Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an electric curtain opening and closing device for opening and closing a curtain, and a curtain opening and closing method using the same. 
         [0002]    A curtain opening and closing device in which an electric movable body moves along a curtain rail has been known. A curtain is hung from the movable body, and can be opened and closed by moving the movable body. 
         [0003]    For example, the curtain opening and closing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-37622 moves the movable body by use of an electric motor built in the movable body. 
         [0004]    The curtain opening and closing device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-103385 moves the movable body by use of a linear motor. The linear motor includes a plurality of permanent magnets arranged on the curtain rail and an electric magnet arranged in the movable body. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    However, the curtain opening and closing device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-37622 supplies electricity from an AC adaptor installed on a wall or the like to the electric motor built in the movable body by means of an electric cord. Thus, when the movable body moves, the electric cord is dragged. Long-term use of the curtain opening and closing device may cause wear of the electric cord due to contact with the wall and the curtain rail, breakage of the electric cord, and deterioration of coating of the electric cord to generate an electric leakage. 
         [0006]    The linear motor used for the curtain opening and closing device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-37622 necessitates installing a lot of permanent magnets on the curtain rail over the moving range of the movable body. Further, it is necessary to alternately switch an N-pole and an S-pole of the electric magnet arranged in the movable body. This increases the weight of the curtain opening and closing device and in turn, costs. 
         [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide a light-weight and low-cost electric curtain opening and closing device that does not cause breakage and electric leakage of an electric cord, and a curtain opening and closing method using the same. 
         [0008]    To attain the object, an electric curtain opening and closing device according to the present invention includes: 
         [0009]    a curtain rail which has a hollow portion that is hollow extending in a longitudinal direction, one face constituting the hollow portion including an opening opened in the longitudinal direction, and in which a power supply pattern for supplying electricity is arranged on an inner side of any face constituting the hollow portion in the longitudinal direction; and 
         [0010]    a movable body which has an electrode in contact with the power supply pattern, an electric motor receiving electricity through the electrode to positively or negatively rotate, and a hanging portion for hanging a curtain, and which moves by being driven by the electric motor, wherein 
         [0011]    when the movable body is arranged in the hollow portion of the curtain rail, the hanging portion protrudes from the opening. 
         [0012]    Preferably, in the electric curtain opening and closing device according to the present invention, 
         [0013]    the power supply pattern includes: 
         [0014]    a first power supply pattern extending in the longitudinal direction, and having a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion each including a conductor that passes electricity and a first insulating portion sandwiched between the first conducting portion and the second conducting portion and including an insulator that does not pass electricity; and 
         [0015]    a second power supply pattern extending in the longitudinal direction, and having a third conducting portion and a fourth conducting portion each including a conductor that passes electricity and a second insulating portion sandwiched between the third conducting portion and the fourth conducting portion and including an insulator that does not pass electricity. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the electric curtain opening and closing device according to the present invention is a curtain opening and closing device for a two-way draw curtain, wherein 
         [0017]    the device includes: 
         [0018]    a first power source applying a first voltage between the first conducting portion of the first power supply pattern and the third conducting portion of the second power supply pattern; and 
         [0019]    a second power source applying a second voltage between the second conducting portion of the first power supply pattern and the fourth conducting portion of the second power supply pattern, and wherein 
         [0020]    the one movable body moves by electricity supplied from the first power source, and 
         [0021]    the another movable body moves by electricity supplied from the second power source. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the electric curtain opening and closing device according to the present invention is a curtain opening and closing device for a one-way draw curtain, wherein 
         [0023]    the device includes a power source applying a same voltage between the first conducting portion of the first power supply pattern and the third conducting portion of the second power supply pattern, and between the second conducting portion of the first power supply pattern and the fourth conducting portion of the second power supply pattern, and wherein 
         [0024]    the one movable body moves by electricity supplied from the power source. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the electric curtain opening and closing device according to the present invention includes a wireless signal transmission device that transmits a wireless signal for controlling movement of the movable body, wherein 
         [0026]    in response to the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless signal transmission device, the curtain rail controls electricity supplied to the power supply pattern to control the movement of the movable body. 
