Lighting elevating apparatus

A lighting elevating apparatus includes: a reel coupled to a motor and rotated around an axis of a surface in a short direction of the reel including a reel wire reeling face and being arranged such that its longitudinal direction is in a vertical state; a reel wire to be reeled on the reel wire reeling face; a reeling guide including a reel wire touching part facing the reel wire reeling face and being arranged in parallel to the reel, wherein a distance between the reel wire reeling face and the reel wire touching part is equal or less than a diameter of the reel wire; and a connector attached to an end of the reel wire to connect an object, wherein the reeling guide counter-rotates, and the reel wire passes between the reel wire reeling face and the reel wire touching part.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a lighting elevating apparatuses, and in particular, relates to a lighting elevating apparatus which elevates a lighting element for applying illumination light from above a stage in stage direction.

BACKGROUND ART

In stage direction for supporting presenters to perform productions such as plays and dances, stage lighting systems are used. Such stage lighting systems are roughly classified, according to their installing locations, into a lighting system that applies light from above a stage, a lighting system that applies light from the floor surface of the stage, a lighting system that applies light from the side of the stage, and a lighting system that applies light from audience seating. The lighting system that applies light from above the stage (hereinafter referred to as an “above-stage lighting system”) elevates the lighting element which is connected to a reel wire and suspended from a suspension baton. The suspension baton is a device having a receptacle box in which a power receptacle for tool connection is incorporated. The lighting element elevates by reeling a reel wire on the reel and unreeling it from the reel by use of an electric motor.

As disclosed in PTL 1, there is a lighting system which controls elevation of a lighting element and controls light to produce stage direction. The lighting system includes a lighting elevating apparatus which elevates the lighting element by reeling up a reel wire connecting the lighting element on a reel and unreeling it from the reel. Three-dimensional performance is achieved by chronologically changing the length of the reel wire connecting the lighting elevating apparatus with the lighting element and the light to be emitted from the lighting element.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In order to make the stage performance more gorgeous, the above-stage lighting system tends to have a plurality of lighting elements suspended from the suspension baton (that is, a plurality of lighting elevating apparatuses are suspended from the suspension band). Under such circumstances, multiple lighting elevating apparatuses are suspended from the suspension baton, thereby causing tremendous burden on the suspension baton. Further, the more the lighting elevating apparatus weighs, the higher the risk of dropping the lighting elevating apparatus in the middle of the stage performance becomes. In order to prevent such a risk, it is desirable that the lighting elevating apparatus have a lightweight and simple structure.

In addition, since the above-stage lighting system elevates the lighting element in the middle of the stage performance, it is desirable that the elevation of the lighting element be made smoothly. However, in the above-described lighting elevating apparatus, due to a displacement (seeFIG. 1A) and/or a slack (seeFIG. 1B) of the reel wire in reeling the reel wire on the reel, the reel wire is entangled and such entanglement stops the elevation of the lighting element. Such an event is critical in the stage performance, and it is desirable that the occurrence of the above-described displacement and/or slack be avoided.

PTL 2 discloses an elevation type luminaire in which a power supply cord9is constantly stretched by using a reeling device3. However, the elevation type luminaire disclosed in PTL 2 merely prevents the power supply cord9from loosening by the reeling force of the reeling device3. Further, the elevation speed of the luminaire is set to be stable by merely setting the reeling force of the reeling device to a force equivalent to the weight of a supply part of the power supply cord. Accordingly, the elevation type luminaire of PTL 2 does not completely prevent the occurrence of the displacement and/or slack in reeling up a reel wire.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a lighting elevating apparatus which has a lightweight and simple structure and which avoids occurrence of displacement and/or slack in reeling up the reel wire.

A lighting elevating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a reel including a reel wire reeling face and being arranged such that its longitudinal direction is in a vertical state, wherein the reel is coupled to an electric motor and is rotated around an axis of a surface in a short direction of the reel by the electric motor; a reel wire to be reeled on the reel wire reeling face by the rotation of the reel; a reeling guide including a reel wire touching part facing the reel wire reeling face and being arranged in parallel to the reel, wherein a distance between the reel wire reeling face and the reel wire touching part is equal to or less than a diameter of the reel wire; and a connector attached to an end of the reel wire to connect a to-be-lifted object that is to be suspended below the lighting elevating apparatus, wherein the reeling guide counter-rotates with respect to the rotation of the reel and the reel wire passes between the reel wire reeling face and the reel wire touching part.

