ACTUATOR DEVICE AND VEHICLE DOOR LOCK DEVICE

1 . An actuator device acting in two directions by a single driving actuator, comprising:

a two-way actuation member that acts in first and second different directions respectively against a biasing force of a return biasing member, by a motive power of the driving actuator, with a neutral position where the two-way actuation member is held by the return biasing member as a reference position,

a first operation mechanism that performs a first operation by the actuation of the two-way actuating member in the first direction, and

a second operation mechanism that performs a second operation different from the first operation by the actuation of the two-way actuating member in the second direction, the second operation mechanism including a cooperation mechanism that acts by the actuation of the two-way operation member and a switching member that moves between first and second different positions by transmitting of the actuation of the cooperation mechanism,

wherein when the two-way actuation member actuates the first operation mechanism, the two-way actuation member acts in the first direction from the reference position against the biasing force of the return biasing member, by the motive power of the driving actuator, to actuate the first operation mechanism, and then acts to return to the reference position by the biasing force of the return biasing member, and

wherein when the two-way actuation member actuates the second operation mechanism, the two-way actuation member performs the following first and second switching operations:

the first switching operation in which the two-way actuation member acts in the second direction from the reference position against the biasing force of the return biasing member, by the motive power of the driving actuator, to switch the switching member from the first position to the second position via the cooperation mechanism, then acts to return to the reference position by the biasing force of the return biasing member, and

the second switching operation in which the two-way actuation member acts in the second direction from the reference position against the biasing force of the return biasing member, by the motive power of the driving actuator, to switch the switching member from the second position to the first position via the cooperation mechanism, then acts to return to the reference position by the biasing force of the return biasing member,

thereby switching the switching member between the first and second positions.

2 . The actuator device according to claim 1 , wherein the two-way actuation member is a rotation member supported by a rotation shaft to be configured to rotate in each of a first rotation direction that is either one of forward and backward directions and a second rotation direction that is opposite to the first rotation direction, from the reference position, against the biasing force of the return biasing member, by the motive power of the driving actuator,

wherein the first operation mechanism is provided with an operation member performing the first operation, the operation member being pivotably supported by a pivot shaft and pivoting by pressing with a cam portion provided on the rotation member when the rotation member rotates in the first rotation direction,

wherein the cooperation mechanism of the second operation mechanism acts by the rotation in the second rotation direction of the rotation member and comprises an operation portion provided on the rotation member and a transmission member that is configured to engage with or disengage from the operation portion, the transmission member moving from a standby position to a linkage position when the rotation member rotates in the second rotation direction and moving from the linkage position to the standby position when the rotation member returns to the reference position, and

wherein when the second operation mechanism is actuated, the rotation member performs the following first and second switching operations:

the first switching operation in which the rotation member rotates in the second rotation direction from the reference position and moves the transmission member from the standby position to the linkage position by the operation portion to switch the switching member from the first position to the second position, then returns to the reference position by the biasing force of the return biasing member, and

the second switching operation in which the rotation member rotates in the second rotation direction from the reference position and moves the transmission member from the linkage position to the standby position by the operation portion to switch the switching member from the second position to the first position, then returns to the reference position by the biasing force of the return biasing member,

thereby switching the switching member between the first and second positions.

3 . The actuator device according to claim 2 , wherein the cam portion is provided on a first rotational surface that is one rotational surface of the rotation member, and the operation member is disposed in the first rotational surface side of the rotation member, and

wherein the operation portion is provided on a second rotational surface that is the other rotational surface of the rotation member, the transmission member is disposed such that a part of the transmission member overlaps the second rotational surface to be configured to engage with or disengage from the operation portion, and the switching member is disposed in the second rotational surface side.

4 . The actuator device according to claim 2 , wherein the second operation mechanism has a mechanical cam mechanism comprising gear-shaped first and second cam members that are coaxially provided to integrally rotate, the mechanical cam mechanism being provided between the cooperation mechanism and the switching member,

wherein the first cam member has a plurality of engagement teeth that extend radially outward from a rotation center thereof, and the plurality of engagement teeth sequentially mesh with an engaged portion provided on the switching member in accordance with the rotation of the first cam member to move the switching member between the first and second positions, and

wherein the second cam member has a plurality of engagement teeth radially extending outward from a rotation center thereof, the plurality of engagement teeth are spaced apart from the transmission member when the transmission member is in the standby position, and are configured to be engaged with and pressed by a cam pressing portion provided on the transmission member to integrally rotate the first and second cam members when the transmission member moves from the standby position to the linkage position.