         [0027]    An electric curtain opening and closing method according to the present invention is a curtain opening and closing method for opening and closing a two-way draw curtain including one curtain and the other curtain, the method including the steps of: 
         [0028]    applying a first voltage between the first conducting portion of the first power supply pattern and the third conducting portion of the second power supply pattern in the above described electric curtain opening and closing device of the invention to move the one movable body and opening or closing one curtain hung from the hanging portion of the one movable body; and 
         [0029]    applying a second voltage between the second conducting portion of the first power supply pattern and the fourth conducting portion of the second power supply pattern in the above described electric curtain opening and closing device of the invention to move the another movable body and opening or closing the other curtain hung from the hanging portion of the another movable body. 
         [0030]    An electric curtain opening and closing method according to the present invention is a curtain opening and closing method for opening and closing a one-way draw curtain including one curtain, the method including the step of: 
         [0031]    applying a same voltage between the first conducting portion of the first power supply pattern and the third conducting portion of the second power supply pattern, and between the second conducting portion of the first power supply pattern and the fourth conducting portion of the second power supply pattern in the above described electric curtain opening and closing device of the invention to move the one movable body and opening or closing the curtain hung from the hanging portion of the movable body. 
         [0032]    According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a light-weight and low-cost electric curtain opening and closing device that does not cause a breakage and an electric leakage of an electric cord. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a view showing an example of a configuration of an electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 2(A)  is a perspective view showing an example of appearance of a movable body.  FIG. 2(B)  is a perspective view showing an example of an internal configuration of the movable body. 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing a cross section taken along a line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing an example of a configuration of an electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing an example of appearance of the electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 6(A)  is a schematic view showing an example of a configuration of an electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6(B)  is a schematic view showing another example of the configuration of the electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing an example of appearance of the electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing an example of a configuration of an electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing an example of a configuration of a movable body included in the electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing an example of a configuration of an electric curtain opening and closing device in a comparative example of the electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with the fourth embodiment. 
           [0043]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view showing a modification example of the electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing an example of appearance of the modification example of the electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing an example of appearance of an electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing an example of appearance of an electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0047]    Electric curtain opening and closing devices in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the figures. 
         [0048]      FIG. 1  shows an example of a configuration of an electric curtain opening and closing device  1  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. The electric curtain opening and closing device  1  is a one-way draw curtain including one curtain. 
         [0049]    The electric curtain opening and closing device  1  includes a movable body  100 , a curtain rail  200 , a control unit  300 , and a power source not shown. 
         [0050]    The movable body  100  has a hanging fitting  130  at a lower portion. A curtain  400  is hung from the hanging fitting  130 , and the movable body  100  is moved along the curtain rail  200 , thereby opening and closing the curtain  400 . 
         [0051]    The control unit  300  controls the entire electric curtain opening and closing device  1 . 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the movable body  100  includes, in addition to the hanging fitting  130 , a housing  101 , an electric motor  102 , an electrode  111 , an electrode  112 , a wheel  121 , a wheel  122 , a wheel  123 , and a wheel  124 . 
         [0053]    The electric motor  102  is built in the housing  101 . The electrode  111  and the electrode  112  are arranged on a right side face and a left side face of the housing  101 , respectively. The wheel  121 , the wheel  122 , the wheel  123 , and the wheel  124  are arranged at four corners of a bottom face of the housing  101 , and the hanging fitting  130  is arranged at the center of the bottom face. 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the curtain rail  200  has a hollow portion  201 , an opening  202 , a power supply pattern  211 , a power supply pattern  212 , a wheel travelling portion  221 , and a wheel travelling portion  222 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the curtain rail  200  has a detector  250  in the vicinity of a right end of an upper face. The curtain rail  200  further has a detector not shown in the vicinity of a left end of the upper face. 
         [0055]    The hollow portion  201  that is hollow is located in the curtain rail  200 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the movable body  100  is arranged in the hollow portion  201  of the curtain rail  200 . The hanging fitting  130  protrudes downward from the opening  202 . 
         [0056]    The power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212  each include a conductor that passes electricity. The power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212  extend along a left inner side face and a right inner side face of the curtain rail  200 , respectively. A positive or negative voltage is applied to the power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212  from the power source not shown. When the positive voltage is applied to the power supply pattern  211 , the negative voltage is applied to the power supply pattern  212 . On the other hand, when the negative voltage is applied to the power supply pattern  211 , the positive voltage is applied to the power supply pattern  212 . The control unit  300  can control the power source to switch the positive and negative of the voltage applied to the power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212 . The control unit  300  also can control the power source to change the magnitude of the voltage applied to the power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212 . 
