JP3557620B2 - Key operated switch - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key-operated switch used for operating a control device or for managing and controlling various amusement devices.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional switches of this type include a cylinder in which a key is inserted and withdrawn, a cam mechanism that linearly displaces a plunger by rotation of the cylinder, a movable piece that transmits a displacement of the plunger to a push button or a lever of a microswitch and switches contacts. Plungers having spring biasing means for returning the plunger and the like have been put into practical use, and a cylinder is provided with a tumbler so as to discriminate keys and restrict key removal.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional switch has the following disadvantages due to its complicated structure and large number of parts.
[0004]
(1) A large number of molds are required, and the parts cost is high.
[0005]
(2) The number of assembling steps increases, hindering improvement in productivity and increasing assembling cost.
[0006]
(3) Component management is complicated and management cost is increased.
[0007]
(4) Variations in accuracy and quality due to combinations of many parts are large.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide a key-operated switch that can reduce such conventional disadvantages.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a key operated switch according to the present invention has the following configuration.
[0010]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a cylinder having a key groove is rotatably mounted on a main body case, and a contact contact portion is attached to an inner end of the cylinder, and a fixed contact that slides on the contact contact portion is provided in the main body case. A key-operated switch configured to rotate the cylinder with a key inserted into the key groove to perform contact switching, wherein the key is positioned relative to the key groove when the cylinder is in a neutral position. And a lock member mounted on the main body case is elastically urged in the key extraction direction to bias the cylinder to the cylinder. A lock mechanism for fixing the cylinder at the neutral position in combination with the lock mechanism, wherein the lock mechanism contacts the key inserted into the key groove. The lock is released by forcibly displacing the member in the key insertion direction against the lock urging force, and in a state where the lock is operated by the key to rotate the cylinder to the contact switching position. A member is biased into a positioning recess formed in the cylinder, and the cylinder is held at the contact switching position.
[0011]
The second aspect based on the first aspect, only certain keys on the by fitting between the key insertion direction of the projections provided on the front Symbol key groove and the longitudinal groove formed on a side surface of said key key groove is It is configured to be insertable .
[0012]
According to a third aspect, in the first or second aspect, in a state where the lock mechanism is released by the key to rotate the cylinder in a contact switching direction, the lock member is provided on a cam surface formed on the cylinder. The cylinder is configured to be rotationally biased relatively to the neutral position side by being in biasing contact .
[0013]
The fourth invention is the first to the third invention, to form a recess on the side edge of the key, the engagement piece to elastically engaged in the recess of said key inserted to a proper position in said keyway integrally formed in the cylinder, when in said key to said cylinder in said neutral position is insertion is disengaged from the recess the engaging pieces are elastically deformed, the cylinder is in contact switching position the A key removal preventing means is provided for preventing the engagement piece from being detached from the concave portion by contact with the main body case to prevent the key from being removed .
[0015]
[Action]
According to the configuration of the first invention, the contact contact portion attached to the cylinder rotated by the key is rotationally displaced integrally with the key and the cylinder, and the sliding contact position of the contact contact portion with the fixed contact changes to switch the contact. Is performed. In addition, the cylinder in the neutral position where the key can be inserted and removed is locked, and the lock can be released only when the proper key is inserted into the key groove to the proper position. Cannot be rotated. Further, the cylinder can be held at the contact switching position using the biased lock member.
[0016]
According to the configuration of the second invention, the appropriateness of the key is determined by fitting the convex ridge of the key groove and the vertical groove of the key, and a key other than the key having the vertical groove at a predetermined position is inserted into the cylinder. Can not .
[0017]
According to the configuration of the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the function of the first or second aspect of the invention, since the cylinder is urged to return to the neutral position, the returning operation from the contact switching position to the neutral position can be performed lightly and reliably. In addition, the neutral return urging action utilizes the urging force of the lock mechanism.
[0018]
According to the configuration of the fourth invention, in addition to the functions of the first to third inventions, when the cylinder is operated to the contact switching position, the detachment of the engagement piece fitted into the concave portion of the key is prevented, and It becomes impossible to pull out the key without permission, and the key can be pulled out only with the cylinder returned to the neutral position.
[0020]
【Example】
1 is an overall external view of a key-operated switch according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof, FIG. 3 is a vertical front view of a key inserted state, and FIG. 4 is a vertical side view thereof.
[0021]
This key-operated switch is basically composed of a square block-shaped main body case 1 having a switch mechanism therein, and a cylinder 2 rotatably incorporated in the main case 1. The cylinder 2 is rotated by a key 3 inserted therein. The contact switch of the interior switch mechanism is configured to be operated by a dynamic operation, and is attached to a circuit board or the like via an iron plate mounting bracket 4 externally fitted to the main body case 1.
