JP2017208357A - Key switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key switch which can reliably prevent erroneous operation of a switch even if a portion facing an intermediate area between two adjacent switches in an operation member is pressed down.SOLUTION: In a key switch, an operation member 1 comprises: a plurality of stoppers 11A to 11D which are provided on a rear face around a center area; and a plurality of protrusions (ends 52A to 52D of hinges 5A to 5D) which are provided on a lateral face. In a plan view, the plurality of stoppers 11A to 11D are arranged at respective locations between a plurality of operation positions 12A to 12D. In a plan view, the plurality of protrusions protrude from respective locations opposite to the plurality of operation positions 12A to 12D across the center area. When pressing at each of the operation positions, the operation member 1 swings with a contact position between a panel and the protrusion opposite to the operation position serving as a fulcrum.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a key switch configured to operate a plurality of switches with a single operation member, and an image forming apparatus including the key switch in an operation unit.

  In an apparatus having many processing functions such as an image forming apparatus, an operation for selecting a processing function to be used and an operation for setting processing contents of each processing function are required. Of the many functions, the functions related to each other are preferably configured such that a plurality of corresponding switches can be operated by a single operation member. Moreover, it is preferable to move the designated position in the display screen of the display by operating a single operating member.

  In view of this, a key switch is proposed in which a single operation member is supported in a floating manner and a plurality of switches are arranged on a circumference centered on the central portion of the operation member in plan view (see, for example, Patent Document 1 or 2) ). On the surface of the single operation member, a function corresponding to each switch is described at a position where each of the plurality of switches is opposed. When the operator depresses the portion of the operation member on which the desired function is written, only the switch corresponding to the desired function among the plurality of switches changes the state. When a portion facing each of the plurality of switches is pressed, the operating member swings around the center position or the opposite side of the pressed portion across the center position.

JP 2009-245723 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-007703

  However, in the conventional key switch, when the setting of the swing fulcrum of the operation member is not appropriate, when the operator accidentally presses the middle portion of the two adjacent switches on the operation member, the two adjacent switches Are operated at the same time, causing a malfunction.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a key switch that can reliably prevent malfunction of a switch even when an intermediate portion of two adjacent switches on an operation member is pressed.

  A key switch according to the present invention includes a panel having an opening, a base opposed to the panel, an operation member swingably supported in the opening, and a plurality of switches disposed on the surface of the base. And a switch. The operation member has a central portion and a plurality of operation positions provided on the surface around the central portion. The plurality of switches are respectively disposed at positions facing the plurality of operation positions on the surface of the base.

  In the key switch, the operation member further includes a plurality of stoppers provided on the back surface around the center portion and a plurality of protrusions provided on the side surface. The plurality of stoppers are respectively disposed at positions between the plurality of operation positions in plan view. The plurality of protrusions protrude from respective positions opposite to the plurality of operation positions across the center portion in plan view. When each operation position is pressed, the operation member swings with the contact position between the projection and the panel located on the opposite side of the operation position as a fulcrum.

  According to the key switch, when a position between two adjacent operation positions among a plurality of operation positions is pressed, the two switches corresponding to the two operation positions are pressed by swinging the operation member. Before being done, a stopper positioned between them can be brought into contact with the base.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably prevent the malfunction of the switch even when the portion of the operation member that faces the middle of the two adjacent switches is pressed.

1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus including a key switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) And (B) is sectional drawing before and behind pressing operation of the key switch which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the principal part of the key switch which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (B) And (C) is sectional drawing before and behind pressing operation of the key switch which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (A)-(C) are the top views of the principal part of the key switch which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, the side view at the time of normal operation, and the side view at the time of incorrect operation. (B) And (C) is a top view of the principal part of the key switch which concerns on another embodiment of this invention.

  A key switch according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the key switch 10 is disposed in the operation unit 200 of the image forming apparatus 100 as an example, and is used when the cursor is moved in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction within the display screen of the display 210.

  The key switch 10 includes a donut-shaped operation member 1 disposed in a circular opening 21 formed in the operation panel 2. On the surface of the operation member 1, arrows indicating the four directions of front, rear, left and right are written. When the operator moves the cursor in the display screen of the display 210, the operator presses a portion on the surface of the operation member 1 where an arrow indicating a direction in which the cursor is desired to be moved is written.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the key switch 10 includes an operation member 1, an operation panel 2, a base 3, and four switches 4A to 4D. The operation panel 2 corresponds to the panel of the present invention and has an opening 21. The operation member 1 has a donut shape and is floatingly supported in the opening 21 by the support member 6 via the four hinges 5A to 5D.