The structure of the lighting elevating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention allows the reel wire free from displacement and/or slack only by providing a reeling guide that contacts with the reel wire. Further, no other component to avoid the displacement and/or slack of the reel wire is required to achieve the lightweight and simple structure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the attached drawings, the lighting elevating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained. The lighting elevating apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention is used by suspending it in a state in which its longitudinal direction is vertically set. The terms “above,” “below,” “upper part,” “lower part,” “upper end,” and “lower end” each refers to the upper part or lower part of the vertically-suspended lighting elevating apparatus, as viewed on the ground.

First Embodiment

FIG. 2is a view showing an entire lighting system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The lighting system includes a lighting elevating apparatus1, a suspension baton2, and a lighting element3. The upper end of the lighting elevating apparatus1is coupled to the suspension baton2and is suspended from the suspension baton2. As shown inFIG. 2, the lighting elevating apparatus1is suspended with its longitudinal direction being vertically set. The lighting elevating apparatus1uses an electric motor provided therein to rotate the reel, whereby the reel wire having the lighting element3attached thereto is reeled on the reel and unreeled from the reel to cause the lighting element3to ascend/descend. The elevation of the lighting element3is controlled by a control device (not shown) connected to the lighting elevating apparatus1through software control.

The suspension baton2is a stage mechanism which is arranged on the ceiling of the stage and which suspends the lighting elevating apparatus1. The suspension baton2is also a device having a receptacle box in which a tool-connecting power receptacle that connects the power supply of the lighting elevating apparatus1is incorporated. The suspension baton2according to the present embodiment is well known, and therefore, an explanation in detail will be omitted.

The lighting element3is a light source that applies light from above the stage. The lighting element3is connected to the reel wire and is suspended below the lighting elevating apparatus1. The lighting element3is a lighting element having any shape, and has halogen light or a Light-Emitting Diode (LED). The lighting element3is, when considering the burden on the suspension baton2, desirably lightweight. The lighting element3according to the present embodiment is also well known, and therefore, an explanation in detail will be omitted.

Next, with reference toFIG. 3, the structure of the lighting elevating apparatus1according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. The lighting elevating apparatus1includes a casing10, a reel11, a reel wire12, a reeling guide13, an electric motor14, a guide screw15, a clutch16, a pulley17, a column18, an attaching part19, and an attaching hook20.

The casing10is a casing having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and covers the entire lighting elevating apparatus1, and, as shown inFIG. 3, has an openable structure. This openable structure facilitates maintenance task such as replacing the reeling guides13located inside the lighting elevating apparatus1. The casing10is desirably made of lightweight material such as plastics or resins.

The reel11has a cylindrical shape, and is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the casing10. The reel11is coupled to the electric motor14, and is rotated around an axis in a short direction of the reel11by operation of the electric motor14. Such rotation of the reel11reels up the reel wire12in a single layer, and the counter-rotation of the reel11unreels the reel wire12. The reel11is desirably made of lightweight material such as aluminum. It should be noted that the shape of the reel11is not limited to the cylindrical shape, but may be a rectangular shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction and may be any equilateral isogon such as a square, a triangle, a pentagon, or a hexagon when viewed in the short direction.

The reel wire12has a connector12aat its end, and is attached to the lighting element3via the connector12a. The reel wire12is protruded downward from the lower part of the lighting elevating apparatus1. To be more specific, the lighting element3attached to the end of the reel wire12is suspended downward from the lighting elevating apparatus1.

The reeling guide13is a rotor having a cylindrical shape. The reeling guide13is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the reel11, and touches the reel wire12reeled on the reel11. As a result of the rotation of the reel11, the reeling guide13who has touched the reel wire12that has been reeled on the reel11counter-rotates with respect to the rotation of the reel11around an axis in a short direction of the reeling guide13. Since the reeling guide13touches the reel wire12, it is desirable that the reeling guide13be made of elastic material such as a sponge, resin, or rubber in order to avoid damage on the reel wire12. It should be noted that the shape of the reeling guide13is not limited to the cylindrical shape, but may be a rectangular shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction and may be any equilateral isogon such as a square, a triangle, a pentagon, or a hexagon when viewed in the short direction.

The guide screw15is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the reel11, and is rotated around an axis in its short direction in conjunction with the rotation of the reel11and/or the reeling guide13. The guide screw15includes a guide ring15aand a ring block15b.

