Abstract:
A vehicle sunroof device includes a movable panel, guide rails, rear slide members, an electrical drive source, and check mechanisms. When the rear slide members are moved toward the front of the vehicle along the guide rails when the movable panel is in a totally closed state, the movable panel is changed to a tilt-up state. Check release mechanisms provided to the rear slide members are changed to an engaged state when the rear slide members are further moved toward the front of the vehicle with the movable panel in the tilt-up state and without involving operation of the movable panel. In the engaged state, when the rear slide members are moved toward the rear of the vehicle afterward, the check release mechanisms move the entire check mechanisms while switching the check mechanisms to a movable state.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/255,442, which is a national stage of PCT/JP2010/055785, filed Mar. 31, 2010, which claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2009-108019, filed on Apr. 27, 2009. The contents of each of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle sunroof device. 
     In the prior art, a so-called outer slide sunroof device, such as that described in patent document 1, is known as a vehicle sunroof device. In this device, when shoes arranged at the front and rear of the vehicle are moved toward the rear in a fully closed state, the distal end of a lifting link, which is pivotally linked to a guide rail, is lifted. This shifts a movable panel to a tilt-up state. In the tilt-up state, when the shoes are moved further toward the rear, the movable panel moves rearward. This shifts the movable panel to a fully open state in the tilt-up state. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Patent Document 1) Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-153803 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems that are to be Solved by the Invention 
     In the vehicle sunroof device of patent document 1, the movement amount (operational stroke) of the shoes required for the movable panel to shift from the fully open state to the fully closed state is the movement amount from a position corresponding to the fully closed state to a position corresponding to the fully open state via a position corresponding to the tilt-up state. Thus, an increase in the movement of the shoes from when the movable panel shifts from the fully closed state to the tilt-up state (hereinafter referred to as the “tilt operational stroke”) decreases the movement amount of the shoes, that is, the open amount of the movable panel, when the movable panel shifts from the tilt-up state to the fully closed state. 
     The tilt operational stroke corresponds to a range in which the movable panel is lifted and lowered in a high load state. Thus, a longer tilt operational stroke is preferable. If the tilt operational stroke decreases, the load per unit operational stroke increases. This enlarges the electric drive source (motor or the like) that drives the shoes. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle sunroof device that increases the open amount of the movable panel without enlarging the electric drive source. 
     To achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle sunroof device including a movable panel, a guide rail, a rear slide member, an electric drove source, and a check mechanism. The movable panel opens and closes an opening formed in a roof of a vehicle. The guide rail is arranged on two edges of the opening in a widthwise direction of the vehicle, wherein the guide rail extends in front and rear directions of the vehicle. The rear slide member is linked to two edges at a rear portion of the movable panel in the widthwise direction and arranged to be movable along the guide rail in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. The electric drive source moves the rear slide member. The check mechanism is hooked to two edges at a front portion of the movable panel in a swingable manner. The check mechanism is selectively switched between an immovable state, in which the check mechanism is held at a predetermined position frontward from the rear slide member in the front and rear directions of the vehicle, and a movable state, in which the check mechanism is allowed to move toward the rear of the vehicle from the predetermined position. When the movable panel is in a fully closed state, the rear slide member moves along the guide rail toward the front of the vehicle to lift the movable panel at its rear side about the front portion hooked to the check mechanism in the immovable state and thereby shift the movable panel to a tilt-up state. The sunroof device includes a check cancellation mechanism arranged on the rear slide member. The check cancellation mechanism, in the tilt-up state, is switched to an engaged state as the slide member further moves toward the front of the vehicle without moving the movable panel, and the check cancellation mechanism, in the engaged state, integrally moves the check mechanism as subsequent movement of the rear slide member toward the rear of the vehicle switches the check mechanism to the movable state. The rear slide member further moves toward the front of the vehicle without moving the movable panel in the engaged state, the check cancellation mechanism is switched to a disengaged state and released from the check mechanism. 
     In this structure, in the engaged state of the check cancellation mechanism, when the rear slide member moves toward the rear of the vehicle, the check mechanism is switched to the movable state and moved integrally with the check cancellation mechanism toward the rear of the vehicle. Accordingly, the movable panel, which is hooked to the check mechanism, opens in the tilt-up state. In this case, the maximum movement amount of the rear slide member or the like that determines the fully open state of the movable panel is not restricted by the movement amount of the rear slide member in the reverse direction when the movable panel is shifted to the tilt-up state. It is only required that the movement amount be ensured so that it does not move the movable panel, which allows switching of the check cancellation mechanism to the engaged state or the disengaged state. Thus, the maximum movement amount of the rear slide member or the like that determines the fully open state of the movable panel, that is, the open amount of the movable panel, can be increased accordingly. 
