JPH0140452B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a small push switch that is thin in the operating direction and narrow in width, and particularly provides a small push switch that can be operated reliably by a pressing body. The purpose is to

This type of small push switch has been disclosed in U.S. Pat.
- Specification No. 3370, Specification of Utility Application No. 1983-92544, Specification of Utility Application No. 128468-1983, and Specification of Utility Application No. 1983-
The invention described in the specification of No. 154832 and the like is provided.

However, in the case of this kind of conventional small push switch, the switch can be switched by pressing the push button for the entire predetermined pressing stroke. In such a case, the switch cannot be changed and the button must be pressed again.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and even if it is a small push switch with a thin thickness in the operation direction and a narrow width, the switch can be activated by simply operating the push body for more than half of the total stroke. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a small push switch with a simple structure that operates.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1A is a plan assembly diagram with the lid removed.
FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional assembly view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1D is an operation diagram when pressing down the pressing body 5 in FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C is a front view. Figure 2 is a perspective view of each part, Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of rotor operation, A shows the initial rotor position, B shows the rotor position rotated by 30°, C shows the rotor position further rotated by 60°, and D 9 shows the engagement between the ratchet groove 3'b and the ratchet cam 9b. (In the figure, the ratchet cam 9b of the actuating body 3 and rotor 9
The contact cam 9a is shown by a solid line, the contact cam 9a is shown by a chain line, and the first contact spring 6 and the fixed contact 8c of the middle terminal 8 are shown by a broken line. ) Figure 4 is the A plan view of the first contact spring terminal.
B is a side view, FIG. 5 is an A plan view, B side view, C front view of the actuating body, D and A are DD' sectional views, and FIG. 6 is an A plan view and a B plan view of the rotor.

First, I will give an overview. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a box-shaped main body case (hereinafter simply referred to as a case) made of an insulating mold. Hereinafter, in both figures, the left side will be referred to as the front and the right side will be referred to as the rear. A rotor 9 made of an insulating mold is rotatably mounted on a cylindrical shaft part 19 planted on the bottom surface near the front wall 11 on approximately the center line of the box-shaped case 1. A rectangular support 1 that opens toward the rear wall is planted on the bottom of the box-shaped case 1 near the rear wall 11' on the center line.
5 and a pair of rib walls 13 provided on the rear wall 11' of the case 1, the plane forms an E-shape, and the rotor 9
An actuating body 3 made of a mold for ratcheting rotation is attached, and a pressing body 5 made of a mold is inserted between the actuating body 3 and the column 15 of the case. First and second contact spring terminals (hereinafter simply referred to as contact springs) 6 and 7, which are substantially symmetrical and of the same type, are attached to the inner surfaces of the side walls 12 and 12' of the case 1, and are attached to the front wall 11 of the case 1. Attach the middle terminal 8. Then, a lid part 2 for holding each component attached to the case 1 is fixed to the case 1 in a snap-in manner to the opening on the upper surface of the case 1.

Next, each part will be explained in detail. A cylindrical rotor 9 made of an insulating mold shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 has a central hole 9c that fits and rotates on the shaft 19 of the case 1, and contact springs 6, 7 are provided in the upper part of the rotor 9. engages with the rotor contact parts 6a, 7a of
Three contact cams 9a are protruded at equal intervals of 120 degrees. The contact cam 9a is located at the bottom of the rotor 9.
Six ratchet cams 9b are provided below at 60° intervals, and the rotor 9 rotates clockwise by 60° each time a prescribed switch is operated.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the actuating body 3, which is E-shaped in plan view and is made of an elastic mold with a small coefficient of friction, has a relatively long elastic plate-like first ratchet arm with an extended side surface. 3a, and the distal end of the ratchet arm 3a is provided with a ratchet claw portion 3'a that engages with the ratchet cam 9b of the rotor 9. Said first ratchet arm 3
A is a main drive part for rotating the rotor 9, and it engages with the ratchet cam 9b of the rotor 9 and rotates the rotor by 60 degrees according to the intended switch operation stroke Ls of the operating body 3. Further, the arm 3c at the center of the operating body is provided with a slope 3e of about 45 degrees that descends in the direction of the column 15.

