 41c, 41d, and a rack portion 35 that is a power transmission portion that connects the pair of guided surfaces 36a, 36b and engages with the pinion gear P.

The shape and structure of the slider 3 are not particularly limited as long as the slider 3 can be moved in the moving direction D1 by the driving force of the driving unit 5 and the cable 2 connected to the slider 3 can be operated. In this embodiment, the slider 3 has a predetermined length in the moving direction D1 and a cross section perpendicular to the moving direction D1 that is approximately U-shaped (see FIG. 4) as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 5. More specifically, the slider 3 has a pair of side walls W1, W2 spaced apart in the width direction D3 and having guided surfaces 36a, 36b, as shown in FIG. 4, and an upper wall W3 that connects the pair of side walls W1, W2 in the width direction D3 and has a rack portion 35. The pair of side walls W1, W2 extend parallel to each other along the moving direction D1. As shown in FIG. 1, an engagement portion 32 is provided on one end side (second moving direction D12 side) of the slider 3 in the moving direction D1. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the cable body 2c of the cable 2 engaged with the engagement portion 32 is inserted into the insertion portion 31. In addition, one end side of the slider 3 in the axial direction (second movement direction D12 side) has a passage opening 37 (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 5) through which the cable end 2a passes through the insertion portion 31 in the axial direction before engaging with the engagement portion 32, as described below. As shown in Fig. 5, the passage opening 37 communicates with the insertion portion 31 in the height direction D2. In addition, the other end side of the slider 3 in the axial direction (first movement direction D11 side) is open so that the biasing member 6 can be inserted into the biasing member accommodating portion 33 of the slider 3 in the movement direction D1.

The insertion portion 31 is a portion through which the cable body 2c adjacent to the cable end 2a can be inserted in the axial direction of the cable 2 when the cable end 2a is engaged with the engagement portion 32 (see Figs. 1 and 2). In this embodiment, the insertion portion 31 is formed in a wall portion W4 provided at one end (the second moving direction D12 side) of the slider 3, which is the connection target in the axial direction X, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The insertion portion 31 only needs to be formed to a size that allows the cable body 2c to be inserted. In this embodiment, the insertion portion 31 is shown as a slit extending in the height direction D2 that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cable body 2c and has a width that does not allow the cable end 2a to enter.

In this embodiment, the slider 3, which is the connection target, has a passage opening 37 at a passage position where the cable end 2a passes through the insertion portion 31 in the axial X direction before the cable main body 2c passes through the insertion portion 31 and the cable end 2a is engaged with the engagement portion 32, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. In this embodiment, the passage opening 37 is formed in a wall portion W4 provided at one end (second moving direction D12 side) of the slider 3 in the axial X direction, as shown in Figures 2 and 5. Note that the "passage position" is a position where the cable end 2a passes through the insertion portion 31 in the axial X direction of the cable 2 before the cable end 2a is engaged with the engagement portion 32 of the connection target 3. The passage position is not particularly limited as long as it is a position where the cable end 2a passes through the insertion portion 31 in the axial X direction of the cable 2. In this embodiment, the passing position is a position shifted in a direction perpendicular to the axis X direction with respect to the insertion portion 31, and more specifically, is a position where the upper passing opening 37 is formed in the height direction D2 with respect to the insertion portion 31.

In this embodiment, the passage opening 37 is formed to a size that allows the cable end 2a to pass in the axial X direction at the passing position. The passage opening 37 communicates with the insertion portion 31 so that the cable main body 2c can enter the insertion portion 31 after the cable end 2a passes through the passage opening 37. Note that, although the passage opening 37 is substantially rectangular in this embodiment, the shape of the passage opening 37 is not particularly limited as long as it is configured to allow the cable end 2a to pass through.

