Motorized roller and motor unit for motorized roller

• US 8,006,829 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itoh Denki Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Itoh Denki Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Masaki, Nakashima, Takenobu, Nakamura, Tatsuhiko, Itoh, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Deuble; Mark A
• Application Number:
  US12/584,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20100059341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 198/788, 310/67.R, 310/71, 439/296, 439/297, 439/299
• 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 2207/03 Tubular motors, i.e. rotary motors mounted inside a tube, e.g. for blinds
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1012 Machine arranged inside the pulley

Abstract

A motorized roller includes a roller body of a cylindrical shape, in which a motor and a reducer are housed. The motorized roller has fixed shafts protruding out of both ends of the roller body. A first fixed shaft has a cavity, in which a first connector is housed. A second connector is connected to the first connector. The first fixed shaft has a first engaging part (inside screw) for preventing disengagement of the second connector, so that a part (screw forming part) of the second connector is engaged with the first engaging part.

Claims

1. A motorized roller, comprising:

a roller body having both ends;

a plurality of fixed shafts with one of the fixed shafts protruding out of each of the both ends of the roller body; and

a motor housed in the roller body,

wherein rotation of the motor rotates the roller body around the fixed shafts,

at least one of the fixed shafts having a cavity and having a first connector at an inside or a distal end of the fixed shaft so as to electrically conduct between inside and outside of the roller body by connection of a separately prepared second connector to the first connector,

wherein the fixed shaft is hollow and has an inner periphery and a first engaging part for preventing disengagement of the second connector, so that a part of the second connector is mechanically engaged with the first engaging part,

including the second connector,

the first connector being arranged within the fixed shaft,

the first engaging part being formed on the inner periphery of the fixed shaft, and

the second connector having a second engaging part at an outer periphery of the second connector,

so that the second connector is attached to the fixed shaft by engagement of the first engaging part with the second engaging part.

2. The motorized roller as defined in claim 1,

the first engaging part being formed on an inner wall of the cavity of the fixed shaft.

3. The motorized roller as defined in claim 1,

having a sleeve between an outer periphery of the first connector and an inner wall of the cavity of the fixed shaft.

4. The motorized roller as defined in claim 1,

the second engaging part being a male screw, and

the first engaging part being a female screw.

5. The motorized roller as defined in claim 1,

the motor having a plurality of coils, and

the roller body housing at least a part of a circuit for supplying current to the coils.

6. The motorized roller as defined in claim 1,

the roller body being of a hollow tubular shape,

wherein the motorized roller further comprises:

a motor unit;

a pair of lids closing the both ends of the roller body; and

a shaft supporting member positioned in the roller body,

the motor unit comprising;

a cylindrical casing housed in the roller body;

a first shaft protruding out of a distal end of the casing and having a free end;

a first holder fixing a proximal end portion of the first shaft to a distal end portion of the casing;

a driving shaft protruding out of a proximal end of the casing; and

a stator and a rotor of the motor,

the stator being fixed to an inner surface of the casing with the rotor held rotatively in the stator so that a rotational force of the rotor is transmitted to the driving shaft,

the first shaft protruding out of the distal end of the casing with being held by the first holder, the first shaft having the first connector,

the first shaft having a portion adjacent to the free end and protruding out of a distal end of the roller body so as to serve as one of the fixed shafts,

the portion of the first shaft being supported by the lids rotatably relative to the roller body,

the driving shaft being positioned in the roller body, held on a central axis of the roller body by the shaft supporting member, and united integrally with the roller body about rotation via the shaft supporting member, and

the motorized roller further comprising a second shaft mounted rotatively relative to the roller body on a proximal end of the roller body.

7. The motorized roller as defined in claim 1,

having a hollow part where no member exists in a part in an axial direction in the roller body.

8. The motorized roller as defined in claim 1,

wherein the motor has a central axis and the inner periphery of the fixed shaft extends around the central axis of the motor.

