JP2005078846A - Switch device and measuring instrument using this - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch device and a measuring instrument using this, which is easily manufacturable, securable a stable switch operation for a long period and can reduce the kinds of components. <P>SOLUTION: A switch device 5 has a substrate 51; a switch 52 disposed on the substrate 51; an elastic sheet member 53 covering the switch 52 and having a hammer part 531 at a position facing the switch 52 and a skirt part 532 to support the hammer part 531 so as to displace the hammer part 531 in pressing and releasing directions to and from the switch 52; a panel member 54 disposed almost parallel to the substrate 51 to hold the sheet member 53 therebetween and provided with an opening 541 at a position facing the hammer part 531; and a key-top member 55 housed and disposed so as to displace itself in a pressing direction to the sheet member 53. The sheet member 53 and the key top member 55 are made individual and separable with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device and a measuring instrument using the switch device.

Conventionally, an oil-resistant rubber switch device has been known as a switch device having oil resistance (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In the switch device described in Patent Document 1, a key top portion for operation, a contact hammer portion provided at a lower portion thereof, and a skirt portion for supporting the contact hammer portion so as to be movable up and down are integrally formed. An oil-resistant organic material is provided, and an insulating film having an arch shape capable of moving up and down is provided at the lower part of the skirt part, and the conductive film contacting and separating from the substrate is provided at the lower part of the arched part of the insulating film. It is the structure to which the sex member is attached.

  In the switch device configured as described above, when the operator presses the key top portion downward, the key top portion is lowered downward, and the contact hammer portion and the upper surface of the arch-shaped portion come into contact with each other. When the key top portion is further pressed from there, the arch shape portion is deformed, and the conductive member attached to the lower portion of the arch shape portion comes into contact with the substrate, and the input of the switch is recognized.

JP 2003-86055 A

In the switch device described in Patent Document 1 described above, the key top portion is made of plastic and the contact hammer portion including the skirt portion is made of nitrile butadiene rubber. It is difficult to integrally form the key top part and the contact hammer part including the skirt part. The key top part and the contact hammer part may be manufactured by a manufacturer having some special technology. The method of bonding and integrating the two is common.
However, when the key top portion and the contact hammer portion are fixed by bonding, the bonding strength is not stable due to unstable bonding, and there is a concern that the key top portion may come off during assembly or use. . That is, there is a concern that a stable switch operation cannot be secured.
In addition, since the key top portion and the contact hammer portion are integrally formed, it is necessary to manufacture a dedicated integral key top portion and contact hammer portion that match the dimensions of the switch device for each product. Therefore, there is a problem that the types of parts increase.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a switch device that can be easily manufactured and can guarantee a stable switch operation over a long period of time and can also reduce the types of components, and a measuring instrument using the switch device.

  The switch device of the present invention covers a substrate, a switch provided on the substrate, the switch, a hammer portion at a position facing the switch, and a direction in which the hammer portion is pressed against the switch and released. An elastic sheet member having a skirt portion that is displaceably supported, a panel member that is disposed substantially parallel to the substrate across the elastic sheet member and has an opening facing the hammer portion, and an opening of the panel member And a key top member that is housed and arranged so as to be displaceable in a direction in which the elastic sheet member is pressed against the elastic sheet member. The elastic sheet member and the key top member are separately configured to be separable from each other. It is characterized by being.

In the present invention, since the key top member and the elastic sheet member are not integrated and can be separated separately, the key top member and the elastic sheet member can be easily manufactured as compared with the conventional integral formation. In addition, problems such as the manufacturing process due to instability of adhesion between the key top member and the elastic sheet member or dropout during use can be solved, so that stable switch operation can be ensured over a long period of time. it can.
In addition, since the key top member and the elastic sheet member are separated from each other without being integrated, the combination of the key top member and the elastic sheet member can be freely changed depending on the product. As a result, the elastic sheet member can be used by changing the key top member having a different size and the key top member having a different color for each product without changing the elastic sheet member.
Further, since the switch is covered with the elastic sheet member, it can be hermetically protected so that oil, dust, etc. do not enter the switch and the substrate.