At the lower left rear side of the actuating body 3, there is a recess 3 in which a coil spring 4 for biasing the actuating body 3 in the right direction is installed.
It is equipped with d. The right end of the central arm 3c is normally urged into contact with the base of the column 15 of the case 1 by the urging pressure of the spring 4.
Both sides of the left side of the sliding body 3 are connected to the rear wall 1 of the case 1.
The sliding body 3 is guided between a pair of ribs 13 of 1' and slides therebetween, and the bottom of the sliding body 3 comes into sliding contact with the bottom surface of the case 1.

Next, as the switch operation replenishment mechanism of the present invention, the actuating body 3 is provided with a second ratchet arm 3b which is substantially the same shape and opposed to the first ratchet arm 3a. The second ratchet arm 3b is located at the tip of the ratchet arm 3b when the leftward switch operation stroke of the sliding body 3 is about half of the total switch operation stroke Ls, that is, Ls/2, that is, when the rotor 9 has rotated about 30 degrees here. When the sliding body 3 returns to the initial position in the right direction, the ratchet groove 3'b provided in the rotor engages with the ratchet cam 9b of the rotor to rotate the rotor by an additional 30 degrees, as will be described in detail later. Rotate the ratchet to the desired rotation angle of 60°.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, 6 is a first contact spring terminal, which is made of an elastic metal spring plate and has a comb shape in three parallel rows as shown in the side view of Figure 4B. The base portion 6e is inserted into the engagement groove between the side wall 12 of the case 1 and a rib 13 provided on the rear wall 11' of the case 1 and parallel to the side wall 12, and is fixed. At this time, there is a notch 6g on the lower side of the lower part of the common base 6e, near the right end of the terminal part 6f, which has the external terminal 6t on the right end.
and connect it to the terminal groove 1t of the front wall 11 of the case 1.
and is locked to the front wall 11. The contact portion 6c provided at the right end of the upper movable contact piece 6d of the first contact spring terminal fixed in this way is the fixed contact 8c of the middle terminal 8.
and switch contact. Further, the rotor contact protrusion 6d of the movable contact piece 6d is connected to the contact cam 9a of the rotor 9.
and engage each other to perform a switch action. The anti-reversal spring piece 6b is provided in a comb shape between the upper movable contact piece 6d and the lower terminal part 6f, and its elastic tip engages with the ratchet cam 9b of the rotor 9 to stop rotation and position.

The second contact spring terminal 7 has almost the same shape as the first contact spring, and the method of fixing it to the case 1 is almost the same, but since the anti-reversal spring 6b is not used, it may be formed without this from the beginning. good.

As a fixed terminal, a middle terminal 8 made of a metal plate is provided here, and contact portions 6c, 7c of the first and second contact spring terminals 6, 7 are provided on both sides of the main body portion 8a.
It is provided with fixed contact portions 8c and 8'c that engage with.
The main body portion 8a is provided with an engagement hole 8b that engages with the middle terminal support 18 of the case 1, and the outer terminal 8t integrated with the middle terminal 8 is inserted into the terminal groove 18t in the center of the front wall 11 of the case. stick. Here, the above middle terminal 8
This is an example for a single-pole double-throw switch. As another embodiment, in the case of a double-pole single-throw switch, two separate inner terminals 8', 8'' (not shown) engage with the contact portions 6c, 7c of the first and second contact springs 6, 7. )
may be provided according to conventional technology. In a single-pole, single-throw switch, the second contact spring terminal 7 is unnecessary and does not need to be fixed to the case 1.

The pressing body 5, which is made of an insulating mold and has a rectangular planar top surface and a right triangular side surface, has an inclined bottom that is formed inside the case 1 between the column 15 of the case 1 and the actuating body 3 that presses it. The pressing body 5 is fitted and fitted by being inserted from above into the pressing body fitting recess 5' forming the shape, and the pressing body 5 is provided with a sloped portion 5e on the lower surface that slides in contact with the sloped portion 3e of the actuating body 3. . The vertical surface 5b at the right end of the pressing body 5 shown in FIGS.
5b and slides in a direction perpendicular to the paper plane of FIG. or,
A cylindrical portion 5c is provided on the upper surface of the pressing body 5, and its central hole 5d is fitted with a small diameter shaft 21d at the lower end of the operating shaft 21 to prevent rattling, and the lower surface shoulder portion 21c of the operating shaft 21 and the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 5c are bring it into contact.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a lid made of an insulating mold that covers the opening of the dish-shaped case 1. Relatively narrow locking walls 2b hanging down on both sides of the lid engage with the recesses 1b in the side walls of the case 1, and the locking walls Locking protrusion 2' provided at the tip of 2b
Snap in and secure to case 1 with b. On the lower surface of the front surface of the lid 2, there is a terminal holding projection 2 for fixing the external terminals 6t, 7t of the contact springs 6, 7, which are respectively attached to the two terminal grooves 1t in the front wall 11 of the case 1, from above.
It is equipped with t. In addition, the shaft 19 of the case 1 is attached to the lid 2.
The guide hole 2c is provided with a hole 2a that engages with the upper end small diameter portion 19a and a guide hole 2c that engages with the outer diameter of the upper cylindrical portion 5c of the pressing body 5.

