Patent Publication Number: US-7708334-B2

Title: Slide door apparatus for vehicle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application 2007-149381, filed on Jun. 5, 2007, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to a slide door apparatus for a vehicle. 
   BACKGROUND 
   One of slide door apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed in JP2003-82927A (hereinafter, referred to as reference 1), for example. The slide door apparatus for the vehicle disclosed in the reference 1 includes a guiding rail, which is provided at a vehicle body, and a slide door, which is movably supported to the guiding rail and with which a door opening formed at a side portion of the vehicle body is opened and closed. The slide door incorporates therein a driving device including an electric motor, a drum, for example. Further, one end of a first cable and one end of a second cable are connected to the driving device. Still further, the first cable is provided from the slide door to the vehicle body via one of intermediate pulleys provided in the slide door and plural guide pulleys of a guide pulley unit, and the second cable is provided from the slide door to the vehicle body via another of the intermediate pulleys and the plural guide pulleys. Then, another end of the first cable is connected to the vehicle body at a front side of the guiding rail and another end of the second cable is connected to the vehicle body at a rear side of the guiding rail. Each of the guide pulleys of the guide pulley unit includes two groove portions, which are arranged in parallel in an axial direction and at which the first and second cables are separately disposed, respectively. Thus, a path of the first cable and a path of the second cable do not overlap each other. 
   So configured, the slide door is moved in a backward direction, i.e., in a direction where the door opening is opened, by unwinding the first cable and winding the second cable, for example, by means of the driving device. Further, on the contrary, the slide door is moved in a forward direction, i.e., in a direction where the door opening is closed, by winding the first cable and unwinding the second cable by the driving device. 
   The guide pulley unit includes a first housing member and a second housing member for accommodating the plural guide pulleys. The plural guide pulleys are supported by pins, respectively, and one end of each pin is secured to the first housing member and another end of each of pin is secured to the second housing member. 
   In such a state, when assembling the first and second cables to the guide pulley unit, the plurality of guide pulleys are disposed at corresponding predetermined positions on the first housing member, for example. Then, the second cable is disposed in one of the groove portions of each guide pulley, which is adjacent to the first housing member, so as to correspond to the path of the second cable. 
   Next, the first cable is disposed in the other one of the groove portions of each guide pulley, which is away from the first housing member (i.e., which is adjacent to the second housing member), so as to correspond to the path of the first cable. Then, the first housing member is covered with the second housing member. The first and second housing members are secured by means of the pins, which are inserted through the corresponding guide pulleys and of which ends are secured to the first and second housing members. Thus, the guide pulleys, at which the first and second cables are disposed, are accommodated in a space defined by the first and second housing members so as to be rotatable about the corresponding pins. 
   When assembling the first and second cables, the second cable may be disposed in the grove portion where the first cable is to be disposed, and/or the first cable may be disposed in the groove portion where the second cable is to be disposed. Thus, a process for assembling the first and second cables may not be properly executed. Further, a process for preventing such assembling mistake of the first and second cables may be complicated. 
