JP4370302B2 - Press operation type two-stage switch device and endoscope to which the same is applied - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a press operation type two-stage switch device, and more particularly, to a press operation type two-stage switch device configured to be able to sequentially operate two electric switches by pressing a single operation member in one direction. Is.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in various fields such as medical care and industry, endoscope apparatuses for observing a portion such as a tube that cannot be directly visually observed have been widely used.

  Such a conventional endoscope apparatus includes an elongated insertion portion to be inserted into a region to be examined, an operation portion provided with a plurality of operation members connected to the insertion portion for performing various operations, and the like. Illuminates from various signal lines that transmit from the operation unit and are provided at the distal end of the insertion unit, and control signals that electrically control the imaging unit, and from the distal end of the insertion unit It is generally configured by an endoscope configured by a universal cable or the like that passes through a light guide fiber or the like for irradiating light, and various control devices such as a video processor, a light source device, a display device, and the like.

  As described above, a plurality of operation members are disposed in the operation unit of the endoscope. The plurality of operation members include, for example, an air / water supply operation member for performing an air supply operation and a water supply operation, a suction operation member for performing a suction operation, a remote button for instructing drive control of the imaging unit, etc., and a distal end of the insertion portion There are a bending knob for bending the bending portion provided on the side, a bending release lever for fixing or releasing bending in a predetermined direction by the bending knob, and the like.

  In a conventional endoscope, for example, an air / water supply operation member is usually configured to switch between an air supply operation and a water supply operation using a single operation member.

  In the conventional air supply / water supply operation in the endoscope, for example, when the operator pushes the operation button, the cylinder disposed in the operation unit is configured to move in a desired direction. A so-called cylinder-type air / water supply operation in which the insertion state of the air supply line or the water supply line can be selectively changed by setting the positional relationship with the pipe line provided inside the operation unit. Various members have been proposed and put to practical use by, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-261753.

  According to such a cylinder-type air / water supply operation member, it is possible to selectively perform air supply or water supply toward the body by pressing the operation member.

  However, in the conventional cylinder-type air / water supply operation member, it is necessary to provide various pipes in the operation part and also to provide a cylinder for selecting these pipes, so that the cylinder occupies a large space in the operation part. Further, there is a problem that the operation part itself is enlarged, and the weight of the cylinder itself is increased due to a heavy weight. Furthermore, in the case of the cylinder type, for example, when a failure or the like occurs, there is a problem that the replacement work is difficult.

Therefore, a so-called press operation type two-stage switch device that can sequentially operate at least two electric switches (for example, a tact switch) by pressing a single operation member in one direction is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-2000. Various proposals have been made and put into practical use by JP-A-76959, JP-A-10-208582, JP-A-11-32979, and the like.
JP 2005-261653 A JP 2000-76959 A JP-A-10-208582 JP 11-32979 A

  However, the press operation type two-stage switch device disclosed by the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-76959 and the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-208582 is mainly suitable for a shutter release operation of a camera or the like. There is a problem that a sufficient operation stroke cannot be secured for application to the air / water supply operation member of the endoscope.

  Moreover, in what is disclosed by the said Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 11-32979, since several switch members are arrange | positioned on the same surface facing the pressing surface of an operation button, an operation member will enlarge. There is a problem.

  On the other hand, when the two electric switches are arranged side by side in the pressing direction, that is, in the vertical direction and operated in the direction in which the operation member is pushed down, first, the first-stage switch member is activated (becomes on). Then, a configuration in which the second-stage switch member disposed on the lower side is activated (turned on) can be considered.

  In this case, after the first-stage switch member is pressed, until the second-stage switch member is pressed, the first-stage switch member itself is pushed in the pressing direction and moves downward. Will do. Since the switch member itself is pushed in while the first-stage switch is pressed, it is easily damaged.

  When the switch member itself moves as described above, for example, a lead wire or the like extending from the moving first-stage switch member may be sandwiched between other members, or a malfunction may occur. It is done.

  When the push button is formed of a rubber cover, for example, the amount of pressing force of the operation button is determined by the hardness of the rubber cover. In this case, it is difficult to distinguish the amount of pressing force corresponding to the two electric switches, and there is also a problem that the amount of pressing force of the switch cannot be changed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pressing operation type two in which two electric switches are sequentially operated by pressing a single operating member in one direction. In the stage switch device, the positions of the first switch and the second switch can be fixed, and thus the configuration that eliminates the possibility of the lead wire or the like being sandwiched between other members and the occurrence of malfunctions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pressing operation type two-stage switch device that can be realized and an endoscope to which the same is applied.

In order to achieve the above object, a pressing operation type two-stage switch according to the present invention has a first switch and one side surface opposed to the first switch, and is slid with respect to the axial direction to the first switch. A movable first input member, a second switch disposed on the opposite side of the one side surface of the first input member, a side surface disposed opposite the second switch, and with respect to the axial direction A slidable second input member, an operation button for applying a pressing force to the second input member to operate the first switch and the second switch, the first switch and the first input A first elastic member disposed between the first input member and the first input member in the axial direction; and disposed along an outer wall surface of the first input member; supporting the second input member in the axial direction A second elastic member provided is characterized in that comprises a.

