JP2019175822A - Manufacturing method of push button switch - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a push button switch in which a button is strongly engaged with a plunger without increasing the number of components.SOLUTION: An emergency stop push button switch 1 includes: a housing 301 which has a cam groove on an inner wall; a button 101 which has a button side engaging piece 111 and a button side engaging hole 112; and a plunger 201 which has a plunger side engaging piece 203, a plunger side engaging hole 202, and a sliding bar 212 which slides in a vertical direction to the direction of a depressing operation with respect to the button 101. A manufacturing method of the emergency stop push button switch includes: a step for inserting the button side engaging piece 111 into the plunger side engaging hole 202 and inserting the plunger side engaging piece 203 into the button side engaging hole 112; and a step for rotating the plunger 201 with a center shaft of the button 101 as a shaft while sliding an end of the sliding bar 212 as a cam along the shape of the cam groove 304 and engaging the button side engaging piece 111 with the plunger side engaging hole 202.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a pushbutton switch.

Normally, an emergency stop pushbutton switch for avoiding an accident due to a malfunction is provided on a control panel for operating devices and the like. This emergency stop pushbutton switch shuts off the power supply and immediately stops the operation of the device or the like when a pressing operation is performed. The emergency stop pushbutton switch has various restrictions on the shape of the button portion, prevention of return after the pressing operation, and the like from the viewpoint of ensuring safety. For this reason, the shape of the button part of the emergency stop pushbutton switch is mushroom or conical, and the structure of the emergency stop pushbutton switch is not easily restored to the energized state by a latch function using a snap ring or the like. It is common. For example, the applicant has already filed an application for a compact and highly safe emergency stop pushbutton switch corresponding to the progress of miniaturization, weight reduction, and portability of devices and the like (see Patent Document 1).
A conventional emergency stop pushbutton switch including an emergency stop pushbutton switch described in Patent Document 1 includes, for example, a plunger-side engagement piece in an engagement hole formed by a button-side engagement piece as shown in FIG. And the button and the plunger are engaged by hooking the plunger side engaging piece on the button side engaging piece.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-189533 and drawings

Some emergency stop pushbutton switches can be returned by simply pulling the button upward when performing an operation to return the pressed button. For safety reasons, simply pulling the button upward. Some have a structure that cannot be restored. For example, in order to return a pressed button, there is a structure in which the button cannot be lifted upward unless the button is rotated about 45 °.
However, if the emergency stop pushbutton switch has a structure in which the button cannot be lifted upward unless the button is rotated about 45 °, the pressed button is pressed if the engagement force between the button and the plunger is not sufficient. When the rotation operation for returning is performed, the button-side engagement piece and the plunger-side engagement piece are disengaged by the momentum of the rotation operation, the button and the plunger are separated, and the button falls off. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a push button switch in which a button and a plunger are firmly engaged without increasing the number of parts.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for manufacturing a pushbutton switch according to the present invention includes:
A housing having a cam groove on the inner wall;
A button having a button side engagement piece and a button side engagement hole;
A plunger having a plunger-side engagement piece, a plunger-side engagement hole, and a sliding rod that slides in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the pressing operation on the button;
A manufacturing method of a pushbutton switch comprising:
Inserting the button side engagement piece into the plunger side engagement hole, and inserting the plunger side engagement piece into the button side engagement hole;
The button side engagement piece and the plunger side engagement hole are rotated by rotating the plunger about the center axis of the button while sliding the end of the slide rod as a cam along the shape of the cam groove. Engaging.

  According to the present invention, when the end of the sliding rod slides as a cam along the shape of the cam groove provided on the inner wall of the housing, the plunger rotates about the central axis of the button. The plunger side engaging piece can be firmly engaged. As a result, it is possible to provide a push button switch in which the button and the plunger are firmly engaged without increasing the number of parts.

Moreover, it is preferable that the said cam groove becomes deep gradually along the direction of the circumference which slides the edge part of the said sliding rod.
According to the present invention, the end of the sliding rod gradually becomes deeper along the circumferential direction in which the end of the sliding rod is slid, so that the end of the sliding rod is smoothly formed as a cam along the shape of the cam groove provided on the inner wall of the housing. Therefore, the button side engagement piece and the plunger side engagement piece can be more firmly engaged with each other. As a result, it is possible to provide a push button switch in which the button and the plunger are more firmly engaged without increasing the number of parts.

