JP3221224B2 - Coordinate information input device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coordinate information input device for inputting coordinate information by connecting to a computer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, such a coordinate information input device has
For example, it is configured as shown in FIGS. That is, in FIGS. 10 and 11, the coordinate information input device 1 is rotatably supported by a frame member 2c disposed in the case body 2b so that a part thereof is exposed on the bottom surface of the case 2. The input ball 3, a pair of rollers 4, 5 disposed in the frame member 2 c and abutting on the ball 3 in two directions perpendicular to each other, and the rotation of the pair of rollers 4, 5 Detectors 6 and 7 comprising encoders 6a and 7a for detecting the coordinate information of the X and Y coordinates of the ball 3 via the axes 4a and 5a, respectively. In the figure, reference numeral 2a denotes an upper cover portion of the case 2 provided with operation buttons.

[0003] The coordinate information input device 1 configured as described above.
According to the above, the ball 3 is attached to the case body 2b of the case 2.
A part thereof is exposed on the bottom surface of the case 2 from the through hole 8a of the retainer 8 removably fitted to the bottom surface of the case 2,
The user places the coordinate information input device 1 on a work surface such as a table, and presses the bottom of the case against the work surface to move the case. Is rotated by friction with the table surface. Thereby, the ball 3 is rotated in a desired direction by a desired amount of rotation.

When the retainer 8 is attached to or detached from the bottom of the case body 2b, the engaging projection 8b protrudes outward.
Is inserted into a slot formed around an insertion hole (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the case main body 2b and opened to the outer surface of the case, and then the entire retainer 8 is rotated, thereby The engagement protrusion 8b engages with an engagement portion formed adjacent to the slot portion. by this,
The retainer 8 can be fixed and held on the bottom surface of the case body 2b.

[0005] The ball 3 thus rotated
The rotation direction and the rotation amount are detected by the detection units 6 and 7 via the rollers 4 and 5, respectively, and the coordinate information signals in the X direction and the Y direction are sent to the computer main body (not shown). Thus, the CRT connected to the computer body
The cursor or the like is moved on the screen of the display device according to the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the trackball 3.

[0006] Further, the ball 3 rotates during the rotation operation.
By contacting the rollers 4 and 5 of the detection units 6 and 7, the rotational motion thereof must be reliably transmitted to the rollers 4 and 5 of the detection units 6 and 7 without running idle. . For this purpose, a guide roller section 9 for urging the ball 3 against the surfaces of the rollers 4 and 5 is provided.

Here, as shown in FIG. 11, the detection units 6, 7 and the guide roller unit 9 are disposed on a frame member 2c, and a rotating member is formed on the frame member 2c. It is pivotally supported by a bearing part. The frame member 2c is mounted on a printed circuit board 2d provided so as to cover the entire bottom surface of the case body 2b of the case 2.
A detecting element such as a photocoupler for detecting the rotation of a and 7a is mounted on the printed circuit board 2d. Further, a control circuit for processing a signal from each detection element is formed on the printed circuit board, and an output of the control circuit is connected to a computer or the like via a cable C.

[0008]

However, in the coordinate information input device 1 configured as described above, when assembling, the detecting section 6 and the frame member 2c are previously detected.
7, the guide roller section 9 is incorporated, and the printed circuit board 2d
After assembling, the printed circuit board 2d is mounted in the case main body 2b of the case 2 to perform the assembly. However, the number of parts is large, the assembly work is complicated, it takes time, and the assembly cost is high. There was a problem that would be.

