JP2877473B2 - Display pattern forming method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Summary] Before forming the first display pattern and the second display pattern on the front panel and the front panel of an electrical component such as an audio device, respectively, the operation buttons are previously provided on the front panel. After the assembly is completed, the first and second display patterns are formed at once by irradiating the operation buttons and the positions corresponding to the first and second display patterns on the front panel with laser light. A display pattern forming method comprising: forming a display pattern on each of an operation button and a panel main body in the same process to form a display pattern on a front panel, thereby eliminating a complicated printing process conventionally performed. It is possible to save money.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display pattern forming method for forming a display pattern on each of an operation button on a front part of an electrical component and a front panel.

Generally, electrical components, for example, on the front surface of an audio device, operation buttons for performing various operations such as channel selection by pressing various switches in the audio device are arranged, and A front panel is provided for fixing the operation buttons at predetermined positions. The present invention refers to a method for forming a display pattern such as characters and numerals on the operation surface of an operation button corresponding to each switch and the surface of a front panel in order to identify switch functions of the switches from each other. is there.

[Conventional technology]

4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of the front part of the electrical component, FIG. 4A is a front view thereof, and FIG.
It is -A sectional drawing. However, here, an audio device such as a radio receiver is representatively shown as the electrical component. Also,
In FIG. 4B, a side surface including one switch for switching between AM broadcast and FM broadcast is shown in cross section.

As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, a circuit board 6 in the audio device has a plurality of switches 4 (FIG. 4) according to respective functions such as an AM broadcast / FM broadcast switching function and a channel selection function.
4B) is attached. Furthermore, a plurality of operation buttons 1 are arranged on the front surface of the audio device in accordance with the mounting positions of these switches 4. These operation buttons 1 are usually fixed to the front panel 2 together with a display unit 3 (FIG. 4A) for displaying a reception channel, a reception frequency and the like. If the user presses the operation surface of the operation button 1, the actuator 11 of the operation button 1 moves and the switch 4 is turned on or off, and a desired switch function is executed. At this time, on the operation surface of the operation button 1, a first display pattern 10, such as AM,
-Each switch function is clearly displayed by forming FM.
More specifically, the translucent section 13 of the operation button 1 allows the user to easily read characters and numerals on the operation surface of the operation button 1 even when the surroundings are dark such as at night.
The upper non-light-transmitting portion 14 is processed by a laser beam to form a first display pattern 10 that can be illuminated at night, and a lamp 5 for illuminating the first display pattern 10 is arranged near each switch 4. I have. The details of the method of forming the first display pattern 10 by laser processing will be described later with reference to FIG. On the other hand, in order to display the switch function in an auxiliary manner (such as CHANNEL) and to display the specifications of the entire audio device (such as ANTI-THEFT), the front panel 2
The second display pattern 20 is formed on the surface by printing (described later on the fifth surface). Next, one method for forming the first and second display patterns 10 and 20 will be described more specifically.

FIG. 5 is a process chart for explaining a conventional display pattern forming method. When assembling the front portion of the audio device by forming different types of first display patterns 10 and second display patterns 20 on the operation buttons 1 and the front panel 2, respectively, first, the first display pattern
A plurality of operation buttons 1 in which no 10 is formed are prepared. Here, as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 6, each of the operation buttons 1 is formed by molding a transparent resin with a mold to form a molded portion 12 having a predetermined shape, and then forming the molded portion 12 with a milky white coating material or the like. The light-transmitting portion 13 is formed by covering the operation surface of the article 12, and the light-transmitting portion 13 is formed by covering the operation surface with a black coating material or the like. On the other hand, the second display pattern 20 to be formed on the front panel 2, unlike the first display pattern 10, does not necessarily require nighttime illumination or the like. For this reason, conventionally, various printing processes such as screen printing and dandelion printing which can form characters and numerals without coating any coating material or the like on the surface of the opaque resin forming the front panel 2 are conventionally used. The second display pattern 20 is formed (step a). The front panel 2 in a state where the second display pattern 20 is formed by the step a is prepared. Next, the plurality of operation buttons 1 on which the first display pattern 10 has not been formed are incorporated into the front panel 2 at a time (step b). Further, if laser processing is performed by sequentially irradiating a laser beam to a position where the first display pattern 10 is to be formed on the operation surface of the operation button and peeling off a black coating material or the like of the non-light-transmitting portion 14, the apparatus A first display pattern 10 that can be illuminated at night by the internal lamp 5 (FIG. 4B) is formed (step c). Thus, a predetermined display pattern can be formed on the operation buttons 1 and the front panel 2.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, when assembling the front part of an electrical component such as an audio device, conventionally, the first display pattern 10 that can be illuminated at night on the operation button 1 by laser processing, while the front panel 2 is formed by a printing process. Then, the second display pattern 20 was formed. In this case, in the latter printing process. There are many complicated operations such as positioning of a display pattern, dust removal at the time of ink application, and drying after ink application. For this reason, there is a problem that it takes time and man-hours for printing, and it is not possible to reduce the manufacturing cost as expected. In particular, when the front panel 2 has a curved surface, a display pattern such as characters and numbers formed in advance on the silicone rubber with ink or the like is transferred onto the front panel 2 by dandelion printing which is more complicated than screen printing. The above problem becomes more serious.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a display pattern for forming different types of display patterns on operation buttons and a front panel of a front portion of an audio device or the like in a simpler process than before. It is an object to provide a forming method.

