JP2010250944A - Lever switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact lever switch that is turnably operated at a large rotation angle regarding to the lever switch used for various electronic equipment. <P>SOLUTION: When an operation section of a lever is turned by preparing a pushing means wherein one end is fixed on right and left sidewalls of a case and the other end is held at a vertically movable state by having elasticity, the pushing means is pushed up from a lower side with a drive of the lever. When the operation section is returned to a neutral state, the pushing means turns the operation section by pushing the drive of the lever, thereby elastic return force based on the pushing means can be achieved even at a rotation angle wherein elastic return force based on a conventional movable contact is not sufficiently obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lever switch used mainly in various electronic devices for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium and the operation of a mechanism.

  Conventionally, in various electronic devices, lever switches have been widely used to detect whether or not a recording medium such as a disk has been inserted or removed, or to detect the operation of various mechanisms such as opening and closing of a door. There is a need for a small lever switch.

  Such a conventional lever switch will be described with reference to FIGS.

  6 is a sectional view of a conventional lever switch, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a substantially box-shaped case made of an insulating resin having an open front surface and an opening 1A on the upper surface. A common contact 2 made of conductive metal is located at the center of the inner bottom surface, and a pair of fixed contacts 3, 4 made of conductive metal are also implanted and fixed to the opposite left and right inner walls by insert molding or the like. A shaft hole 1B is formed at the center of the portion 1A, and an inclined portion 1C is formed on the upper surfaces of the left and right side walls.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a substantially M-shaped movable contact made of an elastic metal thin plate. The first arm portion 5B extends left and right from both ends of the intermediate portion 5A, and the second arm portion 5D extends from the folded portion 5C. The tip contact portion 5E elastically contacts the left and right inner walls of the case 1, and a tongue piece portion 5F extending upward is provided at the center of the intermediate portion 5A. The tip of the tongue piece portion 5F elastically contacts the common contact 2. ing.

  An operation portion 6A at the upper end of the lever 6 protrudes upward from the opening 1A of the case 1 and an intermediate cylindrical shaft portion 6B is rotatably mounted in the shaft hole 1B of the case 1 and at the lower end of the lever 6 Is provided with a cylindrical driving portion 6C extending below the shaft portion 6B, and the left and right sides of the driving portion 6C are in contact with the inside of the first arm portion 5B of the movable contact 5, respectively.

  And the cover 7 covers the front surface of the case 1 in which these are stored, and a lever switch is configured.

  The conventional lever switch configured as described above is built in various electronic devices, and is arranged such that the recording medium rotates the operation portion 6A of the lever 6 when a recording medium such as a disk is inserted or removed.

  For example, when the operation unit 6A of the lever 6 is rotated to the right by the recording medium from the neutral state of FIG. 6, the right side surface of the operation unit 6A of the lever 6 is moved as shown in the sectional view of FIG. The lever 6 rotates about the shaft portion 6B until it contacts the inclined portion 1C on the upper surface of the side wall of the case 1, and the left side surface of the drive portion 6C below the shaft portion 6B is the first arm portion on the left side of the movable contact 5 Slide while pressing 5B.

  Then, the first arm portion 5B and the second arm portion 5D are bent, and the left contact portion 5E is elastically slid downward on the left inner wall surface of the case 1 to come into contact with the fixed contact 3, thereby moving. Electrical connection between the fixed contact 3 and the common contact 2 is performed via the contact 5.

  At this time, the tip of the tongue piece portion 5F provided to extend upward to the intermediate portion 5A of the movable contact 5 is elastically moved leftward on the common contact 2 in accordance with the operation of the movable contact 5 as described above. Sliding in contact.

  When the operating force applied to the operating portion 6A of the lever 6 is released, for example, when the recording medium is removed from the electronic device, the elastic return of the bent first arm portion 5B or the second arm portion 5D is performed. Due to the force, the contact portion 5E is elastically slid and moved away from the fixed contact 3, and the left side surface of the drive portion 6C of the lever 6 is pressed by the first arm portion 5B on the left side of the movable contact 5 to the right direction. The lever 6 is rotated back and the operating portion 6A returns to the neutral state in FIG.

