JP2017016807A - Microswitch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a microswitch having an extended life, without a large size of an outer shape.SOLUTION: A microswitch 1 includes a common contact terminal 3 and a normally-closed contact terminal 5 attached in juxtaposition to a base 2, so as to latch a movable contact piece 6 on both sides of the common contact terminal 3 in the juxtaposition direction. The common contact terminal 3 has folded both end parts in the juxtaposition direction with the normally-closed contact terminal 5 using the depression direction of a push button 7 as an axis, to form across the folded position a latch part extending to a width direction orthogonal to the juxtaposition direction with normally-closed contact terminal 5 at the base 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a microswitch used for an electronic device or the like.

  Conventionally, common contact terminals, normally-open contact terminals, and normally-closed contact terminals are arranged in this order and attached to the base, the movable contact piece is rotated by pressing the push button, and the common contact terminal is normally-open contact terminal or normally-closed Microswitches that conduct with one of the contact terminals are used in various types of electronic devices. The movable contact piece is a plate-like member extending in the direction in which the common contact terminal, the normally-open contact terminal, and the normally-closed contact terminal are arranged, and a spring portion that generates a reaction force against the pressing force applied by pressing the push button (See Patent Document 1).

  The microswitch of Patent Document 1 locks the movable contact pieces at two locations on both sides of the common contact terminal in the arrangement direction of the common contact terminal, the normally open contact terminal, and the normally closed contact terminal. The movable contact piece rotates around the common contact terminal that is located on the opposite side of the normally open contact terminal and the normally closed contact terminal. Further, the movable contact piece locks the spring portion to the normally open contact terminal and normally closed contact terminal side of the common contact terminal, and generates a reaction force against the pressing force acting by pressing the push button.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,383,975

  However, in the microswitch described in Patent Document 1, both ends of the common contact terminal are bent in the width direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the common contact terminal, the normally open contact terminal, and the normally closed contact terminal (common contact terminal). Is a U-shape in a plan view as viewed in the pressing direction of the push button.) The movable contact piece is locked on the surface (locking portion) extending in the width direction. In the bending process, the bent portion becomes an arc shape. That is, since both ends of the common contact terminal are arcuate at the bent portions, the movable contact piece is locked without being in contact with the arcuate portion. In other words, the contact area between the common contact terminal and the movable contact piece is reduced by forming an arc shape by bending the common contact terminal.

  The micro switch has a configuration in which the movable contact piece is rotated by the operation of the push button. Therefore, as the contact area between the common contact terminal and the movable contact piece becomes smaller, the common contact terminal and the movable contact piece are worn by the rotation. The progress of (the wear of the portion in contact with the common contact terminal) is accelerated and the service life is shortened.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a microswitch having an extended life without increasing the external size.

  In order to achieve the above object, the microswitch of the present invention is configured as follows.

  A common contact terminal and a fixed contact terminal are mounted side by side on the base. The push button is disposed on the side of the base facing the mounting surface of the common contact terminal and the fixed contact terminal, and is pressed toward the common contact terminal and the fixed contact terminal side. The movable contact piece is locked on both sides of the common contact terminal in the arrangement direction of the common contact terminal and the fixed contact terminal, and is rotated by the pressing force acting by pressing of the push button, and the common contact terminal and the fixed contact terminal Open and close.

  Further, the movable contact piece has a spring portion that generates a reaction force against the pressing force acting by pressing the push button. In addition, both ends of the common contact terminal in the direction of alignment with the fixed contact terminal are bent with the pressing direction of the push button as an axis, and perpendicular to the alignment direction with the fixed contact terminal of the base with the bending position interposed therebetween And a locking portion extending in the width direction. The locking portion located on the opposite side of the fixed contact terminal serves as a fulcrum when the movable contact piece rotates, and the locking portion located on the fixed contact terminal side locks the spring portion of the movable contact piece.

  According to this configuration, the portion of the common contact terminal that locks the movable contact piece does not have an arc-shaped portion by bending. This ensures a sufficient contact area between the common contact terminal and the movable contact piece without enlarging the locking portion, i.e., without increasing the common contact terminal. Wear of the movable contact piece can be suppressed.

In addition, it is preferable that the engaging portions at both ends of the common contact terminal have a length to the end portion on the bent side with respect to the bending position longer than a length to the end portion on the opposite side. If configured in this way,
Since the length of the base of the engaging part at both ends of the common contact terminal (the width of the part where the engaging part is connected to the common contact terminal) can be secured sufficiently, the engaging part is broken at the base It is possible to suppress damage.

