JPH01164237A - Recharger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an easy-to-use recharger in which a cell can be mounted easily, by forming the casing such that the distance between plus and minus side contact terminals is variable and providing a mechanism for pressing the contact terminals against the cell only when the cell is recharged. CONSTITUTION:In a recharger comprising a casing for mounting a cell 3 and plus and minus contact terminals 4 contactable with the electrodes of the cell 3, the casing is formed such that the distance between the plus and minus contact terminals 4 is variable. In practice, the casing is splitted into first and second blocks 1, 2 which are slidable to vary the distance between them. A switching means 14 for contacting the contact terminals 4 with the electrodes of the cell 3 only when the cell 3 is mounted is provided. By such arrangement, the cell 3 can be mounted easily and contacted reliably with the contact terminals 4 when it is recharged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a charger for charging a battery.

(Prior art) In general, in order to optimally charge the battery in charging 1, it is important to reduce the contact resistance between the battery and the charging terminal of the charger, especially when rapidly charging the battery. Since a large current is passed through the battery, the loss due to the contact resistance cannot be ignored. Therefore, in the conventional charger, as shown in FIG.
and both contact panes 103a, 103 in the charger 102.
The contact resistance is reduced by setting a large difference from the distance 11tLz between the contact ends F103a and F103b, thereby increasing the contact pressure between the contact ends F103a and F103b and the battery 101.

However, when installing a battery in such a charger, the contact terminal 103b must be compressed by the above-mentioned dimensional difference (Ll-12) while installing the battery, so this dimensional difference (Ll-12) is The problem is that the larger the battery, the more troublesome it is to install the battery, making it less convenient to use.

(Object of the Invention) In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a charger in which a battery can be easily attached and in which a contact terminal can be brought into contact with the battery with sufficient contact pressure during charging.

(Structure of the Invention) The present invention provides a charger that includes a case in which a battery is attached, and contact terminals on the positive side and negative side that contact the battery attached to the case, in which the distance between these contact terminals is variable. The battery case and the re-contact terminal are constructed so as to have the following characteristics, and a switching means is provided for bringing the re-contact terminal into contact with the battery at a predetermined pressure only during charging.

With this configuration, the battery can be easily installed with the recontact terminals spaced sufficiently apart, and when charging,
The contact terminal can be brought into contact with the battery with a predetermined contact pressure by the switching means.

(Example) A first example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 3.

The charger shown here consists of a first block 1 and a second block 1.
It has a case consisting of block 2, and both blocks 1.2
A negative contact terminal 5 and a positive contact terminal 4 are respectively attached to the terminal. A battery 3 is attached between these contact terminals 4 and 5.

As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the second block 2 has a protrusion 6 protruding from its side surface, and this protrusion 6 is formed on the first block 1. It is inserted into the insertion section 7. Stopper parts 6a and 6b protrude vertically from the end of the protruding part 6, and these stopper parts 6a and 6b are in a first position (second position) where they abut against the inner walls 7a and 7b of the insertion part 7 on the artificial side. Figure (a)) and the second position where the distal end surface 6C of the protrusion 6 abuts the inner wall 7C on the back side of the insertion section 7 @
(FIG. 2(b)), the first block 1 can slide relative to the second block 2. When the first block 1 is in the first position, the distance between both contact terminals 4.5 is greater than the total length of the battery 3, and when the first block 1 is in the second position, Each dimension is set so that the recontact terminal 4.5 is pressed against the battery 3 with a predetermined pressure. Moreover, a compression spring 9 is interposed between the distal end surface 6C of the protruding portion 6 and the inner wall 7C on the back side of the insertion portion 7, and this compression spring 9 allows both blocks 1 to
．． 2 are urged in the direction of separating from each other.

Inside the first block 1, an electric circuit 10 for charging is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, this electric circuit 10 is connected to the contact terminals 4 and 5, a step-down transformer T, a rectifying bridge B, a light emitting diode D1 for displaying energization, and a switch SW via a fuse F. The positive contact terminal 4 is connected to the electric circuit 1 by a lead wire 12 passing through a hole 6d formed in the protrusion 6.
It is connected to the board 13 of 0. The switch SW is disposed at a position facing the protruding part 6 from the inner wall 7C on the back side of the insertion part 7, and when the protruding part 6 is completely inserted (FIG. 2(b)
)) is turned on by this protrusion 6, and the charging circuit 10 is brought into a energized state.

Furthermore, this first block 1 is provided with a timer mechanism (switching means) U consisting of a dial 14, a cam 15, and a lever 16. Dial 14 and cam 1
5 are disposed on the outside and inside of the first block 1, respectively, and are integrally connected by a shaft 17.