The guide ring15ais a rotor having a cylindrical shape, and the guide screw15is inserted through an axial bore of the guide ring15a. The bottom of the ring block15babuts on the guide ring15a, and the guide screw15is inserted through an axial bore of the ring block15b. The guide ring15arotates in conjunction with the rotation of the guide screw15, and moves vertically along the guide screw15such that the side face of the guide ring15ain its longitudinal direction faces the topmost part of the reel wire12which has been reeled on the reel11. The ring block15bmoves vertically in conjunction with the vertical movement of the guide ring15aand controls the downward movement of the guide ring15a. The reel wire12runs, along with the rotation of the guide ring15a, through the side face of the guide ring15ain the longitudinal direction, the clutch16, and the pulley17, and protrudes through the lower part of the lighting elevating apparatus1. One rotation of the guide ring15acauses the reel wire12to be reeled by one rotation of the reel11.

The clutch16is a rotor arranged below the reel11. The clutch16is rotated in accordance with the movement of the reel wire12.

The column18has a cylindrical shape, and is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the reel11to support the casing10. The column18also plays a role to avoid the displacement and/or slack of the reel wire12, and its details will be described later. It should be noted that the shape of the column18is not limited to the cylindrical shape, but may be a rectangular shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction and may be any equilateral isogon such as a square, a triangle, a pentagon, or a hexagon when viewed in the short direction.

The attaching part19has a screw-type or bolt-and-nut-type structure, and is a member for attaching the lighting elevating apparatus1on the suspension baton2. The attaching part19allows the lighting elevating apparatus1to be attached to the suspension baton2, and the lighting elevating apparatus1is suspended from the suspension baton2. The attaching hook20has a structure in which a hook and a wire are interlocked to each other, and plays a role to prevent the lighting elevating apparatus1from being detached from the suspension baton2.

Next, with reference toFIGS. 4A and 4B, the details of the reel11and the reeling guide13will be explained. As shown inFIG. 4A, the reel11has a reel wire reeling face11a, the part of which the reel wire12is to be reeled up. As shown inFIG. 4B, the reeling guide13has a reel wire touching part13a, and this part touches, in accordance with the rotation of the reeling guide13, the reel wire12to be reeled on the reel wire reeling face11a. The reeling guide13includes a cylindrical core made of aluminum or the like and a member wrapping therearound which is made of sponge or the like.

The reel11and the reeling guide13are arranged in parallel to each other, and the reel wire reeling face11aand the reel wire touching part13aface each other in their longitudinal directions. The reel wire touching part13ahas a length, in the longitudinal direction, of at least the same as or larger than that of the reel wire reeling face11a. To be more specific, the reel wire touching part13ais configured so as to cover the facing surface of the entire reel wire reeling face11a. Due to such a configuration, the whole reel wire12to be reeled up on the reel wire reeling face11atouches the reel wire touching part13a.

Next, with reference toFIG. 5, a cross-sectional view shows the interrelations between the reel11, the reel wire12, and the reeling guide13when reeling the reel wire12on the reel wire reeling face11a.FIG. 5illustrates a cross section viewed from the above in the state in which the lighting elevating apparatus1is suspended from the suspension baton2.

As shown inFIG. 5, the reel11rotates counterclockwise around the axis of the face in a short direction of the reel11, and the reel wire12is also reeled counterclockwisely on the reel wire reeling face11ain accordance with the rotation of the reel11. The reeling guide13rotates clockwise in conjunction with the rotation of the reel11. The reel11and the reeling guide13mutually rotate in opposite directions, and the reel wire12passes therebetween. A distance D1between the reel11and the reeling guide13is at least equal to or less than a diameter Drof the reel wire12.

While the reel11and the reeling guide13mutually rotate in opposite directions, forces in two directions shown inFIG. 5are applied to the reel wire12passing between the reel11and the reeling guide13. Due to such a structure, the reel wire12is pinched between the reel11and the reeling guide13, thereby allowing to prevent one lap of the reel wire12from overlapping with another when reeling the reel wire12. Incidentally, by configuring the reel wire touching part13aof the reeling guide13to be made of highly elastic material and configuring a distance between the reeling guide13and the reel wire reeling face11ato be shorter (by setting D1to be less than Dr), the reeling of the reel wire12is constantly smooth and the overlapping of the reel wire12is surely avoided.

In the present embodiment, the counterclockwise rotation of the reel11has been exemplified, but the reel11may be rotated clockwise. In such a case as well, the reeling guide13should rotate counterclockwise so that they mutually rotate in opposite directions to avoid the overlapping of the reel wire12.