         [0057]    The electrode  111  and the electrode  112  provided on the left side face and the right side face of the movable body  100 , respectively, each have, for example, a brush, and the brushes contact the power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212  to supply power to the electric motor  102 . 
         [0058]    The electric motor  102  receives power from the power source through the pair of electrode  111  and electrode  112 , and rotates. The electric motor  102  is, for example, a DC motor, and rotates in both of positive and negative directions. When the positive and negative of the voltage applied to the electrode  111  and the electrode  112  is switched, positive rotation and negative rotation of the electric motor  102  are switched. As the voltage applied to the electrode  111  and the electrode  112  increases, rotating speed of the electric motor  102  increases, and as the voltage decreases, the rotating speed of the electric motor  102  decreases. 
         [0059]    When the electric motor  102  rotates, the wheel  122  and the wheel  124  rotate, and the movable body  100  moves along the curtain rail  200 . When the movable body  100  moves, the wheel  121  and the wheel  122  move on the wheel travelling portion  221  of the curtain rail  200 , and the wheel  123  and the wheel  124  move on the wheel travelling portion  222 . 
         [0060]    The control unit  300  operates the power source to control the positive and negative of the voltage applied to the power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212 , thereby controlling the direction in which the movable body  100  moves. The control unit  300  operates the power source to control the magnitude of the voltage applied to the power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212 , thereby controlling the moving speed of the movable body  100 . 
         [0061]    The detector  250  in the vicinity of the right end and the detector not shown in the vicinity of the left end each are, for example, a contact switch. When detecting that the movable body  100  contacts the detector  250  in the vicinity of the right end and the detector not shown in the vicinity of the left end, the control unit  300  turns off the power source to stop the movable body  100 . Accordingly, when the movable body  100  moves to completely open or close the curtain  400 , the movable body  100  automatically stops. 
         [0062]    In the electric curtain opening and closing device  1  in accordance with the first embodiment, one curtain is hung from the hanging fitting  130  of the movable body  100 . 
         [0063]    When the curtain is opened/closed, the control unit  300  applies a voltage between the power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212  to move the movable body  100 . Thereby, one curtain hung from the hanging fitting  130  of the movable body  100  is opened/closed. 
         [0064]    When the movable body  100  is located between the power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212 , the control unit  300  can stop or move the movable body  100  at any position. That is, the control unit  300  may be brought into the completely-opened state, a partially opened state, or the completely-closed state of one curtain. 
         [0065]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  show an example of a configuration of an electric curtain opening and closing device  2  in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. The electric curtain opening and closing device  2  is for a two-way draw curtain that is opened to the left side or the right side. 
         [0066]    The electric curtain opening and closing device  2  includes two movable bodies  100 , a curtain rail  260 , a control unit  300 , and a power source not shown. 
         [0067]    The movable body  100  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  2  has the same configuration as the movable body  100  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  1  in accordance with the first embodiment. 
         [0068]    The curtain rail  260  has the hollow portion  201 , the opening  202 , the power supply pattern  211 , the power supply pattern  212 , the wheel travelling portion  221 , the wheel travelling portion  222 , a detector  251 , and a detector  252 . 
         [0069]    The curtain rail  260  includes no detector  250  arranged in the vicinity of the right end of the upper face of the curtain rail  200  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  1 , and includes the detector  252  arranged a little to the left with respect to the center of the upper face of the curtain rail  260 . Except for this, the curtain rail  260  has the same configuration as the curtain rail  200 . The detector  251  arranged in the vicinity of the left end of the upper face also exists in the electric curtain opening and closing device  1  (the detector  251  is not shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0070]    The same constituents in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  as those in  FIG. 1  are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. 