   A need thus exists for a slide door apparatus for a vehicle which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to an aspect of the present invention, a slide door apparatus for a vehicle includes a driving device, a guide pulley unit and a cable. The driving device is adapted to be mounted to a slide door supported by a vehicle body for opening and closing an opening formed at the vehicle body. The guide pulley unit is adapted to be mounted to the slide door. The guide pulley unit includes a plurality of guide pulleys each having a first guide groove and a second guide groove, which are arranged axially in parallel to each other. The guide pulley unit further includes a first housing member, a second housing member and a separating member. The first and second housing members are employed for housing the plurality of guide pulleys to be rotatable therein. The separating member is provided between the first and second housing members for separating the first and second guide grooves of each of the plurality of guide pulleys. The cable is connected to the driving device to be wound to and unwound from the driving device. The cable includes a first portion disposed into the first groove of each of the plurality of guide pulleys and one end of the first portion adapted to be connected to the vehicle body at a first side in a moving direction of the slide door. The cable further includes a second portion disposed into the second groove of each of the plurality of guide pulleys and one end of the second portion adapted to be connected to the vehicle body at a second side in the moving direction of the slide door. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a planar view illustrating a guide pulley unit of a supporting member, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view illustrating the guide pulley unit taken along line II-II in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the guide pulley unit; 
       FIG. 4A  is an explanatory view illustrating a process for structuring the guide pulley unit; 
       FIG. 4B  is a perspective view illustrating an assembled manner of the guide pulley unit; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating a slide door apparatus for a vehicle according to the embodiment; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view illustrating the slide door apparatus for the vehicle; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the slide apparatus for the vehicle; and 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating the slide apparatus for the vehicle. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings.  FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating a slide door apparatus for a vehicle according to the embodiment. As illustrated therein, an upper rail  11  and a lower rail  12  are provided at a vehicle body  10 . More specifically, the upper rail  11  is provided along an upper edge portion of a door opening  10   a  formed at a side portion of the vehicle body  10 . The lower rail  12  is provided along a lower edge portion of the door opening  10   a  of the vehicle body  10 . Further, a center rail  13  is provided at a quarter panel  10   b  disposed at a rear side of the door opening  10   a . The center rail  13 , which serves as a guiding rail, extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Guide roller units  14 ,  14 ,  14 , each of which serves as a supporting member, are mounted to the upper rail  11 , the lower rail  12 , the center rail  13 , respectively. Then, the slide door  20  is supported by the upper rail  11 , the lower rail  12  and the center rail  13  via the guide roller units  14 ,  14 ,  14  so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The door opening  10   a  is opened and closed by the slide door  20  in accordance with a longitudinal movement of the slide door  20 . Further, a cable guide  15 , which extends along an entire length of a lower edge portion of the center rail  13 , is provided at the vehicle body  10 . 
   A driving device  21  is accommodated inside the slide door  20  and is disposed at a lower portion thereof. The driving device  21  includes an electric motor  21   a  and a drum  21   b . Further, one end of a first cable  22  (serving as a first portion of a cable) and one end of a second cable  23  (serving as a second portion of the cable) are connected to the driving device  21  (the drum  21   b ). By a movement of the driving device  21 , one of the first and second cables  22  and  23  is wound to the driving device  21  and the other one of the first and second cables  22  and  23  is unwound (reeled off) from the driving device  21 . 
   The first and second cables  22  and  23  are disposed from the slide door  20  to the vehicle body  10  via an intermediate pulley  24  and a guide pulley unit  25 . Further, the first cable  22  is connected to the vehicle body  10  along the cable guide  15  in a front direction of the vehicle, and the second cable  23  is connected to the vehicle body  10  along the cable guide  15  in a rear direction of the vehicle. Additionally, the intermediate pulley  24  and the guide pulley unit  25  are longitudinally disposed, i.e., the intermediate pulley  24  is disposed at a front side and the guide pulley unit  25  is disposed at a rear side, at the vicinity of a door belt line. The guide pulley unit  25  is assembled on the guide roller unit  14  which is provided at the center rail  13 . The first cable  22  is guided by the cable guide  15  to be disposed at a front side relative to the second cable  23 , and another end  26  (serving as one end of the first portion) of the first cable  22  is connected to the vehicle body  10  at a front end portion of the cable guide  15  (i.e., at a first side in a moving direction of the slide door  20 ). The second cable  23  is guided by the cable guide  25  to be disposed at a rear side relative to the first cable  22 , and another end  27  (serving as one end of the second portion) of the second cable  23  is connected to the vehicle body  10  at a rear end portion of the cable guide  15  (i.e., at a second side in the moving direction of the slide door  20 ). 
   So configured, for example, when the first cable  22  is reeled off from the driving device  21  (the drum  21   b ) and the second cable  23  is wound to the driving device  21  (the drum  21   b ) by means of the movement of the driving device  21  (the motor  21   a ), the slide door  20  is moved backwardly, i.e., in a direction where the door opening  10   a  is opened. On the other hand, when the first cable  22  is wound to the driving device  21  and the second cable  23  is reeled off by the movement of the driving device  21 , the slide door  20  is moved forwardly, i.e., in a direction where the door opening  10   a  is closed. 
