JP3203476B2 - Tactile switch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tactile switch, and more particularly, to a normally closed tactile switch which is used as a switch for OA equipment, FA equipment, HA equipment, and other electronic equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example of this type of normally closed B contact type switch will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. FIG. 6 is a sectional view, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 6 and 7, 1 is a switch case, and 2 is a switch cover. 33 and 34 are fixed contacts, and 4 is a reversible movable contact. 5 is a push button. 1
The fixed contacts 33 and 34 are attached to the switch case 1 by press-fitting a pair of terminals 31 and 32 into terminal insertion holes 13 formed in the switch case 1. Prior to attaching the fixed contacts 33 and 34 to the switch case 1, the reversible movable contact 4 is housed in a contact housing 14 formed in the switch case 1.
After the fixed contacts 33 and 34 and the reversible movable contact 4 are attached to and housed in the switch case 1, the insertion portion 54 of the push button 5 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the switch cover 2 from below, and faces the switch cover 2. In a state where the formed hanging portion 22 is slightly deformed outward, the switch cover 2 is attached to the switch case 1 and further pressed downward, whereby the hanging portion 22 is elastically returned inward. As a result, the engagement piece 23 is positioned below the engagement portion 12, and the switch cover 2 is fixedly connected to the switch case 1. In this case, the pressing portion 52 of the push button 5 is engaged with the reversing spring portion 44 of the reversing movable contact 4 and is formed in a state where it is slightly pressed and deformed downward.
Therefore, the locking piece 53 of the push button 5 is pressed against the lower surface of the insertion hole 21 of the switch cover 2 by the elastic return force of the reversible movable contact 4.

When the push button 5 of the tactile switch is not pressed, the reversing movable contact 4
The contact portion 42 is pressed against the fixed contacts 33 and 34 by an elastic return force, and the fixed contact 33 and the fixed contact 34 are in a short-circuit state. Here, the push button 5 is
1, the reversing spring portion 44 of the reversing movable contact 4 performs a reversing operation, thereby generating a click feeling and separating the contact portion 42 of the reversing movable contact 4 from the fixed contacts 33 and 34. However, these fixed contacts are open.

[0004]

For example, a normally open A-contact type tactile switch is currently used as a stop switch of a machine tool. However, in 1995, machine tools for Europe became CE standard compliant, and as such a stop switch, a normally closed B contact type tactile switch had to be used. Here, it is preferable that a B contact type tactile switch satisfying compatibility with the A contact type tactile switch in operation feeling and external mounting dimensions can be formed. However, in the conventional example of the B-contact type tactile switch described above, the height cannot be reduced below a certain limit, and the height of the entire switch becomes too high. A contact type tactile switch cannot be directly mounted on a substrate of a contact type tactile switch instead of an A contact type tactile switch. This is partly due to the shape and structure of the reversible movable contact 4 described above. The life of the reversing movable contact 4 is relatively short due to the shape of the sheet metal. Further, in the conventional example of the B-contact type described above, since the operating force required to reverse the movable movable contact 4 by pressing it is generated only by the movable movable contact, the operating force is relatively small. . A small operating force means that a high load cannot be applied to the fixed contacts in a steady state, and electrical contact between the contacts cannot be ensured.

Further, in order to operate the above-mentioned reversible movable contact 4, it is necessary to operate the push button 5 exactly in a certain direction, so that the height of both the insertion portion 54 of the push button 5 and the insertion hole 21 for guiding the same is high. Must be bigger. This also contributes to increasing the height of the entire switch. The present invention provides a B-contact type tactile switch that solves the above-mentioned problem.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems A pair of fixed contacts 33, 3
4 and a pair of fixed contacts are short-circuited.
The moving contact 4, the switch case 1, and the insertion hole 21 are formed.
Switch cover 2 and switch cover 2
Annular spacer 7 interposed between base 1 and thin plate
Tacty consisting of a push button 5 for pressing the movable contact 4
Push switch 5 has an annular spacer 7 and
An operation unit protruding through the insertion hole 21 of the switch cover 2
51, a pressing portion 52, a circular insertion portion 54,
From the locking piece 53 formed on a part of the lower peripheral edge of the through portion 54
Here, the diameter of the insertion portion 54 is smaller than the diameter of the operation portion 51.
And the thin plate-shaped reversible movable contact 4 is springy.
Formed from a sheet metal with
And pressed by the push button 5 through the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4.
When operated and the pressing is released, it elastically returns to the position before pressing.
The returning thin plate-shaped return spring 6 is moved below the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4.
Surface, and the annular spacer 7 is provided with a locking piece 53 of the push button 5.
It has a frame 70 for locking and holding and a movable contact pressing portion 71
A tactile switch was constructed.

