Patent Publication Number: US-6339305-B1

Title: Automatic opening and closing device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an automatic opening-and-closing device applied, for example, as an electric sliding door of a vehicle or the like. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In a vehicle such as a caravan, a van, a recreational vehicle or the like, a so-called sliding door is sometimes adopted, in which a door panel is slid for opening/closing along the forward and backward direction of the vehicle. Some of these sliding doors are automatic sliding doors wherein the opening/closing operation (that is, sliding of the door panel) is automated by means of a driving force of driving means such as a motor or the like, and for example, a driver can open or close the rear seat door panel while sitting on a driver&#39;s seat. 
     Incidentally, with a conventional automatic sliding door device, when sliding speed of the door panel decreases due to a foreign object caught in a door panel while closing the door panel, the foreign object caught therein has been detected by detecting overload acting on a motor. That is to say, catching of a foreign object has conventionally been detectable by means of a change in engine speed of the motor corresponding to a change in the sliding speed of the door panel. 
     Generally, however, if somebody tries to slide a door panel that is in a stopped state or to stop the door panel during sliding, since the door panel tries to maintain its state (that is, the stopped state if it is in a stopped state, or the sliding state if it is in the middle of sliding) due to inertia based on its own weight, overload acts on the motor. Therefore, it is not possible to detect that a foreign object is caught just after starting sliding (that is, just after starting to drive the motor or during acceleration of the driving speed), or just before stopping sliding (that is, during deceleration of the driving speed of the motor or just before stopping driving), and normally, in a state of just after starting sliding or just before stopping sliding, a mask processing is effected in which even if overload acting on the motor is detected, it is not judged that a foreign object is caught. Hence, if a thin foreign object or a foreign object having an overall small size is caught in the door panel just before being completely closed, for example, the detection of this caught foreign object is very difficult. 
     Moreover, in a state in which a vehicle inclines forward or backward, as for the door panel, a component of the sliding speed is separated into a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and the component in the vertical direction of the sliding speed is, needless to say, affected by the influence of gravity. Therefore, for example, in lower-front state where a front portion of the vehicle is lower than a rear portion of the vehicle, gravity tends to pull the door panel forward, hence if someone tries to close the door panel in this state, the sliding speed of the door panel is accelerated. On the contrary, in a lower-rear state where the front portion of the vehicle is higher than the rear portion of the vehicle, gravity tends to pull the door panel backward, hence if someone tries to close the door panel in this state, the sliding speed of the door panel is decelerated. Therefore, in such states, there is a possibility that though a foreign object is not caught, overload acts on the motor, and it is erroneously detected as a caught state, or that though a foreign object is caught, overload is not caused and catching of a foreign object is not detected. Thus, it is required to provide correction means for correcting the influence of gravity depending upon the slanting state of the vehicle, resulting in cost increase. 
     In view of the above situation, it is an object of the present invention to obtain an automatic opening-and-closing device which can prevent a foreign object from becoming caught, by detecting a foreign object, even when the opening/closing speed of a moving body such as a door panel or the like changes, or even when a foreign object is small. 
     DICLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     To attain the above object, an automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  1  comprises: a moving body which moves for opening/closing substantially horizontally by means of a driving force from driving means; a pressure sensitive sensor provided along the vertical direction on a moving direction side end portion of the moving body, for detecting a pressure in the direction opposite to the moving direction; control means for controlling drive of the driving means in a state in which the pressure sensitive sensor detects the pressure in the direction opposite to the moving direction; and connection means connected to a lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor for connecting the pressure sensitive sensor to the control means. 
     The present invention according to claim  2  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  1 , the connection means is passed through the inside of the moving body, and is connected to a lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor, passing through a through hole formed towards a lower end of a moving direction side end portion of the moving body. 
     The present invention according to claim  3  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  2 , the moving body is provided with a window glass, and the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor is located at a position lower than a lower end portion of the window glass. 
     The present invention according to claim  4  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  1 , the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor is curved toward the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, and the curved portion is passed through a through hole formed towards a lower end of the moving direction side end portion of the moving body to thereby be disposed within the moving body, and is connected to the connection means within the moving body. 
     The present invention according to claim  5  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  4 , the moving body is provided with a window glass, and the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor is located at a position lower than a lower end portion of the window glass. 
     The present invention according to claim  6  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  1 , the pressure sensitive sensor comprises: a hollow cover portion elastically deformable due to an external force having a predetermined size or more, longitudinal along the vertical direction of the moving body; and a plurality of lengthy electrodes disposed within the cover portion, along the longitudinal direction of the cover portion, separated from each other in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cover portion, and connected to each other in series, and deformed with the elastic deformation of the cover portion. 
     The present invention according to claim  7  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  6 , the connection means is passed through the inside of the moving body, and is connected to at least two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes pulled out from a lower end portion of the cover portion, passing through a through hole formed towards a lower end of the moving direction side end portion of the moving body. 
     The present invention according to claim  8  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  7 , the moving body is provided with a window glass, and the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor is located at a position lower than a lower end portion of the window glass. 
     The present invention according to claim  9  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  6 , the lower end portion of the cover portion is curved toward the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, and is passed through a through hole formed toward a lower end of the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, the plurality of electrodes being pulled out within the moving body, with at least two of the plurality of electrodes pulled out being connected to the connection means. 
     The present invention according to claim  10  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  9 , the moving body is provided with a window glass, and the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor is located at a position lower than a lower end portion of the window glass. 
     The present invention according to claim  11  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  6 , the connection means is disposed along the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, in which a lower end portion of which is connected to at least two electrode wires of the plurality of electrodes pulled out from a lower end portion of the cover portion, while the other upper end portion passes through a moving direction side end portion of the moving body between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the cover portion, the connection means being connected to the control means via the inside of the moving body. 
     The present invention according to claim  12  is characterized in that the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  11  includes a support means comprising: a holding portion for holding the cover portion along the moving direction side end portion of the moving body; and a support portion longitudinal along the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, provided on the opposite side of the cover portion via the holding portion, and fixed to the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, in which an accommodating portion is formed for accommodating inside thereof the connection means longitudinal along the moving direction side end portion of the moving body and having one end connected to the at least two electrodes pulled out from the lower end portion of the cover portion. 
     The present invention according to claim  13  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  12 , the connection means is embedded in advance in the accommodating portion, and the connection means is integral with the support means. 
     The present invention according to claim  14  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  12 , a cover is provided so as to correspond to longitudinal direction end portions of the plurality of electrodes, and covers a portion of the connection means exposed from the accommodating portion. 
     The present invention according to claim  15  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  12 , the moving body is provided with a window glass, and the connection means is passed through the moving body at a position lower than the window glass. 
     The present invention according to claim  16  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  1 , the connection means is disposed along the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, and one end is connected to the pressure sensitive sensor, and an upper end side passes through the moving direction side end portion of the moving body between an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor and is connected to the control means via the inside of the moving body. 
     The present invention according to claim  17  is characterized in that the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  16  includes support means comprising: a holding portion for holding the pressure sensitive sensor along the moving direction side end portion of the moving body; and a support portion longitudinal along the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, provided on the opposite side of the pressure sensitive sensor via the holding portion, and fixed to the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, in which an accommodating portion longitudinal along the moving direction side end portion of the moving body is formed for accommodating inside thereof a portion of the connection means. 
     The present invention according to claim  18  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  17 , the connection means is provided in the accommodating portion in a buried state beforehand, the connection means being integrated with the support means. 
     The present invention according to claim  19  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  17 , a cover is provided, so as to correspond to an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of electrodes, for covering a portion exposed from the accommodating portion of the connection means. 
     The present invention according to claim  20  is characterized in that in the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  16 , the moving body is provided with a window glass, and the connection means is pulled out from the holding portion between a lower end portion of the support means and a lower end portion of the window glass to thereby pass through the moving body. 
     According to the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  1 , the pressure sensitive sensor is provided at the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, and when the moving body moves for opening/closing by means of the driving force of the driving means, if there is a foreign object on the locus of opening/closing movement, the pressure sensitive sensor moving together with the moving body pushes the foreign object. The pressure sensitive sensor senses a pushing reaction force (i.e., pressure) from the foreign object at this time, making it possible to confirm that there is a foreign object on the locus of opening/closing movement of the moving body. Moreover, when the pressure sensitive sensor senses the existence of a foreign object, the control means performs the drive control of the driving means, to thereby stop the driving means or reverse-drive the driving means in the closing direction. As described above, with the present automatic opening-and-closing device, since the existence of a foreign object on the locus of opening/closing movement of the moving body is confirmed by sensing the pushing reaction force at the time when the foreign object contacts the pressure sensitive sensor, even when the moving speed of the moving body is changing, the existence of the foreign object can be confirmed, making it possible to prevent a foreign object from becoming caught by the moving body. 
