JP7801151B2 - Vehicle sliding door opening and closing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle sliding door opening and closing device that opens and closes a vehicle sliding door.

Vehicles equipped with sliding doors have been known for some time. In particular, sliding doors are often installed on vehicles such as minivans, wagons, and vans. In recent years, efforts have been made to automate the opening and closing operations of sliding doors on vehicles equipped with sliding doors.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle sliding door opening and closing device that automatically opens and closes a sliding door and has a belt module that is attached to a vehicle body panel and guides an endless belt so that it circulates, and a motor module that drives the endless belt.

In this type of vehicle sliding door opening and closing device, which automatically opens and closes the sliding door, it is necessary to connect a guide roller unit attached to the sliding door with a belt connector fixed to the endless belt in order to open and close the sliding door. The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device described in Patent Document 1 connects the guide roller unit and the belt connector by fitting the belt connector fixed to the endless belt onto the guide roller shaft of the guide roller unit and fastening it with a screw. However, this method requires a lot of work to connect the guide roller unit and the belt connector, leaving room for improvement in assembly ease.

Patent Document 2 discloses a vehicle sliding door opening and closing device that reduces the amount of work required to connect a guide roller unit and a belt connector. The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device described in Patent Document 2 includes a clip as a belt connector fixed to the endless belt, and a clip holder that forms a sliding door connecting member integral with the guide roller unit. The clip holder also includes two first engagement pieces spaced apart in the extension direction of the endless belt, and a second engagement piece located between the first engagement pieces. The clip holder and clip are fitted together in the vertical direction of the vehicle, i.e., in the width direction of the endless belt, with the clip fixed to the endless belt sandwiched between each of the first engagement pieces and the second engagement piece spaced apart from the first engagement pieces in the thickness direction of the endless belt.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-095761 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-080656

However, in the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device of Patent Document 2, the second engagement piece, which is part of the clip holder that forms the connecting member of the sliding door together with the guide roller unit, is interposed between the endless belt and the belt guide.

Therefore, in order to prevent the first engagement piece from colliding with the belt guide, the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device of Patent Document 2 needs to ensure a large space between the endless belt and the belt guide. As a result, the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device of Patent Document 1 has difficulty reducing its dimensions in the vehicle width direction, resulting in a problem of reducing the vehicle interior dimensions in the vehicle width direction.

Furthermore, the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device of Patent Document 2 requires the first engagement piece to be inserted between the endless belt and the belt guide to engage the clip holder and clip, which makes it difficult to visually confirm the first engagement piece when engaging the clip holder and clip, leaving room for improvement in assembly.

The present invention provides a vehicle sliding door opening and closing device that is compact in size in the vehicle width direction while improving assembly ease when connecting the guide roller unit and belt connector.

A first aspect of the present invention is
a belt guide attached to a vehicle body so that its longitudinal direction extends in a substantially horizontal direction;
an endless belt wound around one end and the other end of the belt guide in the longitudinal direction;
a belt connector fixed to the endless belt;
a guide roller unit fixed to the sliding door and engaging with the belt connecting device;
a belt drive module that circulates the endless belt along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide,
The belt connector is
a bracket portion fixed to the endless belt;
an engaging portion with which the guide roller unit engages,
the bracket portion has an exterior wall portion facing the exterior of the vehicle on the exterior side of the endless belt,
the engagement portion is formed on the vehicle exterior wall portion,
the guide roller unit includes a fixing portion that engages with the engaging portion of the belt connecting device,
the fixed portion engages with the engaging portion on the vehicle outer side of the endless belt,
The guide roller unit is not interposed between the belt connector and the belt guide .
A second aspect of the present invention is
a belt guide attached to a vehicle body so that its longitudinal direction extends in a substantially horizontal direction;
an endless belt wound around one end and the other end of the belt guide in the longitudinal direction;
a belt connector fixed to the endless belt;
a guide roller unit fixed to the sliding door and engaging with the belt connecting device;
a belt drive module that circulates the endless belt along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide,
The belt connector is
a bracket portion fixed to the endless belt;
an engaging portion with which the guide roller unit engages,
the bracket portion has an exterior wall portion facing the exterior of the vehicle on the exterior side of the endless belt,
the engagement portion is formed on the vehicle exterior wall portion,
the guide roller unit includes a fixing portion that engages with the engaging portion of the belt connecting device,
the fixed portion engages with the engaging portion on the vehicle outer side of the endless belt,
The bracket portion is
a first bracket portion that faces an outer surface of the endless belt and that has the outer wall portion and the engaging portion formed thereon;
a second bracket portion that faces an interior side of the endless belt and engages with the first bracket portion,
the bracket portion is fixed to the endless belt by sandwiching the endless belt between the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion in the vehicle left-right direction,
The fixing portion is formed with an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion,
the engaging portions are formed at both ends of the outer wall portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, one at the front and one at the rear,
The engaged portions are formed at both ends of the fixing portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, one at the front and one at the rear,
the first bracket portion is engaged with the engaged portion by sandwiching the engaged portion in the vehicle width direction,
a protrusion protruding toward the other of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion is provided on one of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion,
When the fixing portion is engaged with the engaging portion, the convex portion presses the other of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion in a direction that moves the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion away from each other in the vehicle width direction.
A third aspect of the present invention is
a belt guide attached to a vehicle body so that its longitudinal direction extends in a substantially horizontal direction;
an endless belt wound around one end and the other end of the belt guide in the longitudinal direction;
a belt connector fixed to the endless belt;
a guide roller unit fixed to the sliding door and engaging with the belt connecting device;
a belt drive module that circulates the endless belt along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide,
The belt connector is
a bracket portion fixed to the endless belt;
an engaging portion with which the guide roller unit engages,
the bracket portion has an exterior wall portion facing the exterior of the vehicle on the exterior side of the endless belt,
the engagement portion is formed on the vehicle exterior wall portion,
the guide roller unit includes a fixing portion that engages with the engaging portion of the belt connecting device,
the fixed portion engages with the engaging portion on the vehicle outer side of the endless belt,
the engagement portion extends from the vehicle exterior wall portion toward the vehicle exterior,
The fixing portion is formed with an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion,
The engaged portion is an engaging groove that engages with the engaging portion.

This invention reduces the vehicle width dimension while improving assembly ease when connecting the guide roller unit and belt connector.

1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of a rear quarter panel and a center rail of the vehicle of FIG. 1. 1 is a front perspective view of a vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a rear perspective view of a vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a rear perspective view of the belt guide and the endless belt of the vehicle slide door opening and closing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a belt drive module connection unit and an endless belt of a vehicle slide door opening and closing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from inside the vehicle. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the belt drive module connection unit and the endless belt of FIG. 6 with the top plate removed. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the belt drive module connection unit and the bypass pulley of FIG. 6 as viewed from outside the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main portion of the center rail and the center guide roller unit of the vehicle of FIG. 1 with the fixing plate removed. 3 is a rear perspective view of a belt connecting device and a center guide roller unit of the vehicle slide door opening and closing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the belt connecting device of the vehicle slide door opening and closing device of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a belt connecting device of the vehicle slide door opening and closing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention and a fixing plate of a center guide roller unit. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 12. FIG. 10 is a front view of a modified example of the belt connecting device of the vehicle slide door opening and closing device of the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the belt drive module and its surroundings of the vehicle slide door opening and closing device; FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the belt drive module of the vehicle slide door opening and closing device, with the casing removed, and its periphery; FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a belt drive module of a vehicle sliding door opening and closing device, with a first vibration-isolating member and a second vibration-isolating member removed; FIG. FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of a belt connecting device and a center guide roller unit of a vehicle slide door opening and closing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a side view of a main portion of a fixing plate of a center guide roller unit of a vehicle slide door opening and closing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Embodiments of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings should be viewed in the direction indicated by the reference numerals. For simplicity and clarity in this specification, the front/rear, left/right, top/bottom, and inside/outside directions are described according to the direction seen by the driver of the vehicle. In the drawings, the front of the vehicle is indicated as Fr, the rear as Rr, the left as L, the right as R, the top as U, and the bottom as D. The left/right direction is also referred to as the vehicle width direction.

First, a vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 17.

<Vehicles>
As shown in Fig. 1, a vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 of this embodiment is attached to the left side of a vehicle body 2 that constitutes a vehicle 1. A sliding door 8 that is supported so as to be able to slide in the front-to-rear direction to open and close is disposed on the left side of the vehicle body 2, and the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 opens and closes the sliding door 8 by sliding it in the front-to-rear direction. In the following description, the outside of the vehicle refers to the left side, and the inside of the vehicle refers to the right side.

