Rotation mechanism and electronic device

A rotation mechanism includes a first rotary member defining an axis, a second rotary member, a track disc, a first rod and a second rod. The first rotary member, the second rotary member and the track disc are assembled coaxially, and the first rotary member and the second rotary member rotate relative to the track disc. The track disc has a first groove, a second groove, a third groove and a center passed by the axis. The first and the second grooves are sited at the same circumference, and an extension direction of the third groove passes through the center. The first rod has a first end slidably disposed in the first groove, and a second end. The second rod has a third end pivoted to the second end and slidably disposed in the third groove, and a fourth end slidably disposed in the second groove.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 103112158, filed on Apr. 1, 2014. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rotation mechanism and an electronic device. More particularly, the present invention relates to rotation mechanism capable of being conveniently opened and closed and an electronic device having the same.

2. Description of Related Art

With the advent of the information age, the computer products get more popular year by year. In general, for desktop computers, people put more emphasis on the performance and the desktop computer is not often moved, so that a desktop computer usually appears bulky and heavy and occupies much work space on a desk. In addition, a desktop computer needs to be connected to a display device via a cable, which makes the placing position thereof limited by the cable length. With advances in technology and the integration idea, electronic products are developed towards slim design, and such slenderized developing tendency of the electronic products leads to growing popularity of the computer devices that more slenderized than the desktop computers, such as all-in-one PC (AIO PC) or mini computers, in the market of electronic products.

In terms of mini computers, part of the mini computers have a plurality of stands on the bottom thereof which can be relatively opened and closed so as to provide better support. When not in use, the stands can be closed to save space. However, in operation, the stands have to be moved to particular positions one by one, which is more troublesome. Accordingly, if a mechanism that allows the stands to be opened and closed synchronously once can be designed, it will contribute to better usage experience for a user.

According to related technical documents and products that are published so far, a mechanism capable of rotating two coaxially rotating objects reversely, such as a rotation mechanism like a dual-propeller helicopter, is provided. The rotation mechanism utilizes a complicated and space-occupying gear assembly to achieve the coaxial but reverse rotation of the upper and the lower propellers. Another provided mechanism is a planetary gear combination which includes a sun gear located in the center, an outer ring gear surrounding the sun gear and two planetary gears, for example, engaged in the gap between the sun gear and the outer ring gear. With the transmission of the planetary gears, the sun gear and the outer ring gear produce coaxial but reverse rotation behaviors. Although the former can achieve the rotation of the two propellers at the same speed for the same angle, the gear assembly is excessively complicated and space-occupying. As for the later, the sun gear and the outer ring gear cannot synchronously rotate for the same angle, even cannot rotate in the same rotation speed, and much worse, at least four gears with different sizes are required, which have a great number of parts and are space-occupying. In light of the foregoing, the two known types of rotation mechanisms still cannot effectively satisfy the demands of the issues above.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a rotation mechanism having two rotary members which are capable of synchronously rotating.

The invention provides an electronic device having the rotation mechanism by which two stands are capable of synchronously rotating.

The invention provides a rotation mechanism including a first rotary member, a second rotary member, a track disc, a first rod and a second rod. The first rotary member defines an axis. The second rotary member is assembled to the first rotary member coaxially and rotatable relative to the first rotary member. The track disc is assembled coaxially with the first rotary member and the second rotary member and located between the first rotary member and the second rotary member, such that and the first rotary member and the second rotary member are rotatable relative to the track disc. The track disc has a first groove, a second groove and a third groove. The track disc defines a center passed by the axis. The first and the second grooves are sited at the same circumference, and an extension direction of the third groove passes through the center. The first rod has a first end and a second end which are opposite to each other. The first end is slidably disposed in the first groove. The second rod has a third end and a fourth end which are opposite to each other. The fourth end is slidably disposed in the second groove. The third end is pivoted to the second end of the first rod and slidably disposed in the third groove. When one of the first rotary member and the second rotary member rotates, the other one of the first rotary member and the second rotary member is driven by the linkage of the first rod and the second rod to rotate synchronously and reversely.