     In the automatic opening-and-closing device, the pressure sensitive sensor is provided along the vertical direction of the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, and the connection means for connecting the pressure sensitive sensor and the control means is connected to the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor. Therefore, for example, when the present automatic opening-and-closing device is used for opening and closing a door, the connected portion of the pressure sensitive sensor and the connection means is located at a position lower than that of a line of sight of a person passing at the side of the door (that is, the moving body) in an open state, and therefore, the external appearance of the door is improved. 
     Further, the upper half of a person&#39;s body is wider than their feet by the amount of the width of the shoulders. Thus, if a door which was being closed were to contact the body of a person passing through at the side of the door, first, the door would contact the upper half of the person. Here, in the present automatic opening-and-closing device, the connection means is connected at the lower end portion of pressure sensitive sensor of the moving body (i.e., the door), and thus, the upper end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor can be made to approach as much as possible the upper end portion of the moving direction side end portion of the moving body. A non-sensing range of the pressure sensitive sensor at the upper end portion side of the moving direction side end portion of the moving body can be made small or eliminated. Thus, in particular, the catching of a person&#39;s body can be effectively prevented. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  2 , the connection means passes through the interior portion of the moving body. Further, the connection means passes through a through hole formed at the lower end side of the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, and is connected to the pressure sensitive sensor. As a result, the portion of the connection means exposed at the exterior of the moving body can be made extremely small or can be eliminated altogether. The external appearance improves, and the connection means does not contact an obstacle while the moving body is moving, so that the occurrence of drawbacks such as disconnection or the like of the pressure sensitive sensor and the connection means can be prevented. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  3 , the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor is located at a position lower than the lower end portion of the window glass provided at the moving body. Thus, the connection means passes beneath the window glass and is connected to the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor. As a result, the window glass does not impede the work for connecting the connection means and the pressure sensitive sensor, and the connection means does not traverse the window glass. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  4 , in a state in which the lower end side of the pressure sensitive sensor is curved toward a through hole formed in the lower end side of the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, the lower end side of the pressure sensitive sensor passes through the through hole and is disposed within the moving body, and the pressure sensitive sensor and the connection means are connected within the moving body. In this way, by connecting the pressure sensitive sensor and the connection means within the moving body, the connected portion of the pressure sensitive sensor and the connection means is shielded by the moving body, and is not exposed at the exterior. Further, the position, at which the connected portion of the pressure sensitive sensor and the connection means is disposed with respect to the external force applied to the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, is fundamentally at the side opposite the pressure sensitive sensor with respect to the moving direction side end portion of the moving body. Thus, external force is not applied to the connected portion. Accordingly, no foreign object contacts the connection means, and disconnection or the like caused thereby can be prevented. 
     Incidentally, here, “curving” may be curving of the elastically deformable pressure sensitive sensor, or may be forming the pressure sensitive sensor in advance in a curved configuration (i.e., the pressure sensitive sensor may be a configuration which is already curved in a state in which no external force or the like is applied thereto). However, in a case in which the pressure sensitive sensor is elastically-deformably curved, it is necessary that the curving be at a curvature of an extent such that the pressure sensitive sensor does not sense the external force accompanying this curving or the restoring force by which the pressure sensitive sensor itself attempts to return to its original configuration. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  5 , the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor is located at a position lower than the lower end portion of the window glass provided at the moving body. Thus, the connection means passes beneath the window glass and is connected to the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor. As a result, the window glass does not impede the work for connecting the connection means and the pressure sensitive sensor, and the connection means does not traverse the window glass. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  6 , the plurality of elongated electrodes are disposed within the elongated outer cover portion in a state of being set apart from one another. When an external force applied to the moving direction side end portion of the moving body is applied to the outer cover portion and due to this external force the outer cover portion elastically deforms and the outer cover portion collapses, the electrodes at the interior of the outer cover portion deform together with the outer cover portion. Due to the outer cover portion elastically deforming to the extent that the outer cover portion collapses, at least two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes contact each other and short circuit. Because the plurality of electrodes are connected together in series, due to the short circuiting, the current value of the current flowing through the electrodes or the electrical resistance or the like changes. By detecting this change, it can be sensed whether an external force is applied to the outer cover portion, i.e., it can be sensed whether an external force is applied to the moving direction side end portion of the moving body. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  7 , the connection means is connected to at least two electrodes pulled out from the lower end portion of the outer cover portion, among the plurality of electrodes disposed within the outer cover portion. In this way, current flows from the connection means to the electrodes, and further, current flowing through the electrodes flows to the connection means. 
     By the way, in the present automatic opening-and-closing device, the connection means passes through the through hole formed at the lower end side of the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, and is connected to the aforementioned electrodes. As a result, the portion of the connection means which is exposed at the exterior of the moving body is extremely small or altogether non-existent. The external appearance improves, and the connection means does not contact an obstacle while the moving body is moving. Occurrence of drawbacks such as disconnection or the like of the pressure sensitive sensor and the connection means can be prevented. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  8 , the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor is located at a position lower than the lower end portion of the window glass provided at the moving body. Thus, the connection means passes beneath the window glass and is connected to the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor. As a result, the window glass does not impede the work for connecting the connection means and the pressure sensitive sensor, and the connection means does not traverse the window glass. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  9 , in a state in which the lower end side of the outer cover portion is curved toward a through hole formed in the lower end side of the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, the lower end side of the outer cover portion passes through the through hole and is disposed within the moving body, and within the moving body, the connection means is connected with at least two of the electrodes pulled out from the lower end portion of the outer cover portion. In this way, by connecting the connection means and the electrodes within the moving body, the connected portion of the electrodes and the connection means is shielded by the moving body, and is not exposed at the exterior. Further, the position, at which the connected portion of the electrodes and the connection means is disposed with respect to the external force applied to the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, is fundamentally at the opposite side with respect to the moving direction side end portion of the moving body. Thus, external force is not applied to the connected portion. Accordingly, no foreign object contacts the connection means, and disconnection or the like caused thereby can be prevented. 
     Incidentally, here, “curving” may be curving of the elastically deformable outer cover portion, or may be forming the outer cover portion in advance in a curved configuration (i.e., the outer cover portion may be a configuration which is already curved in a state in which no external force or the like is applied thereto). However, in a case in which the outer cover portion is elastically-deformably curved, it is necessary that the curving be at a curvature of an extent such that the electrodes do not contact one another due to the external force accompanying this curving or the restoring force by which the outer cover portion itself attempts to return to its original configuration. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  10 , since the lower end portion of the outer cover portion is located at a position lower than the lower end portion of the window glass provided on the moving body, the connection means passes beneath the window glass and is connected to the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor. As a result, the window glass does not impede the work for connecting the connection means and the electrodes, and the connection means does not traverse the window glass. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  11 , the connection means, one end of which is connected to at least two electrodes among the electrodes which are pulled out from the lower end of the outer cover body, is extended upward along the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, passes through the moving direction side end portion of the moving body between the upper end and the lower end of the moving body, passes through the interior of the moving body, and is connected to the control means. 
     Here, because the connection means passes through the moving direction side end portion of the moving body and is disposed within the moving body, the portion of the connection means exposed at the exterior of the moving body is small. The external appearance improves, and the connection means does not contact an obstacle while the moving body is moving. The occurrence of drawbacks such as disconnection or the like of the pressure sensitive sensor and the connection means can be prevented. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  12 , one portion of the connection means, whose one end is connected to at least two electrodes of the electrodes pulled out from the lower end of the outer cover portion, is accommodated in the accommodating portion provided at the support portion of the support means and is guided to the upper end side in the longitudinal direction of the pressure sensitive sensor. Accordingly a region, other than one longitudinal direction end portion of the connection means and the portion nearest thereto, is not exposed to the exterior. Therefore, the external appearance at the sensor mounting position can be improved even more, and disconnection of the connection means due to the connection means contacting a foreign object or the like can be prevented. 
     Furthermore, the above-described accommodating portion is formed at the support portion of the support means (i.e., the support portion and the accommodating portion are basically the same). Therefore, it is not necessary to form a special space for disposing (i.e., training) the connection means or a special region, other than the support portion, for supporting the connection means. Thus, the pressure sensitive sensor can be made compact. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  13 , the connection means is embedded in advance in the accommodating portion of the support means (i.e., the connection means is embedded in advance in the support portion), and is made integral with the support portion. Thus, there is no need for a process for passing the connection means into the accommodating portion at the time the pressure sensitive sensor is mounted to the sensor mounting position, and the manufacturing cost becomes less expensive. 
     Incidentally, in the present invention, when the connection means is embedded into the accommodating portion, ones of longitudinal direction ends of the electrodes and the corresponding longitudinal direction ends of the connection means may be connected in advance, or may not be connected in advance. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  14 , the cover is provided in correspondence with the longitudinal direction end portions of the plurality of electrodes, and the cover covers the portion of the connection means which is exposed from the accommodating portion. Thus, the external appearance at the sensor mounting position can be improved even more, and contact between an exposed portion of the connection means and a foreign object can be reliably prevented, and disconnection of the connection means can be reliably prevented even more. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  15 , the connection means passes through the moving direction side end portion of the moving body at a position lower than the window glass provided at the moving body. Thus, the window glass does not impede the work for connecting the connection means and the pressure sensitive sensor, and further, the connection means does not traverse the window glass. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  16 , the connection means whose one end is connected to the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor is extended upward along the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, passes through the moving direction side end portion of the moving body between the upper end and the lower end of the moving body, passes through the interior portion of the moving body, and is connected to the control means. 