   A front end portion of each of the upper rail  11 , the lower rail  12  and the center rail  13  is gradually bent towards a vehicle compartment. Therefore, an outer surface of the slide door  20  is guided to make a substantially planar surface with a side surface of the vehicle body  10  when the slide door  20 , which is supported via the guide roller units  14  of the upper rail  11 , the lower rail  12  and the center rail  13 , is moved to a position where the door opening  10   a  is fully closed (hereinafter, referred to as a fully-closed position). Further, the slide door  20  is guided further outwardly than the side surface of the vehicle body  10  when the slide door  20  is moved to a position for opening the door opening  10   a  from the fully closed position so that the slide door  20  is allowed to move at the rear side of the door opening  10   a  without interfering with the side surface of the vehicle body  10 . The guide roller units  14  of the upper rail  11 , the lower rail  12  and the center rail  13  are pivotably movably connected to the slide door  20  so that the slide door  20  is guided to move by the bent portions of the upper rail  11 , the lower rail  12  and the center rail  13 . 
   Next, the center rail  13  and the guide roller unit  14  of the center rail  13 , which relates to the guide pulley unit  25 , will be described in detail hereinafter. Herein, a description of the guide roller units  14 ,  14  of the upper rail  11  and the lower rail  12  will be omitted. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a recessed portion  10   c  is formed at the quarter panel  10   b . The recessed portion  10   c , which is recessed towards an inside of the vehicle, extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (i.e., in a direction perpendicularly going into  FIG. 6 ). The center rail  13  is disposed in the recessed portion  10   c  of the quarter panel  10   b . The center rail  13 , which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, is formed in a U shape in cross section. Further, a first roller guide  13   a  is formed at a lower wall portion of the center rail  13 , which extends towards the outer side of the vehicle. Still further, a second roller guide  13   b  is formed by downwardly bending an end portion of an upper wall portion of the center rail  13 , which also extends towards the outer side of the vehicle. 
   A bracket  20   a  is securely attached to the slide door  20 . The bracket  20  protrudes in an elongated form towards the inside of the vehicle from an inner side surface of the slide door  20 . The guide roller unit  14  of the center rail  13  is pivotably movably connected to the bracket  20   a  about a pin  30  inserted through upper and lower wall portions of the bracket  20   a  which face each other. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the guide roller unit  14  includes a base plate  31 , a road roller  32  and vertical rollers  33  and  34 . The base plate  31  includes a plate body  31   a , a standing wall potion  31   b  and a flange  31   c . The plate body  31   a  extends towards the inner side of the vehicle (towards the center rail  13 ). A lower end portion of the pin  30 , which is inserted through the bracket  20   a , is supported by the plate body  31   a . The standing wall portion  31   b  is formed to stand from a front end of the plate body  31   a  at the vicinity of the pin  30 . The flange  31   c  is formed by bending an upper end of the standing wall portion  31   b  so as to be in parallel with the plate body  31   a . An upper end portion of the pin  30  is supported by the flange  31   c.    
   Further, the base plate  31  includes a recessed portion  31   d , which is formed in a V shape in cross section so as to be downwardly recessed at an intermediate portion of the plate body  31   a . Still further, as best shown in  FIG. 7 , a first supporting portion  31   e  is formed by upwardly bending a longitudinally intermediate portion of an end portion of the recessed portion  31   d  which is adjacent to the center rail  13 . Still further, a pair of second supporting portions  31   f  are formed by bending longitudinally front and rear side portions of the end portion of the recessed portion  31   d  being adjacent to the center rail  13 , respectively, towards the inside of the vehicle. As illustrated therein, the first supporting potion  31   e  is interposed between the pair of second supporting portions  31   f . The second supporting portions  31   f  extend to an inside of the center rail  13 . The road roller  32  is supported by the first supporting portion  31   e  so as to be rotatable about a rotational shaft extending in a direction towards the center rail  13 . Further, the vertical rollers  33  and  34  are supported by the pair of second supporting portions  31   f , respectively, so as to be rotatable about corresponding rotational shafts extending in a vertical direction of the vehicle. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the road roller  32  of the guide roller unit  14  is supported to the first roller guide  13   a  of the center rail  13  in a state where the vertical rollers  33  and  34  are rotatably movably mounted to the second roller guide  13   b . Thus, the vertical rollers  33  and  34  of the guide roller unit  14  is rotatably moved along the second guide roller  13   b  of the center rail  13  and the road roller  32  is rotatably moved along the first roller guide  13   a , thus moving the guide roller unit  14  in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Then, the slide door  20  is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in accordance with the longitudinal movement of the guide roller unit  14 , thereby opening and closing the door opening  10   a  of the vehicle body  10 . An opened side (an outer side) of the recessed portion  10   c  of the quarter panel  10   b , which is provided with the center rail  13 , is covered with a rail cover  35  which is made of metal material and/or resin material. 
