JP7709908B2 - operating device - Google Patents

Description

This embodiment relates to an operating device for a shading device.

A conventional shading device having an operating device is disclosed in the following Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a blind that includes an operating shaft that rotates when an operating force is transmitted to it, a clutch that can rotate integrally with the operating shaft and slide axially on the operating shaft, and a first transmission member that transmits driving force to a first drive shaft and a second transmission member that transmits driving force to a second drive shaft, which are disposed on both axial sides of the clutch, and is characterized in that the sliding direction of the clutch is determined by the rotation direction of the operating shaft, and the clutch that has slid on the operating shaft engages with one of the transmission members, thereby transmitting the rotation of the operating shaft to one of the drive shafts via one of the transmission members.

With this type of shielding device, one side or the other of the operating cord, which is formed in an endless shape and wound around a pulley that transmits rotational force to the operating shaft, is pulled down, switching the drive shaft to which the rotation of the operating shaft is transmitted, and selectively operating either the first shielding material operated by the first drive shaft or the second shielding material operated by the second drive shaft.

Patent No. 5548013

In some shielding devices equipped with two shielding materials, one end of the shielding material is connected to a pulley so as to be wound around the pulley, and the other end of the shielding material is hung down so that the operator can selectively raise or lower each of the two shielding materials in response to an operation of the operating cord. In this type of shielding device, the state of the stopper that can regulate each of the two drive shafts can be switched from a state that regulates the rotation of either of the two drive shafts to a state that allows the drive shafts to rotate in response to an operation of the operating cord, so that either of the two shielding materials can be selectively lowered by its own weight. However, not only shielding devices equipped with two shielding materials or shielding devices that lower a shielding material by its own weight, but also shielding devices equipped with at least one shielding material have a problem that the rotation of the drive shaft that operates the shielding material is transmitted to the pulley.

The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an operating device that can prevent the rotation of the drive shaft from being transmitted to the pulley with a simpler structure.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention is an operating device for operating a drive shaft that drives a shielding device having at least one or more shielding materials so as to perform a first operation that changes the shielding state of the shielding device, the operating device comprising: a pulley that is formed so as to be able to wind and unwind an operating cord, is biased by a biasing member to rotate in the winding direction, and rotates in the unwinding direction against the biasing force of the biasing member as the operating cord is unwound; a transmission shaft to which a rotational driving force is transmitted from the pulley; and the operating device is provided so as to be able to rotate integrally with the transmission shaft. The device also includes a coupling member that is movable in the axial direction of the transmission shaft and is coupled to a first drive shaft that drives the shielding device when moved from a non-coupled position in the axial direction to a first direction in the axial direction so as to transmit the rotational driving force of the transmission shaft, and a switching interlocking unit that converts the rotational motion of the coupling member into linear motion in cooperation with the coupling member, and moves the coupling member from the non-coupled position to the first direction when the pulley is rotated in the unwinding direction, and moves the coupling member to the non-coupled position when the pulley is rotated in the winding direction.

The present invention makes it possible to prevent the rotation of the drive shaft from being transmitted to the pulley with a simpler structure.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the shading device according to the first embodiment. 1 is a schematic plan view perspective view showing a configuration of a shading device according to a first embodiment. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of an operating device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an internal configuration of an operating device according to a first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the internal configuration of the operating device according to the first embodiment. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4 in a state in which the operating cord is not pulled. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4 in a state in which the operating cord is pulled. FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the configuration of the connecting mechanism according to the first embodiment. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 8. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a connecting member. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a connecting member. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a switching interlocking mechanism. FIG. 4 is a top perspective view showing the configuration of a switching interlocking mechanism. FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view showing the configuration of a switching interlocking mechanism. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the switching interlocking mechanism in a first connected state. 13 is a plan view showing the switching interlocking mechanism in a second connected state. FIG. 13 is a bottom view for explaining the connection between the switching interlocking mechanism and the connecting member. FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the operating device in a first connected state. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing the cam member with its tip portion directed toward the first connecting path. 13 is a bottom view showing the connecting member when being transitioned to the first connecting state. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing the connecting member when a rotational force is transmitted in the first connected state. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing the connecting member when it is transitioned from the first connected state to the unconnected state. FIG. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating a change in the relative position of the cam member with respect to the cam groove when transitioning to a first connected state. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a shielding device in which a bottom rail raising operation is performed. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the operating device in a second connected state. FIG. 11 is a bottom view showing the cam member with its tip portion directed toward the second connecting path. 13 is a bottom view showing the connecting member when being transitioned to a second connecting state. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing the connecting member when a rotational force is transmitted in the second connected state. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing the connecting member when it is transitioned from the second connected state to the non-connected state. FIG. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a change in the relative position of the cam member with respect to the cam groove when transitioning to a second connected state. FIG. 13 shows a shielding device in which the intermediate bar is raised. FIG. 11 is a front view showing the configuration of a shading device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view perspective view showing the configuration of a shading device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a bottom view showing the configuration of the operating device according to the second embodiment. 13 is a plan view showing the operating device when it is being shifted to a connected state. FIG.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a shading device to which the present invention is applied to a pleated screen equipped with two types of screens that can be raised and lowered as shading materials will be described as an example. Note that in this embodiment, the surface facing the room when the shading device is installed will be referred to as the front, the surface facing the outside of the room as the back, the direction consisting of the front and back as the front-to-back direction, and the longitudinal direction of the shading device as the left-to-right direction. Also, in this specification and drawings, components that have substantially the same functions will be given the same reference numerals to avoid redundant description.

First Embodiment
(Overall composition)
The overall configuration of the shading device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of the shading device according to this embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view perspective view of the shading device. Note that Fig. 1 shows the shading device with the bottom rail lowered, and only the inside of the head box is shown.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shading device 1 according to this embodiment includes a head box 2, a bottom rail 31 as a first moving member, two lifting cords 32 formed in the shape of strings or tapes, a screen 33 as a first shading material, an intermediate bar 41 as a second moving member, two dimmer cords 42 formed in the shape of strings or tapes, a screen 43 as a second shading material, and an operating device 6.

The head box 2 is fixed to a window frame (not shown) via a bracket 21 and is formed in a long box shape with an internal storage space. The head box 2 contains a first drive shaft 201a, two first winding drums 202a, a first brake device 203a, a first stopper device 204a, a second drive shaft 201b, two second winding drums 202b, a second brake device 203b, a second stopper device 204b, an interlocking gear 205, and a limiter 206.

