EP2960914B1 - Method for producing a push-button compact component - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a push-button compact component.

Such pushbuttons are from the publications WO 2014/048602 A1 and EP 0 172 926 A1 are known, and are regularly used for command input at so-called machine / human interfaces. Not only a use for the switching of control currents, but also for power circuits is conceivable by the push-button is used as a trigger for circuit breakers. High demands are placed on these pushbuttons with regard to the service life, the robustness, the sealing of the electrical part against water and dirt as well as the most cost-effective and process-reliable manufacturability.

Control devices are mounted in control panels, control panels, control cabinet doors or enclosure covers. Command devices are generally modular. That is, they consist of an actuator, a mounting part such as a ring nut or a mounting bracket and one or more switching elements, which are designed as normally closed or normally closed contacts. For installation, the actuator is usually guided from the front through a hole in the dash panel and mounted from behind by means of a fastening part. The switching elements are mechanically fastened with screws, snap hooks or bolts on the actuator or on the fastening part. The electrical connection of the switching elements to the controller via terminals.

In safety applications, such as emergency stop command devices, it is a requirement that the signal is generated by the opening of positive-opening contacts. This means that with an unconfirmed emergency stop command device, the contacts and thus the associated circuit are closed. In the event of a fault or emergency, striking the emergency stop actuator which is located in front of the control panel, the normally closed contact is interrupted and the system or machine is put into a safe state. However, this only works if the spatial assignment to the actuator or to the switching element is ensured. Due to poor installation or due to the effects of force, it may happen that the switching elements are mechanically separated from the actuator. In this case, the emergency stop command device is no longer functional. That is, in an emergency operation, the contacts are not opened and thus there is no elimination of the dangerous condition. This can lead to fatal damage to man and machine. Therefore, the secure connection between actuator and switching element is essential.

The actuators have to meet complex requirements. For example, they should be easy to assemble and to be as attractive as possible for the customers. The basis for every actuator is that it forwards defined switching position information and maintains the switching position. For the product group emergency stop command device, it is particularly important to maintain the switching position so that the safety circuit is protected against being switched on again. To ensure this function, it is necessary to mount the locking mechanism securely in the rosette.

To realize the functional safety different constructive and assembly solutions were used. Thus, with certain actuators, for example emergency stop actuators, the functional components are supplied individually, interrogated and after assembly the complete assembly is checked. Other variants hold the individual preassembled modules via assembly devices in position, which subsequently a review of the function and a Einzelbauteilabfrage be necessary. This is associated with a considerable effort.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a push-button compact component to provide, which allows easy production and verification of the manufactured assembly.

This object is achieved by a method for producing a push-button compact component having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be used individually or in combination with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims.

• Zusammensetzen eines Betätigungskopfes mit einem ersten Federelement und einer Hülse, in welcher mindestens ein Verriegelungsschieber inklusive eines zweiten Federelements angeordnet ist, und welche an der Unterseite eine Ausnehmung aufweist, zu einem Drucktaster-Bauteil;
• Aufstecken des Drucktaster-Bauteils über die Ausnehmung an der Hülse auf einen Vorsprung an der Oberseite eines Montagedorns im Produktionswerkzeug, wobei der Montagedorn durch ein Außengehäuse inklusive eines dritten Federelements geführt ist,
• Eindrücken und Verschnappen des Drucktaster-Bauteils in das Außengehäuse.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for producing a push-button compact component with the following steps:

• Assembling an actuating head with a first spring element and a sleeve, in which at least one locking slide including a second spring element is arranged, and which has a recess on the underside, to a push-button component;
• Attaching the push-button component via the recess on the sleeve to a projection on the upper side of a mounting mandrel in the production tool, wherein the assembly mandrel is guided by an outer housing including a third spring element,
• Press and snap the push-button component into the outer housing.

The push-button compact component, in particular the mushroom cap assembly, is structurally designed so that it can be further processed directly or later, without additional securing of the components, in a solid functional assembly of mushroom cap, overlist spring, seal, sliding sleeve, slide and slide spring. The fixed or moveable connection of the assembly components can be made, for example, by welding, snapping, or other joining technique.

The technical combination of the individual components to a fixed assembly is essential to the flexible further processing to be able to. This results in the advantage that the pre-assembled module can be checked at any time and further processed as a compact unit. An additional check of the function or a single component query subsequent can be omitted, since the assembly is captive and secured. This results in a total of significant advantages for the required assembly time in the manufacture of components and also the flexibility of the assembly concepts, ie manual, semi or fully automated production is significantly increased. It can be produced for start-up and run-up in a piece-number-optimized manner.

