JP3831978B2 - Pushbutton switch, manufacturing method thereof, and keyboard manufacturing method using the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pushbutton switch used in an input device such as a personal computer, a manufacturing method thereof, and a keyboard manufacturing method using the pushbutton switch.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The general structure of a conventional push button switch used in a keyboard device or the like is configured such that a stem portion provided on a key top is fitted to a guide portion provided on a case and slid to move the key top up and down. However, when the push button switch having such a structure is made thin, the length of the fitting portion is shortened, and when the end of the key top is pushed and operated, the key top is tilted and twisted and the operability is deteriorated. In order to solve this problem, the key top stem portion and the case guide portion are not fitted together, and an X-shaped link member is interposed between the key top and the case to place the key. Thin pushbutton switches that move the top up and down have been proposed, and examples thereof are shown in FIGS.
[0003]
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the conventional thin pushbutton switch. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a link member of the pushbutton switch. In FIG. 9, 1 is a substrate made of a hard material such as a metal plate. A membrane sheet 2 on which a membrane switch is printed is placed on 1, and a dome-shaped cup rubber 3 is disposed so as to correspond to the switch portion of the membrane sheet 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a case in which a synthetic resin is molded, and a support shaft portion 6B provided at an end portion of the first member 6 and the second member 7 of the X-shaped link member in which the synthetic resin is molded in the central square hole portion, and A locking recess 4A is provided for locking the 7B so as to be freely slidable.
[0004]
Further, the supporting shaft portions 6A and 7A provided at the other end portions of the first member 6 and the second member 7 are rotatably engaged with a locking portion 5A provided on the key top 5 formed of synthetic resin. A cylindrical convex portion 6C is provided in the central portion of the first member 6, and is engaged with a long hole 7C provided in the central portion of the second member 7 so as to be rotatable and slidable. The two members 7 are linked as link members.
[0005]
Further, a linear pressing portion 6D for operating the cup rubber 3 is provided at the center of the first member 6, and when the link members constituting this link mechanism are combined, they are separated into individual pieces. In general, an assembling method in which the first member 6 and the second member 7 are individually combined manually by an operator is employed.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional pushbutton switch configured in this way, the linear pressing portion 6D of the cup rubber 3 is a point about half the length of the first member 6 and the second member 7, so that the cup rubber 3 is required to be about 1/2 of the stroke of the key top 5, and the operating load of the cup rubber 3 is required to be about twice that required for the key top 5, and the first member 6 and the cup rubber 3 The linear pressing portion 6D has a problem that it is difficult to manufacture a cup rubber 3 having a stable operation and a good operation feeling because of its circular movement.
[0007]
Moreover, in the said conventional method, since the disjoint link member was combined manually, there existed the subject that a man-hour would be required for a combination and the result was uneven.
[0008]
The present invention is intended to solve such a conventional problem, and is a push button switch that is easy to assemble, reduces the number of assembling steps, stabilizes the quality, and has a good operation feeling, and a method for manufacturing the same, and its use. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a keyboard.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the pushbutton switch of the present invention has a configuration in which the cup rubber is directly pressed by the key top through the ring portion in the middle of the connecting portion of the first member forming the link member, and the first member and An inclined groove is provided in the round hole of the first member that becomes the combined engagement portion of the second member, and the end of the columnar convex portion of the second member is rounded to facilitate engagement.
