JP2013036780A - Compressed air injection nozzle, keyboard keying device and compressed air injection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress action of large force caused by peak pressure just after starting injection of compressed air to a compressed air injection target.SOLUTION: A compressed gas injection nozzle includes a body part having a space penetrated from the base end side to the tip side, and a movable nozzle part slidably stored in the space and provided with a passage for allowing compressed gas to pass from the base end side to the tip side. Further the compressed gas injection nozzle includes movable nozzle part driving means for receiving the compressed gas passing through the passage and protruding the movable nozzle to the tip side, and an excitation member for exciting the movable nozzle part to the base end side. The movable nozzle part driving means is a pressure receiving part with which compressed air collides. Since an injection port is separated from the injection target just after injecting the compressed air, action of large force caused by peak pressure of the compressed air to the injection target can be suppressed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a compressed air injection nozzle, a keyboard keying device, and a compressed air injection method.

  An electronic device equipped with a keyboard, such as a notebook personal computer (notebook personal computer), may be subjected to various tests by hitting the keyboard during the production process. The production line of electronic devices is in-line, and various tests involving keystrokes on the keyboard may be performed while the electronic device as a product is moving on the production line.

  When a keyboard provided in an electronic device moving on the production line is pressed, for example, when a key pressing device including a key pressing arm is used, the key pressing arm may come into contact with the key, and the key may be caught or damaged.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a keyboard keying device that presses a key using compressed air (see Patent Document 1). That is, high-pressure compressed air is blown onto the target key, and the key is pressed (keystroke). If compressed air is used for keyboard keystrokes, keystrokes can be made without contact, and collision of the device with the keys can be avoided.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-161739

  However, when the compressed air is used as in the keyboard keying device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the pressure of the compressed air to be blown may be too high at the initial stage of jetting the compressed air. That is, the compressed air is brought into a high pressure state by a compressed air supply source, and then is injected from the compressed air injection nozzle by opening the control valve. For this reason, the pressure of the compressed air immediately after the control valve is opened becomes high, and this pressure becomes the peak pressure. After the peak pressure is developed, a substantially constant pressure can be maintained.

  By the way, a quality assurance value with respect to an impact is usually set for a key provided in the electronic device. For this reason, the force by the pressure (peak pressure) at the initial stage of injection of compressed air may exceed the quality assurance area. Here, it is also conceivable to adjust the state of the compressed air so that the force due to the peak pressure is within the quality assurance region. However, when the peak pressure is lowered, there is a concern that the pressure in the substantially steady state after the peak pressure is expressed is lower than the pressure required to strike the key. In this case, there is a possibility that the key is not properly pressed and the test is not performed.

  Moreover, the same problem may arise when it is going to press the injection object not only with the keyboard keystroke but with compressed air.

  Therefore, the compressed air injection nozzle, the compressed air injection method, and the keyboard keying device disclosed in the present specification suppress a large force due to the peak pressure immediately after the compressed air injection is started from being applied to the compressed air injection target. The task is to do.

  The compressed air injection nozzle disclosed in the present specification includes a main body having a space penetrating from the proximal end side to the distal end side, and is slidably housed in the space, and passes the compressed gas from the proximal end side to the distal end side. A movable nozzle portion having a passage to be moved, movable nozzle portion driving means for receiving the compressed gas passing through the passage and projecting the movable nozzle toward the distal end side, and the movable nozzle portion to the proximal end side A biasing member for biasing.

  The compressed air is generated by the compressed air generation unit. The compressed air generated by the compressed air generation unit is injected from the injection port provided in the movable nozzle unit by opening the control valve. The compressed air immediately after opening the control valve shows a peak pressure. By energizing the movable nozzle portion toward the base end side of the main body portion by the urging member, the injection port of the movable nozzle portion can be kept away from the injection target. By separating the injection port from the injection target, it is possible to suppress a large force due to the peak pressure immediately after the injection of the compressed air from being applied to the injection target of the compressed air.