  According to the present invention, in a pressing operation type two-stage switch device that sequentially operates two electric switches by pressing a single operating member in one direction, the respective positions of the first switch and the second switch are set. A push-operation type two-stage switch device that can be provided in a fixed manner and thus can realize a configuration that eliminates the possibility of a lead wire or the like being sandwiched between other members and the occurrence of malfunctions, and an endoscope to which this is applied Can be provided.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope to which a pressing type two-stage switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the main part showing the vicinity of the pressing type two-stage switch device of the present embodiment in the operation part of the endoscope of FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the pressing type two-stage switch device of the present embodiment. 4 to 8 show cross sections of the pressing type two-stage switch device of the present embodiment, and among these, FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a plane along line [IV]-[IV] in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line [V]-[V] in FIG. 6 to 8 are longitudinal sectional views taken along line [VI]-[VI] in FIG. 5, and sequentially show the operation of the pressing type two-stage switch device of the present embodiment. 6 shows the normal state, FIG. 7 shows the operating state of the first stage switch, and FIG. 8 shows the operating state of the first stage switch and the second stage switch.

  First, before describing the details of the press-type two-stage switch device of the present embodiment, the schematic configuration of an endoscope to which the press-type two-stage switch device is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. This will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope 1 to which the pressing type two-stage switch device of the present embodiment is applied is a general electronic endoscope, and the configuration thereof includes a grip portion 11 a and various operations. An operation portion 11 having a plurality of operation members (to be described later) and the like for performing the operation, and the whole is formed in an elongated shape, and the distal end portion 14, the bending portion 13, and the flexible tube portion 12 are sequentially arranged from the distal end side. An insertion portion 15 whose base end side is connected to the distal end side of the operation portion 11 and is inserted into the test site, and a component member that extends from the side portion of the operation portion 11 and is disposed at the distal end portion 14 of the insertion portion 15 ( For example, an image pickup unit including an image pickup device, etc. Especially from a distal end portion 14 of the insertion portion 15 connected to a plurality of signal lines and a light source device (not shown) for transmitting and receiving various electric signals and the like to and from the light source device (not shown). Universal cable through which light guide fiber etc. for illuminating illumination light is inserted It is constituted by Le 16, or the like.

  A forceps plug 29 is provided on the distal end side of the grip portion 11 a of the operation unit 11. The forceps plug 29 is connected to a forceps channel (not shown) provided in the operation unit 11. The forceps channel passes through the insertion portion 15 and is connected to a forceps outlet formed at the distal end portion 14. Accordingly, treatment tools such as various forceps inserted from the forceps plug 29 can be disposed so as to protrude from the forceps outlet of the distal end portion 14 through the forceps channel.

  As an operation member disposed in the operation unit 11, for example, a UD bending knob 21 that performs a bending operation in the vertical direction of the bending unit 13, and a bending state of the bending unit 13 by the UD bending knob 21 are fixed or fixed. The UD bending release lever 22 for releasing the bending, the RL bending knob 23 for performing the bending operation of the bending portion 13 in the left-right direction, and the RL for fixing the bending state of the bending portion 13 by the RL bending knob 23 and for releasing the fixing state. A bend release lever 24, a forceps knob 25 for raising the forceps raising base for raising various treatment tools inserted through the forceps channel from the forceps plug 29 in the vicinity of the forceps outlet, a suction button 27 for performing a suction operation, A remote button 28 for instructing drive control or the like of an imaging unit or the like (not shown) provided at the distal end portion 14, or an air / water supply button 26 for performing air / water supply operations There is.

  Next, the internal configuration of the pressing operation type two-stage switch device of the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

  In the endoscope 1 configured as described above, the pressing operation type two-stage switch device of the present embodiment is applied to the air / water supply button 26 which is an operation member for performing the air supply operation and the water supply operation. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the air / water supply button 26 is a direction along the pressing direction of the button 26 (direction of arrow F shown in FIGS. 4 and 6) and its axial direction (arrow of FIG. 4). Two electric switches arranged in a fixed manner and stacked so as to be laminated at a predetermined interval with respect to a direction along the X direction (also referred to as the vertical direction), and switch members (44, 37) such as tact switches, A press operation type two-stage switch device configured by a plurality of constituent members for sequentially operating each of the switch members (44, 37) by pressing the cover member 31 as a single operation member is configured. Yes. A part of the air / water supply button 26 protrudes from the exterior surface of a predetermined part of the operation unit 11 of the endoscope 1 (device).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the air / water supply button 26 includes a first switch mounting member 45, a first switch 44, a first switch fixing member 43, a first spring 42, a first spring pressing member 40, 1 switch pressing pin 41, first slide guide 39, second switch mounting member 38, second switch 37, second switch fixing member 36, second spring 35, second spring pressing member 34, second slide guide 33, The second switch pressing member 32, the cover member 31 and the like are included.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first switch mounting member 45 is fixed to the internal fixing member 46 of the operation unit 11 using a connecting member such as a screw.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the air / water button 26 is sandwiched between the cover member 31 and the internal fixing member 46 together with the exterior member 11b of the operation unit 11 and the reinforcing plate 47 along the inner surface thereof. It is fixed to the exterior member 11 b of the operation unit 11.