In the switch device of the present invention, it is preferable that the elastic sheet member is formed of an oil-resistant elastic member.
Here, examples of the oil-resistant elastic member include nitrile, butadiene, and rubber.
According to the present invention, since the elastic sheet member is formed of an oil-resistant elastic member, even when used in a situation where oil may enter, such as in a factory, deterioration of the elastic sheet member due to oil can be prevented. Therefore, a stable switch operation can be ensured over a long period of time.

In the switch device of the present invention, the key top member is housed and disposed so as to be displaceable in a direction in which the elastic sheet member is pressed into the opening of the panel member, and the elastic sheet member side of the key top body. It is preferable that the collar part is provided in the edge part, and the said collar part is formed in the external shape larger than the said opening.
According to this invention, since the outer shape of the collar portion is made larger than the dimension of the opening, it is possible to prevent the key top member configured to be separable from the elastic sheet member from falling off the opening. Can be operated stably.

In the switch device according to the present invention, the panel member is formed with a guide wall that guides the flange portion of the key top member when the key top member is displaced in a direction in which the key top member is pressed against the elastic sheet member and returned. It is preferable.
According to this invention, the key top member is supported at the two positions in the longitudinal direction of the key top member because the key top body is supported by the opening formed in the panel member and the collar portion is supported by the guide wall. Therefore, it is possible to prevent inclination in a direction other than the direction in which the elastic sheet member is pressed and returned. Therefore, stable operation as a switching device can be performed.

In the switch device of the present invention, it is preferable that the guide wall is extended to the elastic sheet member, and the periphery of the skirt portion of the elastic sheet member is pressed and clamped by the substrate and the guide wall.
According to the present invention, since the elastic sheet member is pressed and clamped by the substrate and the guide wall, the elastic sheet member can be firmly fixed without providing another fixing means.
In addition, this enables hermetic protection to prevent oil and dust from entering the switch and the substrate.

The measuring instrument according to the present invention includes the above-described switch device.
Here, examples of the measuring instrument include a micrometer, a caliper, a linear gauge, and a dial gauge.
In this invention, since the measuring device using the switch apparatus mentioned above can be comprised, those effects can be enjoyed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a micrometer 1 as a measuring instrument according to the embodiment.
The micrometer 1 includes a main body 2 having an anvil 22 at one end of a substantially U-shaped frame 21, and is screwed into the other end of the main body 2 to move in the axial direction and forward and backward toward the anvil 22. A spindle 3 that detects the amount of axial displacement of the spindle 3 from the amount of rotation of the spindle 3 and displays the detection result; and a switch device 5 that controls the display of the digital display 4 and the like. Prepare. As the switch device 5, a power ON / OFF switch device (ON / OFF), a display value zero reset switch device (0SET), and a display value hold switch (HOLD) are provided.

FIG. 2 shows the switch device 5.
The switch device 5 covers the substrate 51, the switch 52 provided on the substrate 51, the switch 52, and presses and releases the hammer portion 531 and the hammer portion 531 against the switch 52 at a position facing the switch 52. An elastic sheet member 53 having a skirt portion 532 that is supported so as to be displaceable in a moving direction, and a panel member 54 having an opening 541 at a position facing the hammer portion 531 that is disposed substantially parallel to the substrate 51 with the elastic sheet member 53 interposed therebetween. The key top member 55 is disposed in the opening 541 of the panel member 54 so as to be displaceable in a direction in which the elastic sheet member 53 is pressed. The elastic sheet member 53 and the key top member 55 are configured separately and separable from each other.

  The switch 52 is formed in an arch shape by an elastic member on the lower surface of the hammer portion 531 and is displaced by pressing, and a conductive member provided at a position facing the hammer portion 531 on the lower surface of the displacement member 521. 522 and a switch contact portion (not shown) provided on the substrate 51 so as to face the conductive member 522.