The engaging portion 32 faces the rear end R of the cable end 2a and is a portion with which the rear end R of the cable end 2a engages in the axial direction of the cable 2. The engaging portion 32 engages with the rear end R of the cable end 2a, allowing the transmission of operating force between the cable 2 and the slider 3. The shape and structure of the engaging portion 32 are not particularly limited as long as the rear end R of the cable end 2a can engage with the cable 2 in the axial direction of the cable 2. The position at which the engaging portion 32 is provided is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the engaging portion 32 is provided on one end of the slider 3 in the axial direction (the second moving direction D12 side) on a wall portion W4 extending perpendicular to the axial direction X, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The power transmission unit 35 is a part configured to transmit the driving force of the drive unit 5 to the slider 3. In this embodiment, the rotational motion of the drive unit 5 is transmitted to the power transmission unit (rack unit) 35 of the slider 3 and converted into linear motion of the slider 3. However, the drive unit 5 may be configured to perform linear motion, and the linear motion of the drive unit 5 may be transmitted to the power transmission unit, causing the slider 3 to perform linear motion. In this embodiment, the power transmission unit 35 is a rack unit (hereinafter referred to as rack unit 35) with which the pinion gear P of the transmission member 52d of the drive unit 5 engages, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Specifically, the rack unit 35 is provided on the surface of the slider 3 that is opposite the sliding unit 34 that faces the sliding surface 41a in the height direction D2. The rack unit 35 has a tooth row in which teeth and grooves that form unevenness in the height direction D2 are alternately formed in the movement direction D1. As the pinion gear P of the transmission member 52d rotates, the teeth of the pinion gear P mesh with the teeth of the rack portion 35, and the slider 3 moves in the moving direction D1. Note that the power transmission portion does not necessarily have to be a rack portion, and can be changed depending on the structure of the drive portion 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, the guided surfaces 36a, 36b extend opposite the pair of guide walls 41c, 41d. The guided surfaces 36a, 36b are guided by the pair of guide walls 41c, 41d in the casing 4 to stably move the slider 3 in the casing 4. The shape and structure of the pair of guided surfaces 36a, 36b and the pair of guide walls 41c, 41d are not particularly limited as long as the slider 3 can be stably moved in the moving direction D1 in the casing 4. In this embodiment, the guided surfaces 36a, 36b are provided parallel to and opposite each other in the width direction D3 of the slider 3. In this embodiment, the pair of guided surfaces 36a, 36b are formed as flat surfaces that are in surface contact with the guide walls 41c, 41d, which are formed as flat surfaces. However, the pair of guided surfaces may be curved surfaces that can be guided in the moving direction D1 along the curved surfaces, for example, when the pair of guide walls are curved surfaces. In addition, the guided surface may have a guide groove or guide protrusion that engages with the guide protrusion or guide groove provided on the guide walls 41c and 41d, as long as the slider 3 is guided so as to move stably in the movement direction D1.

The sliding portion 34 slides against the sliding surfaces 41a, 41g of the casing 4 when the slider 4 moves in the moving direction D1. The sliding portion 34 may be a flat surface as long as the slider 4 can move smoothly in the moving direction D1, or may be configured to engage with guide protrusions or guide grooves provided on the sliding surfaces 41a, 41g and be guided in the moving direction D1.

The biasing member accommodating portion 33 is a portion of the connection target (slider) 3 having an internal space that accommodates a portion of the biasing member (coil spring) 6. In this embodiment, the biasing member accommodating portion 33 extends along the movement direction D1 in the slider 3 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The shape of the biasing member accommodating portion 33 is not particularly limited as long as it extends along the movement direction D1 and can accommodate a portion of the biasing member 6. In this embodiment, the biasing member accommodating portion 33 has an internal space defined by side walls W1, W2 and an upper wall W3 as shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 1, the biasing member accommodating portion 33 extends in the movement direction D1 from the end opposite the end where the engaging portion 32 of the slider 3 is provided to the vicinity of the portion where the engaging portion 32 is provided.

In this embodiment, the slider 3 is biased by the biasing member 6 in the axial direction of the cable 2 in the direction opposite to the moving direction (in this embodiment, the first moving direction D11) when the cable end 2a passes through the insertion portion 31 (in this embodiment, the second moving direction D12). The biasing member 6 is not particularly limited as long as it biases in the axial direction of the cable 2 in the direction opposite to the moving direction when the cable end 2a passes through the insertion portion 31 when connected to the slider 3. In this embodiment, the biasing member 6 is a compression coil spring (hereinafter, the biasing member is referred to as the coil spring 6) having an expansion and contraction axis in the axial direction (movement direction D1). As shown in FIG. 1, in the initial state of the drive device D, a part of the coil spring 6 in the axial direction is accommodated in the biasing member accommodating portion 33 as described above, and the other part is located outside the slider 3 in the axial direction. One end of the coil spring 6 is supported by a spring seat SS provided in the biasing member housing portion 33, and the other end of the coil spring 6 is supported by an end of the spring case SC on the end wall 41e side of the casing 4. When the slider 3 moves in the first moving direction D11, the coil spring 6 contracts (see FIG. 3), and when the slider 3 moves in the second moving direction D12, the coil spring 6 expands. In this embodiment, the coil spring 6 is housed in a cylindrical spring case SC as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, but the coil spring 6 may be used in an exposed state without using the spring case SC.