   Further, the guide pulley unit  25  is connected to the base plate  31  at a lower side of the plate body  31   a  by means of a connecting member such as a bolt. Still further, an elongated opening  31   g  (see  FIG. 7 ) is formed at the base plate  31  for preventing interference between the base plate  31  and the guide pulley unit  25  at the recessed portion  31   d.    
   Next, the guide pulley unit  25  will be described in detail hereinafter.  FIG. 1  is a planar view illustrating the guide pulley unit  25 .  FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view taken along line II-II in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the guide pulley unit  25 . As illustrated therein, the guide pulley unit  25  includes a housing  41 , a plate  42 , plural guide pulleys  43  and  44  (two guide pulleys in the embodiment) and a separating plate  45 . The housing  41  serves as a first housing member. The plate  42  serves as a second housing member. The separating plate  45  (see  FIG. 2 ) serves as a separating member. The guide pulleys  43  and  44  are disposed in a manner where a rotational axis of the guide pulley  43  and a rotational axis of the guide pulley  44  are arranged in parallel with each other. Further, an axial central point of the rotational axis of the guide pulley  43  and an axial central point of the rotational axis of the guide pulley  44  are arranged on the same plane. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the housing  41  includes a cover wall portion  41   a  and a pair of sidewall portions  41   b . The cover wall portion  41   a  extends along the plate body  31   a  of the base plate  31  and formed approximately in an oval shape. The sidewall portions  41   b  extend from longitudinally intermediate portions of the cover wall portion  41   a  along lateral peripheral end portions thereof, respectively. An opening  41   c  is formed between the sidewall portions  41   b  at one longitudinal side portion of the cover wall portion  41   a  (longitudinally left side portion in  FIGS. 2 to 4 ), and an engagement recess  41   d  is formed at an intermediate portion of the opening  41   c . Further, engagement recesses  41   e  are formed at the sidewall portions  41   b , respectively. 
   With reference to  FIG. 3 , the plate  42  includes a bottom wall portion  42   a , an engagement portion  42   b  and a pair of engagement nails  42   c . An outer shape of the bottom wall portion  42   a  is substantially the same with an outer shape of the cover wall portion  41   a  and extends along the cover wall portion  41   a . The engagement portion  42   b  extends from one longitudinal side portion of the bottom wall portion  42   a  (longitudinally left side portion in  FIGS. 2 to 4 ) towards the cover wall portion  41   a  (i.e., towards the housing  41 ) so as to be engaged to the engagement recess  41   d  of the housing  41 . The engagement nails  42   c  are engaged to the engagement recesses  41   e  of the housing  41 , respectively. Further, the plate  42   d  includes a pair of engagement portions  42   d  and a pair of engagement portions  42   e . Each of the engagement portions  42   d  (only one is illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) extends from the longitudinally left side portion of the bottom wall portion  42   a  towards the cover wall portion  41   a  so as to be fitted (engaged) to an end portion of the corresponding sidewall portion  41   b  of the housing  41 . Each of the engagement portions  42   e  (only one is illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) extends from another longitudinal side portion of the bottom wall portion  42   a  (longitudinally right side portion in  FIGS. 2 to 4 ) towards the cover wall portion  41   a  of the housing  41  so as to be fitted (engaged) to the end portion of the corresponding sidewall portion  41   b.    
