JP2008010162A - Switch structure of electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch structure of an electronic equipment capable of alleviating impact applied on a switch itself with a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: An outer wall 42 of cylindrical shape which extends from the lower part of a keytop 40 moving vertically is provided and a projection piece 44 projecting from the outer wall 42 is provided in the switch. When the keytop 40 is depressed, the projection piece 44 depresses a plunger 61 of a switch unit 6 in a direction to cross the depression direction, thereby the contact of the switch unit 6 is closed and the impact at the time of pushing strongly the keytop 40 is prevented from being applied on the switch unit 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch structure of an electronic device, for example, to a switch structure of an electronic device used for a start switch provided in an operation unit of an electronic device such as an image forming apparatus.

  Image forming devices such as digital multifunction peripherals are often installed in offices and are often used by many people, so they are made stronger and more durable than mobile phones that are intended for personal use. ing. This is because, while being carefully handled as belongings, shared items such as digital multifunction peripherals are often handled violently. In particular, start keys and the like in digital multi-function peripherals are designed with consideration for durability because they are frequently used and are often handled roughly.

  As such a switch, for example, there is a switch structure such as an electronic device for the purpose of preventing damage to a key switch as described in JP-A-10-40772 (Patent Document 1). That is, in the switch structure shown in FIG. 6, the key top 21 is disposed in a support hole 22a formed on the upper surface of the case 22 of the operation portion, and a cylindrical outer wall 24 extending from the lower surface of the main body 23 of the key top 21 is provided. ing. A pressing member 26 is provided inside the outer wall 24 at a position retracted a predetermined distance from the lower end of the outer wall 24. The pressing member 26 is in contact with the upper end of the plunger 25b of the key switch 25 fixed on the printed circuit board P.

A lower end edge 24 a of the outer wall 24 is formed so as to protrude downward from the pressing member 26. When the key top 21 is pushed down, the lower end edge 24a comes into contact with the upper surface of the switch case 25a outside the plunger 25b, thereby functioning as a stopper when the key top is pushed down, and mitigating the impact on the key switch 25.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-40772 (paragraph number 0007, FIG. 2)

  In the switch structure described in Patent Document 1, when the key top 21 is strongly pressed down, the lower end edge 24a of the outer wall 24 comes into contact with the upper surface of the switch case 25a, so that the impact applied to the plunger 25b of the key switch 25 is reduced. However, the impact applied to the switch case 25a itself from the lower end edge 24a of the outer wall 24 cannot be reduced. For this reason, an impact may be applied to the soldered portion of the substrate P or the substrate P itself may bend, thereby causing a crack in the solder and causing a connection failure.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a switch structure for an electronic device that can prevent an impact from being directly applied to the switch itself with a simple configuration.

  The present invention includes a switch unit, a key top that moves in the vertical direction, and a pressing member that is provided at a lower portion of the key top and indirectly presses the switch unit by moving the key top in the pressing direction.

  In one embodiment, the pressing member presses the switch unit in a direction crossing the key top pressing direction. Preferably, the pressing member includes an elastic member that, when moved in the pressing direction, extends in a direction intersecting with the pressing direction by contacting and deforming the switch unit and pressing the switch unit.

  In another embodiment, the pressing member presses the switch unit at a position shifted from the pressed position of the key top. Preferably, the pressing member includes a pressing member that extends in a direction intersecting with the pressing direction of the key top and presses the switch unit at its tip when moved in the pressing direction.

  Preferably, biasing means for biasing the key top upward is included.

  In addition, it preferably includes a substrate that is disposed so as to extend in a direction intersecting with the pressing direction of the key top, includes a substrate for mounting the switch, and includes a cushion member that is disposed at a position facing the lower surface of the key top of the substrate. .

  More specifically, the electronic device is provided in the operation unit of the image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, since the switch unit is indirectly pressed when the pressing member provided at the lower part of the key top is moved in the pressing direction, the key top can be pressed with a strong force with a simple configuration. Even if it is pressed, it can prevent the switch unit from being directly impacted.