The first drive shaft 201a, the two first winding drums 202a, the first brake device 203a, and the first stopper device 204a constitute a first drive system that raises and lowers the bottom rail 31. The second drive shaft 201b, the two second winding drums 202b, the second brake device 203b, and the second stopper device 204b constitute a second drive system that raises and lowers the intermediate bar 41. The interlocking gear 205 is configured to interlock the second drive system with the first drive system under a predetermined condition. In this embodiment, the first drive system is arranged on the rear side, and the second drive system is arranged on the front side, and the first drive system and the second drive system are arranged side by side with their positions different from each other in the front-rear direction. For example, the first drive system and the second drive system may be arranged side by side with their positions different from each other in the vertical direction, and the arrangement of the first drive system and the second drive system may be reversed in the front-rear direction or the vertical direction.

The first and second drive shafts 201a, 201b are each a rectangular columnar member extending in the left-right direction, and are supported in the head box 2 so that they can rotate with their axial center direction facing the left-right direction. Here, the axial center of the first drive shaft 201a is located at the same position in the vertical direction and behind the axial center of the second drive shaft 201b, and the positions of the axial centers are different in the front-rear direction. In the following description, the axial center of the first drive shaft 201a is referred to as the first axial center, and the axial center of the second drive shaft 201b is referred to as the second axial center.

The two first winding drums 202a are each inserted through the first drive shaft 201a so as to rotate integrally with the first drive shaft 201a, and one end of the corresponding one of the two lifting cords 32 is connected to the first drive shaft 201a so as to rotate integrally with the first drive shaft 201a. The two second winding drums 202b are each inserted through the second drive shaft 201b so as to rotate integrally with the second drive shaft 201b, and one end of the corresponding one of the two dimming cords 42 is connected to the second drive shaft 201b so as to rotate integrally with the second drive shaft 201b. The first stopper device 204a restricts the rotation of the first drive shaft 201a. The second stopper device 204b restricts the rotation of the second drive shaft 201b. The first brake device 203a decelerates the rotation of the first drive shaft 201a. The second brake device 203b decelerates the rotation of the second drive shaft 201b. The limiter 206 determines the lower limit position of the bottom rail 31 by regulating the amount of unwinding of the lift cord 32.

The bottom rail 31 is a member formed long in the left-right direction, to which the other ends of the two lifting cords 32 are connected, and is suspended from the head box 2 so as to be located at the lowest end of the shading device 1. The middle bar 41 is a member formed long in the left-right direction, to which the other ends of the two dimmer cords 42 are connected, and is suspended from the head box 2 so as to be located between the head box 2 and the bottom rail 31 in the vertical direction. The screen 33 is a shielding member formed in a pleated shape that can be folded up and down, with its upper end connected to the lower surface of the middle bar 41 and its lower end connected to the upper surface of the bottom rail 31, and the two lifting cords 32 partially inserted in the vertical direction. The screen 43 is a shielding member formed in a pleated shape that can be folded up and down, with its upper end connected to the lower surface of the head box 2 and its lower end connected to the upper surface of the middle bar 41, and the two dimmer cords 42 partially inserted in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operating device 6 is provided at one of the left and right ends of the head box 2, and in this embodiment, at the right end in the figure, and raises and lowers the bottom rail 31 and the intermediate bar 41 in response to the operation of the operating part 63 by the user of the shading device 1.

(Configuration of the operation device)
The configuration of the operating device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the operating device according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operating device 6 includes a housing 60 (see FIG. 4), a first output shaft 61 a, a second output shaft 61 b, a pulley 62, an operating unit 63, a transmission shaft 65, a connecting member 66, a first receiving member 67 a, a second receiving member 67 b, an input gear 68 a, an output gear 68 b, an intermediate gear 68 c, and a switching interlocking mechanism (switching interlocking portion) 69.

The housing 60 is composed of two housing parts 60a, 60b and a separator 60c. All components of the operating device 6 except for the operating part 63 are housed in a space defined by the two housing parts 60a, 60b. The storage space within the housing 60 is separated in the left-right direction by the separator 60c, and of all the components housed in the storage space, only the pulley 62 is housed in the space on the right side of the storage space.

(Pulley configuration)
The configuration of the pulley according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 7. Figs. 4 and 5 are a plan view and a bottom view, respectively, showing the internal configuration of the operating device according to this embodiment. For ease of explanation, in the following explanation, a view of the bottom surface as seen from diagonally below will also be referred to as a bottom view. Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views taken along line A-A in Fig. 4 when the operating cord is not pulled and when it is pulled, respectively.

As shown in Figs. 4 to 7, the pulley 62 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape and is rotatably supported by a fixed shaft 601 formed in the housing 60a. A string-shaped operating cord 631 is connected to the outer periphery of the pulley 62 so that it can be wound and unwound. A power spring 621 is provided inside the pulley 62. As shown in Fig. 6, one end of the power spring 621 is connected to the pulley 62 and the other end is connected to the fixed shaft 601, and the power spring 621 constantly applies a biasing force to the pulley 62 in the winding direction in which the operating cord 631 is wound. As a result, when the operator pulls down the operating cord 631 by a predetermined amount or more, as shown in Fig. 7, the operating cord 631 is unwound from the pulley 62 and the pulley 62 rotates, causing the power spring 621 to contract in diameter. When the operator subsequently releases the pull on the operating cord 631, for example by releasing the pull, the pulley 62 rotates in the opposite direction due to the restoring force of the main spring 621, and the operating cord 631 is wound up.

In the following explanation, the rotation direction around the first axis is referred to as the unwinding direction, which is the direction in which the operating cord 631 is unwound from the pulley 62 (counterclockwise in Figures 6 and 7), and the rotation direction in which the pulley 62 winds up the operating cord 631 is referred to as the winding direction (clockwise in Figures 6 and 7).

(Configuration of the operation unit)
The configuration of the operation unit according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

1, the operation unit 63 includes an operation cord 631, a hollow cylindrical switching operation unit 632, a hollow cylindrical operation rod 633, and a cord stopper 635. At the lower end of the operation rod 633, a hollow cylindrical gripping portion 634 for the operator to grip is formed, and a cord stopper 635 is provided at the lower end. As shown in FIG. 4, one end of the operation cord 631 is connected to the pulley 62, and the other end hangs down from the pulley 62, is inserted into the switching operation unit 632 and the operation rod 633, and is connected to the cord stopper 635. Although the operation cord 631 is biased upward by the biasing force of the main spring 621, the cord stopper 635 abuts against the lower end of the gripping portion 634, preventing further winding of the operation cord 631. When the operator pulls the cord stopper 635 away from the gripping portion 634, the operating cord 631 is unwound from the pulley 62, causing the pulley 62 to rotate. When the operator releases the cord after pulling it down a predetermined amount, the operating cord 631 is wound around the pulley 62, and the cord stopper 635 and the gripping portion 634 come into contact again.

