JP2005228549A - Middle point return mechanism of operation knob, and rotary type electronic component constructed using it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a middle point return mechanism of a rotary operation type operating knob which becomes an operating part of various electronic equipment, and also to provide a rotary type electronic component using it, which is free from loosening or the like to be felt at the beginning of rotation operation of the operating knob. <P>SOLUTION: Since projection parts 51A, 51B are contacted to engaging members 43A, 43B of a return spring 41 engaged with the engaging parts 35A, 35B arranged at the main body 31 of a rotation type electronic component of a fixing member, and an operating knob 50 is coupled and installed on the rotation operating part 32, the engaging members 43A, 43B are directly pushed down and moved by the projection parts 51A, 51B by the rotation operation of the operating knob 50, thereby loosening or the like at the beginning of the rotation operation of the operating knob 50 is hardly felt. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a midpoint return mechanism of a rotary operation type operation knob serving as an operation unit of various electronic devices, and a rotary electronic component configured using the same.

  In recent years, various electronic devices have become widespread, and various types of operation units have been mounted as towers. Among them, various types of rotary operation type control knobs that return to the midpoint position in a non-operating state are used, and the device side often constitutes a midpoint return mechanism of the operation knob.

  Such a conventional operation knob midpoint return mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS.

  6 is an external perspective view of a midpoint return mechanism of a conventional operation knob, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view thereof, and FIG. 8 is a top view in which the operation knob is omitted.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an intermediate panel disposed below an operation panel (not shown) of a car air conditioner electronic device or the like. On the intermediate panel 1, a cylindrical portion 2 is integrally formed. Yes. The cylindrical portion 2 includes three elastic claws 3 arranged at equal intervals and an arcuate wall portion 4 therebetween. The claw portion 3 </ b> A of the elastic claw 3 is disposed at a position above the cylindrical portion 2 so as to protrude toward the outer peripheral surface side of the cylindrical portion 2.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a rotator provided with a central hole 12, which rotates with respect to the cylindrical part 2 so that the cylindrical wall 13 constituting the central hole 12 is inserted through the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical part 2 of the intermediate panel 1. The elastic claws 3 are combined so as to prevent the elastic claws 3 from coming off upward.

  Reference numeral 21 denotes a return spring attached to the rotating body 11, and the coil portion 22 is inserted outside the cylindrical wall 13. And each edge part from the coil part 22 is formed in engagement piece part 23A, 23B which protrudes with a predetermined angle toward the outer periphery of radial direction, and each of said engagement piece part 23A, 23B is a rotary body. 11 is locked to the left and right end surface portions 14A and 14B on the opening side of the outer peripheral wall 14 formed in an arc shape with a predetermined elastic contact force. Further, the rotating body 11 includes a fan-shaped portion 15 that is formed to protrude in the radial direction at the center position of the opening angle on the opening side of the outer peripheral wall 14.

  Then, in a state where the rotating body 11 is incorporated in the cylindrical portion 2 of the intermediate panel 1, each of the engagement piece portions 23 </ b> A and 23 </ b> B is disposed on the intermediate panel 1 at a position outward of the rotating body 11. The locking portions 5A and 5B are incorporated so as to be locked. At this time, the fan-shaped portion 15 of the rotating body 11 is located in the concave portion 6 arranged in an arc shape on the intermediate panel 1. The angle between the locking portions 5A and 5B and the arrangement angle of the recess 6 are matched to the opening angle of the outer peripheral wall 14 of the rotating body 11.

  And the through-hole is distribute | arranged to two places at the bottom part of the recessed part 6, and the operation part 10 of the self-return type press switch protrudes from each through-hole. The arrangement position is set to a position where each operation unit 10 can be pressed on the lower surface of the fan-shaped part 15 formed in an inclined shape by the rotational movement of the fan-shaped part 15 in the recess 6. The pressing switch is mounted on a control printed wiring board (not shown) disposed below the intermediate panel 1.