[0010]
As a result, the operation stroke and the operation load of the key top and the cup rubber can be made the same, and the combination of the first member and the second member can be easily performed in a stable state, and a plurality of connected first members And the 2nd member can also be combined simultaneously using a jig.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the center upper portions of a pair of opposed plate-like arm portions are connected by a connecting portion having a ring portion in the middle, and rounds provided respectively at substantially the center of both arm portions. The first member made of molded resin provided with an inclined groove that is gradually thinner in the plate thickness direction below the hole and gradually wider in the plane direction obliquely below, and one end of the pair of plate-like arm portions facing each other. Connected by a support shaft to form a substantially U-shape, and a cylindrical convex portion having a rounded tip at each of the substantially central inner sides of both arm portions is formed into a round hole at the substantially central portion of both arms of the first member. A second member made of molded resin that forms a link member that is inserted and combined from the outside to form an X-shaped side view, and a lower support for the X-shaped link member that is formed by the first member and the second member. The support shafts of the first member and the second member, which are parts, are maintained so that one can rotate and the other can rotate and slide. A key top made of a molded resin that holds the support shaft portion of the first member and the second member that serve as the upper support portion of the link member, one of which is rotatable and the other is rotatably slidable, A membrane switch having a cup rubber having a convex portion at the center and a contact portion press-contacted by the convex portion of the cup rubber while inserting the ring portion in the middle of the connecting portion of the member to constantly bias the key top upward This is a pushbutton switch composed of a substrate with a top surface, and the keytop moves up and down in a horizontal state without being tilted by being engaged with the link member, and the cup rubber is directly pressed by this keytop for switching. Because the operation is performed, the operation stroke and the operation load of the key top and the cup rubber coincide with each other, so that the operation feeling is good, and the guide groove and the second member which are spread below the first member The roundness of the cylindrical shaped convex tip, has the effect of a combination of the two members can be easily.
[0012]
The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, in which the support shaft portion of the first member serving as the lower support portion of the X-shaped link member in side view and the support shaft of the second member serving as the upper support portion. The first member and the first member are arranged so that the ends of the cylindrical protrusions on the substantially inner side of both arms of the second member fit into the lower ends of the inclined grooves substantially below the center outside of both arms of the first member without overlapping each other. Two members are overlapped, the first member is pushed diagonally against the second member, and the cylindrical convex portions of both arm portions of the second member are inserted into the round holes of both arm portions of the first member, and the side view After forming the X-shaped link member, this link member is combined with a substrate having a case, a key top, a cup rubber, and a membrane switch on the upper surface. Link member and push button switch using this It has an effect that can be produced.
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of first members and second members connected in a strip shape at the same pitch using a spool runner at the time of molding are provided. Overlapping the lower ends of the inclined grooves below the substantially central outer side of both arm portions of one member so that the ends of the cylindrical convex portions at the substantially central inner side of both arm portions of each second member are overlapped, and then a plurality of these are obliquely simultaneously After inserting and combining the cylindrical convex portions of both arm portions of each second member into the round holes of both arm portions of each first member using an assembly jig that presses in the direction, each connecting portion is cut. Individual link members are formed, and a plurality of first members and second members can be combined at the same time using a jig to form a link member, so that the number of push button switch assembly steps can be reduced. Work that can stabilize quality as well as Having.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the two support shaft portions serving as the lower support portions of the first member and the second member constituting the X-shaped link member in the side view are provided as the upper support portions. The dimensions of the two spindles projecting outward from the two support shafts, and using a spool runner at the time of molding, a plurality of strips connected in a strip shape at a pitch that matches the keyboard key top arrangement pitch The one member and the second member are substantially the same as the both arm portions of each first member without overlapping the support shaft portion of the first member serving as the lower support portion of the link member and the support shaft portion of the second member serving as the upper support portion. Using an assembly jig that overlaps the lower end of the inclined groove below the center outer side so that the ends of the cylindrical projections on the substantially inner side of both arms of the second member fit, and then presses them in an oblique direction simultaneously. Each second member in a round hole in both arm portions of each first member After inserting and combining the cylindrical projections of both arm parts of each arm, each connecting part is cut and divided into individual link members, and at the same time, each link member is connected to each switch square hole from the lower surface side of the keyboard case. Manufacturing of a keyboard that combines a substrate having a membrane switch on its upper surface, a cup rubber, and a key top after dropping and engaging the two support shafts serving as the lower support portions of each link member with the locking recesses for each push button switch This method has the effect of greatly reducing the number of assembling steps for the entire keyboard.