An upper rail 90u is fixed to the left side of the vehicle body 2, extending in the fore-and-aft direction above the door opening of the vehicle body 2. A lower rail 90d is fixed to the left side of the vehicle body 2, extending in the fore-and-aft direction below the door opening of the vehicle body 2. A center rail 90c is fixed to the left side of the vehicle body 2, extending in the fore-and-aft direction behind the door opening. The center rail 90c is fixed to the rear quarter panel 3, which constitutes the left rear side of the vehicle body 2, behind the door opening on the left side of the vehicle body 2. A tire housing 4 is formed at the lower end of the rear quarter panel 3. A fuel filler opening 5 is provided on the rear quarter panel 3 slightly above the tire housing 4. The center rail 90c is positioned between the tire housing 4 and the fuel filler opening 5 in the up-down direction and is fixed to the rear quarter panel 3. The upper rail 90u, lower rail 90d, and center rail 90c are all made of steel. The rear quarter panel 3 has an insertion hole 6 (see Figure 2) slightly above the position where the center rail 90c is located, into which the detour portion 42 of the belt drive module connection unit 40 (described later) is inserted from the exterior of the vehicle.

The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 is a device that automatically opens and closes a sliding door 8 by sliding it in the fore-and-aft direction. The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 is attached to the rear quarter panel 3 of the vehicle body 2. When mounted on the vehicle 1, the vehicle exterior side of the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 is covered by a finisher 7 that is the same color as the vehicle body 2, and is positioned so that it is substantially invisible from outside the vehicle.

An upper guide roller unit 80u is attached to the upper front of the sliding door 8. A lower guide roller unit 80d is attached to the lower front of the sliding door 8. A center guide roller unit 80c is attached to the rear center of the sliding door 8. The upper guide roller unit 80u of the sliding door 8 is attached to the upper rail 90u of the vehicle body 2 so as to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction. The lower guide roller unit 80d of the sliding door 8 is attached to the lower rail 90d of the vehicle body 2 so as to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction. The center guide roller unit 80c of the sliding door 8 is attached to the center rail 90c of the vehicle body 2 so as to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction. The sliding door 8 opens and closes by sliding in the fore-and-aft direction while the upper guide roller unit 80u, lower guide roller unit 80d, and center guide roller unit 80c are supported by the upper rail 90u, lower rail 90d, and center rail 90c of the vehicle body 2, respectively.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the center rail 90c, which is fixed to the rear quarter panel 3 of the vehicle body 2, has a longitudinal direction extending substantially horizontally and a straight portion 91 extending substantially linearly in the fore-and-aft direction, and a curved portion 92 extending forward from the front end of the straight portion 91 while continuously curving toward the vehicle interior. The center rail 90c is formed, for example, from steel. When viewed from the direction of extension, the straight portion 91 and curved portion 92 of the center rail 90c have a cross-sectional shape that is a modified C-shape that opens toward the vehicle exterior. The upper rail 90u and lower rail 90d may be of a known structure and are not directly related to the present invention, so detailed description of the upper rail 90u and lower rail 90d will be omitted in this specification.

Next, the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 3 to 17.

<Vehicle sliding door opening and closing device>
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 includes a belt module 20 arranged on the upper part of the center rail 90c, and a belt drive module 70 that circulates the endless belt 50 (described later) of the belt module 20.

The belt module 20 comprises a belt guide 30 attached to the vehicle body so that its longitudinal direction extends substantially horizontally along the center rail 90c; a belt drive module connection unit 40 to which a belt drive module 70 (described later) is attached; an endless belt 50 that is looped around the longitudinal front end 30a and rear end 30b of the belt guide 30 and moves in a circulating manner in the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30 through the belt drive module connection unit 40; and a belt connector 60 that is fixed to the endless belt 50 and connected to the sliding door 8.

The belt drive module 70 circulates the endless belt 50 along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30. The belt drive module 70 is assembled to the belt drive module connection unit 40 of the belt module 20.

Before being attached to the rear quarter panel 3 of the vehicle body 2, the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 is divided into two modules: a belt module 20 and a belt drive module 70. When attaching the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 to the rear quarter panel 3 of the vehicle body 2, the belt module 20 is attached to the rear quarter panel 3 from the outside of the vehicle, and then the belt drive module 70 is assembled to the belt drive module connection unit 40 of the belt module 20 from the inside of the rear quarter panel 3.

(Belt module)
First, the belt guide 30, the belt drive module connecting unit 40, the endless belt 50, and the belt connector 60 that constitute the belt module 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the belt guide 30 has a straight guide portion 301 that extends approximately horizontally in the front-to-rear direction along the straight portion 91 of the center rail 90c above the straight portion 91 of the center rail 90c, and a curved guide portion 302 that extends continuously from the front end of the straight guide portion 301 approximately horizontally forward while curving toward the vehicle interior along the curved portion 92 of the center rail 90c above the curved portion 92 of the center rail 90c.

As shown in Figure 5, the belt guide 30 has a guide wall portion 311 provided on the straight guide portion 301 and the curved guide portion 302 from the front end 30a to the rear end 30b, a bottom wall portion 312, an exterior upper wall portion 313, and an interior upper wall portion 314. The guide wall portion 311 extends vertically from the front end 30a to the rear end 30b of the belt guide 30. The bottom wall portion 312 extends from the lower end 311d of the guide wall portion 311 toward the interior side of the vehicle from the front end 30a to the rear end 30b of the belt guide 30. The exterior upper wall portion 313 extends from the upper end 311u of the guide wall portion 311 toward the exterior side of the vehicle. The interior upper wall portion 314 extends toward the interior of the vehicle between the upper end portion 311u and the lower end portion 311d of the guide wall portion 311, that is, from approximately the center portion of the guide wall portion 311 in the vertical direction in this embodiment.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, a front reversing pulley 321 is supported on the front end 30a of the belt guide 30. The front reversing pulley 321 is supported on the belt guide 30 so that it can rotate freely with its rotation axis facing up and down. The endless belt 50 is looped around the front reversing pulley 321, which reverses the movement direction of the endless belt 50 in the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30 at the front end 30a of the belt guide 30. A front bracket 300a is connected to the front end 30a of the belt guide 30. The front bracket 300a is connected to the belt guide 30 so that it can rotate around the rotation axis of the front reversing pulley 321, and is fixed to the vehicle body 2 with fastening members such as bolts.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a rear reversing pulley 322 is supported on the rear end 30b of the belt guide 30. The rear reversing pulley 322 is supported on the belt guide 30 so that it can rotate freely with its rotation axis facing up and down. The endless belt 50 is looped around the rear reversing pulley 322, which reverses the movement direction of the endless belt 50 in the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30 at the rear end 30b of the belt guide 30. A rear bracket 300b is connected to the rear end 30b of the belt guide 30. The rear bracket 300b is connected to the belt guide 30 so that it can rotate around the rotation axis of the rear reversing pulley 322, and is fixed to the vehicle body 2 with fastening members such as bolts.

As shown in FIG. 5, the belt guide 30 supports multiple tension pulleys 33 that apply a predetermined tension to the endless belt 50. In this embodiment, the tension pulleys 33 include a tension pulley 331 located approximately in the center of the straight guide portion 301 in the front-to-rear direction, a tension pulley 332 located near the rear end of the curved guide portion 302 of the belt guide 30, and a tension pulley 333 located between the tension pulley 332 and the front reversing pulley 321 in the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30. All of the tension pulleys 331, 332, and 333 are supported on the belt guide 30 on the vehicle interior side of the guide wall portion 311, and are rotatable on the belt guide 30 with their rotation axes oriented approximately vertically.

The interior upper wall 314 of the belt guide 30 is provided with an upper wall protruding support portion 314a that protrudes toward the interior of the vehicle and covers the upper surface of the tension pulley 331. The bottom wall 312 of the belt guide 30 is provided with a bottom wall protruding support portion 312a that protrudes toward the interior of the vehicle and covers the lower surface of the tension pulley 331. The upper end of the tension pulley 331 is supported by the belt guide 30 at the upper wall protruding support portion 314a of the interior upper wall 314, and the lower end is supported by the belt guide 30 at the bottom wall protruding support portion 312a of the bottom wall 312.

The interior upper wall portion 314 of the belt guide 30 is provided with an upper wall protruding support portion 314b that protrudes toward the interior of the vehicle and covers the upper surfaces of the tension pulleys 332 and 333. The bottom wall portion 312 of the belt guide 30 is provided with a bottom wall protruding support portion 312b that protrudes toward the interior of the vehicle and covers the lower surfaces of the tension pulleys 332 and 333. The upper wall protruding support portion 314b curves and extends toward the interior of the vehicle along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30 from the upper surface of the tension pulley 332 to the upper surface of the tension pulley 333. The bottom wall protruding support portion 312b curves and extends toward the interior of the vehicle along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30 from the lower surface of the tension pulley 332 to the lower surface of the tension pulley 333. The upper ends of the tension pulleys 332 and 333 are supported by the belt guide 30 at the upper wall side protruding support portion 314b of the interior upper wall portion 314, and the lower ends are supported by the belt guide 30 at the bottom wall side protruding support portion 312b of the bottom wall portion 312.