9. A motorized roller comprising:

a roller body having both ends;

a plurality of fixed shafts with one of the fixed shafts protruding out of each of the both ends of the roller body; and

a motor housed in the roller body,

wherein rotation of the motor rotates the roller body around the fixed shafts,

at least one of the fixed shafts having a cavity and having a first connector at an inside or a distal end of the fixed shaft so as to electrically conduct between inside and outside of the roller body by connection of a separately prepared second connector to the first connector,

one selected from the fixed shaft and the first connector having a first engaging part for preventing disengagement of the second connector, so that a part of the second connector is mechanically engaged with the first engaging part,

including the second connector,

the first connector being arranged within the fixed shaft,

the first engaging part being formed on an inner surface of the fixed shaft,

the second connector having a second engaging part at an outer periphery of the second connector,

so that the second connector is attached to the fixed shaft by engagement of the first engaging part with the second engaging part,

the second engaging part being an elastic nail, and

the first engaging part being a projection to be engaged with the nail.

10. A motorized roller comprising:

a roller body having both ends;

a plurality of fixed shafts with one of the fixed shafts protruding out of each of the both ends of the roller body; and

a motor housed in the roller body,

wherein rotation of the motor rotates the roller body around the fixed shafts,

at least one of the fixed shafts having a cavity and having a first connector at an inside or a distal end of the fixed shaft so as to electrically conduct between inside and outside of the roller body by connection of a separately prepared second connector to the first connector,

one selected from the fixed shaft and the first connector having a first engaging part for preventing disengagement of the second connector, so that a part of the second connector is mechanically engaged with the first engaging part,

including the second connector,

the first connector being arranged within the fixed shaft,

the first engaging part being formed on an inner surface of the fixed shaft,

the second connector having a second engaging part at an outer periphery of the second connector,

so that the second connector is attached to the fixed shaft by engagement of the first engaging part with the second engaging part,

the second connector having a main body and an engaging tube formed around the main body,

so that the engaging tube of the second connector is engaged with an outer periphery of the first connector.

11. A motorized roller, comprising:

a roller body of a hollow tubular shape and having both ends;

a motor unit housed in the roller body;

a pair of lids closing the both ends of the roller body; and

a shaft supporting member being positioned in the roller body;

wherein the motor unit comprises;

a cylindrical casing being housed in the roller body;

a motor housed in the casing;

a first shaft protruding out of a distal end of the casing and having a free end;

a first holder fixing a proximal end portion of the first shaft to a distal end portion of the casing; and

a driving shaft protruding out of a proximal end of the casing, so that a rotational force of the motor is transmitted to the driving shaft,

the first shaft being hollow, protruding out of the distal end of the casing with being held by the first holder, and having a first connector at an inside or a distal end of the first shaft,

one selected from the first connector and the inside of the first shaft having a first engaging part in a form of a projection,

wherein the motorized roller further has a second shaft, a second connector, and a second engaging part at an outer periphery of the second connector, the second engaging part being of an elastic nail shape,

the first shaft having a portion adjacent to the free end and protruding out of a distal end of the roller body,

the portion of the first shaft being supported by the lids rotatably relative to the roller body,

the driving shaft being positioned in the roller body, held on a central axis of the roller body by the shaft supporting member, and united integrally with the roller body about rotation via the shaft supporting member, and

the second shaft being mounted rotatively to the roller body on the proximal end of the roller body,

so as to electrically conduct between inside and outside of the roller body by connection of the second connector to the first connector and further to mechanically engage the second engaging part with the first engaging part.