Further, when the retainer 8 is attached to the bottom surface of the case body 2b, the engaging projection 8 of the retainer 8 is used.
After the b is aligned with the slot provided on the bottom surface of the case body 2b and inserted into the slot, the entire retainer 8 is rotated so that the engaging projection 8b is held in the engaging portion. However, at this time, there is a problem that the operation of aligning the engaging projection 8b with the slot portion is troublesome, and the operability of attaching and detaching the retainer 8 is not very good.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a coordinate information input device which is easy to assemble with a simple structure, does not impair the appearance, and can be easily attached and detached with a retainer. It is intended to provide.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a housing for rotatably housing a ball for inputting coordinate information in a case, and detecting a rotation direction and a rotation amount of the ball. A detection unit, a guide roller unit that constantly presses and biases the ball against the detection unit, and is removably attached to an insertion hole provided on the bottom surface of the case for inserting and removing the ball in the storage unit. A retainer, wherein the retainer includes a pair of flanges projecting outward at an angular interval of 180 degrees from each other on an inner surface on a case side thereof, and the case has a peripheral edge of the insertion hole. A coordinate information input device, comprising: an inward flange portion provided on the base; and a slot portion opening on the bottom surface of the case along the circumferential direction with respect to the inward flange portion. The bearing portion of the roller portion is integrally formed so as to rise from the inside of the case main body, and the extraction hole for forming the integrally formed portion such as the detecting portion and the guide roller portion is formed on the periphery of the insertion hole on the case bottom surface. This is achieved by a coordinate information input device which is open, wherein the hole is closed by the retainer when the retainer is mounted, and the slot portion of the case is provided with an inclined guide portion. .

[0012]

According to the above construction, since the detecting portions and the bearing portions of the guide roller portions are integrally formed so as to rise from the bottom surface of the case body, the number of parts is small, and assembly is easy. It can be performed in a short time.
Thus, component costs and assembly costs can be reduced.

Further, since the holes for forming the detecting portion and the guide roller portion formed in the case are opened in the insertion holes, when the retainer is mounted, each opening is formed by the retainer. It can be occluded. Therefore, dust and the like do not enter the inside of the case through the opening, and the appearance does not impair the aesthetic appearance.

[0014] Further, since the inclined portion is provided in the slot portion of the case, the outward flange of the retainer is guided by the inclined guide portion when the retainer is mounted, so that the retainer can be easily attached and detached. Could be done.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a coordinate information input device according to the present invention.
Is so as to be partially exposed on the bottom surface of the case body 10a.
A ball 12 for inputting coordinate information rotatably supported by the housing 11, a pair of rollers 13, 14 abutting on the ball 12 in two directions orthogonal to each other, and rotation of the pair of rollers 13, 14. And the ball 12
Detectors 15 and 16 composed of encoders and the like for detecting the coordinate information of the XY coordinates of the above, and a cover 10b that covers the case main body 10.

Further, when the ball 12 is brought into contact with the rollers 13 and 14 corresponding to the respective detecting portions 15 and 16 via the notches 11a and 11b of the accommodating portion 11 when the ball 12 rotates, the ball 12 rotates. A guide roller portion 17 is provided to urge the ball 12 against the surface of each of the rollers 13 and 14 so that the motion is reliably transmitted to the rollers 13 and 14 without running idle. ing.

The above configuration is the same as that of the conventional coordinate information input device 1 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, but in the coordinate information input device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, A frame portion 11c surrounding the ball 12 from the periphery; and a ball holding portion 11d for suppressing upward movement of the ball 12, the frame portion 11c, the detection portions 15, 16 and the guide roller portion. 17 is formed integrally with the inner surface of the bottom of the case body 10a.
The detailed configuration will be described below.

That is, the accommodating portion 11 that rotatably accommodates and supports the ball 12 for inputting coordinate information has a frame portion 11c,
It has an insertion port 11e for inserting and removing the ball 12, and the insertion port 11e
A retainer 11g (see FIG. 2) having a central opening large enough to be exposed from the bottom surface of a is detachably attached and closed. Further, the frame portion 11c has notches 11a and 11b for the rollers 13 and 14 corresponding to the detection portions 15 and 16 to contact the ball 12, and further, the notches contacting the driven rollers 20 (described later) of the guide roller portion 17. 11f are formed, and are integrally formed so as to protrude upward substantially at the center of the inner surface of the bottom of the case body 10a. The frame 11c of the housing 11 is
When the case main body 10a is formed, it can be easily molded by pulling out a mold up and down.

The ball holding portion 11d of the housing 11
As shown in FIG. 2, is integrally formed so as to project downward substantially at the center of the inner surface of the cover 10b covered from above the case body 10a, and has a substantially hollow cylindrical shape. When the case cover 10b is formed, the ball restraining portion 10d can be easily formed integrally by pulling out a mold up and down.