  The keyboard keying device disclosed in the present specification includes a compressed gas generation unit, a compressed gas injection nozzle that injects a compressed gas generated by the compressed gas generation unit, and the compressed gas generated by the compressed gas generation unit. A valve that controls introduction into the gas injection nozzle and a control unit that opens and closes the valve, and the compressed gas injection nozzle has a space penetrating from the base end side of one end to the distal end side of the other end. A main body part, a movable nozzle part that is slidably accommodated in the space, and has a passage that allows the compressed gas generated by the compressed gas generation part to pass from the proximal end side to the distal end side, and passes through the passage. Movable nozzle part driving means for receiving the compressed gas and projecting the movable nozzle toward the distal end side, and an urging member for urging the movable nozzle part toward the proximal end side are provided.

  Thereby, the key with which a keyboard is provided can be pressed with desired force.

  The compressed air injection method disclosed in the present specification is slidably accommodated in the space of the main body having a space penetrating from the proximal end side to the distal end side, and allows the compressed gas to pass from the proximal end side to the distal end side. The step of positioning the movable nozzle part provided with the passage on the proximal end side of the main body part by the biasing member, the compressed air generated by the compressed air generating part collide with the pressure receiving part provided in the movable nozzle part, and the attachment A step of moving the movable nozzle portion toward the distal end side of the main body portion while compressing the biasing member, and injecting compressed air generated by the compressed air generating means from an injection port provided in the movable nozzle portion. Yes.

  Thereby, it can suppress that the big force by the peak pressure immediately after the injection of compressed air starts acts on the injection object of compressed air.

  According to the compressed air injection nozzle, the keyboard keying device, and the compressed air injection method disclosed in the present specification, a large force due to the peak pressure immediately after the start of the compressed air injection is suppressed from acting on the injection target of the compressed air. can do.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a keyboard keying device. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a compressed air injection nozzle included in the keyboard keying device. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the transition of the force due to the compressed air ejected by the compressed air ejection nozzle provided in the keyboard keying device. 4 (A) and 4 (B) are explanatory views schematically showing how the compressed air blows out from the compressed air injection nozzle when the key is pressed. FIGS. 5A to 5D are explanatory views showing the state of operation of the movable nozzle part provided in the keyboard keying device. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the keyboard keying apparatus. FIG. 7: is a graph which shows transition in the keyboard upper surface of the force by the compressed air which the compressed air injection nozzle with which the keyboard keying apparatus of an Example is provided injects.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in the drawings, the dimensions, ratios, and the like of each part may not be shown so as to completely match the actual ones.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the keyboard keying apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the compressed air injection nozzle 10 included in the keyboard keying apparatus 1. In this specification, the proximal end side and the distal end side are set as shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B) are explanatory views schematically showing a state in which compressed air is blown out at the time of key pressing by the keyboard keying device 1 of the embodiment. The keyboard keying device 1 taps a key 21 included in a keyboard 20 incorporated in an electronic device moving on a production line with compressed air.

  The keyboard keying device 1 includes a compressed air generation unit 2 and a compressed air injection nozzle 10 that injects compressed air generated by the compressed air generation unit 2. Furthermore, the keyboard keying apparatus 1 includes a control valve 3 that controls introduction of compressed air generated by the compressed air generation unit 2 into the compressed air injection nozzle 10. The control valve 3 is a solenoid valve. Further, the keyboard keying apparatus 1 includes a control unit 4 for the control valve 3. The compressed air production | generation part 2 produces | generates compressed air with a pump. The compressed air is not limited to air. Any gas that can be compressed can be used as compressed air. Specifically, for example, an inert gas such as nitrogen gas or argon gas is desirable.

  The compressed air injection nozzle 10 includes a main body portion 11 and a movable nozzle portion 12 including a compressed air injection port 12b1. The main body 11 is a cylindrical member having a space 111 penetrating from the proximal end side to the distal end side. The main body 11 includes an opening 11a on the distal end side. Further, a stepped portion for forming a spring receiving portion 11b having a larger cross-sectional diameter than the opening 11a is provided on the proximal end side with respect to the opening 11a. In addition, an accommodation portion 11c that accommodates a sliding portion 12a of the movable nozzle portion 12, which will be described later, is formed on the base end side of the spring receiving portion 11b. The inner peripheral surface of the accommodating portion 11c is a sliding surface on which the sliding portion 12a slides.

