JP2006190516A - Four-direction switch and compound printer device equipped with this - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a four-direction switch with the small number of component parts and with downsizing aimed at and a compound printer device equipped with the same. <P>SOLUTION: The four-direction switch is provided with a switch cover 2 including four pieces of pressing parts 20a to 20d, and a cover holder 3 including a holder main body 9. The switch cover 2 includes pressing pillars formed on a rear face for pressing tact switches 5, and contact pillars formed on the rear face and arranged between the pressing pillars. The cover holder 3 includes a support part 21 for fixing the switch cover 2, contact parts 22a to 22d for the contact pillars to get in contact with, and bending parts 23a to 23d formed in free curving and bending. The cover holder 3 has insertion holes 29 at parts where the pressing pillars are arranged, and the bending parts 23a to 23d are formed further outside than the insertion holes 29. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a four-way switch having pressing portions in four directions and a composite printer apparatus including the same.

  There are devices in which a four-way switch in which four pressing portions are formed is formed in an operation unit of an electric device or an operation unit of a remote controller. The four-way switch has two button pressing portions in each direction in directions perpendicular to each other. The four-way switch is used to move an image displayed on the display unit or to select an arbitrary video from a plurality of videos displayed on the display unit.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-297165 discloses a four-way switch provided in a magnetic tape recorder. In this four-way switch, four thin S-shaped springs are formed on the inner side of the cylindrical rib disposed in the center and are flush with the upper end surface of the rib. With. A disc-shaped bearing is disposed at the tip of the four springs, and the bearing is supported in a swingable state. The pressing button presses the tact switch through the insertion port of the tact switch formed outside the rib. The cylindrical rib is attached to the main body via a hinge, and is formed so that the button can be operated by bending the hinge and the four springs.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-168347 discloses a four-way switch capable of center push. In this four-way switch, the switch pusher is pushed up using a coil spring to enable a center push operation. Furthermore, the angle and distance of the rotation fulcrum and the action point at the time of the four-direction operation are appropriately set, and an appropriate clearance is provided between the tact switch. That is, the restoring operation to the neutral position of the four-way switch is performed using the coil spring.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-151408 discloses a four-way switch having a center switch. This publication discloses a four-way switch in which a contact spring disk is disposed at a contact portion of a center switch, and a plate-shaped contact spring unit is disposed at a four-way switch portion. The contact spring unit formed in the four directions has a restoring spring piece that protrudes from the base.
JP 11-297165 A JP 2003-168347 A JP 2003-151408 A

  In the conventional four-way switch, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-168347, a spiral spring is arranged inside the switch, and after pressing any one of the four-direction pressing portions, the spring The four-way switch is formed so as to return to the original position by the restoring force. Alternatively, as disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-151408, a spring disk or a leaf spring is arranged with respect to the switch so that the push button is returned to the original position. .

  However, these four-way switches have a problem that the number of components is large and the configuration is complicated.

  In the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-297165, a four-way switch is formed without using separate parts such as a spring or a leaf spring. However, in this four-way switch, the pressing rod for pressing the tact switch is disposed outside the rib formed in a cylindrical shape, and it is difficult to reduce the size of the four-way switch.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a four-way switch that has a small number of components and can be reduced in size, and a composite printer apparatus including the same. .