In this embodiment, the engagement structure 1 is configured so that the rear end R of the cable end 2a can be engaged with the engagement portion 32 by moving the cable end 2a in the axial X direction of the cable 2 relative to the connection object 3, and the cable end 2a passes over the insertion portion 31 of the connection object 3 in the axial X direction of the cable 2. This allows the cable 2 to be engaged with the engagement portion 32 of the connection object 3 from the outside of the casing 4 without opening the casing 4 on which the connection object 3 is provided. In this embodiment, the cable 2 can be moved in the axial X direction from the insertion opening 431 of the casing 4, so that the cable end 2a can be engaged with the engagement portion 32 of the slider 3 without opening the casing 4 (see Figures 11 to 16). This allows, for example, the casing 4 containing the slider 3 and the drive unit 5 and the cable 2 to be transported separately, and the casing 4 and the cable 2 to be assembled at the transport destination. In this case, it is not necessary to transport the cable 2 and the casing 4 in a large assembled state, improving transport efficiency. The engagement structure 1 only needs to be able to connect the cable 2 to the connection object 3 without opening the casing 4, and the cable 2 may be engaged with the engagement portion 32 with the casing 4 open.

When the cable end 2a passes over the insertion portion 31 in the axial direction of the cable 2, the path along which the cable end 2a moves is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the casing 4 has a guide portion 44, and when the cable end 2a passes over the insertion portion 31 in the axial direction of the cable 2, the guide portion 44 guides the cable end 2a in a direction away from the axial direction of the cable 2 when the cable end 2a is in an engaged state in which it is engaged with the engagement portion 32 (see Figs. 11 to 13).

As shown in Figs. 11 to 13, when the cable 2 is moved in the axial X direction toward the guide portion 44, the cable end 2a comes into contact with the guide portion 44, and then the guide portion 44 guides the cable end 2a in a direction away from the axial X of the cable 2 when the cable end 2a is in an engaged state (a direction that includes a component perpendicular to the axial X). As a result, by moving the cable 2 in the axial X direction, the cable end 2a can reach and engage the engagement portion 32 by climbing over the insertion portion 31. Therefore, for example, there is no need to open the casing 4 and move the cable end 2a from above to below the engagement portion 32 in the height direction D2 (from above to below in Fig. 2) to engage the engagement portion 32.

The shape and structure of the guide portion 44 are not particularly limited as long as the cable end 2a can be guided in a direction away from the axis X of the cable 2 when the cable 2 is moved in the axis X direction. In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 2, 6, 11, etc., the guide portion 44 has an inclined surface 44a configured to increase in height in the height direction D2 from the bottom surface 41a of the casing 4 as the cable 2 moves in the axis X direction when the cable 2 is attached (first moving direction D11). The inclined surface 44a of the guide portion 44 is configured to guide the cable end 2a to a passing position that is higher in the height direction D2 than the position (axis X) of the cable main body 2c in the height direction D2 in the engaged state. As a result, when the cable end 2a passes the insertion portion 31 in the axis X direction, it shifts in a direction perpendicular to the axis X of the cable 2 (upward in the height direction D2) relative to the position of the insertion portion 31 (see Figs. 11 to 13). After that, the cable end 2a passes through the passage opening 37 in the axial direction X and passes above the insertion portion 31, and then the cable end 2a moves downward in the height direction D2, the cable end 2a engages with the engagement portion 32, and the cable main body 2c enters the insertion portion 31 (see Figures 16 and 2).

As shown in FIG. 1, the guide portion 44 has a pair of guide walls 44b, 44c that are provided so that the spacing between them in the width direction D3 becomes narrower as the cable 2 moves in the axial direction X (first moving direction D11) when the cable 2 is attached. The spacing between the pair of guide walls 44b, 44c becomes narrower in the width direction D3 so that the cable end 2a moving in the axial direction X (first moving direction D11) of the cable 2 is guided toward the passage opening 37. Specifically, the cable end 2a is guided to the passage opening 37 in the height direction D2 by the inclined surface 44a of the guide portion 44, and is guided to the passage opening 37 in the width direction D3 by the pair of guide walls 44b, 44c. This ensures that the cable end 2a passes through the passage opening 37 and overcomes the insertion portion 31 in the axial direction X.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the guide portion 44 has a guide-side insertion portion 44d that communicates with the insertion portion 31 in the axial direction X. The cable main body 2c is inserted into the guide-side insertion portion 44d when in an engaged state. The guide-side insertion portion 44d is a through passage that is wider than the outer diameter of the cable main body 2c and narrower than the width of the cable end 2a and is formed by penetrating the guide portion 44 in the axial direction X.