The invention further provides an electronic device includes a body, the rotation mechanism, a first stand and a second stand. The track disc is fixed to the body. The first stand is fixed to the first rotary member. The second stand is fixed to the second rotary member. When the first stand rotates relative to the body, the second stand is driven by the linkage of the rotation mechanism to rotate relative to the first stand synchronously and reversely.

To sum up, in the rotation mechanism of the invention, the first and the second grooves are sited at the same circumference and the third groove having the extension direction passing through the center are on the track disc. Further, the first end of the first rod is slidably disposed in the first groove, the fourth end of the second rod is slidably disposed in the second groove, and the third end of the second rod is pivoted to the second end of the first rod and slidably disposed in the third groove together. With such design, when one of the first rotary member and the second rotary member rotates, the other one of the first rotary member and the second rotary member is driven by the linkage of the first rod and the second rod to rotate synchronously and reversely. Moreover, the first stand and the second stand of the electron device are respectively fixed to the first rotary member and the second rotary member. Thus, when a user turns one of the first stand and the second stand, the other one of the first stand and the second stand rotates therewith synchronously and reversely, such that the first stand and the second stand can be conveniently opened or closed.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1Ais a schematic three-dimensional diagram illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG. 1Bis a schematic diagram ofFIG. 1Ain another angle.FIG. 2Ais a schematic three-dimensional view illustrating a first stand and a second stand of the electronic device ofFIG. 1Abeing opened.FIG. 2Bis a schematic diagram ofFIG. 2Ain another angle. It should be mentioned that the viewing angle ofFIG. 1BandFIG. 2Bare the angle viewingFIG. 1AandFIG. 2Afrom bottom to top.

With reference toFIG. 1AthroughFIG. 2B, an electronic device10of the present embodiment includes a body12, a rotation mechanism100, a first stand14and a second stand16. In this embodiment, the electronic device10is a mini computer. The body12is a casing of the mini computer. However, the electronic device10may also be a general type desktop computer host or any other device. The invention is not intended to limit the type of the electronic device10.

The first stand14and the second stand16may form a Z shape or a line shape relative to the rotation mechanism100. Accordingly, the first stand14and the second stand16may be arranged side by side to form a line shape when being closed relative to the body12, as shown inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B, or may rotate and be opened relative to the body12to form a X shape, as shown inFIG. 2AandFIG. 2B, so as to provide the body12with better support. It is to be mentioned that in order to open or close the first stand14and the second stand16more conveniently, in the present embodiment, the first stand14and the second stand16are disposed beneath the body12through the rotation mechanism. Thereby, the first stand14and the second stand16may rotate synchronously and reversely. That is, as long as a user turns one of the first stand14and the second stand16, the other of the first stand14and the second stand16also rotates reversely for the same angle and in the same speed. By doing so, the user does not have to turns out or in the first stand14and the second stand16one by one, which the operation is more conveniently and quickly for operation. A type of the rotation mechanism100will be described in detail below.

FIG. 3is an exploded diagram of a rotation mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention. With reference toFIG. 3, a rotation mechanism100of the present embodiment includes a first rod110, a first rotary member120, a second stand140and a track disc150.

The first rod110has a first end112and a second end114which are opposite to each other. The first rotary member120is pivoted to the first end112of the first rod110. The first rotary member120is disc-shaped and has a first axle hole126. The first rotary member120has a first fixing portion122adjacent to the edge. In the present embodiment, the first fixing portion122is a hole. The first end112of the first rod110is pivoted to the first rotary member120by one end of the first guide rod112apassing through the first fixing portion122. The first rotary member120may be a part of the first stand14, which may be integrated with the first stand14or fixed and assembled to the first stand14.

The second rod130has a third end132and a fourth end134which are opposite to each other. The third end132of the second rod130is pivoted to the second end114of the first rod110by a common guide rod170. The second rotary member140has a second fixing portion142adjacent to the edge. In the present embodiment, the second fixing portion142is a hole. The fourth end134of the second rod130is pivoted to the second rotary member120by one end of the second guide rod134apassing through the second fixing portion142. The second rotary member140has a second axle hole144. In the present embodiment, the second rotary member140is assembled to the first rotary member120, such that the first rotary member120and the second rotary member140may rotate relative to each other coaxially around the same axis A. Likewise, the second rotary member140may be a part of the second stand16, which may be integrated with the second stand16or fixed and assembled to the second stand16.