12. A motor unit for a motorized roller, being inserted into a roller body so as to constitute a motorized roller,

wherein the motor unit comprises:

a cylindrical casing;

a motor housed in the casing;

a first shaft protruding out of a distal end of the casing;

a first holder fixing a proximal end portion of the first shaft to a distal end portion of the casing; and

a driving shaft protruding out of a proximal end of the casing, so that a rotational force of the motor is transmitted to the driving shaft,

the first shaft being hollow, protruding out of the distal end of the casing with being held by the first holder, and having a first connector at an inside or a distal end of the first shaft, so as to electrically conduct between inside and outside of the roller body by connection of a separately prepared second connector to the first connector, and

the fixed shaft is hollow and has an inner periphery and a first engaging part for preventing disengagement of the second connector, so that a part of the second connector is mechanically engaged with the first engaging part,

including the second connector, the first connector being arranged within the first shaft, the first engaging part being formed on the inner periphery of the first shaft, and the second connector having a second engaging part at an outer periphery of the second connector, so that the second connector is attached to the first shaft by engagement of the first engaging part with the second engaging part.

13. The motor unit as defined in claim 12,

the motor having a stator and a rotor, the stator being fixed to an inner surface of the casing with the rotor held rotatively in the stator so that a rotational force of the rotor is transmitted to the driving shaft.

14. The motor unit as defined in claim 12,

the first engaging part being formed on an inner wall of the cavity of the first shaft.

15. The motor unit as defined in claim 12,

having a sleeve between an outer periphery of the first connector and an inner wall of the cavity of the first shaft.

16. The motor unit as defined in claim 12,

the second engaging part being a male screw, and

the first engaging part being a female screw.

17. The motor unit as defined in claim 12,

the motor having a plurality of coils, and

the roller body housing at least a part of a circuit for supplying current to the coils.

18. The motor unit as defined in claim 12,

wherein the motor has a central axis and the inner periphery of the fixed shaft extends around the central axis of the motor.

19. A motor unit for a motorized roller, being inserted into a roller body so as to constitute a motorized roller,

wherein the motor unit comprises:

a cylindrical casing;

a motor housed in the casing;

a first shaft protruding out of a distal end of the casing;

a first holder fixing a proximal end portion of the first shaft to a distal end portion of the casing; and

a driving shaft protruding out of a proximal end of the casing, so that a rotational force of the motor is transmitted to the driving shaft,

the first shaft being hollow, protruding out of the distal end of the casing with being held by the first holder, and having a first connector at an inside or a distal end of the first shaft, so as to electrically conduct between inside and outside of the roller body by connection of a separately prepared second connector to the first connector,

one selected from the fixed shaft and the first connector having a first engaging part for preventing disengagement of the second connector, so that a part of the second connector is mechanically engaged with the first engaging part,

including the second connector, the first connector being arranged within the first shaft, the first engaging part being formed on an inner surface of the first shaft, and the second connector having a second engaging part at an outer periphery of the second connector, so that the second connector is attached to the first shaft by engagement of the first engaging part with the second engaging part,

the second engaging part being an elastic nail, and

the first engaging part being a projection to be engaged with the nail.

20. A motor unit for a motorized roller, being inserted into a roller body so as to constitute a motorized roller,

wherein the motor unit comprises:

a cylindrical casing;

a motor housed in the casing;

a first shaft protruding out of a distal end of the casing;

a first holder fixing a proximal end portion of the first shaft to a distal end portion of the casing; and

a driving shaft protruding out of a proximal end of the casing, so that a rotational force of the motor is transmitted to the driving shaft,

the first shaft being hollow, protruding out of the distal end of the casing with being held by the first holder, and having a first connector at an inside or a distal end of the first shaft, so as to electrically conduct between inside and outside of the roller body by connection of a separately prepared second connector to the first connector,

one selected from the fixed shaft and the first connector having a first engaging part for preventing disengagement of the second connector, so that a part of the second connector is mechanically engaged with the first engaging part,

including the second connector, the first connector being arranged within the first shaft, the first engaging part being formed on an inner surface of the first shaft, and the second connector having a second engaging part at an outer periphery of the second connector, so that the second connector is attached to the first shaft by engagement of the first engaging part with the second engaging part,

the second connector having a main body and an engaging tube formed around the main body, so that the engaging tube of the second connector is engaged with an outer periphery of the first connector.