Moreover, it is preferable that the said plunger rotates at an angle exceeding the angle of the rotation operation required for the return operation with respect to the said button, and engages with the said button.
According to this invention, the plunger is rotated at an angle exceeding the angle of the rotational operation required for the return operation for the button, and the button and the plunger are engaged. For this reason, when the rotation operation for returning the pressed button is performed, the button-side engagement piece and the plunger-side engagement piece are caught by the force of the rotation operation, and the button and the plunger are separated. This prevents the buttons from falling off.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a push button switch in which the button and the plunger are more firmly engaged without increasing the number of parts.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the emergency stop pushbutton switch which is one Embodiment of the pushbutton switch of this invention. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a housing, a latch coil spring, a sliding rod, and a torsion coil spring among the emergency stop pushbutton switches of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of a button among the emergency stop pushbutton switches of FIG. It is a figure which shows the mechanism in which a button and a plunger engage among the emergency stop pushbutton switches of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state before the button and the plunger are engaged in the emergency stop pushbutton switch of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state after the button and the plunger are engaged in the emergency stop pushbutton switch of FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the flow until a button and a plunger are engaged. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the conventional emergency stop pushbutton switch.

  An emergency stop pushbutton switch 1 according to an embodiment of the pushbutton switch of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

[Basic configuration]
The emergency stop pushbutton switch 1 is a switch used to make an emergency stop by shutting off a device or the like that is in an energized state, and as shown in FIG. 1, an operation unit 11, a torsion coil spring 12, and a plunger unit 13. And a housing part 14, a contact unit part 15, and a fixed part 16.

Hereinafter, each component of the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1 will be described in detail.
(Operation section)
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the operation unit 11 includes a button 101 and a button coil spring 102.

As shown in FIG. 1, the button 101 is a cylindrical button arranged at the top of the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1, and includes a button side engagement piece 111 and a button side engagement hole 112.
When a pressing operation is performed on the button 101, a movable contact piece 502 and a fixed terminal 503 of the contact unit unit 15 described later are released in conjunction with the pressing operation. By this separation, the devices and the like that have been energized are cut off.
The shape of the button 101 is not particularly limited, but the operator who presses the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1 in an emergency can easily recognize that the switch is an emergency stop device and can be easily pressed with a palm. For example, a mushroom shape is more desirable.
The details of the button side engagement piece 111 and the button side engagement hole 112 will be described later with reference to FIG.

The button coil spring 102 is a coil spring disposed between the button 101 and the plunger 201 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6.
Since the button coil spring 102 slightly absorbs the force applied when the button 101 is pressed, the button 101 can have some play. As a result, it is possible to prevent a device or the like from being shut down due to an erroneous operation on the button 101.
Although a specific method for engaging the button 101 and the plunger 201 will be described later, the button coil spring 102 is elastically deformed after the button 101 and the plunger 201 are engaged, thereby causing the button-side engagement piece 111 to be engaged. And the plunger side engaging piece 203 are pressed against each other. Thereby, the latching force between the button side engaging piece 111 and the plunger side engaging piece 203 can be heightened.

(Torsion coil spring)
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, the torsion coil spring 12 is a coil spring disposed inside the button 101, and one end is engaged with an inner wall of a housing 301 described later, and the other end is engaged. The button 101 is engaged with the inner wall.
After the button 101 is pressed, when the button 101 is rotated to return the button 101, the torsion coil spring 12 is elastically deformed to press the button 101 in the pressed state. Return to the state before the operation. When the button 101 returns to the state before the pressing operation by this rotation operation, the state returns to a state (a state before the pressing operation) in which the movable contact piece 502 and the fixed terminal 503, which will be described later, are in the separated state. In addition, although the rotation angle of the rotation operation with respect to the button 101 is not particularly limited, in the case of a general emergency stop pushbutton switch, the return operation is performed at a rotation angle of about 45 °.
A plunger portion 13 is disposed inside the torsion coil spring 12 by using a space inside the torsion coil spring 12.

(Plunger part)
As shown in FIG. 1, the plunger portion 13 is configured to include a plunger 201, a plunger side engagement hole 202, a plunger side engagement piece 203, a latch coil spring 211, and a slide rod 212.