  Alternatively, when the operation unit 6A of the lever 6 is rotated to the left until it comes into contact with the left inclined portion 1C, such as when a recording medium is inserted from the opposite direction, the drive unit 6C When the right side surface presses the first arm portion 5B on the right side of the movable contact 5 and the right contact portion 5E of the movable contact 5 slides downward and contacts the fixed contact 4, the movable contact 5 Electrical connection is made between the fixed contact 4 and the common contact 2 via 5.

  That is, since the rotation of the operation portion 6A is restricted by the inclined portion 1C of the case 1 so that the drive portion 6C of the lever 6 does not rotate to the upper side of the folding portion 5C of the movable contact 5, the first arm portion. The operation portion 6A is returned to the neutral state by the elastic return force of 5B and the second arm portion 5D.

  As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.

JP 2002-150885 A

  However, in the conventional lever switch, when the operation unit 6A is rotated until the drive unit 6C is positioned above the folded-back unit 5C of the movable contact 5, the elastic return force for returning the operation unit 6A to the neutral state does not work sufficiently. .

  As a result, the rotation angle at which the operation portion 6A of the lever 6 can be rotated is restricted, and there is a problem that it is difficult to downsize the lever switch.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a small lever switch having a large rotation angle that can be rotated.

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

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, one end of the case is fixed to the left and right side walls of the case, and the other end is provided with pressing means held elastically so as to be movable up and down, and the operating portion of the lever is rotated. When the pressing means is pushed up from below by the driving part of the lever and the operating part returns to the neutral state, the pressing means presses the driving part to rotate the operating part, and the driving part is movable. Even if the operation part is rotated as it is located above the contact folding part, an elastic return force that returns the operation part to a neutral state can be obtained, so the rotation angle that allows the rotation operation is large and a small lever The switch can be provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve an advantageous effect that it is possible to realize a lever switch that can be miniaturized and can obtain a sufficient restoring force.

Sectional drawing of the lever switch by one embodiment of this invention Exploded perspective view Perspective view of cover Sectional drawing at the time of operation of the lever switch by one embodiment of this invention Sectional view Cross-sectional view of a conventional lever switch Exploded perspective view Cross section during the same operation

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

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a lever switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lever switch, and 11 is a heat-resistant insulating resin such as liquid crystal polymer, polyphenylene sulfide, or polyamide resin. A box-shaped case made of open front and having an opening 11A on the upper surface. A common contact 12 made of conductive metal such as a substantially T-shaped copper plate is implanted and fixed at the center of the inner bottom surface of the case 11 by insert molding or the like. The left and right ends of the common contact 12 extend outward from the left and right side walls of the case 11, and the lower ends are exposed on the lower inner wall surface of the case 11.

  In addition, a pair of fixed contacts 13 and 14 made of conductive metal such as a copper plate are implanted and fixed to the left and right inner walls facing the case 11 by insert molding or the like.

  Further, a bearing portion 11B that is recessed in a semicircular shape is formed at the center of the opening portion 11A, and a pedestal portion 11C that protrudes in a substantially trapezoidal column shape is formed below the bearing portion 11B. A holding portion 11D is formed in a hollow shape, a side groove 11E is formed in the left and right side surfaces of the case 11, and a bottom groove portion 11F is formed in a lower surface.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes a substantially M-shaped movable contact made of an elastic metal thin plate such as phosphor bronze or beryllium copper. The intermediate portion 15A is elastically press-fitted into the common contact 12 planted on the lower inner wall surface of the case 11, The first arm portion 15B extends from the both ends of the portion 15A to the left and right, and the contact portion 15E at the tip of the second arm portion 15D that extends from the folded portion 15C elastically contacts the left and right inner walls of the case 11, and the intermediate portion 15A A tongue piece 15F extending upward and bent at a right angle is provided at the center, and the tip of the tongue piece 15F is inserted into and held by the holding portion 11D of the case 11.

  An operation portion 16A at the upper end of the lever 16 protrudes upward from the opening portion 11A of the case 11, and an intermediate cylindrical shaft portion 16B is rotatably mounted in the shaft hole 11B of the case 11, and is attached to the lower end of the lever 16. Is provided with a slightly flat elliptical columnar drive portion 16C extending below the shaft portion 16B, and the left and right side surfaces of the drive portion 16C are in contact with the inside of the first arm portion 15B of the movable contact 15, respectively.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a cover made of an elastic thin metal plate as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3, and rectangular side surface locking portions 17A bent vertically are formed on the left and right side surfaces, and the upper end of the side surface locking portion 17A. Further, as a belt-shaped pressing means, a pressing spring portion 17B is formed inwardly by being bent in parallel with the lower side of the cover 17, and the respective distal ends of the left and right pressing spring portions 17B are further bent downward.

  In addition, a lower surface locking portion 17C is formed at the center of the lower surface of the cover 17 so as to be bent vertically and having a tip projecting left and right.

  The cover 17 is configured by bending the side surface locking portion 17A, the pressing spring portion 17B, and the bottom surface locking portion 17C from a single band-shaped metal plate by pressing or bending, respectively. The side surface locking portion 17A, the pressing spring portion 17B, and the bottom surface locking portion 17C can be easily formed.

  Then, the cover 17 covers the front surface of the case 11 in which the movable contact 15 and the lever 16 are housed, the side locking portion 17A is inserted into the side groove 11E of the case 11, and the tip of the side locking portion 17A is the case. 11, the lower surface locking portion 17 </ b> C is inserted into the lower surface groove portion 11 </ b> F of the case 11, and is fixed to the case 11, thereby forming the lever switch 20.

  The lever switch according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is built in various electronic devices, and the operation unit 16A of the lever 16 is rotated by the recording medium when the recording medium such as a disk is inserted or removed. In this way, the presence or absence of a recording medium is detected.

  For example, when the operation portion 16A of the lever 16 is rotated to the right by the recording medium from the neutral state of FIG. 1 as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. The lever 16 pivots about 16B as a fulcrum, and the left side surface of the drive portion 16C below the shaft portion 16B slides while pressing the first arm portion 15B on the left side of the movable contact 15 to be near the turn-up portion 15C. Reach.

  Then, the first arm portion 15B and the second arm portion 15D are bent, and the left contact portion 15E is elastically slid downward on the left inner wall surface of the case 11 to come into contact with the fixed contact 13, thereby moving. Electrical connection between the fixed contact 13 and the common contact 12 via the contact 15 is performed.

  Thereafter, when the operation portion 16A of the lever 16 is further rotated, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, the left side surface of the drive portion 16C pushes up the pressing spring portion 17B, and the arc-shaped lower surface of the drive portion 17C is movable. The contact 15 slides while pressing the vicinity of the folded portion 15C.

  Note that the contact portion 15E and the fixed contact 13 are maintained in contact with each other while the left side surface of the drive portion 16C pushes up the pressing spring portion 17B, and the electrical connection between the common contact 12 and the fixed contact 13 is maintained. It is.

  Further, when the operation portion 16A of the lever 16 is rotated to the right, the tip of the tongue piece portion 15F provided to extend upward to the intermediate portion 15A of the movable contact 15 is inserted into the holding portion 11D of the case 11. Since it is fixed as it is, only the left side of the intermediate portion 15A of the movable contact 15 bends, and the left side of the movable contact 15 does not have any influence on the right side of the intermediate portion 15A.

  When the operating force applied to the operating portion 16A of the lever 16 is released, for example, when the recording medium is removed from the electronic device, the pressing spring portion 17B pushes the driving portion 16C downward by the elastic return force, and the lever 16 16 A of operation parts start left rotation centering on the axial part 16B.

  When the left end of the arc-shaped lower surface of the drive portion 16C exceeds the vicinity of the folded portion 15C of the movable contact 15, the contact portion is caused by the elastic return force of the bent first arm portion 15B or second arm portion 15D. 15E elastically slides upward and leaves the fixed contact 13, and the left side of the drive portion 16C of the lever 16 is pressed by the first arm portion 15B on the left side of the movable contact 15 and pushed back to the right. 16 rotates, and the operation portion 16A returns to the neutral state in FIG.