In this embodiment, the guide portion 44 is provided on the casing 4, but the guide portion 44 may be provided on the connection object (slider) 3. For example, a guide portion having an inclined surface as described above may be provided on the end portion of the slider 3 on the second moving direction D12 side. In this case, the cable end 2a can be engaged with the engagement portion 32 by moving the cable 2 in the axial direction X.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 14 to 16, the engagement structure 1 includes a pressing member 7 that presses the rear end R of the cable end 2a at the passing position where the cable end 2a passes over the insertion portion 31 in the axial direction of the cable 2. The pressing member 7 presses the rear end R of the cable end 2a, thereby moving the cable end 2a in the axial direction at the passing position of the insertion portion 31 and pushing it to a position where it can engage with the engagement portion 32. Since the cable body 2c of the cable 2 is flexible, it is difficult to move the cable end 2a in the axial direction to reach the engagement position where it engages with the engagement portion 32, but the pressing member 7 presses the rear end R of the cable end 2a in the axial direction of the cable in the axial direction, so that the cable 2 can be stably moved in the axial direction of the cable 2. As a result, when assembling the cable 2 to the connection object 3 in the casing 4, it is not necessary to open the casing 4, and it becomes easy to move the cable end 2a in the axial direction of the cable to reach the engagement portion 32 of the connection object 3.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 13 to 15, the pressing member 7 is disposed at a position facing the rear end R of the cable end 2a, which has been guided by the guide portion 44 to a passing position that is a predetermined distance away from the axis X (see Figure 2) of the cable 2 in an engaged state, in the axial direction of the cable 2. In this case, the cable end 2a, which has been guided to the passing position by the guide portion 44, can be reliably pressed in the axial direction of the cable 2 by the pressing member 7. This makes it easy to move the cable end 2a to an engagement position where it can engage with the engagement portion 32.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, when the cable end 2a is pressed by the pressing member 7, the tip T of the cable end 2a is configured to press the pressing member 6 in the moving direction (first moving direction D11) when it passes over the insertion part 31 against the biasing force of the biasing member 6. In this way, when a biasing member 6 such as a coil spring is provided at a position where the cable end 2a passes the passing position in the axial direction X, it is difficult to move the cable end 2a to the engagement position by simply pushing the cable 2 in the axial direction X (the cable main body 2c is bent and the cable 2 does not move further in the axial direction X). However, by pressing the rear end R of the cable end 2a with the pressing member 7, as shown in FIG. 15, the cable end 2a can move in the axial direction X while elastically deforming the biasing member 6. This makes it easy to engage the cable end 2a with the engagement part 32. In this embodiment, the tip T of the cable end 2a is configured to directly press the biasing member 6, but the tip T of the cable end 2a may also be configured to press the slider 3 biased by the biasing member 6.

The shape and structure of the pressing member 7 are not particularly limited as long as it can press the rear end R of the cable end 2a at the passing position where the cable end 2a passes over the insertion portion 31 in the axial X direction of the cable 2. In this embodiment, the pressing member 7 includes a cylindrical portion 71 through which the cable main body 2c is inserted, and a pressing portion 72 that presses the rear end R of the cable end 2a, as shown in Figures 8 to 10. In this embodiment, the pressing member 7 is a casing cap that is attached to the end of the outer casing OC and connects the outer casing OC to the casing 4. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the pressing member 7 includes an outer casing connecting portion 73 and a leaf spring portion 74.

The tubular portion 71 is a tubular portion through which the cable main body 2c is inserted. The shape and structure of the tubular portion 71 are not particularly limited as long as it has a tubular portion having an internal space through which the cable main body 2c can be inserted, and the tubular portion 71 may be cylindrical or rectangular. The tubular portion 71 may also have a plurality of portions having different outer diameters or shapes in the axial X direction. In this embodiment, the tubular portion 71 is provided in continuity with the outer casing connection portion 73 in the axial X direction, as shown in FIG. 10. When the pressing member 7 is attached to the casing 4, the tubular portion 71 is located inside the casing 4, and the outer casing connection portion 73 is located outside the casing 4 (see FIG. 16). In addition, in the pressing member 7 before being attached to the casing 4, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 11, the cable main body 2c that has passed through the outer casing connection portion 73 and the internal space of the tubular portion 71 is led out from an opening provided at one end of the axial X direction of the tubular portion 71.

The pressing portion 72 is a portion that presses the rear end R of the cable end 2a in the passing position. The shape and structure of the pressing portion 72 are not particularly limited as long as it can press the rear end R of the cable end 2a in the passing position. In this embodiment, the pressing portion 72 extends in the axial X direction of the cable 2 from a part of the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 71 as shown in Figs. 8 to 10. More specifically, the pressing portion 72 extends in the axial X direction from the upper end portion in the height direction D2 of the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 71 when the pressing member 7 is connected to the casing 4. In this embodiment, the pressing portion 72 is formed in an elongated plate shape that extends in the axial X direction beyond one end of the cylindrical portion 71 in the axial X direction (the end on the first moving direction D11 side).

The outer casing connection part 73 is the part to which the outer casing OC is connected. In this embodiment, the outer casing connection part 73 is a cylindrical part to which the end of the outer casing OC is fixed by a known fixing method such as crimping.