  In order to achieve the above object, a composite printer apparatus according to the present invention includes a four-way switch. The four-way switch includes four pressing portions in directions perpendicular to each other and includes a switch cover having a circular planar shape, a holder body, and a cover holder for supporting the switch cover. The switch cover is formed so as to protrude from the back surface, and is formed so as to protrude from the back surface and the support column disposed at the substantially center of a planar circle, and corresponds to the positions of the four pressing portions. And the abutting strut formed between the pressing struts in the circular circumferential direction. The cover holder includes a support unit for inserting the support column and fixing the switch cover, a contact unit connected to the support unit and for contacting the contact column, the contact unit, and the It has a bending part formed so as to be connected to the holder main body and linearly formed so as to bend. The cover holder has an insertion port at a portion where the pressing support is disposed. The bending part is disposed between the insertion opening and the holder main body, and the bending part is formed outside the insertion opening so as to extend in an arc shape. When the pressing portion is pressed with a finger, the contact strut is bent corresponding to the pressing direction of the bending portion by pressing the contact portion, and the pressing strut presses the tact switch. When the finger is released from the pressing part, the bending part returns from the bent state to the original state, and the pressing support is separated from the tact switch. By adopting this configuration, it is possible to provide a composite printer apparatus including a four-way switch that can be reduced in size with fewer components.

  In order to achieve the above object, a four-way switch according to the present invention includes a switch cover including four pressing portions in directions perpendicular to each other, and a cover holder including a holder body and supporting the switch cover. . The switch cover is formed to protrude from the back surface, the support column is formed to protrude from the back surface, and the pressure column is disposed so as to correspond to the positions of the four pressing portions. And abutment struts formed so as to protrude from the back surface and disposed between the pressing struts. The cover holder includes a support unit for inserting the support column and fixing the switch cover, a contact unit connected to the support unit and for contacting the contact column, the contact unit, and the A bending portion formed to be connected to the holder main body and bendable in a linear shape. The cover holder has an insertion port at a portion where the pressing support column is disposed, and the bending portion is formed outside the insertion port. By adopting this configuration, it is possible to provide a four-way switch that can be reduced in size with fewer components.

  In the above invention, preferably, the cover holder includes a reinforcing member formed so as to extend along a direction in which the support portion and the contact portion are connected. By adopting this configuration, the durability of the four-way switch can be improved. Further, the restoring force when the switch cover is restored to the neutral position can be increased.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a four-way switch that has a small number of components and can be miniaturized, and a composite printer apparatus including the same.

(Constitution)
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, a four-way switch and a composite printer having the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a composite printer in the present embodiment. The composite printer apparatus according to the present embodiment is provided with a document presser 31 formed to be openable and closable as indicated by an arrow 51 at the top. The document presser 31 is formed in a flat plate shape so that the document can be pressed toward the glass plate 32.

  The composite printer includes a bottom housing 30 and a top housing 36 as outer casings. A glass plate 32 is formed on the upper surface of the bottom housing 30. An image reading device is disposed inside the glass plate 32.

  A discharge port 34 for discharging the printed paper is formed in the front of the bottom housing 30. A paper tray 33 for temporarily arranging discharged paper and the like is formed at the discharge port 34. A card insertion slot 35 for inserting a memory card for storing image data and the like is formed on the front surface of the bottom housing 30.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a portion of the top housing. The top housing 36 is disposed on the upper side of the bottom housing 30 and on the side of the document presser 31. The top housing 36 is formed with a liquid crystal display panel 37 for displaying an operation status, a captured image, and the like. The top housing 36 is formed with a plurality of push buttons 38 for operating the composite printer apparatus. The top housing 36 is formed with a four-way switch 1 for operating a captured image or selecting an arbitrary image from a plurality of images. The four-way switch 1 is disposed at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the top housing 36.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a four-way switch portion. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top housing 36 with the cover removed.

  The four-way switch 1 includes a switch cover 2 having a circular planar shape and a cover holder 3 for supporting the switch cover 2. The switch cover 2 has four pressing portions 20a to 20d in directions perpendicular to each other when viewed in plan. Referring to FIG. 2, two pressing portions 20 a to 20 d in the present embodiment are formed in each of the front-rear direction and the width direction of the composite printer device.

  FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the four-way switch. A PCB (Printed Circuit Board) substrate 4 is disposed below the cover holder 3. A plurality of tact switches 5 are formed on the surface of the PCB substrate 4. The tact switch 5 is arranged so as to correspond to the position of the insertion opening 29 formed in the cover holder 3 as indicated by an arrow 53.

  FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of the cover holder 3. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, cover holder 3 includes a holder main body 9 and a support portion 21 for supporting switch cover 2. The support portion 21 is formed so that the planar shape is substantially square. The support portion 21 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the cover holder 3. An insertion hole 27 is formed in the support portion 21. The fitting hole 27 is formed so that the support column formed in the switch cover 2 can be fitted.

  The cover holder 3 includes contact portions 22a to 22d that are connected to the support portion 21 and contact the contact struts formed on the switch cover. The contact portions 22a to 22d are arranged at positions corresponding to square corner portions that are the planar shape of the support portion 21. The contact portion 22a includes a protrusion 24a formed so as to protrude from the surface toward the switch cover. Similarly, the contact portions 22b to 22d include protrusions 24b to 24d, respectively.

  The protrusions 24 a to 24 d are formed so as to abut on the abutment struts formed on the switch cover 2. Two protrusions 24a to 24d are formed in each of the contact portions 22a to 22d, and are arranged so as to sandwich the through hole 28 therebetween.

  The contact portions 22a to 22d are formed so that the planar shape is substantially a fan shape, and a through hole 28 is formed in the central portion. The respective contact portions 22 a to 22 d are formed at four corner portions in the planar shape of the support portion 21, so that an insertion port 29 having a substantially square planar shape is formed around the support portion 21. . The insertion port 29 is an opening through which a pressing support formed on the tact switch or switch cover is inserted.

  The contact portions 22a to 22d and the holder main body 9 are connected to each other by bending portions 23a to 23d. The contact portion 22a is connected to the holder body 9 by a bending portion 23a. Similarly, the contact portions 22b to 22d are connected to the holder body 9 by bending portions 23b to 23d, respectively.

  In the present embodiment, the bending portions 23a to 23d are formed in a linear shape. The bending portions 23a to 23d have elasticity and are formed to bend and bend. Bending parts 23a-23d are formed so that bending is possible. Each of the bending portions 23 a to 23 d is disposed between the insertion port 29 and the holder main body 9. The bending portions 23a to 23d in the present embodiment are formed outside the insertion opening 29 so as to extend in an arc shape when viewed in plan.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, a hole having a circular planar shape is formed in the substantially central portion of the holder main body 9, and the support portion 21 and the contact portions 22a to 22d are covered so as to cover a part of the hole. And bending portions 23a to 23d are formed. The bending portions 23 a to 23 d are formed so as to extend along the shape of the hole of the holder main body 9. In the present embodiment, the holder main body 9, the support portion 21, the contact portions 22a to 22d, and the bending portions 23a to 23d are integrally formed.

  The holder main body 9 includes a plurality of pin holes 26, screws or the like are inserted into the pin holes 26, and the holder main body 9 is fixed to the PCB substrate 4 or the like.

  FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the switch cover and the cover holder as viewed from the back side. FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of the holder body.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the switch cover 2 includes a support column 10 that is formed so as to protrude from the back surface and is arranged at substantially the center of the planar shape of the switch cover 2. The support column 10 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape.

  In addition, the switch cover 2 includes a pressing column 13 that is formed so as to protrude from the back surface and that corresponds to the position of the pressing portion disposed on the surface of the switch cover 2. Four pressing struts 13 are formed along the circumferential direction of the planar circle of the switch cover 2. The pressing column 13 is formed so as to pass through the insertion port 29 of the cover holder 3.

  The switch cover 2 includes contact struts 11 formed between the press struts 13 in the circumferential direction of a circle having a planar shape. The contact strut 11 is formed in a columnar shape, and is formed so that the tip is hemispherical. The contact strut 11 is formed so as to contact the protrusions formed on the contact portions 22 a to 22 d of the cover holder 3 when the pressing portion of the switch cover 2 is pressed.

  Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, cover holder 3 in the present embodiment includes reinforcing beam 15 formed so as to extend along the direction in which support portion 21 and contact portions 22 a to 22 d are connected. Including. The reinforcing beam 15 has a longitudinal direction, and is arranged so that the longitudinal direction is parallel to the direction from the support portion 21 toward the holder body 9. The reinforcing beam 15 has elasticity and is formed as a reinforcing member for the bending portion. The reinforcing beam 15 is formed in a linear shape. In the present embodiment, four reinforcing beams 15 are formed so that each can be bent independently.

(Action / Effect)
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the user operates the composite printer apparatus by operating push button 38 and four-way switch 1 while viewing an image displayed on liquid crystal display panel 37 and the like.

  3 to 7, the switch cover 2 is fixed to the cover holder 3 as indicated by an arrow 52. The support column 10 of the switch cover 2 is fixed by being fitted into a fitting hole 27 formed in the support portion 21.

  At this time, the contact column 11 formed on the back surface of the switch cover 2 is disposed such that the tip portion faces the protrusions 24a to 24d of the contact portions 22a to 22d. Further, the pressing column 13 formed on the back surface of the switch cover 2 is arranged so as to pass through the insertion port 29 of the cover holder 3 (see arrow 53 shown in FIG. 4). The pressing column 13 is arranged so as to face the tact switch 5 arranged on the PCB substrate 4 through the insertion port 29.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the four-way switch is assembled. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the switch cover is cut in the radial direction of the planar circle of the switch cover in the direction including the pressing column. The support column 10 is fixed by being fitted into a fitting hole 27 formed in the support portion 21. Therefore, the support part 21 and the switch cover 2 are integrally movable. Here, as indicated by an arrow 54, one pressing strut 13 presses one corresponding tact switch 5 by pressing one pressing portion among the pressing portions in the four directions.

  Referring to FIGS. 4, 6, and 8, for example, it is assumed that the pressing portion 20 a is pressed with a finger among the pressing portions 20 a to 20 d in four directions. Before pressing the pressing portion, the switch cover 2 is in the neutral position. That is, each tact switch 5 and the pressing column 13 are in a separated state. Two contact struts 11 formed on the back surface of the switch cover 2 and disposed on both sides of the pressing strut 13 corresponding to the pressing portion 20a are respectively a protrusion 24a of the contact portion 22a and a protrusion 24b of the contact portion 22b. Abut. When the contact portions 22a and 22b are pressed, the four bending portions 23a to 23d are bent, and the pressing column 13 presses the tact switch 5.

  Next, when the finger is released from the pressing portion 20a of the switch cover 2, the pressing column 13 is separated from the tact switch 5 by the elasticity of the bending portions 23a to 23d, and the switch cover 2 is restored to the original neutral position.

  In a state where the switch cover 2 is in the neutral position, the surface of the support portion 21 and the main surfaces of the contact portions 22a to 22d are substantially horizontal. By pressing one pressing part of the switch cover 2, the pressing column presses the tact switch, and the main surfaces of the support part 21 and the contact parts 22a to 22d are inclined. The bending portions 23a to 23d are curved following the movement of the support portion 21 and the contact portions 22a to 22d. By releasing the finger from the one pressing portion, the switch cover 2 returns to the original neutral position by the elasticity of the bending portions 23a to 23d.

  The four-way switch in the present embodiment includes a switch cover and a cover holder for fixing the switch cover, and the cover holder has an insertion port at a portion where the pressing support column is disposed. The four-way switch further includes a bending portion formed in a linear shape so as to bend, and the bending portion is formed outside the insertion opening. By adopting this configuration, the bending portion can be formed so as to surround the insertion port, and the insertion port can be disposed around the support portion. As a result, the four-way switch can be made small. Further, it is not necessary to use another component such as a spiral spring, and the number of components can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the cover holder includes a reinforcing member formed so as to extend along the direction in which the support portion and the contact portion are connected. By adopting this configuration, the restoring force when the switch cover returns to the neutral position can be increased. In addition, the durability of the four-way switch can be improved.