The switching operation part 632 is supported at its upper end by the housing parts 60a and 60b so as to be rotatable around the axis. Two engagement parts 632E protruding in the radially outward direction are formed at different circumferential positions on the outer periphery of the upper end of the switching operation part 632 (see FIG. 13). With such a switching operation part 632, as described in detail later, the switching interlocking mechanism 69 is operated in response to the switching operation by the operator. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the switching operation part 632 is provided with a substantially C-shaped torque spring 639 that fastens the switching operation part 632 while being fixed to the housing 60. As a result, a predetermined amount of torque or more is required when the operator grips the grip part 634 and tries to rotate it, so that the operator can rotate it while getting a moderate operating feel.

(Configuration of the connecting mechanism)
The connecting mechanism according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5 and 8. Figure 8 is a bottom view showing the configuration of the connecting mechanism according to this embodiment.

The connecting mechanism is a mechanism that transmits the rotational force of the pulley 62 to either the first drive shaft 201a or the second drive shaft 201b, and is composed of the first output shaft 61a, the second output shaft 61b, the transmission shaft 65, the connecting member 66, the first receiving member 67a, the second receiving member 67b, the input gear 68a, the output gear 68b, and the intermediate gear 68c.

As shown in FIG. 3, the transmission shaft 65 is a long member formed to extend in the left-right direction, and is rotatably supported by the housing 60 so that its axis is concentric with the first axis. An input gear 68a is inserted into the transmission shaft 65 so as to be capable of relative rotation, a pulley 62 is connected to the right end of the transmission shaft 65 so as to be capable of integral rotation, and a first output shaft 61a is connected to the left end of the transmission shaft 65 so as to be capable of relative rotation.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the first output shaft 61a is a long member formed to extend in the left-right direction, and is rotatably supported by the housing 60 and the transmission shaft 65 so that its axis is concentric with the first axis. The first drive shaft 201a is connected to the inner end of the first output shaft 61a in the left-right direction (left side in Figs. 4 and 5) so as to be rotatable together with it.

A first receiving member 67a is formed integrally with the first output shaft 61a on the outer left-right side (right side in Figs. 4 and 5). The first receiving member 67a is formed in a generally disk-like shape that protrudes radially outward around the entire circumference of the first output shaft 61a. A plurality of engagement teeth 671 are formed at mutually different circumferential positions on the outer left-right surface of the first receiving member 67a.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the second output shaft 61b is an elongated member formed to extend in the left-right direction, and is rotatably supported by the housing 60 so that its axis is concentric with the second axis. The second drive shaft 201b is connected to the inner end of the second output shaft 61b in the left-right direction (left side in Figs. 4 and 5) so as to be rotatable together with it.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the input gear 68a is a spur gear arranged to rotate relative to the transmission shaft 65. A second receiving member 67b is integrally formed on the left-right inner side of the input gear 68a (left side in Figures 4 and 5). The second receiving member 67b is formed in a generally disk-like shape that protrudes radially outward around the entire circumference of the transmission shaft 65. A plurality of engagement teeth 671 are formed on the left-right inner surface of the second receiving member 67b at mutually different positions in the circumferential direction.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the output gear 68b is a spur gear arranged to rotate integrally with the second output shaft 61b. The intermediate gear 68c is supported by the housing 60 so as to be rotatable about an axis facing the left-right direction, and is a spur gear arranged to mesh with the input gear 68a and the output gear 68b. When a rotational driving force is input to the input gear 68a, the output gear 68b can output a rotational driving force in the same direction as the input gear 68a via the intermediate gear 68c and through the second output shaft 61b.

(Connecting member)
The configuration of the connecting member according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 8 to Fig. 11. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 8. Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views showing the configuration of the connecting member. Fig. 10 shows the connecting member with the first transmission member and the cylindrical cam removed, and Fig. 11 shows the connecting member with the first transmission member removed.

The connecting member 66 is a member that is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction relative to the transmission shaft 65, and is connected to either the first receiving member 67a or the second receiving member 67b to transmit the rotational force of the transmission shaft 65 to either the first output shaft 61a or the second output shaft 61b. As shown in Figures 3 and 8 to 11, the connecting member 66 includes a cylindrical cam 661, a cylindrical member 662, a clutch spring 663, a first transmission member 664, and a second transmission member 665.

The first transmission member 664 and the second transmission member 665 are provided corresponding to the first receiving member 67a and the second receiving member 67b, respectively, and each has a disk-shaped portion through which the transmission shaft 65 is inserted. The connecting member 66 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape, and the first transmission member 664 and the second transmission member 665 form the side surfaces of the connecting member 66 on the inner side in the left-right direction (left side in FIG. 8) and the outer side in the left-right direction (right side in FIG. 8), respectively.

As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of engagement teeth 664E are formed at mutually different circumferential positions on the inner surface of the disk-shaped portion of the first transmission member 664 in the left-right direction. These engagement teeth 664E are provided corresponding to the engagement teeth 671 of the first receiving member 67a, and specifically, each of the engagement teeth 664E is formed so as to be able to engage with each of the engagement teeth 671 of the first receiving member 67a in the rotational direction of the transmission shaft 65.

A plurality of engagement teeth 665E are formed at mutually different circumferential positions on the outer surface of the disk-shaped portion of the second transmission member 665 in the left-right direction. These engagement teeth 665E are provided to correspond to the engagement teeth 671 of the second receiving member 67b, and specifically, each of the engagement teeth 665E is formed so as to be able to engage with each of the engagement teeth 671 of the second receiving member 67b in the rotational direction of the transmission shaft 65.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first transmission member 664 has a cylindrical portion formed on the left-right outer side of its disk-shaped portion. As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, a plurality of protrusions 65P are formed on the outer periphery of the transmission shaft 65, protruding radially outward over a predetermined distance in the axial direction. The cylindrical portion of the first transmission member 664 is formed so that it can be inserted by the transmission shaft 65, and its inner periphery is formed so that it can fit into the plurality of protrusions 65P. This allows the first transmission member 664 to rotate integrally with the transmission shaft 65 and to move axially.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second transmission member 665 has a plurality of protruding pieces that protrude inward in the left-right direction of its disk-shaped portion. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 9, a plurality of grooves are formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the first transmission member 664, extending in the left-right direction, into which the protruding pieces of the second transmission member 665 can be fitted. The plurality of protruding pieces of the second transmission member 665 are fitted into the plurality of grooves formed in the cylindrical portion of the first transmission member 664, thereby connecting the first transmission member 664 and the second transmission member 665 so that they can rotate together. At this time, a columnar portion is formed between the disk-shaped portions of the first transmission member 664 and the second transmission member 665 by the cylindrical portion and the plurality of protruding pieces.