  Therefore, the lifetime can be extended without increasing the outer size.

  In addition, the common contact terminal has a connection terminal portion that penetrates the base and protrudes to the side where the push button is not disposed, and a center in the width direction of the base is aligned with a center in the width direction of the locking portion. Sometimes, at the center in the width direction of the base, a body part bent so that the connection terminal part protrudes may be provided.

  Further, both ends of the common contact terminal may be provided with a notch extending in the width direction when bent at the bending position to ensure the processing accuracy required for the bending process.

  Further, the fixed contact terminal includes a first fixed contact terminal that conducts with the common contact terminal when the push button is not pressed, and a second fixed that conducts with the common contact terminal when the push button is pressed. And a contact terminal.

  According to the present invention, the lifetime can be extended without increasing the outer size.

It is the schematic which shows the external appearance of the microswitch concerning this example. It is the schematic of the state which removed the cover of the microswitch concerning this example. It is a top view in the state where the cover of the microswitch concerning this example was removed. It is a figure which shows the state which attached the common contact terminal, the normally open contact terminal, and the normally closed contact terminal to the base. It is the figure which abbreviate | omitted illustration of the base in FIG. FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a first locking portion of the common contact terminal, and FIG. 6B is a plan view showing a second locking portion of the common contact terminal. It is the schematic which shows a movable contact piece.

  Hereinafter, a microswitch according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the appearance of a microswitch according to this example. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the microswitch according to this example with the cover removed. FIG. 3 is a plan view in the A direction shown in FIG. A microswitch 1 according to this example includes a base 2, a common contact terminal 3, a normally open contact terminal 4, a normally closed contact terminal 5, a movable contact piece 6, a push button 7, and a cover 8. The normally closed contact terminal 5 corresponds to the first fixed contact terminal referred to in the present invention, and the normally open contact terminal 4 corresponds to the second fixed contact terminal referred to in the present invention.

  The base 2 is an insulating member formed by molding a resin. A common contact terminal 3, a normally open contact terminal 4, and a normally closed contact terminal 5 are attached side by side in this order on one surface of the base 2 (referred to herein as the upper surface). This upper surface is a mounting surface of the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5 in the base 2. As for the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5, the connection terminal portions 30, 40, 50 pass through the base 2 and project to the lower surface side of the base 2. The common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5 are conductive members.

  The arrangement direction of the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5 (the left-right direction in FIG. 3) is referred to herein as the longitudinal direction of the base 2. A direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base 2 (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3) is referred to as a width direction of the base 2. The base 2 has a length in the longitudinal direction of about 8 to 15 mm and a length in the width direction of about 5 to 8 mm.

  In the base 2, a through hole into which the connection terminal portions 30, 40, 50 of the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5 are inserted is formed substantially at the center in the width direction of the base 2. ing. Accordingly, the connection terminal portions 30, 40, and 50 of the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5 protrude from the lower surface side of the base 2 at substantially the center in the width direction of the base 2.

  The movable contact piece 6 is a plate-like conductive member extending in the longitudinal direction of the base 2. The movable contact piece 6 is located on the upper surface side of the base 2, and one side in the longitudinal direction of the base 2 is locked to the common contact terminal 3. The movable contact piece 6 rotates in a direction in which an end portion on the side not locked to the common contact terminal 3 is in contact with or away from the base 2. When the movable contact piece 6 is rotated, the end of the movable contact piece 6 not engaged with the common contact terminal 3 is separated from one of the normally open contact terminal 4 and the normally closed contact terminal 5 and is in contact with the other. The normally open contact terminal 4 or the normally closed contact terminal 5 with which the movable contact piece 6 is in contact with the common contact terminal 3 are electrically connected (the common contact terminal 3 and the movable contact piece 6 are always in contact). .

  The push button 7 is disposed on the movable contact piece 6. When the push button 7 is pressed toward the upper surface side of the base 2, the movable contact piece 6 is pressed down toward the upper surface side of the base 2. The cover 8 has a shape that covers the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, the normally closed contact terminal 5, and the movable contact piece 6 that are located on the upper surface side of the base 2. The push button 7 protrudes to the outside of the cover 8 and is configured to be pressed against the upper surface side of the base 2 with the cover 8 attached.

  Next, the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5 will be described. 4 is a diagram showing a state where the common contact terminal, the normally open contact terminal, and the normally closed contact terminal are attached to the base, and FIG. 5 is a diagram in which the base is not shown in FIG. 4 and 5 are views seen from a direction in which there is no overlap between the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5, and are viewed from FIG. 1 and FIG. The direction is different.

