JP2019002885A - Pointer for meter and indicating instrument therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a pointer for a meter that leak light from the backside of the pointer is prevented and can emit light in smooth line, and whose design is sharp and stylish.SOLUTION: A pointer body (61) is comprised of a needle-like transparent material (83) and a coating membrane (85) coating circumference of the needle-like transparent material (83). The coating membrane (85) is comprised of a semi-permeation pigmented layer (87) with light permeability and color having light reflection, and a top coat layer (89) provided outside of the semi-permeation pigmented layer (87) and having light blocking effect. A light emission hole (91) emitting light guided in the needle-like transparent material (83) outside is formed on the surface of the coating membrane (85) to depth penetrating the top coat layer (89) and making a concave part (93) on the semi-permeation pigmented layer (87).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a pointer for an instrument mounted on various vehicles such as a vehicle, a ship, and an aircraft, and an indicating instrument including the same.

  Conventionally, in an indicator instrument mounted on a vehicle or the like, a scale, etc. is illuminated by illuminating a display panel provided with scales, numbers, and letters from the back side in order to improve the recognition of the indicated position at night or in the dark. In general, the pointer itself for instructing the scale and the like is also caused to emit light. As this type of instrument pointer, a pointer composed of a pointer main body made of a transparent resin material having a high light transmittance and a cover member mounted over the entire pointer main body is known.

  In the instrument pointer having such a configuration, the indicator portion extending from the base serving as the center of rotation toward the tip of the pointer main body has an inverted trapezoidal cross section and is formed so that the upper side is longer than the lower side. Yes. The cover member includes a first cover portion that covers the surface and side surfaces of the base portion of the pointer main body, and a second cover portion that covers the instruction portion from both side edges of the surface to each side surface. Then, the pointer emits light by guiding the light received by the pointer main body on the back surface of the base portion toward the tip and emitting it from a linear slit formed on the surface of the second cover portion. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Further, as an instrument pointer, there is known a pointer composed of a pointer main body in which a light shielding portion is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface, and a cap attached to a base portion serving as a rotation center of the pointer main body. In such a pointer, the pointer main body is a non-light-transmitting material such as a needle-shaped light guide made of a transparent resin material having a high light transmittance, and a metal reflection film as a light-shielding portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped light guide. It consists of a sex membrane. The surface portion of the non-light-transmitting film is provided with a slit-like light emission hole that emits light guided in the needle-shaped light guide to the outside. This light emission hole is formed to a depth reaching the surface of the pointer light guide by partially removing the non-translucent film with a laser (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2017-049176 A JP 2013-029314 A

  In the former pointer described above, that is, a pointer having a configuration in which a cover member is attached to the entire pointer main body, the weight of the pointer becomes heavy as the cover member covers the instruction portion in addition to the base portion of the pointer main body. In addition, the balance in the longitudinal direction of the pointer is poor, and the width of the pointing portion becomes thick, so that it is difficult to realize a sharp and smart design pointer. Furthermore, in the said pointer | guide, since the back side of the 2nd cover part which covers an instruction | indication part is open | released, light leakage will arise from the back side of a cover member.

  In addition, the latter needle described above, that is, a pointer having a structure in which a light shielding portion is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the pointer main body, can solve the above-mentioned problem caused by the former pointer, but the transparent needle-shaped light guide is a laser beam. Since it does not absorb energy, it is difficult to remove the non-translucent film at a depth that reaches the surface of the pointer light guide with a laser. Even if the light emission hole can be formed by laser output adjustment or multiple laser treatments, the edge of the light emission hole cannot be finished cleanly, and it is difficult to obtain a smooth line emission. , Tact time will be longer. Moreover, when the laser reaches the surface of the needle-shaped light guide during the formation of the light emission hole, the laser penetrating the surface portion of the non-translucent film is irradiated to the back surface portion of the film through the needle-shaped light guide. For this reason, the non-translucent film is removed even at the back surface portion, and as a result, light leakage from the back side of the pointer is caused.

  The technology of the present disclosure has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a sharp and smart design instrument that emits light with a smooth line without light leakage from the back side of the pointer. Is to realize the guidelines.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the technique of the present disclosure, as a configuration of the pointer main body, a configuration in which a coating film having a light-shielding property is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped light guide is adopted and released. The structure of the coating film was devised so that the formation of the light holes by laser was easy.

  Specifically, the technology of the present disclosure includes a pointer main body that indicates an index provided on the display board, and a holder that holds one end of the pointer main body and is rotatably supported on the display board. The indicator main body guides the light received on the back surface of the base, which is the center of rotation, toward the tip, and emits light when emitted from the surface to the outside. .

  In the instrument pointer according to the technique of the present disclosure, the pointer main body includes a transparent needle-shaped light guide and a coating film that covers the outer periphery of the needle-shaped light guide. The coating film includes a colored translucent colored layer having light transmissivity and light reflectivity, and a light-shielding covering layer provided outside the transflective colored layer. And, on the surface portion of the coating film, a light emitting hole for emitting the light guided through the acicular light guide body to the outside is formed at a depth that penetrates the outer cover layer and forms a recess in the semi-transmissive colored layer Has been.

  According to this configuration, as the configuration of the pointer main body, the light-shielding coating film covers the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped light guide, and the light passing through the needle-shaped light guide from the light emitting hole formed in the coating film. Since the configuration in which the guide is taken out is employed, the pointer can be reduced in size, diameter, and weight compared to a conventional pointer in which a cover member is attached to the entire pointer main body. Moreover, since the light guided through the needle-shaped light guide can only be emitted from the light emission hole, light leakage from portions other than the part where the light emission hole is formed in the pointer body is prevented. Can do.