5 . The actuator device according to claim 4 , wherein each engagement tooth of the first cam member has a tongue piece shape in a rotational surface view, a tip portion of each of the engagement teeth is formed with a first step portion for locking the engaged portion of the switching member, and a bottom portion of each inter-tooth recess portion of the first cam member is formed with a second step portion for locking the engaged portion of the switching member, and

wherein each engagement tooth of the second cam member has a mountain shape in a rotational surface view and has a smaller tooth width than each of the engagement teeth of the first cam member, the number of teeth of the second cam member is twice the number of teeth of the first cam member, and the first and second cam members are arranged in an overlapping manner such that the alternately formed engagement teeth and inter-tooth recesses of the first cam member are alternately arranged with respect to the plurality of engagement teeth of the second cam member.

6 . A vehicle door lock device comprising the actuator device according to claim 1 , comprising:

an engagement mechanism holding a door in a closed position by engaging with a striker provided on a vehicle body of a vehicle,

a manual release mechanism releasing the engagement of the engagement mechanism by a manual operation force, and

a locking/unlocking mechanism in which an actuation state is switched between a locked state in which an actuation of the manual release mechanism cannot be transmitted to the engagement mechanism such that the engagement of the engagement mechanism cannot be released and an unlocked state in which the actuation of the manual release mechanism can be transmitted to the engagement mechanism such that the engagement of the meshing mechanism can be released,

wherein an electric release mechanism releasing the engagement of the engagement mechanism by the motive power of the driving actuator is provided as the first operation mechanism of the actuator device,

wherein an electric switching mechanism activated by the motive power of the driving actuator common to the electric release mechanism is provided as the second operation mechanism of the actuator device, the electric switching mechanism having a first switching function to switch the actuation state of the locking/unlocking mechanism between the locked and unlocked states or a second switching function to switch the actuation state of the locking/unlocking mechanism between ineffective and effective states,

wherein the electric release mechanism and the electric switching mechanism are provided with a rotation member that is common to both of the mechanisms as the two-way actuation member of the actuator device, the rotation member being supported by a rotation shaft to be configured to rotate in each of a first rotation direction that is either one of forward and backward directions and a second rotation direction that is opposite to the first rotation direction, from the reference position, against the biasing force of the return biasing member, by the motive power of the driving actuator,

wherein the electric switching mechanism has a cooperation mechanism acting by the rotation of the rotation member in the second rotation direction as the cooperation mechanism of the actuator device, and has a switching member moving between first and second different positions by transmitting of the actuation of the cooperation mechanism as the switching member of the actuator device,

wherein when the electric release mechanism is activated, the rotation member acts to rotate in the first rotation direction against the biasing force of the return biasing member, by the motive power of the driving actuator, to release the engagement of the engagement mechanism, and then acts to return to the reference position by the biasing force of the return biasing member, and

wherein when the electric switching mechanism is activated, the rotation member performs the following first and second switching operations:

the first switching operation in which the rotation member acts to rotate in the second direction from the reference position against the biasing force of the return biasing member, by the motive power of the driving actuator, to switch the switching member from the first position to the second position via the cooperation mechanism, then acts to return to the reference position by the biasing force of the return biasing member, and

the second switching operation in which the rotation member acts to rotate in the second direction from the reference position against the biasing force of the return biasing member, by the motive power of the driving actuator, to switch the switching member from the second position to the first position via the cooperation mechanism, then acts to return to the reference position by the biasing force of the return biasing member,

thereby switching the actuation state of the locking/unlocking mechanism between the locked and unlocked states or switching a shift of the actuation state of the locking/unlocking mechanism between the ineffective and effective states, by switching the switching member between the first and second positions.

7 . The vehicle door lock device according to claim 6 , wherein the electric release mechanism has a release member rotating by pressing with a cam portion provided on the rotation member when the rotation member rotates in the first direction to release the engagement of the engagement mechanism,

wherein the cooperation mechanism of the electric switching mechanism comprises an operation portion provided on the rotation member and a transmission member that is configured to engage with or disengage from the operation portion, the transmission member moving from a standby position to a linkage position when the rotation member rotates in the second rotation direction and moving from the linkage position to the standby position when the rotation member returns to the reference position, and

wherein the switching member of the electric switching mechanism is a locking/unlocking operation member pivoting between locked and unlocked positions in which the locking/unlocking mechanism is held in the locked and unlocked states respectively by the movement of the transmission member between the standby position and the linkage position when the electric switching mechanism has the first switching function, or another locking/unlocking operation member pivoting between locked and unlocked positions in which the switching of the actuation state of the locking/unlocking mechanism is ineffective and effective respectively by the movement of the transmission member between the standby position and the linkage position when the electric switching mechanism has the second switching function.

8 . The vehicle door lock device according to claim 7 , wherein the cam portion is provided on a first rotational surface that is one rotational surface of the rotation member, and the release member is disposed in the first rotational surface side of the rotation member, and

wherein the operation portion is provided on a second rotational surface which is the other rotational surface of the rotation member, the transmission member is configured to engage with or disengage from the operation portion by being disposed such that a part of the transmission member overlaps the second rotational surface, and the locking/unlocking operation member is disposed in the second rotational surface side.