The push-button component is composed of an actuating head with an attached thereto, preferably cylindrical base body, a spring element and a sleeve. On the main body of the actuating head two guide projections are preferably arranged, which are in operative connection with two locking slides in the sleeve. The emergency stop devices usually have a very limited installation space for a locking / unlocking system. It is therefore problematic to develop a system that withstands the life required the required actuation-unlocking forces and remains functional. The main problem is the material wear on the working surfaces of moving parts and the safe locking in the latching position.

In the slider-latch switching system selected here, two slides are installed with their own springs parallel to each other, both of which can simultaneously contribute to locking or unlocking. The slider itself and the mounting parts can be made of different materials and be designed differently, for example, transparent with a recess for a light channel.

Placing two sliders in a single plane allows both sliders to lock the emergency stop state with double security. That means if a slider breaks material, such as spring breakage or material wear, the second slider may still fully lock the system. Upon actuation or unlocking the forces are distributed on preferably two slides. Upon actuation or unlocking the forces are symmetrical, that is, evenly distributed and do not act unilaterally, which would be associated with greater wear.

Parallel slides allow a larger slide to be installed, which has a positive effect on the stability of the system. In addition, a large Verrastkraft is possible.

With the use of two parallel in a plane built-in slide there is the advantage that two independent springs can be installed, which work separately. This double security in the event of a spring break is given. It is also advantageous that there is a reduction in the size of the command and signaling device. The locking slides are preferably arranged opposite one another in the sleeve. The locking slide preferably at the same time contribute to the locking or unlocking. In addition, a larger latching force is enabled.

The inventive first step of the method presented here for producing a push-button compact component is thus an actuating head with a preferably cylindrical base body with a first spring element and a sleeve, in which at least one locking slide including a second spring element is arranged, and which at the bottom of a Recess has to join together to form a push-button component.

The second method step according to the invention consists in mounting this pushbutton component via the recess on the sleeve onto a projection on the upper side of a mounting mandrel in the production tool, wherein the assembly mandrel passes through an outer housing is guided including a third spring element. The operation of the guide projections on the main body of the actuating head is to firmly position the spring acted slider in the sleeve, without the risk that the locking slide or the spring elements solve and move freely in the push button. The guide projections on the main body of the actuating head cause the actuating head with body, spring element, sleeve and at least one spring acted upon locking slide can be made as a compact component.

The third method step according to the invention provides that the push-button component is pressed into the outer housing and snapped. This last method step is made possible by the fact that a recess is arranged on the underside of the sleeve, in which the projection engages on the upper side of the mounting mandrel. As a result, a fixed positioning of the individual components is given, which can then verschnappen each other by pressing the push-button component into the outer housing.

It is possible to implement the inventive production method presented here in an automated production line. This advantage results from the fact that the technical combination of the individual components to a fixed assembly, the pushbutton component, can be flexibly processed further. This results in the advantage that the preassembled module can be checked at any time and further processed as a compact unit.

An additional verification of the function or subsequent subsequent Einzelbauteilabfrage can be omitted, since the assembly is captively secured. This results in significant advantages for the required assembly time in the manufacture of components and also the flexibility of the assembly concepts, so here the manual, semi or fully automated Manufacturing, is significantly increased. Thus, even for the startup and run-up can be automated piece-of-detail.

A continuation of the manufacturing method according to the invention may consist in that the push-button component is pressed by a spring in the mounting of the mounting mandrel in the outer housing. The assembly mandrel must allow the push-button component to be pressed in, ie the assembly mandrel must not be designed to be stable in position, but must yield when the force is applied to allow the push-button component to be pushed into the outer housing. The resilient mounting of the mounting mandrel is a possibility for a position flexible design of the mounting mandrel.

It can also be provided according to the manufacturing method that the push-button component is inserted into the outer housing including the third spring element by means of a rotary movement. The rotational movement causes the third spring element, which is mounted in the outer housing, is biased.

In a further continuation of the manufacturing method according to the invention, it can be provided that the production tool grips the actuating head and presses it into the outer housing. Proper access to the actuating head is an essential production step, since the access of the projection on the upper side of the mounting mandrel into the recess on the underside of the sleeve must be ensured via this access.

