JP2001282389A - Keyboard mounting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that operability or visibility is deteriorated due to the isolation of a keyboard and display device of a computer to be used for a producing facility or the like for the reason of a space when those keyboard and display device are placed under a severe environment such as a factory, or that the failure of the keyboard due to dusts or the misoperation of a producing facility due to an erroneous input is generated when the keyboard is exposed in the environment even during nonuse. SOLUTION: This keyboard mounting device for a computer is provided with a casing 6 on whose outside a display device 4 of a computer can be mounted, and from whose inside a keyboard 5 of the computer can be drawn and a mechanism 20 whose tilt angle can be changed in a state that the keyboard 5 is drawn.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard mounting apparatus suitable for use in a severe environment such as dust in a factory using a personal computer or the like as a production facility.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional keyboard mounting apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-57157. This conventional example is composed of a main body wagon, an elevating top board, and a mouse stand having a drawable structure, and uses a personal computer, a keyboard and a mouse mounted on the top board.

[0003] Conventionally, when a personal computer without a dedicated operation key is used in a general production facility in a factory or the like, a display device and a keyboard may be installed in different places. Many. In particular, the keyboard of the personal computer and its display device are often installed at a distance from each other due to the arrangement of the devices in the entire production facility. For example, a display device is often placed at a high place such as by hanging it from a ceiling to save space, and a keyboard is placed at a place close to an operator who has avoided the influence of dust and the like.

[0004]

However, when the display device and the keyboard are placed at a distance from each other as described above, there is a problem that the visibility of the display device and the operability of the keyboard are significantly reduced for the operator. That is, the operator operates the keyboard and the display device while checking them alternately with the eyes. For this reason, it is necessary to move the line of sight if the two are far apart. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem and to provide a keyboard mounting device that can be used even in a severe environment such as a production facility with improved operability and visibility.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, a housing for accommodating a display device of a computer externally and housing a keyboard of a computer so as to be able to be pulled out inside the housing. And a tilt mechanism for changing a tilt angle of the keyboard when the keyboard is pulled out.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the keyboard of the computer can be arranged integrally with and close to the display device, so that the operability of the keyboard and the visibility of the display device are excellent. Also, except when operating the keyboard, the keyboard can be stored in the housing to save space, so that other operations are not obstructed. Further, erroneous operation of the computer due to erroneous keyboard input or the like can be prevented, so that the overall safety of the production equipment and the like can be improved. Further, since the keyboard is housed in the housing except during operation, the keyboard can be protected from severe environments such as dust at the production site. Furthermore, in the state at the time of operating the keyboard, the tilt angle can be adjusted, so that the operation can be performed at an optimum operation angle according to the height of the operator.

Further, according to the keyboard mounting apparatus of the present invention, a rail on which a housing is slidably supported is provided;
Support means for supporting the keyboard movably back and forth along a guide provided on the rail, and a tilt mechanism for changing the tilt angle allows the keyboard to rotate at the front end of the guide and supports the keyboard at a predetermined angle. Has a mechanism. According to such a configuration of the present invention, the keyboard is supported movably back and forth along a guide provided on the rail, and the rail is slidably supported in the housing. The keyboard can be turned at the front end of the rail guide and can be maintained at a predetermined angle. For this reason, the keyboard can be pulled out of the housing or stored in the housing while being placed on the rail. To change the tilt angle of the keyboard, the keyboard is pulled out along the guide to the front end of the rail, and is adjusted to a predetermined tilt angle by an angle adjusting mechanism. To store the keyboard in the housing, the keyboard should be once leveled and moved backward along the rails.

Further, according to the keyboard mounting apparatus of the present invention, a protective cover for covering the opening of the housing is provided. According to such a configuration, a dust-proof effect of preventing dust or the like in the factory from entering through the opening of the housing and contaminating the keyboard housed therein or causing a failure is provided. This protective cover may be attached to the front end of the rail. Further, in the present invention, the display device is mounted on the housing and has a tilt mechanism. Therefore, the tilt angle of the display device can be adjusted so that the operator can easily see it.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a printed board adjustment / inspection apparatus 1 is used in a printed board manufacturing process, and performs inspection and adjustment in the printed board manufacturing process. The printed board adjustment / inspection apparatus 1 has therein a conveyor mechanism 2 for transporting processed products from the manufacturing process. The ceiling board 3 of the printed board adjustment inspection device 1
A display unit 4 of a personal computer (not shown) for controlling the printed board adjustment / inspection apparatus 1 and collecting inspection data, and a housing 6 formed of a sheet metal for mounting a keyboard thereon. Is installed. The position of the housing 6 is such that the keyboard is protruded outward from the ceiling plate 3 when the keyboard is placed on the side where the operator operates the ceiling plate 3 and the internal keyboard is pulled out.