   As described above, the engagement portions  42   d  and the engagement portions  42   e  are engaged to the corresponding sidewall portions  41   b  of the housing  41 , and the bottom wall portion  42   a  of the plate  42  is assembled to the sidewall portion  41   b . Further, the engagement portion  42   b  is engaged to the engagement recess  41   d , and the engagement nails  42   c  are respectively engaged to the engagement recesses  41   e . Thus, the plate  42  is connectedly assembled on the housing  41 . Further, an accommodating space S (see  FIG. 2 ) is defined by the housing  41  and the plate  42 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the guide pulley  43  is provided at a first longitudinal space (right space in  FIGS. 1 to 4 ) in the accommodating space S. The first longitudinal space is defined by a longitudinally right side portion of the cover wall portion  41   a  and the longitudinally right side portion of the bottom wall portion  42   a  and is located adjacent to the bracket  20   a , i.e., to the slide door  20  (see  FIG. 6 ). The guide pulley  43  is supported to the housing  41  and the plate  42  so as to be rotatable about a pin  46  which is inserted through and connected to the cover wall portion  41   a  and the bottom wall portion  42   a . The guide pulley  43  includes a pulley member  47  and a pulley member  48 , which are coaxially provided and allowed to rotate independently from each other. The pulley member  47  (serving as a second pulley) is disposed adjacently to the cover wall portion  41   a  of the housing  41  and is provided with a groove portion  47   a  (serving as a second groove portion). The second cable  23 , which extends from the slide door  20  (from the intermediate pulley  24 ), is disposed in the groove portion  47   a  of the pulley member  47 . The pulley member  48  (serving as a first pulley) is disposed adjacently to the bottom wall portion  42   a  of the plate  42  and is provided with a groove portion  48   a  (serving as a first groove portion). The first cable  22 , which extends from the slide door  20 , is disposed in the groove portion  48   a  of the second pulley member  48 . In other words, the guide pulley  43  structured with the pulley members  47  and  48  includes a pair of groove portions  47   a  and  48   a , which are arranged in parallel in an axial direction of the guide pulley  43  and to which the second and first cables  23  and  22  are respectively disposed. 
   The guide pulley  44  is provided at a second longitudinal space (left space in  FIGS. 1 to 4 ) in the accommodating space S. The second longitudinal space is defined by the longitudinally left side portions of the cover wall portion  41   a  and the bottom wall portion  42   a  and is located adjacent to the center rail  13 , i.e., to the vehicle body  10  (see  FIG. 6 ). The guide pulley  44  is supported to the housing  41  and the plate  42  so as to be rotatable about a pin  49  which is inserted through and connected to the cover wall portion  41   a  and the bottom wall portion  42   a . The guide pulley  44  is provided with groove portions  44   a  and  44   b , which are arranged in parallel in an axial direction of the guide pulley  44 . The second cable  23 , which extends to the vehicle body  10  (to the cable guide  15 ), is disposed in the groove portion  44   a , which is located adjacent to the cover wall portion  41   a  of the housing  41 . The first cable  22 , which extends to the vehicle body  10 , is disposed in the groove portion  44   b , which is located adjacent to the bottom wall portion  42   a  of the plate  42 . The groove portion  44   b  of the guide pulley  44  serves as a first groove portion and the groove portion  44   a  serves as a second groove portion. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the cable guide  15  is arranged to downwardly extend from an end portion of the first roller guide  13   a  of the center rail  13  so as to face a radially outer side portion of the guide pulley  44 , i.e., a radially outer side portion being adjacent to the vehicle body  10 . 
   Back to  FIG. 1 , the first cable  22  is disposed at a rear side portion of the guide pulley  43  (the pulley member  48 ) and a rear side portion of the guide pulley  44  and is turned forwardly via the guide pulley unit  25 . On the other hand, the second cable  23  is disposed at the rear side portion of the guide pulley  43  (the pulley member  47 ) and a front side portion of the guide pulley  44  and is returned backwardly via the guide pulley unit  25 . Accordingly, the first and second cables  22  and  23  are guided by the corresponding pulley members  48  and  47 , each of which rotate in a direction being opposite to each other, and are guided by the rotation of the guide pulley  44 . Thus, one of the first and second cables  22  and  23  is wound to the driving device  21  and the other one of the first and second cables  22  and  23  is reeled off (unwound) from the driving device  21 . The first and second cables  22  and  23  exhibit a shape of a “6” at the guide pulley unit  25  when seen in a planar view. Therefore, the first and second cables  22  and  23  are guided by the guide pulleys  43  and  44  in accordance with a rotational movement (pivotal movement) of the guide roller unit  14  about the pin  30  relative to the slide door  20 . 
   Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a pulley protection plate  50  is provided between the cover wall portion  41   a  of the housing  41  and a surface of the guide pulley  44  facing the cover wall portion  41   a . The pulley protection plate  50  expands in a planar shape along the cover wall portion  41   a . A nail portion  50   a  is formed by bending an end portion of the pulley protection plate  50 , which is adjacent to the guide pulley  43 , in an L shape so as to adjacently face the groove portion  48   a  of the second pulley member  48 . The pulley protection plate  50  scratches off foreign objects, such as ice, attached to the groove portion  48   a  of the second pulley member  48  by means of the nail portion  50   a.    
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the separating plate  45  is accommodated in the accommodating space S. Further, the separating plate  45  includes a body portion  45   a  and an arc portion  45   b . The body portion  45   a  includes an outer shape which is substantially the same as the outer shape of the cover wall portion  41   a  while not having a surface facing an axial end surface (circular surface) of each of the guide pulleys  43  and  44 . Further, the body portion  45   a  expands in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the guide pulleys  43  and  44 . The arc portion  45   b  extends from the body portion  45   a . Therefore,  45   a  and  45   b  surround an entire circumference of the guide pulley  44 . The separating plate  45  further includes leg portions  45   c ,  45   d  and  45   e . The leg portion  45   c  is formed by bending an end portion of the body portion  45   a , which is adjacent to the guide pulley  43 , towards the cover wall portion  41   a  so as to contact with the pulley protection plate  50  mounted on the cover wall portion  41   a . The leg portion  45   d  is formed by bending the end portion of the body portion  45   a , which is adjacent to the guide pulley  43 , towards the bottom wall portion  42   a  of the plate  42  so as to contact with the bottom wall portion  42   a . The leg portion  45   e  is formed by bending an end portion of the body portion  45   a , which is adjacent to the guide pulley  44 , towards the bottom wall portion  42   a  of the plate  42  so as to contact the bottom wall portion  42   a . The separating plate  45  is supported by the leg portions  45   c ,  45   d  and  45   e  in the accommodating space S, thereby retaining the body portion  45   a  and the arc portion  45   b  at an axial position between the groove portions  47   a  and  48   a  of the guide pulley  43  and between the groove portions  44   a  and  44   b  of the guide pulley  44 . Thus, the separating plate  45  separates the groove portions  47   a  and  48   a  of the guide pulley  43 , which are arranged axially in parallel, and further separates the groove portions  44   a  and  44   b  of the guide pulley  44 , which are arranged axially in parallel, by means of the body portion  45   a  and the arc portion  45   b . Thus, the separating plate  45  prevents the first cable  22  and the second cable  23  from crossing each other, or interfering with each other. 
   The separating plate  45  still further includes a pair of engagement portions  45   f  and a pair of engagement portions  45   g . The engagement portions  45   f  (only one is illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) extend from the end portion of the body portion  45   a , which is adjacent to the guide pulley  43 , towards the cover wall portion  41   a  so that one of the engagement portions  45   f  is fitted to one of the sidewall portions  41   b  and the other one of the engagement portions  45   f  is fitted to the other one of the sidewall portions  41   b . The engagement portions  45   g  extend from the end portion of the body portion  45   a , which is adjacent to the guide pulley  44 , towards the cover wall portion  41   a  so that one of the engagement portions  45   g  is fitted to the end portion of one of the sidewall portions  41   b  and the other one of the engagement portions  45   g  is fitted to the end portion of the other one of the sidewall portions  41   b . Thus, the engagement portions  45   f  and  45   g  of the separating plate  45  are fitted to the corresponding sidewall portions  41   b , and the leg portion  45   c  of the separating plate  45  is arranged to contact the pulley protection plate  50 , thereby connecting the separating plate  45  to the housing  41 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the separating plate  45  assembled on the housing  41  structures an opening  51  from which the second cable  23  exits out of the guide pulley unit  25 , an opening  52  from which the first cable  22  exits out of the guide pulley unit  25 , and an opening  53  from which both of the first and second cables  22  and  23  are inserted into the guide pulley unit  25 . More specifically, the opening  51  is formed between the engagement portion  42   b  of the plate  42  and one of the engagement portions  45   g  of the separating plate  45 . The opening  52  is formed above the other one of the engagement portions  45   g  of the separating plate  45 , which faces the base wall portion  42   a  of the plate  42 . The opening  53  is formed between the pair of engagement portions  45   f  which are fitted to the corresponding engagement portions  42   e  fitted to the sidewall portions  41   b  of the housing  41 . The opening  53  is widely opened in a circumferential direction of the guide pulley  43 . Therefore, the first and second cables  22  and  23  are allowed to move in accordance with a pivotal movement of the guide pulley unit  25  (the pivotal movement of the guide roller unit  14 ) about the pin  30 . 