  On the other hand, the movable nozzle portion 12 is slidably accommodated in a space provided in the main body portion 11 and includes a passage 121 that allows the compressed gas to pass from the proximal end side to the distal end side. The movable nozzle portion 12 includes a sliding portion 12a located on the proximal end side, and a distal cylindrical portion 12b located on the distal end side of the sliding portion 12a and having a smaller cross-sectional diameter than the sliding portion 12a. ing. A gasket 15 that suppresses air leakage is attached to the sliding portion 12a. The distal end cylindrical portion 12b is provided with an injection port 12b1. This injection port 12b1 is located at the front end side of the passage 121, and is formed by making the diameter of the passage 121 thinner than other portions. The movable nozzle portion 12 includes a pressure receiving portion 12b2 that is provided in a part of the injection port 12b1 and receives pressure by compressed air. The pressure receiving part 12 b 2 causes the compressed air passing through the passage 121 to collide and slide the movable nozzle part 12 relative to the main body part 11. Therefore, the pressure receiving portion 12b2 is provided in the passage 121. In the present embodiment, the injection port 12b1 is provided at the tip of the passage 121 and at a portion where the diameter of the passage 121 is narrower than other portions. Therefore, by forming a portion that protrudes toward the inside of the passage 121 at the distal end portion of the passage 121, the passage 121 can be narrowed at the protruding portion, and the pressure receiving portion 12b2 can be simplified. That is, the protruding portion has a function of receiving pressure from the compressed air and also has a function of narrowing the passage 121. The pressure receiving part 12b2 collides with compressed air introduced from the base end side of the main body part 11, and the pressure receiving part 12b2 receives pressure. When the compressed air collides with the pressure receiving part 12 b 2, the movable nozzle part 12 can move to the distal end side of the main body part 11. That is, the pressure receiving part 12b2 moves the movable nozzle part 12 to the tip end side of the main body part 11, and moves the nozzle 12b1 closer to the key 21 to be injected with the compressed air as shown in FIG. It corresponds to. An actuator can also be employed as the movable nozzle unit driving means. However, when an actuator is provided, the apparatus becomes large and the cost increases. The compressed air injection nozzle 10 according to the present embodiment includes the pressure receiving portion 12 b 2, so that the compressed air used for hitting the key 21 can be used for driving the variable nozzle portion 12. For this reason, a separate driving means for driving the variable nozzle portion 12 is not required. The pressure receiving portion 12b2 is formed as an inner peripheral surface that is located on the proximal end side of the injection port 12b1 and intersects the axial direction, as shown in an enlarged view of the portion surrounded by the reference symbol A in FIG. The keyboard keying apparatus 1 includes a spring member 13 that biases the movable nozzle portion 12 toward the base end side of the main body portion 11. The spring member 13 is an example of an urging member. The spring member 13 can move the movable nozzle part 12 to the base end side of the main body part 11 and keep the injection port 12b1 away from the injection target. The movable nozzle portion 12 can be positioned on the base end side of the main body portion 11 without using a special actuator by being equipped with the spring member 13. When the keyboard keying device 1 is installed on the production line, the compressed air is not supplied, and the spring 12 is not compressed by the compressed air so that the position of the injection port 12b1 is a desired position. The position of the air injection nozzle 10 is adjusted. Specifically, the injection port 12b1 is adjusted to a position where the key 21 is not pressed in a state in which the peak pressure is exerted in the initial stage of injection of the compressed air. The spring constant of the spring member 13 is determined with reference to the magnitude of the pressure of the compressed air. The spring constant of the spring member 13 is set to a value by which the spring member 13 is compressed when the compressed air is being injected and the movable nozzle portion 12 can protrude toward the tip side. In this embodiment, the spring member 13 uses a coil spring, but a spring member of another form may be used. An elastic member other than the spring member can also be used. In other words, when the compressed air is not jetted, the movable nozzle portion 12 is biased toward the base end side of the main body portion 11 and the member can be biased if the jet port 12b1 can be kept away from the jetting target. It can be employed as a member.