As shown in Figs. 3, 10, and 11, the cylindrical member 662 is a member formed in a substantially cylindrical shape into which the columnar portion formed by the first transmission member 664 and the second transmission member 665 can be inserted. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, a notch 662N is formed at the inner end of the cylindrical member 662 in the left-right direction, i.e., the end on the side where the first transmission member 664 is located when the columnar portion is inserted. As shown in Figs. 9, the first transmission member 664 is formed with a protrusion 664P provided corresponding to the notch 662N. When the first transmission member 664, the second transmission member 665, and the cylindrical member 662 are assembled, the protrusion 664P fits into the notch 662N, so that the cylindrical member 662 rotates integrally with the first transmission member 664 and the second transmission member 665.

As shown in Fig. 10, the clutch spring 663 is a linear elastic member wound so as to fasten the peripheral wall of the cylindrical member 662, and both ends are bent so as to face radially outward. As shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 11, the cylindrical cam 661 is a member formed in a substantially cylindrical shape into which the cylindrical member 662 around which the clutch spring 663 is wound can be inserted, and is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the cylindrical member 662. As shown in Fig. 11, the cylindrical cam 661 has two notches 661N formed so as to be able to engage with both ends of the clutch spring 663 in the circumferential direction.

When the clutch spring 663 fastens the cylindrical member 662, the two notches 661N engage with both ends of the clutch spring 663, and the rotational force of the cylindrical member 662 is transmitted to the cylindrical cam 661 via the clutch spring 663, causing the cylindrical member 662 to rotate integrally with the cylindrical member 662. Each of the two notches 661N is formed to circumferentially engage with the end to relax the clutch spring 663 when the cylindrical cam 661 rotates integrally with the cylindrical member 662 by a predetermined angle range or more. When the clutch spring 663 is relaxed, the fastening of the cylindrical member 662 by the clutch spring 663 is released, and the cylindrical cam 661 rotates relative to the cylindrical member 662 together with the clutch spring 663.

As shown in FIG. 8, a cam groove CG is formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical cam 661 over a predetermined distance range in the circumferential direction. The cam groove CG is a groove formed so that the cam member 693C (see FIG. 12) described later slides relative to the cylindrical cam 661. The cam groove CG has a non-connecting path CG0 extending in the circumferential direction, and a first connecting path CG1 and a second connecting path CG2 connected to the non-connecting path CG0. The first connecting path CG1 is formed so as to extend in the unwinding direction (upper side in FIG. 8) at an incline toward the left-right outer side (right side in FIG. 8) with respect to the non-connecting path CG0. The second connecting path CG2 is formed so as to extend in the unwinding direction at an incline toward the left-right inner side (left side in FIG. 8) with respect to the non-connecting path CG0. The unwinding direction end of the non-connecting path CG0, the winding direction end of the first connecting path CG1, and the winding direction end of the second connecting path CG2 are connected to each other, and the cam groove CG is formed into a roughly Y-shape overall.

The cam member 693C, as described in detail later, is provided movable, but is immovable in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical cam 661. The two notches 661N of the cylindrical cam 661 are formed corresponding to the distance range in the circumferential direction of the cam groove CG. Specifically, one of the two notches 661N is formed at a position that restricts the rotation of the cylindrical cam 661 in the unwinding direction when the cam member 693C reaches the unwinding direction end of the first connecting path CG1 and the second connecting path CG2. The other of the two notches 661N is formed at a position that restricts the rotation of the cylindrical cam 661 in the winding direction when the cam member 693C reaches the winding direction end of the non-connecting path CG0.

According to the connecting member 66 configured in this manner, as described below, the connecting member 66 is moved in the axial direction of the transmission shaft 65 in response to the operation of the cam member 693C, thereby switching the connecting mechanism between a first connecting state, a second connecting state, and a non-connecting state. In the first connecting state, the first transmission member 664 and the first receiving member 67a are engaged in the rotational direction and connected to transmit a rotational force. In the second connecting state, the second transmission member 665 and the second receiving member 67b are engaged in the rotational direction and connected to transmit a rotational force. In the non-connecting state, the first transmission member 664 and the first receiving member 67a are not connected to transmit a rotational force, and the second transmission member 665 and the second receiving member 67b are not connected to transmit a rotational force.

(Configuration of the switching interlocking mechanism)
The configuration of the switching interlocking mechanism according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 12 to 16. Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the switching interlocking mechanism. Figs. 13 and 14 are upper and lower perspective views, respectively, showing the configuration of the switching interlocking mechanism. Figs. 15 and 16 are plan views showing the switching interlocking mechanism in the first and second connected states, respectively.

As shown in Figs. 12 to 14, the switching interlocking mechanism 69 includes a switching transmission part 691, a switching conversion part 692, a switching guide part 693, a retaining ring 694, and an elastic restriction part 695. The switching transmission part 691 moves left and right in response to a switching operation on the switching operation part 632, and transmits linear motion due to the switching operation to the switching conversion part 692. The switching conversion part 692 converts the linear motion transmitted by the switching transmission part 691 into rotational motion. The switching guide part 693 guides the connecting member 66 left and right so as to switch the connecting mechanism to the first connecting state or the second connecting state by being rotated by the switching conversion part 692. The retaining ring 694 is used to attach the switching guide part 693 to the switching conversion part 692.

As shown in Figs. 12 to 14, the switching transmission part 691 is formed in a generally plate-like shape extending in the left-right direction, is positioned below the second output shaft 61b (see Fig. 5), and is supported by the housing 60 so as to be movable in the left-right direction with the in-plane direction of the plate surface facing horizontally. The switching transmission part 691 is formed with an engaged part 691E and a connecting hole 691H. The engaged part 691E is formed at the front end part on the left-right outer side (right side in Fig. 12) of the switching transmission part 691, and protrudes forward so as to engage with each of the two engaging parts 632E of the switching operation part 632. The connecting hole 691H is a long hole-shaped through hole extending in the front-rear direction, formed on the left-right inner side (left side in Fig. 12) of the switching transmission part 691.