  Furthermore, as a configuration of the coating film, a configuration in which a translucent colored layer that absorbs light energy more easily than a transparent needle-shaped light guide is provided between the light-shielding outer layer and the needle-shaped light guide. Therefore, the outer cover layer and the surface portion of the transflective colored layer can be suitably removed with a laser. Thereby, since the light emission hole is formed at a depth that forms a recess in the transflective colored layer, the edge of the light emission hole can be finished beautifully, and a smooth line of light emission can be obtained. As described above, it is possible to realize an instrument guide with a sharp and smart design.

  In such an instrument guideline, the transflective colored layer is colored, so that the color tone of the light emitting part is expressed in color and the inside of the needle-shaped light guide is concealed so as not to be seen. The color of the transflective colored layer is preferably a light color, particularly white. The “light color” here means a color corresponding to a lightness of 6 to 10 in the Munsell color system.

  According to this configuration, since the color of the semi-transparent colored layer is a light color (preferably white), the light passing through the needle-shaped light guide is well reflected at the interface with the semi-transparent colored layer, and the tip side The pointer main body can emit light as uniformly as possible over the entire length of the light emission hole.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the semi-transparent colored layer also serves as a primer layer that improves the adhesion between the layer provided on the outer side of the semi-transparent colored layer and the needle-shaped light guide in the coating film.

  According to this configuration, since the semi-transparent colored layer is provided with a function as a primer layer for improving adhesion, it is easy to peel off the layer provided outside the semi-transparent colored layer from the needle-shaped light guide. Can be prevented with a simple configuration. As a result, it is possible to increase the production efficiency by omitting the labor of forming the primer layer separately from the semi-transparent colored layer, and to realize the indicator for the instrument which prevents the occurrence of product defects and does not leak light for a long time. it can.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the metallic luster layer which consists of a metal material is provided between the semi-transparent colored layer and the jacket layer.

  According to this configuration, since the metallic gloss layer is provided on the inner side of the jacket layer, it is possible to express a metallic luster on the jacket layer by the action of light transmitted through the jacket layer reflected by the metal gloss layer. It is possible to give a high-class feeling to the instrument pointer.

  The holder may include a cap attached to the base of the pointer main body and a pedestal member that partially closes the back surface opening on the back side of the cap and supports the cap and the pointer main body. In this case, a slit is formed at a location from the surface portion of the cap to the front side of the peripheral wall portion. An instruction portion extending from the base portion to the distal end side of the pointer main body is inserted through a side opening formed in the peripheral wall portion of the cap in the slit. The surface of the base portion of the pointer main body protrudes to the front side from the surface of the cap through a surface opening formed in the surface portion of the cap among the slits. And it is preferable that the light emission hole is formed in the surface from an instruction | indication part to a base part among pointer bodies.

  According to this configuration, since the surface of the base portion of the pointer main body protrudes from the surface opening of the slit formed in the cap to the front side, and the light emitting hole is also formed in the protruding surface portion, the cap is attached to the pointer main body. The attached portion can emit light, and an indicator for an instrument excellent in design with a relatively long light emission line can be realized.

  In addition, the needle-shaped light guide has a reflection surface portion that reflects light that has entered the inside from the back surface of the base portion toward the tip side at the rear side of the base portion, and a portion corresponding to the reflection surface portion from the surface portion of the base portion is directed backward. And an extending piece extending in the direction. In this case, a reinforcing rib that transmits light to the rear side of the extension piece is provided between the reflective surface portion and the extension piece of the needle-shaped light guide, and the light emission hole extends from the base portion to the tip side of the pointer main body. It is preferable to be formed on the surface extending over the portion corresponding to the reinforcing rib of the extension piece and the extension piece.

  According to this configuration, the needle-shaped light guide is provided with the extension piece extending rearward at a portion corresponding to the reflection surface portion, and the reinforcement rib positioned between the reflection surface portion and the extension piece, and extends through the reinforcement rib. Since the light is transmitted to the rear side of the piece, the portion of the extension piece where the light emission hole is formed at the portion corresponding to the reflection surface portion can also emit light well and extend as far as possible to the extension piece. A long light emitting line can be formed.

  The indicating instrument according to the technique of the present disclosure includes the above-described instrument pointer, a display panel provided with an index, a light source that emits light for causing the pointer body to emit light, and the instrument pointer on the surface of the display panel. And a driving device to be driven.

  According to this configuration, the above-mentioned instrument pointer has an excellent characteristic that there is no light leakage from the back side of the pointer, and it is possible to realize a sharp and smart design pointer that can emit light with a smooth line. Indication indicator with high luminous intensity of the pointer and good visibility of the indicated position is realized without the occurrence of halation caused by light leaking from the pointer illuminating the display board or spot shining in a dot shape at the tip of the pointer can do.

  According to the instrument pointer having the above-described configuration, it is possible to realize a sharp and smart instrument pointer that prevents light leakage from the back side of the pointer and emits light with a smooth line. And, according to the indicating instrument equipped with the pointer for the instrument, the light emission brightness of the pointer does not occur, such as halation caused by light leaking from the pointer illuminating the display board or a spot shining in a point shape at the tip of the pointer. Therefore, it is possible to realize an indicating instrument that is high and has good visibility of the indicated position.