In this embodiment, the leaf spring portion 74 is configured by a pair of leaf springs protruding from the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 71, as shown in FIG. 9. When the leaf spring portion 74 is inserted into the insertion opening 431, it bends so as to be folded inward, and after being inserted into the insertion opening 431, it elastically deforms so as to open outward. As a result, when the pressing member 7 is attached to the casing 4, as shown in FIG. 1, the end of the leaf spring portion 74 engages with the inner surface of the side wall 43a of the casing 4, preventing the pressing member 7 from coming off the casing 4. The shape and structure of the leaf spring portion 74 are not particularly limited as long as they can prevent the pressing member 7 from coming off the casing 4.

In this embodiment, as described above, the pressing member 7 is attached to the casing 4. When the pressing member 7 is attached to the casing 4, a part of the pressing member 7 (pressing portion 72) is located at a passing position that is a predetermined distance away from the axis X of the cable 2 in the engaged state after pressing the rear end R of the cable end 2a. In this way, by a part of the pressing member 7 (the tip of the pressing portion 72 in this embodiment) being located at the passing position, the cable end 2a is prevented from escaping from the engagement portion 32 through the passing position. More specifically, when the pressing member 7 is attached to the casing 4, the tip of the pressing portion 72 enters the passing opening 37 that is the passing position, and blocks the passing opening 37 so that the cable end 2a cannot move in the axial X direction (see Figures 2 and 16). Therefore, the cable end 2a is prevented from escaping through the passing opening 37. Note that in this embodiment, the length of the pressing portion 72 in the axial X direction is set so that the tip of the pressing portion 72 enters the internal space of the passing opening 37 of the slider 3 when the pressing member 7 is attached to the casing 4. Additionally, the dimensions of the height direction D2 and width direction D3 of the pressing portion 72 are set so that the tip of the pressing portion 72 can enter the internal space of the passage opening 37 of the slider 3.

6 and 7, in this embodiment, the insertion opening 431 has a key-shaped structure with a cylindrical portion accommodating portion 431a corresponding to the shape of the cylindrical portion 71 and a pressing portion accommodating portion 431b that protrudes from the cylindrical portion accommodating portion 431a in a direction away from the axis X of the cable 2 and corresponds to the shape of the pressing portion 72. In this way, since the insertion opening 431 has a key-shaped structure with the cylindrical portion accommodating portion 431a and the pressing portion accommodating portion 431b, when the pressing member 7 is attached to the casing 4, the orientation of the pressing member 7 in the direction around the axis X, i.e., the position of the tip of the pressing portion 72 is determined. Therefore, when the pressing member 7 is inserted into the key-shaped insertion opening 431, the tip of the pressing portion 72 is positioned at a position where it can press the rear end R of the cable end 2a. This prevents the position of the tip of the pressing part 72 from misaligning with the position of the rear end R of the cable end 2a when the pressing member 7 is attached to the casing 4, making it possible to more reliably press the rear end R of the cable end 2a.

In addition, when we say "key-shaped structure", we mean a structure in which the pressing member 7 cannot be inserted into the insertion opening 431 unless the pressing member 7 is oriented in a predetermined direction. In addition, "the cylindrical part accommodating part 431a corresponding to the shape of the cylindrical part 71" means that the cylindrical part accommodating part 431a has a corresponding shape that can accommodate the cylindrical part 71 so as to realize the key-shaped structure, and as in this embodiment, the cylindrical part accommodating part 431a may have substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the cylindrical part 71, or may have a shape or dimensions that are partially different from those of the cylindrical part 71. Similarly, "the pressing part accommodating part 431b corresponding to the shape of the pressing part 72" means that the pressing part accommodating part 431b has a corresponding shape that can accommodate the pressing part 72 so as to realize the key-shaped structure, and as in this embodiment, the pressing part accommodating part 431b may have substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the pressing part 72, or may have a shape or dimensions that are partially different from those of the pressing part 72. The shapes of the cylindrical portion accommodating portion 431a and the pressing portion accommodating portion 431b are not particularly limited as long as they are configured to determine the mounting direction of the pressing member 7 when the pressing member 7 is inserted through the insertion opening 431. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the cylindrical portion accommodating portion 431a has a circular opening, and the pressing portion accommodating portion 431b has a substantially rectangular opening that is continuous with the opening of the cylindrical portion accommodating portion 431a and extends radially outward from a portion of the circumferential direction of the circular opening.

Next, with reference to Figures 2 and 11 to 16, an example of a method for engaging the cable end 2a with the engaging portion 32 of the slider 3 in the engaging structure 1 of this embodiment will be described. Note that the following description is merely an example, and the engaging structure of the present invention is not limited to the following description.

First, as shown in FIG. 11, with the casing 4 closed, the cable end 2a of the cable 2 is inserted through the insertion opening 431 of the casing 4 in which the slider 3 is housed. For example, the cable end 2a is inserted into the insertion opening 431 while the operator manually feeds the cable main body 2c in the axial direction X. In the state shown in FIG. 11, the slider 3 is biased in the second movement direction D12 by the coil spring 6 in the slider housing portion 41 of the casing 4, and is in contact with the end wall 41f of the slider housing portion 41.