  As mentioned above, the compressed air injection nozzle 10 provided with the main-body part 11, the movable nozzle part 12, and the spring member 13 is assembled as follows. That is, the tip cylindrical portion 12 b of the movable nozzle portion 12 is projected from the opening portion 11 a of the main body portion 11. At this time, the spring member 13 is sandwiched between the spring receiving portion 11b and the sliding portion 12a. Then, the fitting portion 14 a of the cap portion 14 is attached to the base end portion of the main body portion 11. A tube to which the control valve 3 is connected is connected to the tube connection portion 14b of the cap portion 14.

  Here, as a comparative example with respect to the present embodiment, the force that the compressed air gives to the key as the injection target when the movable nozzle portion 12 is fixed at the position protruding to the tip side will be described with reference to FIG. The compressed air generated by the compressed air generation unit 2 is injected when the control valve 4 is opened. At the initial stage of this injection, the compressed air that has been filled in the compressed air generating unit 2 is released at a stroke, so the pressure is high. As a result, the force by the compressed air blown to the key 21 becomes strong and may exceed the quality assurance area. With respect to the characteristics of the compressed air, the keyboard keying apparatus 1 of this embodiment suppresses the force applied to the key 21 by the operation described below. The operation of the keyboard keying device 1, specifically, the compressed air injection nozzle 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

  FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory views schematically showing a state in which compressed air is blown out by the keyboard keying device 1 when a key is pressed. FIG. 4A shows a state immediately after the start of injection. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the movable nozzle portion 12 moves to the tip side and protrudes from the opening portion 11 a of the main body portion 11. That is, FIG. 4B shows a state in which the injection port 12b1 approaches the key 21. First, immediately after the start of injection, the injection port 12b1 is at a position away from the key 21 to be injected. For this reason, even if the pressure of compressed air is high, the force actually acting on the key 21 is low. The compressed air not only is injected from the injection port 12b1, but also collides with the pressure receiving part 12b2. When the compressed air collides with the pressure receiving part 12b2, the movable nozzle part 12 that has received the pressure of the compressed air is pushed out to the tip side. When the movable nozzle portion 12 is pushed out to the tip end side, the exposure amount of the tip cylindrical portion 12b exposed from the opening portion 11a increases, and the injection port 12b1 approaches the key 21. When the injection port 12b1 approaches the key 21, the pressure of the compressed air peak has already decreased, and the force acting on the key 21 falls within the quality assurance area. As a result, the key 21 is pressed with a force within the quality assurance area.

  The operation of the keyboard keying apparatus 1 that realizes the jetting of compressed air as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. When the keyboard keying apparatus 1 performs the operation described below, the compressed air injection method disclosed in this specification is realized.

  First, in step S <b> 1, the control unit 4 confirms whether the key 21 to be ejected, that is, the target to be pressed is located below the movable nozzle unit 12. At this time, the keyboard keying apparatus 1 is in the state shown in FIG. That is, in the keyboard keying apparatus 1, the movable nozzle portion 12 is positioned on the proximal end side of the main body portion 11 due to the elastic force of the spring member 13.

  In step S2, the control unit 4 opens the control valve 3. Thereby, the compressed air produced | generated by the compressed air production | generation part 2 flows in into the channel | path 121 in the movable nozzle part 12. FIG. The compressed air flowing into the passage 121 collides with the pressure receiving part 12b2 provided in the movable nozzle part 12, and increases the pressure applied to the pressure receiving part 12b2. The energy of the compressed air that has collided with the pressure receiving part 12b2 is converted into a force that pushes the variable nozzle part 12 to the tip side. The variable nozzle portion 12 is accommodated so as to be slidable with respect to the main body portion 11. For this reason, the variable nozzle part 12 moves to the front end side of the main end part 11 by a force resulting from the compressed air colliding with the pressure receiving part 12b2, as shown in FIG. As a result, the injection port 12b1 approaches the key 21. The movable nozzle portion 12 compresses the spring member 13 when moving to the distal end side. In addition, compressed air is injected from the injection port 12b1 while the movable nozzle part 12 is moving.