     Here, since the connection means passes through the moving direction side end portion of the moving body and is disposed within the moving body, a portion of the connection means exposed at the exterior of the moving body becomes small, thus improving the external appearance. The connection means does not contact an obstacle during movement of the moving body, and drawbacks such as disconnection or the like of the pressure sensitive sensor and the connection means can be prevented. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  17 , one portion of the connection means connected to the pressure sensitive sensor is accommodated in the accommodating portion provided at the support portion of the support means and is guided to the longitudinal direction upper end side of the pressure sensitive sensor. Therefore, a region, other than one longitudinal direction end portion of the connection means and the portion closest thereto, is not exposed to the exterior. As a result, the external appearance at the sensor mounting position can be further improved, and disconnection of the connection means due to the connection means contacting a foreign object or the like can be prevented. 
     Furthermore, at the above-described accommodating portion, the support portion of the sensor holding member is formed (that is, the support portion and the accommodating portion are basically the same). Accordingly, there is no need for a special space for disposing (training) the connection means, nor is there a need to form at the support means a particular region, other than the support portion, for supporting the connection means. Thus, the pressure sensitive sensor can be made compact. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  18 , the connection means is embedded in advance in the accommodating portion of the support means (i.e., the connection means is embedded in advance in the support portion), and is made integral with the support portion. Thus, there is no need for a process for passing the connection means into the accommodating portion at the time the pressure sensitive sensor is mounted to the sensor mounting position, and the manufacturing cost becomes less expensive. 
     Incidentally, in the present invention, when the connection means is embedded into the accommodating portion, ones of longitudinal direction ends of the electrodes and the corresponding longitudinal direction ends of the connection means may be connected in advance, or may not be connected in advance. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  19 , the cover is provided in correspondence with the longitudinal direction end portions of the plurality of electrodes, and the cover covers the portion of the connection means which is exposed from the accommodating portion. Thus, the external appearance at the sensor mounting position can be improved even more, and contact between an exposed portion of the connection means and a foreign object can be reliably prevented, and disconnection of the connection means can be reliably prevented even more. 
     With the automatic opening-and-closing device according to claim  20 , the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor pulls out the connection means from the holding portion below the lower end portion of the window glass provided at the moving body, and the connection means pulled out from the holding member passes through the moving direction side end portion of the moving body, and is passed through the interior portion of the moving body below the window glass. As a result, the window glass does not impede the work for connecting the connection means and the pressure sensitive sensor, and the connection means does not traverse the window glass. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view as seen from inside of a vehicular door panel (moving body) to which an automatic opening-and-closing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the vehicular door panel (moving body) to which the automatic opening-and-closing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a pressure sensitive sensor. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a structure of the pressure sensitive sensor. 
     FIG. 5 is a planar sectional view in which a vicinity of a lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor is enlarged. 
     FIG. 6 is a back side sectional view in which a vicinity of the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor is enlarged. 
     FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the pressure sensitive sensor. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view as seen from the rear of a vehicle to which the automatic opening-and-closing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a drive mechanism of the door panel (moving body). 
     FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the automatic opening-and-closing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view as seen from the front of the vehicle to which the automatic opening-and-closing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. 
     FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a modification of a mold and showing a state where the sensor body mounted with the mold passes through a holding portion of a protector. 
     FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state where the sensor body mounted with the mold is pressed into the holding portion of the protector. 
     FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state where the sensor body mounted with the mold is being inserted into the holding portion of the protector. 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a main part of an automatic opening-and-closing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing a main part of the automatic opening-and-closing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing a main part of an automatic opening-and-closing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing a main part of an automatic opening-and-closing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a main part of an automatic opening-and-closing device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing a main part of the automatic opening-and-closing device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 21 is a sectional view in which a vicinity of end portions of a pressure sensitive sensor and a support means is enlarged. 
     FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a main part of the automatic opening-and-closing device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a modification example of a main part of the automatic opening-and-closing device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     &lt;First Embodiment&gt; 
     FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a vehicle  12  to which an automatic sliding door device  10  is applied as an automatic opening-and-closing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the vehicle  12  is provided with a door panel  14  as a moving body. The door panel  14  is formed such that it can be fitted in an opening  20  formed on a side wall  18  of a vehicle body  16 , for use by a passenger getting on or off the rear seat (not shown), and such that in a state where the door panel  14  is fitted in the opening  20  to close the opening  20 , an outside surface of the door panel  14  becomes approximately flush with an outside surface of the side wall  18 . 
     At a top end portion of the door panel  14 , a door frame  116  in a roughly U-shaped form having an opening facing downward is integrally formed, and forms a window frame of a window glass  118  provided on the door panel  14 . 
     Also, as shown in FIG. 8, at a bottom portion of the door panel  14 , a bracket  22  extended inward in the transverse direction of the vehicle is integrally formed. As shown in FIG. 9, a roller  24  is axially supported at a tip end of the bracket  22 , and abuts against an outside surface in the vehicle width direction of a guide rail provided on a back side of a floor panel (not shown) of the vehicle  12 . The roller  24  can move along the forward and backward direction of the vehicle  12 , while rolling due to friction with the guide rail  26 . As shown in FIG.  9 . however, an outer end portion in the vehicle width direction of the guide rail  26  slants toward the inside in the vehicle width direction on the front end side. By the roller  24  rolling along the slanted portion, the roller  24  moves inward in the vehicle width direction while moving toward the front of the vehicle  12 . Thereby, the door panel  14  sliding along the forward and backward direction of the vehicle  12  outside in the vehicle width direction of the side wall  18  shifts inward in the vehicle width direction to thereby fit into the opening  20 . On the contrary, the roller  24  moves outward in the vehicle width direction while moving toward the rear side of the vehicle  12 , and thereby, the door panel  14  fitted into the opening  20  moves outward in the vehicle width direction of the side wall  18  to thereby be able to slide along the forward and backward direction of the vehicle  12 . 
     Moreover, as shown in FIG. 9, a pulley  28  and a drive roller  30 , which rotate around an axis in the vertical direction of the vehicle  12 , are provided towards the inside in the vehicle width direction of the guide rail  26 , and an endless belt  32  is entrained between them. To the endless belt  32  is fixed the above-described bracket  22 , and when the bracket  22  moves due to the rotation of the endless belt  32 , the roller  24  rolls along the guide rail  26 , and further, the door panel  14  moves. 
     The drive roller  30  is connected to a slide actuator  34  (see FIG. 8) disposed on the back side of the floor panel, and the endless belt  32  rotates by means of a driving force of a slide motor  40  (see FIG. 10) provided in the slide actuator  34 . Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the slide actuator  34  includes a slide driver  38  structuring control means. The slide motor  40  is electrically connected to a computer  36  structuring the control means via the slide driver  38 , and is also electrically connected to an operation switch  52  (see FIG. 8) provided in the vicinity of a driver&#39;s seat in the vehicle  12  via the computer  36 . By operating the operation switch  52  to transmit a predetermined signal to the computer  36 , the slide actuator  34  is operated or stopped to thereby slide (move to open/close) the door panel  14 . 
     As shown in FIG. 10, the slide actuator  34  includes a position detection device  44 . The position detection device  44  is provided so as to correspond to any of a rotation axis, an output axis, or a reduction gear between the rotation axis and the output axis (these are all not shown), so that the amount the rotation axis, output axis, or reduction gear rotates from a point in time that the slide motor  40  starts driving can be detected. 
     The rotation of the rotation axis of the slide motor  40  described above is transmitted to the output axis via the reduction gear, and the drive roller  30  (see FIG. 9) rotates with the rotation of the output axis to rotate the endless belt  32 , to thereby slide the door panel  14 . Therefore, the amount the door panel  14  slides is proportional to the amount the output axis rotates, and the amount the output axis rotates is also proportional to the amount the reduction gear rotates and the rotation axis rotate. Hence, the amount of the door panel  14  slides can be calculated by measuring the amount the rotation axis rotates from the time of starting the slide motor  40 . 