To assemble this switch, position and attach the contact spring terminals 6, 7 and the middle terminal 8 to the case 1, then attach the rotor 9 to the shaft 19 of the case 1, and attach the actuating body 3 to the rear of the column 15 of the case 1. 1 back wall 1
1' through the coil spring 4, and then engage the pressing body 5 with the guide groove 15b of the support column 15 of the case 1 and press it upward into the fitting recess 5' between the actuating body 3. After engaging each other and inserting the
The lid 2 is positioned and snapped onto the case 1 to complete the assembly.

Next, the operation of this switch configured as described above will be described.
Insert the small diameter shaft 21d of the operating shaft 21 into the
When the pressing body 5 is pushed downward with the shoulder portion 21c of the case 1, the wall surface 5b of the pressing body 5 is pushed downwardly by the shoulder 21c of the case 1, as shown in FIGS.
Since the operating body 3 is supported by the support column 15, the slope portion 3e of the actuating body 3, which is engaged with the slope portion 5e of the pressing body 5 and biased to the right by the spring 4, moves toward the rear wall 11' of the case 1, that is, the first As shown in Figures B, D and 3, it moves to the left, so that the actuating body 3 slides to the left. Next, when the pressing force of the pressing body 5 is removed, the actuating body 3 returns to its original position by the force of the coil spring 4. Here, if the angle of the slope portions 5e and 3e is 45 degrees, the vertical stroke La of the operating shaft 21 and the pressing body 5 will be approximately equal to the leftward stroke Ls of the operating body 3.

As mentioned above, the actuating body 3 repeats the stroke Ls toward the wall 11' of the case every time the pressing body 5 presses. The ratchet pawl 3'a of the actuator 3 engages with one of the contacts 9b to rotate the rotor 9 by 60 degrees, and three contacts are provided on the upper side of the rotor 9 at 120 degree intervals each time the actuator 3 reciprocates. The rotor contact protrusions 6a and 7a of the contact springs 6 and 7 are alternately engaged with one of the cams 9a. However, the contact portions 6c, 7c at the tips of the movable contact pieces 6d, 7d of the contact springs 6, 7 are the fixed contacts 8c, 7c on the side surface of the inner terminal 8.
8'c direction, contact springs 6,
When the rotor contact projections 6a, 7a of No. 7 engage with one of the contact cams 9a during rotation of the rotor 9, the contact portions 6c, 7c are deflected outward and the switch is turned off. That is, each time the rotor 9 rotates by 60 degrees, the contact springs 6, 7 and the center terminal 8 are alternately turned on and off.

Next, the rotational drive of the rotor 9 by the operating body 3 and the switch operation will be explained in detail with reference to FIG.

The initial relative position of the rotor cam 9 and the actuating body 3 before pushing down the pressing body 5 is indicated by A. Here, the rotor contact protrusion 6a of the movable contact piece 6d of the first contact spring 6 is connected to the rotor contact cam 9 separated by 120 degrees.
a ₂ , 9a ₃ (here, one other rotor contact cam 9
a ₁ is in the vertically lower position (not shown), so it does not engage with the rotor contact cam 9a, and the fixed contact 8c of the middle terminal 8 and the first contact spring 6
The contact portion 6c is in energized contact and the switch is turned on. At this time, although not shown, the second contact spring 7 comes into contact with the contact cam _9a1 , so that it is switched off.