  A rotating operation type cylindrical operation knob 20 is mounted on the cylindrical wall 13 of the rotating body 11 so as to be able to rotate together from above.

  The conventional midpoint return mechanism of the operation knob is configured as described above. Next, the operation thereof will be described.

  First, in the non-operation state of the operation knob 20 shown in FIG. 8, the left and right engagement piece portions 23A and 23B are connected to the left and right end surface portions 14A and 14B of the outer peripheral wall 14 and the left and right engaging portions 5A and The operation knob 20 is maintained in a stopped state at an intermediate position.

  Then, when the operation knob 20 is rotated in the clockwise direction from the above state, the rotating body 11 to which the operation knob 20 is attached also rotates in the clockwise direction relative to the intermediate panel 1 as shown in FIG. Turn around.

  At this time, the right engagement piece portion 22B corresponding to the rotation operation direction is pushed clockwise by the right end surface portion 14B of the outer peripheral wall 14, and is separated from the right engagement portion 5B and the clockwise direction. The coil portion 22 is bent. When the rotating body 11 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the left end surface portion 14A of the outer peripheral wall 14 is separated from the left side engaging piece portion 23A, but the left side engaging piece portion 23A is fixed. Since it is locked by the left locking portion 5A in the state, the stopped state is maintained.

  The operation knob 20 can be rotated in the clockwise direction until the left side surface of the fan-shaped portion 15 of the rotating body 11 comes into contact with the left side wall of the recess 6 and stops. As the fan-shaped portion 15 moves in the clockwise direction in the recess 6, the left switch operating portion 10 protruding from the bottom surface of the recess 6 is pushed down by the lower surface of the fan-shaped portion 15 formed in an inclined shape. When a pressing operation state of the switch is detected, a predetermined function of the device is activated, but a description of its configuration and operation is omitted.

  When the clockwise operation of the operation knob 20 is stopped, the right engagement piece portion 23B pushes back the right end surface portion 14B of the outer peripheral wall 14 by the force that the return spring 21 returns to the original state. The rotator 11 is rotated counterclockwise. Accordingly, the left-side switch pressing state in the fan-shaped portion 15 is also released.

  The counterclockwise rotation of the rotating body 11 continues until the engagement piece 23B comes into contact with the right engagement portion 5B, and the left and right engagement pieces 23A, 23B are both engaged with the engagement portions 5A, In the state of being in contact with 5B, the rotating body 11, that is, the operation knob 20, stops and returns to the midpoint position. Note that when the operation knob 20 is rotated counterclockwise, only the left and right states are reversed with respect to the operation described above, and the outline of the operation state is the same. .

As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known.
JP-A-8-286094 JP-A-7-45407

