JP2005332729A - Switch pressing projection member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch pressing projection member allowing the switch pressing projection member itself to be easily arranged in a rubber molding die in a correct attitude when a key unit with the switch pressing projection member jointed integrally with a key pad is manufactured by a so-called insertion molding method by inserting a preformed hard resin switch pressing projection member into the rubber molding die for molding the key pad made of a rubber-like elastic body, and allowing the projection member itself to be efficiently manufactured with a simple process. <P>SOLUTION: The shape of this switch pressing projection member is changed from a conventional conical body to a simple disc-like shape. By changing the shape of the switch pressing projection member to the vertically symmetrical simple disc-like shape, the need to distinguish the vertical direction of the member is obviated, whereby the defect of the vertical direction in arranging the projection member in the rubber molding die can be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a hard resin member that is joined to a keypad to form a switch pressing protrusion in a key unit incorporated in a mobile device such as a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

  The key unit is one of mobile device components in which a large number of switch operation keys (push buttons) are assembled and arranged on a single sheet surface. One key in the key unit is composed of a hard resin key top fixed to the surface of a flexible rubber keypad and a switch pressing protrusion (so-called “presser”) protruding from the back of the keypad. . The switch pressing protrusion is a resin formed by joining a rubber protrusion integrally formed of the same rubber material as the keypad (see Patent Document 1) and a hard resin protrusion member to the back surface of the rubber keypad. There are protrusions made. Resin protrusions are preferable when used in combination with a dome-shaped switch because a clear click feeling can be obtained, but it is undeniable that the manufacturing process becomes complicated as compared with rubber protrusions.

  A keypad with resin protrusions is a so-called insertion molding method in which a hard resin protrusion member is formed as a separate body, which is placed in advance in a rubber mold for keypad molding, and a rubber material is injected there. Manufactured. Therefore, the number of steps for forming the protruding member in advance and inserting it into the rubber mold is increased compared to the rubber protrusion. In addition, the projecting member must be arranged in the correct position (orientation) at the correct position in the rubber molding die, and if this arrangement is out of order, defective products are generated.

  The above-mentioned projecting member made of hard resin forms a minute truncated cone having a diameter of about 0.5 to 1.0 mm and a thickness of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm, joining the cone base to the keypad and pressing the switch at the tip. . Proper placement of such a microcone in a rubber mold is a fairly difficult task.

JP 2003-297181 A (FIGS. 1 to 3)

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that when a switch pressing projection member made of hard resin is placed in a rubber molding die, the member can be easily placed in the die in a correct posture, and the projection It is to propose a switch pressing protrusion member that can efficiently manufacture the member itself by a simple process.

  The above-described problem can be solved by changing the shape of the switch pressing projection member from a conventional cone to a simple disk shape.

  By making the shape of the switch pressing projection member a simple disk shape symmetrical up and down, there is no need to distinguish the vertical direction of the member, so the up and down direction when placing the projection member in the rubber molding die Defects can be reduced. In addition, in order to press the switch, the shape of the protruding member does not need to be a cone as in the prior art, and there is no problem with a simple disk shape.

  Furthermore, by making the shape of the switch pressing projection member a disc, the projection member can be efficiently manufactured by a simple process of punching out a hard resin plate with a press.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a keypad for one key provided with a disk-like hard resin switch pressing projection as the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a key unit in which a plurality of keys are arranged. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a keypad, 2 denotes a key top, 3 denotes a switch pressing protrusion, and a black circle in FIG. For example, a polycarbonate resin is suitably used as the hard resin.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a press device for manufacturing the protruding member according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 4 is an upper mold having a plurality of punch pins 10 at the same plane position as the pressing protrusions of the key unit, 5 is a material pressing plate, 6 is a hard resin plate of a predetermined thickness which is the material of the protruding member, 7 Is a lower die provided with a punch hole 11 into which the punch pin 10 is fitted, and 8 is a receiving jig. The receiving jig 8 is placed in close contact with the product discharge surface of the lower mold 7 and receives the protruding members 3 for one key unit at a time into a predetermined position. The projecting member 3 in the receiving jig 8 is moved to a keypad molding rubber mold (not shown) by using a robot while maintaining the suction member 3 at the discharging position.

  Since the present invention relates to a key unit used in mobile devices such as a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), the information communication industry using these devices including the manufacturing industry of electronic devices and various components thereof. It can be used in a wide range of industrial fields.

It is sectional drawing of the keypad for one key provided with the disk-shaped hard resin switch press protrusion which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a plan view of a key unit in which a plurality of keys are arranged. It is a conceptual diagram of the press for manufacturing the protrusion member which concerns on one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Keypad 2 Key top 3 Switch press protrusion 4 Upper mold of press machine 5 Material pressing board 6 Hard resin board 7 Lower mold of press machine 8 Receiving jig 10 Punch pin 11 Punch hole

Claims (1)

A switch pressing projection member, which is a member made of a hard resin bonded to a keypad made of a rubber-like elastic body and constituting a switch pressing projection, and having a simple disk shape.

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