A pair of front and rear detouring pulleys 34 are supported on the belt guide 30, which apply a predetermined tension to detouring the endless belt 50 toward the vehicle interior. The pair of front and rear detouring pulleys 34 are located between tension pulleys 331 and 332 in the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30, near the front end of the linear guide section 301. The pair of front and rear detouring pulleys 34 are both supported on the belt guide 30 so that they can rotate freely, with their rotation axes facing up and down.

The interior upper wall 314 of the belt guide 30 is provided with upper wall protruding support portions 314c that protrude toward the interior of the vehicle and cover the upper surfaces of the pair of front and rear detouring pulleys 34. The bottom wall 312 of the belt guide 30 is provided with bottom wall protruding support portions 312c that protrude toward the interior of the vehicle and cover the lower surfaces of the pair of front and rear detouring pulleys 34. The upper ends of the pair of front and rear detouring pulleys 34 are supported by the belt guide 30 at the upper wall protruding support portions 314c of the interior upper wall 314, and the lower ends are supported by the belt guide 30 at the bottom wall protruding support portions 312c of the bottom wall 312.

The belt guide 30 has multiple drain holes 35 that penetrate the belt guide 30 along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30.

As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the belt drive module connection unit 40 has an assembly seat 41 fixed to the belt guide 30 so as to cover the insertion hole 6 of the rear quarter panel 3 from the exterior of the vehicle, and a detour section 42 that protrudes from the lower part of the assembly seat 41 toward the interior of the vehicle, and through which a portion of the endless belt 50 detours from the detour pulley 34 provided on the belt guide 30 toward the interior of the vehicle and passes through the interior.

The mounting seat 41 has a generally rectangular shape that conforms to the shape of the insertion hole 6 (see Figure 2) in the rear quarter panel 3. It has a lower portion 41d that has a vertical, planar shape extending in the fore-and-aft direction, and an upper portion 41u that has a planar shape that bends from the top end of the lower portion toward the exterior of the vehicle, slopes upward toward the exterior of the vehicle, and extends in the fore-and-aft direction.

The assembly seat 41 has a first bolt insertion hole 411a, a second bolt insertion hole 411b, a guide pin 412, and a rectangular hole 413. As described above, the assembly seat 41 has an upper portion 41u that extends in the front-to-rear direction and slopes upward toward the exterior of the vehicle. The first bolt insertion holes 411a are a pair of holes that penetrate the vehicle width direction and are provided at the front lower corner and rear lower corner of the upper portion 41u when viewed in the vehicle width direction. The second bolt insertion holes 411b are a pair of holes that penetrate the vehicle width direction and are provided at the front upper corner and rear upper corner of the upper portion 41u when viewed in the vehicle width direction. The guide pin 412 is a protrusion formed on the exterior surface of the assembly seat 41. In this embodiment, the guide pin 412 is provided on the exterior surface of the assembly seat 41 above the center in the up-down direction and approximately in the center in the front-to-rear direction. The rectangular hole 413 is a hole that penetrates in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, the rectangular hole 413 has a generally rounded rectangular shape that is longer in the front-to-rear direction than in the up-to-down direction when viewed in the vehicle width direction, and its upper edge extends in the front-to-rear direction at approximately the center of the assembly seat 41 in the up-to-down direction.

The detouring section 42 includes a detouring section case 421 through which the endless belt 50, which has detouring from the belt guide 30 to the vehicle interior, passes. The detouring section case 421 extends along the vehicle exterior surface of the assembly seat 41 and has an abutment seat portion 421a that abuts against the vehicle exterior surface of the assembly seat 41, and a thin box-shaped storage portion 421b that protrudes from the abutment seat portion 421a toward the vehicle interior of the assembly seat 41, passing through the rectangular hole 413 in the assembly seat 41 and the insertion hole 6 in the rear quarter panel 3, and has an open top and exterior side surface. The detouring section case 421 of the detouring section 42 is made of resin, and the abutment seat portion 421a and storage portion 421b are molded integrally.

The bypass section 42 further includes a top plate 422 that covers the opening on the top surface of the storage section 421b.

The abutment seat portion 421a of the detour section case 421 is provided with a pair of front and rear first bolt insertion holes 421c that penetrate in the vehicle width direction, and a pair of front and rear second bolt insertion holes 421d that penetrate in the vehicle width direction. The pair of front and rear first bolt insertion holes 421c are provided in positions that overlap with the pair of front and rear first bolt insertion holes 411a provided in the assembly seat 41. The pair of front and rear second bolt insertion holes 421d are provided in positions that overlap with the pair of front and rear second bolt insertion holes 411b provided in the assembly seat 41. A female threaded cylinder 423c is fitted into the inner circumferential surface of each of the pair of front and rear first bolt insertion holes 421c.

Bolts (not shown) are inserted from the vehicle exterior side into a pair of front and rear second bolt insertion holes 421d provided in the abutment seat portion 421a of the detour section case 421. The bolt inserted into the second bolt insertion hole 421d passes through the second bolt insertion hole 411b provided in the assembly seat 41 and an insertion hole (not shown) provided in the rear quarter panel 3, and is threaded into a nut (not shown) on the vehicle interior side of the rear quarter panel 3. The abutment seat portion 421a of the detour section case 421, the assembly seat 41, and the rear quarter panel 3 are then fastened together with the bolts and nuts. This secures the assembly seat 41 and detour section case 421 of the belt drive module connection unit 40 to the rear quarter panel 3 of the vehicle body 2.

A protrusion 421e that protrudes toward the interior of the vehicle is formed on the interior end surface of the accommodation section 421b of the detouring section case 421. A third bolt insertion hole 421f that penetrates vertically is provided in the protrusion 421e. A female threaded cylinder 423f is fitted into the inner circumferential surface of the third bolt insertion hole 421f.

The space enclosed by the storage section 421b of the detouring section 42 and the top plate 422 houses the drive pulley 43 and a pair of front and rear detouring pulleys 34 supported by the belt guide 30 described above.

The pair of front and rear bypass pulleys 34 supported by the belt guide 30 are positioned in front of and behind the opening in the exterior side of the storage section 421b, with portions of them protruding outward from the opening in the exterior side of the storage section 421b when viewed from above and below.

When viewed from the top-bottom direction, the drive pulley 43 is located closer to the vehicle interior than the pair of front and rear bypass pulleys 34, approximately in the center of the housing portion 421b. The drive pulley 43 is rotatably supported by the bottom surface of the housing portion 421b and the top plate 422, with its rotation axis oriented in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the drive pulley 43 is positioned such that its rotation axis is located between the rotation axes of the pair of front and rear bypass pulleys 34 in the front-to-back direction. The drive pulley 43 has a shaft portion 43a that extends in the vertical direction. The shaft portion 43a has a hollow, approximately cylindrical shape with the rotation axis of the drive pulley 43 as its central axis. Internal serrations are provided on the hollow inner peripheral surface of the shaft portion 43a.

The drive pulley 43 is driven to rotate by the power of the rotating electric machine 71 (described later) of the belt drive module 70.

The top plate 422 exposes the shaft 43a of the drive pulley 43 and covers the upper part of the housing portion 421b other than the shaft 43a of the drive pulley 43, and is bolted to the bypass case 421.

As shown in Figures 3 to 7, the endless belt 50 is a circular toothed belt with teeth formed on its inner surface along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30. The teeth formed on the inner surface of the endless belt 50 are formed by alternating peaks and valleys extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30 (i.e., the up-and-down direction) along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30.

The endless belt 50 is looped around the front reversing pulley 321 and the rear reversing pulley 322 and circulates along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30, surrounding the guide wall portion 311 of the belt guide 30 when viewed from the top and bottom. When viewed from the longitudinal direction, the guide wall portion 311 of the belt guide 30 covers the inside side of the portion of the endless belt 50 that moves on the outside of the vehicle, and also covers the outside side of the portion of the endless belt 50 that moves on the inside of the vehicle. In addition, the bottom wall portion 312 of the belt guide 30 covers the underside of the portion of the endless belt 50 that moves on the inside of the vehicle.

The endless belt 50 is routed around the tension pulley 33 and the pair of front and rear bypass pulleys 34 on the vehicle exterior side, i.e., between the guide wall portion 311 of the belt guide 30 and the tension pulley 33 and the pair of front and rear bypass pulleys 34. The endless belt 50 detours to the vehicle interior side between the pair of front and rear bypass pulleys 34 and is routed around the drive pulley 43 of the belt drive module connection unit 40.