  In the above-described conventional operation knob midpoint return mechanism, the device side can be configured as necessary, so that the device side has an increased design freedom and has an advantage. Since the engagement piece portion 23B (or 23A) of the return spring 21 is moved through the mounted rotating body 11, the operation knob 20 and the rotating body 11 are operated when the mounted state is not sufficient. There was a problem that rattling was felt at the beginning of the rotation operation of the knob 20, and then the rotation operation was performed with an operation force to which the spring force of the return spring 21 was applied.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and can be configured as a midpoint return mechanism in which rattling or the like is hardly felt at the beginning of the rotation operation of the operation knob, and is not provided with a midpoint return mechanism. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation knob midpoint return mechanism to which a control knob midpoint return mechanism can be easily added, and a rotary electronic component configured using the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a rotating operation portion that is rotatably held relative to a fixed member, and a coil portion is inserted into the rotating operation portion, and both ends of the coil portion are in the radial direction. Each of the engaging pieces is locked by a locking portion provided on the fixing member so as to be movable only in different rotational directions. A return spring and an operation knob that is coupled and mounted to the rotation operation portion so that a convex portion is in contact with the engagement piece of the return spring. When only the one engaging piece that is movable in the direction of the rotational operation is moved by the convex portion, the angle between the engaging pieces is changed, and when the rotational operation is stopped, the return is performed. Due to the restoring force of the spring, the moved engagement piece is the convex portion. Return to the original engaged state while pushing back, the midpoint return mechanism of the operating knob the rotational operation unit coupled to said operation knob in accordance with the rotation movement of the operating knob is returned to the midpoint position. With this configuration, since the engagement piece of the return spring is moved directly by the operation knob during the rotation operation, the operation knob can be configured so that it is difficult to feel rattling at the beginning of the rotation operation of the operation knob. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the convex portion of the operation knob is positioned above the engagement piece portion at a portion where the engagement piece portion of the return spring comes into contact. It has an upper wall portion for regulation, and has an effect that the engagement piece portion can be prevented from escaping upward when the operation knob is rotated, and dispersion of the spring force of the return spring can be suppressed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the main body portion of the rotary electronic component is made as a fixing member, and the coil portion of the return spring is inserted into the rotation operation portion protruding from the main body portion of the rotary electronic component. The rotary electronic component configured using the midpoint return mechanism of the operation knob according to claim 1, wherein the engagement piece portion is locked to a locking portion disposed on the main body portion, and is the start of the rotation operation. The operation knob can be provided with a midpoint return mechanism that is difficult to feel rattling.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the convex portion of the operation knob comes into contact with the terminal arrangement portion arranged on the main body portion of the rotary electronic component, whereby the operation knob is provided. The rotation angle of the operation knob can be simply configured using the constituent parts of the main body of the rotary electronic component.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the operation knob is configured to move the engagement piece portion of the return spring that is in direct contact with the operation knob. An advantageous effect is obtained in that a midpoint return mechanism of the operation knob that is difficult to feel and a rotary electronic component configured using the same is obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a completed perspective view of a rotary electronic component constructed using a midpoint return mechanism of an operation knob according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof, and FIG. 3 is an oblique view thereof. FIG. 4 is a top perspective view showing an engagement state between the convex portion of the operation knob and the engagement piece portion of the return spring in the same midpoint position state.

  In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a main body portion of a rotary operation type electronic component formed in a substantially annular shape, and a substantially cylindrical rotation operation portion 32 protrudes upward from the upper surface thereof so as to be capable of rotation operation.

  The main body portion 31 is joined by holding a lower case portion 33 made of an insulating resin by a leg portion of an upper cover 34 made of a metal plate. An element unit (not shown) such as a variable resistor or a switch is accommodated in the main body 31, and the output from the element unit that changes in accordance with the rotation operation to the rotation operation unit 32 is the main body unit. It is possible to derive from a plurality of terminals 31A arranged in front of 31. The plurality of terminals 31 </ b> A are arranged together in a terminal arrangement portion 31 </ b> B that is formed to protrude in front of the main body portion 31.

  And the coil part 42 wound by the circular ring shape of the return spring 41 was penetrated by the rotation operation part 32 of the said rotation operation type electronic component, and the coil part 42 was comprised by the flat of the cover 34. It is placed on the top surface.

  In the return spring 41, both end portions of the coil portion 42 are engaging piece portions 43A and 43B that project linearly toward the outer circumference of the coil portion 42 in the radial direction. The engaging pieces 43A and 43B protrude in a substantially C shape in a top view on the rear side. In the following description, the angle on the narrower rear side constituted by the substantially letter C is described as the angle between the engaging piece portions 43A and 43B.