     As one example of a structure of the position detection device  44 , there can be mentioned a structure in which a plurality of slits are formed in a turntable rotating with the rotation axis, penetrating therethrough along the thickness direction thereof, around the rotation axis every predetermined angle, and a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are arranged with the turntable therebetween, so that only when the turntable rotates and the slit faces the light-emitting element, the light emitted from the light-emitting element passes through the slit and is received by the light-receiving element. The amount the rotation axis rotates is calculated by counting the number of times that light is made incident at the light-receiving element. Moreover, there is another structure in which one of sliding contacts is brought into contact with a conductive board such as a metal board which rotates with the rotation axis, and the other sliding contact is disposed so as to be able to contact a conductive pulse piece formed in a protruding state from the outer periphery of the conductive board radially every predetermined angle around the rotation axis, so that when the conductive board rotates and the pulse piece is brought into contact with the other sliding contact, both sliding contacts become conductive via the pulse piece and the conductive board, and the amount the rotation axis rotates is calculated by counting the number of times that the sliding contacts are conductive. 
     Moreover, with the present embodiment, the structure of the position detection device  44  is such that it detects the amount of the rotation axis of the slide motor  40  rotates, but the structure of the position detection device  44  is not limited thereto, and the structure may be any structure so long as the position of the door panel  14  is directly or indirectly detected by the position detection device  44 . As one example of a structure for detecting the position of the door panel  14 , for example, the following structure may be considered: a light-emitting element is provided inside of the door panel  14 , and a light-receiving element is provided at a position that faces the light-emitting element when the door panel  14  slides to a predetermined position on the side wall  18  of the vehicle body  16 , so that when the light-receiving element receives the light emitted from the light-emitting element, it is detected that the door panel  14  has slid up to the predetermined position. 
     On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, a bracket  46  extended inward in the vehicle width direction is disposed in a vertical direction middle portion and in an upper end portion of the door panel  14 . A roller (not shown) is provided at the tip end of each of these brackets, and each of the rollers comes into a guide groove  50  disposed in a proper position of the vehicle  12  in a state of being prevented from coming off, and moves along the guide rail  48 . That is to say, the door panel  14  is supported on the side wall  18  of the vehicle body  16  via the guide rail  48  and the brackets  46 , and moves while being guided by the guide rails  26  and  48  by means of a driving force of the slide actuator  34  described above. 
     Moreover, like the guide rail  26 , the front end side of the guide rail  48  slants inward in the vehicle width direction. In this slanted portion, the roller of each of the brackets  46  moves inward in the vehicle width direction while moving towards the front of the vehicle  12  along the guide groove  50  of the guide rail  48 , or moves outward in the vehicle width direction while moving towards the rear of the vehicle  12 . At the time of this movement, the door panel  14  moves inward or outward in the vehicle width direction. 
     Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, the automatic sliding door device  10  comprises a closure actuator  56  disposed within the door panel  14 . The closure actuator  56  is disposed within the door panel  14 , and as shown in FIG. 10, comprises a closure driver  58  structuring control means and a closure motor  59  as driving means. The closure driver  58  is electrically connected to the above-described computer  36 , and in a state where the door panel  14  is slid due to driving force of the slide motor  40  in the direction of closing the opening  20  (i.e., toward the front of the vehicle  12 ), when the above-described position detection device  44  detects sliding of the door panel  14  up to just before the door panel  14  completely closes the opening  20 , the computer  36  operates the closure driver  58  so as to supply power to the closure motor  59  from a power supply  42  to thereby drive the closure motor  59 . Thereby, when the door panel  14  is fitted into the opening  20 , the closure motor  59  operates a lock mechanism (not shown) of the door panel  14 , such as a latch or the like provided in the door panel  14 , and guides the door panel  14  to a predetermined position where the door panel  14  can be locked by the lock mechanism within the opening  20 . 
     That is to say, with the automatic sliding door device  10 , the structure is such that the door panel  14  is basically slid (moved for opening/closing) by the slide motor  40  (the slide actuator  34 ), but only at the time just before completely closing the door panel  14 , the door panel  14  is moved by the closure motor  59  (the closure actuator  56 ). 
     Moreover, as shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 11, a pressure sensitive sensor  60  is provided in the vicinity of a front end portion of the door panel  14 , with a longitudinal side thereof being along the vertical direction of the vehicle  12 . Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the pressure sensitive sensor  60  comprises a cover portion  62  that structures a sensor body  61  formed in a lengthy shape with an elastic material having nonconductivity, such as a rubber, a soft synthetic resin or the like. A cross hole  64  having a section in a cross shape (see FIG. 3) is formed within the cover portion  62  along the longitudinal direction of the cover portion  62 . The cross hole  64  gradually changes orientation around the center of the cover portion  62  along the longitudinal direction of the cover portion  62 . Moreover, electrodes  66 ,  68 ,  70  and  72  structuring the sensor body  61  together with the cover portion  62  are provided in a lengthy strip shape having flexibility within the cover portion  62 , by intertwining conductive fine wires such as copper wires or the like. These electrodes  66  to  72  are disposed in a helical form along the cross hole  64 , separated from each other due to the cross hole  64  in the vicinity of the center of the cross hole  64 , and integrally secured to an inner peripheral portion of the cross hole  64 . Therefore, the electrodes  66  to  72  are bent as the cover portion  62  is elastically deformed, and specifically, when the cover portion  62  is elastically deformed to a degree that the cross hole  64  is collapsed, the electrodes  66  to  72  are bent, and the electrode  66  or the electrode  70  is brought into contact with the electrode  68  or the electrode  72  to thereby be short-circuited. When the cover portion  62  restores its original shape, the electrodes  66  to  72  also restore their respective original shapes. 
     Also as shown in FIG. 5, at an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion  62 , a support member  86  is inserted. The support member  86  is formed approximately in a plate form with an insulative and soft synthetic resin, and a resistor  74  is disposed on an outside portion of the cover portion  62 , which is also on an obverse side thereof. Also a plurality of walls  88  are arranged in a standing condition on the face of a portion more towards the cover portion  62  than the resistor  74  of the support member  86 . Between these walls  88  are arranged lower end portions of the electrodes  68 ,  70  and leads  76 ,  78  pulled out from the resistor  74 . Also, between the walls  88 , there are arranged a pair of caulking pieces  92  formed by a metal plate material. 
     The electrode  68  and the lead  76  are arranged between one of the walls  88 ,  88  so that end portions thereof face each other along the longitudinal direction, and are held in a state in which they are wrapped up in one of the caulked caulking piece  92  and secured by means of welding. Also, the electrode  70  and the lead  78  are arranged between the other walls  88 ,  88  so that end portions thereof face each other along the longitudinal direction, and are held in a state in which they are wrapped up in the other caulked caulking piece  92  and secured by means of welding. Thereby, the electrode  68  and the electrode  70  are electrically connected via the resistor  74 . 
     On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of walls  90  are arranged in a standing condition on the backside of the support member  86 . Between these walls  90 , there are arranged lower ends of the electrodes  66 ,  72  and end portions of a pair of leads  82 ,  84  of a code  80  serving as connection means. Also, a pair of caulking pieces  92  formed by a metal plate material are disposed between the walls  90 ,  90  like for the walls  88 ,  88 . 
     The electrode  66  and the lead  82  are arranged between one of the walls  90 ,  90  so that end portions thereof face each other along the longitudinal direction, and are held in a state in which they are wrapped up in one of the caulked caulking piece  92  and secured by means of welding. Also, the electrode  72  and the lead  84  are arranged between the other walls  90 ,  90  so that the end portions thereof face each other along the longitudinal direction, and are held in a state in which they are wrapped up in the other caulked caulking piece  92  and secured by means of welding. 
     Moreover, as shown in FIG.  5  and FIG. 6, a mold  108  is arranged around the support member  86 . The mold  108  is formed by an insulative synthetic resin material or a rubber material, so as to seal the lower end portion of the cover portion  62  and to enclose the support member  86  therein. Also, the mold  108  goes into a gap between respective members, such as the support member  86  and the resistor  74 , or the like, and holds each member from outside thereof. Therefore, even if a foreign object such as a drop of water attaches to the vicinity of the lower end of the cover portion  62 , the foreign object such as a drop of water does not enter inside the cover portion  62 , and the foreign object does not attach to a lower end of the electrodes  66  to  72  or the like. 
     Furthermore, though not shown in detail, a support member  86  is provided at an upper end portion of the cover portion  62 . However, this support member  86  towards the top is not provided with a resistor  74 . Also, an upper end portion of the electrode  66  and an upper end portion of the electrode  70  are electrically connected by caulking pieces  92  and by welding, as for the lower end portion of each of the electrodes  66  to  72 , on the surface of the support member  86  towards the top, and an upper end portion of the electrode  68  and an upper end portion of the electrode  72  are electrically connected by caulking piece  92  and by welding on the backside of the support member  86 . Also, on an upper end portion of the cover portion  62 , a mold  108  is arranged around the support member  86 , and an upper end portion of the cover portion  62  is sealed by the mold  108 . The support member  86  is enclosed in the mold  108 . 