[0007] Claim 2: Claim 1
In the tactile switch, a thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4
Has two longitudinal slits 41 parallel to the long side of the rectangle
To form an edge 43 and a reversing spring 44,
Stretch both sides 43 in the direction perpendicular to the length direction
The downwardly curved portion 45 is formed by plastic working.
The plate-like inverted movable contact 4 is connected to one of the short sides of the rectangular sheet metal.
The other of the short sides is used as the fulcrum piece 46 as well as the contact part 42,
This thin plate-shaped return spring 6 is formed by forming a sheet metal having a spring property into a rectangular shape.
Punched out and curved slightly convex upward
A tactile switch was constructed .

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1A is a diagram of the embodiment viewed from above, and FIG. 1B is a diagram of the embodiment viewed from the side. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross section along the line AA in FIG. 3 and 4 are exploded perspective views of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the operation of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact. Referring to FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a switch case. The switch case 1 has a cavity 10 formed therein. The lower part of the space 10 is a contact housing 14. The contact accommodating portion 14 is formed such that a pair of fixed contact forming portions 13 are formed to face each other, and a pair of return spring mounting portions 15 are formed to face each other. One of the fixed contact forming portions 13 has a fixed contact 3
3 is integrally formed with the mold and is exposed. A projection 16 is formed at the center. On the other side of the fixed contact forming portion 13, the other fixed contact 34 is molded and exposed integrally. A pair of fitting portions 11 are formed on the outer surface of the switch case 1 so as to face each other. 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes an engaging portion formed on the fitting portion 11. Reference numeral 31 denotes a terminal connected to the fixed contact 33, and reference numeral 32 denotes a terminal connected to the fixed contact.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a thin plate-shaped return spring. The thin plate-shaped return spring 6 is formed by punching a sheet metal having a spring property, such as phosphor bronze, into a rectangular shape, and is slightly upwardly curved as a whole. A bent portion 62 for increasing the strength of the spring or increasing the spring pressure is formed on the shorter side of the rectangular shape of the sheet metal. When a pressure is applied from the convex side, the thin plate-shaped return spring 6 deforms and flattens in a direction to reduce the degree of curvature, and performs an operation of returning to the original shape when the pressure is released.
That is, the thin plate-shaped return spring 6 always generates an upward driving force when pressed.

The thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4 is formed by punching a sheet metal having the same spring property as that of the thin plate-shaped return spring 6 into a rectangular shape. Then, by forming two vertical slits 41 in parallel with the longer side of the rectangular shape of the sheet metal, edge portions 43 are formed on both left and right sides,
A reversing spring portion 44 is formed between the edge portions 43. One of the short sides of the rectangular shape of the sheet metal is used as the contact portion 42 of the thin plate-shaped inverted movable contact 4, and the other of the short sides is used as the fulcrum piece 46. An opening 47 is formed at the center of the fulcrum piece 46. Here, by forming a downward curved portion 45 extending in a direction perpendicular to the length direction on both sides of the edge portion 43 by plastic working, the reversing spring portion 44 is slightly raised upward and the edge portion 43 is formed. It is relatively slightly deformed. The thin plate-shaped inversion movable contact 4 is provided with an inversion spring portion 44.
When pressure is applied from the upper side, which is the convex side of the inverting part, the part is deformed downward, and the moment the amount of downward deformation exceeds a specific dead point of the inverting spring part 44, the inverting spring part Deform. This inversion generates a click feeling, and the contact portion 42 of the thin plate-shaped inversion movable contact 4 jumps up. Then, this inverted state of the thin plate-shaped inverted movable contact 4 is maintained. When the pressure is applied from the lower side, which is the convex side, the reversely deformed reversing spring portion 44, similarly to the above, at the moment when the upward deformation exceeds the specific dead point of the reversing spring portion 44, The reversing spring portion 44 is capable of reversing and returning to an upwardly convex shape. A concave portion 48 having a protrusion projecting downward to press the return spring 6 when pressure is applied from above is formed at the center of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4.

