JPH0160882B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the assembly process of a switch, etc. used in a keyboard device, and for example, a certain process or each assembly process for forming a switch with respect to a terminal plate forming lead frame body of insert molding. The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a push button switch for the purpose of continuously processing.

The constituent members of the target switch and the method of assembling the switch will be explained with reference to the component configuration diagram in FIG. Reference numeral 1 in the figure indicates a key top corresponding to the head of a push button switch, and a slider is provided below the key top, and a driving magnet 2 is built inside. 3 is a coiled spring, 4 is an insulating casing of the switch, and 5 is a terminal board to which a reed switch 6 is attached, which has a terminal 7 for connection to the outside. To assemble these components, fit the coil spring 3, key top 1, and magnet 2 in this order from the upper side of the switch case 4 along the dotted index line, and then fit the terminal plate 5 from below. Follow the assembly procedure. However, in such an assembly, the desired state of the lead frame is different from that in the previous process of forming the resin mold body on the terminal part of the lead frame and connecting the switch body, so these steps must be performed continuously. It was not possible to do this, so the reed switch was connected and then separated into pieces. As a result, automation was difficult and the process was mostly done manually. Therefore, manufacturing requires a lot of labor and time, resulting in an expensive push-button switch.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems.

The above problem is solved by the first method in which a resin mold body is formed on a part of the terminal portions while continuously feeding a punched lead frame such that a plurality of terminal portions are connected at a fixed pitch by a pair of opposing connecting portions. process,
a second step of cutting one of the connecting parts and connecting the switch body to one end of the cut terminal part; a housing member covering the switch body and the resin mold body;
In a method for manufacturing a push button switch, in which a third step of assembling components such as a coil spring and a key top is performed at least sequentially, in the portion where the first and second steps are performed, the lead frame is fed in a horizontal state, and the second step is carried out. This problem can be solved by a method for manufacturing a push button switch, characterized in that the lead frame is twisted at the end of the step, and the lead frame is sent in an upright state from a horizontal state in the third step.

The continuous assembly method will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. 2 is a partial process explanatory diagram for forming the terminal plate 5 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a process diagram showing the entire continuous assembly process including the steps shown in FIG. 2.
4 is a plan view of the subassembly when the connection between the reed switch 6 and the terminal plate 5 is completed, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of the subassembly of FIG. 4 in an upright state, and FIG. The figure is a perspective view of the completed switch assembly.

In FIG. 2, a long frame winding reel (see 12 in FIG. 3) is placed on the right side of the figure, and the frame 8 supplied from the reel is first coated with an insulator 9.
An insert mold is formed to add the The illustration shows an example in which two molded bodies 9 are obtained at the same time, but from the perspective of the processing tact in the assembly process described below, it is also conceivable to produce a large number of molded bodies 9 in order to speed up the molding tact. Next, the pressing process for cutting out the upper connection band 8' in FIG. 2 to form the terminal plate 5 is shown on the left side of the figure. Incidentally, numeral 10 in the figure is a pitch hole cut into the frame, which is used to regulate the position of the frame feed relative to the processing head during the assembly process. The processing steps shown in FIG. 2 correspond to the processing head shown at 13 in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows the subsequent assembly process for the lead frame, and the diagram 14 shows the lead switch 6.
This corresponds to the head (see Fig. 4) that connects the terminal plate 5 and the terminal plate 5 by welding. These processing heads 1
3 and 14 and the connection process between the reed switch 6 and the terminal plate 5, the lead frame is placed in the processing head 1.
In the case of positions 3 and 14, it is suitable that the lead frame is in a horizontal position. That is, when insert molding is performed, it is naturally desirable that the lead frame be horizontal because upper and lower molds are normally used that open and close in the vertical direction with respect to a horizontal surface. Furthermore, when connecting the reed switch 6 and the terminal board 5, welding is performed with the terminal part of the reed switch placed on the top surface of the terminal board so that no support mechanism is required, so the lead frame is still in a horizontal state. This is desirable.

When these processes are completed, the lead frame is twisted, and during subsequent assembly processes, the lead frame is transported in a state in which it stands upright in the horizontal direction.

This state is shown in FIG.

The processing head 15, which serves as the base, has an introduction end 18.
Now, the frame 8 is configured to be guided vertically, and a U-shaped groove 19 is provided in the base, and the terminal board 11 to which the switch 6 is attached is in the state shown in the figure.

This state is a preferable state for continuous supply of switch components and for assembly to the supply body using a plunger device (not shown). That is, the housing member 4, coil spring 3,
This is because not only is it easy to sequentially supply the slider, key top member 1, etc., but also the state of the supply member before assembly is stabilized. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the switch when the assembly process of the head 15 is completed.

The third head 16 is an assembly test head. In this case, as in FIG. 5, the lead frame 8 is vertical, and a plunger disposed above the head applies a stroke in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6 (corresponding to the key stroke in operating the push button switch). At this time, if a test circuit is connected between the lower terminal 7 and the connecting frame 8, it is possible to check the switch continuity during the keystroke operation.

The completed switch that has passed through the test head 16 in FIG. 3 is separated from the lead frame 8 by a pressing process (not shown) to become an individual switch. In the figure, 17
is a sensor (switch) for detecting the slack of the frame between each of the heads,
If the slack becomes large, stop the operation of the pre-processing head.
On the other hand, if the slack becomes small, the pre-processing heads are activated and interference between the heads is eliminated.

The key point of the method for manufacturing a push button switch of the present invention described above is that twist is added on the extension line of the continuous lead frame, which facilitates continuous assembly as described above and eliminates the need for conventional manual assembly. A significant improvement in productivity is expected in comparison, and assembly costs will be reduced, making it possible to provide inexpensive switches.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the push button switch and its assembly method. Second
The figure is a plan view showing the partial assembly process of forming the terminal plate 5 using the lead frame as a base material, Figure 3 is a process diagram explaining the overall continuous assembly line of the present invention, and Figure 4 is the lead frame after switch welding. 5 is a plan view showing the semi-assembled state of the switch, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the half-assembly shown in FIG. 4 in an upright position, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the switch when the assembly is completed. In the figure, 1 is the key top, 4 is the switch housing,
5 is the switch terminal board, 6 is the reed switch, 8
and 8' is the lead frame or frame connection band,
10 is a pitch hole in the frame, 11 is a subassembly to which the switch 6 is attached, 13 is a processing head for molding, etc., 14 is a reed switch welding processing head, 15 is an assembly head, and 16 is a test head.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. While continuously feeding a punched lead frame so that a plurality of terminal parts are connected at a fixed pitch by a pair of opposing connecting parts, a resin mold body is formed on a part of the terminal part. a first step, a second step of cutting one connecting portion and connecting a switch body to one end of the cut terminal portion; a housing member, a coil spring, and a key top so as to cover the switch body and the resin molded body; In the method of manufacturing a push button switch, the third step of assembling component parts such as By twisting the lead frame with
A method for manufacturing a push button switch, characterized in that in the third step, the lead frame is sent in an upright state as opposed to a horizontal state.