     As shown in a circuit diagram of FIG. 7, the electrodes  66  and  72  are connected to the power supply via the code  80 , and the electric current from the power supply flows from the electrode  66 , through the electrode  70 , the resistor  74 , and the electrode  68  to the electrode  72 . When the cover portion  62  is elastically deformed to a degree that the cover portion  62  is collapsed and any one of the electrodes  66  to  72  is brought into contact with another of the electrodes to thereby be short-circuited, the current does not flow in the resistor  74 . Hence, the resistance value of the whole circuit decreases to increase the current value. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the current flowing out of the electrode  72  is to return to the power supply via a current detection element  106  which transmits a signal when it detects a current equal to or larger than a predetermined value. If anyone of the electrodes  66  to  72  is brought into contact with another of the electrodes and is short-circuited, and thereby the current increases, a signal is transmitted from the current detection element  106 , and this signal is received by the computer  36  (see FIG. 10) electrically connected to the current detection element  106 . 
     Moreover, as shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, the leads  82  and  84  of the code  80  connected to the lower end portions of the electrodes  66  and  72  (see FIG. 4) are extended from a lower end portion of the mold  108 , pulled inside of the door panel  14  (to be more specific, between an outer plate  112  and an inner plate  114 , which structure the door panel  14 ), through a circular hole  110  formed at a position lower than a lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor  60  at a front end portion of the door panel  14 , and are connected to the computer  36  and the power supply, after having passed inside of the door panel  14  and beneath the window glass  118 . 
     Furthermore, as shown in FIG.  3  and FIG. 4, on the outside of the cover portion  62 , there is provided a lengthy protector  94  formed with a rubber material or a soft and elastically deformable synthetic resin having a rigidity lower than the cover portion  62 . The protector  94  comprises a holding portion  96  in a substantially cylindrical shape along the longitudinal direction. The size of the inner diameter of the holding portion  96  is substantially the same as the size of the outer diameter of the cover portion  62 , to thereby hold the sensor body  61  inserted therein. Actually, therefore, when the holding portion  96  is elastically deformed due to external pressure, the cover portion  62  is elastically deformed due to receiving external pressure indirectly. From a position on an outer periphery of the holding portion  96 , an attachment portion  98  is formed so as to protrude outward in the radial direction. As shown in FIG.  4 . the attachment portion  98  is formed so as to be substantially the same along the longitudinal direction of the holding portion  96 . Also an attachment groove  100  open toward a side opposite to the holding portion  96  is formed in the attachment portion  98 . From one of inner walls facing each other of the attachment groove  100 , a clamping piece  102  is formed so as to protrude toward the other inner wall, and when a bracket  104  in a plate form having a substantially an L-shaped cross-section and fixed to the inside of the door panel  14  (to be more specific, on the inside face of the inner plate  114 ) is made to enter the attachment groove  100 , the clamping piece  102  is elastically deformed, and due to the restoring force(elasticity) thereof, the bracket  104  is pushed towards the other inner wall in the attachment groove  100  to thereby be clamped between the clamping piece  120  and the other inner wall. The pressure sensitive sensor  60  is thereby fixed to the door panel  14 . 
     In the present embodiment, the cover portion  62  and the protector  94  are structured by separate bodies, but the cover portion  62  and the protector  94  may be integrally formed (i.e., the attachment portion  98  may be formed, at a part on the outer periphery of the cover portion  62 . In this case, since the protector  94  is not provided separately, the number of parts decreases, and since a step for inserting the sensor body  61  into the holding portion  96  can be omitted, the number of steps also decrease. 
     Next is a description of operation and effects of the present embodiment. 
     With this automatic sliding door device  10 , when the operation switch  52  is operated to drive the slide actuator  34 , in a state where the door panel  14  closes the opening  20 , the drive roller  30  rotates to rotate the endless belt  32 , and the endless belt  32  pulls the bracket  22  toward the rear of the vehicle  12 , to thereby move the roller  24  along the guide rail  26 . With the movement of the roller  24 , the roller (not shown) of the bracket  46  moves along the guide rail  48 . The door panel  14  thereby slides towards the rear of the vehicle  12 . Here, since the guide rail  26  and the guide rail  48  are curved inward in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle  12  at the respective front ends thereof, the roller  24  of the bracket  22  and the roller of the bracket  46  move outward in the vehicle width direction for awhile when moving backward. By this movement outward in the vehicle width direction, the door panel  14  can be positioned outside in the vehicle width direction from the sidewall  18  or the vehicle  16  and slide rearward on the outside of the side wall  18 . 
     On the other hand, when the operation switch  52  is operated to drive the slide actuator  34 , in a state where the opening  20  is opened, the drive roller  30  rotates in the direction opposite to the direction when the door panel  14  is opened to rotate the endless belt  32 , and the endless belt  32  pulls the bracket  22  toward the front of the vehicle  12 . The door panel  14  thereby slides toward the front of the vehicle. In this case, when the slide motor  40  starts driving, the position detection device  44  starts to detect the amount the rotation axis of the slide motor  40 , rotates to thereby calculate the position of the door panel  14  sequentially. Then, the door panel  14  moves inward in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, along the curve of the guide rail  48 , while substantially facing the opening  20 . When the position detection device  44  detects the rotation of the rotation axis of the slide motor  40  of until just before the door panel  14  completely closes the opening  20 , the computer  36  operates the closure driver  58  of the closure actuator  56  to drive the closure motor  59 . The closure motor  59  operates the lock mechanism for locking the door panel  14 , as well as guides the door panel  14  to a position where the door panel  14  can be locked by the lock mechanism. As a result, when the door panel  14  completely closes the opening  20 , the lock mechanism locks the door panel  14 , and restricts movement of the door panel  14  in the direction of opening the door panel, unless a predetermined opening operation is performed. 
     Here, if a foreign object which may be an obstacle to the door panel  14  sliding toward the front of the vehicle  12  is present on a locus of sliding of the door panel  14 , and when a moving direction side end portion of the door panel  14 , (i.e., the front end portion of the door panel  14 ) is about to abut against the foreign object, the foreign object abuts against the pressure sensitive sensor  60  provided at the front end portion of the door panel  14 . At this time, since the pressure sensitive sensor  60  pushes the foreign object towards the front due to the sliding of the door panel  14 , a pushing reaction force from the foreign object acts on the pressure sensitive sensor  60 . When the pushing reaction force makes the holding portion  96  of the protector  94  elastically deform to thereby indirectly elastically deform the cover portion  62  of the sensor body  61 , the electrode  66  or the electrode  70  is brought into contact with the electrode  68  or the electrode  72  to thereby be short-circuited. As described above, in this state, the current flowing in the circuit of FIG. 7 flows without passing through the resistor  74 , hence the current value increases, and the current detection element  106  outputs a signal. The computer  36  that received the signal from the current detection element  106  operates the slide driver  38  to inversely drive the slide motor  40  in reverse. The door panel  14  thereby starts sliding rearward, so that a foreign object can be prevented from becoming caught in the door panel  14 . 
     As described above, since the detection of a foreign object in this automatic sliding door device  10  is performed by detecting the pushing reaction force from the foreign object acting on the pressure sensitive sensor  60 , the accuracy in detecting a foreign object basically does not have any relation to the sliding speed of the door panel  14  or the inclined state of the vehicle. Therefore, a foreign object can be prevented from becoming caught in the door panel, in a state where the sliding speed of the door panel  14  is accelerated just after having started driving of the slide motor  40  in order to slide the door panel  14  forward, or in a state where the slide motor  40  stops or is decelerating to decelerate the sliding speed of the door panel  14 , just before the door panel  14  completely closes the opening  20 . In particular, a thin or small foreign object can be reliably prevented from becoming caught in the door panel in a state just before the door panel  14  completely closes the opening  20 . 
     By the way, with this automatic sliding door device  10 , as described above, the code  80  is connected at the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor  60 , and the code  80  is pulled into the inside of the door panel  14 , through the circular hole  110  formed at a position lower than the lower end of the pressure sensitive sensor at the front edge portion of the door panel  14 . Hence, compared to a case where the code  80  is connected at the upper end portion of the door panel  14  and is passed through the upper side of the door panel  14  (for example, within the door frame  116 ), the degree of freedom in the disposed position of the code  80  at the time of providing the code in a prescribed location is higher, and the management of the code  80  becomes easier. Hence, the number of steps required for providing the code in a prescribed location is reduced, enabling cost reduction. 
     Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, since a service hole  122  for providing a window regulator or the like or for a maintenance service is ordinarily formed on a lower end side of the inner side (that is, the inner plate  114 ) of the door panel  14 , when the code  80  is moved around within the door panel  14 , the service hole  122  can be utilized, and the workability during disposed can be improved in this sense. 
     Furthermore, since the code  80  is connected at the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor  60 , the connecting portion is located at a position lower than a line of vision of a person passing through the opening  20 . Therefore, the external appearance (i.e., look) is not damaged, even without shielding a connection region of the pressure sensitive sensor  60  and the code  80 . 
