Guide apparatus for sliding door

A guide apparatus for guiding a movement of each of a plurality of sliding doors with respect to a main body between a set position and a preparation position in front of or behind the set position, and between the preparation position and a non-set position to the left or right of the preparation position, said plurality of sliding doors being flush with each other when all of said plurality of sliding doors are in the set positions and arranged in a right and left direction, said guide apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of rotatable rails formed in an elongated shape horizontally extending in a right and left direction, arranged in the right and left direction to form a straight line and supported by said main body such that each of said rotatable rails can rotate about a first rotation axis extending in the right and left direction between a first rotation position and a second rotation position;
• and
• a runner supported by each of said plurality of sliding doors such that said runner can swing about a second rotation axis parallel to said first rotation axis;
• wherein each of said rotatable rails includes a receiving groove extending in a longitudinal direction of said rotatable rail, a one side portion of said receiving groove being provided as a running surface;
• wherein each of said rotatable rails further includes an auxiliary surface spaced from said running surface by the same angle as the angle between the first rotation position and the second rotation position about said first rotation axis;
• wherein when each of said sliding doors is in the set position, corresponding one of said rotatable rails is in the first rotation position and said runner is received in said receiving groove of said corresponding rotatable rail;
• wherein when each of said sliding doors is in the preparation position, corresponding one of said rotatable rails is in the second rotation position and said runner is received in said receiving groove and rides on said running surface of said corresponding rotatable rail;
• wherein when each of said sliding doors is moved from the preparation position to the non-set position, said runner is capable of transferring from said running surface of said corresponding rotatable rail onto said auxiliary surface of another of said rotatable rails adjacent to said corresponding rotatable rail;
• wherein said guide apparatus further comprises:
• a biasing member biasing each of said rotatable rails toward the second rotation position;
• and
• a stop member for maintaining each of said rotatable rails at the second rotation position against said biasing member;
• wherein said rotatable rail includes a receiving hole opening at left and right ends of the rotatable rail;
• wherein a pair of rail support parts are mounted on said main body in such a manner as to sandwich said rotatable rail and rotatably support said rotatable rail, each of said rail support parts including a bearing portion fitted into said receiving hole of said rotatable rail;
• and
• wherein said biasing member is received in said receiving hole at a location deeper than said bearing portion.