  The common contact terminal 3 is formed in a shape shown in the figure by pressing a strip-shaped conductive material having a thickness of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm, punching it into a specified shape, and bending it. Similarly, the normally-open contact terminal 4 and the normally-closed contact terminal 5 are similarly formed by pressing a strip-shaped conductive material having a thickness of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm, punching it into a specified shape, and bending it. It is formed in the shape shown in the figure.

  Note that the shape of stamping and punching the strip-shaped conductive material differs between the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the common contact terminal 3 includes a contact terminal portion having a first locking portion 31 and a second locking portion 32 on one side of the body portion 33, and the other side of the body portion 33. A connection terminal portion 30 is formed on the side to protrude from the lower surface side of the base 2. As apparent from FIG. 5, the first locking portion 31 and the second locking portion 32 are formed by bending both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the base 2 around the pressing direction of the push button 7. It is. The first locking part 31 and the second locking part 32 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base 2. The 1st latching | locking part 31 is located in the other side of the normally open contact terminal 4 and the normally closed contact terminal 5, and the 2nd latching | locking part 32 is the normally open contact terminal 4 and the normally closed contact terminal 5 side. Is located.

  The first locking portion 31 and the second locking portion 32 have surfaces extending on both sides of the bending position in the width direction of the base 2. Further, the first locking portion 31 and the second locking portion 32 are moved from the bending position by shifting the bending position with the pressing direction of the push button 7 as the axis from the center in the width direction of the base 2. The length to the end on the bent side is longer than the length from the bent position to the end on the opposite side of the bent side. The common contact terminal 3 has an approximately H shape (the width direction of the H shape is the longitudinal direction of the base 2) in a plan view viewed from the push button 7 side.

  FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a first locking portion of the common contact terminal, and FIG. 6B is a plan view showing a second locking portion of the common contact terminal. 6A is a plan view seen from the direction A shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 6B is a plan view seen from the direction B shown in FIG. The first locking portion 31 is formed with locking grooves 31 a extending on both sides of the bent position in the width direction of the base 2 on the opposite surface of the normally open contact terminal 4 and the normally closed contact terminal 5. doing. The surface on which the locking groove 31a is formed is a substantially flat surface. The second locking portion 32 is formed with locking grooves 32a extending on both sides of the bent position in the width direction of the base 2 on the surface of the normally open contact terminal 4 and the normally closed contact terminal 5 side. Yes. The surface on which the locking groove 32a is formed is also substantially flat.

  The notches 31b and 32b are provided in order to ensure the processing accuracy required for bending with the pressing direction of the push button 7 as an axis. The length of the notches 31b and 32b in the width direction of the base 2 (the length from the bent position to the end of the notches 31b and 32b) is about 0.5 mm. The notches 31b and 32b are formed by suppressing the length of the base 2 in the width direction so that the upper side and the lower side of the notch 31b and 32b are connected to each other (hereinafter referred to as the root of the locking part). The width W can be increased.

As the width W of the base of the locking part becomes longer, the base of the locking part can be prevented from breaking.

  Further, the common contact terminal 3 bends the body portion 33 so that the connection terminal portion 30 is aligned with the approximate center of the first locking portion 31 and the second locking portion 32 in the width direction of the base 2. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the normally open contact terminal 4 protrudes to the lower surface side of the base 2 on the other side of the body part 42 and a contact terminal part having a contact part 41 on one side of the body part 42. The connection terminal part 40 to be made is formed. The contact portion 41 has a surface facing the upper surface of the base 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the normally closed contact terminal 5 protrudes on the lower surface side of the base 2 on the other side of the body portion 52 and a contact terminal portion having a contact portion 51 on one side of the body portion 52. The connection terminal part 50 to be made is formed. The contact portion 51 has a surface facing the upper surface of the base 2. The positions of the contact portion 41 and the contact portion 51 in the longitudinal direction of the base 2 are substantially the same. The contact part 51 is located above the contact part 41 and faces the contact part 41.