  On the upper surface side of the flat portion of the first switch mounting member 45, the first switch 44 is fixedly mounted.

  The first switch fixing member 43 is fixed to the upper surface side of the first switch mounting member 45 in such a form that the first switch 44 is disposed inside and covers the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, a convex portion 43 a that protrudes upward is formed at a substantially central portion of the upper surface of the first switch fixing member 43. A through hole 43b is formed in the convex portion 43a.

  The convex portion 43a of the first switch fixing member 43 is wound around the lower end side of the first spring 42 along the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the lower end portion of the first spring 42 is the first switch fixing member. It is disposed in contact with the upper surface of 43.

  The first spring pressing member 40 has a concave portion 40a formed on the lower surface side. A first switch pressing pin 41, which is a first switch pressing member, protrudes downward from a substantially central portion of the ceiling surface of the concave portion 40a. The base end of the first switch pressing pin 41 is fixed to the ceiling surface of the first spring pressing member 40 by, for example, screw coupling.

  The first spring 42 is disposed so as to pass through the first switch pressing pin 41, and the upper end side is in contact with the ceiling surface of the first spring pressing member 40. Therefore, the first spring 42 is disposed in a state of being sandwiched between both the first switch fixing member 43 and the first spring pressing member 40.

  With such a configuration, the first spring pressing member 40 is located above the first switch 44 and the first switch fixing member 43 and has a predetermined interval on the same axis, that is, the natural length of the first spring 42. It is slidably arranged in the axial direction (in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 4) with a distance. Here, the first spring 42 is disposed in a predetermined position between the first switch 44 and the distal end portion of the first switch pressing pin 41 so that both the switch devices in the no-load state. It is a role to secure the interval.

  The first spring pressing member 40 and the first switch pressing pin 41 are arranged above the first switch 44 so as to be slidable up and down, and the first switch 44 is input at the lowest switch input position. It functions as a possible first input member.

  The first slide guide 39 is fixed to the upper surface side of the first switch mounting member 45 in such a form that the first switch fixing member 43 and the first spring pressing member 40 are disposed inside and cover the outside. ing. Further, on the cylindrical surface of the first slide guide 39, cutout portions 39a extending in the axial direction from the bottom surface are formed in four directions as shown in FIG. On the other hand, on the bottom of the first spring pressing member 40, legs 40c projecting outward are formed in four directions. As a result, the rotation of the first spring pressing member 40 is restricted by the first slide guide 39 and the axial direction (vertical direction; in the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 4) along the inner wall surface of the first slide guide 39. (Sliding direction). That is, the first slide guide 39 serves as a guide member that guides the sliding of the first spring pressing member 40 in the same direction.

  Further, as will be described later, when the first spring pressing member 40 moves downward along the inner wall surface of the first slide guide 39 by performing a predetermined pressing operation on the air / water feeding button 26, the first switch The pressing pin 41 is inserted into the through hole 43b of the convex portion 43a of the first switch fixing member 43, and can press the switch portion of the first switch 44 to operate the first switch 44 as will be described later. It is like that.

  The second switch mounting member 38 is fixed on the upper surface side of the first slide guide 39.

  The second switch 37 is fixed on the upper surface side of the second switch mounting member 38. Therefore, the second switch 37 is provided in the upper layer of the first switch 44.

  The second switch fixing member 36 is fixed on the upper surface side of the second switch mounting member 38 in such a manner that the second switch 37 is disposed inside and covers the outside. In addition, a hole 36a is formed in the upper surface of the second switch fixing member 36 at a substantially central portion thereof. As will be described later, the hole 36 a is formed at a portion facing the convex portion 32 a of the second switch pressing member 32 and at a portion facing the switch portion of the second switch 37.

  It should be noted that the outer diameter dimensions of the connecting portions of the second switch fixing member 36, the second switch mounting member 38, and the first slide guide 39 are formed to be substantially the same diameter.

  The second spring 35 is disposed so as to be wound on the outer peripheral surface of the first slide guide 39. The upper end of the second spring 35 is in contact with the lower end portion of the second spring pressing member 34. Further, the lower end of the second spring 35 is in contact with the upper surface side of the flange-shaped portion 40 b formed at the lower end portion of the first spring pressing member 40.

  As a result, the second spring 35 is disposed in a form sandwiched between the second spring pressing member 34 and the first spring pressing member 40. In a normal no-load state, the second spring pressing member 34 and the first spring pressing member 40 are secured at a constant distance by the urging force of the second spring 35.

  The second spring pressing member 34 is arranged in such a manner that the second switch fixing member 36 is disposed inside and covers the outside thereof. In this case, the second spring pressing member 34 is along the axial direction of the first slide guide 39 along the outer peripheral surfaces of the second switch fixing member 36, the second switch mounting member 38, and the first slide guide 39. It is slidably disposed in the same direction as the pressing direction.