         [0071]    For ease of understanding,  FIG. 4  shows only the power supply pattern  211 , the power supply pattern  212 , and a rectangle representing the movable body  100 . An arrow added to the rectangle representing the movable body  100  shows an orientation of the movable body  100 . When the positive electrode is applied to the electrode  111  and the negative voltage is applied to the electrode  112 , the movable body  100  moves in the direction of the arrow. On the other hand, when the negative voltage is applied to the electrode  111  and the positive voltage is applied to the electrode  112 , the movable body  100  moves in a direction opposite to the arrow. 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the positive (+) voltage and the negative (−) voltage are applied to the power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212 , respectively, the left movable body  100  moves to the right, and the right movable body  100  moves to the left. That is, two movable bodies  100  move to close the curtain. 
         [0073]    When detecting that the left movable body  100  contacts the detector  251  in the vicinity of the left end or the detector  252  located a little to the left with respect to the center, the control unit  300  turns off the power source to stop the left movable body  100  and the right movable body  100  at the same time. 
         [0074]    In the electric curtain opening and closing device  2  in accordance with the second embodiment, the left curtain is hung from the hanging fitting  130  of the left movable body  100 , and the right curtain is hung from the hanging fitting  130  of the right movable body  100 . 
         [0075]    The control unit  300  applies the voltage between the power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212  to move the left movable body  100  and the right movable body  100  at the same time. Thereby, the left curtain and the right curtain are opened or closed at the same time. 
         [0076]      FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  show an example of a configuration of an electric curtain opening and closing device  3  in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. The electric curtain opening and closing device  3  is for the two-way draw curtain. 
         [0077]    In the two-way draw curtain, the left and right curtains are different from each other in weight, or either the left or right curtain may get stuck on an obstacle. Depending on the configuration of the electric motor  102 , even when the same voltage is applied to the electric motor  102 , the moving speed of the movable body  100  may vary according to whether the rotation is positive rotation or negative rotation. In such case, in the electric curtain opening and closing device  2  in accordance with the second embodiment, a difference in the moving speed between the left movable body  100  and the right movable body  100  is generated. For this reason, in the electric curtain opening and closing device  2 , a gap between the left and right curtains and collision between the two movable bodies  100  may occur. 
         [0078]    However, the electric curtain opening and closing device  3  in accordance with the third embodiment can individually control the moving direction and the moving speed of the left movable body  100  and the right movable body  100 . The electric curtain opening and closing device  3  also can move one movable body  100  while stopping the other movable body  100 . 
         [0079]    The electric curtain opening and closing device  3  includes the two movable bodies  100 , a curtain rail  261 , a control unit  300 , a power source  501 , and a power source  502 . 
         [0080]    The movable body  100  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  3  has the same configuration as the movable body  100  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  1  in accordance with the first embodiment. 
         [0081]    The curtain rail  261  has a hollow portion  201 , an opening  202 , a power supply pattern  231 , a power supply pattern  236 , a wheel travelling portion  221 , a wheel travelling portion  222 , a detector  250 , a detector  251 , a detector  252 , and a detector  253 . 
         [0082]    The same constituents in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  as those in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 5  are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. 
         [0083]    As in  FIG. 4 , for ease of understanding,  FIG. 6(A)  and  FIG. 6(B)  show only the power supply pattern  231 , the power supply pattern  236 , patterns representing the movable bodies  100 , a power source  501 , and a power source  502 . Arrows added to the patterns representing the movable bodies  100  have the same meaning as in  FIG. 4 . Note that, in  FIG. 6(A) , the left movable body  100  and the right movable body  100  are oriented in opposite directions, and in  FIG. 6(B) , the left movable body  100  and the right movable body  100  are oriented in the same direction. 
         [0084]    The power supply pattern  231  is configured such that a first conducting portion  232  and a second conducting portion  234  are located on the left side and the right side, respectively, and a first insulating portion  233  is sandwiched between the first conducting portion  232  and the second conducting portion  234 . Similarly, the power supply pattern  236  is configured such that a third conducting portion  237  and a fourth conducting portion  239  are located on the left side and the right side, respectively, and a second insulating portion  238  is sandwiched between the third conducting portion  237  and the fourth conducting portion  239 . The first conducting portion  232 , the second conducting portion  234 , the third conducting portion  237 , and the fourth conducting portion  239  each include a conductor that passes electricity. The first insulating portion  233  and the second insulating portion  238  each include an insulator that does not pass electricity. 