  That is, by providing the cover 17 with a pressing spring portion 17B that is a pressing means having one end fixed to the left and right side walls of the case 11 and the other end being elastically held so as to move up and down, the operating portion 16A of the lever 16 is When rotating, the pressing spring portion 17B is pushed down from below by the driving portion 16C of the lever 16, and when the operating portion 16A returns to the neutral state, the pressing spring portion 17B presses the driving portion 16C. The operation unit 16A is rotated.

  Thus, since the pressing spring portion 17B presses the driving portion 16C, the operation portion 16A is made neutral even when the left end of the arc-shaped lower surface of the driving portion 16C is located above the folded portion 15C of the movable contact 15. A sufficient elastic return force to return to the state can be obtained, a rotation angle capable of rotating operation is large, and a small lever switch can be configured.

  Alternatively, when the operation unit 16A of the lever 16 is rotated to the left, such as when a recording medium is inserted from the opposite direction, the right side surface of the drive unit 16C is the right side of the movable contact 15. When the first arm portion 15B of the movable contact 15 is pressed, the contact portion 15E on the right side of the movable contact 15 is elastically slid downward and comes into contact with the fixed contact 14, whereby the fixed contact 14 via the movable contact 15 and Electrical connection with the common contact 12 is made.

  When the leftward rotation is further performed, the right side surface of the drive unit 16C pushes up the pressing spring portion 17B while maintaining the electrical connection between the fixed contact 14 and the common contact 12, and the arcuate shape of the drive unit 17C. Of the movable contact 15 slides while pressing the vicinity of the folded portion 15C.

  When the operating force on the operating portion 16A of the lever 16 is released, in addition to the elastic return force of the first arm portion 15B, as in the case where the operating portion 16A of the lever 16 is rotated to the right. The elastic return force of the pressing spring portion 17B returns the operation portion 16A to the neutral state in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the operation portion 16A of the lever 16 is rotated in the left-right direction, in addition to the elastic return force of the first arm portion 15B, the elastic return of the pressing spring portion 17B. Since the force returns the operation unit 16A to the neutral state in FIG. 1, it is possible to provide a small lever switch having a large rotation angle that can be rotated.

  In the above description, the pressing spring portion 17B, which is a pressing means, is described as being configured as a part of the cover 17, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the space between the cover 17 and the case 11 is not limited thereto. It may be provided as a separate body or may be provided so as to constitute a part of the case 11.

  The lever switch according to the present invention can be obtained in a small size with a large rotation angle that can be rotated, and is useful as a detection lever switch mainly used in various electronic devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Case 11A Opening part 11B Bearing 11C Base part 11D Holding part 11E Side surface groove part 11F Bottom surface groove part 12 Common contact 13, 14 Fixed contact 15 Movable contact 15A Intermediate part 15B First arm part 15C Folding part 15D Second arm part 15E Contact Part 15F Tongue piece part 16 Lever 16A Operation part 16B Shaft part 16C Drive part 17 Cover 17A Side surface locking part 17B Pressure spring part 17C Bottom surface locking part

Claims (1)

A box-shaped case having an opening on the upper surface where the common contact and the fixed contact are respectively planted on the inner wall;
The intermediate part is always elastically contacted with the common contact, and the contact part at the tip of the second arm part further extending from the first arm part extending left and right from both ends of the intermediate part via the folded part is the inner wall of the case or Movable contacts each elastically contacting the fixed contacts;
An operating portion projects upward from the opening of the case, an intermediate shaft portion is rotatably attached to the case, and a driving portion extending below the shaft portion is provided at the lower end, and the drive The portion includes a lever that contacts the first arm portion of the movable contact,
Furthermore, one end is fixed to the left and right side walls of the case, and the other end includes pressing means that is held with elasticity so that it can move up and down
When the operation portion of the lever is rotated, the pressing means is pushed up from below by the driving portion of the lever,
A lever switch that rotates the operation unit by pressing the drive unit when the operation unit returns to a neutral state.

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