9 . The vehicle door lock device according to claim 7 , wherein the electric switching mechanism has a mechanical cam mechanism comprising gear-shaped first and second cam members that are coaxially provided to integrally rotate, the mechanical cam mechanism being provided between the cooperation mechanism and the switching member,

wherein the first cam member has a plurality of engagement teeth that extend radially outward from a rotation center thereof, and the plurality of engagement teeth sequentially mesh with an engaged portion provided on the switching member in accordance with the rotation of the first cam member to move the switching member between the locked and unlocked positions, and

wherein the second cam member has a plurality of engagement teeth radially extending outward from a rotation center thereof, the plurality of engagement teeth are spaced apart from the transmission member when the transmission member is in the standby position, and are configured to be engaged with and pressed by a cam pressing portion provided on the transmission member to integrally rotate the first and second cam members when the transmission member moves from the standby position to the linkage position.

10 . The vehicle door lock device according to claim 9 , wherein each engagement tooth of the first cam member has a tongue piece shape in a rotational surface view, a tip portion of each of the engagement teeth is formed with a first step portion for locking the engaged portion of the switching member, and a bottom portion of each inter-tooth recess portion of the first cam member is formed with a second step portion for locking the engaged portion of the switching member, and

wherein each engagement tooth of the second cam member has a mountain shape in a rotational surface view and has a smaller tooth width than each of the engagement teeth of the first cam member, the number of teeth of the second cam member is twice the number of teeth of the first cam member, and the first and second cam members are arranged in an overlapping manner such that the alternately formed engagement teeth and inter-tooth recesses of the first cam member are alternately arranged with respect to the plurality of engagement teeth of the second cam member.

11 . The vehicle door lock device according to claim 8 , wherein the second rotational surface of the rotation member faces an inner surface of a housing that accommodates the locking/unlocking mechanism, the electric release mechanism, and the electric switching mechanism, a wall portion protruding perpendicularly from the second rotational surface is provided on the rotation member, a guide wall is provided on the inner surface of the housing, and a guide groove is formed on the inner surface of the housing between the wall portion and the guide wall,

wherein the transmission member is provided with a biasing portion supporting a hold biasing member and a sliding portion abutting against the guide groove of the housing, the biasing portion being pressed by the hold biasing member such that a central portion of the transmission member abuts against the operation portion, and

wherein the transmission member is disposed between the wall portion and the guide wall to be configured to engage with and disengage from the operation portion, is pushed by the operation portion to move from the standby position to the linkage position while sliding in contact with the guide groove of the housing and the second rotational surface of the rotation member when the rotation member rotates in the second direction, and is configured such that a cam pressing portion provided on the transmission member protrudes from between the wall portion and the guide wall as the transmission member approaches the linkage position.

12 . The vehicle door lock device according to claim 11 , wherein the guide wall of the housing is provided along an outer circumference of the rotation member,

wherein the transmission member is provided with a sliding portion abutting against the wall portion and another sliding portion abutting against the guide wall,

wherein the holding biasing member is configured to press the transmission member toward the operating portion such that the transmission member moves along the guide wall, and

wherein when the transmission member is in the standby position, the transmission member abuts against the wall portion and the guide wall, and when the rotation member rotates in the second direction, the transmission member is pressed by the operation portion to move from the standby position to the linkage position while sliding contact with the guide groove of the housing and the second rotational surface of the rotation member and while sliding contact with the guide wall.

13 . The vehicle door lock device according to claim 6 , wherein the electric switching mechanism has a function of switching between double locked and non-double locked states in which the locked state of the locking/unlocking mechanism is held and is not held respectively, as the second switching function, thereby switching between the double locked and non-double locked states of the locking/unlocking mechanism by switching the switching member between the first and second positions when the electric switching mechanism is actuated.

14 . The vehicle door lock device according to claim 6 , wherein the electric switching mechanism has a function of switching between double locked and non-double locked states in which the locked state of the locking/unlocking mechanism is held and is not held respectively, as the second switching function, and

wherein the vehicle door lock device is provided with another electric switching mechanism that has the first switching function and comprises another driving actuator separate from the driving actuator.

15 . The vehicle door lock device according to claim 14 , wherein the locking/unlocking mechanism is configured to be switched between the locked and unlocked states by said another electric switching mechanism.

16 . The vehicle door lock device according to claim 7 , wherein the electric switching mechanism has a function of switching between double locked and non-double locked states in which the locked state of the locking/unlocking mechanism is held and is not held respectively, as the second switching function, and

wherein the switching member is a locking/unlocking operation member that rotates between locked and unlocked positions in which the locking/unlocking mechanism is held in the double locked and non-double locked states respectively by the movement of the transmission member between the standby position and the linkage position.