The plunger 201 is a plunger that is disposed inside the torsion coil spring 12 and passes through a housing 301 to be described later and closes an opening at the top of the housing 301, and slides up and down in conjunction with a pressing operation on the button 101. To do. A through hole 213 is provided at the center of the plunger 201, and a latch coil spring 211 is disposed inside the through hole 213. Slide rods 212 are joined to both ends of the latch coil spring 211.
Details of the plunger side engagement hole 202 and the plunger side engagement piece 203 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  When a pressing operation on the button 101 is performed, the plunger 201 slides in the direction of the pressing operation. When the plunger 201 slides in the direction of the pressing operation, the sliding rod 212 slides along the inner wall of the upper opening of the housing 301 described later while sliding in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the pressing operation. Let In other words, the plunger portion 13 has a latch mechanism. The inner wall of the opening at the top of the housing 301 to be described later is provided with a protrusion on a part thereof. For this reason, the plunger 201 has a movable contact piece 502 of the contact unit portion 15 described later in contact with the fixed terminal 503 before the end of the sliding rod 212 passes through the top of the protrusion (hereinafter referred to as “latch point”). Energize in the direction to do. On the other hand, after the end portion of the sliding rod 212 passes the latch point, the plunger 201 is urged in a direction in which the movable contact piece 502 is separated from the fixed terminal 503.

(Housing part)
The housing part 14 is configured to include a housing 301 and a waterproof rubber 302.

  The housing 301 is a cylindrical housing having openings at the upper part and the lower part. A groove 303 for placing the waterproof rubber 302 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper portion of the housing 301. By disposing the waterproof rubber 302 in the groove 303, it is possible to prevent foreign matter such as water and dust from entering the button 101. As a result, it is possible to prevent malfunctions or accidents that may occur due to the entry of foreign matter into the button 101.

(Contact unit)
As shown in FIG. 1, the contact unit 15 is configured to include a case 501, a movable contact piece 502, a fixed terminal 503, and a converter 504. The contact unit portion 15 is disposed so as to close the opening at the bottom of the housing 301.

  Although the movable contact piece 502 is normally in contact with the fixed terminal 503, the movable contact piece 502 is released in conjunction with the pressing operation on the button 101. In addition, the movable contact piece 502 returns to a state in which the movable contact piece 502 comes into contact with the fixed terminal 503 in conjunction with the return operation for the button 101 after being pressed. That is, when the movable contact piece 502 is separated from the state in which the movable contact piece 502 is in contact with the fixed terminal 503 in conjunction with the pressing operation on the button 101, the energized devices and the like are cut off. On the other hand, when the movable contact piece 502 returns to the state in contact with the fixed terminal 503 in conjunction with the return operation on the button 101, the device or the like in the shut-off state returns to the energized state.

(Fixed part)
The fixed portion 16 is composed of a round nut 401 and a rubber washer 402.

  The round nut 401 is a member for fixing the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1 to a control panel (not shown). The rubber washer 402 is disposed between the control panel and the round nut 401. Thereby, it can prevent that a clearance gap produces in the junction part of a control panel and the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1. FIG. As a result, the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1 can be fixed so as not to drop off from the control panel. Further, it is possible to prevent foreign matters such as water and dust from entering the inside of the control panel from the joint between the control panel and the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1.

[Engagement of button and plunger]
A specific method for engaging the plunger 201 configured as described above and the button 101 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a positional relationship among the housing 301, the latch coil spring 211, the sliding rod 212, and the torsion coil spring 12 in the pushbutton switch of FIG. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a state where the plunger 201 is locked at the center of the housing. FIG. 2B is a plan view showing a state before the plunger 201 rotates. FIG. 2C is a plan view showing a state after the plunger 201 is rotated.