         [0085]    The power source  501  applies a voltage between the left first conducting portion  232  of the power supply pattern  231  and the left third conducting portion  237  of the power supply pattern  236 . In addition, the power source  502  applies a voltage between the right second conducting portion  234  of the power supply pattern  231  and the right fourth conducting portion  239  of the power supply pattern  236 . 
         [0086]    The control unit  300  operates the power source  501  to control the positive and negative and the magnitude of the voltage applied to the left first conducting portion  232  of the power supply pattern  231  and the left third conducting portion  237  of the power supply pattern  236 . Thereby, the control unit  300  can control the moving direction and the moving speed of the left movable body  100 . 
         [0087]    Similarly, the control unit  300  operates the power source  502  to control the positive and negative and the magnitude of the voltage applied to the right second conducting portion  234  of the power supply pattern  231  and the right fourth conducting portion  239  of the power supply pattern  236 . Thereby, the control unit  300  can control the moving direction and the moving speed of the right movable body  100 . 
         [0088]    The detector  253  is arranged a little to the right with respect to the center of the upper face of the curtain rail  261 . When detecting that the left movable body  100  contacts the detector  251  in the vicinity of the left end or the detector  252  located a little to the left with respect to the center, the control unit  300  turns off the power source  501  to stop the left movable body  100 . Similarly, when detecting that the right movable body  100  contacts the detector  253  located a little to the left with respect to the center or the detector  250  in the vicinity of the right end, the control unit  300  turns off the power source  502  to stop the right movable body  100 . 
         [0089]    The electric curtain opening and closing device  3  in accordance with the third embodiment controls the positive and negative of the voltage applied to the first conducting portion  232  and the third conducting portion  237 , and the second conducting portion  234  and the fourth conducting portion  239 , thereby controlling the direction in which the left movable body  100  and the right movable body  100  move. For example, in  FIG. 6(A) , the positive (+) voltage and the negative (−) voltage are applied to the first conducting portion  232  and the third conducting portion  237 , respectively, and the positive (+) voltage and the negative (−) voltage are applied to the second conducting portion  234  and the fourth conducting portion  239 , respectively. At this time, the left movable body  100  and the right movable body  100  move so as to close the left and right curtains. On the other hand, in  FIG. 6(B) , the positive (+) voltage and the negative (−) voltage are applied to the first conducting portion  232  and the third conducting portion  237 , respectively, and the negative (−) voltage and the positive (+) voltage are applied to the second conducting portion  234  and the fourth conducting portion  239 , respectively. Also in this case, as in  FIG. 6(A) , the left movable body  100  and the right movable body  100  move so as to close the left and right curtains. 
         [0090]    In the electric curtain opening and closing device  3  in accordance with the third embodiment, the left curtain is hung from the hanging fitting  130  of the left movable body  100 , and the right curtain is hung from the hanging fitting  130  of the right movable body  100 . 
         [0091]    In the case of opening or closing the left curtain, the control unit  300  allows the power source  501  to apply a voltage between the first conducting portion  232  of the power supply pattern  231  and the third conducting portion  237  of the power supply pattern  236 , thereby moving the left movable body  100 . Thereby, the left curtain hung from the hanging fitting  130  of the left movable body  100  is opened and closed. 
         [0092]    In the case of opening or closing the right curtain, the control unit  300  allows the power source  502  to apply a voltage between the second conducting portion  234  of the power supply pattern  231  and the fourth conducting portion  239  of the power supply pattern  236 , thereby moving the right movable body  100 . Thereby, the right curtain hung from the hanging fitting  130  of the right movable body  100  is opened and closed. 
         [0093]    The control unit  300  can individually move the left movable body  100 , and when the left movable body  100  is located between the first conducting portion  232  and the third conducting portion  237 , can stop or move the left movable body  100  at any position. That is, the control unit  300  can bring the left curtain into the completely-opened state, a partially opened state, or the completely-closed state, irrespective of the right curtain. 
         [0094]    Similarly, the control unit  300  can also individually move the right movable body  100 , and when the right movable body  100  is located between the second conducting portion  234  and the fourth conducting portion  239 , can stop or move the right movable body  100  at any position. That is, the control unit  300  can bring the right curtain into the completely-opened state, a partially opened state, or the completely-closed state, irrespective of the left curtain. 
         [0095]      FIG. 8  shows an example of a configuration of an electric curtain opening and closing device in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention  4 . The electric curtain opening and closing device  4  is for the one-way draw curtain. 