It is a front view which shows the indicator instrument for vehicles which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the indicating instrument in the II-II line | wire of FIG. It is a perspective view of the pointer for instruments which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the pointer for instruments in the IV-IV line of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the pointer for instruments which concerns on embodiment. It is a bottom view of the state which removed the base member of the pointer for instruments which concerns on embodiment. It is a front view which shows the base member of the pointer for instruments which concerns on embodiment. It is process drawing which shows a mode that a balance weight is inserted in a cap in the assembly operation | work of the pointer for instruments which concerns on embodiment. It is process drawing which shows a mode at the time of assembling | attaching a pointer main body to a cap in the assembly operation | work of the pointer for instruments which concerns on embodiment. It is process drawing which shows a mode at the time of assembling | attaching a pointer main body to a cap in the assembly operation | work of the pointer for instruments which concerns on embodiment. It is process drawing which shows a mode at the time of attaching a base member to the cap with which the pointer main body was mounted | worn in the assembly operation | work of the pointer for instruments which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 of an instrument pointer according to a modified example.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, for convenience of explanation, the front end side in the longitudinal direction of the instrument pointer is referred to as “front”, the rear side is referred to as “rear”, and the indicator instrument is viewed from the front, that is, a viewer (driver). However, when the indicator is viewed from the front and the indicated value is confirmed, the front side is referred to as “front” and the back side is referred to as “back”.

  In this embodiment, the technique of the present disclosure will be described by taking an indicator instrument installed in front of the driver's seat of the instrument panel as an example of a combination meter that displays various types of vehicle information.

− Composition of indicating instrument −
FIG. 1 shows a front view of the indicating instrument 1. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the indicating instrument 1 taken along the line II-II in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the indicating instrument 1 includes a speedometer 3 that displays a traveling speed, a tachometer 5 that displays an engine speed, and a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) displays that display other information. Specifically, a large display 7 for displaying the remaining amount of fuel, engine water temperature, travelable distance, charging system (battery), engine error information, and the like, and a small display 8 for displaying gear position, etc. A small display 9 for displaying the total travel distance and the like, and lamps (not shown) for displaying various errors and warnings are provided.

  The speedometer 3 is disposed at the center of the indicating instrument 1. The tachometer 5 is disposed on the left side of the speedometer 3. Each of the speedometer 3 and the tachometer 5 is an analog type (pointer type) device using a measuring needle 11. The displays 7, 8, and 9 are each composed of a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. The display 7 is disposed on the right side of the speedometer 3. The display 8 is arranged in the lower part of the speedometer 3, and the display 9 is arranged in the lower part of the tachometer 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the indicator 1 mainly has two indicators 11 for the speedometer 3 and the tachometer 5, and an index 17 including a scale 13 and a character 15 indicated by the indicator 11. A display board 19 provided on the display board 19, an illumination light source 21 disposed on the back side of the display board 19, a driving device 23 for rotating the pointer 11 on the surface of the display board 19, and the light source 21 and the driving device 23. A printed circuit board 25 for controlling the operation and a casing 27 for housing them are provided.

  The pointer 11 is formed of a resin material and has an elongated needle shape, and indicates a predetermined index according to a measurement value measured using a sensor mounted on an automobile. The pointer 11 includes a rotation base 29 that is circular in front view as a center of rotation, an instruction portion 31 that extends from the rotation base 29 toward the tip, and a tail portion 33 that protrudes rearward from the rotation base 29. The design is such that light is emitted in a region where the substantially entire length from the rotation base 29 to the instruction unit 31 is trimmed. The configuration of the pointer 11 will be described in detail later.

  The display panel 19 includes a speedometer area 35 located in the center, a tachometer area 37 located on the left side, and a display arrangement area 39 located on the right side, each set in a circular shape. The speedometer area 35 has an index 17 (scale 13 and number 15) indicating the vehicle speed, and the tachometer area 37 has an index 17 (scale 13 and number 15) indicating the rotational axis of the corresponding pointer 11. It is arranged in an arc shape so that the value increases clockwise as the center.

  Furthermore, below the speedometer area 35 and the tachometer area 37, a display window 41 is formed in a rectangular shape having a size corresponding to the screens of the displays 8 and 9, respectively. A display window 43 is formed in the center of the display arrangement area 39 in a rectangular shape having a size corresponding to the screen of the display 7. These display windows 41 and 43 are openings for allowing the corresponding displays 7, 8 and 9 to be viewed from the front side.

  The display panel 19 is composed of a light-transmitting plate material 45 and a light-shielding printing layer 47 formed on the surface of the plate material 45 and has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the indicating instrument 1. . The plate material 45 is formed by injection molding or the like, and is made of, for example, an acrylic resin or a polycarbonate resin. The printing layer 47 is formed by molding with a resin material, printing with an ink material, or application of a sheet material made of a resin material.

  The plate material 45 and the print layer 47 have a color scheme that gives contrast to each other. Specifically, the plate material 45 is colored in a high brightness color such as white, and the printing layer 47 is colored in a low brightness color such as gray or black. The index 17 is formed by cutting the printed layer 47 into a shape that represents the scale 13 and the numeral 15. That is, the printed layer 47 is not provided on the portion of the display panel 19 where the index 17 is formed. Thus, the indicator 17 transmits light emitted from the back side of the display panel 19 to the front side.

  The light source 21 includes a display panel light source 49 used to illuminate the display panel 19 and a pointer light source 51 used to illuminate the pointer 11. The light sources 49 and 51 for the display board and the pointer are configured by chip-type LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and are mounted on the front side of the printed circuit board 25.