Before the pressing operation to the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1 is performed, the plunger 201 is configured such that the both ends of the sliding rod 212 press the cam groove 304 of the housing 301 as shown in FIG. It will be in the state latched in the center part.
2B and 2C, the cam groove 304 of the housing 301 is provided upward from the latch point P, and extends along the circumferential direction in which the end of the sliding rod 212 slides as a cam. The groove is gradually deepened. That is, the radial dimension of the groove is gradually increased. Therefore, when the end of the sliding rod 212 of the plunger 201 inserted from below the housing 301 gets over the latch point P, the plunger 201 automatically starts rotating while sliding upward, and is proportional to the rotation angle. Thus, the length of the sliding rod 212 extending from the through hole 213 toward the cam groove 304 becomes longer. As a result, the latch coil spring 211 moves in a direction to release elastic energy. As a result, the plunger 201 in the state of FIG. 2 (B) rotates to the state of FIG. 2 (C).
Although the angle at which the plunger 201 rotates is not particularly limited, the example shown in FIG. 2 is configured to rotate 90 °. As a result, for example, when a return operation is performed on the pressed emergency stop pushbutton switch 1, even when a general 45 ° rotation operation is required, the return operation on the button 101 is required. Since the plunger 201 is rotated at an angle (90 °) exceeding the angle of the rotation operation to engage the button and the plunger, the button side engagement piece 111 and the plunger side engagement piece 203 The hook will not come off. As a result, it is possible to prevent the button 101 and the plunger 201 from separating and the button 101 from falling off.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the button 101 in the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the button 101. FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the button 101.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the button 101 includes a button side engagement piece 111 and a button side engagement hole 112 in a part of the inner wall. The button side engagement piece 111 is an engagement piece inserted into the plunger side engagement hole 202. The button side engagement hole 112 is an engagement hole inserted into the plunger side engagement piece 203. It is desirable that the button side engagement piece 111 and the button side engagement hole 112 are formed in pairs for the center axis of the button 101 extending in the pressing direction.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a mechanism in which the button 101 and the plunger 201 are engaged in the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the plunger 201. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a state before the button 101 and the plunger 201 are engaged. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a state after the button 101 and the plunger 201 are engaged.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the plunger 201 is provided with a plunger side engagement hole 202 and a plunger side engagement piece 203. The plunger side engagement hole 202 is an engagement hole into which the button side engagement piece 111 is inserted. The plunger side engagement piece 203 is an engagement piece inserted into the button side engagement hole 112. It is desirable that the plunger side engagement hole 202 and the plunger side engagement piece 203 are formed as a pair with respect to the center axis of the plunger 201 extending in the insertion direction.
First, as shown in FIG. 4B, the position of the button side engaging piece 111 and the position of the plunger side engaging hole 202 are matched, and the plunger 201 is inserted into the back of the button 101, and then FIG. As shown in (C), the plunger 201 is rotated 90 degrees. Thereby, the position of the button side engaging piece 111 and the position of the plunger side engaging hole 202 are shifted, and the button side engaging piece 111 and the plunger side engaging piece 203 are engaged. As long as it is not rotated by 90 °, the state where the button side engaging piece 111 and the plunger side engaging piece 203 are engaged can be maintained.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state before the button 101 and the plunger 201 are engaged in the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the upper part of the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line aa in FIG.

  In the state shown in FIG. 5A, both ends of the sliding rod 212 are still located below the latch point P. As shown in FIG. 5B, the positional relationship between the button side engaging piece 111 and the plunger side engaging hole 202 and the plunger side engaging piece 203 in this state is as follows. The side engagement hole 202 is overlapped, and the button side engagement hole 112 and the plunger side engagement piece 203 are overlapped. That is, since the button-side engagement piece 111 and the plunger-side engagement piece 203 are not yet engaged, the button 101 is merely covered on the housing 301, so that the button 101 can be lifted. It is in a state where it can be removed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state after the button 101 and the plunger 201 are engaged in the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1. 6A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the upper part of the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1. FIG. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line aa in FIG.

  In the state shown in FIG. 6A, both ends of the sliding rod 212 are located above the latch point P. As shown in FIG. 6B, the positional relationship between the button side engaging piece 111 and the plunger side engaging hole 202 in this state is as follows. And the plunger side engaging piece 203 are in a state of being shifted. That is, the button side engaging piece 111 and the plunger side engaging piece 203 are engaged. In this case, as described above, the button-side engagement piece 111 and the plunger-side engagement piece 203 can be kept engaged unless the plunger 201 is rotated again by 90 °.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow until the button 101 and the plunger 201 are engaged.

In step S 1, with the button 101 placed on the top of the housing 301, the plunger 201 is inserted into the housing 301, and the position of the button side engagement piece 111 is aligned with the position of the plunger side engagement hole 202. The button side engagement piece 111 is inserted into the side engagement hole 202.
In step S2, the plunger 201 is further pushed in the direction toward the back of the housing until the end of the sliding rod 212 gets over the latch point P.
In step S3, the end of the sliding rod 212 is slid as a cam along the shape of the cam groove 304, and the plunger 201 is rotated by 90 °.
Through the above steps, the button 101 and the plunger 201 can be engaged.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention. It is. Further, various modifications may be made within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the emergency stop push button switch is used. However, the emergency stop push button switch is not necessarily required. For example, a normal push button switch may be used.