The push button 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. The push button 5 includes an operation unit 51, a pressing unit 52, a locking piece 53
And the insertion portion 54. The insertion portion 54 is formed in an annular shape as a whole, and a locking piece 53 is formed on a part of a lower peripheral edge thereof. On one side of the locking pieces 53, a convex portion 55 extending in the horizontal direction is integrally formed. Then, the thickness of the insertion portion 54 of one side of the convex portion 55 is formed slightly compared to the thickness of the other of the insertion portion 54 smaller configuration
And jumps up to the contact portion 42 of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4.
Is giving room . The diameter of the insertion portion 54 of the operation unit 51
It is formed larger than the diameter and shorter than the length between the contact portion 42 of the thin plate-shaped reversible movable contact 4 and the fulcrum piece 46.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an annular spacer. A movable contact pressing portion 71 is formed so as to hang down on a part of the frame 70 of the spacer 7. A notch 72 is formed opposite to the movable contact pressing portion 71. 73 is a guide hole. Here, a method of assembling the switch will be described with reference to FIGS. The thin plate-shaped return spring 6 is incorporated in the contact accommodating portion 14 of the switch case 1. In this case, the thin plate-shaped return spring 6 is mounted with its short side positioned on the pair of return spring mounting portions 15.

Next, the sheet-like inverted movable contact 4 is assembled on the sheet-like return spring 6 in the contact accommodating portion 14. In this case, the projection 16 formed in the fixed contact forming portion 13 is fitted into an opening 47 formed in the center of the fulcrum piece 46 of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4. In the state where the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4 is assembled in this manner, the fulcrum piece 46 of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4 contacts the fixed contact 33 and the contact portion 42 of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4 contacts the fixed contact 34. are doing. The push button 5 is fitted to the spacer 7. In this case, the protrusion 55 formed on the locking piece 53 of the push button 5 is fitted into the notch 72 of the spacer 7.

In the process, spacer 7 and push button 5
Is integrated on the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4 in the switch case 1. In this case, push button 5
The protrusion 55 formed on the locking piece 53 is fitted into the notch 72 of the spacer 7 so that this side corresponds to the contact portion 42 of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4 and the movable contact pressing portion 71
The side of the switch case 1 is accommodated in the empty space 10 of the switch case 1 so as to correspond to the fulcrum piece 46 side of the thin plate-shaped inverted movable contact 4. The switch cover 2 is incorporated in the switch case 1. In this case, the elastic force of the sheet-like return spring 6 and the elasticity of the sheet-like inversion movable contact 4 are maintained until the engaging portion 12 of the switch case 1 is fitted into the fitting hole 24 formed in the hanging portion 22 of the switch cover 2. The switch cover 2 is pushed downward against the slightly upward elastic force that combines the forces.

As a result of the above assembly, the tactile switch shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 was assembled. FIG.
, The solid line indicates the state when the push button 5 is not pressed. In this state, the push button 5 causes the locking piece 53 to move to the lower surface of the frame 70 of the spacer 7 by the upward slight elastic force obtained by combining the elastic force of the thin plate-like return spring 6 and the elastic force of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4. On the other hand, and on the other hand, a protrusion 55 extending horizontally from the locking piece 53.
Are pressed against the lower surface of the notch 72 of the spacer 7.
The fulcrum piece 46 of the thin plate-shaped inverted movable contact 4 is pressed against the fixed contact 33 by the movable contact pressing portion 71 of the spacer 7 as shown by the solid line, while the contact portion 42 of the thin inverted movable contact 4 is Is pressed against the fixed contact 34 by the reverse force of the upward elastic force, and the fixed contact 33 and the fixed contact 34 are in a short circuit state. That is, the normally closed contact B was formed.

Here, when the push button 5 is pressed by the force F, the state is reversed to the state shown by the chain line in FIG. That is, when the push button 5 is pressed downward through the operation unit 51, the insertion portion 54 is inserted into the switch cover 2.
Guided by the through hole 21 and the guide hole 73 of the spacer 7
And presses the reversing spring portion 44 of the thin plate-shaped reversible movable contact 4 via the pressing portion 52 from above, which is the convex side. As this pressing is advanced, the reversing spring portion 44 is deformed downward. At the moment when the amount of the downward deformation exceeds a specific dead point of the reversing spring portion 44 indicated by a chain line, a click feeling is generated and the reversing spring portion is generated. The portion 44 is reversely deformed to protrude downward. In the inverted deformation state, the contact portion 42, which is the free end of the thin plate-shaped inverted movable contact 4, jumps up, and the contact with the fixed contact 34 is released.