As described above, it should be noted that in the case where the reel11and/or the reeling guide13has/have a rectangular shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction and an equilateral isogonal shape such as a square, a triangle, a pentagon, or a hexagon when viewed in the short direction, an effect similar to the above-described effect can be obtained. In this case, both the reel11and the reeling guide13should have the same shape and area, and each of their corners should be configured to touch the reel wire12simultaneously. Further, if either one of the reel11and the reeling guide13has a cylindrical shape, the other should have an equilateral isogonal shape to obtain an effect similar to the above-described effect.

Next, with reference toFIGS. 6A and 6B, the details of the reel11and the column18will be explained. The reel11has the same structure as the one explained inFIG. 4A, and thus its explanation will be omitted. As shown inFIG. 6B, the column18is arranged in parallel to the reel11, and faces the reel wire reeling face11ain the longitudinal direction. The column18has a length, in the longitudinal direction, of at least the same as or larger than that of the reel wire reeling face11a. To be more specific, the column18is configured so as to cover the facing surface of the entire reel wire reeling face11a. Due to such a configuration, the whole reel wire12to be reeled up on the reel wire reeling face11apasses between the reel wire touching part13aand the column18.

Next, with reference toFIG. 7, a cross-sectional view shows the interrelations between the reel11, the reel wire12, and the column18when reeling the reel wire12on the reel wire reeling face11aof the reel11.FIG. 7illustrates a cross section viewed from the above in the state in which the lighting elevating apparatus1is suspended from the suspension baton2.

As shown inFIG. 7, a distance D2between the reel11and the column18and a diameter Drof the reel wire12satisfy the following relation:

As described above, since the distance D2between the reel wire reeling face11aand the column18is larger than the diameter Drof the reel wire12, the reel wire12to be reeled on the reel wire reeling face11adoes not touch the column18. This structure can avoid abrasion caused by the reel wire12touching the column18. In addition, since the distance D2between the reel wire reeling face11aand the column18is less than twice the diameter Drof the reel wire12, a lap of the reel wire12to be reeled on the reel wire reeling face11adoes not overlap with another. Due to this structure, the overlapping of the reel wire12is further surely avoided in addition to the above-described function of the reeling guide13.

Incidentally, although the number of columns18is not particularly limited, the columns18are desirably arranged in plural when considering that the casing10covers the entire lighting elevating apparatus1. Due to the arrangement of the plurality of columns18, the overlapping of the reel wire12is surely avoided.

Further, in the case when the reel11and/or the column18has/have a rectangular shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction and an equilateral isogonal shape such as a square, a triangle, a pentagon, or a hexagon when viewed in the short direction, an effect similar to the above-described effect can also be obtained.

Next, with reference toFIG. 8, the operation of reeling the reel wire12on the reel wire reeling face11awill be explained. As shown inFIG. 8, the lighting elevating apparatus1according to the present embodiment is suspended from the suspension baton2with its longitudinal direction being vertically set, and the lighting element3connected to the reel wire12is suspended downward from the lighting elevating apparatus1. The reel wire12is suspended downward from the lighting elevating apparatus1in the state where the gravity force is applied by the weight of the reel wire12and the weight of the lighting element3connected thereto.

In the state where the lighting elevating apparatus1is suspended from the suspension baton2, each of the reel11, the reeling guide13, the guide screw15, and the column18is in the vertical state in its longitudinal direction. The reel11, the reeling guide13, the guide screw15, and the column18are arranged in parallel to one another, and each of them faces one another in the longitudinal direction. The guide ring15amoves vertically so as to face the topmost part of the reel wire12which has been reeled on the reel wire reeling face11a. In this structure, the reel wire12is reeled up, through the guide ring15a, on the reel wire reeling face11ain a lateral direction and simultaneously upward of the reel wire reeling face11a.

As described above, the reel wire12does not overlap upon the reeling due to the above-described functions of the reeling guide13and the column18. Moreover, since the gravity force of the reel wire12is applied, the laps of the reel wire12adjoin each other due to such gravity upon the reeling of the reel wire12, thereby causing no displacement as described above. Further, the guide ring15amoves vertically in accordance with the reeling of the reel wire12, thereby causing the reel wire12to be regularly reeled up.