As shown in Figures 12 to 14, the switching conversion part 692 is a member formed in a generally plate-like shape that extends in one direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and has one end wider than the other parts. The switching conversion part 692 is supported by the housing 60 so that it can rotate around an axis facing the vertical direction with the in-plane direction of the plate surface facing horizontally. The rotation angle range of the switching conversion part 692 is limited by the housing 60 so that the one end formed with a wide width is always positioned rearward. The switching conversion part 692 is formed with a connecting hole 692H, an engagement part 692E, a rotating shaft 692A, and a connecting pin 692P.

The connecting hole 692H is a through hole formed to extend in the width direction at one end (hereinafter referred to as the rear end) of the switching conversion part 692, which is formed to have a wide width. The engagement part 692E is formed in a generally cylindrical shape that protrudes upward at the other end (hereinafter referred to as the front end) side of the connecting hole 692H. The rotating shaft 692A is formed in a generally cylindrical shape that protrudes upward at the front end side of the engagement part 692E, and is journaled by the housing 60 so that its axial direction faces the up-down direction. The connecting pin 692P is formed in a generally cylindrical shape that protrudes upward at the front end, and is inserted into the connecting hole 691H of the switching transmission part 691.

As shown in Figs. 12 to 14, the switching guide 693 is formed in a generally rectangular plate shape, and is supported by the switching converter 692 and the housing 60 to be rotatable around an axis facing up and down with the in-plane direction of the plate surface facing horizontally. The rotation angle range of the switching guide 693 is limited so that one end is always located forward and the other end is located rearward. The switching guide 693 is formed with a cam member 693C, two guided portions 693G, an engaged portion 693E, and a connecting pin 693P (see Fig. 14). In the following description, for convenience, the one end located forward of the switching guide 693 will be referred to as the front end, and the other end located rearward will be referred to as the rear end.

The cam member 693C is formed on the upper surface of the switching guide 693 in a generally teardrop-like shape that protrudes upward and tapers toward the front end when viewed from above. The two guided parts 693G are provided on the upper surface of the switching guide 693 so as to sandwich the cam member 693C in opposition to each other, and are each formed in a generally fan-like shape protruding upward in a plan view. The housing 60b is formed with two guide parts 60G (see Figures 3, 15, and 16) corresponding to the two guided parts 693G. The two guided parts 693G are fitted into and guided by two guide parts 60G formed as grooves. As a result, the switching guide 693 is supported by the housing 60 so as to be rotatable around a virtual axis facing in the vertical direction so that the direction of the front end of the cam member 693C changes. Furthermore, the housing 60b is formed with a rotation limiting portion 60L, which is a hole formed in a generally rectangular shape in a plan view so that the cam member 693C can fit into it (see FIGS. 15 and 16). The rotation angle range of the switching guide 693 is limited by the two guide portions 60G and the rotation limiting portion 60L, as described above.

The engaged portion 693E is formed as a notch at the front end of the switching guide 693 with which the engaging portion 692E of the switching conversion portion 692 can engage in the left-right direction when the switching guide 693 is assembled to the switching conversion portion 692. The connecting pin 693P is formed in a generally cylindrical shape that protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the switching guide 693. The connecting pin 693P is formed so as to slidably fit into the connecting hole 692H of the switching conversion portion 692 when the switching guide 693 is assembled to the switching conversion portion 692.

The retaining ring 694 is a plate-like member formed in a roughly C-shape in plan view. A groove is formed around the entire circumference on the side of the rotating shaft 692A of the switching conversion unit 692, thereby forming a small-diameter portion of the rotating shaft 692A that is smaller in diameter than the other portions. The retaining ring 694 is formed so that it is inserted into the groove of the rotating shaft 692A after the switching guide unit 693 is assembled to the switching conversion unit 692, and is fitted into the small-diameter portion of the rotating shaft 692A. The retaining ring 694 is formed so that when fitted into the small-diameter portion of the rotating shaft 692A, it overlaps with a portion of each of the engagement unit 692E and the switching guide unit 693 in the vertical direction, thereby preventing the switching guide unit 693 from falling off the switching conversion unit 692.

As shown in Figs. 3, 13, and 14, the elastic regulating portion 695 is formed by bending an elastic member formed in a long plate shape. The elastic regulating portion 695 is bent so that both ends are approximately perpendicular to the plate surface, and a protrusion is formed in the center portion that protrudes in the opposite direction to the bending direction of both ends. As shown in Fig. 13, the elastic regulating portion 695 is fixedly provided on the housing 60 so that the protrusion faces backward. As will be described in detail later, the connecting pin 692P of the switching conversion portion 692 is provided so that it can be moved in the left-right direction by the switching transmission portion 691. The elastic regulating portion 695 is a so-called leaf spring in which the protrusion is positioned on the movement path of the connecting pin 692P to regulate the movement of the switching transmission portion 691, and the connecting pin 692P can bend so as to overcome the protrusion against the elastic force of the elastic regulating portion 695. The elastic restriction portion 695 provides the operator with a clicking sensation when the connecting pin 692P passes over the protruding portion of the elastic restriction portion 695, thereby enabling the operator to understand the operating state.

(Operation of the switching interlocking mechanism)
The operation of the switching interlocking mechanism will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 17. Figure 17 is a bottom view for explaining the connection between the switching interlocking mechanism and the connecting member.

As shown in Fig. 15, when the switching operation unit 632 is rotated counterclockwise in a plan view by a rotation operation on the operation unit 63, one of the two engagement portions 632E of the switching operation unit 632 engages with the engaged portion 691E of the switching transmission unit 691 from the outer left-right direction (right side in Fig. 15), and the switching transmission unit 691 is moved inward in the left-right direction (left side in Fig. 15). When the switching transmission unit 691 is moved inward in the left-right direction, the connecting pin 692P of the switching conversion unit 692 moves inward in the left-right direction overcoming the elastic restriction portion 695, and the switching conversion unit 692 is rotated clockwise in a plan view around its rotation axis 692A. When the switching conversion unit 692 is rotated clockwise, the engagement portion 692E of the switching conversion unit 692 is moved outward in the left-right direction. When the engaging portion 692E is moved outward in the left-right direction, the front end of the switching guide portion 693, where the engaged portion 693E that engages with the engaging portion 692E is formed, is pressed outward in the left-right direction, the switching guide portion 693 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from above, and the tip of the cam member 693C of the switching guide portion 693 tilts outward in the left-right direction.