The track disc150is assembled between the first rotary member120and the second rotary member140. In the present embodiment, the first rotary member, the second rotary member and the track disc are disc-shaped respectively, and centers of the first rotary member120, the second rotary member140and the track disc150are coaxial. The track disc150has a central axle hole157, a side of the central axle hole157has a first ring flange158, and the other side of the central axle hole157has a second ring flange159. An outer diameter of the first ring flange158is not greater than an inner diameter of the first axle hole126and thus, may be sheathed into the first axle hole126. The rotation mechanism100further includes a fixing axle bolt160used to penetrate through the first axle hole126and the central axle hole157to freely move the first rotary member120relative to the track disc150. The second ring flange159is used to be sheathed into the second axle hole144of the second rotary member140, such that the second rotary member140may freely rotate relative to the track disc150. Thereby, the first rotary member120, the second rotary member140and the track disc150may be stacked and assembled together, such that the first rotary member120and the second rotary member140may rotate relative to each other. Nevertheless, in the rotation mechanism100of the invention, the structure of and the way to sheath the first rotary member120, the second rotary member140and the track disc150are not limited to the description of the present embodiment set forth herein. Structures that can enable the first rotary member120and the second rotary member140to respectively rotate relative to the track disc150can achieve the same purpose and effects of the invention and thus, fall within the scope pertain to the invention.

In the present embodiment, the first rod110and the second rod130are held and may freely move in a space between the first rotary member120and the track disc150. The first rod110and the second rod130are L shaped to avoid the first ring flange158of the track disc150. Certainly, in other embodiments, relative positions and shapes of the first rod110and the second rod130are not limited in the invention, and the first rod110and the second rod130may be straight bar-shaped or arc-shaped. In other embodiments, the first ring flange158in the center of the track disc150and the fixing axle bolt160may be canceled, but other structures may be used to separate the first rotary member120and the track disc150and allow the first rotary member120to rotate relative to the track disc150(for example, peripheral ring structures may be used to shaft together instead of using the central rotation axle). In such circumstance, the first rod110and the second rod130are less limited in the shapes and may have more varieties.

The track disc150includes a first groove152, a second groove154and a third groove156. The first groove152and the second groove are respectively arc-shaped, and curvature centers of both the first groove152and the second groove154are located at the center of the track disc150. Namely, the first groove152and the second groove154are sited in different positions on the same circumference with the same radius. Additionally, in the present embodiment, a central angle formed by two ends of the first groove152and the center is identical to a central angle formed by two ends of the second groove154and the center, and each center angle ranges from 40 to 45 degrees, which depends on the design requirement for opening the first stand and the second stand16. Nevertheless, the angle range is merely an example of the present embodiment and construes no limitations to the angle range adopted by the invention.

In the present embodiment, the first groove152and the second groove154are sited at the same circumference on the track disc150. Namely, on the track disc150, a circle passing through the first groove152coincides with a circle passing through the second groove154. Certainly, in other embodiments, the first groove152and the second groove154may be sited at different circumferences on the track disc150. Additionally, the third groove156is long strip-shaped and distributed along a radial direction of the track disc150. In other words, the center of the track disc150is sited on an extension line of the third groove156.

In the present embodiment, The first end112of the first rod110is slidably disposed in the first groove152through the other end of the first guide rod112a, the fourth end134of the second rod130is slidably disposed in the second groove154through the other end of the second guide rod134a, and the second end114of the first rod110and the third end132of the second rod130are slidably disposed in the third groove156through one end of the common guide rod170. In other words, the first rotary member120and the second rotary member140may be linked to each other through the first rod110and the second rod130to rotate relative to the track disc150synchronously. Additionally, in the present embodiment, the first rotary member120further includes a fourth groove124. The other end of the common guide rod170is slidably disposed in the fourth groove124, so as to further limit a relative movement path between the first rotary member120and the first rod110.