Therefore, an inventive concept extension for proper access provides that the actuating head is polygonal, in particular formed in octagonal shape. The polygonal shape, in particular octagonal shape of the actuating head, allows the production tool a secure access to the operating head.

The push button preferably has a two-part housing comprising an actuating head and an outer housing. The actuating head is preferably designed like a mushroom and overlaps the outer housing, wherein the outer housing is fastened via clamping elements on the actuating head.

From the actuator head housing guides protrude into the outer housing. The housing guides include a spring element. The housing guides preferably have insertion bevels at the end, which, via actuation of the actuating head, are in operative connection with preferably two locking slides.

The locking slides are preferably in a plane parallel to each other, arranged opposite one another. Upon actuation of the actuating head, preferably, both locking slides simultaneously change into the locking position, that is to say conversely, that both locking slides likewise have the same position in the unactuated state.

The push-button component comprises the actuating head, which has a base body, on which at least one guide projection is arranged. The push-button component also includes the spring element which is mounted in the main body of the actuating head. The spring element may preferably be designed as overload spring. The spring element also supports in a sleeve in which at least one locking slide including the spring element is arranged. It is envisaged that the guide projection on the main body of the actuating head holds the spring-loaded locking slide in its position in the sleeve in which the spring acts on the locking projection on the guide projection. The push-button component thus results from the actuating head, which has a base body with at least one guide projection, a spring element which is mounted in the base body and in the sleeve, and the sleeve, in which at least one spring acted locking slide is arranged.

In addition, a seal may be provided on the actuating head. The push-button component is then stored in a further spring element and introduced into the outer housing, in particular a rosette. The outer housing can then be received by a skirt, a front plate seal and a pressure piece.

The inventive method presented here for producing a pushbutton compact component is characterized in that a flexible further processing is possible by the technical combination of the individual components to a fixed assembly. This results in the advantage that the preassembled module can be checked at any time and further processed as a compact unit. An additional verification of the function or a single component query in the subsequent can be omitted because the assembly is captive secured. This results in significant advantages for the required assembly in the manufacture of components and also the flexibility of assembly time in terms of manual, semi-fully automated production is significantly improved. This allows automated start-up and run-up to be piece-numbered.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment and with reference to the drawing.

• Fig. 1 in einer Schnittdarstellung ein erfindungsgemäßes Drucktaster-Kompaktbauteil mit Verriegelungsschiebern;
• Fig. 2 in einer Explosionsdarstellung das Drucktaster-Kompaktbauteil nach Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 in einer Schnittdarstellung das Zuführen des Drucktaster-Bauteils in das Außengehäuse innerhalb eines Produktwerkzeugs;
• Fig. 4 in einer Schnittdarstellung das Ineinandergreifen des Montagedorns des Produktionswerkzeugs in die Hülse des Drucktaster-Bauteils;
• Fig. 5 in einer Schnittdarstellung das Drucktaster-Bauteil vor dem Eindrücken in das Außengehäuse;
• Fig. 6 in einer Schnittdarstellung das Drucktaster-Bauteil beim Eindrücken in das Außengehäuse;
• Fig. 7 das Drucktaster-Bauteil nach dem Eindrücken in das Außengehäuse.

Here are shown schematically:

• Fig. 1 in a sectional view of an inventive push-button compact component with locking slides;
• Fig. 2 in an exploded view of the push-button compact component after Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 3 in a sectional view, the feeding of the push-button component in the outer housing within a product tool;
• Fig. 4 in a sectional view, the engagement of the mounting mandrel of the production tool in the sleeve of the push-button component;
• Fig. 5 in a sectional view of the push-button component before pressing into the outer housing;
• Fig. 6 in a sectional view of the push-button component when pressed into the outer housing;
• Fig. 7 the push-button component after pressing into the outer housing.

Fig. 1 shows a push-button 1 with a preferably two-part housing of an actuating head 2 and an outer housing 3. The actuating head 2 is preferably designed like a mushroom and overlaps the outer housing 3, wherein the outer housing 3 is attached via clamping elements 4 on the actuating head 2. Housing guides 5 protrude into the housing 3 on the actuating head 2. The housing guides 5 enclose a first spring element 6. The housing guides 5 have at the end insertion bevels 7, which are on actuation of the actuating head 2 in operative connection with preferably two locking slides 8. The locking slide 8 are preferably arranged in a plane parallel to each other opposite. Upon actuation of the actuating head 2, both locking slides 8 simultaneously change into the locking position, that is to say conversely, that both locking slides 8 likewise have the same position in the unactuated state.