  Thereby, when a predetermined pressing operation (described later) is performed on the air / water feeding button 26 and the second spring pressing member 34 moves in the direction along the arrow X in FIG. 4, the second spring 35 and the first spring pressing member 40. Also moves in the same direction.

  In addition, a hole 34b is formed in the upper surface of the second spring pressing member 34 at a substantially central portion thereof. A second switch pressing member 32 is fixed on the upper surface side of the second spring pressing member 34.

  On the lower surface side of the second switch pressing member 32, a convex portion 32a protrudes at a substantially central portion thereof. The convex portion 32 a is fitted in the hole 34 b on the upper surface of the second spring pressing member 34, penetrates through the hole 34 b, and protrudes to the inside of the second spring pressing member 34. When a predetermined pressing operation (described later) is performed on the air / water feeding button 26 and the second switch pressing member 32 moves in the direction along the arrow X in FIG. 32 a is configured such that, after passing through the hole 36 a of the second switch fixing member 36, the second switch 37 can be operated by pressing the switch portion of the second switch 37.

  That is, the second spring pressing member 34 and the second switch pressing member 32 are arranged on the upper side of the second switch 37 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and the second switch 37 is input at the second switch input position at the lowest position. It functions as a possible second input member.

  The second slide guide 33 has a second spring pressing member 34, a second switch fixing member 36, a second switch mounting member 38, a first slide guide 39, a second spring 35 and the like disposed therein, and the outside thereof is arranged. It is arranged in a form that covers it. In this case, the lower end portion of the second slide guide 33 is fixed to the upper surface side of the flange-shaped portion 39 a formed at the lower end portion of the first slide guide 39.

  On the cylindrical surface of the second slide guide 33, as shown in FIG. 3, notches 33a extending in the axial direction from the bottom surface are formed in four directions. On the other hand, on the bottom of the second spring pressing member 34, legs 34a projecting outward are formed in four directions. When the second spring pressing member 34 is disposed inside the second slide guide 33, the second spring pressing member 34 extends along the inner wall surface of the second slide guide 33 and cuts off the second slide guide 33. The notch 33 a is adapted to engage with the foot 34 a of the second spring pressing member 34. With this configuration, the rotation of the second spring pressing member 34 is restricted, and the second spring pressing member 34 slides with respect to the second slide guide 33 in the direction along the axial direction (the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 4). It comes to guide you.

  The cover member 31 is an operation unit when the operator performs a pressing operation, and is a single operation member formed of a member having elasticity such as rubber. The cover member 31 is fixed to the fixing portion of the exterior member 11b of the operation unit 11 by sandwiching the internal fixing member 46 and the exterior member 11b of the operation unit 11 in a form that covers the entire configuration inside. .

  The upper surface of the second switch pressing member 32 is fixed to the inner side surface of the pressing operation portion 31 a of the cover member 31. That is, the second switch pressing member 32 is fixed in a form that is sandwiched between the inner surface of the cover member 31 and the upper surface of the second spring pressing member 34.

  With such a configuration, the first spring pressing member 40 and the first switch pressing pin 41 (first input member) are moved to the lowest position (first switch input position) by the first pressing force applied to the cover member 31 that is the operation unit. ), And the second spring pressing member 34 and the second switch pressing member 32 (second input member) are moved to the lowest position by the second pressing force continuously applied from the state where the first pressing force is applied. The first spring pressing member 40 and the first switch pressing pin 41 (first input member), the second spring pressing member 34 and the second switch pressing member 32 (second input member) so as to be positioned at the second switch input position). Are supported by the first slide guide 39, the first spring 42, the second spring 35, the first switch fixing member 43, the second switch fixing member 36, and the like.

  The support mechanism positions the first spring pressing member 40 and the first switch pressing pin 41 (first input member) at the lowest position (first switch input position) by the first pressing force, and the second spring pressing member 34. The second switch pressing member 32 (second input member) is positioned at an intermediate position which is a position above the lowest position (second switch input position), and the second input member is moved by the second pressing force to the first input member. The first input member and the second input member are supported so that the first input member and the second input member can be positioned from the intermediate position to the lowest position (second switch input position).

  The support mechanism is configured to slide downward from the highest position to the lowest position (first switch input position) of the first input member and to slide downward from the highest position to the intermediate position of the second input member. On the other hand, a repulsive force is generated with respect to the first elastic body that is the first spring 42 that generates a repulsive force and the slide from the intermediate position to the lowest position (second switch input position) of the second input member. And a second elastic body which is the second spring 35.

  Note that two lead wires 37 a extend from the second switch 37, and two lead wires 44 a also extend from the first switch 44. In this case, the lead wire 37a extending from the second switch 37 is fixedly disposed in a space between the inner side of the second spring 35 and the outer peripheral surface of the first slide guide 39 as shown in FIGS. ing.

  The operation of the air / water supply button 26 which is the pressing operation type two-stage switch device of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below mainly with reference to FIGS.

  The state shown in FIG. 6 is a normal state where no load is applied to the air / water supply button 26. In this state, a pressing force in the direction of arrow F is applied to the pressing operation portion 31a of the cover member 31. Then, first, the cover member 31 is deformed as shown in FIG. 7 against its own elastic force. Accordingly, the second switch pressing member 32, the second spring pressing member 34, the second spring 35, and the first spring pressing member 40 are integrally moved in a direction along the arrow X1 shown in FIGS. . That is, the second spring pressing member 34 and the second spring 35 slide in the same direction (downward) along the outer periphery of the first slide guide 39. At the same time, the second spring 35 moves the first spring pressing member 40 in the same direction (downward).

  As the first spring pressing member 40 moves in the same direction, the first spring 42 is compressed between the first spring pressing member 40 and the first switch fixing member 43. The first switch pressing pin 41 is inserted into the through hole 43b of the convex portion 43a of the first switch fixing member 43, and eventually presses the switch portion of the first switch 44 to operate it. Thereby, the first switch 44 is turned on. This state is the state shown in FIG.

  When the first switch 44 is operated, a click feeling generated from the first switch 44 itself is transmitted to the operator's finger through the cover member 31. Thus, the operator can sense that the first switch 44 has been activated.

  Here, in the present embodiment, when the pressing force in the direction of the arrow F is applied to the air / water supply button 26 and the state is displaced from the state of FIG. 6 to the state of FIG. The elastic force of each spring member (42, 35) is set so that is displaced more than the second spring 35.

  That is, in this embodiment, when the same pressing force is applied, the first spring 42 is compressed more, so that the interval between the first spring pressing member 40 and the first switch fixing member 43 approaches, After the first switch 44 disposed on the lower side is turned on, the second spring 35 is further compressed.

  In the state shown in FIG. 7, a pressing force in the direction of arrow F is further applied. As described above, the first switch 44 is fixed to the exterior member 11 b of the operation unit 11 via the first switch mounting member 45, the internal fixing member 46, and the reinforcing plate 47. Therefore, in this state, even if a pressing force in the direction of arrow F is applied, the movement of the first spring pressing member 40 and the first switch pressing pin 41 from the state of FIG. 7 is restricted and the position is maintained. That is, the first switch 44 is maintained in the on state.

  In the state of FIG. 7, when a pressing force in the direction of arrow F is further applied, the lower end portion of the second spring pressing member 34 presses the second spring 35. At this time, the movement of the second spring 35 in the arrow X1 direction (downward) is regulated by the first spring pressing member 40 in a fixed state. Accordingly, the second spring 35 moves along the lower end of the second spring pressing member 34 and the flange-shaped portion 40b of the first spring pressing member 40 as the second spring pressing member 34 moves in the arrow X1 direction (downward). It will be contracted between the upper surface side of the.

  And as shown in FIG. 8, the convex part 32a of the 2nd switch press member 32 is penetrated by the hole 36a of the 2nd switch fixing member 36, and the switch part of the 2nd switch 37 is pressed soon, and this is operated. As a result, the second switch 37 is turned on. The state at this time is the state shown in FIG. In this state, the first switch 44 is also kept on.

  When the second switch 37 is activated, a click feeling generated from the second switch 37 itself is transmitted to the operator's finger through the cover member 31. As a result, the operator can sense that the second switch 37 has been activated.

  Thus, in the endoscope 1, for example, when the first switch 44 in the first stage is turned on, a control device (for example, a video processor or the like included in the endoscope device) that receives the instruction signal. (Not shown) performs electromagnetic valve control for starting an air supply operation with respect to a predetermined device such as an air supply system equipped with an electromagnetic valve, and continues while the first switch 44 is kept on. Then, when the second switch 37 in the second stage is turned on, the control device performs control to start the water supply operation for the predetermined device.

  The control performed by the control device in response to the electrical signals generated from the two electrical switches is realized by software. Therefore, not only the control related to the above-described air supply operation and water supply operation but also different operation control can be easily performed. As the different operation control, for example, operation control for performing freeze operation in the first stage and recording operation in the second stage, operation control for performing air supply operation in the first stage and spraying operation in the second stage, etc. Is mentioned.

  On the other hand, in the state shown in FIG. 8, when the operator releases the pressing force in the direction of arrow F with respect to the pressing operation portion 31 a of the cover member 31, the first switch 44 and the second switch 37 are turned on. It is switched sequentially.

  That is, in the state shown in FIG. 8, when the pressing force in the direction of arrow F with respect to the pressing operation portion 31a of the cover member 31 is released, first, the second spring 35 starts to expand due to its urging force. Along with this, the second spring pressing member 34 moves in the arrow X2 direction shown in FIG. Thereby, the pressing state of the switch part of the second switch 37 by the convex part 32 a of the second switch pressing member 32 is released, and the convex part 32 a is detached from the hole 36 a of the second switch fixing member 36. At the same time, the cover member 31 is displaced to the state shown in FIG. In this state, the second switch 37 is turned off. At this time, the ON state of the first switch 44 is maintained.

