JP2006216357A - Method of manufacturing operation panel, and the operation panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the production cost of an operation panel used for automobiles or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A first panel 10A and a second panel are produced using a common metallic mold. The first panel 10A has a turning switch knob-mounted part where a turning switch knob 30 is mounted so that it can turn around the pivots 16 and 17 approximately parallel to the panel surface. The second panel has a press switch knob-mounted part where the press switch is mounted so that it can slide in the direction of depth of the panel. The outlines of the turning switch knob mounted part and the press switch mounted part are standardized so that both panels are molded in a common metallic mold. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for manufacturing an operation panel used for an indoor panel of an automobile, a switch panel of various electronic devices, and the like.

Conventionally, as a switch knob to be mounted on the operation panel, for example, a rotation switch in which at least one end is rotated about an axis substantially parallel to the panel surface, such as a seesaw switch knob described in Patent Document 1. There are a knob and a push switch knob that is pushed to slide in the panel depth direction.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-294041

  The type of switch knob attached to the operation panel may be partially changed depending on the destination of the vehicle (for example, Japan and Europe), grade, version, and the like provided with the operation panel. For example, the rotation switch knob is attached to a specific part of a panel provided in a certain type of vehicle, and the pressure switch knob is attached to a part corresponding to the specific part of a panel provided in another type of vehicle. There are cases where it is necessary.

  Here, conventionally, different types of panels have been manufactured in completely different facilities and processes according to the type of switch knob mounted at the specific location, which greatly hinders the reduction of production costs. ing.

  As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a rotation switch knob to which a rotation switch knob is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the panel surface using a common mold. A first panel having a mounting portion and a first switch switch having a pressing switch knob mounting portion having a common outer shape with the rotation switch knob mounting portion and having a pressing switch knob mounted so as to be slidable in the panel depth direction. 2 panels are formed.

  According to this method, by unifying the outer shape of the rotation switch knob mounting portion in the first panel and the outer shape of the pressing switch knob mounting portion in the second panel, both panels are used using a common mold. Since it is possible to form, it is possible to greatly reduce the manufacturing equipment as compared with the case where both panels are formed with different molds.

  Here, the first panel and the second panel may have the same shape, but a part of the shapes may be different. Also in this case, the shape of the rotary switch knob mounting portion on the first panel and the push switch knob on the second panel can be changed by simply changing the shape of the insert inserted into the die while using a common die. The shape of the mounting portion can be partially different, and it is possible to set a suitable shape for each panel while using a common mold.

  For example, by changing the shape of the insert inserted into the mold, the first panel having a rotation support shaft that rotatably supports the rotation switch knob on the rotation switch knob mounting portion; It is also possible to separately create a second panel having at least a part of the rotation support shaft in the pressing switch knob mounting part and having a light guide cylinder part for displaying an indicator in the lacking part. According to the method, the first panel is provided with a rotation support shaft that is effective for supporting the rotation of the rotation switch knob, while the second panel is provided with at least one rotation support shaft that is unnecessary for mounting the pressure switch knob. By forming the light guide tube portion for displaying the indicator in the lacked portion by omitting the portion, the indicator display can be made possible by effectively utilizing the location of the rotation support shaft.

  The rotary switch knob mounted on the first panel may be one in which one end thereof is supported by rotation and only the other end is operated to rotate. If the seesaw switch knob is pivotally supported by the panel and its both ends are swung around its fulcrum, the operability can be improved. In that case, a pair of holding cylinders having a shape extending in the depth direction of the panel are formed in both the rotation switch knob mounting portion of the first panel and the pressing switch knob mounting portion of the second panel. In the rotation switch knob mounting portion, the holding cylinder portion is configured to transmit a pressing operation force applied to each swinging end portion of the seesaw switch knob to a switch contact disposed on the back side of the first panel. Used as a transmission member holding portion for holding an operating force transmission member, the pressing switch knob mounting portion holds a guided portion protruding from the back surface of the pressing switch knob in a direction parallel to the sliding direction of the pressing switch knob. If it is used as a guide portion to be operated, the pressing operation holding portion of the rotation switch knob mounting portion in the first panel and the pressing switch in the second panel are used. By sharing the guided portion of the knob mounting portion as the same holding tubular portion, it is possible to further simplify the structure of the panels.

  Further, since the plurality of guided portions of the push switch knob are guided to the second panel side, the twisting is reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to make the number of contacts operated by the push switch knob the same as the number of contacts operated by the seesaw switch knob, thereby making it possible to approximate the operation feeling of both switch knobs.

  The present invention also includes a switch knob mounting portion, and the switch knob mounting portion includes a rotation switch knob that can rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the panel surface, and a pressure switch knob that can slide in the panel depth direction. Is an operation panel in which the shape of the switch knob mounting portion is set so that can be selectively mounted.