   The first cable  22 , which is disposed at the guide pulleys  43  and  44 , is lead into the guide pulley unit  25  from the slide door  20  through the opening  53  and is lead out of the guide pulley unit  25  towards the vehicle body  10  through the opening  52 . Further, on the contrary, the first cable  22  is lead into the guide pulley unit  25  from the vehicle body  10  through the opening  52  and is lead out towards the slide door  20  through the opening  53 . The second cable  23 , which is disposed at the guide pulleys  43  and  44 , is lead into the guide pulley unit  25  from the vehicle body  10  through the opening  51  and is lead out towards the slide door  20  through the opening  53 . Further, on the contrary, the second cable  23  is lead into the guide pulley unit  25  from the slide door  20  through the opening  53  and is lead out of the guide pulley unit  25  towards the vehicle body  10  through the opening  51 . 
   Thus, the first and second cables  22  and  23  are lead into and out of the guide pulley unit  25  through the openings  52  and  51  and then guided by the cable guide  15 . Further, the first and second cables  22  and  23  are lead into and out of the guide pulley unit  25  through the opening  53  and then guided by an elongated casing  54  (see  FIG. 7 ), which is attached to an inner side surface of the slide door  20 . 
   Herein, an assembling manner of the first and second cables  22  and  23  on the guide pulley unit  25  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when assembling the first and second cables  22  and  23  to the guide pulleys  43  and  44  of the guide pulley unit  25 , the guide pulleys  43  and  44  are firstly disposed at predetermined rotational positions, respectively, on the cover wall portion  41   a  of the housing  41 . Then, the second cable  23  is disposed into the groove portion  47   a  of the guide pulley  43  and the groove portion  44   a  of the guide pulley  44  (i.e., the groove portions which are adjacent to the housing  41 ) so as to be disposed (fitted) in a path of each groove portions  44   a  and  47   a . When the separating plate  45  is assembled on the guide pulley unit  25  under a state where the guide pulleys  43 ,  44  and the second cable  23  is assembled on the housing  41 , the groove portion  47   a  of the guide pulley  43  and the groove portion  44   a  of the guide pulley  44 , in which the second cable  23  is disposed (fitted), are separated from the guide grooves  48   a  and  44   b  of the guide pulleys  43  and  44  (see  FIGS. 2 and 4A ). Accordingly, the second cable  23  is prevented from being dislocated out of the groove portions  47   a  and  44   a  of the guide pulleys  43  and  44  by means of the separating plate  45 . Further, even when the second cable  23  is dislocated without being fitted into the groove portions  47   a  and  44   a  of the guide pulleys  43  and  44 , the second cable  23  is prevented from being fitted into the groove portions  48   a  and  44   b  of the guide pulleys  43  and  44  by means of the separating plate  45 . Then, in a state described above, the first cable  22  is disposed (fitted) into the groove portion  48   a  of the guide pulley  43  and the groove portion  44   b  of the guide pulley  44  (i.e., the groove portions which are away from the housing  41 ) so as to be fitted in a path of each of the groove portions  48   a  and  44   b . Herein, because the groove portions  47   a  and  44   a  of the guide pulleys  43  and  44  are separated from the groove portions  48   a  and  44   b  of the guide pulleys  43  and  44  by means of the separating plate  45 , the first cable  22  is prevented from being fitted into the groove portions  47   a  and  44   a  by being dislocated out of the groove portions  48   a  and  44   b . Then, the plate  42  is assembled on the housing  41  so as to cover the housing  41  (see  FIG. 4B ). Next, the guide pulleys  43  and  44  are securely connected to the housing  41  and the plate  42  by means of the corresponding pins  46  and  49 , respectively, which are inserted through the housing  41 , the guide pulleys  43 ,  44 , and the plate  42 . Thus, the guide pulleys  43  and  44 , at which the first and second cables  22  and  23  are disposed, are accommodated in the accommodating space S in a manner where the guide pulleys  43  and  44  are rotatable about the pins  46  and  49 , respectively, and an assembling process of the first and second cables  22  and  23  of the guide pulley unit  25  is completed. As described above, because the groove portions  47   a  and  44   a  of the corresponding guide pulleys  43  and  44  are separated from the groove portions  48   a  and  44   b  by means of the separating plate  45 , the first and second cables  22  and  23  are readily and accurately assembled to the guide pulley unit  25 . 