  The normally open contact terminal 4 bends the body portion 42 to align the connection terminal portion 40 with the center of the contact portion 41 in the width direction of the base 2. Further, the normally closed contact terminal 5 has the connecting portion 50 aligned with the center of the contact portion 51 in the width direction of the base 2 by bending the body portion 52.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a movable contact piece. The movable contact piece 6 is formed by pressing a conductive thin plate spring material, punching it out, and bending it up, so that one end side in the longitudinal direction of the base 2 has a locking groove 31a of the first locking portion 31 of the common contact terminal 3. An engagement hole 61 is formed to be engaged with the engagement hole 61. Further, the movable contact piece 6 cuts and raises a substantially semicircular return spring portion 62 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the base 2. The free end portion of the return spring portion 62 is locked in the locking groove 32 a of the second locking portion 32 of the common contact terminal 3. Further, the movable contact piece 6 has an end portion (hereinafter referred to as a rear end portion) on the other end side from the return spring portion 62 at the contact portion 41 of the normally open contact terminal 4 and the normally closed contact terminal 5. This is the length of contact with the contact portion 51.

  The assembly of the microswitch 1 will be briefly described. First, the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5 are attached to the base 2. At this time, the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5 are at positions where the connection terminal portions 30, 40, 50 protrude through the base 2 at substantially the center in the width direction of the base 2. Install (state shown in FIG. 4).

  The first locking portion 31 is inserted into the engagement hole 61 of the movable contact piece 6, and the edge portion on the distal end side of the engagement hole 61 is locked in the locking groove 31 a of the first locking portion 31. At this time, the rear end portion of the movable contact piece 6 is positioned between the contact portion 41 of the normally open contact terminal 4 and the contact portion 51 of the normally closed contact terminal 5. Further, the free end of the return spring portion 62 is locked in the locking groove 32 a of the second locking portion 32. And the push button 7 is arrange | positioned on the movable contact piece 6 (state shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3).

  Further, a cover 8 is attached so as to cover the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, the normally closed contact terminal 5, and the movable contact piece 6 located on the upper surface side of the base 2 (state shown in FIG. 1). At this time, the push button 7 is projected outside the cover 8.

  In the assembly process of the microswitch 1, a jig is used as necessary.

  Next, the operation of the microswitch 1 will be described. When the push button 7 is not pressed against the upper surface side of the base 2, the movable contact piece 6 is urged upward (opposite the base 2) by the spring force of the return spring portion 62. For this reason, the rear end portion of the movable contact piece 6 contacts the contact portion 51 of the normally closed contact terminal 5 and is separated from the contact portion 41 of the normally open contact terminal 4. Therefore, the common contact terminal 3 and the normally closed contact terminal 5 are electrically connected by the movable contact piece 6 (the common contact terminal 3 and the normally open contact terminal 4 are not electrically connected).

  When the push button 7 is pressed, the push button 7 pushes down the movable contact piece 6 toward the base 2, and the movable contact piece 6 is engaged with the engagement groove 31 a of the first engagement portion 31. With the edge of the hole 61 as a fulcrum, the rear end rotates in a direction approaching the base 2. When the movable contact piece 6 exceeds the operating position of the return spring portion 62, the movable contact piece 6 is instantaneously rotated, and the rear end portion of the movable contact piece 6 is separated from the contact portion 51 of the normally closed contact terminal 5. Then, it contacts the contact portion 41 of the normally open contact terminal 4. That is, when the push button 7 is pressed to the base 2 side, the common contact terminal 3 and the normally open contact terminal 4 are electrically connected by the movable contact piece 6 (the common contact terminal 3 and the normally closed contact terminal 5 are electrically connected). Not.)

  Further, when the pressing of the push button 7 is stopped, the movable contact piece 6 has the edge of the engagement hole 61 locked in the locking groove 31 a of the first locking portion 31 by the urging force of the return spring portion 62. The rear end portion rotates in a direction away from the base 2 with the portion as a fulcrum. As a result, the rear end portion of the movable contact piece 6 is separated from the contact portion 41 of the normally open contact terminal 4 and contacts the contact portion 51 of the normally closed contact terminal 5. That is, when the pressing of the push button 7 is stopped, the common contact terminal 3 and the normally closed contact terminal 5 are electrically connected by the movable contact piece 6 (the common contact terminal 3 and the normally open contact terminal 4 are not electrically connected). .)

  As described above, the microswitch 1 is rotated around the edge of the engagement hole 61 where the movable contact piece 6 is engaged with the engagement groove 31 a of the first engagement portion 31 by pressing of the push button 7. Move. Further, when the movable contact piece 6 rotates with the edge of the engagement hole 61 locked in the locking groove 31a of the first locking portion 31 as a fulcrum, the movable contact piece 6 becomes the second locking The free end of the return spring portion 62 locked in the locking groove 32a of the portion 32 moves due to the action of stress. The movable contact piece 6 is limited in a rotatable range by the contact portion 41 of the normally open contact terminal 4 and the contact portion 51 of the normally closed contact terminal 5.