The endless belt 50 is given a predetermined tension by the tension pulley 33 and is looped along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30 without slack on the inside of the vehicle. The endless belt 50 is detoured to the inside of the vehicle while being given a predetermined tension by a pair of front and rear detour pulleys 34, and is looped around the drive pulley 43 of the belt drive module connection unit 40.

The endless belt 50 moves in a circular motion along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide 30, surrounding the guide wall portion 311 of the belt guide 30 when viewed from above and below, as the drive pulley 43 is driven to rotate by the power of the rotating electric machine 71 (described later) of the belt drive module 70.

(Center guide roller unit and belt connector)
9 , the center guide roller unit 80c attached to the rear center of the sliding door 8 includes a base 81 fixed to the sliding door 8 with fastening members such as bolts, two front and rear first guide rollers 821 supported on the base 81 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis, and a second guide roller 822 disposed between the two front and rear first guide rollers 821 and supported on the base 81 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis. The center guide roller unit 80c is supported on the center rail 90c by the two front and rear first guide rollers 821 and second guide roller 822 being rollably mounted within the modified C-shape of the center rail 90c. The center guide roller unit 80c slides along the straight portion 91 and curved portion 92 of the center rail 90c while the two front and rear first guide rollers 821 and second guide roller 822 roll within the modified C-shape of the center rail 90c.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the belt connector 60 includes a bracket portion 61 that clamps the endless belt 50 in the vehicle width direction and is fixed to the endless belt 50, and an engagement portion 62 that engages with the center guide roller unit 80c.

The bracket portion 61 has a first bracket portion 611 that faces the outer surface of the endless belt 50, and a second bracket portion 612 that faces the inner surface of the endless belt 50 and engages with the first bracket portion 611. The first bracket portion 611 engages with the second bracket portion 612 from the outer side of the endless belt 50, and the second bracket portion 612 engages with the first bracket portion 611 from the inner side of the endless belt 50. The bracket portion 61 clamps the endless belt 50 in the left-right direction of the vehicle by engaging the first bracket portion 611 with the second bracket portion 612. This secures the bracket portion 61 to the endless belt 50.

The first bracket portion 611 has an exterior wall portion 611a that faces the exterior surface of the endless belt 50 on the exterior side of the endless belt 50. The exterior wall portion 611a extends in a generally flat plate shape in the front-to-rear and up-down directions. The exterior wall portion 611a has a clamping surface 611b that faces the exterior surface of the endless belt 50 and faces the interior side of the vehicle, and an exterior wall surface 611c that is the back side of the clamping surface 611b and faces the exterior side of the vehicle. A pair of upper engagement holes 611d are formed in the upper region of the exterior wall portion 611a, one at the front and one at the rear, penetrating the exterior wall portion 611a in the vehicle width direction. A lower engagement hole 611e that penetrates the exterior wall portion 611a in the vehicle width direction is formed in the lower region of the exterior wall portion 611a, approximately in the center in the front-to-back direction.

The second bracket portion 612 has an interior wall portion 612a that faces the interior surface of the endless belt 50 on the interior side of the vehicle. The interior wall portion 612a faces the exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611 across the endless belt 50, and extends in a generally flat plate shape in the front-to-rear and up-down directions. The interior wall portion 612a has an engaging surface 612b that faces the interior surface of the endless belt 50 and faces the exterior side of the vehicle, and an interior wall surface 612c that is the back side of the engaging surface 612b and faces the interior side of the vehicle. The second bracket portion 612 is formed with a pair of upper engagement portions 612d, one at the front and one at the rear, which extend from the upper end of the interior wall portion 612a toward the exterior of the vehicle. The upper engagement portions 612d are inserted through upper engagement holes 611d of the first bracket portion 611 from the interior side and engage with the exterior wall surface 611c of the exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611. The second bracket portion 612 is formed with a lower engagement portion 612e, located approximately in the center in the longitudinal direction, which extends from the lower end of the interior wall portion 612a toward the exterior of the vehicle. The lower engagement portion 612e is inserted through a lower engagement hole 611e of the first bracket portion 611 from the interior side and engages with the exterior wall surface 611c of the exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611. Teeth 612f are formed on the engagement surface 612b so as to face the inner surface of the endless belt 50.

The belt connecting device 60 engages the teeth 612f provided on the engaging surface 612b of the second bracket portion 612 with the teeth formed on the inner surface of the endless belt 50, and the pair of front and rear upper engaging portions 612d of the second bracket portion 612 are inserted into the upper engaging holes 611d of the first bracket portion 611 from the inside of the vehicle to engage with the outside wall surface 611c of the outside wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611, and the lower engaging portion 612e of the second bracket portion 612 is inserted into the lower engaging hole 611e of the first bracket portion 611 from the inside of the vehicle to engage with the outside wall surface 611c of the outside wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611. As a result, the endless belt 50 is sandwiched between the clamping surface 611b of the first bracket part 611 and the mating surface 612b of the second bracket part 612, the first bracket part 611 and the second bracket part 612 engage with each other, and the belt connector 60 is firmly fixed to the endless belt 50.

The engagement portion 62 is formed on the vehicle exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611. In this embodiment, a pair of engagement portions 62 are formed on the front and rear ends of the vehicle exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The front engagement portion 62 extends forward from the front end of the vehicle exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611, curves in an arc toward the vehicle exterior, and extends rearward, with a clamping portion 62a provided at its rear end. The front engagement portion 62 has a generally U-shape that opens rearward when viewed from the top-bottom direction. The clamping portion 62a of the front engagement portion 62 is formed in a position that overlaps with the vehicle exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611 when viewed from the vehicle width direction, and faces the vehicle exterior wall surface 611c. The rear engagement portion 62 extends rearward from the rear end of the vehicle-exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611, curves in an arc toward the vehicle exterior, and extends forward, with a clamping portion 62a provided at its front end. When viewed from the vertical direction, the rear engagement portion 62 has a generally U-shape that opens forward. When viewed from the vehicle width direction, the clamping portion 62a of the rear engagement portion 62 is formed in a position that overlaps with the vehicle-exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611, and faces the vehicle-exterior wall surface 611c.

10 and 12, the center guide roller unit 80c further includes a fixed plate 84 having a fixed portion 83 that engages with the engaging portion 62 of the belt connecting device 60. The fixed plate 84 is generally flat and extends in the front-rear and up-down directions. The fixed portion 83 extends upward from the upper end of the fixed plate 84 and extends generally flat in the front-rear and up-down directions. The fixed portion 83 is formed with an engaged portion 83a that engages with the engaging portion 62 of the belt connecting device 60. A pair of engaged portions 83a are formed at both front and rear ends of the fixed portion 83 in the front-rear direction. The front engaged portion 83a is a recess recessed toward the vehicle interior at the front end of the fixed portion 83, extending downward a predetermined distance from the upper end of the fixed portion 83 and extending rearward a predetermined distance from the front end of the fixed portion 83. The rear engaged portion 83a is a recessed portion recessed toward the vehicle interior at the rear end of the fixed portion 83, extending downward a predetermined distance from the upper end of the fixed portion 83 and also extending forward a predetermined distance from the rear end of the fixed portion 83.

Then, the belt connector 60 fixed to the endless belt 50 is pulled outward, and the engaged portion 83a formed on the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c is inserted between the clamping portion 62a of the engaging portion 62 formed on the first bracket portion 611 and the vehicle exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611, from the upper end side of the engaged portion 83a and the lower end side of the first bracket portion 611. The first bracket portion 611 then clamps the engaged portion 83a formed on the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c in the left-right direction between the clamping portion 62a of the engaging portion 62 and the vehicle exterior wall portion 611a, thereby engaging with the engaged portion 83a formed on the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c.

In this way, the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c engages with the engagement portion 62 formed on the first bracket portion 611 on the vehicle exterior side of the endless belt 50.

This allows the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c and the engagement portion 62 formed on the first bracket portion 611 to be easily visible from the vehicle exterior side of the endless belt 50, improving assembly ease when connecting the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connector 60.

Furthermore, since the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connector 60 can be connected without the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c being interposed between the endless belt 50 and the belt guide 30, the space between the endless belt 50 and the belt guide 30 can be reduced. This allows the vehicle width dimension of the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 to be reduced, and the vehicle width dimension of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1 to be increased without increasing the vehicle width dimension of the vehicle 1.

As a result, the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 of this embodiment has a reduced vehicle width dimension while improving assembly ease when connecting the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connecting device 60.

Furthermore, a pair of engaging portions 62 are formed at the front and rear ends of the outer wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a pair of engaged portions 83a are formed at the front and rear ends of the fixing portion 83 in the longitudinal direction, so that the fixing portion 83 connects to the belt connecting device 60 at both front and rear ends. This allows the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connecting device 60 to be more firmly fixed together.