         [0096]    The electric curtain opening and closing device  4  includes a movable body  150 , a curtain rail  261 , a control unit  300 , and a power source  503 . 
         [0097]    The electric curtain opening and closing device  4  uses the curtain rail  261  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  3  in accordance with the third embodiment to constitute the electric curtain opening and closing device for the one-way draw curtain. 
         [0098]    The movable body  150  has a housing  101 , an electric motor  102 , an electrode  161 , an electrode  162 , an electrode  163 , an electrode  164 , a wheel  121 , a wheel  122 , a wheel  123 , a wheel  124 , and a hanging fitting  130 . The movable body  150  has the same configuration as the movable body  100  except for including the four electrodes (the electrode  161 , the electrode  162 , the electrode  163 , and the electrode  164 ) instead of two electrodes. 
         [0099]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , in the movable body  150 , the electrode  161  and the electrode  162  are connected to each other, and have the same potential. The electrode  163  and the electrode  164  are also connected to each other, and have the same potential. 
         [0100]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , it is assumed that a distance X between the electrode  161  and the electrode  162  is smaller than a width Y in the longitudinal direction of the first insulating portion  233 , or a distance X′ between the electrode  163  and the electrode  164  is smaller than a width Y′ in the longitudinal direction of the second insulating portion  238 . In this configuration, when the movable body  150  stops at a position where it is sandwiched between the insulating portion  233  and the insulating portion  238  as shown in  FIG. 10 , the control unit  300  cannot move the movable body  150  again. 
         [0101]    For this reason, in the movable body  150 , the distance X between the electrode  161  and the electrode  162  needs to be larger than the width Y in the longitudinal direction of the first insulating portion  233 , and the distance X′ between the electrode  163  and the electrode  164  needs to be larger than the width Y′ in the longitudinal direction of the second insulating portion  238 . 
         [0102]    In the electric curtain opening and closing device  4  in accordance with the fourth embodiment, one curtain is hung from the hanging fitting  130  of the movable body  100 . 
         [0103]    In the case of opening and closing the curtain, the control unit  300  allows the power source  503  to apply the same voltage between the first conducting portion  232  of the power supply pattern  231  and the third conducting portion  237  of the power supply pattern  236 , and between the second conducting portion  234  of the power supply pattern  231  and the fourth conducting portion  239  of the power supply pattern  236  to move the movable body  100 . Thereby, one curtain hung from the hanging fitting  130  of the movable body  100  is opened and closed. 
         [0104]    When the movable body  100  is located between the power supply pattern  231  and the power supply pattern  236 , the control unit  300  can stop or move the movable body  100  at any position. That is, the control unit  300  can bring the one curtain into the completely-opened state, a partially opened state, or the completely-closed state. 
         [0105]    Note that, the detector  252  and the detector  253  are provided for the electric curtain opening and closing device  3  for the two-way draw curtain. Thus, in the electric curtain opening and closing device  4 , the control unit  300  ignores signals from the detector  252  and the detector  253 . 
         [0106]      FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  show an example of a configuration of an electric curtain opening and closing device  5  as a modification of the electric curtain opening and closing device  4  in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0107]    The electric curtain opening and closing device  5  includes a movable body  100 , a curtain rail  262 , a control unit  300 , and a power source  503 . 
         [0108]    The curtain rail  262  has a power supply pattern  241  and a power supply pattern  246  in place of the power supply pattern  231  and the power supply pattern  236  in the curtain rail  261  of the electric curtain opening and closing device  4 . 
         [0109]    Like the power supply pattern  231 , the power supply pattern  241  is configured such that a fifth conducting portion  242  and a sixth conducting portion  244  are located on the left side and the right side, respectively, and a third insulating portion  243  is sandwiched between the fifth conducting portion  242  and the sixth conducting portion  244 . However, unlike the power supply pattern  231 , the power supply pattern  241  has an overlapping portion  240  where the fifth conducting portion  242  and the sixth conducting portion  244  overlap each other in the third insulating portion  243 . 
         [0110]    Like the power supply pattern  236 , the power supply pattern  246  is configured such that a seventh conducting portion  247  and an eighth conducting portion  249  are located on the left side and the right side, respectively, and a fourth insulating portion  248  is sandwiched between the seventh conducting portion  247  and the eighth conducting portion  249 . However, unlike the power supply pattern  236 , the power supply pattern  246  has an overlapping portion  245  where the seventh conducting portion  247  and the eighth conducting portion  249  overlap each other in the fourth insulating portion  248 . 
         [0111]    The fifth conducting portion  242 , the sixth conducting portion  244 , the seventh conducting portion  247 , and the eighth conducting portion  249  each include a conductor that passes electricity. The third insulating portion  243  and the fourth insulating portion  248  each include an insulator that does not pass electricity. 
         [0112]    Due to the presence of the overlapping portion  240  and the overlapping portion  245 , even when the movable body  100  stops at a position where it is sandwiched between the third insulating portion  243  and the fourth insulating portion  248 , the control unit  300  can move the movable body  100  again. 
         [0113]      FIG. 13  shows an example of appearance of an electric curtain opening and closing device  6  in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The electric curtain opening and closing device  6  is for the two-way draw curtain. 
         [0114]    The electric curtain opening and closing device  6  includes two movable bodies  100 , a curtain rail  263 , a power source  501 , a power source  502 , and a remote controller (wireless signal transmission device)  602 . 
         [0115]    The movable body  100  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  6  has the same configuration as the movable body  100  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  3  in accordance with the third embodiment. 
         [0116]    The curtain rail  263  has a hollow portion  201 , an opening  202 , a power supply pattern  231 , a power supply pattern  236 , a wheel travelling portion  221 , a wheel travelling portion  222 , a detector  250 , a detector  251 , a detector  252 , a detector  253 , a control unit  600 , and an antenna  601 . 
         [0117]    The curtain rail  263  has the control unit  600  arranged in a housing of the curtain rail  263 , and is different from the curtain rail  261  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  3  in accordance with the third embodiment in that the antenna  601  for receiving a wireless signal is connected to the control unit  600 . The control unit  600  has a reception circuit for the wireless signal therein. 
         [0118]    The same constituents in  FIG. 13  as those in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are given the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. 
         [0119]    The remote controller  602  includes a button R/L (right/left) for selecting the movable body  100  arranged on the left side or the movable body  100  arranged on the right side, a button O (open), a button S (stop), and a button C (close) that controls the selected movable body  100 . When the user presses any of these buttons, the remote controller  602  transmits a wireless signal, indicating that the button is pressed, to the antenna  601 . 
         [0120]    In response to the signal received by the antenna  601 , the control unit  600  controls electricity supplied to the power supply pattern  231  and the power supply pattern  236  to move the two movable bodies  100 . 
         [0121]      FIG. 14  shows an example of appearance of an electric curtain opening and closing device  7  in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The electric curtain opening and closing device  7  is for a double curtain consisting of a thin curtain and a thick curtain, as well as the two-way draw curtain. 
         [0122]    The electric curtain opening and closing device  7  includes four movable bodies  100 , a curtain rail  261 , a curtain rail  264 , four power sources, and a remote controller (wireless signal transmission device)  612 . 
         [0123]    The movable body  100  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  7  has the same configuration as the movable body  100  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  3  in accordance with the third embodiment. 
         [0124]    The curtain rail  261  has the same configuration as the curtain rail  261  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  3  in accordance with the third embodiment. 
         [0125]    The curtain rail  264  has a hollow portion  201 , an opening  202 , a power supply pattern  231 , a power supply pattern  236 , a wheel travelling portion  221 , a wheel travelling portion  222 , a detector  250 , a detector  251 , a detector  252 , a detector  253 , a control unit  610 , and an antenna  601 . 
         [0126]    The curtain rail  264  includes a control signal line  611  for controlling the two movable bodies  100  arranged in the curtain rail  261 . The curtain rail  264  is different from the curtain rail  263  included in the electric curtain opening and closing device  6  in accordance with the fifth embodiment in that the control unit  610  controls the movement of the two movable bodies  100  arranged in the curtain rail  264  and the movement of the two movable bodies  100  arranged in the curtain rail  261 . 
         [0127]    The control unit  610  is the same as the control unit  600  in that it has the reception circuit for the wireless signal. 
         [0128]    The same constituents in  FIG. 14  as those in  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 13  are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. 