  Another switch can be arranged in the central hole of the operation member 1. When this is not necessary, the operation member 1 can be formed in a disk shape.

  The four hinges 5 </ b> A to 5 </ b> D have one end portions 51 </ b> A to 51 </ b> D continuous to equiangular positions on the inner peripheral surface of the support member 6, and the other end portions 52 </ b> A to 52 </ b> D are equiangular intervals on the side surface of the operation member 1. The position is continuous. By forming the hinges 5A to 5D integrally with the operation member 1 and the support member 6 by resin molding, the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the assembling work can be simplified. However, the mechanism for floatingly supporting the operation member 1 is not limited to the hinges 5 </ b> A to 5 </ b> D, and a separate spring or the like can be used.

  The base 3 is arranged below the operation panel 2 in parallel with the operation panel 2. The switches 4 </ b> A to 4 </ b> D correspond to a plurality of switches according to the present invention, and are arranged on the surface of the base 3 at equiangular intervals on the circumference centering on the central portion of the operation member 1. Arrows indicating arrows of left, front, right, and rear are respectively shown at four operation positions 12A to 12D facing the switches 4A to 4D on the surface of the operation member 1, respectively.

  Cylindrical stoppers 11 </ b> A to 11 </ b> D extend downward from four locations on the back surface of the operation member 1. The stoppers 11A to 11D are disposed at the center between two adjacent switches among the switches 4A to 4D.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, when the operation member 1 is not operated, the upper surfaces of the end portions 52 </ b> A to 52 </ b> D of the hinges 5 </ b> A to 5 </ b> D are in contact with the peripheral edge of the opening 21 on the back surface of the operation panel 2. Yes. Further, a first interval H <b> 1 is provided between the tips of the stoppers 11 </ b> A to 11 </ b> D and the surface of the base 3. Note that the end portions 52A to 52D of the hinges 5A to 5D correspond to “plural protrusions” recited in the claims.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, when the operation position 12C on the surface of the operation member 1 is operated, the operation member 1 operates with the end 52A of the hinge 5A located on the opposite side of the switch 4C across the center portion. It swings with the contact position with the back surface of the panel 2 as a fulcrum.

  At this time, as is apparent from FIG. 3, none of the stoppers 11A to 11D exists on the swing line passing through the end 52A and the switch 4C in plan view. 2B, in the cross section including the swing direction of the operation member 1, the distance from the end 52A to the operation position 12C is longer than the distance to the stoppers 11C and 11D.

  Therefore, by setting the interval H1 to an appropriate value, the operation member 1 continues to swing until the tips of the stoppers 11C and 11D come into contact with the surface of the base 3, so that the switch 4C is switched by the back surface of the operation position 12C. Is surely pressed. This is the same when any of the operation positions 12A to 12D of the operation member 1 is pressed.

  On the other hand, when the space between the operation position 12B and the operation position 12C in the operation member 1 is pressed, the operation member 1 supports the straight lines connecting the contact positions of the end portions 52A and 52B and the back surface of the operation panel 2 as support shafts. The stopper 11C is located immediately below the pressed position. At this time, the distance from the straight line connecting the contact positions of the end portions 52A and 52B and the back surface of the operation panel 2 to the switches 4B and 4C is shorter than the distance to the stopper 11C.

  For this reason, when the swing of the operation member 1 stops when the tip of the stopper 11C comes into contact with the surface of the base 3, the back surface between the operation position 12B and the operation position 12C in the operation member 1 is changed to the switch 4B and The position where 4C can be operated is not reached. Therefore, none of the switches 4A to 4D is pressed and no malfunction occurs. This is the same when any of the operation positions 12A to 12D between two operation positions adjacent in the circumferential direction is pressed.

  As described above, since the key switch 10 has the stoppers 11A to 11D arranged at appropriate positions on the back surface of the operation member 1, when a position other than the operation positions 12A to 12D on the operation member 1 is pressed, It is possible to reliably prevent a switch other than the switch desired by the operator from operating.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the key switch 110 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is operated with the upper surfaces of the end portions 52A to 52D of the hinges 5A to 5D in a state where the operation member 1 is not operated. The key switch 10 is different from the key switch 10 only in that a second distance H2 is provided between the panel 2 and the back surface.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, when the operation position 12C on the surface of the operation member 1 is operated, the operation member 1 uses the middle part of the hinge 5A located on the opposite side of the switch 4C with the center part as a fulcrum. Start swinging. Thereafter, when the tips of the stopper 11C and the stopper 11D come into contact with the surface of the base 3, the operation member 1 has the tips of the stopper 11C and the stopper 11D until the surface of the end 52A comes into contact with the back surface of the operation panel 2. The swinging is continued with the position of contact with the surface of the base 3 as a fulcrum.