  A plurality of light sources 49 for the display panel are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference of the large diameter along the outer circumferences of the speedometer region 35 and the tachometer region 37, and light is emitted from the back side to the place where the index 17 of the display panel 19 is formed. It comes to irradiate. A plurality of pointer light sources 51 are arranged at equal intervals on a small-diameter circumference around the rotation axis of the pointer 11 so as to irradiate the pointer 11 with light through a through hole 52 formed in the display panel 19. It has become.

  The drive device 23 is configured by a combination of a stepping motor and a reduction gear mechanism, and is mounted on the back side of the printed circuit board 25. The driving device 23 includes a rotating shaft 53 that is rotationally driven under the control of a control circuit 57 (described later) provided on the printed circuit board 25. The rotating shaft 53 is inserted into a through hole 55 formed in the printed circuit board 25 and extends to the front side, and is connected to the rotating base 29 of the pointer 11. The drive device 23 is configured to rotate the pointer 11 to a predetermined position by rotationally driving the rotary shaft 53.

  The printed circuit board 25 has a configuration in which various wirings are printed on an insulating base material and various electronic components are mounted in addition to the light sources 49 and 51 and the driving device 23. Various electronic components include a control circuit 57 formed of a microcomputer. The control circuit 57 acquires vehicle information such as vehicle speed, engine speed, and ON / OFF of an ignition switch by an automobile ECU (Engine Control Unit), and turns on and off the light sources 49 and 51 based on the acquired information. Or the driving device 23 is operated to rotate the pointer 11.

− Composition of guidelines −
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the pointer 11. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pointer 11 taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the pointer 11. FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the pointer 11 with the pedestal member 99 removed. FIG. 7 shows a front view of the base member 99 of the pointer 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the pointer 11 holds the pointer main body 61 that indicates the indicator 17 of the display panel 19, and the rear end side (one end side) of the pointer main body 61 and can rotate on the display panel 19. And a holder 63 supported by the holder. The pointer main body 61 is configured to guide the light received on the back surface of the base portion 65 constituting the rotation base portion 29 of the pointer 11 toward the tip side, and to emit light by emitting the light from the front surface to the outside. ing.

  Specifically, the pointer main body 61 includes the base portion 65, an instruction portion 31 that extends from the base portion 65 toward the tip, and an extension piece 69 that extends rearward from the surface portion 67 of the base portion 65. The base portion 65 of the pointer 11 has a block portion 71 formed in a fan shape that spreads rearward in a front view. The surface portion 67 of the base portion 65 protrudes from the block portion 71 to the front side, and is formed in a band plate shape that is continuous with the surface portion of the pointing portion 31.

  On both side surfaces of the block portion 71, a pair of positioning projections 72 for positioning the holder 63 are provided with a gap in the front-rear direction. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a light receiving portion 73 that receives light emitted from the back side is provided on the rear side portion of the back surface of the block portion 71. The light receiving portion 73 protrudes on the back side as compared with other portions on the back surface of the block portion 71.

  Further, the block portion 71 is provided with a reflection surface portion 75 that reflects the light received by the light receiving portion 73 toward the tip side. The reflection surface portions 75 extend from the flat surface portions 77 provided on both sides in the width direction of the surface portion 67 toward the rear side and are formed in a shape corresponding to the fan-shaped outer peripheral portion of the block portion 71. The reflection surface portion 75 has an inner surface 79 that faces the back surface of the instruction portion 31, and the inner surface 79 reflects light that has entered from the light receiving portion 73 to the instruction portion 31.

  A triangular reinforcing rib 81 is provided between the reflecting surface portion 75 and the extension piece 69 in the base portion 65 of the pointer main body 61 in a side view. The reinforcing rib 81 reinforces the rigidity of the base of the extension piece 69, connects the outer surface of the reflection surface portion 75 and the back surface of the extension piece 69, and transmits light that has entered the base portion 65 to the rear side of the extension piece 69. Also plays a role.

  A light emitting unit 82 that emits the light reflected by the reflecting surface unit 75 to the outside is provided on the surface of the pointing unit 31 of the pointer main body 61. The indication portion 31 is formed in a trapezoidal cross section together with the surface portion 67 of the base portion 65, and has a tapered shape in which the width is slightly narrowed from the surface portion 67 of the base portion 65 toward the tip and the height is gradually reduced. Has been. As a result, the light reflected by the reflecting surface portion 75 is more guided to the light emitting portion 82 as it goes toward the tip of the indicating portion 31, and the light emitting portion 82 emits light with uniform brightness up to the tip side. It has become.

  The light emitting portion 82 is also provided on a portion of the extension piece 69 corresponding to the reinforcing rib 81 from the surface portion 67 of the base portion 65 of the pointer main body 61. That is, the light emitting portion 82 is formed on the surface of the pointer main body 61 from the indication portion 31 to the base portion 65, and further on the surface corresponding to the reinforcing rib 81 of the extension piece 69. And it extends linearly over substantially the entire length excluding the rear side portion of the extension piece 69.

  The light that has entered the base portion 65 of the pointer main body 61 from the light receiving portion 73 is reflected toward the indication portion 31 by the inner surface 79 of the reflection surface portion 75, but part of the reflected light is directed to the front side on the back surface of the base portion 65 or the like. After being reflected, light is transmitted to the rear side of the extension piece 69 through the reinforcing rib 81 provided between the reflection surface portion 75 and the extension piece 69, so that the light emitting portion 82 is attached to the holder 63 (cap 95 described later). Light is emitted also at the portion corresponding to the reflective surface portion 75 of the extension piece 69, and a relatively long light emission line is exhibited.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the pointer main body 61 having the above structure includes a transparent needle-shaped light guide 83 serving as a base and a coating film 85 covering the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped light guide 83. Has been. The coating film 85 includes a light-transmitting and light-reflective colored semi-transparent colored layer 87, and a top coat layer as a light-shielding covering layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the semi-transparent colored layer 87. 89.

  The needle-shaped light guide 83 is formed by injection molding or the like, and is made of polymethyl methacrylate resin (PMMA) having a relatively high transparency. The transflective colored layer 87 and the top coat layer 89 are formed by using a known coating method such as spray coating, electrostatic coating, brush coating, or dip coating. Thus, the coating film 85 does not include a layer formed by a method involving excessive heating such as hot stamp printing.

  The transflective colored layer 87 is made of a material such as a thermosetting paint or an ultraviolet curable paint, for example. The transflective colored layer 87 also serves as a primer layer that improves the adhesion between the top coat layer 89 and the needle-shaped light guide 83, and prevents the top coat layer 89 from peeling off.

  The transflective colored layer 87 is given a bright color. The “light color” here means a color corresponding to a lightness of 6 to 10 in the Munsell color system. In this embodiment, the color of the transflective colored layer 87 is white. Thereby, the color tone of the light emitting unit 82 is expressed in white, and the inside of the needle-shaped light guide 83 is not seen through. The light passing through the needle-shaped light guide 83 is reflected well at the interface with the semi-transmissive colored layer 87 and guided to the tip.

  On the other hand, the topcoat layer 89 is made of a material such as a thermosetting paint or an ultraviolet curable paint, for example. The top coat layer 89 has a dark color. The “dark color” here means a color corresponding to lightness of 0 to 5 in the Munsell color system. In this embodiment, the color of the top coat layer 89 is gray or black.

  The light receiving portion 73 of the pointer main body 61 is formed by removing the coating film 85. That is, in the light receiving portion 73 of the pointer main body 61, the coating film 85 is not provided, and the needle-shaped light guide 83 is exposed. In addition, a light emitting hole 91 that emits light guided through the needle light guide 83 to the outside is provided in the surface portion of the coating film 85.

  The light emission hole 91 is formed over substantially the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the surface portion of the pointer main body 61 by laser processing (laser trimming), and the outer periphery is surrounded by the coating film 85 portion left on the surface of the pointer main body 61. It is a single slit. The light emission hole 91 is formed to a depth that penetrates the top coat layer 89 and forms a recess 93 in the transflective colored layer 87. The light emitting portion 82 is configured by a portion of the pointer main body 61 in which the light emission hole 91 is formed.

  The holder 63 includes a cap 95 attached to the base portion 65 of the pointer main body 61, and a base member 99 that partially closes the back surface opening 97 on the back side of the cap 95 and supports the cap 95 and the pointer main body 61.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the cap 95 forms the rotating base 29 of the pointer 11 together with the base 65 of the pointer main body 61, and forms the outer shape (circular in front view) of the rotating base 29. Yes. The cap 95 accommodates the block portion 71 of the pointer main body 61 inside and exposes the surface portion 67 of the base portion 65 to the outside.

  Specifically, a slit 101 connected to the back surface opening 97 is formed at a location from the front surface portion of the cap 95 to the front side of the peripheral wall portion. The slit 101 includes a surface opening 103 formed in the surface portion of the cap 95 and a side opening 105 formed in the peripheral wall portion of the cap 95. The indication portion 31 of the pointer main body 61 is inserted through the side opening 105 of the slit 101 and extends outward from the cap 95. Further, the surface portion 67 of the base portion 65 of the pointer main body 61 protrudes to the front side from the surface of the cap 95 through the surface opening 103 of the slit 101.

  A positioning pin 107 extending in the height direction along the inner peripheral surface of the cap 95 is provided inside the cap 95. The positioning pins 107 are arranged in pairs on both sides of the surface opening 103 of the slit 101 with a gap in the direction along the inner peripheral surface of the cap 95, and face the positioning protrusions 72 in the width direction of the pointer 11. Further, a pair of positioning pieces 109 protruding inward (rearward) of the cap 95 are provided at both edge portions of the side opening 105 of the cap 95.

  A weight accommodating portion 111 protruding rearward is provided in a rear portion of the peripheral wall portion of the cap 95. The weight accommodating part 111 has the entrance 113 opened to the front side. The weight accommodating portion 111 accommodates the balance weight 115 inserted from the inlet 113. The balance weight 115 is made of a resin or metal plate, and adjusts the position of the center of gravity of the pointer 11 to or near the rotation axis.

  The inlet 113 of the weight accommodating portion 111 is continuous with the surface opening 103 of the slit 101 and is covered with the extension piece 69 of the pointer main body 61. That is, the extension piece 69 of the pointer main body 61 hides the balance weight 115 in the weight accommodating portion 111. The extension piece 69 of the pointer main body 61 and the weight accommodating portion 111 have the same outer shape when viewed from the front, and constitute the tail portion 33 of the pointer 11.

  A positioning hole 117 is formed on the rear side of the bottom surface portion of the weight accommodating portion 111. A positioning projection 119 is provided on the rear portion of the back side of the balance weight 115. The balance weight 115 is positioned in the weight accommodating portion 111 by inserting the positioning convex portion 119 into the positioning hole 117. An inclined surface 121 that follows the outer surface of the reflecting surface portion 75 of the pointer main body 61 is formed in the front portion on the back side of the balance weight 115.

  A portion of the balance weight 115 corresponding to the inclined surface 121 enters between the reflecting surface portion 75 of the pointer main body 61 and the extension piece 69 and overlaps with the reflecting surface portion 75 in the direction along the rotational axis of the pointer main body 61. Yes. According to such an arrangement of the balance weight 115, the tail portion 33 can be shortened by the amount that the balance weight 115 overlaps the reflecting surface portion 75 of the pointer main body 61 even if the instruction portion 31 is formed to be relatively long. Therefore, it is possible to realize the balanced pointer 11 in which the tail portion 33 is not too long as compared with the instruction portion 31.

  In a state where the base member 99 is not attached, the block portion 71 of the pointer main body 61 is rotated in the internal space of the cap 95 in a direction in which the pointing portion 31 is slid and inserted with respect to the side opening 105 of the slit 101. Is possible. When the cap 95 is attached to the pointer main body 61, the pointer main body 61 and the cap 95 protrude from the pointer main body 61 to the front side with the extension piece 69 inserted through the surface opening 103 of the slit 101, and the reflective surface portion 75 is the cap. 95, the pointing portion 31 moves to the front side around the base 65 or the vicinity thereof, and the extension piece 69 moves to the back side and rotates in a backward direction to move to a predetermined direction. The assembly posture is configured to be possible.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the pedestal member 99 includes a base plate portion 123, a rear protruding piece 125 and a front protruding piece 127 as positioning pieces protruding to the front side of the base plate portion 123, and a base plate portion 123. And a supporting tongue 129 provided on the front side of the head.

  The base plate portion 123 has a shape corresponding to a portion of the back surface opening 97 of the cap 95 excluding the light receiving portion 73 of the pointer main body 61. The base plate portion 123 is formed with an open portion 131 that is open to the rear. The light receiving portion 73 of the pointer main body 61 is fitted into the opening portion 131. The light receiving unit 73 is exposed from the holder 63 to the back side through the opening 131.

  A pin hole 133 is formed in the outer peripheral edge portion of the base plate portion 123 so as to open outward. The pin holes 133 are arranged in a pair at intervals in the front-rear direction on both sides in the width direction of the pointer 11. Further, on the both sides of the support tongue 129 in the base plate portion 123, insertion holes 135 opened forward are formed respectively. A boss 136 is provided on the back surface of the base plate portion 123. The rotating shaft 53 of the driving device 23 is inserted and connected to the boss 136.

  The rear protrusion 125 is formed in a small plate shape between the pin holes 133, and is inserted between the pair of positioning pins 107 and between the pair of positioning protrusions 72. And the positioning pin 107 are aligned in the width direction of the pointer 11. The front protrusion 127 is a substantially triangular block piece when viewed from the front, and is inserted between the positioning protrusion 72 and the positioning pin 107 of the pointer main body 61 and the positioning piece 109 so that the positioning piece 109 is indicated by the pointer main body 61. It is sandwiched between the part 31. The pair of front projecting pieces 127 serve to limit the width of the side opening 105 by sandwiching both positioning pieces 109.

  The rear projecting piece 125 and the front projecting piece 127 are respectively provided on both sides of the base plate portion 123 in the width direction of the pointer 11. These rear side protruding pieces 125 and front side protruding pieces 127 are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction. The support tongue 129 has substantially the same width as the opening width of the side opening 105 of the slit 101 and is fitted into the side opening 105 to close the open end on the back side of the side opening 105.

  The pedestal member 99 fits each pin hole 133 to the corresponding positioning pin 107, each fitting hole 135 to the corresponding positioning piece 109, and the support tongue 129 to the side opening 105 of the slit 101, and the opening portion 131. The light receiving portion 73 of the pointer main body 61 is fitted and fixed to the cap 95 by a known method such as vibration welding. This pedestal member 99 holds the pointer main body 61 firmly in the cap 95 by cooperating with the positioning pins 107 and the positioning pieces 109 of the cap 95 and the positioning protrusions 72 of the pointer main body 61.

− Assembling procedure of the pointer −
FIG. 8 shows a state in which the balance weight 115 is inserted into the cap 95 in the assembly work of the pointer 11. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the pointer main body 61 is assembled to the cap 95 in the assembly work of the pointer 11. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the pointer main body 61 is assembled to the cap 95 in the assembly work of the pointer 11. FIG. 11 shows a state in which the base member 99 is attached to the cap 95 attached to the pointer main body 61 in the assembly work of the pointer 11.

  In order to assemble the pointer 11 having the above-described configuration, first, as shown in FIG. 8, the balance weight 115 is inserted into the weight accommodating portion 111 of the cap 95 by being inserted from the inlet 113. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the extension piece 69 of the pointer main body 61 is inserted into the back surface opening 97 of the cap 95 from the back side, or is slid rearwardly from the side surface opening 105 of the slit 101, thereby The surface opening 103 is inserted. At this time, the pointer main body 61 takes an inclined posture in which the extension piece 69 protrudes from the surface opening 103 to the front side and the block portion 71 including the reflection surface portion 75 is located in the cap 95.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10, the pointer main body 61 is rotated backward from the tilted posture of the tip end downward about the base 65 or the vicinity thereof, thereby moving the indicating portion 31 to the front side and extending it. The piece 69 is moved to the back side. When the pointer main body 61 is rotated backward in this way, the indicating portion 31 is inserted into the side opening 105 of the slit 101 from the open end on the back side to the front side, and the back surface of the extension portion 69 eventually becomes the front side of the weight accommodating portion 111. The pointer main body 61 comes into a predetermined assembling posture in which the surface portion 67 of the base portion 65 protrudes to the front side through the surface opening 103 of the slit 101 while being in contact with the end portion and closing the inlet 113.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 11, the base member 99 is inserted into the back surface opening 97 of the cap 101 mounted on the pointer main body 61, and the base member 99 is joined to the cap 95 by a known method such as vibration welding. The pointer 11 can be assembled through the above work steps.

− Effects of the embodiment −
According to the pointer 11 according to this embodiment, as a configuration of the pointer main body 61, the light-shielding hole formed in the coating film 85 with the light-shielding coating film 85 covering the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped light guide 83. Since the configuration in which light passing through the needle-shaped light guide 83 from 91 is extracted to the outside is adopted, the pointer 11 is reduced in size and diameter compared with the conventional pointer in which a cover member is attached to the entire pointer main body. And weight reduction can be achieved. In addition, since the light guided through the needle-shaped light guide 83 can only be emitted to the outside from the light emission hole 91, the portion of the pointer body 61 where the light emission hole 91 is formed, that is, other than the light emitting portion 82. Light leakage from the portion can be prevented.

  Furthermore, as a configuration of the covering film 85, a semi-transparent colored layer 87 that absorbs light energy more easily than the needle-shaped light guide 83 is formed between the top coat layer 89 having a light shielding property and the needle-shaped light guide 83. Therefore, the top coat layer 89 and the surface portion of the transflective colored layer 87 can be suitably removed with a laser. Thereby, since the light emission hole 91 is formed in the depth which makes the recessed part 93 in the transflective colored layer 87, the edge of the light emission hole 91 can be finished beautifully, and light emission of a smooth line can be obtained. it can. As described above, the sharp and smart design guideline 11 can be realized.

  Further, according to the pointer 11 according to this embodiment, the semi-transparent colored layer 87 is provided with a function as a primer layer for improving the adhesiveness, so that the top coat layer 89 is formed from the surface of the pointer 11 with a simple configuration. Peeling can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to increase the production efficiency by omitting the trouble of forming the primer layer separately from the semi-transparent colored layer 87, and to realize the pointer 11 having no light leakage over a long period of time by suppressing the occurrence of product defects. it can.

  And according to the indicating instrument 1 according to this embodiment, the above-mentioned pointer 11 can realize a sharp and smart design pointer that does not leak light from the back side of the pointer 11 and emits light with a smooth line. Therefore, there is no phenomenon such as halation caused by the light leaking from the pointer 11 illuminating the display board 19 or a spot shining in a dot shape at the tip of the pointer 11, and the emission luminance of the pointer 11 is increased. It is possible to realize the indicating instrument 1 that is high and has high visibility of the indicated position.

− Modifications−
FIG. 12 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 4 of the pointer 11 according to this modification.

  In the pointer 11 of the above embodiment, the coating film 85 is composed of the semi-transmissive colored layer 87 and the topcoat layer 89. However, in the pointer 11 of this modification, the coating film 85 is shown in FIG. As described above, in addition to the semi-transparent colored layer 87 and the top coat layer 89, the metallic gloss layer 141 is provided. The metallic gloss layer 141 is interposed between the transflective colored layer 87 and the top coat layer 89. The metallic gloss layer 141 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, titanium, stainless steel (SUS), or chromium, and is formed by a known method such as vapor deposition or sputtering.

  According to the pointer 11 according to this modification, since the metallic gloss layer 141 is provided inside the top coat layer 89, the top coat layer is reflected by the action of the light transmitted through the top coat layer 89 reflected by the metal gloss layer 141. 89 can express metallic luster. For example, when the topcoat layer 89 is gray, the pointer main body 61 can be finished in a gun metallic tone by light reflection by the metallic gloss layer 141. Thereby, a high-class feeling can be given to the pointer 11.

  As described above, a preferred embodiment has been described as an example of the technique disclosed herein. However, the technology disclosed herein is not limited to this, and can also be applied to embodiments in which changes, replacements, additions, omissions, etc. have been made as appropriate. Moreover, it is also possible to combine each component demonstrated by the said embodiment into a new embodiment. In addition, the constituent elements described in the accompanying drawings and the detailed description may include constituent elements that are not essential for solving the problem. For this reason, it should not be immediately recognized that these non-essential components are essential because they are described in the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

  For example, the following embodiment may be configured as follows.

  In the above embodiment, the needle-shaped light guide 83 is made of PMMA. However, the present invention is not limited to this. PMMA is only an example of a preferable material for the needle-shaped light guide 83, and a polycarbonate resin or other acrylic resin may be employed as long as it has transparency. PMMA is advantageous in terms of high transparency, but has relatively low heat resistance. Therefore, PMMA has high heat resistance when the coating film 85 includes a layer formed by a method involving heating such as hot stamp printing. Materials can be adopted as appropriate.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the coating film 85 consisted of the semi-transmissive colored layer 87 and the topcoat layer 89, and the semi-transmissive colored layer 87 assumed that it also served as the primer layer. Moreover, in the said modification, although the coating film 85 was further provided with the metallic luster layer 141, it is not restricted to this. The coating film 85 may include a primer layer that improves the adhesion between adjacent layers separately from the semi-transmissive colored layer 87, or may additionally include other layers.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the color of the transflective colored layer 87 was white, it is not restricted to this. White is merely an example of the color of the semi-transparent colored layer 87, and the semi-transparent colored layer 87 may be colored in other colors such as red and green. It is preferable that This semi-transparent colored layer 87 is a color corresponding to a lightness in the Munsell color system corresponding to 6 to 10 from the viewpoint of suitably guiding light toward the distal end side of the pointer in the needle-shaped light guide 83. Preferably, the color has a lightness corresponding to 8-10.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the light emission hole 91 for forming the light emission part 82 was formed in the slit shape over the substantially whole in the longitudinal direction of the surface part of the pointer main body 61, in this, Not exclusively. The light emitting hole 91 may be divided into two or more in the longitudinal direction of the pointer main body 61, or may be formed only in a specific part such as the instruction unit 31 alone.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the guideline according to the technique of the present disclosure and the indicating instrument including the same have been described by taking the combination meter used in the automobile as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Needless to say, the technique of the present disclosure can also be applied to an instrument pointer mounted on another vehicle such as a ship or an aircraft, and an indicating instrument including the same.

  As described above, the technique of the present disclosure is useful for the indicator needle for an instrument mounted on various vehicles such as a vehicle, a ship, and an aircraft, and an indicating instrument including the same.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Indicator instrument, 3 ... Speedometer, 5 ... Tachometer, 7, 8, 9 ... Display 11 ... Indicator for instruments, 13 ... Scale, 15 ... Character, 17 ... Indicator, 19 ... Display board,
21 ... Light source, 23 ... Driving device, 25 ... Printed circuit board, 27 ... Casing,
29 ... Rotation base, 31 ... Instruction part, 33 ... Tail part, 35 ... Speedometer area,
37 ... tachometer area, 39 ... display arrangement area, 41, 43 ... display window,
45 ... Plate material, 47 ... Print layer, 49 ... Light source for display panel, 51 ... Light source for pointer,
52 ... Through-hole, 53 ... Rotating shaft, 55 ... Through-hole, 57 ... Control circuit, 61 ... Main body of pointer,
63 ... retainer, 65 ... base, 67 ... surface portion, 69 ... extension piece, 71 ... block portion,
72 ... Positioning protrusion, 73 ... Light receiving part, 75 ... Reflecting surface part, 77 ... Flat surface part,
79 ... Inner surface, 81 ... Reinforcing rib, 82 ... Light emitting part, 83 ... Needle-shaped light guide, 85 ... Covering film,
87 ... translucent colored layer, 89 ... topcoat layer, 91 ... light-emitting hole, 93 ... recess,
95 ... Cap, 97 ... Opening on the back surface, 99 ... Base member, 101 ... Slit,
103 ... Surface opening, 105 ... Side opening, 107 ... Positioning pin,
109 ... Positioning piece, 111 ... Weight accommodating part, 113 ... Inlet,
115: Balance weight, 117: Positioning hole, 119: Positioning convex part,
121 ... Inclined surface, 123 ... Base plate part, 125 ... Rear projection piece, 127 ... Front projection piece,
131 ... Open part, 133 ... Pin hole, 135 ... Fitting hole, 136 ... Boss,
141. Metallic luster layer

Claims (8)

A pointer main body for indicating an index provided on the display panel; and a holder that holds one end of the pointer main body and is rotatably supported on the display panel.
The pointer body is an instrument pointer that emits light by guiding the light received on the back surface of the base serving as the center of rotation toward the tip side and emitting it from the surface to the outside,
The pointer body is composed of a transparent needle-shaped light guide and a coating film covering the outer periphery of the needle-shaped light guide,
The coating film includes a colored semi-transparent colored layer having light transmissivity and light reflectivity, and a light-shielding outer coating layer provided outside the semi-transparent colored layer,
The surface portion of the coating film has a depth at which a light-emitting hole that emits light guided through the needle-shaped light guide to the outside penetrates the jacket layer and forms a recess in the semi-transparent colored layer An indicator for an instrument characterized by being formed into. The instrument guideline according to claim 1,
The indicator for an instrument, wherein the color of the translucent colored layer is a light color. In the instrument guideline according to claim 2,
The indicator for an instrument, wherein the color of the transflective colored layer is white. In the instrument guideline according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The translucent colored layer also serves as a primer layer that improves adhesion between the coating film and a layer provided outside the translucent colored layer and the needle-shaped light guide. The instrument guidelines. In the instrument pointer according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An instrument pointer, characterized in that a metallic luster layer made of a metallic material is provided between the translucent colored layer and the jacket layer. In the instrument guideline according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The holder includes a cap attached to the base of the pointer main body, and a base member that partially closes a back surface opening on the back side of the cap and supports the cap and the pointer main body,
A slit is formed in a portion from the surface portion of the cap to the front side of the peripheral wall portion,
In the side opening formed in the peripheral wall portion of the cap of the slit, an instruction portion extending from the base portion to the distal end side of the pointer main body is inserted,
The surface of the base portion of the pointer body protrudes to the front side from the surface of the cap through a surface opening formed in the surface portion of the cap of the slit,
The indicator needle, wherein the light emitting hole is formed on a surface of the pointer main body from the indication portion to the base portion. In the instrument pointer according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The needle-shaped light guide has a reflection surface portion that reflects light that has entered the inside from the back surface of the base portion toward the tip side on the rear side of the base portion, and a portion corresponding to the reflection surface portion from the surface portion of the base portion. An extension piece extending rearward,
Between the reflective surface portion and the extension piece, a reinforcing rib that transmits light to the rear side of the extension piece is provided,
The indicator pointer for an instrument according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting hole is formed on a surface of the pointer main body that extends from an indication portion extending from the base portion to the distal end side and a portion corresponding to the reinforcing rib of the extension piece. The instrument pointer according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The display board;
A light source that emits light for causing the pointer body to emit light;
And a driving device that rotationally drives the instrument pointer on the surface of the display board.

Images