  According to this operation panel, since the rotation switch knob and the pressure switch knob can be selectively mounted on the switch knob mounting portion, both the rotation switch knob panel and the pressure switch knob panel can be mounted. It can be used.

  Further, in this operation panel, the rotation switch knob is a seesaw switch knob whose substantially central portion is rotatably supported by the operation panel and whose both ends are swing-operated, and the switch knob mounting portion is a panel The holding cylinder portion extends in the depth direction, and the holding cylinder portion applies the pressing operation force applied to the swing end portion of the seesaw switch knob when the seesaw switch knob is attached to the switch knob attachment portion. It functions as a transmission member holding portion for holding an operating force transmission member for transmitting to a switch contact disposed on the back side of one panel, and when the pressure switch knob is mounted on the switch knob mounting portion, the pressure switch It functions as a guide part that holds a guided part that protrudes from the rear surface of the knob in a direction parallel to the sliding direction of the push switch knob. In this case, both switch knobs can be mounted with a simple structure by sharing the common holding cylinder part with the pressing operation holding part of the rotary switch knob mounting part and the guided part of the pressing switch knob mounting part. Can be possible.

  As described above, the present invention can contribute to the reduction of production cost by forming a panel having a rotation switch knob mounting portion and a panel having a pressing switch knob mounting portion using a common mold. There is an effect that can be done.

  A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In this embodiment, a common mold is used to form a first panel 10A as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) and a second panel 10B as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). The seesaw switch knob (rotation switch knob) 30 as shown in FIG. 1C is mounted on the first panel 10A, and the second panel 10B is shown in FIG. 2C. A push switch knob 40 as shown in FIG.

  As a structure common to both panels 10A and 10B, a switch disposing hole having a circular shape in front view is formed in the panel body, and a cover ring 20 is fixed to the inner peripheral edge of the hole. In addition, pressure switch knobs 22, 23, and 24 that are common to both panels are provided inside the cover ring 20, and the rotation switch knob 30 is provided in the first panel 10A, and the pressure switch knob 30 is provided in the second panel 10B. 40 are provided respectively.

  Among the switch knobs, the push switch knob 22 has a circular shape smaller than the cover ring 20 and is provided at the center position of a circular area surrounded by the cover ring 20 so as to be pressed. The pressing switch knob 23 is provided on both the left and right sides of the pressing switch knob 22 so as to be pressed, and the pressing switch knob 24 can be pressed in a substantially arcuate area below the pressing switch knobs 22, 23. Is provided.

  The substantially arcuate regions above the push switch knobs 22 and 23 serve as a seesaw switch knob mounting portion in the first panel 10A and a press switch knob mounting portion in the second panel 10B. That is, these switch knob mounting parts have a common external shape.

  A circuit board 26 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B is disposed on the back side of the panels 10A and 10B.

  A highly insulating rubber sheet 28 is attached to the surface of the circuit board 26. This rubber sheet 28 has movable contact portions 28b at appropriate positions, specifically, at two locations on the left and right sides of the region corresponding to the seesaw switch knob mounting portion of the first panel 10A and the pressing switch knob mounting portion of the second panel 10B. have.

  These movable contact portions 28b are separated from the sheet main body and are connected to the sheet main body via a thin connecting portion 28a, and a movable contact made of conductive rubber or gold plating is provided on the back surface thereof. Yes. Then, the movable contact portion 28b is displaced in the sheet thickness direction while being bent and deformed in conjunction with the operation of the seesaw switch knob 30 and the push switch knob 40, so that the movable contact portion 28b The movable contact is configured to be in contact with and away from the fixed contact provided on the circuit board 26.

  In common with the seesaw switch knob mounting part of the first panel 10A and the pressing switch knob mounting part of the second panel 10B, a central light guiding cylinder part 12 and holding cylinder parts 14 on both right and left sides thereof are provided. Is formed. The light guide tube 12 has a light guide hole 11 for guiding light from a light source for night illumination (not shown) to the front of the panel.

  As a feature of the first panel 10 </ b> A, rotating support shafts 16 and 17 protrude vertically from the light guide tube portion 12. These rotation support shafts 16 and 17 support the seesaw switch knob 30 so as to be rotatable (swingable) about a vertical axis substantially parallel to the panel surface.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1C, the seesaw switch knob 30 has a substantially arc-shaped pressed plate 32 corresponding to the rotation switch knob mounting portion, and a substantially central portion in the left-right direction on the back surface thereof. A pair of upper and lower supported plates 36 protrude from the upper and lower sides, and through holes 35 are provided in these supported plates 36. Then, by fitting the respective rotation support shafts 16 and 17 into the through holes 35 from the inside, the rotation support shafts 16 and 17 can be rotated (swingable) about a linear axis connecting the rotation support shafts 16 and 17. The seesaw switch knob 30 is supported by the first panel 10A.