As shown in FIG. 3, the detecting section 15 has a cylindrical roller 13 serving as a driver shaft which is brought into contact with the ball 12 from one direction, and a circle integrally formed at one end of the roller 13. A plate-like encoder 23 is included. As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the roller 13 has shaft portions 13a and 13b formed on both end surfaces thereof. Also,
The encoder 23 includes a number of radial slits 23a, and sandwiches the slit area.
A photocoupler 24 including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit is provided. The roller 13 and the encoder 23 are formed integrally from a material having excellent creep resistance, friction resistance, and abrasion resistance, such as POM, which is colored black.

Then, on both sides of the area of the detection unit 15,
A pair of bearing portions 25, 2 arranged to face each other
6 (see FIG. 3). Here, the first bearing 2
Reference numeral 5 is integrally vertically raised from the bottom surface of the case body 10a, and has an engagement hole 25a for receiving the shaft portion 13b at one end of the roller 13. The second bearing portion 26 is composed of a U-shaped groove 26a opened upward and a hook 26b having a projection protruding in the direction of the groove 26a outside the groove 26a. I have.

Thus, the roller 13 is fixed to the shaft 1 at one end.
3b is inserted into the engagement hole 25a of the first bearing portion 25, and then the shaft portion 13a at the other end pushes the hook portion 26b of the second bearing portion 26 toward the outside, and is inserted into the groove portion 26a. At the same time as being inserted, the shaft portion 13a is attached by being hooked to the hook portion 26b.

Thus, the roller 13 is mounted on the first bearing 2.
5 and the groove portion 26a of the second bearing portion 26 is held so as not to move in the front-rear direction, laterally and downwardly, and the projection of the hook portion 26b suppresses the shaft portion 13a from above. , Can be rotatably held at a predetermined position.

The detecting section 16 also includes the detecting section 15
The roller 14 is provided with the detecting unit 1
The roller 13 is disposed so as to contact the ball 12 from a direction perpendicular to the roller 13. At this time, the rollers 13 and 14
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is configured to contact the ball 12 through the notches 11a and 11b of the housing portion 11 that rotatably supports the ball 12.

In this case, the photocoupler 28 for detecting the rotation of the encoder 27 in the detecting section 15 is provided in the case main body 10a because the roller 13 extends beyond the rotation axis of the roller 14 of the detecting section 16. (See FIGS. 1 and 2). The photocouplers 24 and 28 of the detection units 15 and 16 are
A printed circuit board on which the photocouplers 24 and 28 are mounted and a circuit for processing output signals from the photocouplers 24 and 28 is mounted in the case body 10a in front of the circular accommodating portion 11. 28 are provided.

The detecting portions 15 and 16 include a method in which the engaging holes 25a and the groove portions 26a and the hook portions 26b of the bearing portions 25 and 26 are used to remove the mold in the vertical direction at the time of formation.
Since molding is possible by the method of pushing and cutting pieces, it can be easily molded integrally with the case main body 10a. At this time, the holes 25c and 26c are
It is formed near the periphery of the 1 g opening 11e.

Next, the guide roller portion 17 has a laterally protruding support shaft 18a provided at the lower end pivotally supported by a bearing portion 19 integrally formed on the bottom surface of the case body 10a, and has an upper portion. A flange 18b is provided so as to be swingable, and is integrally formed so as to be curved so as to wrap around from the lower end thereof to the opposite side of the ball 12 of the driven roller 20 to be described later and to be vertical when used. Support member 18 provided
(See the dashed line in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6). The support member 18 is rotatably disposed on the ball 12 side, and comes into contact with the surface of the ball 12 through the notch 11f of the housing portion 11. Driven roller 2 driven by the rotation of the ball 12
0 and the coil spring 2 disposed outside the support member 18.
And 1.

Here, the bearing portion 19 is provided in the manner shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, on both sides of the support member 18, U-shaped grooves 19a and 19b opened upward and the groove 1
Hook portions 19c and 19d having projections protruding in the direction of the groove portions 19a and 19b are provided outside the portions 9a and 19b.