As shown in FIG. 2, a liquid crystal display device 4 having a tilt mechanism 7 is fixed to an upper portion of the housing 6.
The liquid crystal display device 4 is rotated at a predetermined angle around the rotation axis 8 and is fixed at an arbitrary tilt angle. Further, the liquid crystal display device 4
Is mounted on the housing 6 via a tilt base 9 capable of raising or lowering the rear part to a certain height with the front part as a rotation axis and adjusting the tilt angle up to 15 degrees. The liquid crystal display device 4 has a tilt mechanism 7 having a two-stage adjustment function including a rotation shaft 8 and a tilt table 9. As a result, the liquid crystal display device 4 can be adjusted to a height suitable for the operator by the tilt stand 9, and furthermore, the tilt angle of the display device around the rotation axis 8 can be adjusted. Both the height and the tilt can be adjusted by the tilt mechanism 7, and the range of adjustment is widened, so that the visibility of the operator can be improved.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, an opening 10 is provided at a front portion of the housing 6, and rails 11 and 12 having a pair of U-shaped cross sections are provided in the housing 6. Is slidably supported in the groove 13 on the side of the housing 6 and can be pulled out from the housing 6 and housed in the housing 6. The U-shaped cross section of the pair of rails 11 and 12 forms a guide groove 14. A receiving plate 15 on which the keyboard 5 is placed is guided by the guide groove 14 and is supported so that the rails 11 and 12 can move in the front-rear direction. That is, both sides of the receiving plate 15 are slidably supported by the guide grooves 14 of the rails 11 and 12, and the shafts 16 provided at the rear portions of both sides of the receiving plate 15 move back and forth through the guide grooves 14. . Receiving plate 1
5 is provided with a hole 17 for drawing out at the front end.
And, between the front ends of the pair of rails 11 and 12,
A protective cover 18 is rotatably attached by a hinge 19. The keyboard 5 is fixed to the receiving plate 15 by a fixing method such as a bolt or a clasp (not shown).
The keyboard 5 includes a pointing device such as a trackball. The liquid crystal display device 4 and the keyboard 5 are connected to a personal computer (not shown) by a cable (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 3, the receiving plate 15 on which the keyboard 5 is placed is pulled out from the opening 10 of the housing 6 by hand using the drawing hole 17. Then, the rails 11 and 12 are guided by the groove 13 in the housing 6 and pulled out. The rails 11 and 12 stop and stay there in a fully extended state. Further, when the receiving plate 15 is pulled out using the drawing hole 17, the receiving plate 15 is guided by the guide grooves 14 of the rails 11 and 12 and moves forward as shown in FIG. Protective cover 1 on both sides
By pushing and opening 8, the upper surface of the keyboard key comes out of the rails 11 and 12 further without coming into contact with the protective cover. Then, when the shafts 16 provided at the rear portions on both sides of the receiving plate 15 are fitted to the tilt angle adjusting mechanism 20 having the rotary ratchet mechanism provided at the front end of the guide groove 14, the further forward movement is stopped and the keyboard is stopped. 5 is fixed horizontally. This is the operation position of the keyboard 5.