  The engaging piece portions 43A and 43B are respectively locked by hook-shaped locking portions 35A and 35B integrally formed upward at the rear position of the cover 34. The arrangement angle between the locking portions 35A and 35B is set to an angle interval narrower than the angle between the engaging piece portions 43A and 43B, and the engaging piece portions 43A and 43B are respectively connected to the corresponding locking portions 35A and 35B. On the other hand, it is in an elastic contact state.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a cylindrical knob that is coupled and attached to the rotary operation unit 32 from above. The operation knob 50 includes convex portions 51A and 51B that are formed so as to project outward in an L-shaped cross section outward from the outer peripheral surface, and the convex portions 51A and 51B in a state after being attached to the rotary operation portion 32. The lower part is located at a lateral position maintaining a predetermined interval with respect to the outer periphery of the main body 31. Each of the convex portions 51A and 51B is a substantially rectangular shape having rectangular cutout portions 52A and 52B that are open at the lower and rear sides in the rear lower end in a side view, and faces the rear of the cutout portions 52A and 52B. The arrangement angle between the end faces is adjusted to the same angle as the arrangement angle between the locking portions 35A and 35B. And each engagement piece part 43A, 43B is in the elastic contact state to each end surface which faced the notch parts 52A, 52B of the convex parts 51A, 51B.

  As described above, the rotary electronic component configured using the midpoint return mechanism of the operation knob according to the present embodiment is configured.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  First, when the operation knob 50 is not operated, as shown in FIG. 4, the left and right engaging pieces 43A and 43B are provided with end faces facing the rear of the notches 52A and 52B and the locking portions 35A and 35A of the cover 34, respectively. The operation knob 50 is maintained in a stopped state at the midpoint position.

  When the operation knob 50 is rotated in the clockwise direction from the above state, the convex portions 51A and 51B integrated with the operation knob 50 are also moved in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. At this time, the engaging piece 43A elastically contacting the end surface of the cutout portion 52A of the convex portion 51A shown on the left side of the operation knob 50 in the same figure is pushed by the end surface of the cutout portion 52A, and the locking portion While moving away from 35A, the coil portion 42 is bent in the clockwise direction. Note that the right engagement piece 43B on the other side is separated from the end surface of the notch 52B, but is in the elastic contact state with the locking portion 35B in the fixed state, and thus the stopped state is maintained.

  In this operation state, the spring force of the return spring 41 is applied to the operation knob 50 simultaneously with the rotation operation, so that the play of the operation knob 50 is hardly felt.

  The operation knob 50 can be rotated in the clockwise direction until the front end surface of the right convex portion 51B comes into contact with the side surface of the arrangement portion 31B of the terminal 31A. Like the said structure, since it can comprise simply when utilizing the component part of the main-body part 31B as a rotation control structure of the operation knob 50, it is preferable. In addition, with this configuration, the operation knob 50 is in a contact state in which the rotation is restricted at a position away from the center of rotation, so that the anti-rotation strength and the like can be increased. And the output from the element part according to the rotation operation is derived | led-out from terminal part 31A, and predetermined control of an object apparatus is performed with the output signal.

  When the clockwise operation of the operation knob 50 is stopped, the left engagement piece 43A is elastically contacted with the left engagement portion 35A by the force that the return spring 41 restores to the original state. Until the state is reached, the end face of the corresponding left notch 52A is pushed back in the counterclockwise direction, and the operation knob 50 is returned to the original midpoint position. At this time as well, the right engagement piece 43B remains in elastic contact with the right engagement portion 35B, and the right engagement piece 43B is returned to the middle position of the operation knob 50. On the other hand, the end face of the right notch 52B returns to the elastic contact state.

  When the operation knob 50 is rotated counterclockwise, the outline of the operation state is the same as the above-described operation, except that the left and right states are reversed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, at the time of the rotation operation, the engagement pieces 43A and 43B of the return spring 41 are moved by the rotation operation knob 50 itself. In addition, it is possible to make it difficult for the control knob 50 to be rattled and to have a high-quality operation feeling.