[0017] By the way, during the pressing operation of the push button 5,
It is assumed that the operation unit 51 is slightly inclined and pressed from the upper left without performing the downward pressing operation as illustrated. As the pressing operation stroke of the push button 5 increases, the combined repulsive elastic force of the reversible movable contact 4 and the thin plate-shaped return spring 6 becomes
Increase. This repulsive elastic force is in the form of a thin plate
This is the combined force of the return springs 6 and is relatively strong. Thus, the field of pressing the operating portion 51 from the upper left a little inclined
In this case, the convex portion 55 of the locking piece 53 of the operation portion 51 is formed.
On one side, the spacer 7 has a strong repulsive elastic force.
Is pressed against the lower surface of the frame 70 and locked.
You. Here, the locking piece 53 serves as a fulcrum at the place where the locking is performed.
Then, one side of the locking piece 53 where the projection 55 is formed
Other side of the opposition drops as chain line and. This locking piece
When the other one of the members 53 descends and engages with the fulcrum piece 46 of the reversible movable contact 4, the locking piece 53 is used as a fulcrum.
One side of is lowered downward, after all, the push button 5
Even if this is pressed slightly inclining, the process is as described above.
It can be pushed down without any delay. Locking piece 53
Since is constructed in an annular shape, the operation push be made pressing of the push button 5 is tilted in any direction over a
The same is done . That is, the pressing operation of the push button 5 can be performed without delay even if the pressing operation of the push button 5 is performed with an inclination without increasing the thickness of the insertion portion 54 of the push button 5.

As will be further described, this operation is performed by forming the diameter of the insertion portion 54 of the push button 5 larger than the diameter of the operation portion 51.
And that the thin plate-shaped return spring 6 is
This is due to the provision on the lower surface of point 4. Locking piece of operation part 51
One side of the projection 53 where the projection 55 is formed is the spacer 7
Is pressed against the lower surface of the frame 70 and locked.
The locking piece 53 pivots downward about
At this time, the diameter of the insertion portion 54 of the push button 5 was increased.
As a result, the other side of the locking piece 53 descends as indicated by a chain line.
The time required to engage the fulcrum piece 46 of the lowering movable contact 4
Is shortened. Then, the thin plate-shaped return spring 6 is inverted in a thin plate shape.
The thin plate-shaped reversible movable by being provided on the lower surface of the movable contact 4
The repulsive force of the contact 4 is the sum of the return force of the thin plate-shaped return spring 4.
One of the locking pieces 53 of the operation section 51.
The other side is under the frame 70 of the spacer 7 with this increased force.
It is also possible to press and lock the
Is engaged with the fulcrum piece 46 of the reversible movable contact 4.
It acts to shorten the time it takes. This time reduction is
It shows the result of the pressing operation of the push button 5 being performed without delay.
You . Even if the push operation of the push button 5 is performed at an angle, the push operation of the push button 5 is performed without delay, and the thickness of the insertion portion 54 is increased to give the role of the push button 5 as a guide portion. This eliminates the necessity, and contributes to reducing the switch height by reducing the thickness of the insertion portion 54.

The inverted spring portion 44, which has been inverted and deformed, maintains this inverted deformed state unless pressure is applied from below, which is the convex side. However, the reversing spring portion 44 of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4 is pressed upward because the thin plate-shaped return spring 6, which always generates an upward driving force in the pressed state, is present below it. When the pressing operation of the push button 5 is released, the instant the amount of upward deformation due to the upward driving force of the inverting spring portion 44 exceeds a specific dead center of the inverting spring portion 44, the inverting spring portion 44 is inverted to project upward. Deforms and returns. As a result, the contact portion 42 of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4 jumps down, the contact between the contact portion 42 and the fixed contact 34 comes into contact again, and the fixed contact 33 and the fixed contact 34 return to the short-circuit state.

In the present invention, the thin plate-shaped inversion movable contact 4 and the thin plate-shaped return spring 6 are formed as described above, and the thin plate-shaped return spring 6 is provided on the lower surface of the thin plate-shaped inverted movable contact 4. Thus, even when the height of the combination of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4 and the thin plate-shaped return spring 6 is extremely small, the short-circuit release between the fixed contact 33 and the fixed contact 34 by the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4 is ensured. It can be implemented stably. And
In the tactile switch of the present invention, since the height of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4 is smaller than that of the conventional B-contact type switch, the overall height of the switch can be reduced. It can be equal to the height of a contact type tactile switch. Therefore, the tactile switch according to the present invention can be used for A
For the contact type tactile switch board, A
It can be mounted as it is instead of a contact type tactile switch. Further, the operating force is a sufficiently high load obtained by combining the restoring force of the restoring spring and the restoring force of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact, so that the electrical contact is also reliably stabilized. Furthermore, since the thin plate-shaped reversible movable contact and the thin plate return spring cooperate and operate repeatedly, the contact life is extended.