         [0129]    A remote controller  622  includes a button F/B (front/back) in addition to the button R/L, the button O, the button S, and the button C. The button F/B selects the curtain rail  264  or the curtain rail  261 . When the user presses any of these buttons, the remote controller  612  transmits a wireless signal indicating that the button is pressed to the antenna  601 . 
         [0130]    In response to the signal received by the antenna  601 , the control unit  610  controls electricity supplied to the power supply pattern  231  and the power supply pattern  236  of the curtain rail  261 , and electricity supplied to the power supply pattern  231  and the power supply pattern  236  of the curtain rail  264  to move the four movable bodies  100 . 
         [0131]    In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the power supply pattern  211  and the power supply pattern  212 , the power supply pattern  231  and the power supply pattern  236 , and the power supply pattern  241  and the power supply pattern  246  extend along the left inner side face and the right inner side face of the curtain rail  200  and the like, respectively, and, however, each of the power supply patterns may extend along the inner side of the upper face of the curtain rail. Each of the power supply patterns may extend overlapping the wheel travelling portion  221  and the wheel travelling portion  222 , and the whole or a part of the wheel  121 , the wheel  122 , the wheel  123 , and the wheel  124  may be used as the electrode. 
         [0132]    Although the movable body  100  and the movable body  150  have the wheel  121 , the wheel  122 , the wheel  123 , and the wheel  124  in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the number of wheels may be two or six, and the movable body  100  and the movable body  150  may have any number of wheels. 
         [0133]    In the first embodiment, second embodiment, and third embodiment, the movable body  150  may be used in place of the movable body  100 . A movable body provided with three or more electrodes on each of the right side face and the left side face may be adopted. 
         [0134]    Although the movable body  100  or the movable body  150  has been referred to in connection with the fourth embodiment, a movable body provided with three or more electrodes on each of the right side face and the left side face may be used instead. However, in this case, a distance between the electrodes at both ends of the right side face needs to exceed the longitudinal width Y of the first insulating portion  233 , and a distance between the electrodes at both ends of the left side face needs to exceed the longitudinal width Y′ of the second insulating portion  238 . 
         [0135]    Although the electric curtain opening and closing device  5  in the modification example of the above-described fourth embodiment is for the one-way draw curtain, the curtain rail  262  and the two movable bodies  100  in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  may be used to constitute an electric curtain opening and closing device for the two-way draw curtain. 
         [0136]    In the above-described third embodiment, the control unit  300  can individually move the left movable body  100  and the right movable body  100  and, however, the control unit  300  may simultaneously move the left movable body  100  and the right movable body  100  in cooperation. 
         [0137]    However, in this case, when detecting that the left movable body  100  contacts the detector  251  in the vicinity of the left end or the detector  252  located a little to the left with respect to the center, even when the right movable body  100  is moving, the control unit  300  turns off the power source  501  to stop the left movable body  100 . Similarly, when detecting that the detector  253  located a little to the left with respect to the center or the detector  250  in the vicinity of the right end, even when the left movable body  100  is moving, the control unit  300  turns off the power source  502  to stop the right movable body  100 . 
         [0138]    Although the above-described fifth embodiment describes the electric curtain opening and closing device  6  for the two-way draw curtain, the curtain rail  263  may be used to constitute an electric curtain opening and closing device for the one-way draw curtain. 
         [0139]    Similarly, although the above-described sixth embodiment describes the electric curtain opening and closing device  7  for the two-way draw curtain, the curtain rail  261  and the curtain rail  264  may be used to constitute an electric curtain opening and closing device for double and one-way draw curtains. 
         [0140]    In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the detector  251 , the detector  252 , the detector  253 , and the detector  254  each are a contact switch and, however, these detectors may be any device such as an infrared sensor as long as they can detect the location of the movable body  100  and the movable body  150 . 
         [0141]    In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, although the electric motor  102  is, for example, the DC motor, the electric motor  102  may be any motor as long as it can switch between the positive rotation and negative rotation, and control the rotating speed. 
         [0142]    As has been described, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the light-weight and low-cost electric curtain opening and closing device that does not cause the breakage and the electric leakage of the electric cord. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, various modifications and combinations that are required for design and other factors fall within the scope of the invention, which corresponds to the invention recited in Claims and the specific examples described in the embodiments of the invention.

Technology Category: 1