  When the second spring 35 returns to the natural state, the first spring 42 starts to expand by its urging force. Along with this, the first spring pressing member 40 starts moving in the direction of the arrow X2 in FIG. Along with this, the second spring pressing member 34 moves in the same direction via the second spring 35. And when the 1st spring 42 returns to a natural state, the said air / water supply button 26 will return to a normal no-load state, ie, the state of FIG.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the two electric switches (the first switch 44 and the second switch 37) are sequentially operated by pressing the single operation member (cover member 31) in one direction. The air / water supply button 26 as the pressing operation type two-stage switch device configured as described above is a direction (vertical direction) along the pressing direction (arrow F direction) of the two electrical switches, that is, the first switch 44 and the second switch 37. When the cover member 31 is pressed in the direction in which the cover member 31 is pushed down (in the direction of the arrow X1), the first switch 44 at the first stage arranged at the lower side is first activated to be turned on, and then arranged at the upper side. The second switch 37 in the second stage is activated to be turned on.

  In this case, when each of the two switches (44, 37) is operated, the two spring members (42, 35) are configured to be sequentially compressed according to the pressing operation of the cover member 31, A sufficient operation interval between the two switches (44, 37) can be secured.

  The elastic force of the two spring members (the first spring 42 and the second spring 35) is set so that the elastic force of the second spring 35 is larger than the elastic force of the first spring 42. Accordingly, the first spring 42 is compressed first, so that the first switch 44 is activated first, and then the second switch 37 is activated. In this case, since the pressing force amounts of the two spring members are set differently, the operator operates the operational feeling (pressing feeling) until the first-stage switch is activated and the second-stage switch. It can be distinguished from the feeling of operation up to.

  Further, by setting the elastic forces of the two spring members arbitrarily, the respective pressing force amounts until the two switches (44, 37) are activated can be set. Therefore, it can contribute to the improvement of operability.

  In addition to this, in the cover member 31, a portion that is deformed until the first switch 44 is activated from the normal state (while being displaced from the state of FIG. 6 to the state of FIG. 7), and the first switch 44. By arbitrarily setting the shape and thickness of each of the parts that are deformed during the period from when the second switch 37 is activated to when the second switch 37 is activated (while the state is displaced from the state of FIG. 7 to the state of FIG. 8). It is also possible to set so as to change the amount of pressing force at each stage.

  Further, the two switches (44, 37) themselves are configured to be fixed to the fixing member. That is, the first switch 44 is fixed to the exterior member 11 b of the operation unit 11 through the first switch mounting member 45, the internal fixing member 46, and the reinforcing plate 47. The second switch 37 is fixed to the exterior member 11b of the operation unit 11 via the second switch mounting member 38, the first slide guide 39, the first switch mounting member 45, the internal fixing member 46, and the reinforcing plate 47. is doing. Therefore, since both the switches (44, 37) do not move together, there is a possibility that the lead wires 44a, 37a and the like extending from the both are sandwiched between other constituent members and malfunctions may occur. The removed configuration can be realized.

  Furthermore, since the air / water button 26 as a pressing operation type two-stage switch device including two electric switches is configured as a unit, the assemblability of an apparatus using the button, for example, an endoscope (operation unit thereof) is improved. Can contribute.

  In addition, when dealing with a failure of the switch itself, for example, a mounting screw (not particularly shown) or the like that cuts the lead wire and attaches the unitized air / water supply button 26 to the fixed part of the operation part, etc. It can be easily removed simply by removing Therefore, it is possible to contribute to improvement of the repairability of equipment such as replacement work.

  In the above-described embodiment, the two electric switches are stacked so as to be along the pressing operation direction of the switch device and at a predetermined interval on the same axis as the axis when the pressing operation is performed. The configuration arranged as described above is illustrated. However, the technical idea of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration example.

  That is, for example, each electric switch is arranged on two switch installation surfaces that are substantially orthogonal to the axis of the operation direction in which the pressing operation is performed in the switch device, and each of these electric switches is on an axis different from the pressing operation direction. It is also included that they are arranged respectively.

  In the switch device having such a configuration, the projected area of the switch device itself when viewed from the pressing operation direction is based on the arrangement relationship of the two electric switches when the two electric switches are arranged coaxially ( The difference is that it is slightly wider than the above-mentioned one embodiment). Also in this case, the configuration can be made substantially the same as in the above embodiment, and the effect in that case is also almost the same. Moreover, the effect that the area of the pressing operation part by an operator can be taken large can contribute to the improvement of operativity depending on the case.

  In the above-described embodiment, the engagement portion of the slide member has four directions, but this is not restrictive. The position is not limited to being equally divided.

  Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, in the pressing operation type two-stage switch device that sequentially operates two electric switches by pressing a single operating member in one direction, the first switch and the second switch A press operation type two-stage switch device that can be provided with a fixed position with respect to the switch, and thus can realize a configuration that eliminates the possibility of a lead wire or the like being sandwiched between other members and the occurrence of malfunction. An endoscope to which this is applied can be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, a general electronic endoscope is described as an example. However, an endoscope to which the pressing type two-stage switch device of the present invention can be applied is not limited to this. For example, a rotary self-propelled endoscope or an electric angle type endoscope (electric bending endoscope) can be similarly applied.