In general, the switch height of the present invention can be reduced to about 7.4, compared to the conventional switch height of 10.7. And the operating force of the conventional switch: 1
00gf, the operating force of the switch of the present invention: 26
It can be increased to about 0 gf. In addition, the lifespan of the switch of the present invention can be increased to about 300,000 times, compared to the lifespan of the conventional switch: 100,000 times.

[0022]

As described above, the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact of the present invention has a small height combined with the thin plate-shaped return spring, which contributes to reducing the height of the entire switch. The operating force is a composite of the restoring force of the thin plate-shaped return spring and the restoring force of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact. Since this is a sufficiently high load, the electrical contact is reliably and stably performed.
Further, since the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact and the return spring cooperate and repeatedly operate, the contact life is extended.

Further, even if the push operation of the push button 5 is performed at an angle, the push operation of the push button 5 can be performed without delay. This operation Misao diameter of the insertion portion 54 of the push button 5
It is formed larger than the diameter of the working portion 51 and
A plate-shaped return spring 6 is provided on the lower surface of the thin plate-shaped inverted movable contact 4.
It depends on that. That is, the protrusions of the locking pieces 53 of the operation portion 51
One side where the portion 55 is formed is below the frame 70 of the spacer 7.
Surface and locked.
When the locking piece 53 rotates downward as a point,
By making the diameter of the insertion portion 54 of the button 5 large,
The other side of the locking piece 53 descends like a chain line and can be turned over.
The time required to engage the fulcrum piece 46 of the moving contact 4 is reduced.
You. Then, the thin plate-shaped return spring 6 is connected to the thin plate-shaped inverted movable contact 4.
Of the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact 4
The repulsive force is only as much as the return force of the thin plate return spring 4 is added.
And one side of the locking pieces 53 of the operating portion 51
The increased force pushes the lower surface of the frame 70 of the spacer 7
It is also possible for the other of the locking pieces 53 to be attached and locked.
Time until the side engages with the fulcrum piece 46 of the reversible movable contact 4
Acts to shorten the time. The reduction of this time
This shows the result of the pressing operation being performed without delay . It is not necessary to increase the thickness of the insertion portion 54 and give it a role as a guide portion for the push button 5. This contributes to reducing the thickness of the insertion portion 54 and reducing the height of the switch. Generally, this is for the conventional switch height: 10.7.
Switch height of the invention of the present invention: can be reduced to about 7.4
I can .

In this manner, by reducing the height of the reversible movable contact and reducing the thickness of the insertion portion of the push button, the A-contact type tactile switch board currently used in practice can be used. In addition, it is possible to provide a B contact type tactile switch having a small switch height which is directly mounted in place of the A contact type tactile switch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a cross section taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the operation of a thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional example of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 33 fixed contact 34 fixed contact 4 thin plate reversible movable contact 5 push button 6 thin plate return spring

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-8-235962 (JP, A) JP-A-2-113243 (JP, U) JP-A-56-140113 (JP, U) JP-A-63 38229 (JP, U) Hikaru 2-101430 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01H 13/36 H01H 13/52

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A pair of fixed contacts and a pair of fixed contacts are provided.
Short-circuited reversible movable contact and switch case
And a switch cover in which an insertion hole is formed, and a switch cover.
Annular spacer interposed between bar and switch case
And a push button for pressing the thin plate-shaped inverted movable contact.
In the tactile switch, the push button has a through hole for the annular spacer and the switch cover.
Operation part, pressing part, through-hole configured to project through
Part, a locking piece formed on a part of the lower peripheral edge of the insertion part.
Here, the diameter of the insertion section is larger than the diameter of the operation section.
The thin plate-shaped reversible movable contact is formed by punching a sheet metal having spring properties into a rectangular shape.
It is composed of a punched-out structure, and can be pressed by a push button via a thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact.
When the pressure is released, it returns elastically to the position before pressing.
With a thin plate-shaped return spring on the lower surface of the thin plate-shaped inverted movable contact
The annular spacer 7 is provided with a frame for retaining the retaining piece of the push button and a frame.
And a movable contact pressing portion.
Tactile switch . 2. The tactile switch according to claim 1, wherein the thin plate-shaped inverting movable contact has a rectangular shape with a spring property.
Punched configuration, two vertical sides parallel to the long side of the rectangle
Form slits to form margins and reversing springs
And stretches both sides of the edge in the direction perpendicular to its length.
The downwardly curved portion that is formed is plastically processed.
The shape-reversing movable contact contacts one of the short sides of a rectangular sheet metal.
And the other of the shorter sides is used as a fulcrum piece, and this thin plate-shaped return spring converts a sheet metal having a spring property into a rectangular shape.
It is made by punching and has a slightly convex curve
A tactile switch characterized by: