Lifter device

A lifter device comprising:

• a pinion gear meshing with an input gear of a link mechanism for lifting and lowering a seat;
• and
• a rotation control device configured to control rotation of the pinion gear, the rotation control device including:
• a rotation shaft configured to rotate in synchronization with the pinion gear;
• a support member configured to rotatably support the rotation shaft;
• a rotation driving mechanism provided to the rotation shaft, the rotation driving mechanism being configured to rotationally drive the rotation shaft in a lifting direction when an operation handle for lifting and lowering the seat is operated to lift the seat and being configured to bring the rotation shaft into a free rotation state without rotationally driving the rotation shaft when the operation handle is operated to lower the seat;
• and
• a lock mechanism provided to the rotation shaft, the lock mechanism being configured to lock the rotation of the rotation shaft at an operation end position of the operation handle when the operation handle is operated to lift the seat and being configured to bring the rotation shaft into a free rotation state without locking the rotation of the rotation shaft when the operation handle is operated to lower the seat,
• wherein the lock mechanism includes:
• a ratchet wheel configured to rotate in synchronization with the rotation shaft and having an engaging claw formed on its outer periphery;
• a pawl configured to be held on the support member so as to be prevented from moving in a rotational direction of the rotation shaft and to be movable in a radial direction of the rotation shaft, the pawl being provided to be engageable with the engaging claw of the ratchet wheel;
• a first spring configured to bias the pawl in a direction of engaging with the ratchet wheel;
• and
• a pawl operating member configured to bring the pawl into an engagement state with ratchet wheel in a non-operated state of the operation handle, configured to bring the pawl into a free state when the operation handle is operated to a seat lifting side, and configured to separate the pawl from the ratchet wheel when the operation handle is operated to a seat lowering side,
• wherein the engaging claw of the ratchet wheel has a shape that does not engage with the pawl when the ratchet wheel is rotated in the lifting direction together with the rotation shaft and that engages with the pawl when the ratchet wheel is rotated in the lowering direction together with the rotation shaft,
• wherein the pawl operating member is configured to be rotatable with respect to the rotation shaft so as to rotate in accordance with the operation of the operation handle and includes a first projection protrudingly formed on its outer peripheral side for rotational alignment,
• wherein the support member includes a second projection which is protrudingly formed so as to face the first projection and which serves as a reference position of the pawl operating member in the rotational direction, and
• wherein, in a state where the operation handle is not operated, a second spring is configured to bias the first projection so as to overlap with the second projection in the rotational direction of the pawl operating member.