[0015]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
(Embodiment 1)
1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a pushbutton switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a method of assembling the main part, and FIG. 3 is a combination method of the first member and the second member. FIG.
[0016]
In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a substrate made of a hard material such as a metal plate. A membrane sheet 12 printed with a membrane switch is placed on the substrate 11, and corresponds to a switch portion of the membrane sheet 12. Thus, the dome-shaped cup rubber 13 is arranged. Reference numeral 14 denotes a case formed of a synthetic resin, which is provided with two guide walls 14A from both sides toward the central square hole, and a pair of locking recesses at the corner of the central square hole of the case 14 14C and 14D are formed.
[0017]
Reference numeral 15 denotes a key top formed of synthetic resin. A cylindrical stem portion 15A with which the head portion 13A of the cup rubber 13 abuts is provided at the center of the back surface, and a pair of locking portions 15B and 15C is provided.
[0018]
Reference numeral 16 denotes a first member formed of synthetic resin, and both side portions of the linear support shaft portion 16A are sandwiched between the engaging recess 14D of the case 14 and the membrane sheet 12 so as to be freely slidable. A cylindrical support shaft portion 16C is provided on the inner side of the front end portion of the opposing plate-like arm portion 16B, and is rotatably engaged with the locking portion 15B of the key top 15.
[0019]
Reference numeral 17 denotes a second member formed of a synthetic resin, which intersects with the outer side of the first member 16 and is combined with both ends of the linear support shaft portion 17A at the locking recess 14C of the case 14 and the membrane sheet 12. A cylindrical support shaft portion 17C is provided on the outer side of the distal end portion of the opposed plate-like arm portion 17B, and is freely slidable on the locking portion 15C of the key top 15. Is engaged.
[0020]
Further, the locking round hole 16D provided at the center of the plate-like arm portion 16B of the first member 16 has a columnar shape provided at the center of the plate-like arm portion 17B of the second member 17. The convex portion 17D of the first member 16 and the second member 17 are interlocked to each other, and the ring portion provided in the connecting portion 16E at the upper center of the first member 16 is provided. The cup rubber 13 passes, and its head portion 13A is engaged with the stem portion 15A of the key top 15.
[0021]
Next, a method for assembling the pushbutton switch of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, the cylindrical convex portion 17D of the second member 17 is inserted into the round hole 16D for locking the first member 16. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the link member is formed by engaging the shafts 16A of the first member 16 serving as the lower support portion of the link member. The lower support shaft portion 17C of the second member 17 serving as the upper support portion faces each other so as not to overlap with each other, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the substantially central round holes 16D of the both arm portions 16B of the first member 16 are provided. The tip provided on the lower end of the inclined groove 16F provided so as to become deeper and wider in the plate thickness direction and the plane direction as it goes downward on the outer lower side of each of the arms 17B of the second member 17 at the substantially central inner side of each of the arm portions 17B. Rounded circle The first member 16 and the second member 17 are overlapped so that the convex portion 17D fits, and the two members 17 are pressed in an oblique direction as shown by the arrows in FIG. The rounded portion at the tip of the convex portion 17D slides along the inclined groove 16F of the first member 16, and the cylindrical convex portion 17D fits into the round hole 16D. As shown in FIG. The member 16 and the second member 17 are rotatably combined to form a link member. At this time, the support shaft portion 16A of the first member 16 is in a state of being recessed below the support shaft portion 17C of the second member 17.
[0022]
Next, both ends of the support shaft portion 16A of the first member 16 of the combined link member and both ends of the support shaft portion 17A of the second member 17 are inserted into the locking recesses 14D and 14C of the link member of the case 14. .