As a result, the support member 18 is mounted on the support shaft 1.
8a is attached to the bearing 19 by being inserted into the grooves 19a, 19b while pushing the hooks 19c, 19d outward.

Accordingly, the support member 18 is provided in the groove 19
a, 19b, it is held so as not to move in the front-rear direction and downward, and the hook portions 19c, 19b.
By suppressing the support shaft 18a from above, the protrusion d can be fixedly held at a predetermined position.

The bearing 19 has grooves 19a,
Since the mold 19b and the hook portions 19c and 19d can be pulled out in the vertical direction during formation, the case body 1
0a can be easily formed integrally. At this time, similarly to the holes 25c and 26c, the holes 19e and 19f are formed near the periphery of the opening 11e of the retainer 11g.

The coil spring 21 is formed such that a protrusion 18c provided on a flange 18b of the support member 18 is fitted into one end of the coil spring 21, and the other end of the coil spring 21 rises vertically from the case body 10a. The locking member 22 can be locked. As shown in FIG. 5, the locking member 22
On the side opposite to 2, it stands vertically from the case main body 10a, and the side wall on both sides and the locking portion 22a at the upper end slightly project in the direction of the ball 12.

The locking member 22 includes a locking portion 22a.
Can be formed by the method of pushing and cutting pieces. However, when there is no interference with, for example, an inclined pin at the time of forming another portion, it can also be formed by an inclined pin.

Further, the retainer 11g described above will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 7, a circular base 11h which rises from the periphery of the central opening is provided on the inner surface, and extends radially outward from the circular base 11h. A pair of outward flanges 11i projecting in opposite directions are provided at an angular interval of 180 degrees from each other.
A locking recess 11j is formed in each of the pair of outward flanges 11i.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a pair of insertion slots 11k into which the pair of outward flanges 11i can be inserted are formed in the insertion opening 11e formed in the case body 10a. When the retainer 11g is clockwise viewed from below (ie, in FIGS. 7 and 9) with the outward flange 11i inserted into the insertion slot portion 11k, There is provided a pair of inward flanges 11m that engage with the outward flange 11i on the inner side of the case 10a.
A locking recess 11j formed on the outward flange 11i can be fitted to the pair of inward flanges 11m.
A hemispherical locking projection 11p is formed.

Further, the insertion opening 11 of the case body 10a
When the retainer 11g is rotated counterclockwise when viewed from below, the slot 11k abuts on the upper surface of the outward flange 11i to guide the outward flange 11i in the detaching direction. Are provided at an angular interval of 180 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 8, the bearings 26 and 19 of the detection units 15 and 16 and the guide roller unit 17 are, as shown in FIG.
Around the insertion opening 11e, each is integrally formed with the case body 10a. And each bearing part 26, 1
As shown in FIG. 8, the hook holes 25c, 26c, 19e, and 19f of the hook portions 25b, 26b, 19c, and 19d are arranged so as to open near the periphery of the insertion opening 11e. ing.

The retainer 11g configured as described above is
When the retainer 11g is inserted into the insertion opening 11e of the case body 10a and rotated clockwise, the insertion slot 11k is rotated.
The outward flange 11i is guided by the inclined guide portion 11n, is inserted into the inner surface of the inward flange 11m, the engagement concave portion 11j is engaged with the hemispherical engagement protrusion 11p, and the mounting is completed. In this case, by rotating the retainer 11g counterclockwise, the retainer 11g is guided by the inclined guide portion 11n of the insertion slot portion 11k, and is detached so as to be lifted.

The coordinate information input device 10 according to the present invention is configured as described above. The coordinate information input device 10 integrally formed with the case body 10a is provided with photocouplers 24, 27 and A printed circuit board 28 on which other necessary parts are mounted is mounted, and the roller 1 is mounted.
By assembling the guide rollers 17 by attaching the guide rollers 3, 14, the assembly can be easily performed.