  A rotary self-propelled endoscope is an endoscope that inserts an insertion portion into the large intestine by, for example, the transanal, and a flexible rotating cylindrical body that is rotatable about an axis is inserted into the insertion portion. It is provided on the outer peripheral side, and it is desired to automatically insert the insertion portion into the body cavity by rotating the rotating cylinder with a drive motor. In this rotary self-propelled endoscope apparatus, for example, a motor box incorporating a drive motor or the like is provided between the operation unit and the insertion unit, and the motor box and the insertion unit are configured to be detachable. There is.

  In addition, the electric bending endoscope performs the same bending operation by driving an electric motor for the bending operation of the distal end portion of the insertion portion, which is conventionally performed by the operator's hand operation of the bending operation member of the operation unit. It is something that can be done.

  It is sufficiently possible to apply the press-type two-stage switch device shown in the above-described embodiment also to these rotary self-propelled endoscopes and electric bending endoscopes.

  Here, for example, a modification in which the pressing type two-stage switch device of the present invention is applied to an endoscope in a rotary self-propelled endoscope device will be described below.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the rotary self-propelled endoscope apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope apparatus 101 is mainly configured by a rotary self-propelled endoscope 102, a control apparatus 103, a monitor 104, an aspirator 105, and the like.

  The rotary self-propelled endoscope 102 includes an insertion unit 106 and an operation unit 107. Among these, the insertion portion 106 includes, in order from the distal end, a distal end rigid portion (hereinafter simply referred to as a distal end portion) 108, a bending portion 109, an insertion portion main body 110, an insertion assisting tool 111, a storage case 112, and an insertion assisting tool. 111 and a storage case 112, a distal guide tube 113 made of a corrugated tube, and an operation part side guide made of a corrugated tube interposed between the operation unit 107 and the storage case 112. The tube 114 and a connector cover 115 to which one end of the operation unit side guide tube 114 is connected are formed.

  The operation unit 17 includes a motor box 116 that is detachably attached to a connector cover 115 that constitutes a part of the insertion unit 16, a gripping unit 117, a main operation unit 118, and the like.

  The main operation section 118 includes a bending operation knob 119 for bending the bending section 109 of the insertion section 106 in four directions (up and down, left and right directions corresponding to the endoscopic image captured by the rotating self-propelled endoscope 102), A plurality of operation members 120 for performing a sending operation or a suction operation, various switches 121 for operating an optical system such as imaging and illumination, and a switch unit for switching the rotation direction of the outer spiral tube of the insertion portion A motor switching lever 122 or the like, which is an operation member that is linked to a certain motor switch unit 130 (not shown in FIG. 9, details will be described later, see FIG. 2), is disposed.

  The bending operation knob 119 is arranged in a form in which two substantially disk-shaped operation knobs are stacked on one surface of the main operation unit 118 of the operation unit 107. These two operation knobs are rotatably arranged. Among these, an up (UP) down (DOWN) bending operation knob (hereinafter referred to as a UD bending operation knob) 119 a for operating the bending portion 109 in the vertical direction is disposed at a position near the main operation portion 118. ing. On the upper side of the UD bending operation knob 119a, a right-left bending operation knob (hereinafter referred to as an RL bending operation knob) 119b for operating the bending portion 9 in the left-right direction is stacked.

  As the plurality of operation members 120 arranged on one side surface of the main operation unit 118, for example, an imaging unit (not shown) provided at the distal end portion 108 of the rotary self-propelled endoscope 102 is controlled. A release button 120a that is operated when performing an imaging operation, an air / water supply button 120b that performs an air supply / water supply operation from the distal end portion 108 of the rotary self-propelled endoscope 101 into the subject, and a rotary self-propelled type There is a suction button 120c or the like that is operated when sucking dirt or the like in the subject from the distal end portion 8 of the endoscope 2.

  In the present embodiment, the main operation members such as the release button 120a, the air / water supply button 120b, and the suction button 120c are configured as operation members that are linked to the electromagnetic switch.

  A universal cord 118a, which is an electric cable, extends from one side of the main operation unit 118. A folding stop portion 118b is disposed at the base end portion of the universal cord 118a. In addition, a connector portion 118c is disposed on the distal end side of the universal cord 118a. The connector 118 c is connected to a connector provided on the front panel of the control device 103.

  From the connector cover 115 attached to and detached from the motor box 116, three tubes 123 inserted through the insertion portion 106 extend. These three tubes 123 are an air supply tube 123a, a water supply tube 123b, and a suction tube 123c, respectively. The distal ends of the three tubes 123 are detachably connected to predetermined positions on the front panel of the control device 103 via connectors.

  The control device 103 is provided with a water supply tank 124. Distilled water or physiological saline is stored in the water supply tank 124. The distilled water or physiological saline is supplied to the water supply tube 123b under the control of the control device 103 that has received a signal generated by a predetermined operation of the air / water supply button 120b of the main operation unit 118. It has become. As described above, the water supply tube 123b is inserted into the insertion portion 106, and the distal end thereof reaches the distal end portion 108 of the rotary self-propelled endoscope 102. Accordingly, distilled water or physiological saline is ejected from the distal end portion 108 of the rotary self-propelled endoscope 102.