As shown in Fig. 16, when the switching operation unit 632 is rotated clockwise in plan view by a rotation operation on the operation unit 63, the other of the two engaging portions 632E of the switching operation unit 632 engages with the engaged portion 691E of the switching transmission unit 691 from the inside in the left-right direction (left side in Fig. 16), and the switching transmission unit 691 is moved outward in the left-right direction (right side in Fig. 16). When the switching transmission unit 691 is moved outward in the left-right direction, the connecting pin 692P of the switching conversion unit 692 moves outward in the left-right direction overcoming the elastic restriction portion 695, and the switching conversion unit 692 is rotated counterclockwise in plan view around its rotation axis 692A. When the switching conversion unit 692 is rotated counterclockwise, the engaging portion 692E of the switching conversion unit 692 is moved inward in the left-right direction. When the engaging portion 692E is moved inward in the left-right direction, the front end of the switching guide portion 693, where the engaged portion 693E that engages with the engaging portion 692E is formed, is pressed inward in the left-right direction, the switching guide portion 693 is rotated clockwise when viewed from above, and the tip of the cam member 693C of the switching guide portion 693 is tilted inward in the left-right direction.

The connecting member 66 and the switching guide 693 are provided in the housing 60 so that the cam member 693C fits into the cam groove CG of the cylindrical cam 661. By changing the orientation of the tip of the cam member 693C left and right in response to a rotation operation of the operating unit 63, the path of the cam groove CG into which the cam member 693C fits when the connecting member 66 is rotated in the unwinding direction is changed, as will be described in detail later.

(Transition Operation to First Driving State)
The transition operation to the first drive state will be described with reference to Figs. 18 to 24. Fig. 18 is a plan view showing the operating device in the first connected state. Fig. 19 is a bottom view showing the cam member with the tip portion facing the first connection path. Fig. 20 is a bottom view showing the connection member when transitioning to the first connected state. Fig. 21 is a bottom view showing the connection member when a rotational force is transmitted in the first connected state. Fig. 22 is a bottom view showing the connection member when transitioning from the first connected state to the non-connected state. Fig. 23 is a diagram showing a relative position change of the cam member with respect to the cam groove in relation to the transition to the first connected state. Fig. 24 is a diagram showing the shielding device in which the bottom rail is raised.

As shown in FIG. 24(a), the operating unit 63 is rotated counterclockwise in plan view, and as shown in FIG. 24(b), when the operator pulls down the cord stopper 635 and pulls the operating cord 631, the connecting member 66 moves inward in the left-right direction (left side in FIG. 18) as shown in FIG. 18, and the connecting mechanism enters the first connecting state. In the first connecting state, the rotation of the pulley 62 is transmitted to the first output shaft 61a connected to the first drive shaft 201a, so that the shading device 1 enters the first driving state in which the first drive shaft 201a is driven to rotate.

When the connection mechanism is shifted to the first connection state, the switching guide 693 is first rotated so that the tip of the cam member 693C is tilted outward in the left-right direction (to the right in FIG. 19) as shown in FIG. 19. When the pulley 62 is rotated in the unwinding direction in this state, as shown in FIGS. 23(a) and (b), the relative position of the cam member 693C and the cam groove CG changes so that the cam member 693C, which is fixed in the circumferential direction of the connection member 66, enters the first connection path CG1, and as shown in FIG. 23(c), the cam member 693C is positioned at the unwinding direction end of the first connection path CG1. In the state shown in FIG. 23(b), the end of the partition wall separating the first connection path CG1 and the second connection path CG2 abuts against the side surface of the cam member 693C on the inner left-right direction (left side in FIG. 23), and the cam member 693C is guided to enter the first connection path CG1.

Since the cam member 693C is fixed in the left-right direction, when the cam member 693C is positioned on the first connection path CG1, the connection member 66 is moved inward in the left-right direction (to the left in FIG. 20) as shown in FIG. 20, and the connection mechanism is switched to the first connection state.

Furthermore, when the pulley 62 is rotated in the unwinding direction, as shown in Fig. 21, other components of the connecting member 66 rotate relative to the cylindrical cam 661 and the clutch spring 663, and the first output shaft 61a is rotated in the unwinding direction via the transmission shaft 65, the connecting member 66, and the first receiving member 67a, and the shading device 1 enters the first drive state. In the first drive state, the two first winding drums 202a to which the rotational force is transmitted from the first drive shaft 201a wind up the two lifting cords 32 connected thereto, respectively, and thereby the bottom rail 31 is raised as shown in Fig. 24(b) (first operation) .

When the operator releases the cord stopper 635 that has been pulled down, the pulley 62 rotates in the winding direction due to the restoring force of the power spring 621, and the operating cord 631 is wound around the pulley 62 until the cord stopper 635 abuts against the lower end of the gripping portion 634, as shown in FIG. 24(c). At this time, the connecting member 66 rotates in the winding direction, and the relative position of the cam member 693C and the cam groove CG changes so that the cam member 693C enters the non-connecting path CG0, as shown in FIG. 23(d), and the cam member 693C is positioned at the winding direction end of the non-connecting path CG0, as shown in FIG. 23(e).

By positioning the cam member 693C on the non-connecting path CG0, as shown in FIG. 22, the connecting member 66 is moved outward in the left-right direction (to the right in FIG. 22), and the connecting mechanism is switched to a non-connecting state. Furthermore, when the pulley 62 is rotated in the winding direction, other components of the connecting member 66 rotate relative to the cylindrical cam 661 and the clutch spring 663, but because the connecting mechanism is in a non-connecting state, the rotation is not transmitted to either the first or second receiving member 67a, 67b.

(Transition Operation to Second Driving State)
The transition operation to the second drive state will be described with reference to Figs. 25 to 31. Fig. 25 is a plan view showing the operating device in the second connected state. Fig. 26 is a bottom view showing the cam member with the tip portion facing the second connection path. Fig. 27 is a bottom view showing the connection member when transitioning to the second connected state. Fig. 28 is a bottom view showing the connection member when a rotational force is transmitted in the second connected state. Fig. 29 is a bottom view showing the connection member when transitioning from the second connected state to the non-connected state. Fig. 30 is a diagram showing the relative position change of the cam member with respect to the cam groove in relation to the transition to the second connected state. Fig. 31 is a diagram showing the shielding device in which the intermediate bar is raised.

As shown in Fig. 31(a), the operating unit 63 is rotated clockwise in a plan view, and as shown in Fig. 31(b), when the operator pulls down the cord stopper 635 and pulls the operating cord 631, the connecting member 66 moves outward in the left-right direction (to the right in Fig. 25) as shown in Fig. 25, and the connecting mechanism enters the second connecting state. In the second connecting state, the rotation of the pulley 62 is transmitted to the second output shaft 61b connected to the second drive shaft 201b, so that the shading device 1 enters the second driving state in which the second drive shaft 201b is driven to rotate.