  In addition, if the notches 52A and 52B are arranged at the lower rear ends of the convex portions 51A and 51B as described above, the notches 52A and 52B each have an upper wall portion, and the upper wall The upper part of the engagement piece parts 43A and 43B can be regulated by the part. Since the upper wall portion also functions as a function to prevent the engagement pieces 43A and 43B from escaping upward when the operation knob 50 is rotated, the dispersion of the spring force of the return spring 41 is suppressed, which is favorable. This contributes to obtaining an operational state.

  In the above, an example of mounting on a rotary electronic component has been described. However, the midpoint return mechanism according to the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and can be applied to other rotary operation mechanisms. Is.

  In addition, the rotary electronic component may be applied to a rotating shaft part other than the illustrated hollow type. Further, instead of providing the locking portions 35A and 35B on the main body portion 31 of the electronic component, the locking portion is arranged on a member that is in a fixed state such as a housing of the device, and the rotating portion is rotated with respect to the locking portion. You may comprise as what latched the engagement piece part of the return spring inserted in the rotation operation part of the electronic component.

  The midpoint return mechanism of the operation knob according to the present invention and the rotary electronic component configured using the same are configured to move the engagement piece portion of the return spring in contact with the operation knob directly. It has the advantage that it can be realized that it is difficult to feel rattling at the beginning of the rotation operation of the operation knob, and is useful for an operation part having a rotation operation type operation knob in various electronic devices. .

The completed perspective view seen from the side of the rotary electronic component comprised using the midpoint return mechanism of the operation knob by one embodiment of this invention Exploded perspective view Complete perspective view from the diagonally rear side The top view which shows the engagement state of the convex part of an operation knob and the engagement piece part of a return spring in the same middle point position state The top view which shows the engagement state of the convex part of an operation knob and the engagement piece part of a return spring when rotating in the clockwise direction External perspective view of a midpoint return mechanism of a conventional operation knob Exploded perspective view Top view with the same operation knob omitted Top view with the control knob showing the state of rotating in the clockwise direction.

Explanation of symbols

31 Rotating Operation Type Electronic Component Body 31A Terminal 31B Terminal Arrangement 32 Rotation Operating Part 33 Case Part 34 Cover 35A, 35B Locking Part 41 Return Spring 42 Coil Part 43A, 43B Engagement Part 50 Operation Knob 51A , 51B Convex part 52A, 52B Notch

Claims (4)

A rotation operation unit held rotatably relative to the fixed member, and an engagement in which the coil unit is inserted into the rotation operation unit, and both ends of the coil unit project at a predetermined angle toward the outer circumference in the radial direction. A return spring that is formed in one piece and is locked by a locking portion provided on the fixing member so that each of the engagement piece portions can move only in different rotation directions, and the engagement of the return spring. A control knob that is connected to the rotary operation portion so that the convex portion is in contact with the joint piece and can be rotated together, and is movable in the direction of the rotation operation when the operation knob is rotated. Only one of the engagement pieces is moved by the convex part to change the angle between the engagement pieces, and when the rotation operation is stopped, the one moved by the restoring force of the return spring. The engagement piece part returns to the original locked state while pushing back the convex part. Midpoint return mechanism of the operating knob the rotational operation unit coupled to said operation knob in accordance with the rotation movement of the operating knob is returned to the midpoint position. 2. The operation knob according to claim 1, wherein the convex portion of the operation knob has an upper wall portion for restricting the position of the engagement piece portion above the engagement piece portion of the return spring. Midpoint return mechanism. The main body part of the rotary electronic component is made as a fixing member, and the coil part of the return spring is inserted into the rotation operation part protruding from the main body part of the rotary electronic component and the engaging piece part is connected to the main body part. A rotary electronic component configured by using the midpoint return mechanism of the operation knob according to claim 1, wherein the rotary electronic component is locked by a disposed locking portion. 4. The rotary electronic component according to claim 3, wherein the rotation angle of the operation knob is regulated by abutment of a convex portion of the operation knob on a terminal arrangement portion arranged on a main body of the rotary electronic component.

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