When the cable end 2a is moved in the axial direction toward the slider 3, as shown in FIG. 12, the cable end 2a comes into contact with the inclined surface 44a of the guide portion 44. If the cable 2 is moved in the axial direction, as shown in FIG. 13, the cable end 2a moves along the inclined surface 44a toward the passage opening 37, which is the passage position. At this time, since the guide portion 44 has a pair of guide walls 44b, 44c (see FIG. 1) whose width in the width direction D3 gradually narrows, the cable end 2a is more reliably guided toward the passage opening 37. The upper side of the inclined surface 44a of the guide portion 44 is closed by the upper surface 41b of the casing 4, and the cable end 2a is also prevented from deviating to the upper side of the passage opening 37.

When the cable end 2a is positioned within the passage opening 37, which is above the insertion portion 31 in the height direction D2, as shown in FIG. 13, the tip of the cable end 2a abuts against the end of the coil spring 6. In this state, even if the cable body 2c is fed in the axial direction X, the cable end 2a cannot move further in the axial direction X due to the biasing force of the coil spring 6 (the cable body 2c would break).

When the cable end 2a enters the passage opening 37 and the tip T of the cable end 2a abuts against the end of the coil spring 6, the pressing member 7 is inserted into the insertion opening 431 of the casing 4 as shown in FIG. 14. In this embodiment, the insertion opening 431 has a key-shaped structure with a cylindrical portion accommodating portion 431a corresponding to the shape of the cylindrical portion 71 of the pressing member 7 and a pressing portion accommodating portion 431b corresponding to the shape of the pressing portion 72, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. Therefore, the pressing member 7 is inserted with the position of the tip of the pressing portion 72 in the direction around the axis X being determined. In addition, the cable end 2a is guided to the passage opening 37 by the inclined surface 44a and the pair of guide walls 44b, 44c. Therefore, the rear end R of the inner cable 2a and the tip of the pressing portion 72 are both positioned within the insertion opening 37 by the cable end 2a guided to the passage opening 37 and the key-shaped structure of the insertion opening 431. This ensures that the rear end R of the cable end 2a is pressed by the pressing portion 72 of the pressing member 7.

When the rear end R of the cable end 2a is pressed by the pressing portion 72 of the pressing member 7, as shown in FIG. 15, the tip T of the cable end 2a moves in the first moving direction D11 in the axial direction X while slightly compressing the coil spring 6 against the biasing force of the coil spring 6. As the cable end 2a moves from the state shown in FIG. 15 while compressing the coil spring 6, the cable end 2a passes over the through opening 37 and the insertion portion 31 in the axial direction X (see the solid line in FIG. 16). When the rear end R of the cable end 2a passes over the through opening 37 and the insertion portion 31 in the axial direction X, the cable end 2a moves downward in the height direction D2 as shown in FIG. 16, and the rear end R of the cable end 2a can engage with the engagement portion 32. Then, as shown in Figure 2, the cable main body 2c moves downward and enters the insertion portion 31 and the guide portion side insertion portion 44d, completing the assembly of the cable 2 to the slider 3. In this state, the cylindrical portion 71 of the pressing member 7 is inserted into the insertion opening 431 of the casing 4, and the leaf spring portion 74 of the pressing member 7 engages with the inner surface of the side wall 43a of the casing 4 (see Figure 1), preventing the pressing member 7 from coming off the casing 4.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, the tip T of the cable end 2a is configured to be tapered. This makes it easier for the upper side of the tapered surface of the tip T of the cable end 2a to come into contact with the end of the coil spring 6 and be guided into the inside of the coil spring 6. Therefore, when the cable end 2a is pressed by the pressing member 7, the cable end 2a moves in the axial direction X from the state shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 16 to the state shown by the solid line, and the cable end 2a moves toward the inside of the coil spring 6 (downward in Fig. 16). As a result, when the cable end 2a moves in the axial direction X, it moves in the direction of engagement with the engagement portion 32 (downward in Fig. 16), making it easier for the cable end 2a to engage with the engagement portion 32, and preventing the cable end 2a from being in an incomplete engagement state with the engagement portion 32.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the pressing member 7 is attached to the casing 4, as shown in Figs. 2 and 16, the tip of the pressing portion 72 is in a state in which it is inside the passage opening 37. Therefore, once the pressing member 7 is attached to the casing 4, the cable end 2a cannot pass through the passage opening 37, and the cable 2 is prevented from coming off the slider 3 or the casing 4.