[0023]
Then, the cup rubber 13 is inserted into a cup rubber positioning portion formed by the ring portion of the connecting portion 16E of the first member 16 and the two guide walls 14A of the case 14, and subsequently the membrane sheet 12 is provided on the upper surface. After the substrates 11 are combined and fixed to the case 14 by a method such as screwing, the support shaft portion 16C of the first member 16 of the link member and the support shaft portion 17C of the second member 17 are connected to the locking portions 15B of the key top 15 and Assembling is completed by attaching the key top 15 so as to engage with 15C. At this time, the head portion 13A of the cup rubber 13 uses the tapered portion at the tip thereof to the cylindrical stem portion 15A of the key top 15. Engaged.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the push button switch according to the present embodiment will be described.
When a part of the upper surface of the key top 15 of the pushbutton switch having the X-shaped link mechanism combined as described above is pressed with a fingertip, the pressed portion first moves downward.
[0025]
At this time, the support shaft portions 16C and 17C of the first member 16 and the second member 17 engaged with the locking portions 15B and 15C of the key top 15 rotate and rotate and slide to the case 14 and the membrane sheet 12. The support shaft portion 16A that is slidably clamped rotates and slides, and the support shaft portion 17A rotates.
[0026]
In the above operation, since the round hole 16D of the first member 16 and the columnar convex portion 17D of the second member 17 are engaged, the vertical movements of the first member 16 and the second member 17 are interlocked. When any part of the key top 15 is pressed, the key top 15 is pushed down in a substantially horizontal state, and the switch portion of the membrane sheet 12 is formed by a convex portion 13B below the center of the cup rubber 13 that biases the key top 15 upward. Is pressed and the switch is turned on.
[0027]
In the above description, the center of rotation of the first member 16 is the round hole 16D, and the center of rotation of the second member 17 is the cylindrical convex portion 17D. However, the round hole 16D and the cylindrical convex portion 17D are respectively Needless to say, the arrangement may be reversed.
[0028]
(Embodiment 2)
4 and 5 show a pushbutton switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention in which a plurality of link members are formed by simultaneously combining a plurality of first members and a plurality of second members in a strip shape. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a manufacturing method and a side view showing a combination procedure. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a method of cutting a plurality of linked link members into individual link members.
[0029]
First, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A, the connecting portion 17E of the second member 17 connected in a plurality of strips using a spool runner at the time of molding is used with a dedicated assembly jig. A first member that is inserted and positioned between a pair of positioning portions 22A of a receiving plate 22 and connected in a plurality of strips from above using a spool runner in the same manner as the molding process. 16 is combined so that the connecting portion 16G is sandwiched between the narrow positioning portions 22B of each of the receiving plates 22 and the outside of the linear support shaft portion 16A is in contact therewith, as shown in FIG. As shown in b), the first member 16 is placed on the second member 17.
[0030]
In this state, the support shaft portion 16A of each first member 16 and the support shaft portion 17C of each second member 17 do not overlap each other, and both the arm portions 17B of each second member 17 have a cylindrical convex portion 17D substantially inside the center. The rounded tip is engaged so that it fits in the lower end part of the inclined groove 16F below the substantially outer side of both arms 16B of each first member 16.
[0031]
Next, the upper surface of all the first members 16 is pushed downward by the push plate 21 which is a dedicated assembly jig shown in FIG. The first member 16 descends downward along the width positioning portion 22B. When the support shaft portion 16A reaches the tapered portion 22C at the lower end of the positioning portion 22B as shown in FIG. 5C, the first member 16 moves along the tapered portion 22C. And go diagonally downward.
[0032]
At this time, the columnar convex portions 17D of both the arm portions 17B of the second member 17 engaged with the inclined grooves 16F of the both arm portions 16B of the first member 16 advance obliquely upward through the inclined grooves 16F, And the support shaft portion 16A of the first member 16 digs under the support shaft portion 17C of the second member 17. As a result, as shown in FIG. The first member 16 and the plurality of second members 17 are combined by the round hole 16D and the columnar convex portion 17D, and the plurality of link members are connected by the spool runner of the first member 16 and the second member 17. It becomes the shape.