With reference toFIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the assembling of the first rotary member120, the track disc150and the second rotary member140depends not only on the assembling of the first end112and the second end114of the first rod110and the third end132and the fourth end134of the second rod130, but also on respectively sheathing the first ring flange158and the second ring flange159on two opposite surfaces of the track disc150to the first axle hole126of the first rotary member120and the second axle hole144of the second rotary member140. Moreover, the first rotary member120and the second rotary member140also have corresponding locking structures adjacent to the edges. Thereby, the first rotary member120and the second rotary member140may rotate relative to each other without moving relative to each other along the axial direction.

FIG. 4AandFIG. 4Bare schematic diagrams illustrating the appearance of the rotation mechanism ofFIG. 3before and after the rotation.FIG. 5AandFIG. 5Bare schematic diagrams where the first rotary member and the second rotary member are hidden. InFIG. 5AandFIG. 5B, the first rotary member120and the second rotary member140are deliberately hidden to clearly show the relative positional relationship among the first rod110, the second rod130and the track disc150before and after the rotation.

With reference toFIG. 4AandFIG. 5A, before the first rotary member120or the second rotary member140rotates, the first end112of the first rod110and the fourth end134of the second rod130are respectively located in positions in the first groove152and the second groove154that are closer to each other, while the common guide rod170is located in a position in the third groove156that is closer to the central axle hole157and at the right end of the fourth groove124.

With reference toFIG. 4BandFIG. 5B, when the user clockwise turns the first rotary member120, The first end112of the first rod110is driven by the first rotary member120to move toward the upper left in the first groove152, as shown inFIG. 4BandFIG. 5B, and together therewith, the second end114of the first rod110moves upward in the third groove156. Due to the second end114of the first rod110pivoted to the third end132of the second rod130by the common guide rod170, the third end132of the second rod130is driven by the second end114of the first rod110to moves upward, and the fourth end134of the second rod130is driven by the third end132to move toward the upper right in the second groove154. In this way, the second rotary member140pivoted to the fourth end134of the second rod130synchronously rotates counterclockwise, and thus, the common guide rod170is located at the left end of the fourth groove124. Likewise, when the user turns the second rotary member140, the second rod130and the first rod110are driven, such that the first rotary member120rotates synchronously.

Accordingly, in the rotation mechanism100of the present embodiment, with the configuration of the first rotary member120, the first rod110, the second rod130, the second rotary member140and the track disc150, the first rotary member120and the second rotary member140may be linked with each other to rotate synchronously and reversely at the same speed.

Returning toFIG. 1AthroughFIG. 2Bagain, in the electronic device10of the present embodiment, the track disc150of the rotation mechanism100depicted inFIG. 3is fixed to the body12. The first stand14is fixed to the first rotary member120. The second stand16is fixed to the second rotary member140and located on the same plane with the first stand14. When the first stand14rotates relative to the body12, the second stand16is driven to rotate synchronously, so as to achieve an effect of being conveniently opened and closed.

It is to be mentioned that in comparison with an ordinary rotation mechanism using a gear assembly, besides advantages of low cost and simple structure, the rotation mechanism100of the present embodiment also has a small volume and moreover, has no issues of speed difference occurring between the first rotary member120and the second rotary member140due to different sizes and numbers of gears disposed in an inner and an outer raceways.

Based on the above, in the rotation mechanism of the invention, the first and the second grooves sited at the same circumference and the third groove having the extension direction passing through the center are on the track disc. Further, the first end of the first rod is slidably disposed in the first groove, the fourth end of the second rod is slidably disposed in the second groove, and the third end of the second rod is pivoted to the second end of the first rod and slidably disposed in the third groove. With such design, when one of the first rotary member and the second rotary member rotates, the other one of the first rotary member and the second rotary member can be driven by the linkage of the first rod and the second rod to rotate synchronously and reversely. Moreover, the first stand and the second stand of the electron device of the invention are respectively fixed to the first rotary member and the second rotary member. Thus, when the user turns one of the first stand and the second stand, the other also rotates synchronously and reversely, such that the first stand and the second stand can be conveniently opened or closed.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, they are not intended to limit the invention. It is apparent to people of ordinary skill in the art that modifications and variations to the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In view of the foregoing, the protection scope of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.