     When the check cancellation mechanism is in the engaged state, further movement of the rear slide member toward the front of the vehicle switches the check cancellation mechanism to the disengaged state. Accordingly, in this state, when the rear slide member moves toward the rear of the vehicle, after the period in which the movable panel does not move, the rear side of the movable panel linked to the rear slide member is lowered about the front side of the movable panel hooked to the check mechanism in the immovable state and the movable panel is shifted to the fully closed state (recovered). 
     Further, when the movable panel is shifted from the fully closed state to the tilt-up state (or vice-versa), a sufficient movement amount is ensured for the rear slide member. This decreases the load per unit movement amount on the rear slide member and consequently avoids enlargement of the electric drive source. 
     In the present invention, the hooking of the check mechanism to the two edges at the front portion of the movable panel in a swingable manner includes, in addition to hooking that allows pivoting of the movable panel about the hooking position, hooking that allows pivoting of the movable panel about an axis or hypothetical center set in another member. 
     Preferably, the check cancellation mechanism includes a projection. The sunroof device further includes a first channel, a second channel, and an urging member. The first channel allows entrance of the guide projection in the immovable state of the check mechanism when the check cancellation mechanism switches to the engaged state as the rear slide member moves toward the front of the vehicle. The second channel is in communication with a front end of the first channel and switches the check cancellation mechanism to the disengaged state when the guide projection enters. The urging member urges and moves the guide projection from the first channel to the second channel in a communication portion of the first channel and the second channel. 
     Preferably, the check mechanism includes the first channel, the second channel, and the urging member. 
     In this structure, the switching of the check cancellation mechanism from the engaged state to the disengaged state may be performed with an extremely simple function that causes the guide projection to move into (enter) the second channel from the first channel. Further, by aiding the movement of the guide projection from the first channel to the second channel with the plate spring, the switching of the check cancellation mechanism from the engaged state to the disengaged sate is further ensured. 
     Preferably, the check mechanism includes an engagement groove. The check cancellation mechanism includes an engagement projection. The engagement projection passes the engagement groove of the check mechanism in the immovable state as the rear slide member moves toward the front of the vehicle. The engagement projection is fitted to the engagement groove by subsequent movement of the rear slide member toward the rear of the vehicle and presses the engagement groove to integrally move the check mechanism. 
     In this structure, when the check mechanism is in the immovable state, the rear slide member moves toward the front of the vehicle and the engagement projection passes by the engagement groove. Then, movement of the rear slide member toward the rear of the vehicle results in the engagement projection being fitted to the engagement groove and pushing the engagement groove. This integrally moves the check cancellation mechanism toward the rear of the vehicle. In this manner, when the check mechanism moves integrally with the check cancellation mechanism toward the rear of the vehicle, the engagement projection fitted to the engagement groove integrally moves the check mechanism and the check cancellation mechanism toward the rear of the vehicle in a further stable state. 
     Preferably, the check mechanism includes a check block and a check lever. The check block is hooked to the movable panel and arranged to be movable along the guide rail in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. The check lever includes the engagement groove and is pivotally coupled to the check block. The check lever is urged toward and hooked to a hooking portion formed in the guide rail at the predetermined position to maintain the immovable state. 
     In this structure, the check mechanism implements the function for hooking the movable panel (i.e., restricting the position of the movable panel in the front and rear directions of the vehicle) and the function for switching between the immovable state and the movable state using two components (check block and check lever). This further ensures the operation of each function. 
     Preferably, the check mechanism includes an engagement projection restriction lever. The engagement projection restriction lever is pivotally coupled to the check lever, and the engagement projection restriction lever is held at a predetermined initial position engaging the guide rail when receiving urging force. The engagement projection pivots the engagement projection restriction lever against the urging force and passes the engagement groove as the rear slide member moves toward the front of the vehicle. Subsequent movement of the rear slide member toward the rear of the vehicle pushes, with the engagement projection restriction lever, the guide rail, which is engaged with the engagement projection restriction lever, and releases the check lever from the hooking portion. 
     In this structure, the engagement projection passes by the engagement groove, and the rear slide member then moves toward the rear of the vehicle. This pushes the guide rail, which is engaged with the engagement projection restriction lever, with the engagement projection restriction lever and releases the engagement projection restriction lever from the cutout. In this manner, the pressing force of the engagement projection from the engagement projection restriction lever is relayed to the guide rail. This further ensures switching from the immovable state to the movable state. 