     Meanwhile, since the upper half of the human body is wider than the area around the feet due to the breadth of shoulders, if it is assumed that if a passenger touches the door which is sliding forward when getting in and out through the opening  20 , the upper half of the passenger&#39;s body touches the door panel  14  first. Here, since the connecting portion of the pressure sensitive sensor  60  and the code  80  is located at the lower end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor  60 , it is possible to set the foreign object detection range, which depends on the pressure sensitive sensor  60 , to as close as possible to the upper end portion of the front end portion of the door panel  14 . Therefore, with this automatic sliding door device  10 , a passenger having touched the door panel  14  can be reliably detected. 
     Incidentally, the present embodiment has a structure in which the present invention is applied to the automatic sliding door device  10  of the vehicle  12 . However, it is a matter of course that the present invention can be widely applied to an opening/closing apparatus such as a normal automatic door or the like, in addition to the automatic sliding door device  10  of the vehicle  12 , and the present invention may be applied to an automatic door of a building, a door of an elevator, a door of a railway vehicle or the like. 
     Moreover, with the present embodiment, a pressure sensitive sensor  60  of a type in which four electrodes  66  to  72  are helically provided within the cover portion  62  is used, but the pressure sensitive sensor is not limited to this structure, and any sensor having a structure in which presence of a foreign object can be detected by means of a pushing reaction force from the foreign object may be used. 
     Further, with the present embodiment, the structure is such that the detection of a foreign object is performed only by the pressure sensitive sensor  60 , but for example, a foreign object may be detected not only by the pressure sensitive sensor  60 , but also by detecting an overload acting on the slide motor  40  at the time when a foreign object is caught in the door. 
     In addition, with the present embodiment, the structure is such that the code  80  is inserted inside of the door panel  14  from the circular hole  110 , but for example, a lower end side of the pressure sensitive sensor  60  may be inserted inside of the door panel  14  from the circular hole  110 , and the pressure sensitive sensor  60  and the code  80  may be connected within the door panel  14 . 
     Meanwhile, with the present embodiment, the structure is such that external shape of the mold  108  is made larger than an external shape of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the protector  94 , and not only the end portion of the sensor body  61  but also the end portion of the protector  94  are enclosed within the mold  108 ; however, structure of the mold  108  is not limited thereto, and for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the end portion of the sensor body  61  by itself may be sealed by the mold  132 . Here, in FIG.  13  and FIG. 14, there is shown an example of an insertion method when the sensor body  61  having a structure in which only the end portion of the sensor body  61  is sealed by the mold  132  is inserted into the holding portion  96  of the protector  94 . Below is a brief description of this insertion method. 
     As shown in FIG. 13, in this modification example, the size of the outer diameter of the mold  132  provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the sensor body  61  (only one end is shown in FIG. 13) is larger than that of the inner diameter in a natural condition where an external force is not acting on the holding portion  96  of the protector  94 , thereby sealing the end portions in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion  62  which structures the sensor body  61 . 
     Of the both ends in the longitudinal direction of the sensor body  61  provided with the mold  132 , the lower end portion thereof in the longitudinal direction located at a lower position in a state where the pressure sensitive sensor  60  is attached to the vehicle  12 , is pressed into the inside of the holding portion  96  from the upper end side in the longitudinal direction located at an upper position in a state where the pressure sensitive sensor  60  is attached to the vehicle  12 . 
     Then, as shown in FIG. 14, from this state, one or a plurality of (in this example, two) air injection hoses  134  are inserted from the upper end portion in the longitudinal direction of the protector  94  to the inside of the holding portion  96 . 
     The air injection hose  134  is connected to a compressor  136  at a bottom end thereof, and air sent out from the compressor  136  is jetted from a tip end thereof. As described above, since the size of the outer diameter of the mold  132  is larger than that of the inner diameter of the holding portion  96  in a natural condition, in the state where the lower end portion in the longitudinal direction of the sensor body  61  is pressed into the inside of the holding portion  96 , an inner circumferential portion of the holding portion  96  adheres to the outer peripheral portion of the mold  132 . Also, since the inner diameter of the holding portion  96  and the outer diameter of the cover portion  62  are substantially the same, the mold  132  protrudes from the cover portion  62  in a flanged state toward the outside in the radial direction of the cover portion  62 , as shown in FIG.  13  and FIG.  14 . Accordingly, the air jetted from the tip end of the air injection hose  134  pushes a portion of the mold  132  that is protruding from the cover portion  62  outward in the radial direction thereof toward the lower end portion in the longitudinal direction of the protector  94 . The mold  132  moves toward the lower end portion in the longitudinal direction of the protector  94  together with the cover portion  62  by means of a pushing force from the air, to thereby insert the sensor body  61  into the inside of the holding portion  96  of the protector  94 . 
     With the insertion method described above, since the sensor body  61  is inserted into the inside of the holding portion  96  of the protector  94  by means of air pressure, even if the outer shape of the mold  132  is larger than the inner diameter of the holding portion  96 , it is very easy to insert the sensor body  61  into the inside of the holding portion  96 . 
     &lt;Second Embodiment&gt; 
     Next is a description of another embodiment of the present invention. In the following description of each embodiment, an element that is basically the same as that of the first embodiment or of the embodiment previous to the embodiment being described is given the same reference numeral as that used in the first embodiment or previous embodiment, and description thereof is omitted. 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a structure of a main part of an automatic sliding door device  150  as an automatic opening-and-closing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 16 shows a structure of a main part of the automatic sliding door device  150  in a vertical cross-section. 
     As shown in these figures, a lower end portion of a cover portion  62  which structures a pressure sensitive sensor  60  in the automatic sliding door device  150  is a curved portion  152  which is curved toward a front end portion of a door panel  14 . Moreover, a tip end side of the curved portion  152  is passed through a circular hole  110  formed on the door panel  14  and is received within the door panel  14 , that is, between an outer plate  112  and an inner plate  114  which structure the door panel  14 . 
     Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 15, a grommet  154  formed with a rubber material or a soft and elastically deformable synthetic resin in a substantially ring shape or cylindrical shape is fitted in the circular hole  110  formed on the door panel  14 , and the curved portion  152  described above passes through the grommet  154  in a state where an outer peripheral portion thereof adheres to the inner circumference of the grommet  154 . 
     On the other hand, with this automatic sliding door device  150 , there is provided a support member (not shown) having a similar structure as that of the support member  86  of the automatic sliding door device  10  according to the first embodiment. The support member is enclosed within the mold  158  formed with a synthetic resin or a rubber material. 
     However, in contrast to the mold  108  of the automatic sliding door device  10  according to the first embodiment, this mold  158  is disposed within the door panel  14 , to thereby seal the tip end of the curved portion  152  of the cover portion  52  (i.e., the lower end portion of the cover portion  62 ) which has passed through the above-described grommet  154  and the circular hole  110  within the door panel  14 . 
     Moreover, as shown in FIG.  15  and FIG. 16, the automatic sliding door device  150  is provided with a cover  156  attached to the front end portion of the door panel  14 . The cover  156  is open at an end portion on an upper side and at an end portion facing the front end portion of the door panel  14 , in a state where it is attached to the front end portion of the door panel  14 , and a protector  94  enters from the upper open end of the cover  156  so that a lower end portion of the protector  94  is received within the cover  156 . Furthermore, the curved portion  152  of the cover portion  62  pulled out from the lower end portion of the protector  94  passes through the grommet  154  via the open end of the cover  156  facing the front end portion of the door panel  14 . 
     That is to say, when comparing this automatic sliding door device  150  with the automatic sliding door device  10  according to the first embodiment, though there is a difference in that the curved portion  152  of the cover portion  62  passes though the circular hole  110  instead of the code  80 , there is no difference in that the leads  82 ,  84  are connected with the electrodes  66 ,  72  at the lower end side of the door panel  14 . Therefore, even with this automatic sliding door device  150 , operation and effects similar to those of the automatic sliding door device  10  according to the first embodiment can be performed and obtained. 
     Furthermore, the automatic sliding door device  150  is different from the automatic sliding door device  10  according to the first embodiment in that the curved portion  152  on the lower end side of the cover portion  62  passes through the circular hole  110  via the grommet  154  and is connected to the code  80  via the support member within the door panel  14 . Hence, the support member, which is a connecting portion for connecting the leads  82 ,  84  of the code  80  and the electrodes  66 ,  72 , as well as the mold  158  enclosing the support member are not exposed outside of the door panel  14 . Therefore, contact of the leads  82 ,  84  of the code  80 , the support member and the mold  158  with a foreign object outside the door panel  14  can be prevented, and disconnection caused by a contact of the leads  82 ,  84  of the code  80 , the support member and the mold  158  with a foreign object can reliably prevent a failure or the like. 
     Since the leads  82 ,  84  of the code  80  and the electrodes  66 ,  72  are connected via the support member within the door panel  14 , a complicated management operation of the leads  82  and  84 , such as passing the leads  82 ,  84  through the through hole  110 , is basically not required, at the time of connection or of a maintenance service. Thereby, workability in an assembly step can be improved, enabling reduction of assembly cost. 