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a process chart showing the principle of the present invention. In this case, the display pattern forming method includes the following two steps I and II. First, in step I, before forming the first display pattern 10 and the second display pattern 20 on the operation button 1 and the front panel 2, respectively, the operation button 1 is previously incorporated into the front panel 2. Next, in step II,
After the above-described assembling step (step I) is completed, the first and second display patterns 10 and 20 are irradiated with laser beams at positions corresponding to the first display pattern 10 and the second display pattern 20 on the front panel 2 and the operation button 1 respectively. The display patterns 10, 20 are formed at one time.

(Operation)

In the display pattern forming method of the present invention, the resin material emits bubbles by irradiating a position corresponding to the second display pattern 20 on the front panel 2 made of an opaque resin or the like with a laser beam and heating the surface. Paying attention to the point that the second display pattern 20 is formed, the first and second display patterns 10 and 20 of different types are formed by the same process after the operation button 1 is incorporated into the front panel 2. ing. As a result, the printing process conventionally performed when forming the second display pattern 20 can be saved.

Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to form a display pattern on each of the operation buttons and the front panel of the front part of the transmission product by a simpler process than in the related art by reducing complicated printing steps, thereby achieving cost reduction.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 is a process chart for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. However, here, the first display pattern forming step (step b) and the second display pattern forming step (step c) performed in the same step are shown separately.

In FIG. 2, first, a plurality of operation buttons 1 in a state where the first display pattern 10 is not formed,
Front panel 2 without display pattern 20 formed
And prepare. As shown in FIG. 6, each of the operation buttons has a molding portion 12 obtained by molding a transparent resin,
It comprises a light-transmitting portion 13 made of a milky white paint or the like for covering the molded portion 11, and a non-light-transmitting portion 14 made of a black paint or the like for covering the light-transmitting portion 13. In addition, the molding part 11
If a milky white resin is used, the light transmitting part 12 becomes unnecessary. On the other hand, the front panel 2 is
It is preferable to use an opaque resin such as black. Next, the plurality of operation buttons 1 are incorporated into the front panel 2 at a time by welding or the like (step a). At this time, unlike the conventional case (FIG. 5), no display pattern is formed on either the operation button 1 or the front panel 2. Thereafter, laser processing is performed by irradiating a laser beam on the operation surface of the operation button 11, that is, the position corresponding to the first display pattern 10 on the black painted surface, and peeling off the black painted material or the like of the non-light-transmitting portion 14. (Step b). By doing so, the non-light-transmitting portion 14
The first display pattern 10 is formed by the light-transmitting portion 13 on the lower surface of the device, and each switch function can be clearly displayed day and night. Further, the second display pattern is formed on the surface of the front panel 2.
The second display pattern 20 is formed by irradiating the laser light to the position corresponding to 20 and burning the opaque resin such as black to white.
Is formed (step c). In this case, since the second display pattern 20 does not require nighttime illumination, an opaque resin can be used. Therefore, in the above-described step c, almost the same contrast as in the case where the display pattern is formed by the printing step can be obtained. Becomes possible.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the front part of the audio device finally obtained by performing the above steps a to c. In FIG. 3, by forming the display patterns 10 and the second display patterns 20 of different types almost simultaneously, the display pattern forming process can be simplified and the working time can be shortened.

Further, in this embodiment (FIGS. 2 and 3), the concave second display pattern 20 formed on the front panel 2 by the laser beam is formed by a conventional (FIG. 4B and FIG. 5) printing process. This has the advantage that it is less likely to be scratched and does not peel off due to abrasion or the like, as compared with a convex pattern. Furthermore, the first display pattern 10 and the second display pattern
Since 20 are formed almost simultaneously in the same process, there is also an advantage that errors such as positional deviation between the two display patterns can be prevented.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the display patterns of the operation buttons and the front panel located on the front portion of the electrical component such as the audio device are formed in the same process by laser processing, so that the The complicated printing process conventionally performed when forming a display pattern can be saved. As a result, it is possible to form a display pattern by a simpler process than in the related art, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a process diagram showing the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a process diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the first and second display patterns formed by the method of the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a front view showing an example of the configuration of the front part of the electrical component, FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4A, and FIG. 5 is a conventional display pattern. FIG. 6 is a process diagram for explaining a forming method, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a side surface of an operation button on which a first display pattern is not formed. In the figure, 1... Operation buttons, 2... Front panel, 4... Switch, 5... Lamp, 10... 1st display pattern, 20.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A first display pattern (10) is provided on an operation button (1) for pressing a switch disposed on a front portion of an electrical component and on a front panel (2) for fixing the operation button (1).
And a display pattern forming method for forming a second display pattern (20), wherein the operation button (1) is connected to the front panel (10) before forming the first and second display patterns (10, 20). 2) the operation button (1) after the completion of the assembling step;
And irradiating a laser beam on the front panel (2) at a position corresponding to the first display pattern (10) and the second display pattern (20), respectively, to obtain the first and second display patterns (10, 20). A) forming at one time.