Next, move the pressing body 5 through the full vertical switch stroke.
When the actuator 3 is pushed down by approximately half La/2, the ratchet arm 3a of the actuating body 3 moves to the left by approximately half Ls/2 of the total stroke Ls, as described above, and the ratchet claw 3'a at the right end engages the rotor's ratchet cam. _9b1 to rotate the rotor 9 clockwise by about 30 degrees, which is about half of the ratchet rotation angle of 60 degrees. FIG. 3B shows the rotor 9 rotated approximately 30 degrees clockwise from the initial position A.
In this position B, the contact cam _9a3 of the rotor 9 is at a position where it starts contacting the rotor contact protrusion 6a of the first contact spring. At this time, when the pressing body 5 is pushed down by a prescribed switch stroke La via the operating shaft 21 and the actuating body 3 is further moved by Ls/2 switch strokes, that is, a total switch stroke Ls, the ratchet arm 3a in FIG. 3B moves further to the left. The rotor 9 further rotates by 30 degrees, and the rotor rotates 60 degrees clockwise compared to A, so that the contact cam _9a3 comes into contact with the rotor contact protrusion 6a of the first contact spring 6, as shown in the upper side of FIG. 1A. It becomes a switch off. The above operation is almost the same as the conventional technology.

Here, the switch operation replenishment mechanism of the present invention will be explained. In the position shown in Fig. 3B, the second ratchet arm 3
The ratchet groove 3'b of the rotor 9 can be engaged with the ratchet cam _9b4 of the rotor 9 when the ratchet arm 3b moves in the opposite direction to the right. Then, when the push-down switch operation stroke of the push body 5 is depressed by about half of the total switch stroke La, and the push-down pressure of the push body 5 is released, the actuation body 3 moves to the right side by the action of the spring 4.
Move by Ls/2 and return to the original position. At this time, the slope portion 3e of the actuating body 3 and the slope portion 5e of the pressing body 5 are slidably engaged with each other, and since the right end surface of the pressing body 5 is in contact with the column 15 of the case 1, the horizontal sliding portion on the right side is There is no movement, and it rises vertically by La/2 and returns to the starting position. At this time, as shown in Figure 3D, the second
The ratchet groove 3'b of the ratchet arm 3b engages with the ratchet cams 9b and _9b4 to initiate a ratcheting motion and further rotate the rotor 9 approximately 30 degrees clockwise. Then it switches off. In this way, in a normal push switch without the ratchet groove 3'b, when the pressing body 5 is pressed down for the switch operation, the specified switch stroke is required.
If La is not reached, the switch will not operate, but in this case, half of the switch stroke La, that is, La/2
When the value is exceeded, the switch operation is performed as described above, making the switch operation easy and reliable.

Next, when the pressing body 5 is pressed down again after this, the rotor 9 further rotates in the clockwise direction. That is, when the pressing body 5 is pressed down by La/2, the rotor rotates about 30 degrees, and the contact cam 9a ₃ and the rotor contact protrusion 6a of the contact spring are no longer in contact with each other, resulting in the position shown in FIG. 3C. Switchion begins. The normal switch-on position is a position where the rotor is further rotated 30 degrees as described above.