  Since the swing fulcrum of the operation member 1 is a contact position between the tip of the stopper 11C and the stopper 11D and the surface of the base 3, the central portion of the operation member 1 moves upward when the operation member 1 swings. For this reason, by setting the interval H1 and the interval H2 to appropriate values, the switches 4B and 4D arranged at positions facing the central portion of the operation member 1 in the cross section shown in FIG. 4B are operated together with the switch 4C. Can be surely prevented. This is the same when any of the operation positions 12A to 12D of the operation member 1 is pressed.

  Further, when any of the operation positions 12A to 12D between the two operation positions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is pressed, a malfunction can be prevented in the same manner as the key switch 10.

  In addition, by forming the tips of the stoppers 11 </ b> A to 11 </ b> D in a spherical shape, the stoppers 11 </ b> A to 11 </ b> D can be brought into contact with the surface of the base 3 in a state close to point contact and the operation member 1 can be smoothly swung.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the key switch 120 according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a cross shape at the tip of the stoppers 11A to 11D in plan view. The cross-sectional shapes of the tips of the stoppers 11A to 11D are arcuate. The cross shape is configured by orthogonally intersecting two straight lines that are parallel to the swinging direction of the operation member 1 when the operation positions 12A to 12D are pressed.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the operation position 12C is pressed, the swinging direction of the operation member 1 in plan view is parallel to the linear portions L1C and L1D at the tips of the stoppers 11C and 11D. For this reason, the stoppers 11C and 11D rotate smoothly on the surface of the base 3 along the arcuate bottom surfaces of the straight portions L1C and L1D, and the operation member 1 can be operated smoothly. Whichever of the operation positions 12A to 12D is operated, the same applies to the two stoppers sandwiching the pressed operation position among the stoppers 11A to 11D.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, when the position between the operation position 12C and the operation position 12D is erroneously pressed, the swinging direction of the operation member 1 in plan view is linear with the straight portion L1C at the tip of the stopper 11C. It passes the middle of L2C. For this reason, the corners of the bottom surfaces of the straight portions L1C and L2C in the stopper 11C come into contact with the surface of the base 3, and the rotation of the stopper 11C on the surface of the base 3 is restricted, resulting in an erroneous operation of the operation member 1. The malfunction of the switches 4B and 4C is surely prevented. The same applies to any one of the operation positions 12A to 12D that is disposed between two adjacent operation positions, which is located below the pressed position of the stoppers 11A to 11D.

  The key switch of the present invention can be generally applied not only to an image forming apparatus but also to an apparatus having an operation unit.

  Further, the number of switches operated by the single operation member 1 is not limited to four, and even when three or less or five or more switches 4 are operated as shown in FIGS. 6 (A) and (B). The present invention can be similarly applied by arranging the stopper 11 at the center between the arrangement positions of the switches 4.

  Further, the plurality of switches are not necessarily arranged on the circumference centered on the central portion of the operation member 1, and are located at a position different from the swing fulcrum of the operation member 1 within a range that can be pressed by the operation member 1. Can be arranged. In this case, the stopper is disposed between two adjacent switches and at a position where the distance from the swing fulcrum of the operation member 1 is shorter than the two adjacent switches.

  The above-mentioned various key switches are operated when a portion of the operation member facing the middle of two adjacent switches is pressed by causing the stopper that defines the swing amount of the operation member to protrude from an appropriate position on the back surface of the operation member. Therefore, it can be understood that the key switch can prevent the two adjacent switches from being operated together and reliably prevent malfunction. Further, the various key switches described above can be grasped as follows.

  The key switch includes a panel, a base, an operation member, and a plurality of switches. The panel has an opening. The base is disposed below the panel in parallel with the panel. The operation member is disposed to be swingable around a predetermined fulcrum position in plan view in the opening, and has operation positions at a plurality of positions different from the fulcrum positions on the surface. The plurality of switches are arranged at positions facing each of the plurality of operation positions on the surface of the base. The operation member has a tip at a position shorter than the two operation positions adjacent to each other at the center between two adjacent operation positions and the distance from the fulcrum position among positions corresponding to a plurality of operation positions on the back surface. A stopper having a first interval is projected from the surface of the base.