In the coordinate information input device 10 assembled in this manner, the ball 12 is
In a state in which a part of the retainer 11g is detachably fitted to the bottom surface of the case 11a and is partially exposed to the case bottom surface, the retainer 11c is held by the frame portion 11c of the storage portion 11 so as not to fall around and below. And can be restrained from above by the ball holding portion 11d provided on the inner surface of the case cover 10b, so that the housing portion 1
1 can be reliably held. Therefore, the user places the present coordinate information input device 10 on a work surface such as a table, and presses the bottom surface of the case against the work surface to move the case, thereby exposing the coordinate information input device 10 from the bottom surface of the case. The ball 12 is rotated by friction with the table surface. As a result, the ball 12 is rotated in a desired direction by a desired amount of rotation.

Here, the bearing portions 25, 26 and 19 of the detecting portions 15, 16 and the guide roller portion 17 are provided with the hook holes 25b, 26b and the holes 25c, 19c, 19d.
26c, 19e, and 19f are opened near the peripheral edge in the insertion opening 11e of the case main body 10a, and these openings are covered by the retainer 11g when the retainer 11g is attached to the insertion opening 11e. As a result, it can be occluded. Therefore, dust and the like do not enter the case through the opening, and the appearance does not impair the appearance due to the presence of the opening.

Also, the insertion opening 11e of the case body 10a
When the retainer 11g is attached to the slot body 11a, the slot 11k of the case body 10a has an outward flange 11i when the retainer 11g is rotated counterclockwise when viewed from below.
A pair of inclined guide portions 11n for contacting the upper surface of the outer surface and guiding the outward flange 11i in the attaching / detaching direction are provided at an angular interval of 180 degrees, so that the retainer 11g is guided by the slot portion 11k. And retainer 1
1 g can be easily attached and detached.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily assemble with a simple structure and to easily attach and detach the retainer without deteriorating the external appearance. An excellent coordinate information input device can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a coordinate information input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the coordinate information input device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the axial direction of one detection unit in the coordinate information input device of FIG.

4A and 4B show rollers in the detection unit of FIG. 3, wherein FIG. 4A is a side view and FIG. 4B is a front view.

5 is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the axial direction of a support member of a guide roller unit in the coordinate information input device of FIG. 1;

6 is a cross-sectional view along the axial direction showing a bearing of the guide roller unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a bottom surface of a case main body in the coordinate information input device of FIG.

8 is a partially enlarged plan view showing an insertion opening of a case main body in the coordinate information input device of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a conventional coordinate information input device.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the inside of the coordinate information input device of FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Coordinate information input device 10a Case main body 10b Cover 11 Housing part 11c Frame part 11d Ball suppressing part 11e Insertion hole 11g Retainer 11i Outward flange part 11k Slot part 11m Inward flange part 11n Inclined guide part 12 Ball 13,14 Roller 15, 16 Detector 17 Guide Roller 19, 25, 26 Bearing 19c, 19d, 25b, 26b Hook 19e, 19f, 25c, 26c Hole 23 Encoder 24, 27 Photocoupler 28 Printed Circuit Board

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A housing for rotatably housing a ball for inputting coordinate information in a case, a detecting unit for detecting a rotation direction and an amount of rotation of the ball, and the ball being constantly moved with respect to the detecting unit. A guide roller portion for pressing and urging, and a retainer removably attached to an insertion hole provided on the bottom surface of the case for inserting and removing a ball into the housing portion, wherein the retainer is provided on the case side. A pair of flanges protruding outward at an angle of 180 degrees from each other on the inner surface of the case, wherein the case is provided with an inward flange provided on a peripheral edge of the insertion hole; A coordinate information input device comprising a slot portion that opens to the bottom of the case along the circumferential direction with respect to the portion, at least the bearing portion of the detection unit and the guide roller unit includes:
The detection part and the guide roller part are integrally formed so as to stand up from the inside of the case main body, and a forming hole for forming the integrally formed part, such as the detection part and the guide roller part, is open at the periphery of the insertion hole on the bottom surface of the case. A coordinate information input device, characterized in that the hole is closed by the retainer when the retainer is mounted, and the slot portion of the case is provided with an inclined guide portion.