The elastic sheet member 53 is made of nitrile butadiene rubber, which is an oil-resistant elastic member, and a base for placing the key top member 55 on the opposite side of the hammer portion 531 in addition to the hammer portion 531 and the skirt portion 532. And a base portion 534 that is integrally formed at the lower end of the skirt portion 532 and supports the hammer portion 531 including the pedestal portion 533 and the skirt portion 532 on the upper surface side of the substrate 51 and the switch 52.
The hammer portion 531 is formed in a truncated cone having a diameter that gradually decreases toward the switch 52.
The skirt portion 532 connects the hammer portion 531 and the base portion 534, and is formed in a dish shape having a uniform thickness that gradually decreases in diameter toward the upper end of the hammer portion 531.
The pedestal portion 533 is formed on the opposite side of the hammer portion 531 so that the surface on which the key top member 55 is placed is a flat surface.
The base portion 534 is connected to the lower end of the skirt portion 532 and is formed in a flat plate shape having a uniform thickness.

The key top member 55 is made of synthetic resin, here, nylon, and is housed and disposed so as to be displaceable in a direction in which the elastic sheet member 53 is pressed into the opening 541 of the panel member 54, and the key top body 551. And a flange portion 552 provided at the end of the elastic sheet member 53 side.
The key top body 551 has a cylindrical shape, and the outer peripheral edge is formed in a rounded curve.
The flange portion 552 has a cylindrical shape, and has a diameter larger than that of the key top body 551.

In addition to the opening 541, the panel member 54 is formed with a guide wall 542 that guides the flange portion 552 of the key top member 55 when the key top member 55 is displaced in the direction of pressing and returning to the elastic sheet member 53. Has been.
The opening 541 is formed in a circular shape, and the diameter thereof is slightly larger than the diameter of the key top main body 551 and smaller than the diameter of the flange portion 552.
The guide wall 542 is formed concentrically with the opening 541 on the lower surface of the panel member 54, and has a diameter larger than that of the opening 541 so that the flange portion 552 can slide. Further, the guide wall 542 is configured to extend as it is to the base portion 534 of the elastic sheet member 53 and to press and hold the base portion 534 with the substrate 51.
The opening 541 is formed on the surface facing the key top body 551, and the guide wall 542 is formed on the surface facing the flange 552 so as to have a slight clearance.

  In the switch device 5 configured as described above, when the operator presses the key top body 551, the skirt portion 532 is elastically deformed. When the key top body 551 is further pushed in, the displacement member 521 is elastically deformed by being pushed by the hammer portion 531, and the conductive member 522 provided on the lower surface of the displacement member 521 and the switch contact portion of the substrate 51 come into contact with each other. Recognize the input operation. Further, when the pressure on the key top body 551 is released, the elastic sheet member 53 and the displacement member 521 perform a return operation. At this time, the flange portion 552 of the key top member 55 comes into contact with the lower surface of the panel member 54 and is positioned at a fixed position.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.
(1) Since the key top member 55 and the elastic sheet member 53 are not integrated and separable separately, a manufacturing process due to unstable bonding between the key top member 55 and the elastic sheet member 53, or Since the problem of dropping off during use can be solved, it can be easily manufactured as compared with the conventional integral formation, and stable operation of the switch device 5 can be ensured over a long period of time.

(2) Since the key top member 55 and the elastic sheet member 53 are separated and integrated, the combination of the key top member 55 and the elastic sheet member 53 can be freely changed depending on the product. As a result, the key top member 55 having a different size or the key top member 55 having a different color can be used for each product without changing the elastic sheet member 53, and as a result, the types of parts can be reduced. Can do.

(3) Since the switch 52 is covered with the elastic sheet member 53, the switch 52 and the substrate 51 can be hermetically sealed so that oil, dust, etc. do not enter.

(4) Since the switch 52 is formed by the arch-shaped displacement member 521, a good click feeling can be provided to the operator.

(5) Since the elastic sheet member 53 is made of oil-resistant nitrile butadiene rubber, the durability of the elastic sheet member 53 is ensured even when used in situations where oil may enter, such as in a factory. Therefore, stable switch operation can be ensured over a long period of time.

(6) Since the key top member 55 is made of oil-resistant nylon, the oil can be wiped off only by wiping the key top member 55 even if it is operated with oiled hands. Can be simple.

(7) Since the outer shape of the flange portion 552 is made larger than the size of the opening 541, it is possible to prevent the key top member 55 configured to be separable from the elastic sheet member 53 from falling off.