  In addition, when a predetermined operation of the air / water supply button 120b of the main operation unit 118 is performed, air is supplied to the air supply tube 123a from a compressor (not shown) in the control device 103. ing. The air supply tube 123a is also inserted through the insertion portion 106 as described above, and the distal end thereof reaches the distal end portion 108 of the rotary self-propelled endoscope 102. Accordingly, this air is ejected from the distal end portion 108 of the rotary self-propelled endoscope 102.

  On the other hand, the suction tube is inserted through the insertion portion 106 as described above, and the distal end thereof reaches the distal end portion 108 of the rotary self-propelled endoscope 102. Therefore, when the suction button 20c is operated, dirt and the like are sucked from the distal end portion 8 of the rotary self-propelled endoscope 102. The filth and the like are fed into the suction device 105 through the suction tube 123c. Note that the endoscope apparatus 101 of the present embodiment is configured to include the aspirator 105, but instead, the distal end side of the suction tube 123c is provided to the hospital via the control apparatus 103. It is possible to use the suction system by connecting to the suction system.

  A foot switch 125 is connected to the control device 103 via an electric cable 125a. The foot switch 125 is an operation switch that is an operation member for performing a rotation operation or a stop operation of the insertion portion main body 110 of the rotary self-propelled endoscope 102 in a predetermined direction. The same operation as that of the foot switch 125, that is, the rotation direction of the insertion portion main body 110 or the stop operation can be performed by the motor switching lever 122 provided in the main operation portion 118 of the operation portion 107 as described above. It is.

  On the front panel of the control device 103, a power switch, an operation dial for changing the rotation speed of the insertion portion main body 110 of the rotary self-propelled endoscope 102, and the like are disposed.

  A drive motor (not shown) for applying a rotational force to the insertion portion main body 110 is built in the motor box 116 of the operation unit 107. As an operation member (switch) for controlling the rotation of the drive motor, the motor switching lever 122 and the foot switch 125 of the operation unit 107 play a role.

  In addition, as an operation member that performs rotation control of the drive motor, for example, a similar operation member (switch) may be provided on the front panel of the control device 103. When a plurality of operation members for performing the same operation are provided in this way, for example, when an operation member of any one of the three operation members is operated, an operation member of a different system is used. The operation by is controlled to be invalid.

  The control device 103 is electrically connected to the monitor 104. The monitor 104 functions as a display device that displays an endoscopic image or the like captured by the rotary self-propelled endoscope 102.

  In the rotary self-propelled endoscope 102 configured as described above, it is conceivable to apply the pressing type two-stage switch device of the present invention to, for example, the air / water supply button 120b.

  The operation and effect of such a configuration is the same as that of the above-described embodiment.

1 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope to which a press-type two-stage switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The principal part expansion side view which shows the vicinity by which the press type two step switch apparatus of this embodiment is arrange | positioned in the operation part of the endoscope of FIG. The disassembled perspective view of the press type two-stage switch apparatus of this embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the surface which follows the [IV]-[IV] line | wire of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line [V]-[V] in FIG. 4. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which follows the [VI]-[VI] line of FIG. 5, Comprising: The figure which shows the normal state of the press type two step switch apparatus of this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line [VI]-[VI] in FIG. 5, showing the operating state of the first stage switch. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line [VI]-[VI] in FIG. 5, and shows the operating state of the first stage switch and the second stage switch. The schematic block diagram which shows the modification of one Embodiment of this invention, and shows the whole rotation self-propelled endoscope apparatus structure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 11 ... Operation part 11a ... Grasping part 11b ... Exterior member 12 ... Flexible tube part 13 ... Bending part 14 ... Tip part 15 ... Insertion part 16 ... Universal cable 26 ... Air / water supply button 27 …… Suction button 28 …… Remote button 31 …… Cover member 31a …… Pressing operation part 32 …… Second switch pressing member 33 …… Second slide guide 34 …… Second spring pressing member 35 Second spring 36 Second switch fixing member 37 Second switch 38 Second switch mounting member 39 First slide guide 40 First spring pressing member 41 First switch pressing Pin 42 …… First spring 43 …… First switch fixing member 44 …… First switch 45 …… First switch mounting member 46 …… Internal fixing member 47 …… Reinforcing plate

Claims (4)

A first switch;
A first input member having one side face opposed to the first switch and slidable in the axial direction of the first switch;
A second switch disposed on the opposite side of the one side surface of the first input member;
A second input member having one side face opposed to the second switch and slidable in the axial direction;
An operation button unit that applies a pressing force to the second input member to operate the first switch and the second switch;
A first elastic member disposed between the first switch and the first input member and supporting the first input member in the axial direction ;
A second elastic member disposed along an outer wall surface of the first input member, abutting on the first input member and provided to support the second input member in the axial direction ;
A press operation side two-stage switch device comprising: 2. The pressing operation side according to claim 1, wherein the second elastic member has an elastic force larger than an elastic force of the first elastic member in order to compress the first elastic member more first. Two-stage switch device. The said 1st input member was further equipped with the flange-shaped part provided in order to contact | abut to the said 2nd elastic member, and to move to the same direction as the said 2nd elastic member . Press operation side two-stage switch device.   An endoscope comprising the pressing operation type two-stage switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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