A spiral spring (not shown) is attached to this shaft 17, and the dial 14 and cam 15 are moved in the direction of arrow A from the reference position in FIG. 1. After setting the timer by rotating the The cam 15 gradually rotates in the direction of arrow A' in FIG.
It returns to its original reference position after a predetermined period of time.

The lever 16 is rotatably supported within the first block 1 about a shaft 18 at its central portion. An upward protrusion 16a is formed at one end of this lever 16, a downward protrusion 16b is formed at the other end, and the end on the protrusion 16b side is connected to a compression It is biased downward by a single spring. The protrusion 16a is located at the reference position (FIG. 2(a)) of the cam 1.
The protrusion 16b is in a position where it can come into contact with the convex portion 15a of the insert portion 7, and the protrusion 16b is in a position where it can enter into the insertion portion 7 through the hole 7d formed in the insertion portion 7.

Further, on the outer surface of the first block 1, an eye @20 is provided around the dial 14 for the user to set a desired charging time.

Next, the operation of this charger will be explained. When the cam 15 is at the reference position, that is, when the timer is not set, the lever 1
The protrusion 16a of 6 is pushed down by the protrusion 15a of the cam 15, and conversely the protrusion 16b floats upward.
The second block 2 is pushed to the first position by a compression spring 9 relative to the first block 1. Therefore, the distance between both contact terminals 4 and 5 is greater than the total length of the battery 3, and the battery 3 can be easily installed or removed in this state. On the other hand, at this time, the energization switch SW is turned off.

After installing the battery 3 in this state, when the second block 2 is pushed to the second position against the elastic force of the compression spring 9, the re-contact terminal 4.5 connects to the battery 3 with a predetermined contact pressure. While being pressed, the tip surface 6C of the protrusion 6 causes the switch SW to
is switched on, and the electric circuit 10 becomes energized.

Further, in this state, when the dial 14 and the cam 15 are rotated in the direction of the arrow to a predetermined angle (an angle I corresponding to the charging time), as shown in FIG. 2(b), the protrusion 16a of the lever 16 The contact between the protrusion 15a of the cam 15 is released, and the other protrusion 16b is pressed down by the compression spring 19 and enters the insertion part 7 through the hole 7d, and this protrusion 16b closes the stomper part. 6a is locked.

Therefore, during the period until the dial 14 and the cam 15 return to the reference position, the battery 3 is charged while the second block 2 is held at the second position, and after returning to the reference position, When the protrusion 16a comes into contact with the protrusion 15a of the cam 15 again, the protrusion 16b floats up, and the force of the compression spring 9 separates both blocks 1.2, stopping charging.

As mentioned above, in this charger, the first block 1 and the second block
The block 2 is made slidable, thereby making the distance between both contact terminals 4.5 variable.
The battery 3 can be easily installed with a sufficient distance between both contact terminals 4.5, and by shortening the distance between both contact terminals 4.5 after installation, both contact terminals 7'4 ．．
Charging can be performed by bringing the battery 5 into contact with the battery 3 at a predetermined pressure.

Furthermore, by setting the charging time according to the capacity of the battery 3 by rotating the dial 14, both blocks 1.2 are automatically separated after the desired charging time due to the action of the tine-gate mechanism U, and charging is stopped. Therefore, overcharging due to excessive charging time is prevented, and safety is improved. Note that the switching means in the present invention does not necessarily need to have such a timer function, and may at least switch the state so that the recontact terminal is brought into contact with the battery at a predetermined pressure only during charging. Therefore, for example, in the case of the charger described above, the dial 14 may be manually turned at the start of charging and after the charging time has elapsed, thereby switching the rotation of the lever 16.

Next, the second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (a) to (C).
The explanation will be based on. This charger uses a single case 4
The contact terminal 4.5 is attached to 1, and both contact terminals 4,
A cover 42 (this will serve as a switching means as described later) is placed over the battery 3 installed between the two terminals 4 and 5, and the outer part of the recontact terminal 4 and 5 in the case 41 is The side walls 42a and 4 of the lid 42 are
Insertion grooves 43a and 43b into which the 2b is inserted are formed.

The contact terminal 4 is formed in the shape of a leaf spring, and its lower end is fixed to the case 41 side, and its upper end is free. Therefore, due to this deformation of the contact terminal 4, the distance between both terminals 4.5 changes. This contact terminal 4 has a shape that faces into the insertion groove 43a from a hole 41a formed in the case 41 as shown in FIG. 5(a) when no external force is applied to it. When the side wall 42a of the above-mentioned 142 is inserted, it is elastically deformed and protrudes toward the battery 3 side as shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 5(c).