Fig. 2 shows the push-button compact component comprising the actuating head 2, which has a base body 9, on which at least one guide projection 10 is arranged.

The push-button compact component also comprises the first spring element 6, which is mounted in the main body 9 of the actuating head 2. The first spring element 6 may preferably be formed as a misleading spring. The first spring element 6 also supports in a sleeve 11, in which at least one locking slide 12 including the second spring element 13 is arranged. It is envisaged that the guide projection 10 on the main body 9 of the actuating head 2, the spring loaded locking slide 12 holds in its position in the sleeve 11 by the spring acting latch slide 12 on the guide projection 10 superimposed.

The push-button component according to the invention thus results from the actuating head 2, which has a base body 9 and at least one guide projection 10, a first spring element 6, which supports in the base body 9 and in the sleeve 11 and the sleeve 11, in which acted upon at least one spring Locking slide 12 is arranged. In addition, a seal 14 may also be provided on the actuating head 2. The push-button component is then mounted in a third spring element 15 and inserted into the outer housing 3, in particular a rosette. The outer housing 3 can then be received by the skirt 16, a front plate seal 17 and a pressure piece 18.

In Fig. 3 the feeding of the push-button component is shown on the mounting mandrel 19 of the production tool 20. The mounting mandrel 19 is mounted at its first end resiliently on a fourth spring element 21 in the production tool 20. The mounting mandrel 19 has a projection 22 at its second end. This projection 22 on the mounting mandrel 19 of the production tool 20 engages in a recess 23 which is arranged on the underside of the sleeve 11. By this engagement of the projection 22 in the recess 23, the push-button component can be supplied to the outer housing 3 via a defined interface and further processed.

Fig. 4 shows in an enlarged section the engagement of the projection 22 in the recess 23 of the sleeve 11. The illustrated arrows indicate that the engagement of the push-button component is connected to the outer housing 3 with a rotational movement, through which the third spring element 15 in the outer housing. 3 is biased.

In Fig. 5 the push-button component is shown prior to pressing the outer housing 3 including the third spring element 15 in the production tool 20.

Fig. 6 shows the further process flow, in which the push-button component is now pressed into the outer housing 3. This process is associated with a rotational movement in which the third spring element 15 is biased.

Fig. 7 shows the push-button compact component after pressing the push-button component in the outer housing. 3

The inventive method presented here for producing a pushbutton compact component is characterized in that a flexible further processing is possible by the technical combination of the individual components to a fixed assembly. This results in the advantage that the preassembled module can be checked at any time and further processed as a compact unit. An additional verification of the function or a single component query in the subsequent can be omitted because the assembly is captive secured. This results in significant advantages for the required assembly in the manufacture of components and also the flexibility of assembly time in terms of manual, semi-fully automated production is significantly improved. This allows automated start-up and run-up to be piece-numbered.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

pushbutton

2

actuating head

3

outer casing

4

clamping element

5

housing guide

6

first spring element

7

bevels

8th

locking slide

9

body

10

guide projection

11

shell

12

Verreigelungsschieber

13

second spring element

14

poetry

15

third spring element

16

apron

17

Front panel seal

18

Pressure piece

19

installation tool

20

production tool

21

fourth spring element

22

head Start

23

recess

Claims (5)

1. Method of producing a compact pushbutton component, comprising the following steps:

   - putting together an actuating head (2) with a first spring element (6) and a sleeve (11), in which is arranged at least one locking slide (12) incorporating a second spring element (13) and which has a recess (23) on the underside, to form a pushbutton component;

   - fitting the pushbutton component, via the recess (23) on the sleeve (11), onto a protrusion (22) on the upper side of an assembly pin (19) in the production tool (20), wherein the assembly pin (19) is guided through an exterior housing (3) incorporating a third spring element (15),

   - pushing the pushbutton component into the exterior housing (3) and snap-fitting it in place.
2. Method according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that the pushbutton component is pushed into the exterior housing (3) by way of the assembly pin (19) being resiliently mounted.
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that the pushbutton component is introduced into the exterior housing (3) incorporating the third spring element (15) by means of a rotary movement.
4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that the production tool (20) grips the actuating head (2) and pushes it into the exterior housing (3).
5. Method according to Claim 4
   characterized in that the actuating head (2) is of polygonal design.

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