(8) When the elastic sheet member 53 performs the return operation after the operation, the key top main body 551 is always fixed because the flange portion 552 of the key top member 55 hits the lower portion of the opening 541 when the elastic sheet member 53 performs the return operation. The height position can be maintained.

(9) The key top member 55 is in contact with the key top main body 551 in the opening 541 formed in the panel member 54, and the flange portion 552 is in contact with the guide wall 542, that is, the length of the key top member 55. Since contact is made at two locations in the direction, tilting in a direction other than the direction in which the elastic sheet member 53 is pressed can be prevented. Therefore, stable operation as a switching device can be performed.

(10) Since the base portion 534 of the elastic sheet member 53 is pressed and held by the substrate 51 and the guide wall 542, the elastic sheet member 53 can be firmly fixed without providing another fixing means.

(11) Since the base portion 534 of the elastic sheet member 53 is pressed and held by the substrate 51 and the guide wall 542, the switch 52 and the substrate 51 can be hermetically protected so that oil, dust, and the like do not enter the switch 52 and the substrate 51.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the switch 52 has an arch shape, but includes a tact switch 56 as shown in FIG. 3, and the hammer portion 531 presses the switch portion 561 on the top surface of the tact switch 56 to switch the switch 52. The switch device 5 that recognizes the input operation may be used.

In addition, the opening 541 is formed in a circular shape and the key top body 551 is formed in a cylindrical shape. However, if the key top body 551 is slidable with respect to the opening 541, for example, the opening 541 has a polygonal shape, The top body 551 may have a polygonal column shape, or the opening 541 may have an elliptical shape, and the key top body 551 may have an elliptical columnar shape.
Further, the shape of the flange portion 552 may be any shape such as a polygonal column shape or an elliptical column shape as long as the key top member 55 is configured not to drop off from the opening 541.

The elastic sheet member 53 is formed using nitrile / butadiene / rubber, but is not limited thereto, and may be styrene / butadiene / rubber, for example. Any other material may be used as long as it has elasticity.
The key top member 55 is formed of nylon, but may be formed of another member such as acrylonitrile / styrene.

  Such a switch device can be used for a micrometer, a caliper, a linear gauge, a dial gauge, and the like. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a device having a button type switch.

1 is a micrometer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the switch apparatus 5 of this invention. It is a modification of the switch device 5 of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Micrometer 5 ... Switch apparatus 51 ... Board | substrate 52 ... Switch 53 ... Elastic sheet member 54 ... Panel member 55 ... Key top member 531 ... Hammer part 532 ... Skirt part 533 ... Base part 534 ... Base part 541 ... Opening 542 ... Guide wall 551 ... Key top body 552 ... Buttocks

Claims (6)

A substrate, a switch provided on the substrate, and a skirt that covers the switch and supports the hammer portion at a position facing the switch and displaceable in a direction in which the hammer portion is pressed against and released from the switch. An elastic sheet member having a portion, a panel member disposed substantially parallel to the substrate across the elastic sheet member and having an opening at a position facing the hammer portion, and pressing the elastic sheet member to the opening of the panel member In a switch device comprising a key top member housed and arranged so as to be displaceable in the direction of
The switch device, wherein the elastic sheet member and the key top member are configured separately and separable from each other. The switch device according to claim 1,
The switch device, wherein the elastic sheet member is formed of an oil-resistant elastic member. The switch device according to claim 1 or 2,
The key top member includes a key top body that is housed and disposed in an opening of the panel member so as to be displaceable in a direction in which the elastic sheet member is pressed, and a flange provided on the elastic sheet member side end of the key top body. A switch device, wherein the flange is formed in an outer shape larger than the opening. The switch device according to claim 3,
The panel member is formed with a guide wall that guides a collar portion of the key top member when the key top member is displaced in a direction of pressing and returning to the elastic sheet member. Switch device. The switch device according to claim 4,
The switch device, wherein the guide wall extends to the elastic sheet member, and the periphery of the skirt portion of the elastic sheet member is pressed and clamped by the substrate and the guide wall.   A measuring instrument comprising the switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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