  Hereinafter, an example in which a switch structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a digital multifunction peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital multifunction machine 1 using a switch structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views showing a switch structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A shows a state where the key top 40 is not depressed, and FIG. 2B shows a state where the key top 40 is depressed. . FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing the switch unit 6 attached to the substrate 5.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a display unit 2 and an operation panel 3 are arranged in a digital multifunction device 1 as an example of an electronic device, and a start key 4 is provided on the operation panel 3. By pressing the start key 4, for example, the start of copying is commanded.

  The start key 4 has a switch structure as shown in FIG. That is, a hole 31 is formed in the operation panel 3, and the upper surface of the circular key top 40 protrudes upward from the hole 31, and the key top 40 is provided to be movable in the vertical direction. A projecting portion 41 that projects in the radial direction is formed at the lower end of the key top 40, and the projecting portion 41 contacts the lower edge of the hole 31 of the operation panel 3, so that the key top 40 is pulled upward. It is blocking it.

  A cylindrical outer wall 42 is integrally formed of, for example, resin together with the key top 40 and the overhanging portion 41 so as to extend downward from the lower surface of the key top 40. A part of the cylindrical outer wall 42 is cut out, and a protruding piece 44 is provided as a pressing member that extends so that the tip protrudes outward. The protruding piece 44 may be formed of an elastic member such as rubber.

  The switch unit 6 is disposed in the vicinity of the protruding piece 44. The switch unit 6 has a plunger 61. When the key top 40 is pushed down, the plunger 61 moves in a direction intersecting with the pushing direction by the protruding piece 44 in accordance with the downward movement of the outer wall 42. The contact (not shown) built in the switch unit 6 is closed by being indirectly pressed.

  A substrate 5 is arranged in parallel to the operation panel 3 at a distance d. A switch unit 6 is attached to the substrate 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the switch unit 6 has a terminal 62 that is connected to a built-in contact and is attached to the substrate 5. This terminal 62 is formed so as to extend in the pressing direction of the key top 40, and this terminal 62 is inserted into the hole 51 formed in the substrate 5, and a pattern (not shown) formed on the back surface of the substrate 5. ).

  A coil spring 8 as an urging means for urging the key top 40 upward is attached between the substrate 5 and the hollow portion surrounded by the outer wall 42 of the key top 40. The coil spring 8 contracts when the key top 40 is pushed down with a finger, and expands to push the key top 40 upward when the key top 40 is released.

  If the distance between the lower end of the outer wall 42 and the substrate 5 is narrow when the key top 40 is pressed down, the cushion member 7 may be disposed on the substrate 5 facing the lower end of the outer wall 42. . The cushion member 7 acts to alleviate the impact applied to the substrate 5 when the lower end of the outer wall 42 hits the substrate 5 when the key top 40 is pressed with a strong force.

  In the switch structure of the start switch 4 configured as described above, when the key top 40 is not pressed, the key top 40 is pushed upward because the coil spring 8 is extended, and FIG. As shown, the overhanging portion 41 of the key top 40 contacts the lower edge of the hole 31 of the operation panel 3, and the protruding piece 44 is separated from the plunger 61 of the switch unit 6.

  When the key top 40 is pushed down with the finger in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2 (B), the coil spring 8 disposed between the outer wall 42 and the cushion member 7 contracts, the outer wall 42 is pushed down, and the protruding piece 44. Contacts the plunger 61 of the switch unit 6. Further, when the key top 40 is pushed down, the protruding piece 44 is deformed and pushes the plunger 61 in a direction crossing the pushing direction, so that the contact of the switch unit 6 is closed.

  At this time, no matter how strong the key top 40 is pushed down, the plunger 61 of the switch unit 6 is only pushed in the direction intersecting the pushing down direction by the protruding piece 44. No strong force acts on the switch unit 6 and the impact applied to the switch unit 6 itself can be reduced. If the cushion member 7 is disposed on the substrate 5 so as to face the tip of the outer wall 42, the tip of the outer wall 42 presses the substrate 5 through the cushion member 7 when the key top 40 is pressed down strongly. Therefore, the deflection of the substrate 5 and the impact applied to the substrate 5 can be reduced.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a switch structure of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing a switch unit 6 attached to a substrate.

  The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is configured to press the plunger 61 of the switch unit 6 in the direction intersecting the pressing direction of the key top 40 by the projecting piece 44, whereas the embodiment shown in FIG. In the embodiment, the plunger 61 of the switch unit 6 is indirectly pushed down at a position shifted from the pushed position of the key top 40 by the pushing member 45.