  And as shown in FIG.5 (C), the movable nozzle part 12 moves most to the front end side. At this time, since the pressure of the compressed air is lower than the value immediately after the start of injection, the force acting on the key 21 by the compressed air injected from the injection port 12b1 is within the quality assurance area. . While the compressed air is being injected, the movable nozzle portion 12 is positioned on the distal end side while compressing the spring member 13.

  Next, the control unit 4 closes the control valve 3 in step S3. Thereby, supply of the compressed air which has moved the movable nozzle part 12 to the front end side is interrupted | blocked. At this time, since the spring member 13 is compressed, the movable nozzle portion 12 receives a biasing force toward the base end side. As a result, the movable nozzle portion 12 moves to the proximal end side and returns to the original position as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing a transition on the keyboard upper surface of the force generated by the compressed air injected by the keyboard keying apparatus 1 of the embodiment. A solid line is a present Example and a dashed-dotted line is a comparative example. In this embodiment, since the injection port 12b1 is away from the key 21 when the comparative example shows a peak value, the force measured on the upper surface of the keyboard 20 is suppressed, and the force is large over the entire injection period. It can be seen that this is leveled. Thus, according to the keyboard keying apparatus 1 of a present Example, the magnitude | size of the force by compressed air can be adjusted, without accompanying the complicated pressure adjustment of compressed air. Moreover, since compressed air is utilized for the movement to the front end side of a movable nozzle part, a separate actuator is unnecessary. Furthermore, an actuator for keeping the injection port 12b1 away from the injection target is also unnecessary.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications, within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims, It can be changed. For example, in the said Example, although the key on a keyboard is assumed as an injection object of compressed air, another article | item can also be made into an injection object. The compressed air injection nozzle of the present embodiment is effective when it is desired to keep the force generated by the compressed air being injected within a predetermined range.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Keyboard keying apparatus 2 Compressed air production | generation part 3 Control valve 4 Control part 10 Air injection nozzle 11 Main-body part 11a Opening part 11b Spring receiving part 11c Sliding surface 12 Movable nozzle part 12a Sliding part 12b Tip cylindrical part 12b1 Injection port 12b2 Pressure receiving portion 13 Spring member 14 Cap portion 14a Insertion portion 14b Tube connection portion 15 Gasket

Claims (4)

A main body having a space penetrating from the proximal end side to the distal end side;
A movable nozzle portion that is slidably housed in the space and includes a passage that allows compressed gas to pass from the proximal end side to the distal end side;
Movable nozzle unit driving means for receiving the compressed gas passing through the passage and projecting the movable nozzle toward the tip side;
A compressed gas injection nozzle comprising: an urging member that urges the movable nozzle portion toward the base end side. The movable nozzle portion has an injection port on the tip side of the passage, the diameter of the passage being thinner than other portions,
2. The compressed air injection nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the movable nozzle unit driving means is a pressure receiving unit that is provided in a part of the injection port and receives pressure by pre-compressed air. A compressed gas generator,
A compressed gas injection nozzle that injects the compressed gas generated by the compressed gas generation unit;
A valve for controlling the introduction of the compressed gas generated by the compressed gas generation unit into the compressed gas injection nozzle;
A controller for opening and closing the valve;
The compressed gas injection nozzle is
A main body having a space penetrating from the proximal end of one end to the distal end of the other end;
A movable nozzle part provided with a passage that is slidably stored in the space and allows the compressed gas generated by the compressed gas generation part to pass from the proximal side to the distal side,
Movable nozzle part driving means for receiving the compressed gas passing through the passage and projecting the movable nozzle toward the tip side;
A keyboard keystroke apparatus comprising: an urging member that urges the movable nozzle portion toward the base end side. A movable nozzle portion that is slidably accommodated in the space of the main body portion having a space penetrating from the proximal end side to the distal end side, and that has a passage through which the compressed gas passes from the proximal end side to the distal end side is biased. And a step of positioning on the base end side of the main body part,
The compressed air generated by the compressed air generation unit collides with the pressure receiving unit provided in the movable nozzle unit, and the compressed nozzle generates the compressed air by moving the movable nozzle unit to the distal end side of the main body while compressing the biasing member. Injecting compressed air generated by the means from an injection port provided in the movable nozzle part;
A compressed air injection method.

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