As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the fixing portion 83 of the fixing plate 84 is provided with a protrusion 83e that extends upward from the upper end of the fixing portion 83 and extends in a generally flat plate shape in the front-to-rear and up-down directions. Furthermore, the fixing portion 83 of the fixing plate 84 is formed with a locking hole 83f that penetrates in the left-to-right direction.

The protrusion 83e is positioned between the pair of front and rear upper engagement portions 612d provided on the second bracket portion 612 when the belt connector 60 and the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c are engaged. Furthermore, the protrusion 83e is positioned so that at least a portion thereof overlaps with the pair of front and rear upper engagement portions 612d when viewed from the front-to-rear direction when the belt connector 60 and the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c are engaged. The protrusion 83e is positioned so that the gap in the front-to-rear direction formed between the protrusion 83e and each of the upper engagement portions 612d is minimized when the belt connector 60 and the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c are engaged.

Therefore, even if a load is applied to the center guide roller unit 80c and/or the belt connector 60 such that the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connector 60 are displaced in the front-to-rear direction, the protrusion 83e abuts against either the front or rear upper engagement portion 612d provided on the second bracket portion 612, thereby preventing the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connector 60 from being displaced in the front-to-rear direction.

The locking hole 83f is formed so that at least a portion of the lower engagement portion 612e of the second bracket portion 612 passes through it when the belt connector 60 and the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c are engaged. The locking hole 83f is also formed so that the front and rear end surfaces of the lower engagement portion 612e of the second bracket portion 612 slide against the wall surface 83g of the locking hole 83f when the belt connector 60 and the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c are engaged. Therefore, the lower engagement portion 612e of the second bracket portion 612 engages with the locking hole 83f provided in the fixed portion 83.

Therefore, even if a load is applied to the center guide roller unit 80c and/or the belt connector 60 such that the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connector 60 are displaced in the front-to-rear direction, the wall surface 83g of the locking hole 83f is in sliding contact with the front and rear end surfaces of the lower engagement portion 612e provided on the second bracket portion 612, preventing the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connector 60 from being displaced in the front-to-rear direction.

In this way, when the belt connector 60 and the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c are engaged, even if a load is applied to the center guide roller unit 80c and/or the belt connector 60 such that the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connector 60 are displaced in the front-to-rear direction, they are supported at three points: between the protrusion 83e of the fixed portion 83 and the front upper engagement portion 612d of the belt connector 60; between the protrusion 83e of the fixed portion 83 and the rear upper engagement portion 612d of the belt connector 60; and between the wall surface 83g of the locking hole 83f formed in the fixed portion 83 and the lower engagement portion 612e of the belt connector 60. This further prevents the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connector 60 from being displaced in the front-to-rear direction.

In this way, the endless belt 50 and the sliding door 8 are connected to each other via the belt connector 60 and the center guide roller unit 80c. As a result, when the endless belt 50 moves clockwise as viewed from above, the belt connector 60 fixed to the endless belt 50 moves forward, and the sliding door 8 connected to the endless belt 50 via the belt connector 60 and the center guide roller unit 80c moves forward, i.e., in the closing direction. Furthermore, when the endless belt 50 moves counterclockwise as viewed from above, the belt connector 60 fixed to the endless belt 50 moves backward, and the sliding door 8 connected to the endless belt 50 via the belt connector 60 and the center guide roller unit 80c moves backward, i.e., in the opening direction.

(Modification of Belt Connector)
14 , a convex portion 611f protruding toward the vehicle exterior may be provided on the vehicle exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611 of the belt connector 60. In this case, when the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c is engaged with the engaging portion 62 formed on the first bracket portion 611, the convex portion 611f protrudes toward the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c. When the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c is engaged with the engaging portion 62 formed on the first bracket portion 611, the convex portion 611f is pressed toward the vehicle interior by the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c. The convex portion 611f presses the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c toward the outside of the vehicle, i.e., toward the side where the outside wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611 and the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c move away from each other in the vehicle width direction, due to the reaction force exerted by the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c toward the inside of the vehicle and the elastic force of the endless belt 50 fixed to the belt connecting device 60.

As a result, the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c presses the convex portion 611f toward the vehicle interior, generating a reaction force on the vehicle exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611, and the elastic force of the endless belt 50 fixed to the belt connecting device 60. This causes the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c to engage with the engaging portion 62 formed on the first bracket portion 611 while being pressed toward the vehicle exterior. This allows the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c and the first bracket portion 611 of the belt connecting device 60 to be connected without any rattle.

(Belt drive module)
Next, the belt drive module 70 will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 15, the belt drive module 70 includes a rotating electric motor 71 that outputs power to circulate the endless belt 50, a reducer 72 that reduces the rotational speed of the power of the rotating electric motor 71 and outputs it, and a casing 73 that houses the rotating electric motor 71 and the reducer 72.

As shown in FIG. 16 , the rotating electric machine 71 is fixed to a casing 73. The rotating electric machine 71 has a rotor and a stator (not shown). An output shaft 711 is attached to the rotating electric machine 71, protruding downward from the rotating electric machine 71 and rotating integrally with the rotor. The outer peripheral surface of the portion of the output shaft 711 that protrudes downward from the rotating electric machine 71 is shaped like an external gear. An electric power line (not shown) is connected to the rotating electric machine 71, and the rotor of the rotating electric machine 71 and the output shaft 711 rotate integrally due to the power supplied from the power line.

The reducer 72 includes a first gear 721 and a second gear 722. Both the first gear 721 and the second gear 722 are supported by the casing 73 so that they can rotate freely with their rotation axes oriented in the vertical direction.

The first gear 721 includes a large-diameter gear 721a, which is an external gear, and a small-diameter gear 721b, which protrudes upward from the top surface of the large-diameter gear 721a and is an external gear coaxial with the large-diameter gear 721a and has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter gear 721a. The large-diameter gear 721a meshes with the external-gear-shaped output shaft 711 of the rotating electric machine 71.

The second gear 722 includes a large-diameter gear 722a, which is an external gear with a larger diameter than the small-diameter gear 721b of the first gear 721, and a serration shaft 722b that protrudes downward from the underside of the large-diameter gear 722a and extends along the rotation axis of the large-diameter gear 722a. The large-diameter gear 722a meshes with the small-diameter gear 721b of the first gear 721. The serration shaft 722b has external serrations on its outer circumferential surface.

As shown in Figures 15 to 17, the casing 73 is disposed on the vehicle interior side of the assembly seat 41 of the belt drive module connection unit 40. The casing 73 comprises a center casing 73c, an upper casing 73u attached to the upper surface of the center casing 73c, and a lower casing 73d attached to the lower surface of the center casing 73c. The center casing 73c houses the lower part of the rotating electric machine 71, the small diameter gear 721b of the first gear 721, and the large diameter gear 722a of the second gear 722. The upper casing 73u houses the upper part of the rotating electric machine 71. The lower casing 73d houses the output shaft 711 protruding downward from the rotating electric machine 71, the large diameter gear 721a of the first gear 721, and the upper part of the serration shaft 722b of the second gear 722. The lower portion of the serration shaft 722b protrudes downward from the lower casing 73d and is exposed to the outside of the casing 73.

The upper casing 73u is fixed to the center casing 73c by engaging the engagement claws on the upper casing 73u with the engagement portions of the upper casing 73u. The lower casing 73d is bolted to the center casing 73c and is fixed to the center casing 73c.

The lower casing 73d is formed with a first leg portion 731 that protrudes toward the interior of the vehicle and a pair of front and rear second leg portions 732 that protrude downward. The first leg portion 731 is positioned opposite the upper surface of the protruding portion 421e of the detour section case 421. The first leg portion 731 is provided with a first notch groove 731a that opens toward the interior of the vehicle. The first notch groove 731a is provided in a position that overlaps with the third bolt insertion hole 421f provided in the protruding portion 421e of the detour section case 421. The pair of front and rear second leg portions 732 are positioned opposite the assembly seat 41. The pair of front and rear second leg portions 732 are each provided with a second notch groove 732a. The second notch groove 732a provided in the front second leg portion 732 opens toward the rear, and the second notch groove 732a provided in the front second leg portion 732 opens toward the front. The second notch grooves 732a provided in the pair of front and rear second leg portions 732 are located at positions that overlap with the pair of front and rear first bolt insertion holes 411a provided in the assembly seat 41 and the pair of front and rear first bolt insertion holes 421c provided in the abutment seat portion 421a of the detour section case 421.

Returning to Figure 15, a circular first vibration-absorbing member 741 is fitted into the first notch groove 731a provided in the first leg portion 731. A circular second vibration-absorbing member 742 is fitted into each of the second notch grooves 732a provided in the pair of front and rear second leg portions 732.