Second Embodiment
Next, the engagement structure of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 17 to 20. In the following description, the description of the matters common to the above-mentioned embodiment will be omitted, and the description will focus on the differences. The configuration of this embodiment and the contents described in the first embodiment can be used in combination with each other.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the pressing member 7 has a temporary holding portion 75. The temporary holding portion 75 temporarily holds the cable body 2c until the cable end 2a reaches the passing position. As described later, when the temporary holding portion 75 is provided, the cable end 2a can be made to reach the passing position without relying on the guide portion 44 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, even if it is difficult to guide the cable end 2a to the passing position by the guide portion 44, for example, when the cable body 2c is thin, the cable end 2a can be easily made to reach the passing position. In the second embodiment, the casing 4 does not have a guide portion, but even when the pressing member 7 having the temporary holding portion 75 is used, the casing 4 may have a guide portion.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the casing 4 is provided with a casing wall portion 45. In this embodiment, the end of the slider 3 biased in the second movement direction D12 by the biasing member 6 abuts against the casing wall portion 45. The casing wall portion 45 has a casing side insertion portion 45a through which the cable main body 2c is inserted when the cable end 2a engages with the engagement portion 32. In addition, the casing wall portion 45 does not need to be provided as long as it is configured to be held at a predetermined position in the movement direction D1 when the cable 2 is connected to the slider (connection target) 3.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 19 and 20, the cable end 2a is configured to receive a force in a direction (downward in Figure 20) toward an engagement position where it can engage with the engagement portion 32 when the rear end R of the cable end 2a is pressed by the pressing member 7 and the tip T side of the cable end 2a comes into contact with a contact portion CT provided in the casing 4. When this cable end 2a receives a force in a direction toward the engagement position, the cable main body 2c is released from the temporary holding portion 75 and inserted into the insertion portion 31 of the slider 3 to be connected (see the solid line in Figure 20).

In this manner, in this embodiment, when the cable end 2a is moved to the passing position, the cable body 2c is temporarily held by the temporary holding portion 75, so that the cable end 2a can easily reach the passing position even when the cable body 2c is thin (see Figs. 17 and 19). Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 19 and 20, by moving the cable 2 in the first moving direction D11, the cable end 2a comes into contact with the contact portion CT (in this embodiment, the inner edge of the end of the biasing member 6) so as to receive a force in a direction toward the engagement position, i.e., a downward force in Fig. 20. As a result, the cable end 2a moves in a direction toward the engagement position (from the state shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 20 to the state shown by the solid line). When the cable end 2a moves toward the engagement position, a force in a direction toward the engagement position (downward in Fig. 20) is also applied to the cable body 2c held by the temporary holding portion 75. As a result, the cable body 2c, which was temporarily held by the temporary holding portion 75 until the passing position, is released from the temporary holding state (is released from the temporary holding portion 75). As a result, the cable end 2a reaches the engagement position where it engages with the engagement portion 32, and the cable body 2c is inserted into the insertion portion 31 (and the casing side insertion portion 45a), completing the connection between the cable 2 and the slider 3, which is the connection target.

In this embodiment, the upper side of the tapered surface of the tip T of the cable end 2a abuts against the end (contact portion CT) of the biasing member 6, which is a coil spring, generating a downward force toward the engagement position (see Figures 19 and 20). However, the contact portion CT does not have to be the end of the biasing member 6, as long as it can abut against the cable end 2a so that a force is generated in the direction of the cable end 2a toward the engagement position when the cable end 2a is pressed by the pressing member 7 and moves in the first moving direction D11. For example, the contact portion may be an inclined surface provided on the slider 3 or the casing 4 that generates a force in the direction of the cable end 2a toward the engagement position. Also, the tip T of the cable end 2a does not have to have a tapered surface, as long as a force is generated in the direction of the cable end 2a toward the engagement position when the cable end 2a comes into contact with the contact portion CT.

The shape and structure of the temporary holding portion 75 are not particularly limited as long as it can temporarily hold the cable body 2c up to the passing position and has a holding force sufficient to release the cable body from the temporary holding portion when the cable end 2a receives a force in a direction toward the engagement position. In this embodiment, the temporary holding portion 75 is provided on the tip side of the pressing portion 72 so that the force applied to the cable end 2a is easily transmitted to the cable body 2c. In addition, the temporary holding portion 75 is slightly engaged with the cable body 2c in the width direction D3 as shown in FIG. 18 so that the cable body 2c is easily released from the temporary holding portion 75 when the cable end 2a receives a force in a direction toward the engagement position. More specifically, the temporary holding portion 75 is composed of a protrusion PR that protrudes inward in the width direction D3 from a pair of arm portions 72a, 72b that extend downward (toward the bottom surface 41a of the casing 4) in the height direction D2 from the pressing portion 72, and supports the cable body 2c with a light force. It is also possible to temporarily hold the cable main body 2c by elastically clamping it between the arms 72a and 72b without providing the protrusion PR.