Here, the switch operation replenishment mechanism is the pressing body 5.
The total stroke La was set to about half La/2, but
An appropriate stroke between La/2 and La may be used, for example, 50 to 80% of the total stroke La. That is, the switch operation stroke of the sliding body 3 is less than the switch operation stroke Ls corresponding to the required ratchet rotation angle θb of the rotor 9 in the conventional mechanism operated only by the ratchet pawl 3'a, and therefore the rotation of the rotor 9 is When the angle θ is less than 100% of the ratchet rotation angle θb, in the return stroke of the push switch operation stroke,
The ratchet groove 3'b of the second ratchet arm 3b of the sliding body 3 ratchets into engagement with the ratchet cam 9b of the rotor 9 as described above.
is further rotated to rotate the ratchet by an angle θb in total. Then, the rotation angle ratio x% of the rotor 9 to the ratchet rotation angle θb of the rotor 9 can be switched even if it is about 40% to 90%, but it is practically preferably about 50% to 80%. Here, the angle θa of the contact cam 9a of the rotor 9 is set so that 360° outside 120°/θa is an integer value.
The rotation angle θb of the ratchet cam may be set to 45° or 90°, such as 90° or 180°.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the switch is thin and has a narrow width, and has a structure in which the switch is turned on and off by the operating body that moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the pressing body is pressed down when the pressing body is pressed down. In a small push switch, the switch operates only by operating the pressing body for more than half of the total stroke, so if the pressing body cannot be pressed for the entire prescribed pressing stroke and the amount of pressure is slightly insufficient. It also has the effect of being able to switch the switch. Moreover, its structure is simple and its assembly is easy.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1A is a plane assembly diagram when the lid is removed, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing FIG. 1A.
Cross-sectional assembly view taken along line B-B in Figure 1D
is a diagram of the operation when pressing down the pressing body 5 in Figure 1B, Figure 1C is a front view, Figure 2 is a perspective view of each part, Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the rotor operation, and A is the first rotor. Position, B is the rotor position rotated by 30°,
C shows the rotor position further rotated by 60 degrees, and D shows the position of the rotor 3'b and the latchet cam 9.
b shows engagement with b. (In the figure, the actuating body 3 and the ratchet cam 9b of the rotor 9 are shown as solid lines, the contact cam 9a is shown as a dashed line, and the first contact spring 6 and the middle terminal 8 are shown as solid lines.
The fixed contact 8c is indicated by a broken line. ) Figure 4 shows the A top view, B side view, and the fifth contact spring terminal of the first contact spring terminal.
The figures are A plan view, B side view, and C front view of the operating body.
D, A cross-sectional view along line D-D', Figure 6 is rotor A.
They are a plan view and a B front view. 1: case, 15: strut, 15b: guide groove,
19: shaft, 2: lid, 3: operating body, 3a: first ratchet arm, 3b: second ratchet arm,
3'a: Ratchet pawl, 3'b: Ratchet groove, 3
e: slope view, 3d: recess, 4: coil spring, 5: pressing body, 5b: vertical wall surface, 5c: cylindrical section, 5e: slope section, 5f: side wall, 6: first contact spring terminal, 6a: rotor contact Projection, 6b: Reversal prevention spring piece, 6c: Movable contact, 6d: Movable contact piece, 6
t: external terminal, 7: second contact spring terminal, 7a: rotor contact protrusion, 7c: contact portion, 7d: movable contact piece, 7t: external terminal, 8: middle terminal, 8a: main body, 8b: engagement hole , 8c: Fixed contact, 8t: External terminal, 9: Rotor, 9a: Contact cam, 9b: Rotor latch cam, 9c: Shaft hole, 21: Operation shaft, La: Vertical switch operation stroke of pressing body, Ls : Horizontal switch operation stroke of the operating body.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A case 1 made of a box-shaped insulator, and a cylindrical rotor 9 that is rotatably inserted into the case 1 and has contact cams 9a and ratchet cams 9b formed on the upper and lower sides of its outer periphery, respectively. It is slidably inserted into the case 1, and has an inclined surface 3e on its upper surface, and from both sides thereof protrudes two ratchet arms 3a and 3b that extend to sandwich the rotor 9. Rotor 9
A ratchet pawl 3'a that engages with the ratchet cam 9b of the rotor 9 and pulls the rotor 9 is attached to the other ratchet arm 3b.
an actuating body 3 having a structure provided with a ratchet groove 3'b that engages with the rotor 9 and pushes out the rotor 9; a spring member 4 that presses the actuating body 3 toward the rotor 9; and a slope portion 3e of the actuating body 3. Slope portion 5e in surface contact with the top
a pressing body 5 which moves the actuating body 3 in a direction away from the rotor 9 against the spring member by pressing it toward the actuating body 3; A metal movable contact piece 6d that swings as the rotor 9 rotates, and a metal that engages and disengages from the swinging movable contact piece 6d to turn on and off between the movable contact piece 6d. The ratchet groove 3'b of the actuating body 3 has a fixed contact piece 8 made of The rotation angle of the rotor 9 by the ratchet pawl 3'a of the actuating body 3 is less than one tooth, and When the ratchet groove 3'b of the actuating body 3 is engaged with the ratchet cam 9b of the rotor 9 and the pressing of the pressing body 5 is released, the ratchet groove 3'b
This small push switch has a structure that pushes out the ratchet cam 9b and further rotates the rotor 9 by a predetermined angle.