As described above, since the reel11and the reeling guide13mutually rotate in opposite directions when reeling the reel wire12on the reel11, the reel wire12passing through the reel11and the reeling guide13is pinched therebetween, thereby allowing to prevent one lap of the reel wire12from overlapping with another. In addition, by setting the above-described distance between the reel11and the column18, the overlapping of the reel wire12is further surely avoided. Moreover, the gravity force applied to the reel wire12can avoid displacement of the reeling of the reel wire12. Consequently, the lighting elevating apparatus1according to the present embodiment has a simple and lightweight structure and thus can avoid the displacement and/or slack of the reel wire.

Incidentally, although not shown inFIG. 8, a one-way clutch of a sprag type or a cam type may be used for the clutch16. In this case, the clutch16may be configured to rotate only when the reel wire12is guided downward (i.e., when the reel wire12is unreeled and the lighting element3descends) and may be configured not to rotate when the reel wire12is guided upward (i.e., when the reel wire12is reeled up and the lighting element3ascends). Due to this configuration, the gravity force applied to the reel wire12upon its reeling is unlikely to be offset and thus the above-described reel wire is less likely to be displaced.

Here, the above-described configuration regarding the distance between the reel11and the column18described in the present embodiment is not necessarily essential. In the case of not having the above-described configuration, the overlapping of the reel wire12is to be avoided only by the function of the reeling guide13.

Second Embodiment

Next, with reference toFIG. 9, the lighting elevating apparatus1according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. In comparison of the lighting elevating apparatus1according to the present embodiment with the lighting elevating apparatus according to the first embodiment, a difference is found in the guide screw15. As shown inFIG. 9, the guide screw15includes a guide block21, and includes a reel wire fixing part22below the guide block21, and further includes a guide ring23below the reel wire fixing part22.

The guide block21has a surface facing the reel wire reeling face11a. The guide screw15is inserted through an axial bore of the guide block21, which moves vertically along the guide screw15in conjunction with the rotation of the guide screw15. This vertical movement is configured to interlock the reeling of the reel wire12on the reel wire reeling face11a. A small clearance exists between the reel wire reeling face11aand the facing surface of the guide block21, and a distance D3of this clearance is less than the diameter Drof the reel wire12.

The reel wire fixing part22is protruded from the guide screw15which is arranged in parallel to the reel11, and faces the lower part of the reel wire reeling face11aof the reel11in a longitudinal direction. A small clearance exists between the reel wire reeling face11aand the reel wire fixing part22, and a distance D4of this clearance is less than the diameter Drof the reel wire12.

The guide ring23is arranged below the reel wire fixing part22of the guide screw15, and guides the reel wire12guided by the pulley17. The reel wire12passes along a curved face of the guide ring23through the reel wire fixing part22and the guide block21, and thus is guided upward.

A starting portion of the reeling of the reel wire12is fixed at the lower part by the reel wire fixing part22, and is reeled on the reel wire reeling face11ain conjunction with the upward movement of the guide block21. As such, the starting point of the reeling of the reel wire12is fixed, and thus the slack of the reel wire upon its reeling can further be avoided. Further, since the reel wire12is reeled in conjunction with the upward movement of the guide block21, the reel wire12can be regularly reeled up.

According to the present embodiment, it has been exemplified that the reel wire fixing part22and the guide ring23are arranged on the guide screw15, but this may not be limited to such a configuration. For example, like the one described above, the reel wire fixing part22and the guide ring23may be arranged on the column18. Further, the reel wire fixing part22may be arranged on the guide screw15and the guide ring23may be arranged on the column18, or vice versa.

Further, according to the present embodiment, it is exemplified that the lighting element3is attached to the connector12aof the reel wire12, but this is not limited to such an example. For example, as shown inFIG. 10, a rectangular (rod-like) lighting element device4having a plurality of lighting elements incorporated therein may be suspended from a plurality of the lighting elevating apparatuses1(a third embodiment). In this configuration, by elevating the lighting element device, an effect that differs from the configuration described in the embodiments can be produced in conjunction with light emitted from the plurality of lighting elements. Further, as shown inFIG. 11, a mirror5may be suspended instead of suspending the lighting element3(a fourth embodiment). In this configuration, a light source (not shown) may be arranged on the ceiling of the stage or the like to irradiate the mirror5with light from the lighting system, and the mirror5may be configured to make elevation. Thus, this configuration can also produce an effect that is different from the ones described in the embodiments.

Also, configuring to suspend combinations of any two or more of the above-described lighting element3, lighting element device4, and mirror from the plurality of lighting elevating apparatuses1and to control those elevation (by software control) can produce an even greater effect. For example, by chronologically elevating each of the above-described plurality of combinations, a three-dimensional performance can be created.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST