Motorized roller

• US 6,672,449 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itoh Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Itoh Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Fujimoto, Tomoyuki, Tanaka, Masaki, Nakamura, Tatsuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene O.
• Application Number:
  US09/931,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 198/788, 198/791, 198/835, 198/789, 384/900
• US Class Current: 198/788
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 23/08 with self-contained driving mechanisms, e.g. motors and associated gearing
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2207/03 Tubular motors, i.e. rotary motors mounted inside a tube, e.g. for blinds
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2211/03 Machines characterised by circuit boards, e.g. pcb
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/14 Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06

Abstract

By housing a driver circuit board in a motorized roller having a built-in electric motor, the troublesome external wiring can be dispensed with, thereby facilitating the mounting of the roller on other apparatus. The heat generating inside the roller from a driver circuit board in the roller is dissipated by a heat releaser, thus protecting the devices from damage and avoiding failure of control.

Claims

1. A motorized roller comprising:

a roller body;

an electric motor;

a speed reducer; and

an electronic device,

wherein the roller body accommodates the motor and the speed reducer,

wherein the roller body is supported so that the body can be rotated by the motor through the speed reducer,

wherein the electronic device is housed within the roller body and is capable of varying a current supplied to the electric motor from a power supply.

2. The motorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a transistor.

3. The motorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a circuit board within the roller body, the circuit board fed from a supply and causing a variation of current from the supply to the electric motor in response to conditions of the motor.

4. A motorized roller comprising:

a roller body;

an electric motor;

a speed reducer;

an electronic device,

wherein the roller body accommodates the motor and the speed reducer,

wherein the roller body is supported so that the body can be rotated by the motor through the speed reducer,

wherein the electronic device is housed within the roller body to control a current supplied to the motor; and

a heat releaser housed within the roller body,

wherein the heat releaser directly or indirectly contacts the electronic device.

5. The motorized roller according to claim 4, wherein thermally conductive grease is applied between the heat releaser and the electronic device.

6. The motorized roller according to claim 4, wherein an electrical insulator intervenes between the heat releaser and the electronic device.

7. The motorized roller according to claim 4, wherein the heat releaser and a device container made of plastic are housed within the roller body, the device container containing the electronic device and the heat releaser exposed to both inside and outside the device container.

8. The motorized roller according to claim 7, wherein an inner shell is housed within the roller body, the device container is housed within the inner shell and the heat releaser directly or indirectly contacts both the inner shell and the electronic device.

9. The motorized roller according to claim 7, wherein the device container has an opening into which the heat releaser is inserted.

10. A motorized roller comprising:

a roller body;

an electric motor;

a speed reducer;

an electronic device,

wherein the roller body accommodates the motor and the speed reducer,

wherein the roller body is supported so that the body can be rotated by the motor through the speed reducer,

wherein the electronic device is housed within the roller body to control a current supplied to the motor; and

an inner shell housed within the roller body,

wherein the inner shell accommodates the electronic device and a heat releaser, the heat releaser directly or indirectly contacting both the inner shell and the electronic device.

11. The motorized roller according to claim 10, wherein the inner shell is supported free from rotation.

12. The motorized roller according to claim 10, wherein the area of the outer surface of the inner shell is larger than that of the heat releaser.

13. The motorized roller according to claim 10, wherein the heat releaser has a curved outer surface conforming to the inner surface of the inner shell.

14. A motorized roller comprising:

a roller body;

an inner shell;

an electric motor;

a speed reducer; and

an electronic device adapted to control a current supplied to the motor;

wherein the roller body accommodates the inner shell;

wherein the inner shell accommodates the motor and the reducer;

wherein the roller body is supported so that the body is rotatable by the motor through the reducer;

wherein the electronic device is housed within the inner shell; and

wherein the electronic device is kept in contact with the inner shell.

15. The motorized roller according to claim 14 further comprising:

a device container made of plastic; and

a heat-conducting member;

wherein the device container is housed within the inner shell; and

wherein the heat-conducting member is inserted into an opening in the device container and is kept in contact with both the inner shell and the electronic device.

16. The motorized roller according to claim 14, wherein the electronic device includes a transistor.

17. The motorized roller according to claim 14, wherein the inner shell is supported unrotatably.

18. A unit for a motorized roller comprising:

a casing;

a fixed shaft protruding from the casing;

a driving portion housed within the casing;

a rotating member with larger outer diameter than the casing; and

an electronic device housed within the casing;

wherein the driving portion includes an electric motor;

wherein the electronic device is adapted to control a current supplied to the motor;

wherein the rotating member is rotatable upon reception of a force from the driving portion; and

wherein the casing is inserted into an external roller separately prepared, the fixed shaft protruding from the external roller and the rotating member engaging with an inner surface of the external roller to rotate the external roller.

19. The unit according to claim 18, wherein thermally conductive grease is applied between the heat-conducting member and the electronic device.

20. The unit according to claim 18, wherein the fixed shaft has an internal bore through which a cable for supplying electrical current to the motor in the driving portion runs.

21. The unit according to claim 18 further comprising a heat-conducting member kept in contact with both the electronic device and the casing.

22. A motorized roller comprising:

a roller body;

an electric motor;

a speed reducer; and

an electronic device,

wherein the roller body accommodates the motor and the speed reducer,

wherein the roller body is supported so that the body can be rotated by the motor through the speed reducer,

wherein the electronic device is housed within the roller body to control a current supplied to the motor,

wherein the electronic device includes a transistor.