  As described above, the first engagement portion 31 that engages the edge of the engagement hole 61 of the movable contact piece 6 and the second engagement that engages the free end of the return spring portion 62 of the movable contact piece 6. The stop portion 32 does not have an arc-shaped portion by bending. Therefore, the size of the contact area between the first locking portion 31 and the second locking portion 32 with the movable contact piece 6 can be sufficiently secured without increasing the common contact terminal 3. Therefore, wear of the movable contact piece 6, the first locking portion 31, and the second locking portion 32 due to the rotation can be suppressed without increasing the size of the microswitch 1 main body.

  In addition, the first locking portion 31 and the second locking portion 32 are bent from the folding position by shifting the bending position with the pressing direction of the push button 7 as the axis from the center in the width direction of the base 2. The length to the side end is longer than the length from the bending position to the end on the opposite side of the bent side. Thereby, it can suppress that the width W of the base of the 1st latching | locking part 31 and the 2nd latching | locking part 32 becomes short, and can fully ensure the length. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the first locking portion 31 and the second locking portion 32 from being broken and broken at the root.

  The microswitch 1 according to the above example is configured to include the normally open contact terminal 4 and the normally closed contact terminal 5, but does not include one of the normally open contact terminal 4 or the normally closed contact terminal 5. It may be. In this case, a stopper may be provided to limit the rotation range of the movable contact piece 6.

  In the above example, the movable contact piece 6 has the return spring portion 62 formed integrally. However, the movable contact piece 6 may have a configuration in which the return spring portion 62 is not formed integrally.

  Moreover, the structure which is not bending the trunk | drum 33,42,52 of the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5 may be sufficient. In this case, the position where the connection terminal portions 30, 40, 50 of the common contact terminal 3, the normally open contact terminal 4, and the normally closed contact terminal 5 protrude to the lower surface side of the base 2 is the center in the width direction of the base 2. The position may be shifted from the position.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Micro switch 2 ... Base 3 ... Common contact terminal 4 ... Normally open contact terminal 5 ... Normally closed contact terminal 6 ... Movable contact piece 7 ... Push button 8 ... Cover 30 ... Connection terminal part 31 ... 1st latching | locking part 31a ... Locking groove 32 ... Second locking part 32a ... Locking groove 33 ... Body part 40 ... Connection terminal part 41 ... Abutting part 42 ... Body part 50 ... Connection terminal part 51 ... Abutting part 52 ... Body part 61 ... engaging hole 62 ... return spring

Claims (5)

A base with a common contact terminal and a fixed contact terminal mounted side by side;
A push button disposed on a side of the base facing the mounting surface of the common contact terminal and the fixed contact terminal, and pressed to the common contact terminal and the fixed contact terminal side;
The common contact terminal and the fixed contact terminal are locked by both sides of the common contact terminal in the arrangement direction of the common contact terminal and the fixed contact terminal, and are rotated by a pressing force acting by pressing of the push button. A movable contact piece that electrically opens and closes,
The movable contact piece has a return spring portion that generates a reaction force against a pressing force acting by pressing the push button,
Both ends of the common contact terminal in the alignment direction with the fixed contact terminal are bent with the pressing direction of the push button as an axis, and the bending position is sandwiched in the alignment direction with the fixed contact terminal in the base. A locking portion extending in the width direction orthogonal to the
The locking portion located on the opposite side of the fixed contact terminal serves as a fulcrum when the movable contact piece rotates,
The microswitch, wherein the locking portion located on the fixed contact terminal side locks the return spring portion of the movable contact piece.   2. The locking portion at both ends of the common contact terminal has a length to a bent end portion longer than a length to an opposite end portion with respect to the bent position. The micro switch described in 1. The common contact terminal is
A connection terminal portion that penetrates the base and protrudes to the side where the push button is not disposed,
When the center in the width direction of the base matches the center in the width direction of the locking portion, the connection terminal portion is bent so as to protrude at the center in the width direction of the base. The microswitch according to claim 1, further comprising a trunk portion.   The microswitch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein notches extending in the width direction are provided at both ends of the common contact terminal when bent at the bending position.   The fixed contact terminal is electrically connected to the common contact terminal when the push button is pressed, and the first fixed contact terminal is electrically connected to the common contact terminal when the push button is not pressed. The microswitch according to claim 1, comprising two fixed contact terminals.

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