     Moreover, as described above, with the automatic sliding door device  150 , since the outer peripheral portion of the curved portion  152  adheres to the inner circumference of the grommet  154 , infiltration of water or the like via the through hole  110  into the inside of the door panel  14  can be prevented. 
     Furthermore, with the automatic sliding door device  150 , since the curved portion  152  is covered with the cover  156 , a foreign object can be prevented from touching the curved portion  152  by means of the cover  156  (that is, the curved portion  152  can be protected by the cover  156 ). 
     Also, the curved portion  152  is a portion where the cover portion  62  is pulled out from the protector  94 , and by covering the curved portion  152  with the cover  156 , the external appearance of the door panel  14  can be improved. 
     &lt;Third Embodiment&gt; 
     Next is a description of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a structure of a main part of an automatic sliding door device  170  according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in this figure, the automatic sliding door device  170  is provided with a grommet  172 . The grommet  172  overall has a cylindrical shape having a bottom, and the size of the inner diameter thereof is approximately the same as that of the outer diameter of a mold  158  described above, so that the mold  158  can be inserted into the inside of the grommet  172 . In this inserted state, the grommet  172  holds the mold  158  by its own elasticity. Also, an open end of the grommet  172  is extended outward in the radial direction in a flanged state, and is fitted in an inner circumferential portion of a through hole  110  in a state where it covers the inner circumferential portion of the through hole  110 . 
     With the present embodiment having the above-described structure, not only can the effect described in the second embodiment described above be obtained, but in addition, the mold  158  can be fixed to a door panel  14  in a stable state, since the grommet  172  holds the mold  158 . Hence, play of the mold due to vibrations during traveling of the vehicle  12  or at the time of opening/closing the door panel  14  can be prevented, to thereby prevent disconnection of the leads  82  and  84 . 
     &lt;Fourth Embodiment&gt; 
     Next is a description of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 18 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a structure of a main part of an automatic sliding door device  190  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in this figure, the automatic sliding door device  190  is not provided with a cover  156  used in the second and third embodiments, but instead of the cover, it comprises an end protector  192 . The end protector  192  is formed with a rubber material or a synthetic resin material substantially in a block shape with an external shape similar to that of the above-described cover  156 . With the present embodiment, the shape of the end protector  192  is similar to that of the cover  156 , but the shape of the end protector  192  is not limited to the shape similar to that of the cover  156 . An insertion hole  194  is formed in the end protector  192 , whose one end opens at an upper end portion of the end protector  192 , and whose other end-opens at a rear end portion of the end protector  192 . The insertion hole  194  has an inner diameter slightly larger than the external size of a cover portion  62 , and a curved portion  152  of the cover portion  62  is inserted therein. The tip end side of the curved portion  152  is extended toward the inside of a door panel  14 , protruding from the other end of the insertion hole  194 , and connected to leads  82 ,  84  of a code  80  via a connection member provided within a mold  158 . 
     Meanwhile, a grommet portion  196  is formed around the other end of the insertion hole of the end protector  192 , and the grommet portion  196  is fitted to the inner circumference of a through hole  110  in a state where it covers the inner circumference of the through hole  110 . 
     With the present embodiment of the above-described structure, simply by inserting a portion pulled out from a lower end portion of the holding portion  96  of the cover portion  62  (the protector  94 ) into the insertion hole  194 , the portion inserted in the insertion hole  194  can be made the curved portion  152  curved at a certain curvature, hence the curved portion  152  can be easily formed. Moreover, as in the above-described cover  156 , contact of a foreign object with the curved portion  152  can be prevented, to thereby protect the curved portion  152 . 
     With the present embodiment, the structure is such that the curved portion  152  of the cover portion  62  is inserted into the insertion hole  194  formed in the end protector  192 , but the structure may be such that when the end protector  192  is formed, the curved portion  152  is insert-molded. 
     &lt;Fifth Embodiment&gt; 
     Next is a description of a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a structure of an automatic sliding door device  210  as an automatic opening-and-closing device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     The automatic sliding door device  210  is provided with a protector  212  as support means This protector  212  is formed with a synthetic resin material having a higher rigidity than that of a cover portion  62 , and comprises a holding portion  214  in a concave shape opening toward the front of a vehicle  12  in an attached state. The radius of curvature of an opening portion of the holding portion is substantially the same as that of the outer peripheral portion of the cover portion  62 , so that substantially a vehicle rear side of the cover portion  62  can be covered along the longitudinal direction of the cover portion  62 . Further, on a vehicle front side of the holding portion  214 , a soft portion  216  formed with a synthetic resin material having a lower rigidity than that of the cover portion  62  is provided. The soft portion  216  is in a concave shape opening toward the rear of the vehicle  12  in an attached state, and the radius of curvature of this opening portion is also substantially the same as that of an outer peripheral portion of the cover portion  62 , and the holding portion  214  and the soft portion  216  form a substantially cylindrical shape with the inner diameter being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the cover portion  62 . The above-described cover portion  62  is held in a state of being inserted into the inside of a cylindrical body formed by the holding portion  214  and the soft portion  216 . 
     On the contrary, an attachment leg  218  is formed as a support portion on an outer peripheral portion of the holding portion  214 , which outer peripheral portion is on the side opposite to the soft portion  216 . The attachment leg  218  is long along the longitudinal direction of the holding portion  214 , and a section thereof is substantially in a rectangular shape with the longer side being along the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle (that is, along the extending direction from the holding portion  214 ). The attachment leg  218  is attached to a bracket  220  provided at a front end portion of the door panel  14 , and is supported by the door panel  14  via the bracket  220 . 
     The bracket  220  comprises a plate-shaped fixing portion  222  having a longer side substantially along the vertical direction of the vehicle  12 , and is fixed to the front end portion of the door panel  14  by means of fixation by welding or by means of joining with a bolt, rivet or the like. One end in the width direction of the fixing portion  222  is a clamping portion  224  bent substantially in an L-shape and extended substantially towards the front of the vehicle  12 . On one end face in the thickness direction of the clamping portion  224 , a plate-like clamping plate  226  having a longer side substantially along the vertical direction of the vehicle  12  is provided, as in the fixing portion  222 . 
     The clamping plate  226  is disposed substantially parallel with the clamping portion  224  along the vertical direction of the vehicle  12 , in a state where one end thereof in the thickness direction faces one end in the thickness direction of the clamping portion  224 . Further, one end in the width direction of the clamping plate  226  is bent substantially in an L-shape toward the direction approaching the clamping portion  224 , and an end portion thereof is bent substantially in an L-shape toward the rear of the vehicle  12 , and is mounted in a fixed condition to the clamping portion  224  by welding or the like. Here, an interval between the clamping portion  224  and the clamping plate  226  is substantially the same as the width of the above-described attachment leg  218 , so that the attachment leg  218  can be inserted between the clamping portion  224  and the clamping plate  226 . Further, a protrusion  228  protruding toward the clamping portion  224  is formed in the clamping plate  226 . The protrusion  228  corresponds to a concave portion  230  formed on one end portion in the width direction of the attachment leg  218 . When the attachment leg  218  is inserted between the clamping portion  224  and the clamping plate  226 , the protrusion  228  enters into the inside of the concave portion  230 , to thereby restrict movement of the attachment leg  218  in the insertion direction and in the reverse direction thereof. 
     Furthermore, an adhesive  232  is applied in a vicinity of the bent portion of the clamping plate  226  that is between the clamping portion  224  and the clamping plate  226 . In a state where the attachment leg  218  is inserted, an end portion of the attachment leg  218  on the side opposite the holding portion  214  is brought into contact with the adhesive  232  before curing, and the attachment leg  218  is held by the adhesive  232  by curing the adhesive  232 . 
     Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 20, the inside of the attachment leg  218  is a hollow accommodating portion  234 . The accommodating portion  234  is formed along the longitudinal direction of the attachment leg  218  (that is, in the direction along the vertical direction of the vehicle  12 ), and is open at both ends thereof. As shown in FIG. 19, above-described leads  82 ,  84  are inserted from one of the open ends of the accommodating portion  234 , and the other ends of the leads  82 ,  84  are provided in a prescribed location along the accommodating portion  234 , toward the other open end of the accommodating portion  234 . 
     Moreover, as shown in FIG. 19, a notch portion  236  is formed in a middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the attachment leg  218  (that is, in the direction along the vertical direction of the vehicle  12 ), and the accommodating portion  234  communicates with the outside not only in the opening portions of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the attachment leg  218 , but also in the opening at this notch portion  236 . As shown in FIG. 19, the notch portion  236  corresponds to a notch portion  238  formed in the clamping plate  226 , and corresponds to a pore  240  formed in the front end portion of the door panel  14  as well as to a pore  242  formed in the clamping plate  226  so as to communicate with the pore  240  in a state where the bracket  220  is fixed to the front end portion of the door panel  14 . In a state where the attachment leg  218  is inserted between the clamping portion  224  and the clamping plate  226 , the notch portion  236  is located at a position along the axial direction of the pores  242 ,  240 . From the notch portion  236 , the leads  82 ,  84  provided in the inside of the accommodating portion  234  are pulled out, and are passed through the notch portion  238  and the pores  242  and  240 , to thereby be provided in the inside of the door panel  14 . 