     Preferably, the sunroof device includes a position detector and a control unit. The position detector detects the position of the rear slide member in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. The control unit controls and drives the electric drive source based on the position of the rear slide member in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. The control unit prohibits deactivation of the electric drive source when the check cancellation mechanism is in a range switched from the engaged state to the disengaged state and the rear slide member moves in a range in the front and rear directions of the vehicle without moving the movable panel. 
     In this structure, when the rear slide member moves in a range in the front and rear directions of the vehicle in which the check cancellation mechanism switches from the engaged state to the disengaged state without moving the movable panel, the control unit prohibits deactivation of the electric drive source. Accordingly, the rear slide member stops in the range in the front and rear directions of the vehicle from the rear slide member shared by the engaged state and the disengaged state of the check cancellation mechanism, and avoids a situation in which it cannot be determined whether the check cancellation mechanism is in the engaged state or disengaged state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view showing one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2(   a ) is a bottom view showing the embodiment, and  FIG. 2(   b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 B- 2 B in  FIG. 2(   a ); 
         FIG. 3  is a side view showing the operation of the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4(   a ) is a bottom view showing the operation of the embodiment, and  FIGS. 4(   b ) and  4 ( c ) are cross-sectional views taken along line  4 B- 4 B and  4 C- 4 C; 
         FIGS. 5(   a ) and  5 ( b ) are bottom views showing the embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view showing the operation of the embodiment; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view schematically showing the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a sunroof device  11  taken from a diagonally upward direction. The sunroof device  11  is mounted on a roof  10  of a vehicle such as an automobile. As shown in the drawing, the roof  10  includes a roof opening  10   a . A movable panel  12 , which opens and closes the roof opening  10   a , is arranged in the roof opening  10   a . The movable panel  12  is coupled to the roof  10  so that it can be tilted upward and be slidable in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. The movable panel  12  is of a so-called outer slide type and slides in a tilt-up state when performing an opening and closing operation. 
     The structure related to the opening and closing of the movable panel  12  will now be described. The sunroof device  11  includes two structures related to the opening and closing of the movable panel  12  and arranged on opposite widthwise sides of the vehicle. The description hereafter will basically refer to the structure at one side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. 
       FIG. 1  is a partially cutaway side view of the sunroof device  11 .  FIG. 2(   a ) is a partially cutaway bottom view showing the sunroof device  11  at the front portion of the vehicle, and  FIG. 2(   b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 B- 2 B.  FIG. 2(   b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 B- 2 B, and the widthwise direction in  FIG. 2(   a ) is shown in correspondence with  FIG. 2(   b ) to facilitate understanding. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sunroof device  11  includes guide rails  13  that are arranged at the two edges of the roof opening  10   a  in the widthwise direction of the vehicle and extend in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. Referring to  FIG. 2(   b ), the guide rail  13 , which is formed, for example, from an extruded material of aluminum alloy and has a generally C-shaped cross-section, integrally includes a bottom wall  13   a , two side walls  13   b  extending upward from the two ends in the widthwise direction of the bottom wall  13   a , and flanges  13   c  and  13   d  extending toward each other from the top ends of the side walls  13   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a rear shoe  16  is coupled to the guide rail  13  as a rear slide member in a state fitted with play to the inner wall of the guide rail  13  to be movable in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. The rear shoe  16  includes a generally triangular support piece  16   a , which projects upward from the guide rail  13  through the gap between the two flanges  13   c  and  13   d , and a guide pin  16   b , which is fixed to the top portion of the support piece  16   a  and extends toward one widthwise direction of the vehicle (downward in a direction orthogonal to the plane of  FIG. 1 ). Further, a front shoe  17 , which is movable in the front and rear directions of the vehicle, is coupled to the guide rail  13  in a state fitted with play to the inner wall of the guide rail  13  at the front side of the rear shoe  16 . The front shoe  17  includes a generally triangular support piece  17   a , which projects upward from the guide rail  13  through the gap between the two flanges  13   c  and  13   d , and a support shaft  17   b , which is fixed to the top portion of the support piece  17   a.    
     A bracket  18 , which extends in the front and rear directions of the vehicle, is fixed to the lower surface at the an edge of the movable panel  12  in the widthwise direction. A guide groove  19  is formed in the rear side of the bracket  18  extending in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. The guide groove  19  includes an inclined portion  19   a , which extends downward toward the front, and a straight portion  19   b , which extends continuously from the front end of the inclined portion  19   a  and generally parallel to the guide rail  13 . The guide pin  16   b  is movably fitted into the guide groove  19 . The front end of the bracket  18  is pivotally coupled by the support shaft  17   b  to the support piece  17   a.    