  Therefore, the seesaw switch knob 30 has both left and right end portions as swing end portions, and the back side portions of these swing end portions protrude toward the circuit board 26 as shown in FIG. The pressing operation unit 34 is configured.

  On the other hand, in the first panel 10A, a columnar operating force transmission member 38 as shown in FIG. 5B is parallel to the longitudinal direction (panel thickness direction) of the through hole 13 inside the holding cylinder portion 14. It is inserted in a slidable state in any direction. When either one of the pressing operation portions 34 is pressed, the pressing operation portion 34 that has been pressed presses the operating force transmission member 38 to displace it to the circuit board 26 side, and this operating force transmission is performed. The panel back side end of the member 38 presses the movable contact portion 28b of the rubber sheet 28 on the surface of the circuit board 26 toward the circuit board 26 side to move the fixed contact on the circuit board 26 side and the back surface of the movable contact portion 28b. The contact is brought into contact.

  That is, the holding cylinder portion 14 in the first panel 10A functions as a transmission member holding portion that holds an operation force transmission member 38 that transmits a pressing operation force applied to the pressing operation portion 34 to a switch contact on the back side of the panel. It is like that.

  On the other hand, in the pressing switch knob mounting portion in the second panel 10B, the upper rotation support shaft 16 of the rotation support shafts 16 and 17 is lacking. A light guide tube portion 18 for indicator display for guiding light emitted from the illumination light source to the front of the panel is formed.

  On the other hand, the pressure switch knob 40 has a substantially bow-shaped pressed plate 42 corresponding to the pressure switch knob mounting portion, and the guided portion 44 is guided from the center of the rear surface, and guided from the left and right positions. Each part 46 protrudes in a direction (panel thickness direction) parallel to the sliding direction of the push switch knob 40. These guided portions 44 and 46 are inserted into the light guiding cylinder portion 12 and the holding cylinder portion 14 of the second panel 10B, respectively, so that the guided portions 44 and 46 are parallel to the extending direction. The push switch knob 40 is supported by the second panel 10B so that it can be slid in the direction (pressing operation), and the both guided portions 46 are made of the rubber in accordance with the pressing operation of the push switch knob 40. The movable contact portion 28b of the sheet 28 is directly pressed.

  That is, the holding cylinder portion 14 in the second panel 10B functions as a guide portion that holds the pressed portion 46 slidably in the longitudinal direction and guides the pressed portion 46 in the pressing operation direction.

  In addition, in the pressed plate 42 of the push switch knob 40, an indicator display window 48 is provided at a position corresponding to the indicator light guide tube portion 18, and illumination light is guided into the indicator light guide tube portion 18. Is illuminated from the indicator display window 48 to the outside of the panel.

  In addition, about the specific use of the said switch knobs 30 and 40, it can set suitably. For example, when the panels 10A and 10B are used for a vehicle air conditioning panel, the seesaw switch knob 30 is used as a switch for switching between the fan air volume adjustment mode / temperature adjustment mode, and the push switch knob 40 is used for switching between automatic cooling / automatic heating. It is also possible to use it properly as a switch for.

  Since the seesaw switch knob mounting portion of the first panel 10A and the pressing switch knob mounting portion of the second panel 10B described above have a common outer shape, both panels 10A and 10B are molded by a common mold. Is possible. Therefore, compared with the case where both panels 10A and 10B are molded by separate molds, the manufacturing equipment can be greatly reduced, and the production cost can be reduced.

  Further, when the panels 10A and 10B are compared, the first panel 10A has the pivot shafts 16 and 17 up and down, whereas the second panel 10B has an indicator instead of lacking the pivot shaft 16 on the upper side. Although the shape is partially different in that it has the light guide cylinder portion 18, such a difference in shape can be dealt with by changing the shape of the insert inserted into the mold. Therefore, it is possible to make the details of the panels 10A and 10B suitable for the panel while using the same mold as described above.

  On the contrary, the panel design is made so that both the pivot shafts 16 and 17 shown in FIG. 1A do not interfere with the pressing switch knob 40 shown in FIG. 2C, and the light guide for indicator display is provided. If the cylinder portion 18 is omitted, the shape of the first panel 10A and the shape of the second panel 10B can be made completely the same. If an operation panel shared by both panels 10A and 10B is manufactured in this way, the production cost and manufacturing efficiency of the entire panel can be further reduced.

  In the illustrated example, the holding cylinder portion 14 common to both panels 10A and 10B is formed, and this holding cylinder portion 14 is used as a transmission member holding portion for holding the operating force transmission member 38 in the first panel 10A. The second panel 10B is used as a guide part for holding the guided part 46 of the push switch knob 40. However, both the panels 10A and 10B are provided with the transmission member holding part and the guide part, and these are provided on the panel. You may make it use alternatively according to a kind.