     On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 21, an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the protector  212  is covered with a cover  244 , and in particular, at the end portion on the side where the leads  82 ,  84  are pulled out, the folded portion of the leads  82 ,  84  and the connecting portions of the leads  82 ,  84  and the pressure sensitive sensor  60  are protected by the cover  244 . 
     With the present embodiment of the above-described structure, since the leads  82 ,  84  are connected at end portions in the longitudinal direction of the electrodes  66  and  72 , the leads  82 ,  84  can be brought into contact with each other in substantially the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the electrodes  66  and  72 , excluding both ends in the longitudinal direction of the electrodes  66  and  72  (in other words, a dead zone, where even if a pushing reaction force acts thereon, they are not brought into contact with each other, is not formed in a middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the electrodes  66  and  72 ). Hence, a pushing reaction force from the above-described obstacle acting on the front end portion of the door panel  14  can be reliably detected. 
     Moreover, one end portion in the longitudinal direction of these electrodes  66  and  72 , that is, the leads  82 ,  84  connected to the electrode  66  and the electrode  72 , respectively, in the vicinity of the lower end of the front end portion of the door panel  14  are extended approximately up to a central portion in the vertical direction of the door panel  14 . Here, the leads  82 ,  84  are folded back at a side of an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion  62 , are accommodated in the accommodating portion  234  formed in the attachment leg  218 , and are guided to substantially a central portion in the vertical direction of the door panel  14 , to enter into the door panel  14  from the notch portion  236 , via the notch portion  236  and the pores  242 ,  240 . Furthermore, since the portion of the leads  82 ,  84  folded back at the side of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion  62  is covered with the cover  244 , the leads  82 ,  84  are basically not exposed outside. Hence, the external appearance of the door panel  14  in the vicinity of the front end portion is improved, and foreign object, including an obstacle, or a body of a passenger of the vehicle  12  do not come in direct contact with the leads  82 ,  84 . Accordingly, problems such as disconnection caused by a foreign object or a passenger&#39;s body of the vehicle  12  coming in contact with the leads  82 ,  84  to thereby pull the leads  82 ,  84 , can be reliably prevented. 
     Furthermore, the leads  82 ,  84  accommodated in the accommodating portion  234  in the attachment leg  218  are pulled out from the notch portion  236 , and guided to the inside of the door panel  14 . Therefore, even if the pore  240  for communicating the inside and outside of the door panel is formed in any position in the vertical direction of the front end portion of the door panel  14 , simply by forming a notch portion  236  by notching the attachment leg  218  properly in accordance with the position of the pore  240 , the leads  82 ,  84  can be pulled out from the notch portion  236  and guided into the door panel  14 . Hence, even in a vehicle in which the position of the pore  240  is different, a pressure sensitive sensor  60  can be installed on the front end portion of the door panel  14 . 
     In addition, since the accommodating portion  234  is formed in the attachment leg  218  for attaching a pressure sensitive sensor  60  to the front end portion of the door panel  14 , the protector  212  can be made small (narrow). 
     Moreover, the synthetic resin material which forms the protector  212  may be basically one kind, hence production of the protector  212  is easy, and production costs of the automatic sliding door device  190  can be reduced. 
     &lt;Sixth Embodiment&gt; 
     Next is a description of a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a structure of an automatic sliding door device  260  as an automatic opening-and-closing device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, with the automatic sliding door device  260  according to the present embodiment, the structure of an attachment leg  264  as a support portion of a protector  262  is different from the attachment leg  218  of the protector  212  of the automatic sliding door device  210  according to the fifth embodiment. 
     That is to say, though an accommodating portion  266  is formed in the attachment leg  264 , which corresponds to the accommodating portion  234  of the attachment leg  218  in the fifth embodiment, no gap is formed between an outer peripheral portion of the accommodating portion  266  and an inner circumference of leads  82 ,  84 , and in fact, the leads  82 ,  84  are provided in the attachment leg  264  in a buried state. As described above, as a method for forming the protector  262 , there can be mentioned a method of forming the attachment leg  264  while arranging the leads  82 ,  84  at a position where the attachment leg  264  is formed, when the protector  262  is formed together with a holding portion  214  and a soft portion  216 , and solidifying a periphery of the leads  82 ,  84  with a synthetic resin material, but other methods may be used. 
     Moreover, the attachment leg  264  is provided with a protrusion  268  toward a side in the width direction, and when the attachment leg  264  is fitted in between a clamping portion  224  and a clamping plate  226 , the protrusion  268  is elastically deformed, to thereby be secured between the clamping portion  224  and the clamping plate  226  by means of a restoring force of the protrusion  268 . 
     Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 22, the protrusion  268  may be formed specially so as to have a section in a shape of trapezoid or triangle. However, if as shown in FIG. 23, for example, a synthetic resin material for forming the attachment leg  264  is deposited around the leads  82 ,  84 , only the circumference of the leads  82 ,  84  has a wider width than other portions. This portion of a wider width may be used as the protrusion  268 . 
     The end portions of the leads  82 ,  84  provided in the attachment leg  264  in a buried state (i.e., accommodated in the accommodating portion  266 ) are pulled out toward the outside in the longitudinal direction from the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the protector  262 , as in the fifth embodiment, and connected to the electrode  66  and the electrode  72 , respectively. Here, as a method of pulling out the leads  82 ,  84  from the protector  262 , there can be mentioned a method in which, in the method of forming the attachment leg  264  while solidifying the periphery of the above-described leads  82 ,  84  with a synthetic resin material, portions from the end portions in the longitudinal direction to suitable positions toward the center in the longitudinal direction of the leads  82 ,  84  is extended without solidifying with a synthetic resin material or a method in which the protector  262  is cut substantially along the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, while leaving the portions from the end portions in the longitudinal direction to a suitable positions toward the center in the longitudinal direction of the leads  82 ,  84  provided in the attachment leg  264  in a buried state, but other methods may be used. 
     Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 23, a notch portion  236  is formed in a middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the protector  262 . The notch portion  236  is basically the same as the notch portion  236  formed in the attachment leg  218  in the fifth embodiment, and the other end portions in the longitudinal direction of the leads  82 ,  84  are pulled out from this notch portion  236 . However, as shown in FIG. 23, the leads  82 ,  84  are cut at this notch portion  236 , and the other end portions in the longitudinal direction of the leads  82 ,  84  via the notch portion are in the buried state in the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the accommodating portion  266  via the notch portion  236 , and the end portions of the leads  82 ,  84  pulled out from the notch portion  236  are connected to other leads to thereby be indirectly connected to the power supply. 
     As described above, with the automatic sliding door device  260 , the structure is substantially the same as that of the fifth embodiment, except that the embodiment of the accommodating portion is different from the accommodating portion  234  in the fifth embodiment. Therefore, the same operation as that of the fifth embodiment can be performed, and the same effects as that of the fifth embodiment can be obtained. 
     Moreover, with the automatic sliding door device  260 , as described above, when the protector  262  is formed together with the holding portion  214  and the soft portion  216 , the leads  82 ,  84  are disposed at a position where the attachment leg  264  is formed, and the periphery of the leads  82 ,  84  is solidified with a synthetic resin material. Accordingly, the leads  82 ,  84  can be provided in the attachment leg  264  in a buried state (that is, the leads  82 ,  84  can be accommodated in the accommodating portion  266 ). Therefore, if the structure is such that the protector  262  is formed sufficiently longer than the length in the vertical direction of the front end portion of the door panel  14 , and is used by being cut suitably according to the length in the vertical direction of the front end portion of the door panel  14 , even if the length in the vertical direction of the front end portion of the door panel  14  is different for each vehicle type, the protector  262  can be easily made to correspond to them, enabling cost reduction. 
     With the present embodiment, structure is such that the remainder of the leads  82 ,  84  on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the protector  262  via the notch portion  236  after cutting (that is, the leads  82 ,  84  on the other end side in the longitudinal direction via the notch portion  236 ) is provided in the accommodating portion  266  in a buried state. However, the notch portion  236  may be formed in the attachment leg  264  so as not to cut the leads  82 ,  84 , and the leads  82 ,  84  on the other end side in the longitudinal direction via the notch portion  236  may be pulled out from the accommodating portion  266  to be used. In this case, the unillustrated other leads described above are not required, or even if they are used, the length thereof can be made short, enabling further cost reduction. 
     Industrial Applicability 
     As described above, the automatic opening-and-closing device according to the present invention is preferable as an automatic sliding door device for sliding the door panel to open/close a gate for getting on and off a vehicle. However, the automatic opening-and-closing device according to the present invention can be applied to doors of vehicles of a railway or the like, or for example, to an automatic door in a building or a door of an elevator or the like, other than the vehicle door.