The first leg 731, with the first vibration isolation member 741 fitted into the first notch groove 731a, is fixed to the top surface of the detour unit case 421 via the first vibration isolation member 741 by inserting the first bolt 751 from above through the inside of the annular ring of the first vibration isolation member 741 and screwing it into the female threaded tube 423f fitted into the third bolt insertion hole 421f of the detour unit case 421.

A second bolt 752 is inserted from diagonally above on the vehicle interior side into the annular interior of the second vibration-isolating member 742 fitted into the second notch groove 732a. The second bolt 752 passes through the annular interior of the second vibration-isolating member 742, a through-hole (not shown) provided in the rear quarter panel 3, and the first bolt insertion hole 411a of the assembly seat 41, and threads into the female threaded tube 423c (see FIG. 8) fitted into the first bolt insertion hole 421c provided in the abutment seat portion 421a of the detour case 421. The second leg portion 732, the second vibration-isolating member 742, the assembly seat 41, the rear quarter panel 3, and the abutment seat portion 421a of the detour case 421 are then fastened together by the second bolt 752. As a result, the casing 73 of the belt drive module 70 is fixed to the assembly seat 41 and detour case 421 of the belt drive module connecting unit 40, and the assembly seat 41 and detour case 421 of the belt drive module connecting unit 40 and the casing 73 of the belt drive module 70 are fixed to the rear quarter panel 3 of the vehicle body 2.

In this way, the casing 73 of the belt drive module 70 is fixed to the assembly seat 41 and detouring section case 421 of the belt drive module connecting unit 40 via the first vibration-isolating member 741 and the second vibration-isolating member 742. Therefore, the casing 73 of the belt drive module 70 is fixed without coming into direct contact with the assembly seat 41 and detouring section case 421 of the belt drive module connecting unit 40. This prevents vibrations and the like generated in the belt drive module 70 from being transmitted to the vehicle body 2 and the belt module 20, and prevents vibrations and the like generated in the vehicle body 2 and the belt module 20 from being transmitted to the belt drive module 70.

The casing 73 of the belt drive module 70 is fixed to the assembly seat 41 and the bypass case 421 of the belt drive module connection unit 40, thereby fixing the belt drive module 70 to the belt drive module connection unit 40. When the belt drive module 70 is fixed to the belt drive module connection unit 40, the external serrations on the serration shaft 722b of the second gear 722 of the belt drive module 70 engage with the internal serrations on the inner surface of the shaft portion 43a of the drive pulley 43 of the belt drive module connection unit 40 (see Figure 16).

In this way, by connecting the belt drive module 70 to the belt drive module connection unit 40, the power of the rotating electric machine 71 is transmitted from the output shaft 711 to the first gear 721 of the reducer 72, reduced by the first gear 721 and the second gear 722, and transmitted from the serration shaft 722b of the second gear 722 to the drive pulley 43 of the belt drive module connection unit 40, and the drive pulley 43 is rotated by the power of the rotating electric machine 71.

In this embodiment, when the rotating electric machine 71 is driven in the forward direction and the output shaft 711 rotates clockwise as viewed from above, the drive pulley 43 is driven in the clockwise direction as viewed from above, causing the endless belt 50 to move in a circular motion in the clockwise direction as viewed from above. This causes the belt connector 60 fixed to the endless belt 50 to move forward, and the sliding door 8 connected to the endless belt 50 via the belt connector 60 and the center guide roller unit 80c moves forward, i.e., in the closing direction. In this way, the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 moves the sliding door 8 in the closing direction by driving the rotating electric machine 71 in the forward direction in the belt drive module 70.

Furthermore, when the rotating electric machine 71 is driven in the reverse direction and the output shaft 711 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from above, the drive pulley 43 is driven to rotate counterclockwise as viewed from above, causing the endless belt 50 to move in a circular motion counterclockwise as viewed from above. As a result, the belt connector 60 fixed to the endless belt 50 moves rearward, and the sliding door 8 connected to the endless belt 50 via the belt connector 60 and the center guide roller unit 80c moves rearward, i.e., in the opening direction. In this way, the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 moves the sliding door 8 in the closing direction by driving the rotating electric machine 71 in the reverse direction in the belt drive module 70.

Second Embodiment
Next, a vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 18 and 19. In the following description, the same components as those in the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted or simplified. In the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 according to the first embodiment, the bracket portion 61 includes a first bracket portion 611 and a second bracket portion 612. However, in the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 according to the second embodiment, the bracket portion 61 is not divided into the first bracket portion 611 and the second bracket portion 612. Furthermore, in the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 of the first embodiment, the engaging portions 62 are formed in a pair at the front and rear ends of the vehicle-exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611 in the front-rear direction, and the engaged portions 83a are formed in a pair at the front and rear ends of the fixed portion 83 in the front-rear direction, but in the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 of the second embodiment, one engaging portion 62 is formed in approximately the center in the front-rear direction of the bracket portion 61, and one engaged portion 83b is formed in approximately the center in the front-rear direction of the fixed portion 83. Below, the differences between the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 of the first embodiment and the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 of the second embodiment will be described in detail.

As shown in Figures 18 and 19, the belt connector 60 includes a bracket portion 61 that clamps the endless belt 50 in the vehicle width direction and is fixed to the endless belt 50, and an engagement portion 62 that engages with the center guide roller unit 80c. In this embodiment, the belt connector 60 is made of resin.

The bracket portion 61 has an exterior wall portion 61a that faces the exterior side of the endless belt 50, an interior wall portion 61b that faces the interior side of the endless belt 50, and an upper wall portion 61c that faces the upper surface of the endless belt 50. The lower ends of the exterior wall portion 61a and the interior wall portion 61b are provided with locking claws 61d that protrude from the lower ends of the exterior wall portion 61a and the interior wall portion 61b toward the interior side of the vehicle.

The vehicle exterior wall portion 61a extends in the longitudinal and vertical directions in a generally flat plate shape. The vehicle exterior wall portion 61a has a clamping surface 61e that faces the vehicle exterior side of the endless belt 50 and faces the vehicle interior side, and an exterior wall surface 61f that is the back side of the clamping surface 61e and faces the vehicle exterior side.

The interior wall portion 61b faces the exterior wall portion 61a across the endless belt 50 and extends in a generally flat plate shape in the longitudinal and vertical directions. The interior wall portion 61b has an engagement surface 61g that faces the interior side of the endless belt 50 and faces the exterior of the vehicle, and an interior wall surface 61h that is the back side of the engagement surface 61g and faces the interior side of the vehicle. Teeth (not shown) are formed on the engagement surface 61g so as to face the inner surface of the endless belt 50.

The belt connector 60 expands the lower ends of the outer and inner wall portions 61a, 61b of the bracket portion 61 in the vehicle width direction, and inserts the endless belt 50 between the outer and inner wall portions 61a, 61b of the bracket portion 61 from the upper end side and the lower end sides of the outer and inner wall portions 61a, 61b of the bracket portion 61, engaging the teeth (not shown) on the engagement surface 61g with the teeth formed on the inner surface of the endless belt 50. The lower ends of the outer and inner wall portions 61a, 61b of the bracket portion 61, which had expanded in the vehicle width direction, are then returned to their original positions, and the locking claws 61d formed on the lower ends of the outer and inner wall portions 61a, 61b, respectively, are locked onto the underside of the endless belt 50. As a result, the endless belt 50 is clamped between the clamping surface 61e and the mating surface 61g of the bracket portion 61, and the belt connector 60 is firmly fixed to the endless belt 50.

The engagement portion 62 is formed on the vehicle-exterior wall portion 61a of the bracket portion 61. In this embodiment, the engagement portion 62 extends from the vehicle-exterior wall surface 61f of the vehicle-exterior wall portion 61a toward the vehicle exterior. The engagement portion 62 is formed in approximately the center, in the front-to-rear and up-down directions, of the vehicle-exterior wall surface 61f of the vehicle-exterior wall portion 61a.

The engagement portion 62 has a pillar-shaped portion 62b that extends pillar-like from the exterior wall surface 61f of the exterior wall portion 61a, and a locking portion 62c that is provided at the tip of the pillar-shaped portion 62b and extends outward from the side surface of the pillar-shaped portion 62b in a flange-like manner.

The center guide roller unit 80c further includes a fixed plate 84 having a fixed portion 83 that engages with the engaging portion 62 of the belt connector 60. The fixed plate 84 is generally flat and extends in the front-to-rear and up-down directions. The fixed portion 83 extends upward from the upper end of the fixed plate 84 and extends generally flat in the front-to-rear and up-down directions. The fixed portion 83 is formed with an engaged portion 83b that engages with the engaging portion 62 of the belt connector 60. One engaged portion 83b is formed in the approximate center of the fixed portion 83 in the front-to-rear direction. The engaged portion 83b is an engagement groove 83c cut downward from the upper end of the fixed portion 83.