  As a material of the cover holder, a material having elasticity at the bending portion is preferable. For example, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) resin and the like are suitable.

  In this embodiment, a four-way switch that performs only four-way operations has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this form, and the present invention can also be applied to a four-way switch having a center switch at the center. .

  Further, in the present embodiment, the composite printer apparatus has been described as an example of the device including the four-way switch. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the four-direction based on the present invention is applied to any device. A switch can be applied. For example, the present invention can be applied to a telephone as an electric device, a television receiver, or the like. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to remote operating devices in various electric devices. For example, the present invention can be applied to a remote controller of a DVD (Digital Video Disk) player.

  In addition, the said embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration in all the points, Comprising: It is not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and includes all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1 is a perspective view of a composite printer apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an operation unit of the composite printer apparatus. It is one perspective view of the four-way switch in the embodiment. It is a perspective view when the four-way switch in the embodiment is disassembled. It is a top view of the cover holder in an embodiment. It is another perspective view when a 4-way switch is disassembled. It is a bottom view of the cover holder in an embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the 4 direction switch in embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1 4-way switch, 2 switch cover, 3 cover holder, 4 PCB board, 5 tact switch, 9 holder body, 10 support strut, 11 abutment strut, 13 pressing strut, 15 reinforcing beam, 20a-20d pressing section, 21 support Part, 22a-22d abutting part, 23a-23d bending part, 24a-24d protrusion part, 26 pin hole, 27 insertion hole, 28 through hole, 29 insertion hole, 30 bottom housing, 31 document holder, 32 glass plate, 33 Paper tray, 34 paper discharge port, 35 card insertion port, 36 top housing, 37 liquid crystal display panel, 38 push buttons, 51-54 arrows.

Claims (3)

With a 4-way switch,
The four-way switch has four pressing portions in directions perpendicular to each other, and the switch cover having a circular planar shape;
Including a holder body, and a cover holder for supporting the switch cover,
The switch cover is formed so as to protrude from the back surface, and a support column disposed at the substantially center of a planar circular shape;
A pressing column formed so as to protrude from the back surface and arranged to correspond to the positions of the four pressing units;
In the circular circumferential direction, having a contact post formed between the press post,
The cover holder includes a support portion for inserting the support column and fixing the switch cover;
An abutting portion connected to the support portion for the abutting strut to abut,
A bending portion formed so as to be bent and formed so as to connect the contact portion and the holder body;
The cover holder has an insertion port in a portion where the pressing support is disposed,
The bending part is disposed between the insertion port and the holder body,
The bending part is formed outside the insertion opening so as to extend in an arc shape,
When the pressing portion is pressed with a finger, the contact strut is bent corresponding to the pressing direction of the bending portion by pressing the contact portion, and the pressing strut presses the tact switch. Formed into
A composite printer device formed by releasing the finger from the pressing portion to return the bending portion from the bent state to the original state, and the pressing strut being separated from the tact switch. A switch cover including four pressing portions in directions perpendicular to each other;
Including a holder body, and a cover holder for supporting the switch cover,
The switch cover is a support column formed so as to protrude from the back surface;
A pressing column that is formed so as to protrude from the back surface and is arranged to correspond to the positions of the four pressing units;
Formed so as to protrude from the back surface, and includes a contact strut disposed between the pressing struts,
The cover holder includes a support portion for inserting the support column and fixing the switch cover;
An abutting portion connected to the support portion for the abutting strut to abut,
A bending part formed to connect the contact part and the holder main body, and bendable, and includes a bending part;
The cover holder has an insertion port in a portion where the pressing support is disposed,
The bending part is a four-way switch formed outside the insertion port.   The four-way switch according to claim 2, wherein the cover holder includes a reinforcing member formed so as to extend along a direction in which the support portion and the contact portion are connected.

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