  The operation member may be a plurality of operation positions arranged on a circumference centered on the fulcrum position. In this case, the stopper is located at the center between each of the two adjacent operation positions among the positions corresponding to the plurality of operation positions on the back surface of the operation member, and at a position inside the circumference connecting the two adjacent operation positions. Make it protrude.

  When one of the operation positions on the surface of the operation member is pressed, the operation member supported so as to be swingable swings with the operation position pressed down. When the amount of downward movement of the stopper reaches the first interval, the tip of the stopper located on both sides of the operation position comes into contact with the surface of the base, but the stopper is not on the line connecting the central portion of the operation member and the operation position. Therefore, the operation member continues to swing after this. The switch disposed below the operation position operates reliably by the back surface of the operation position coming into contact with the opposite switch.

  When a position between two adjacent operation positions on the surface of the operating member is pressed, the tip of a single stopper protruding from the back side of the pressed position comes into contact with the surface of the base, and the operating member swings downward. As a result, no switch is operated.

  In this configuration, the operation member is a protrusion that protrudes from each of the side surfaces opposite to the stopper across the center position in a plan view from the normal direction of the front surface, and is between the back surface of the panel. It is preferable to provide protrusions having a gap. In this case, the first interval and the second interval are set so that the protrusion contacts the back surface of the panel after the stopper contacts the surface of the base when the operation member swings. When the operation position of the operation member is pressed, after the tip of the stopper located on both sides of the operation position comes into contact with the surface of the base, the operation member swings with the tip of the stopper as a fulcrum, and the stopper on the back surface of the operation member The part inside is moved away from the surface of the base. For this reason, when any one of the plurality of switches is pressed, it is possible to prevent other switches arranged inside the operation member from being operated than the stopper in the cross section including the swinging direction of the operation member.

  Further, it is preferable that the protrusion also serves as one end portion of a hinge for floatingly supporting the operation member. By using a part of the hinge for floatingly supporting the operation member as the protrusion, the configuration can be simplified.

  Further, it is preferable that the stopper is formed with a spherical tip at the abutting surface of the base. The operating member can be smoothly swung using the tip of the stopper as a fulcrum.

  In addition, it is preferable that the stopper has a cross-shaped tip in plan view. When the space between two adjacent operation positions on the surface of the operation member is pressed, the swing of the operation member can be reliably restricted by the tip of the stopper coming into contact with the surface of the base.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation member 2 Operation panel 3 Base 4A-4D Switch 5A-5D Hinge 10 Key switch 11A-11D Stopper 12A-12D Operation position 21 Opening part 52A-52D End part (protrusion) of hinge
100 Image forming apparatus 200 Operation unit H1 First interval H2 Second interval

Claims (6)

A panel having an opening;
A base placed opposite to the panel;
An operation member that is supported in a floating manner in the opening so as to be swingable, and that has a central portion and a plurality of operation positions provided on the surface around the central portion.
A plurality of switches respectively disposed at positions facing the plurality of operation positions on the surface of the base;
With
The operating member is
A plurality of stoppers provided on the back surface around the central portion, and arranged respectively at positions between the plurality of operation positions in a plan view;
A plurality of protrusions protruding from respective positions opposite to the plurality of operation positions across the central portion in the plan view,
Further comprising
A key switch in which, when each operation position is pressed, the operation member swings with a contact position between the projection and the panel positioned on the opposite side of the operation position as a fulcrum. When any one of the plurality of operation positions is pressed, at least until the switch corresponding to the operation position is pressed by swinging the operation member, any of the plurality of stoppers is Without contacting the base,
When a position between two operation positions adjacent to each other among the plurality of operation positions is pressed, before the two switches corresponding to the two operation positions are pressed by swinging the operation member, The key switch according to claim 1, wherein the stopper located between them abuts on the base.   The key switch according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of stoppers has a first interval between a tip and the base.   About the distance in the direction from the protrusion toward the operation position on the opposite side, the distance to the two stoppers provided on both sides of the operation position is shorter than the distance to the operation position. The key switch according to claim 1.   Regarding the distance from the straight line connecting the two projections located on the opposite sides of the two adjacent operation positions among the plurality of operation positions, the two operation positions are more than the distance to the two operation positions. The key switch according to claim 1, wherein a distance to the stopper located between the two is longer.   6. The key switch according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions also serves as one end portion of a hinge that floats and supports the operation member.

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