  However, if the holding cylinder portion 14 is used as both the transmission member holding portion and the guide portion as shown in the figure, molding using a common mold while simplifying the structure of the panels 10A and 10B. There is an advantage that can be realized. In addition, since the plurality of guided portions 46 are guided to the second panel 10B side with respect to the push switch knob 40, the twisting is reduced.

  Further, by making the number of contacts operated by the push switch knob 40 equal to the number of contacts operated by the seesaw switch knob 30 (two in the illustrated example), the operation feeling of both switch knobs 30 and 40 is approximated. It is also possible to make it. In that case, it is possible to recognize the operation only by a sense that the operator has operated the switch knob (that is, without directly viewing the switch).

  In addition, the present invention can take the following embodiments, for example.

  A first panel 10A shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C is provided with a seesaw switch knob 30 whose left and right ends are swing-operated as a rotary switch knob. For example, the rotation switch knob mounted on the first panel may be one in which a rotation fulcrum is set at one end and only the other end is rotated.

  -In this invention, the specific shape and structure of each switch knob are not ask | required. For example, the switch knob and its mounting portion may be circular or rectangular when viewed from the front.

  In the present invention, the specific structure of the operation panel is not limited. For example, when used as a thin panel, the holding cylinder portion 14 may be omitted, and the pressing operation portion 34 of the seesaw switch knob 30 may directly press the movable contact portion 28b of the rubber sheet 28.

(A) is a front view of the first panel according to the embodiment of the present invention, (b) is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 of (a), and (c) is a seesaw switch mounted on the first panel. It is a perspective view of a knob. (A) is a front view of the 2nd panel which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (b) is 2-2 sectional drawing of (a), (c) is a press switch with which the said 2nd panel is mounted | worn. It is a perspective view of a knob.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10A 1st panel 10B 2nd panel 14 Holding cylinder part 16, 17 Rotation spindle 28B Movable contact part 30 Seesaw switch knob (rotation switch knob)
38 Operating force transmission member 40 Press switch knob 46 Pressed part

Claims (6)

  A first panel having a rotation switch knob mounting portion to which a rotation switch knob is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the panel surface using a common mold; and the rotation switch An operation panel having a common outer shape with the knob mounting portion and forming a second panel having a press switch knob mounting portion to which the press switch knob is mounted so as to be slidable in the panel depth direction. Manufacturing method.   2. The method of manufacturing an operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the rotary switch knob mounting portion of the first panel and the pressing of the second panel are changed by changing the shape of the insert inserted into the common mold. A method for manufacturing an operation panel, wherein the shape of the switch knob mounting portion is partially different.   3. The method of manufacturing an operation panel according to claim 2, wherein a rotation support shaft that rotatably supports the rotation switch knob is formed by changing a shape of a nesting inserted into the mold. A first panel having a mounting portion; and a second panel having at least a part of the rotation support shaft in the pressing switch knob mounting portion and having a light guide tube portion for displaying an indicator in the lacking portion. A method of manufacturing an operation panel, characterized by making a different one.   The method for manufacturing an operation panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a rotation switch knob mounted on the first panel has a substantially central portion supported rotatably on the first panel. While the seesaw switch knob is pivoted at both ends around its fulcrum, the depth of the panel is provided in both the rotation switch knob mounting portion of the first panel and the pressing switch knob mounting portion of the second panel. A pair of holding cylinders having a shape extending in the direction is formed, and these holding cylinders are used in the rotation switch knob mounting portion to apply a pressing operation force applied to each oscillating end of the seesaw switch knob. It is used as a transmission member holding portion for holding an operation force transmission member for transmitting to a switch contact disposed on the back side of the panel. Manufacturing method of the operation panel, characterized in that used as the guide portion for holding the guided portion projecting from the sliding direction parallel to the direction of the pressing switch knob.   There is a switch knob mounting part, and a rotary switch knob that can rotate around an axis substantially parallel to the panel surface and a push switch knob that can slide in the panel depth direction are selectively mounted on this switch knob mounting part. An operation panel in which the shape of the switch knob mounting portion is set so as to be possible.   6. The operation panel according to claim 5, wherein the rotary switch knob is a seesaw switch knob whose substantially central portion is rotatably supported by the operation panel and whose both ends are swing-operated, and the switch knob mounting portion. Has a holding cylinder portion extending in the panel depth direction, and this holding cylinder portion applies a pressing operation force applied to the rocking end portion of the seesaw switch knob when the seesaw switch knob is attached to the switch knob attachment portion. It functions as a transmission member holding portion for holding an operating force transmission member for transmitting to a switch contact disposed on the back side of the first panel, and when the push switch knob is mounted on the switch knob mounting portion, It functions as a guide part that holds the guided part protruding from the back surface of the pressure switch knob in a direction parallel to the sliding direction of the pressure switch knob. From the control panel, characterized in that.

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