[0022]
The main body case 1 includes a plastic base case 5 and a plastic upper case 6, and a connection piece 5 a erected on a side of the base case 5 is positioned and fitted into a concave portion 6 a formed on a side surface of the upper case 6. At the same time, the engagement holes 5b of the connection piece 5a are engaged with the engagement claws 6b provided on the side surface of the upper case 6 to connect the two 5 and 6.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 8, three fixed contacts 7, 8, 9 are insert-mounted on the bottom of the base case 5, and lead terminals 7a, 8a, 9a protrudes outside the case.
[0024]
The upper case 6 is provided with a cylindrical boss portion 6c for supporting the cylinder 2 inside.
[0025]
The cylinder 2 is formed by molding plastic into a cylindrical shape. A pair of flanges 2a are formed at diagonal positions on the outer peripheral surface, and legs 2b extend downward from each flange 2a. I have. The flange 2 a is supported between the upper end of a vertical wall 5 c erected from the base case 5 and the inner step of the upper case 6, thereby positioning the cylinder 2 up and down. A ring-shaped brush 10 as a contact contact portion is fitted and mounted over the lower end of the leg 2b so as to be relatively non-rotatable, and a pair of movable contacts 10a and 10b extending from the brush 10 are fixed to the fixed contact. It is configured to slide on 7, 8, and 9. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the brush 10 is in the neutral position. The movable contact 10a is always in contact with the fixed contact 7 as a common contact, and the movable contact 10a is rotated to the right by 45 ° from the neutral position. 10b contacts the fixed contact 8 and the lead terminal 7a conducts to the lead terminal 8a. By rotating the brush 10 to the left by 45 ° from the neutral position, the movable contact 10b contacts the fixed contact 9 and the lead terminal 7a A switch mechanism is set so as to conduct to the lead terminal 9a.
[0026]
A key groove 11 for inserting the key 3 is formed in the cylinder 2 so as to penetrate vertically. On the opposing inner surfaces of the key groove 11, ridges 12 in the key insertion / removal direction are formed at different distances from the center of the key groove, while the ridges 12 are engaged on both side surfaces of the key 3. Each of the vertical grooves 13 is provided so that only a predetermined appropriate key 3 can be inserted into the key groove 11. In addition, the notch recess 14 formed at the center of the tip of the key 3 is fitted into a bridge portion 15 provided at the inner part of the key groove 11 so that the key 3 can be inserted to the limit.
[0027]
A recess 16 is formed on both side edges of the key 3, and a pair of engaging pieces 17 that engage with the recess 16 are formed integrally with the cylinder 2 in the key groove 11. The engagement piece 17 is formed in a downward cantilever shape, and normally engages with the recess 16 and is configured to be detached from the recess 16 by being elastically deformed outward from the cylinder. When the cylinder 2 is rotated to a predetermined neutral position as shown on the left side in the sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. forming recesses 18 that are opposed to the outside of the engagement piece 17, the elastic deformation towards the cylinder out of the engagement piece 17 is allowed, so that the enable insertion or removal of the key 3 in this state. When the cylinder 2 is rotated from the neutral position, the engagement piece 17 is disengaged from the recess 18 as shown on the right side in the sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. The elastic deformation of the engagement piece 17 to the outside of the cylinder is prevented by contact with the inner surface of the upper case 6. In this way, the key removal prevention means is configured so that the key 3 can be inserted and removed when the cylinder 2 is in the neutral position, and that the key 3 cannot be inserted and removed when the cylinder 2 is out of the neutral position.
[0028]
A vertical groove 19 is formed on the opposing inner surface of the upper case 6, and a horizontal shaft 20 is engaged and supported over both vertical grooves 19 so as to be able to move only up and down. A coil spring 22 provided inside a boss 21 erected at the bottom of the case 5 constantly pushes and urges the boss 21 upward.
[0029]
At the lower part of the cylinder 2, a square recess 23 for neutral locking, which engages the shaft body 20 at two diagonal points, is formed to open downward. An inclined cam surface 24 is formed, and a neutral lock mechanism 25 that supports the cylinder 2 in a neutral position in a non-rotatable manner by engaging the shaft 20 as a lock member with the square concave portion 23 is configured.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 1, when the key 3 is inserted into the cylinder 2 to a predetermined position, the shaft body 20 of the neutral lock mechanism 25 is displaced downward at the tip of the key 3 and disengaged from the rectangular recess 23. When turning power is applied to the cylinder 2 left and right in the unlocked state, the cylinder 2 can rotate while pushing down the shaft body 20 against the coil spring 22 by the inclined cam surface 24, Thereby, the contact can be switched.
[0031]
A shallow positioning recess 26 having a downwardly extending shape is formed at a position 45 ° to the left and right of each of the rectangular recesses 23. When the cylinder 2 is rotated 45 ° to the right or left from the neutral position, the positioning recess 26 extends upward. The shaft body 20 urged upward is engaged with the positioning recess 26 so that the cylinder 2 can be elastically and stably held at the contact switching position.