[0033]
A perspective view of FIG. 6 shows a method of separating the plurality of linked link members formed in this way into individual link members.
[0034]
In the drawing, reference numeral 23 denotes a cutting blade, 24 denotes a cradle, and 25 denotes a chute. A plurality of linked link members are placed on the cradle 24 and the connecting portions 16G and 17E are cut by the cutting blade 23 to provide individual link members. As shown in FIG.
[0035]
As a result, the link member can be formed efficiently and inexpensively, and a push button switch using the link member can also be inexpensively formed.
[0036]
Of course, the direction in which a plurality of first members 16 and second members 17 are connected in a strip shape by using a spool runner at the time of molding may be changed by 90 ° from the present embodiment. is there.
[0037]
(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining a method of manufacturing a keyboard according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, reference numerals 18 and 19 denote spool runners during molding as in the second embodiment. Are a plurality of first members and second members that form link members connected in a strip shape. As shown in the plan view of the link members in FIG. The support shaft portion 18A of the first member 18 and the support shaft portion 19A of the second member 19 are both sides of the support shaft portion 19B of the second member 19 and the support shaft portion 18B of the first member 18 which are upper support portions, respectively. It has dimensions projecting outward, and the connection pitch is connected in a strip shape with a pitch that matches the pitch of the switch square hole 20A of the keyboard case 20, that is, the arrangement pitch of the key tops.
[0038]
Reference numerals 26 and 27 denote cutting blades and cradles similar to those of the second embodiment, but the arrangement pitch of these blades 26A and the drop holes 27A is also matched to the arrangement pitch of the key tops.
[0039]
Then, the link members connected in a strip shape are placed on the cradle 27 with the first member 18 being the upside down direction of the second embodiment and the second member 19 being the upper side. And at the same time, it is dropped downward from the drop hole 27A of the cradle 27, and as shown in FIG. 7, it is dropped into the switch square hole 20A of the keyboard case 20 with the lower surface side up. The protrusions outward of both sides of the support shaft portion 18A of the first member 18 and the support shaft portion 19A of the second member 19 which are the lower support portions of the link members are respectively engaged with the locking recesses 20B, 20C, 20D of the keyboard case 20. , 20E.
[0040]
Thereafter, a keyboard having a membrane switch, a cup rubber, and a key top are combined on the lower surface of the keyboard case 20 to complete a keyboard.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the key top is engaged with the link member, the key top moves up and down in a horizontal state without tilting, and the cup rubber is directly pressed by the key top to perform the switching operation. Since the link member can be easily and stably formed, a plurality of link member pieces are connected in a strip shape by a connecting portion using a spool runner, and the first member and the second member Then, the connecting members can be cut together to assemble the link member, and the advantageous effect of not only reducing man-hours but also stabilizing the quality can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of main parts of a pushbutton switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembling method of the main parts. FIG. 3 is a combination of the first and second members. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a manufacturing method of a pushbutton switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the same combination procedure. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a method for cutting a member into individual link members. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a method for manufacturing a keyboard according to a third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the link member. Sectional view of the main part of a conventional thin pushbutton switch [FIG. 10] Perspective view showing the link member [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Board | substrate 12 Membrane sheet 13 Cup rubber 13A Head part 13B Convex part 14 Case 14A Guide wall 14C, 14D Locking recessed part 15 Key top 15A Stem part 15B, 15C Locking part 16 1st member 16A, 16C Support axis part 16B Arm part 16D Round hole 16E Connecting portion 16F Inclined groove 16G Connecting portion 17 Second member 17A, 17C Support shaft portion 17B Arm portion 17D Convex portion 17E Connection portion 18 First member 18A, 18B Support shaft portion 19 Second member 19A, 19B Support shaft Part 20 Keyboard case 20A Square hole part 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E for locking Locking recess 21 Push plate 22 Receiving plate 22A, 22B Positioning part 22C Taper part 23 Cutting blade 24 Receiving base 25 Chute 26 Cutting blade 26A Blade 27 Receiving base 27A Pitfall

Claims (4)