In summary, the pushbutton switch manufacturing method to which the present invention is applied only needs to have the following configuration, and various embodiments can be taken.
That is, the manufacturing method of the pushbutton switch according to the present invention (for example, the emergency stop pushbutton switch 1 of FIG. 1)
A housing (eg, housing 301 in FIG. 2) having a cam groove (eg, cam groove 304 in FIG. 2) on the inner wall;
A button (for example, the button 101 in FIG. 3) having a button side engaging piece (for example, the button side engaging piece 111 in FIG. 3) and a button side engaging hole (for example, the button side engaging hole 112 in FIG. 3);
A plunger side engagement piece (for example, plunger side engagement piece 203 in FIG. 2), a plunger side engagement hole (for example, plunger side engagement hole 202 in FIG. 2), and a direction perpendicular to the direction of the pressing operation on the button A plunger (eg, plunger 201 in FIG. 2) having a sliding rod (eg, slide rod 212 in FIG. 2) that slides;
A manufacturing method of a pushbutton switch comprising:
Inserting the button side engagement piece into the plunger side engagement hole, and inserting the plunger side engagement piece into the button side engagement hole;
The button side engagement piece and the plunger side engagement hole are rotated by rotating the plunger about the center axis of the button while sliding the end of the slide rod as a cam along the shape of the cam groove. Engaging.
As a result, when the end of the sliding rod slides as a cam along the shape of the cam groove provided on the inner wall of the housing, the plunger rotates about the center axis of the button. The engagement piece can be firmly engaged. As a result, it is possible to provide a push button switch in which the button and the plunger are firmly engaged without increasing the number of parts.

In the push button switch according to the present invention, the cam groove can be gradually deepened along a circumferential direction in which an end of the sliding rod is slid.
As a result, the end of the slide rod gradually becomes deeper along the circumferential direction in which the end of the slide rod is slid, so that the end of the slide rod smoothly slides as a cam along the shape of the cam groove provided on the inner wall of the housing. At the same time, since it does not slide in the reverse direction, the button side engaging piece and the plunger side engaging piece can be more firmly engaged. As a result, it is possible to provide a push button switch in which the button and the plunger are more firmly engaged without increasing the number of parts.

In the pushbutton switch according to the present invention, the plunger is engaged with the button by rotating at an angle (for example, 90 °) exceeding a rotation operation angle (for example, 45 °) required for a return operation with respect to the button. Can be combined.
As a result, the plunger is rotated at an angle exceeding the angle of the rotation operation required for the return operation on the button, and the button and the plunger are engaged. For this reason, when the rotation operation for returning the pressed button is performed, the button-side engagement piece and the plunger-side engagement piece are caught by the force of the rotation operation, and the button and the plunger are separated. The button can be prevented from falling off.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Emergency stop pushbutton switch 11 ... Operation part 12 ... Torsion coil spring 13 ... Plunger part 14 ... Housing part 15 ... Contact unit part 16 ... Fixed part 101 ... Button 102 ... Button coil spring 111 ... Button side engagement piece 112 ... Button side engagement hole 201 ... Plunger 202 ... Plunger side engagement hole 203 ... Plunger side engagement piece 211 ··· Plunger coil spring 212 ··· Sliding rod 213 ··· Through hole 301 ··· Housing 302 ··· Waterproof rubber 303 ··· Groove (placed with waterproof rubber) 304 · · · Cam groove 401 · · · Round Nut 402 ... Rubber washer 501 ... Case 502 ... Movable contact piece 503 ... Fixed terminal 504 ... Converter P ... H

Claims (3)

A housing having a cam groove on the inner wall;
A button having a button side engagement piece and a button side engagement hole;
A plunger having a plunger-side engagement piece, a plunger-side engagement hole, and a sliding rod that slides in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the pressing operation on the button;
A manufacturing method of a pushbutton switch comprising:
Inserting the button side engagement piece into the plunger side engagement hole, and inserting the plunger side engagement piece into the button side engagement hole;
The button side engagement piece and the plunger side engagement hole are rotated by rotating the plunger about the center axis of the button while sliding the end of the slide rod as a cam along the shape of the cam groove. Engaging.
Manufacturing method of pushbutton switch. The cam groove is gradually deepened along a circumferential direction for sliding the end of the sliding rod.
The manufacturing method of the pushbutton switch of Claim 1. The plunger rotates at an angle exceeding the angle of the rotation operation required for the return operation on the button and is locked with the button.
The manufacturing method of the pushbutton switch of Claim 1 or 2.

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