An engagement claw 83d is provided at the upper end of the front edge and the upper end of the rear edge of the engagement groove 83c, extending toward the center of the engagement groove 83c in the front-to-rear direction.

Then, the belt connecting device 60 fixed to the endless belt 50 is pulled outward toward the vehicle exterior, and the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c is inserted between the locking portion 62c of the engaging portion 62 formed on the bracket portion 61 and the vehicle exterior wall portion 61a of the bracket portion 61, from the upper end side of the fixed portion 83 and the lower end side of the bracket portion 61, so that the columnar portion 62b of the engaging portion 62 enters the engagement groove 83c of the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c. Then, with the columnar portion 62b of the engaging portion 62 inserted into the engagement groove 83c of the fixed portion 83, the locking portion 62c of the engaging portion 62 engages with the vehicle exterior surface of the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c, and the engaging portion 62 of the belt connecting device 60 engages with the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c.

In this way, the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c engages with the engagement portion 62 formed on the bracket portion 61 on the vehicle exterior side of the endless belt 50.

This allows the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c and the engagement portion 62 formed on the bracket portion 61 to be easily visible from the vehicle exterior side of the endless belt 50, improving assembly ease when connecting the center guide roller unit 80c and belt connector 60.

Furthermore, since the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connector 60 can be connected without the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c being interposed between the endless belt 50 and the belt guide 30, the space between the endless belt 50 and the belt guide 30 can be reduced. This allows the vehicle width dimension of the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 to be reduced, and the vehicle width dimension of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1 to be increased without increasing the vehicle width dimension of the vehicle 1.

As a result, the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 10 of this embodiment has a reduced vehicle width dimension while improving assembly ease when connecting the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connecting device 60.

In addition, the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connector 60 can be connected by the engagement portion 62 extending outward from the outer wall surface 61f of the outer wall portion 61a and the engagement groove 83c formed in the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c, allowing the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connector 60 to be connected with a simple structure.

Furthermore, the engagement portion 62 has a locking portion 62c that extends outward in a flange-like manner from the side of the pillar portion 62b. Therefore, while the locking portion 62c of the engagement portion 62 is hooked onto the vehicle exterior surface of the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c, the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c can be inserted between the locking portion 62c of the engagement portion 62 formed on the bracket portion 61 and the vehicle exterior wall portion 61a of the bracket portion 61 from the upper end side of the fixed portion 83 and the lower end side of the bracket portion 61, thereby allowing the pillar portion 62b of the engagement portion 62 to insert into the engagement groove 83c of the fixed portion 83. Alternatively, because the bracket portion 61 has an exterior wall portion 61a, the columnar portion 62b of the engaging portion 62 can be inserted into the engaging groove 83c of the fixed portion 83 by inserting the upper end side and the lower end side of the fixed portion 83 while pressing the exterior wall portion 61a of the bracket portion 61 against the interior surface of the fixed portion 83. This makes it easier to position the engaging portion 62 when connecting the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connecting device 60, improving assembly when connecting the center guide roller unit 80c and the belt connecting device 60.

The engagement claw 83d is formed so that it is positioned to catch the columnar portion 62b of the engagement portion 62 when the columnar portion 62b of the engagement portion 62 penetrates to the bottom of the engagement groove 83c of the fixed portion 83 and then displaces upward to disengage from the engagement groove 83c of the fixed portion 83.

Therefore, by providing engagement claws 83d extending toward the center of the engagement groove 83c in the front-to-rear direction at the upper end of the front edge and the upper end of the rear edge of the engagement groove 83c, it is possible to prevent the engagement portion 62 of the belt connecting device 60 from disengaging from the engagement groove 83c of the fixed portion 83 after the engagement portion 62 of the belt connecting device 60 and the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c are engaged.

In this way, the endless belt 50 and the sliding door 8 are connected to each other via the belt connector 60 and the center guide roller unit 80c. As a result, when the endless belt 50 moves clockwise as viewed from above, the belt connector 60 fixed to the endless belt 50 moves forward, and the sliding door 8 connected to the endless belt 50 via the belt connector 60 and the center guide roller unit 80c moves forward, i.e., in the closing direction. Furthermore, when the endless belt 50 moves counterclockwise as viewed from above, the belt connector 60 fixed to the endless belt 50 moves backward, and the sliding door 8 connected to the endless belt 50 via the belt connector 60 and the center guide roller unit 80c moves backward, i.e., in the opening direction.

Although each embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. It is clear that a person skilled in the art could conceive of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the above embodiments may be combined in any manner as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in the first embodiment, the vehicle exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611 of the belt connector 60 is provided with a convex portion 611f that protrudes toward the vehicle exterior. However, the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c may be provided with a convex portion that protrudes toward the vehicle interior. In this case, when the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c is engaged with the engaging portion 62 formed on the first bracket portion 611, the convex portion provided on the fixed portion 83 protrudes toward the first bracket portion 611. When the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c is engaged with the engaging portion 62 formed on the first bracket portion 611, the convex portion provided on the fixed portion 83 presses the vehicle exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611 toward the vehicle interior, i.e., toward the side where the vehicle exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611 and the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c move apart in the vehicle width direction.

As a result, the protrusion on the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c presses the exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611 toward the interior of the vehicle, generating a reaction force on the exterior wall portion 611a of the first bracket portion 611, and the elastic force of the endless belt 50 fixed to the belt connecting device 60. This causes the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c to engage with the engaging portion 62 formed on the first bracket portion 611 while being pressed toward the exterior of the vehicle. This allows the fixed portion 83 of the center guide roller unit 80c and the first bracket portion 611 of the belt connecting device 60 to be connected without any rattle.

Furthermore, for example, in the second embodiment, the engagement claws 83d are provided on both the upper end of the front edge and the upper end of the rear edge of the engagement groove 83c, but the engagement claws 83d may be provided on only one of the front edge and rear edge of the engagement groove 83c.

This specification describes at least the following. The components corresponding to the above-mentioned embodiments are shown in parentheses as examples, but are not limited to these.

(1) A belt guide (belt guide 30) attached to a vehicle body (vehicle body 2) so that its longitudinal direction extends in a substantially horizontal direction;
an endless belt (endless belt 50) wound around one end (front end 30a) and the other end (rear end 30b) of the belt guide in the longitudinal direction;
a belt connector (belt connector 60) fixed to the endless belt;
a guide roller unit (center guide roller unit 80c) fixed to the sliding door (sliding door 8) and engaging with the belt connecting device;
a belt drive module (belt drive module 70) that circulates the endless belt along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide,
The belt connector is
a bracket portion (bracket portion 61) fixed to the endless belt;
an engaging portion (engaging portion 62) with which the guide roller unit engages,
the bracket portion has an outer wall portion (outer wall portions 611 a, 61 a) facing the outer side of the vehicle on the outer side of the endless belt,
the engagement portion is formed on the vehicle exterior wall portion,
The guide roller unit includes a fixing portion (fixing portion 83) that engages with the engaging portion of the belt connecting tool,
The fixing portion engages with the engaging portion on the vehicle outer side of the endless belt.

According to (1), the fixed portion of the guide roller unit and the engaging portion formed on the vehicle exterior wall portion of the bracket portion can be easily engaged while being easily visible on the vehicle exterior side of the endless belt, thereby improving assembly ease when connecting the guide roller unit and the belt connecting device.
Furthermore, since the guide roller unit and the belt connector can be connected without the fixed portion of the guide roller unit being interposed between the endless belt and the belt guide, the space between the endless belt and the belt guide can be reduced, which reduces the vehicle width dimension of the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device and allows the vehicle interior width dimension to be increased without increasing the vehicle width dimension.
Therefore, the vehicle sliding door opening and closing device has a reduced dimension in the vehicle width direction, and the ease of assembly when connecting the guide roller unit and the belt connecting device is improved.

(2) The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to (1),
The bracket portion is
a first bracket portion (first bracket portion 611) facing the vehicle exterior surface of the endless belt and including the vehicle exterior wall portion and the engagement portion;
a second bracket portion (second bracket portion 612) that faces the vehicle interior side surface of the endless belt and engages with the first bracket portion,
the bracket portion is fixed to the endless belt by sandwiching the endless belt between the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion in the vehicle left-right direction,
The fixed portion is formed with an engaged portion (engaged portion 83 a) that engages with the engaging portion,
the engaging portions are formed at both ends of the outer wall portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, one at the front and one at the rear,
The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device, wherein the engaged portions are formed at both ends of the fixing portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, one at the front and one at the rear.