   As described above in detail, following effects may be obtained according to the embodiment. Firstly, because the groove portions  47   a  and  48   a  of the guide pulley  43  are separated from one another and further the groove portions  44   a  and  44   b  of the guide pulley  44  are separated from one another by means of the separating plate  45 , the first and second cables  22  and  23  are readily and accurately assembled to the guide pulleys  43  and  44  of the guide pulley unit  25 . 
   Secondly, according to the embodiment, the groove portions  47   a ,  48   a  of the guide pulley  43  and the groove portions  44   a ,  44   b  of the guide pulley  44  are appropriately separated by the body portion  45   a  of the separating plate  45  including a simple structure, in which the body portion  45   a  is supported by the plural leg portions  45   c ,  45   d  and  45   e  at an axial position between the groove portions  47   a ,  48   a  of the guide pulley  43  (i.e., an axially intermediate position between the groove portions  47   a  and  48   a ) and at an axial position between the groove portions  44   a ,  44   b  of the guide pulley  44  (i.e., an axially intermediate position between the groove portions  44   a  and  44   b ). 
   Thirdly, according to the embodiment, because an entire circumference of the guide pulley  44  is surrounded by the arc portion  45   b  and the body portion  45   a  of the separating plate  45  at the axial position between the groove portions  44   a  and  44   b , the first cable  22  is restrained from being disposed into the other groove portion (the groove portion  44   a ), to which the first cable  22  is not to be fitted, along the entire circumference of the guide pulley  44 . In the same manner, the second cable  23  is restrained from being disposed into the other groove portion (the groove portion  44   b ), to which the second cable  23  is not to be fitted, along the entire circumference of the guide pulley  44 . 
   Fourthly, according to the embodiment, the guide pulley  43  includes the pulley member  47  including the groove portion  47   a  and the pulley member  48  including the groove portion  48   a , the pulley members  47  and  48  which are arranged axially in parallel so as to rotate independently from each other. Therefore, a moving direction of the first cable  22  disposed at the pulley member  48  (first pulley member) and a moving direction of the second cable  23  disposed at the pulley member  47  (second pulley member) are defined independently, so that a dispositional manner of the first and second cables  22  and  23  at the guide pulleys  43  and  44  can be modified flexibly, i.e., the first and second cables  22  and  23  may be guided to exhibit a shape of an “8” (as will be described later), or a shape of a “6”, for example. 
   Additionally, the above described embodiments will be modified as described hereinafter. According to the modified embodiment, the first and second cables  22  and  23  may be guided to exhibit a shape of an “8” at the guide pulley unit  25  when seen in a planar view. At this time, a center of the pivotal movement of the guide roller unit  14  (i.e., the pin  30 ) relative to the slide door  20  may be arranged coaxially with the rotational center (the pin  46 ) of the guide pulley  43 . Then, the pulley members  47  and  48  of the guide pulley  43  may be integrally formed. 
   Further according to the modified embodiment, the separating plate  45  may be provided with an arc portion, which surrounds an entire circumference of the guide pulley  43  together with the body portion  45   a , at the axial position between the groove portions  47   a  and  48   a  of the guide pulley  43 . 
   Further, the leg portion  45   c  of the separating plate  45  may be arranged to directly contact the cover wall portion  41   a . Still further, the guide pulley  44  may be structured with a first pulley member and a second pulley member, which are arranged axially in parallel to each other and are allowed to rotate independently from each other. 
   Still further, more than three guide pulleys may be provided at the guide pulley unit  25 . Still further, though two cables (the first and second cables  22  and  23 ) are employed according to the embodiment described above, only one cable may be employed. In such a condition, the first position of the cable corresponds to the first cable and the end of the first portion corresponds to the end  26  of the first cable  22 . Further, the second portion of the cable corresponds to the second cable and the end of the second portion corresponds to the end  27  of the second cable  23 . 
   The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention which is intended to be protected is not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be embraced thereby.