The center upper part of the pair of plate-like arm parts facing each other is connected by a connecting part provided with a ring part in the middle, and the plate thickness direction is below the outside of the round hole provided at the approximate center of both arm parts. The first member made of molded resin, which is provided with an inclined groove that gradually becomes thinner and gradually wider in the plane direction, and one end of a pair of plate-like arm portions opposed to each other by a support shaft, is formed into a substantially U-shape. The columnar convex portions having rounded ends provided respectively at the substantially central inner sides of the two arm portions are inserted and combined from the outer sides into the round holes at the substantially central portions of the first member, respectively, and are combined to form an X-shaped side view. Support of the first member and the second member that are the lower support portions of the second member made of molded resin constituting the link member, and the X-shaped link member that is composed of the first member and the second member when viewed from the side A case that holds the shaft so that one is rotatable and the other is rotatable. A key top made of molded resin that holds the support shafts of the first member and the second member that are the side support portions, one being rotatable and the other being rotatable and slidable, and a ring portion in the middle of the connecting portion of the first member A push button comprising a board having a cup rubber having a convex portion at the center and a membrane switch having a contact portion press-contacted by the convex portion of the cup rubber on the upper surface. switch. The support shaft portion of the first member, which is the lower support portion of the X-shaped link member when viewed from the side, and the support shaft portion of the second member, which is the upper support portion, do not overlap each other. The first member and the second member are overlapped with each other so that the end of the columnar convex portion at the substantially inner center of both arms of the second member is fitted to the lower end of the inclined groove, and the first member is inclined to the second member After pressing, the columnar convex portions of both arm portions of the second member are inserted into the round holes of both arm portions of the first member to form an X-shaped link member in a side view, and the link member is then used as a case. 2. The method of manufacturing a pushbutton switch according to claim 1, wherein a key top, a cup rubber, and a membrane switch are combined with a substrate having an upper surface. A plurality of first members and second members connected in a strip shape at the same pitch using a spool runner at the time of forming, and the lower end portion of the inclined groove below the substantially center outside of both arm portions of each first member Both arms of each first member are overlapped so that the ends of the columnar convex portions on the substantially inner side of the arms of each second member are fitted, and then a plurality of these arms are simultaneously pushed in an oblique direction using an assembly jig. 3. The pushbutton switch manufacturing method according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical protrusions of both arms of each of the second members are inserted and combined in the round holes of the respective parts, and then each link is cut to form an individual link member. Method. The two support shaft portions that serve as the lower support portions of the first member and the second member that constitute the X-shaped link member when viewed from the side are dimensioned to protrude outward on both sides from the two support shaft portions that serve as the upper support portions. A plurality of first and second members connected in a strip shape with a pitch that matches the pitch of the key tops of the keyboard using a spool runner at the time of molding are used as lower support portions of the link member. Both arm portions of the second member are arranged at the lower end portion of the inclined groove below the substantially center outside of both arm portions of each first member without overlapping the supporting shaft portion of the first member and the supporting member of the second member serving as the upper support portion. The second cylindrical member is overlapped so that the ends of the cylindrical convex portions on the substantially inner side fit into each other, and then a plurality of these members are simultaneously pushed in an oblique direction, and the second members are inserted into the circular holes of both arm portions of the first members. After inserting and combining the cylindrical convex parts of both arm parts Each connecting portion is cut and divided into individual link members, and at the same time, each link member is dropped into each switch square hole portion from the lower surface side of the keyboard case, and each of the two support shaft portions serving as the lower support portions of each link member is separated from each other. 2. The method of manufacturing a keyboard using a push button switch according to claim 1, wherein the board having the membrane switch on the upper surface, the cup rubber, and the key top are combined after being engaged with the locking recess for the push button switch.

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