  That is, in the same manner as the start switch 4 shown in FIG. 2A, the start switch 4a includes a key top 40 fitted in the hole 31 of the operation panel 3 as shown in FIG. 40 includes an overhanging portion 41 and an outer wall 42. The outer wall 42 is provided with a pressing member 45 as a pressing member extending in a direction intersecting with the pressing direction of the key top 40. The push-down member 45 is integrally formed with the key top 40, the overhanging portion 41, and the outer wall 42 with resin or the like, but only the push-down member 45 is formed of an elastic member such as rubber and fixed to the outer wall 43. You may do it.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the switch unit 6 is mounted on the substrate 5 so that the pushing direction of the plunger 61 is a direction intersecting the substrate 5. That is, a terminal 63 is provided so as to extend from the surface opposite to the protruding surface of the plunger 61 of the switch unit 6, and this terminal 63 is inserted into the hole 51 formed in the substrate 5 and formed on the back surface of the substrate 5. It is soldered to the pattern. Also in this embodiment, the cushion member 7 may be provided on the substrate 5 so as to face the lower end of the outer wall 42. A coil spring 8 is housed between the cushion member 7 and the hollow portion in the outer wall 42.

  When the key top 40 is pushed down in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4B from the state shown in FIG. 4A, the outer wall 42 is also pushed down, and the pushing member 45 is also displaced from the pushed position. Therefore, the plunger 61 of the switch unit 6 is pushed down by the tip of the push-down member 45, and the contact of the switch unit 6 is closed.

  Even if the key top 40 is pressed down with a strong force, a strong force is applied to the outer wall 42, but the pressing center of the pressing member 45 is deviated from the pressing center of the key top 40. Since the force applied to 45 is weakened, the impact applied to the switch unit 6 can be reduced.

  In the above description, the case where the switch structure is applied to the start switch 4 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 has been described. However, the switch structure may be applied to other switches. Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a switch that may be operated by applying a strong force to other electronic devices.

  Further, the substrate 5 is arranged in parallel with the operation panel 3. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the terminal 63 pulled out from the back surface of the switch unit 6 and attached to the substrate 5 is shown in FIG. You may attach so that the shown operation panel 3 may be orthogonally crossed.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is an external perspective view of a digital multi-function peripheral in which a switch structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to an operation unit. It is sectional drawing which shows the switch structure of the electronic device in one Embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the switch unit attached to the board | substrate. It is sectional drawing which shows the switch structure of the electronic device in other embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the switch unit attached to the board | substrate. It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional switch structure.

Explanation of symbols

  1 Digital MFP, 3 Operation Panel, 4, 4a Start Switch, 5 Board, 6 Switch Unit, 7 Cushion Member, 8 Coil Spring, 31 Hole, 40 Key Top, 41 Overhang, 42 Outer Wall, 44 Projecting Piece, 45 Pressing Down Member, 51 holes, 61 plunger, 62, 63 terminals.

Claims (8)

A switch unit;
A key top that moves up and down,
A switch structure for an electronic device, comprising: a pressing member that is provided at a lower portion of the key top and that indirectly presses the switch unit by moving the key top in a pressing direction.   The switch structure of the electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member presses the switch unit in a direction intersecting a pressing direction of the key top.   The pressing member includes an elastic member that, when moved in the pressing direction, extends in a direction intersecting the pressing direction by contacting the switch unit and deforms to press the switch unit. 2. A switch structure of the electronic device according to 2.   The switch structure of the electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member presses the switch unit at a position shifted from a pressed position of the key top.   5. The pressing member according to claim 4, wherein the pressing member includes a pressing member that extends in a direction intersecting a pressing direction of the key top and presses the switch unit at a tip end portion when the pressing member moves in the pressing direction. Electronic device switch structure.   The switch structure for an electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an urging unit that urges the key top upward. A board arranged to extend in a direction intersecting the pressing direction of the key top and for mounting the switch;
The switch structure for an electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a cushion member disposed at a position facing the lower surface of the key top of the substrate.   The electronic device switch structure according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an image forming apparatus.

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