1 Engagement structure 2 Cable 2a, 2b Cable end 2c Cable body 3 Connection object (slider)
31 Insertion portion 32 Engagement portion 33 Urging member accommodating portion 34 Sliding portion 35 Power transmission portion (rack portion)
36a, 36b Guided surfaces 37 Passage opening 4 Casing 4A First casing member 4B Second casing member 41 Connection object accommodating portion (slider accommodating portion)
41a sliding surface (bottom surface)
41b Upper surface 41c, 41d Guide wall (side wall)
41e, 41f End wall 41g Sliding surface 42 Drive unit accommodating portion 43 Cable introduction portion 43a Side wall 431 Insertion opening 431a Cylindrical unit accommodating portion 431b Pressing unit accommodating portion 44 Guide portion 44a Inclined surface 44b, 44c Guide wall portion 44d Guide unit side insertion portion 45 Casing wall portion 45a Casing side insertion portion 5 Drive unit 51 Motor 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d Transmission member 6 Pressing member (coil spring)
Description of the symbols 7 Pressing member 71 Cylindrical portion 72 Pressing portion 72a, 72b Arm portion 73 Outer casing connection portion 74 Leaf spring portion 75 Temporary holding portion CT Contact portion D Driving device D1 Movement direction D11 First movement direction D12 Second movement direction D2 Height direction D3 Width direction OC Outer casing OP Actuated object P Pinion gear PR Protrusion R Rear end of cable end SC Spring case SS Spring seat T Tip of cable end W1, W2 Side wall W3 Top wall W4 Wall portion X Cable axis

Claims (8)

An engagement structure including a cable having a cable end and a cable body, a connection object to which the cable is connected, and a casing in which the connection object is provided,
The connection target is:
an insertion portion through which the cable main body can be inserted in an axial direction of the cable;
an engaging portion that faces a rear end of the cable end and engages with the rear end of the cable end in an axial direction of the cable;
the engaging structure is configured such that the cable end is moved in an axial direction of the cable relative to the connection object so that the cable end passes over the insertion portion in the axial direction of the cable, thereby enabling a rear end of the cable end to engage with the engaging portion,
The engagement structure further comprises:
an engagement structure including a pressing member that presses a rear end of the cable end at a passing position where the cable end passes over the insertion portion in the axial direction of the cable before the cable end is engaged with the engagement portion of the connection object . The casing or the connection object is
a guide portion that guides the cable end in a direction away from the axis of the cable when the cable end passes over the insertion portion in the axial direction of the cable and in an engaged state in which the cable end is engaged with the engagement portion,
2. The engagement structure according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is disposed in a position opposite, in the axial direction of the cable, to a rear end of the cable end guided by the guiding portion to the passing position that is a predetermined distance away from the axis of the cable in the engaged state. The pressing member is attached to the casing,
3. The engagement structure according to claim 2, wherein a portion of the pressing member is located at the passing position that is a predetermined distance away from an axis of the cable in the engaged state after pressing the rear end of the cable end. the pressing member includes a cylindrical portion through which the cable main body is inserted and a pressing portion that presses a rear end of the cable end,
the casing has an insertion opening into which the cylindrical portion of the pressing member can be inserted from the outside of the casing,
4. The engagement structure according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion extends in an axial direction of the cable from a circumferential portion of the cylindrical portion. the insertion opening has a key-shaped structure including a cylindrical portion accommodating portion corresponding to a shape of the cylindrical portion, and a pressing portion accommodating portion that protrudes from the cylindrical portion accommodating portion in a direction away from the axis of the cable and corresponds to a shape of the pressing portion,
5. The engagement structure according to claim 4, wherein when the pressing member is inserted into the insertion opening of the key structure, a tip of the pressing portion is positioned at a position where it can press the rear end of the cable end. the connection object is a slider that is movable in the casing in an axial direction of the cable,
the slider is biased by a biasing member in an axial direction of the cable in a direction opposite to a moving direction when the cable end passes over the insertion portion,
6. The engagement structure according to claim 1, wherein when the cable end is pressed by the pressing member, a tip of the cable end presses the slider or the pressing member, which is pressed by the pressing member, in the moving direction against the pressing force of the pressing member. the pressing member has a temporary holding portion that temporarily holds the cable main body until the cable end reaches the passing position,
The cable end is
a rear end of the cable end is pressed by the pressing member, and a tip side of the cable end comes into contact with a contact portion provided in the casing, so that the cable end receives a force in a direction toward an engagement position where the cable end can engage with the engagement portion,
The engagement structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when the cable end receives a force in a direction toward the engagement position, the cable main body is released from the temporary holding portion and inserted into the insertion portion. the connection object is a slider that is movable in the casing in an axial direction of the cable,
the slider is biased by a biasing member in an axial direction of the cable in a direction opposite to a moving direction when the cable end passes over the insertion portion,
The engagement structure according to claim 7 , wherein the contact portion is an end portion of the biasing member.

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