When the shaft 16 of the receiving plate 15 is fitted to the tilt angle adjusting mechanism 20, the keyboard 5 can be fixed at a fixed tilt angle by the rotating ratchet mechanism. The optimal tilt angle of the keyboard 5 can be selected by the rotating ratchet mechanism according to the height and preference of the operator. As a rotary ratchet mechanism, for example, a push button is provided on the tilt angle adjusting mechanism 20, and while the button is being pressed, the lock is released and the receiving plate 15 rotates around the axis 16,
The tilt angle can be adjusted to a predetermined value, and when the push button is stopped, the push button is locked at the tilt angle. When the operation is completed, the keyboard 5 and the receiving plate 15 are returned to a horizontal position and pushed into the housing 6 together with the rails 11 and 12. Then, the keyboard 5, the rails 11 and 12, and the receiving plate 15 are housed in the housing 6, and the protective cover 18 covers the opening 10 of the housing 6, thereby preventing foreign matter such as dust from entering from outside.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the display device 4 is mounted on the rotating shaft 8 so that the operator can operate in an optimum environment.
The tilt mechanism 7 is mounted on the housing 6 by a tilt mechanism 7 composed of two components, and its height and tilt angle can be adjusted. In addition, since the keyboard 5 is stored in the housing 6 except during operation, it is possible to prevent erroneous operation, secure a space, and prevent contamination by dust. During operation, the keyboard 5 can be pulled out of the housing 6 to adjust the tilt angle. Since the display device 4 and the keyboard 5 are arranged close to each other, the visibility of the display device and the operability of the keyboard can be improved for the operator.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the CRT display device 2
2 is fixed on the tilt angle adjustment table 23 and mounted on the housing 6. Other configurations are the same as those of the previous embodiment, and therefore, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the keyboard of the computer can be arranged close to the display device, the operability of the keyboard and the visibility of the display device are excellent. Also, except when operating the keyboard,
Since the keyboard is housed in the housing, space can be saved and other operations are not obstructed. Furthermore, erroneous operation of the computer due to erroneous keyboard input can be prevented, so that the overall safety of the production equipment and the like can be improved. Further, since the keyboard is housed in the housing except during operation, the keyboard can be protected from severe environments such as dust at the production site. Furthermore, in the state at the time of operating the keyboard, the tilt angle can be adjusted, so that the operation can be performed at the optimum tilt angle according to the height of the operator. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a keyboard mounting device capable of improving operability, maintainability, and safety of the device. Furthermore, according to the second aspect, since the keyboard is guided and mounted on the rail on which the keyboard can be pulled out, there is an advantage that the keyboard can be easily pulled out. Further, according to the third aspect, there is an advantage that the intrusion of dust can be prevented because the protective cover covers the opening of the housing. further,
According to the fourth aspect, since the display device mounted on the housing has the two-stage display tilt mechanism, there is an advantage that adjustment for improving visibility and operability is easy. Further, according to claim 5, there is an advantage that the display device can be reduced in size and its space can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a use environment of a computer keyboard mounting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state during operation of the computer keyboard mounting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the keyboard of the computer keyboard mounting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is pulled out to a certain extent;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view showing a state of operating the keyboard of the computer keyboard mounting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a keyboard mounting device for a computer according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printed board adjustment inspection apparatus 3 Ceiling board 4 Liquid crystal display device 5 Keyboard 6 Housing 7 Tilt mechanism 8 Rotation axis 9 Tilt table 11, 12 Rail 14 Guide groove 15 Receiving plate 18 Protective cover 19 Hinge 20 Tilt angle adjusting mechanism 22 CRT display apparatus

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4E360 AB04 AB05 AB09 AB13 AB23 AB24 AB61 AC13 AC24 BA04 BB02 BB12 BB16 BC05 BD03 BD05 EA13 EA18 EA22 EC13 ED03 ED17 ED27 GA02 GA06 GA22 GA46 GB45

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard comprising: a housing in which a display device of a computer can be attached to the outside and a keyboard of the computer can be pulled out; and a tilt mechanism for changing a tilt angle of the keyboard when the keyboard is pulled out. Mounting device. 2. The housing has a rail slidably supported therein, and support means for movably supporting the keyboard back and forth along a guide provided on the rail, The keyboard mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the tilt mechanism that changes the tilt angle has an angle adjustment mechanism that can rotate and support the keyboard at a predetermined angle at a front end of the guide. 3. The keyboard mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a protective cover capable of covering an opening through which the keyboard is pulled out. 4. The keyboard mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the display device has a display tilt mechanism mounted on the housing and capable of adjusting a tilt angle. 5. The keyboard mounting device according to claim 4, wherein said display device is a liquid crystal display device.