When the connection mechanism is shifted to the second connection state, first, the switching guide 693 is rotated so that the tip of the cam member 693C is tilted inward in the left-right direction (left side in FIG. 26) as shown in FIG. 26. When the pulley 62 is rotated in the unwinding direction in this state, as shown in FIG. 30(a) and (b), the relative position of the cam member 693C and the cam groove CG changes so that the cam member 693C, which is fixed in the circumferential direction of the connection member 66, enters the second connection path CG2, and as shown in FIG. 30(c), the cam member 693C is positioned at the unwinding direction end of the second connection path CG2. In the state shown in FIG. 30(b), the end of the partition wall separating the first connection path CG1 and the second connection path CG2 abuts against the side surface of the cam member 693C on the left-right outer side (right side in FIG. 30), and the cam member 693C is guided to enter the second connection path CG2.

Since the cam member 693C is fixed in the left-right direction, when the cam member 693C is positioned on the second connection path CG2, the connection member 66 is moved outward in the left-right direction (to the right in FIG. 27) as shown in FIG. 27, and the connection mechanism is switched to the second connection state.

Furthermore, when the pulley 62 is rotated in the unwinding direction, as shown in Fig. 28, other components of the connecting member 66 rotate relative to the cylindrical cam 661 and the clutch spring 663, and the second output shaft 61b is rotated in the unwinding direction via the transmission shaft 65, the connecting member 66, and the second receiving member 67b, and the shading device 1 enters the second drive state. In the second drive state, the two second winding drums 202b to which the rotational force is transmitted from the second drive shaft 201b wind up the two light control cords 42 connected thereto, respectively, and thereby the intermediate bar 41 is raised as shown in Fig. 31(b) (second operation) .

When the operator releases the cord stopper 635 that has been pulled down, the pulley 62 rotates in the winding direction due to the restoring force of the power spring 621, and the operating cord 631 is wound around the pulley 62 until the cord stopper 635 abuts against the lower end of the gripping portion 634, as shown in FIG. 31(c). At this time, the connecting member 66 rotates in the winding direction, and the relative position of the cam member 693C and the cam groove CG changes so that the cam member 693C enters the non-connecting path CG0, as shown in FIG. 30(d), and the cam member 693C is positioned at the winding direction end of the non-connecting path CG0, as shown in FIG. 30(e).

By positioning the cam member 693C on the non-connecting path CG0, as shown in FIG. 29, the connecting member 66 is moved inward in the left-right direction (to the left in FIG. 29) and the connecting mechanism is switched to a non-connecting state. Furthermore, when the pulley 62 is rotated in the winding direction, other components of the connecting member 66 rotate relative to the cylindrical cam 661 and the clutch spring 663, but because the connecting mechanism is in a non-connecting state, the rotation is not transmitted to either the first or second receiving member 67a, 67b.

(Effect of the operating device)
The effects of the operating device according to the first embodiment will be described.

According to the operating device 6 of the first embodiment described above, the connecting member 66 and the switching interlocking mechanism 69, specifically the cam member 693C, work together to convert the rotational motion of the connecting member 66 into linear motion oriented in the axial direction of the transmission shaft 65, so that the driving shaft that transmits the rotational force of the pulley 62 can be easily switched by the rotational force of the connecting member 66, thereby improving the operability of switching the driven object.

In addition, by using the cam member 693C and the cylindrical cam 661 with the cam groove CG formed therein to move the connecting member 66 in the axial direction of the transmission shaft 65, the rotation and axial movement of the connecting member 66 can be linked as intended by the designer of the operating device 6, thereby making the axial movement of the connecting member 66 smooth.

In addition, the pulley 62 is rotated in the winding direction by the biasing force of the power spring 621, and a non-connecting path CG0 is formed in the cam groove CG, thereby preventing the transmission of rotational force from the first drive shaft 201a and the second drive shaft 201b to the pulley 62 with a simpler configuration.

Second Embodiment
(Overall composition)
The overall configuration of the shading device according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 32 and Fig. 33. Fig. 32 is a front view showing the configuration of the shading device according to this embodiment, and Fig. 33 is a schematic plan view perspective view thereof. Note that Fig. 32 shows the shading device with the bottom rail lowered, and only the inside of the head box is shown.

As shown in FIG. 32, the shading device 1A according to this embodiment differs from the shading device 1 according to the first embodiment in that it does not have an intermediate bar 41, two dimmer cords 42, or a screen 43. In addition, the shading device 1A differs from the shading device 1 in that it has a head box 2A instead of the head box 2, an operating device 6A instead of the operating device 6, and an operating unit 73 instead of the operating unit 63.

As shown in FIG. 33, head box 2A differs from head box 2 in that it does not have the two second winding drums 202b, the second brake device 203b, the second stopper device 204b, or the interlocking gear 205 housed therein.

The operating unit 73 includes a gripping portion 731, a cord stopper 732, and the operating cord 631. The gripping portion 731 is a member formed in a shape that allows the operator to easily grip it when towing the operating cord 631, and is connected to the lower end of the operating cord 631. The cord stopper 732 is a member formed in a size that can be engaged with an outlet (not shown) of the operating cord 631 provided on the operating device 6A, and is attached to a midway portion of the operating cord 631. The cord stopper 732 restricts the pulley 62 from winding up more than a certain amount of the operating cord 631.

(Configuration of the operation device)
The configuration of the operating device according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 34 and Fig. 35. Fig. 34 is a bottom view showing the configuration of the operating device according to this embodiment. Fig. 35 is a plan view showing the operating device when it is shifted to a connected state. Note that Fig. 34 shows the operating device without the pulley.

As shown in Figures 34 and 35, the operating device 6A according to this embodiment differs from the operating device 6 in that it has a connecting member 66A instead of the connecting member 66 as a connecting mechanism, that it does not have the second output shaft 61b, the second receiving member 67b, the input gear 68a, the output gear 68b, and the intermediate gear 68c, and that it has a cam member 69C instead of the switching interlocking mechanism 69.

The connecting member 66A differs from the connecting member 66 in that it does not have a second transmission member 665 and has a cylindrical cam 661A instead of the cylindrical cam 661. The cylindrical cam 661A differs from the cylindrical cam 661 in that a cam groove CGA is formed instead of the cam groove CG. The cam groove CGA differs from the cam groove CG in that the second connecting path CG2 is not provided.