     When the movable panel  12  is in a fully closed state, the guide pin  16   b  is arranged at the rear end of the inclined portion  19   a  that is the highest part of the guide groove  19 . Accordingly, from this state, as the rear shoe  16  moves toward the front of the vehicle and the guide pin  16   b  moves along the inclined portion  19   a  to its front end, the bracket  18  (movable panel  12 ) pivots about the support shaft  17   b  thereby lifting its rear side (refer to  FIG. 3 ). In this state, the straight portion  19   b  of the guide groove  19  is set to extend parallel to the guide rail  13 . Thus, in the tilt-up state, as the rear shoe  16  moves in the front and rear directions of the vehicle, the movable panel  12  does not move even though the guide pin  16   b  moves along the straight portion  19   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a check mechanism  20  is arranged in the guide rail  13  at the rear side of the front shoe  17 . The check mechanism  20  includes a check block  21 , a check lever  22 , and an engagement projection restriction lever  23 . 
     The check block  21  is L-shaped when viewed from aside and integrally includes a main body  26 , which extends in the front and rear directions of the vehicle, and a hooking projection  27 , which is bent upward from the front end of the main body  26  and hooked to a hooking pin  18   a , which is fixed to the bracket  18  and movable in the upward and downward directions. Thus, when the movable panel  12  pivots about the support shaft  17   b , the check block  21  allows the movable panel  12  to swing toward the front about the hooking pin  18   a  in the hooking projection  27 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the main body  26  includes a guide  26   a , which is fitted, over its entire length in the longitudinal direction, to the flange  13   d  of the guide rail  13  to be movable in the front and rear directions of the vehicle, and a guide  26   b , which is fitted at the front end of the of the guide rail  13  to the other flange  13   c  to be movable in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. In this manner, the check block  21  is coupled by the guides  26   a  and  26   b  to be movable in the front and rear directions of the vehicle along the guide rail  13  (flanges  13   c  and  13   d ). Accordingly, movement of the check block  21  moves the movable panel  12 , which is hooked to the check block  21  (hooking projection  27 ), together with the front shoe  17  and the like in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the main body  26  further includes a guide piece  26   c , which has a generally L-shaped cross section and projects upward from an upper surface of the guide  26   a  at a basal side of the flange  13   d . The guide piece  26   c  includes an inner wall surface that forms a first channel  28 , which has a generally U-shaped cross-section and opens toward the flange  13   c , with the upper surface of the guide  26   a . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the guide piece  26   c  (first channel  28 ) extends in the front and rear directions of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle from the hooking projection  27  and has a front portion that is open upward through a communication portion OP. The guide piece  26   c  has an upper surface that forms a second channel  29 , which extends in the front and rear directions of the vehicle, in a state overlapped with the upper side of the first channel  28 . A plate spring  30 , which serves as an urging member, is cantilever-supported by and coupled to the guide  26   a  adjacent to the first channel  28  and the like in the widthwise direction. The plate spring  30  has a free end serving as a distal portion that extends toward the front of the vehicle and is arranged at a height that generally conforms to the upper surface of the guide piece  26   c  at the communication portion OP. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2(   a ), the guide  26   b  includes a basal portion to which the check lever  22  is pivotally coupled by a support shaft  22   a . The check lever  22  includes a generally ax-shaped check portion  22   b , which projects from the bottom end of the support shaft  22   a  (in a downward direction perpendicular to the plane of  FIG. 2(   a )) to the position corresponding to the height of the flange  13   c . A cutout  13   e , which is formed in the flange  13   c  at a predetermined position, serves as a generally tetragonal hooking portion to which a generally tetragonal head of the check portion  22   b  can be fitted as the check lever  22  pivots about the support shaft  22   a . Accordingly, by fitting the check portion  22   b  into the cutout  13   e , the main body  26  (check block  21 ) is switched to an immovable state in the front and rear directions of the vehicle and held at a predetermined position located toward the front of the vehicle from the rear shoe  16 . Removal of the check portion  22   b  from the cutout  13   e  switches the main body  26  (check block  21 ) to a movable state that allows movement toward the rear of the vehicle from the predetermined position. The position of the movable panel  12  in the front and rear directions of the vehicle is restricted to a predetermined position when the check block is in the immovable state. The immovable state of the check block  21  is set, for example, when the movable panel  12  is in a fully closed state. An urging member (not shown) constantly urges the check lever  22  toward a direction in which the check portion  22   b  is fitted into the cutout  13   e  (pivoted in counterclockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 2(   a )). 