According to (2), a pair of engaging portions are formed at the front and rear ends of the outer wall portion of the first bracket portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a pair of engaged portions are formed at the front and rear ends of the fixing portion in the longitudinal direction, so that the fixing portion connects to the belt connecting device at both front and rear ends. This allows the guide roller unit and the belt connecting device to be more firmly fixed.

(3) The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to (2),
the first bracket portion is engaged with the engaged portion by sandwiching the engaged portion in the vehicle width direction,
a protrusion (protrusion 611 f) protruding toward the other of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion is provided on one of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion,
a projection that presses the other of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixed portion toward a side where the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixed portion move away from each other in a vehicle width direction when the fixed portion is engaged with the engagement portion;

According to (3), when the fixing portion is engaged with the engaging portion, the convex portion presses the other of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion in the vehicle width direction toward the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion. Therefore, due to the reaction force generated in the vehicle exterior wall portion and the elastic force of the endless belt fixed to the belt connecting device, the fixing portion of the guide roller unit engages with the engaging portion formed on the first bracket portion while being pressed toward the vehicle exterior. This allows the fixing portion of the guide roller unit and the first bracket of the belt connecting device to be connected without any rattle.

(4) The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to (1),
the engagement portion extends from the vehicle exterior wall portion toward the vehicle exterior,
The fixed portion is formed with an engaged portion (engaged portion 83b) that engages with the engaging portion,
The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device, wherein the engaged portion is an engaging groove (engaging groove 83c) that engages with the engaging portion.

According to (4), the guide roller unit and belt connector can be connected by the engagement portion extending from the exterior wall portion toward the exterior of the vehicle and the engagement groove formed in the fixed portion of the guide roller unit, so the guide roller unit and belt connector can be connected with a simple structure.

(5) The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to (4),
The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device has an engagement claw (engagement claw 83d) that extends toward the center of the engagement groove in the front-rear direction, at least on one of the front edge portion and the rear edge portion of the engagement groove.

According to (5), an engagement claw extending toward the center of the engagement groove in the front-to-rear direction is provided on at least one of the front and rear edges of the engagement groove, which prevents the engagement portion of the belt connector from disengaging from the engagement groove of the fixed portion after the engagement portion of the belt connector and the fixed portion of the guide roller unit are engaged.

(6) The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to (4) or (5),
The engagement portion is
a pillar-shaped portion (pillar portion 62b) extending in a pillar shape from the vehicle exterior wall portion toward the vehicle exterior and inserted into the engagement groove;
A vehicle sliding door opening and closing device having a locking portion (locking portion 62c) provided at the tip of the pillar portion, extending outward in a flange-like manner from the side of the pillar portion and facing the exterior side of the fixed portion.

According to (6), the engaging portion has a locking portion that extends outward in a flange-like shape from the side of the pillar portion, and the bracket portion has an exterior wall portion. Therefore, the pillar portion can be inserted into the engaging groove while the locking portion of the engaging portion is hooked onto the exterior surface of the fixed portion of the guide roller unit, or while the interior surface of the fixed portion is pressed against the exterior wall portion. This makes it easier to position the engaging portion when connecting the guide roller unit and belt connector, improving assembly when connecting the guide roller unit and belt connector.

2 Vehicle body 8 Sliding door 10 Vehicle sliding door opening and closing device 30 Belt guide 30a Front end (one end)
30b Rear end (other end)
50: endless belt 60: belt connector 61: bracket portion 61a: vehicle exterior wall portion 611: first bracket portion 611a: vehicle exterior wall portion 611f: convex portion 612: second bracket portion 62: engagement portion 62b: pillar portion 62c: locking portion 70: belt drive module 80c: center guide roller unit (guide roller unit)
83 Fixed part 83a Engaged part 83b Engaged part 83c Engagement groove 83d Engagement claw

Claims (7)

a belt guide attached to a vehicle body so that its longitudinal direction extends in a substantially horizontal direction;
an endless belt wound around one end and the other end of the belt guide in the longitudinal direction;
a belt connector fixed to the endless belt;
a guide roller unit fixed to the sliding door and engaging with the belt connecting device;
a belt drive module that circulates the endless belt along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide,
The belt connector is
a bracket portion fixed to the endless belt;
an engaging portion with which the guide roller unit engages,
the bracket portion has an exterior wall portion facing the exterior of the vehicle on the exterior side of the endless belt,
the engagement portion is formed on the vehicle exterior wall portion,
the guide roller unit includes a fixing portion that engages with the engaging portion of the belt connecting device,
the fixed portion engages with the engaging portion on the vehicle outer side of the endless belt,
The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device , wherein the guide roller unit is not interposed between the belt connecting device and the belt guide . The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to claim 1,
The bracket portion is
a first bracket portion that faces an outer surface of the endless belt and that has the outer wall portion and the engaging portion formed thereon;
a second bracket portion that faces an interior side of the endless belt and engages with the first bracket portion,
the bracket portion is fixed to the endless belt by sandwiching the endless belt between the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion in the vehicle left-right direction,
The fixing portion is formed with an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion,
the engaging portions are formed at both ends of the outer wall portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, one at the front and one at the rear,
The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device, wherein the engaged portions are formed at both ends of the fixing portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, one at the front and one at the rear. The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to claim 2,
the first bracket portion is engaged with the engaged portion by sandwiching the engaged portion in the vehicle width direction,
a protrusion protruding toward the other of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion is provided on one of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion,
When the fixing portion is engaged with the engaging portion, the convex portion presses the other of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion in a direction that moves the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion away from each other in the vehicle width direction. a belt guide attached to a vehicle body so that its longitudinal direction extends in a substantially horizontal direction;
an endless belt wound around one end and the other end of the belt guide in the longitudinal direction;
a belt connector fixed to the endless belt;
a guide roller unit fixed to the sliding door and engaging with the belt connecting device;
a belt drive module that circulates the endless belt along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide,
The belt connector is
a bracket portion fixed to the endless belt;
an engaging portion with which the guide roller unit engages,
the bracket portion has an exterior wall portion facing the exterior of the vehicle on the exterior side of the endless belt,
the engagement portion is formed on the vehicle exterior wall portion,
the guide roller unit includes a fixing portion that engages with the engaging portion of the belt connecting device,
the fixed portion engages with the engaging portion on the vehicle outer side of the endless belt,
The bracket portion is
a first bracket portion that faces an outer surface of the endless belt and that has the outer wall portion and the engaging portion formed thereon;
a second bracket portion that faces an interior side of the endless belt and engages with the first bracket portion,
the bracket portion is fixed to the endless belt by sandwiching the endless belt between the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion in the vehicle left-right direction,
The fixing portion is formed with an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion,
the engaging portions are formed at both ends of the outer wall portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, one at the front and one at the rear,
The engaged portions are formed at both ends of the fixing portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, one at the front and one at the rear,
the first bracket portion is engaged with the engaged portion by sandwiching the engaged portion in the vehicle width direction,
a protrusion protruding toward the other of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion is provided on one of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion,
When the fixing portion is engaged with the engaging portion, the convex portion presses the other of the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion in a direction that moves the vehicle exterior wall portion and the fixing portion away from each other in the vehicle width direction . a belt guide attached to a vehicle body so that its longitudinal direction extends in a substantially horizontal direction;
an endless belt wound around one end and the other end of the belt guide in the longitudinal direction;
a belt connector fixed to the endless belt;
a guide roller unit fixed to the sliding door and engaging with the belt connecting device;
a belt drive module that circulates the endless belt along the longitudinal direction of the belt guide,
The belt connector is
a bracket portion fixed to the endless belt;
an engaging portion with which the guide roller unit engages,
the bracket portion has an exterior wall portion facing the exterior of the vehicle on the exterior side of the endless belt,
the engagement portion is formed on the vehicle exterior wall portion,
the guide roller unit includes a fixing portion that engages with the engaging portion of the belt connecting device,
the fixed portion engages with the engaging portion on the vehicle outer side of the endless belt,
the engagement portion extends from the vehicle exterior wall portion toward the vehicle exterior,
The fixing portion is formed with an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion,
The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device, wherein the engaged portion is an engaging groove that engages with the engaging portion . The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to claim 5 ,
The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device further includes an engagement claw extending toward the center of the engagement groove in the front-rear direction, the engagement claw being provided on at least one of a front edge portion and a rear edge portion of the engagement groove. The vehicle sliding door opening and closing device according to claim 5 or 6 ,
The engagement portion is
a pillar-shaped portion extending in a pillar shape from the vehicle exterior wall portion toward the vehicle exterior and inserted into the engagement groove;
a locking portion provided at the tip of the pillar portion, extending outward from the side surface of the pillar portion in a flange-like shape and facing the exterior surface of the fixing portion;