[0032]
When the cylinder 2 is rotated from the contact switching position to the neutral position, first, the shaft body 20 is relatively pushed out of the positioning recess 26, and the shaft body 20 is disengaged from the positioning recess 26 and moves to the inclined cam surface 24. When it comes into contact, the cylinder 2 is relatively biased to rotate toward the neutral position side by the cam action between the shaft body 20 and the inclined cam surface 24 which are biased upward, and the rotation operation force to the cylinder 2 is reduced. Even when the cylinder 2 is released, the cylinder 2 returns to the neutral position by itself and rotates, and the neutral locked state is again provided.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the contact switching is performed by rotating the contact contact portion directly mounted on the cylinder integrally with the cylinder, the rotation displacement of the cylinder is changed to the linear displacement of the plunger as in the related art. No need for a complicated operation transmission mechanism such as operating the push button or lever of the internal switch after conversion, greatly reducing the number of parts, and the lock member of the lock mechanism is urged in the lock direction , A mechanism for holding the cylinder at the contact switching position is constructed, and the following effects are obtained.
[0034]
(1) Many dies are not required, and component costs can be reduced.
[0035]
(2) The number of assembling steps is reduced, productivity can be improved, and assembling cost can be reduced.
[0036]
(3) Management costs can be reduced by simplifying component management.
[0037]
(4) Variations in accuracy and quality can be reduced.
[0038]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the appropriateness of the key is determined by fitting the ridge of the key groove with the vertical groove formed in the key itself, so that the tumbler is incorporated in the cylinder. The structure is greatly simplified as compared with the first embodiment, and the effect of the first invention is further improved.
[0039]
Further, the lock mechanism for fixing the cylinder at the neutral position has a simple structure in which the lock member is directly released and displaced by an appropriate key inserted to a predetermined position, which is also effective in enhancing the effect of the first invention. It is.
[0040]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the second aspect, the cylinder is provided with a returning force to the neutral position by effectively utilizing the structure in which the locking member of the locking mechanism is urged in the locking direction. Since it is provided, there is no particular need for a special part for returning to neutral, which is effective for reducing the number of parts.
[0041]
Further, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a special component for preventing the key from being pulled out from the cylinder at the contact switching position is not required, thereby promoting the effects of the first to third aspects.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a key-operated switch according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the key-operated switch. FIG. 3 is a vertical front view in a key inserted state. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3; FIG . 6 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3; FIG. 7 is a developed front view showing a neutral lock mechanism, a neutral return means, and a contact switching position holding means. 8: Schematic plan view of switch mechanism [Description of reference numerals]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Body case 2 Cylinder 3 Key 7 Fixed contact 8 Fixed contact 9 Fixed contact 10 Brush (contact contact part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Keyway 12 Convex ridge 13 Vertical groove 16 Recess 17 Engagement piece 19 Vertical groove 20 Lock member (shaft)
24 inclined cam surface 25 neutral lock mechanism 26 positioning recess

Claims (4)

A cylinder provided with a key groove is rotatably mounted on the main body case, and a contact contact portion is attached to an inner end of the cylinder; and a fixed contact slidably contacting the contact contact portion is provided in the main body case; A key-operated switch configured to perform a contact operation by rotating the cylinder by a key inserted into the key-operated switch ;
While enabling insertion and removal of the key with respect to the key groove when the cylinder is in the neutral position,
The cylinder is engaged and supported so as to be displaceable only in the key insertion / extraction direction, and is elastically urged in the key extraction direction to urge the lock member provided in the main body case into engagement with the cylinder to move the cylinder to the neutral position. A lock mechanism to fix with
The lock mechanism is configured to release the lock by forcibly displacing the lock member in a key insertion direction against a lock urging force by contact with the key inserted into the key groove, and In a state in which the cylinder is rotated to the contact switching position by an unlocking operation, the lock member biases and engages with a positioning recess formed in the cylinder, and the cylinder is held at the contact switching position. Key-operated switch configured as follows . The key operated switch according to claim 1,
Key operated only certain keys on the by fitting between the key insertion direction of the projections provided on the front Symbol key groove and the longitudinal groove formed on a side surface of said key key groove is are to be inserted configuration switch. The key-operated switch according to claim 1 or 2,
In a state in which the lock mechanism is released by the key to rotate the cylinder in the contact switching direction, the lock member urges and contacts a cam surface formed on the cylinder, and the cylinder relatively moves to the neutral position. configured tear Ruki over operated switch as rotationally biased in position. The key operated switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
To form a recess on the side edge of the key, the engagement piece to elastically engaged in the recess of said key inserted to a proper position in said keyway and integrally formed to said cylinder, is in the neutral position the when the key cylinder is insertion is the engaging piece is elastically deformed disengaged from said recess, said when the cylinder is in contact switching position said engagement piece being disengaged from the recess body key withdrawn Oh Ruki over-operated switch comprises a blocking means to prevent withdrawal of the key and prevents the contact between the case.

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