     An engagement groove  22   c , which faces away from the flange  13   d , is formed in the tetragonal head of the check  22   b . The engagement groove  22   c  is inclined to approach the flange  13   c  toward the rear of the vehicle. When the check portion  22   b  is fitted to the cutout  13   e , an inlet passage  31  is formed between the check lever  22  and the guide  26   a . The inlet passage  31  extends toward the front and rear from opposite sides of the engagement groove  22   c . Further, the inlet passage  31  is set to have an opening width that is about the same as the engagement groove  22   c  and extends in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2(   a ), a support shaft  23   a  pivotally couples the engagement projection restriction lever  23  to the lower side of the check portion  22   b  at position located toward the distal end (rear side) from the engagement groove  22   c  of the check portion  22   b . The engagement projection restriction lever  23  includes a hook-shaped abutment piece  23   b  and a hook shaped restriction piece  23   c . The abutment piece  23   b  extends toward the rear of the vehicle from the support shaft  23   a  and can abut the side wall  13   b  of the flange  13   c . The restriction piece  23   c  extends toward the front of the vehicle from the support shaft  23   a  and can project into the inlet passage  31 . The engagement projection restriction lever  23  is set so that when the check block  21  is in the immovable state and the abutment piece  23   b  is abutting the opposing side wall  13   b , the restriction piece  23   c  projects into the inlet passage  31  and shuts the inlet passage  31  in the forward and rearward directions of the vehicle. The pivot position of the engagement projection restriction lever  23  in this state is referred to as the “predetermined initial position”. Further, the engagement projection restriction lever  23  is set so that by pivoting about the support shaft  23   a  in the clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings, the restriction piece  23   c  allows the inlet passage  31  to open as shown by the double-dashed lines. 
     An urging member (not shown) constantly urges the engagement projection restriction lever  23  toward a direction in which the abutment piece  23   b  abuts against the side wall  13   b  (pivoted in counterclockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 2(   a )). The urging force applied to the engagement projection restriction lever  23  is set to be smaller than the urging force applied to the check lever  22  when fitting the check portion  22   b  into the cutout  13   e . Accordingly, the urging force applied to the engagement projection restriction lever  23  does not separate the check portion  22   b  from the cutout  13   e.    
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a generally plate-shaped coupling arm  41  is pivotally coupled by a support shaft  41   a  to a front end portion of the rear shoe  16 . The coupling arm  41  extends toward the front of the vehicle to the check block  21  (guide  26   a ). A coil spring  42 , which is arranged on the support shaft  41   a , constantly urges the front end of the coupling arm  41  to abut the upper surface of the guide  26   a  on the check block  21  (pivoted in counterclockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 1 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4(   b ), a generally cylindrical engagement portion  43 , which opposes the inlet passage  31  and projects downward, is fixed to a front end portion of the coupling arm  41 . As shown in  FIG. 2(   a ), the engagement projection  43  moves toward the front of the vehicle along the inlet passage  31  as the rear shoe  16  and the coupling arm  41  move toward the front of the vehicle. In this state, the engagement projection  43  pushes the restriction piece  23   c  thereby pivoting the engagement projection restriction lever  23  in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 4(   a ) against the urging force applied to the engagement projection restriction lever  23  while passing by the engagement groove  22   c . This returns the engagement projection restriction lever  23 , which is released from the engagement projection  43 , to the predetermined initial position. 
     Further, in this state, when the rear shoe  16  and the coupling arm  41  move toward the rear of the vehicle, the engagement projection  43  pushes the restriction piece  23   c  of the engagement projection restriction lever  23 , which is returned to the predetermined initial position. Here, the engagement projection restriction lever  23 , which is pushed by the engagement projection  43  and pivoted in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 4(   a ), pushes the opposing side wall  13   b  with the abutment piece  23   b . This pivots the check portion  22   b  (check lever  22 ) about the support shaft  23   a  in the clockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 4(   a ), that is, in a direction in which the check portion  22   b  is separated from the cutout  13   e  (refer to  FIG. 5(   a )). 
     As the rear shoe  16  and the coupling arm  41  further move toward the rear of the vehicle, the engagement projection  43 , which further pushes the restriction piece  23   c , starts to enter the engagement groove  22   c  along the restriction piece  23   c  (refer to  FIG. 5(   b )). In this state, the check lever  22  is completely separated from the cutout  13   e  and released from the cutout  13   e . Further, the check block  21  is switched to the movable state. Accordingly, in this state, when the rear shoe  16  and the coupling arm  41  move further toward the rear of the vehicle, the check lever  22 , which hooks to the engagement projection  43  in the engagement groove  22   c , moves with the check block  21  toward the rear of the vehicle (engagement state). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4(   b ), a generally cylindrical guide projection  44 , which projects in a widthwise direction facing toward the first channel  28 , is fixed to the front end portion of the coupling arm  41 . When the coupling arm  41  abuts the upper surface of the guide  26   a  of the check block  21 , the guide projection  44  is inserted into the first channel  28  and movable along the first channel  28  in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. Accordingly, movement of the rear shoe  16  and the coupling arm  41  in the front and rear directions of the vehicle does not affect the engagement of the engagement projection  43  and the engagement projection restriction lever  23 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , as the rear shoe  16  and the coupling arm  41  move toward the front of the vehicle and the guide projection  44  moves over the plate spring  30  and reaches the communication portion OP at the front side of the first channel  28 , the coupling arm  41  is pivoted in the clockwise direction as viewed in the drawing in a state in which the guide projection  44 , which is urged by the plate spring  30 , enters the second channel  29  through the communication portion OP. In this state, the guide projection  44  abuts the upper surface of the guide piece  26   c  and is movable in the front and rear directions of the vehicle along the second channel  29 . Further, the engagement projection  43  is arranged at a position shifted in a heightwise direction of the vehicle by an amount corresponding to the steps of the first and second channels  28  and  29 . In this state, the engagement projection restriction lever  23  is set be separates from the movement path of the engagement projection  43  toward the rear of the vehicle. Accordingly, when the guide projection  44  is in the second channel  29 , the check block  21  and the like do not move toward the rear of the vehicle even if the rear shoe  16  and the coupling arm  41  move toward the rear of the vehicle (disengaged state). When the guide projection  44  reaches the rear end of the second channel  29  (guide piece  26   c ), the guide projection  44  is released from the guide piece  26   c . As a result, the coil spring  42  urges and pivots (return-pivots) the coupling arm  41  in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in the drawing until abutting the upper surface of the guide  26   a  of the check block  21 . The coupling arm  41 , the coil spring  42 , the engagement projection  43 , and the guide projection  44  form a check cancellation mechanism  40 . 
     The guide pin  16   b  of the rear shoe  16  is set to be arranged in the straight portion  19   b  when the guide projection  44  is moving in the first channel  28  or the second channel  29 . Accordingly, the movable panel  12  does not move when the check cancellation mechanism  40  switches to the engaged state or the disengaged state. When the check cancellation mechanism  40  is in the engaged state and the rear shoe  16  and coupling arm  41  move integrally with the check block  21  and the like toward the rear of the vehicle, the movable panel  12  moves toward the rear of the vehicle in the tilt-up state and opens the roof opening  10   a . When the check cancellation mechanism  40  is in the disengaged state and the rear shoe  16  and coupling arm  41  move toward the rear of the vehicle leaving the check block  21  and the like, the guide pin  16   b  moves along the inclined portion  19   a  to its rear end. As a result, the bracket  18  (movable panel  12 ) is shifted to the fully closed state (recovered) in a state in which its rear end is lowered about the support shaft  17   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sunroof device  11  includes a motor  51 , which serves as an electric drive source that drives and moves the rear shoe  16 , and a control unit  52 , which drives and controls the motor  51  and is formed by, for example, a microcomputer. The sunroof device  11  further includes a position sensor  53 , which is connected to the control unit  52  and serves as a position detector that detects the position of the rear shoe  16  in the front and rear directions of the vehicle (for example, the rotation amount of the motor  51 ). The control unit  52  drives and controls the motor  51  based on the position of the rear shoe  16  in the front and rear directions of the vehicle detected by the position sensor  53  to open and close the movable panel  12 . In particular, the control unit  52  prohibits deactivation of the motor  51  when the check cancellation mechanism  40  moves from the engaged state to a range in the front and rear directions of the vehicle for switching to the disengaged state. This avoids a state in which the position of the rear shoe  16  in the front and rear directions of the vehicle that is detected by the position sensor  53  cannot be determined as whether being in the engaged state or disengaged state of the check cancellation mechanism  40 . 
     The operation of the present embodiment will now be summarized. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the movable panel  12  is in the fully closed state and the check mechanism  20  is immovable, as the rear shoe  16  moves toward the front of the vehicle, the guide pin  16   b  moves along the inclined portion  19   a  to its front end. This lifts the bracket  18  (movable panel  12 ) at the rear end about the support shaft  17   b  to the tilt-up state. In this state, further movement of the rear shoe  16  toward the front of the vehicle switches the check cancellation mechanism  40  to the engaged state as described above without moving the movable panel  12 . Accordingly, in this state, when the rear shoe  16  moves toward the rear of the vehicle, the check mechanism  20  switches to the movable state and moves integrally toward the rear of the vehicle, and the movable panel  12  opens the roof opening  10   a  in the tilt-up state. Then, when the rear shoe  16  moves toward the front of the vehicle, the check mechanism  20 , of which the engagement groove  22   c  is pushed by the engagement projection  43 , moves integrally toward the front of the vehicle. This closes the roof opening  10   a  with the movable panel  12  in the tilt-up state. Further, the check mechanism  20  returns to the immovable state (refer to  FIG. 4 ). 
     In the state shown in  FIG. 3 , when the rear shoe  16  further moves toward the front of the vehicle, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the check cancellation mechanism  40  is switched to the disengaged state as described above without moving the movable panel  12 . Accordingly, in this state, when the rear shoe  16  moves toward the rear of the vehicle and the guide pin  16   b  moves along the inclined portion  19   a  to its rear end, the bracket  18  (movable panel  12 ) is lowered at its rear end about the support shaft  17   b  and shifted to the fully closed state (recovered). 
     As described above in detail, the present embodiment has the advantages described below. 
     (1) In the present embodiment, in the engaged state of the check cancellation mechanism  40 , when the rear shoe  16  moves toward the rear of the vehicle, the check mechanism  20  is switched to the movable state and moved integrally with the check cancellation mechanism  40  toward the rear of the vehicle. Accordingly, the movable panel  12 , which is hooked to the check mechanism  20 , opens in the tilt-up state. In this state, the front shoe  17 , which is coupled to the movable panel  12 , also moves integrally toward the rear of the vehicle. In this case, the maximum movement amount of the rear shoe  16  or the like that determines the fully open state of the movable panel  12  is not restricted by the movement amount of the rear shoe  16  in the reverse direction (toward the front of the vehicle) when the movable panel  12  is shifted to the tilt-up state. It is only required that the movement amount be ensured so that it does not move the movable panel  12 , which allows switching of the check cancellation mechanism  40  to the engaged state or the disengaged state. Thus, the maximum movement amount of the rear shoe  16  or the like that determines the fully open state of the movable panel  12 , that is, the open amount of the movable panel  12 , can be increased accordingly. 
     When the check cancellation mechanism  40  is in the engaged state, further movement of the rear shoe  16  toward the front of the vehicle switches the check cancellation mechanism to the disengaged state. Accordingly, in this state, when the rear shoe  16  moves toward the rear of the vehicle, after the period in which the movable panel  12  does not move, the rear side of the movable panel  12  linked to the rear shoe  16  is lowered about the front side (hooking pin  18   a ) of the movable panel  12  hooked to the check mechanism  20  in the immovable state and thereby shifted to the fully closed state (recovered). 
     When the movable panel  12  is shifted from the fully closed state to the tilt-up state (or vice-versa), a sufficient movement amount is ensured for the rear shoe  16 . This decreases the load per unit movement amount on the rear shoe  16  and consequently avoids enlargement of the motor  51 . 
     (2) In the present embodiment, the switching of the check cancellation mechanism  40  from the engaged state to the disengaged state may be performed with an extremely simple function that causes the guide projection  44  to move into (enter) the second channel  29  from the first channel  28 . Further, by aiding the movement of the guide projection  44  from the first channel  28  to the second channel  29  with the plate spring  30 , the switching of the check cancellation mechanism  40  from the engaged state to the disengaged sate is further ensured. 
     (3) In the present embodiment, when the check mechanism  20  is in the immovable state, the rear shoe  16  moves toward the front of the vehicle and the engagement projection  43  passes by the engagement groove  22   c . Then, movement of the rear shoe  16  toward the rear of the vehicle results in the engagement projection  43  being fitted to the engagement groove  22   c  and pushing the engagement groove  22   c . This switches the check mechanism  20  from the immovable state to the movable state and integrally moves the check cancellation mechanism  40  toward the rear of the vehicle. In this manner, when the check mechanism  20  moves integrally with the check cancellation mechanism  40  toward the rear of the vehicle, the engagement projection  43  fitted to the engagement groove  22   c  integrally moves the check mechanism  20  and the check cancellation mechanism  40  toward the rear of the vehicle in a further stable state. 
     (4) In the present embodiment, the check mechanism  20  implements the function for hooking the movable panel  12  (i.e., restricting the position of the movable panel  12  in the front and rear directions of the vehicle) and the function for switching between the immovable state and the movable state using two components (check block  21  and check lever  22 ). This further ensures the operation of each function. 