On the other hand, on the insertion groove 43b side, switches SW1. SW2 are arranged at predetermined positions above and below, and these switches SW+, SW
2 is a side wall 42b of the lid 42 inserted into the insertion groove 43b;
Switched on by .

Although not shown here, this charger also has a built-in circuit similar to the electric circuit 10, and this circuit includes the switches SW1 and 3W2.
If only one switch SWt is on, a relatively large charge current is supplied, and both switches SWt.

The configuration is such that a relatively small charging current is supplied when both SW2 are on. Therefore, as will be described in detail later, the attachment (insertion) state of the lid 42 varies depending on changes in battery thickness, that is, changes in battery capacity, and this l1
The predetermined charge 1 depending on the wearing condition of 42! The current is now set.

This circuit also includes two light emitting diodes D1 and D2.
(Fig. 4), diode D1 lights up when a large current is supplied, and diode D2 lights up when a small current is supplied.

Next, the operation of this charger will be explained. As shown in Fig. 5 (a), when N42 is not attached to the case 41,
The contact terminal 4 on the positive side faces the insertion groove 438 side,
This contact terminal 4 and the negative side contact terminal 5 are sufficiently spaced apart from each other.

Therefore, the battery 3 can be easily attached in this state.

After installing the battery 3, cover the upper part of the battery 3 with the N42 and attach the side wall 42a of the fi42.

42b into the insertion grooves 43a and 43b, respectively, and remove the lid 4.
2, the positive side contact terminal 4 is pushed to the side 142a and deformed, and both contact terminals 4.5 are pressed against the battery 3 with a predetermined pressure. At this time, if the thickness of the battery 3 is relatively large, that is, if the battery capacity is large, as shown in FIG.
As shown in b), the side walls 42a, 42b of 142 are not completely inserted into the insertion grooves 43a, 43b, and SW
1 is turned on, but SW2 is not turned on.

Therefore, at this time, a relatively large charging current is supplied to the battery 3.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5(C), when a battery 3' having a relatively small thickness is coated with Ha, the side wall 4 of N42
2a, 42b are completely inserted into the insertion groove 438.43b, and the switches SW1.8W2 are both turned on. Therefore, at this time, a relatively small charging current is supplied to the battery 3'.

As described above, in this charger, like the charger of the first embodiment, the battery can be easily attached, and when charging, both contact terminals 4.5 are brought into contact with the battery with a predetermined pressure by attaching the lid 42. can be done. Moreover, the insertion groove 43
The thickness of the battery, that is, the battery capacity, is detected based on the insertion amount of the side wall 42b of the lid 42 inserted into the lid 42, and the charging current is adjusted, so that charging is automatically performed according to the capacity of the installed battery. Can be done.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention provides a switching means that makes the distance between the contact terminals that respectively contact the batteries attached to the case variable, and brings both contact terminals into contact with the batteries with a predetermined pressure only during charging. As a result, the battery can be easily installed with both contact terminals sufficiently spaced apart, and at the time of charging, both contact terminals can be brought into contact with the battery at a predetermined pressure by the switching means. . Therefore, there is an effect that good charging can be performed while improving usability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a charger and a battery in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are a sectional view of the charger and a side view of the battery, and FIG. A circuit diagram of a built-in electric circuit, FIG. 4 is a second side view, and FIG. 6 is a side view of a conventional charger. 1...first block, 2...second block, 3
゜3'...Battery, 4.5...Contact terminal, 10...
Electric circuit, 41...Case, 42...Lid (switching means>, SW, SVh, SW2...Switch, U...
- Timer machine n (switching means). Patent applicant Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. Agent
Patent Attorney Etsushi Kotani Patent Attorney
1) Masamukai Patent Attorney Tsuneo Itaya No. 1 Figure 3 Figure H υ
4 Figure (b) Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a charger equipped with a case in which a battery is installed and contact terminals on the positive side and negative side that contact the battery installed in the case, the distance between these contact terminals is variable. A charger characterized in that the case and both contact terminals are configured so as to be configured such that the case and both contact terminals are configured such that the case and both contact terminals are configured such that the case and both contact terminals are configured such that the case and both contact terminals are configured such that the case and both contact terminals are configured such that the case and both contact terminals are configured such that the case and both contact terminals are configured such that the charger is provided with a switching means that brings both contact terminals into contact with the battery with a predetermined pressure only during charging. 2. The case is composed of a first block to which a negative side contact terminal is attached and a second block to which a positive side contact terminal is attached, and these blocks are configured to be slidable relative to each other. The charger according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The charger according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a timer mechanism that separates both contact terminals after a preset charging time has elapsed. 4. The battery according to claim 1, further comprising a lid that brings the contact terminal into contact with the battery when attached to the case, and the charging current is set according to the attachment state of the lid. charger.