The cam member 69C is a member equivalent to the cam member 693C provided in the switching guide portion 693 provided in the switching interlocking mechanism 69 according to the first embodiment. The cam member 69C is formed in substantially the same shape as the cam member 693C, but differs from the cam member 693C in that the tip of the cam member 69C is non-rotatably provided in the housing 60 with its tip tilted outward in the left-right direction.

When the operator pulls down the grip 731 and rotates the pulley 62 in the unwinding direction, the connecting member 66A is rotated so that the cam member 69C enters the first connecting path CG1. This causes the connecting member 66A to move inward in the left-right direction (to the left in FIG. 35), and the operating device 6A enters a connected state in which the first transmission member 664 and the first receiving member 67a are connected so as to be able to transmit a rotational force, and the shading device 1A enters a drive state in which the first drive shaft 201a is rotationally driven via the first output shaft 61a.

When the operator releases the grip 731 and the pulley 62 rotates in the winding direction due to the restoring force of the power spring 621, the operating cord 631 is wound around the pulley 62 until the cord stopper 732 abuts against the outlet of the operating device 6A. At this time, the connecting member 66A is rotated so that the cam member 69C enters the non-connecting path CG0. This causes the connecting member 66A to move outward in the left-right direction (to the right in FIG. 35), and the connecting mechanism becomes non-connected. Furthermore, when the pulley 62 is rotated in the winding direction, other components of the connecting member 66A rotate relative to the cylindrical cam 661A, but because the connecting mechanism is in a non-connected state, the rotation of the connecting member 66A is not transmitted to the first receiving member 67a.

(Effect of the operating device)
The effects of the operating device according to the second embodiment will be described.

In the shielding device 1A, which has only one drive system driven by the rotation of the pulley 62, the operating device 6A prevents the transmission of rotational force from the first transmission shaft 201a to the pulley 62 with a simpler configuration because the shielding device 1A is connected when the gripping portion 731 is pulled and disconnected when the gripping portion 731 is released.

In the first embodiment described above, the first moving member moved by the rotation of the first drive shaft 201a and the second moving member moved by the rotation of the second drive shaft 201b are the bottom rail 31 and the intermediate bar 41, which are moved in the vertical direction, respectively. However, the movement direction of the first moving member and the second moving member may be in any direction, and the first moving member and the second moving member may be arranged in front and rear and move up and down or left and right, respectively. In addition, the first drive shaft 201a and the second drive shaft 201b may be driven to perform two types of operations related to opening and closing the shielding material in the shielding device. For example, for the same shielding material, the first drive shaft 201a may drive the shielding device to perform a first operation, and the second drive shaft 201b may drive the shielding device to perform a second operation different from the first operation.

In addition, the rotational driving force of the pulley 62 is selectively transmitted to either the first drive shaft 201a or the second drive shaft 201b by rotating the switching operation unit 632, but this is not limited to this. For example, the switching operation unit 632 may be slid up and down or left and right.

In addition, while pleated screens have been used as examples of shading devices 1 and 1A, the present invention can be applied to shading devices such as blinds, curtains, or partitions, including horizontal blinds, vertical blinds, roller screens, honeycomb screens, roll-up curtains, and accordion doors.

The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main characteristics thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted as limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and is not limited in any way by the text of the specification. Furthermore, all modifications, improvements, substitutions and alterations within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

1 Shielding device 201a First drive shaft 201b Second drive shaft 31 Bottom rail (first moving member)
41 Intermediate bar (second moving member)
6 Operating device 62 Pulley 63 Operating portion 631 Operating cord 65 Transmission shaft 66 Connection member 67a First receiving member 67b Second receiving member 69 Switching interlocking mechanism 691 Switching transmission portion 692 Switching conversion portion 693 Switching guide portion 695 Elastic restriction portion

Claims (9)

An operating device for operating a drive shaft that drives a shielding device to perform a first operation for changing a shielding state of a shielding device having at least one shielding material,
a pulley that is formed so as to be able to wind and unwind an operating cord, that is biased by a biasing member so as to rotate in a winding direction, and that rotates in the unwinding direction against the biasing force of the biasing member as the operating cord is unwound;
a transmission shaft to which a rotational driving force is transmitted from the pulley;
a coupling member that is provided to be rotatable integrally with the transmission shaft and to be movable in an axial direction of the transmission shaft, and that is coupled to a first drive shaft that drives the shielding device when the coupling member is moved from a non-coupled position in the axial direction to a first direction side in the axial direction so as to be capable of transmitting a rotational driving force of the transmission shaft;
a switching interlocking unit that cooperates with the connecting member to convert the rotational motion of the connecting member into linear motion, moving the connecting member from the unconnected position to the first direction when the pulley is rotated in the unwinding direction, and moving the connecting member to the unconnected position when the pulley is rotated in the winding direction. The connecting member has a cylindrical cam formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and having a cam groove formed in an outer peripheral wall thereof, the cam groove being a groove extending in a circumferential direction,
2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the switch interlocking portion has a cam member that is provided so as to be able to fit into the cam groove and is provided so as to be immovable in the rotational direction of the connecting member. The operating device according to claim 2, characterized in that the cam groove has a first connecting path that extends in the unwinding direction and inclines toward a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, and a non-connecting path that extends in the winding direction. the connecting member is connected to a second drive shaft that drives the shading device so as to perform a second operation different from the first operation when the connecting member is moved from the non-connecting position to a second direction side that is opposite to the first direction, so as to be able to transmit a rotational force of the transmission shaft to the second drive shaft that drives the shading device;
The operating device according to claim 3 , wherein the switching interlocking portion moves the connecting member from the non-connecting position to either the first direction side or the second direction side in response to a switching operation by an operator. The operating device according to claim 4, characterized in that the cam groove further has a second connection path that is inclined toward the first direction and extends in the unwinding direction. The operating device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the cam member is formed with a tapered tip, and is provided so that the tip is inclined toward the first direction or the second direction in response to the switching operation. The operating device described in claim 6, characterized in that the switching interlocking unit includes a switching transmission unit that is arranged to be able to move linearly in response to the switching operation, a switching conversion unit that converts the linear motion of the switching transmission unit into rotational motion, and a switching guide unit that rotates the cam member so that the tip portion is inclined toward the first direction or the second direction in response to rotation of the switching conversion unit. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a first receiving member that engages with the connecting member and transmits the rotational force of the connecting member to the first drive shaft when the connecting member is moved in the first direction. An operating device as described in any one of claims 4 to 7, further comprising a second receiving member that engages with the connecting member to transmit the rotational force of the connecting member to the second drive shaft when the connecting member is moved in the second direction.