     (5) In the present embodiment, the engagement projection  43  passes by the engagement groove  22   c , and the rear shoe  16  then moves toward the rear of the vehicle. This pushes the guide rail  13 , which is engaged with the engagement projection restriction lever  23 , with the engagement projection restriction lever  23  and releases the engagement projection restriction lever  23  from the cutout  13   e . In this manner, the pressing force of the engagement projection  43  from the engagement projection restriction lever  23  is relayed to the guide rail  13 . This further ensures switching from the immovable state to the movable state. Further, for example, in comparison with when released from the cutout  13   e  with only the component force produced when the rear shoe  16  moves toward the rear of the vehicle and the engagement projection  43  thereby pushes the engagement groove ( 22   c ), a steep inclination angle can be set for the engagement groove relative to the front and rear directions of the vehicle. This allows the check lever  22  (check mechanism  20 ) to be shortened accordingly in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. 
     (6) In the present embodiment, when the rear shoe  16  moves in a range in the front and rear directions of the vehicle in which the check cancellation mechanism  40  switches from the engaged state to the disengaged state without moving the movable panel  12 , the control unit  52  prohibits deactivation of the motor  51 . Accordingly, the rear shoe  16  stops in the range in the front and rear directions of the vehicle from the rear shoe  16  shared by the engaged state and the disengaged state of the check cancellation mechanism  40 , and avoids a situation in which it cannot be determined whether the check cancellation mechanism  40  is in the engaged state or disengaged state. 
     (7) In the present embodiment, the load per unit movement amount on the rear shoe  16 , that is, the load on the motor  51 , is decreased. This stabilizes the operation of the motor  51  and suppresses swinging. Entrapment control based on, for example, the behavior of the motor  51 , is further facilitated. 
     (8) In the present embodiment, the guide projection  44 , which enters the first channel  28  as the rear shoe  16  moves toward the front of the vehicle, cannot move out of the first channel  28  due to the engagement of the engagement projection  43  with the check lever  22  and the like even when the rear shoe  16  moves toward the rear of the vehicle. The guide projection  44  can move out of the first channel  28  when the rear shoe  16  moves further toward the front of the vehicle. Thus, the switching of the check cancellation mechanism  40  to the engaged state or the disengaged state is performed in a single direction thereby restricting the movement of the rear shoe  16  toward the front of the vehicle. This improves the reliability of the switching operation. Further, the switching of the check cancellation mechanism  40  to the engaged state or the disengaged state is arranged in a range in which the guide pin  16   b  of the rear shoe  16  moves along the straight portion  19   b  of the guide groove  19  and the movable panel  12  does not move. This minimizes the load on the motor  51  that performs the switching. 
     (9) In the present embodiment, the components related to operation switching are concentrated at the front side of the movable panel  12 . This simplifies the cross-sectional shape and machining process of the guide rail  13 . 
     The above embodiment may be modified as described below. 
     In the above embodiment, the front shoe  17  may be eliminated. In this case, it is preferable that the front side of the movable panel  12  (bracket  18 ) be pivotal about the hooking pin  18   a  at the hooking projection  27  of the check mechanism  20  (check block  21 ). Such a modification reduces the number of components. 
     In the above embodiment, the switching of the check cancellation mechanism  40  from the engaged state to the disengaged state is performed by offsetting the check cancellation mechanism  40  (guide projection  44 ) in the heightwise direction of the vehicle relative to the check mechanism (engagement projection restriction lever  23 ). However, for example, a check cancellation mechanism may be offset in the widthwise direction of the vehicle relative to a check mechanism. Alternatively, the switching of the check cancellation mechanism from the engaged state to the disengaged state may be performed by offsetting a check mechanism in the heightwise direction of the vehicle or the widthwise direction of the vehicle relative to the check cancellation mechanism. 
     In the above embodiment, after the tilt-up state ends, as the rear shoe  16  moves toward the front of the vehicle, the engagement projection  43  pushes the engagement projection restriction lever  23  to pass the engagement groove  22   c  and switch the check cancellation mechanism  40  to the engaged state. However, one of an engagement projection and a check lever may offset the other one in the heightwise direction of the vehicle or the widthwise direction of the vehicle to pass the engagement groove and switch the check cancellation mechanism to an engaged state. 
     In the above embodiment, the linking of the rear shoe  16  and the bracket  18  is just one example. For example, the rear shoe  16  (support piece  16   a ) may include a guide groove facing a direction opposite to the guide groove  19 , and a guide pin fitted in a movable manner to the guide groove may be fixed to the rear side of the bracket  18 .