JP4227542B2 - Keyboard device and method of assembling the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a keyboard device and an assembling method thereof, and more particularly, to a keyboard device and an assembling method thereof capable of preventing a combination of different types of key tops.

  A conventional keyboard device described in Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. A key top 52 disposed on the upper side has a rectangular top plate 53 and a lower side from the periphery of the top plate 53. An extending side wall 54 and an upper cord portion 55 extending further downward from one end side of the side wall 54 are formed.

Further, the upper code portion 55 is divided into four in the horizontal direction to form bits 55a, 55b, 55c, and 55d, respectively, and the bits 55a and 55d at both ends form a convex portion downward, and an intermediate bit 15b. 15c form a recess, whereby a key top side type code consisting of a combination of a projection and a recess defined by the type of key top is formed.
A base plate 60 and a rubber spring (not shown) that is placed on the base plate 60 and elastically urges the key top 52 upward are disposed below the key top 52.

  A lower cord portion 61 that extends upward is formed at a position facing the upper cord portion 55 of the key top 52. The lower code portion 61 is divided into four in the horizontal direction like the upper code portion 55, and bits 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d are formed. Bits 61a and 61d at both ends are formed in concave portions corresponding to the bits 55a and 55d made of the convex portions of the upper code portion 55, and bits 55b and 61c in the central portion are bits 55b made of the concave portions of the upper bit 55, It is formed in the convex part corresponding to 55c.

Further, the key top 52 is placed on a rubber spring (not shown) and pushed in a predetermined amount, so that a claw portion (not shown) formed on the key top 52 forms a claw receiving hole (not shown) formed in the base plate 60. ).
As a result, when the key top 52 is supported by the base plate 60 so as to be movable up and down, the membrane switch (not shown) formed on the base plate 60 side is pushed in by pushing the key top 52 to the lowest end. The circuit is switched.
Further, when the pressing of the key top 52 is released, the key top 52 is raised to the initial position by the biasing force of the rubber spring.

In such a conventional method of assembling the keyboard device 51, the key top 52 is placed on a rubber spring (not shown) attached to the base plate 60 and pushed downward. Then, the claw portion engages with the claw receiving hole, and the convex bits 55a and 55d of the upper cord portion 55 are inserted into the concave bits 61a and 61d of the lower cord portion 61, and the convex bits 61b and 61c of the lower cord portion 61 are inserted. However, it is inserted into the concave bits 55b and 55c of the upper cord 55 so that the lowering of the key top 52 is not obstructed.
At the same time, the claw portion engages with the claw receiving hole, and the key top 52 is assembled to the base plate 60 so as to be movable up and down.

Also, the type of the key top 52 is, for example, mistakenly combined with different types in which the bits 55a and 55d at both ends of the upper code portion 55 form recesses and the intermediate bits 15b and 15c form protrusions. In this case, the upper cord portion 55 hits the lower cord portion 61, and the key top 52 cannot be pushed down to the lower membrane switch, so that the switch operation cannot be performed.
JP 2000-112620 A

However, in the conventional keyboard device 51 and this assembling method, when different types of key tops 52 are mistakenly assembled, if the external shapes of the different types of key tops 52 are similar, the wrong combination is found at a glance. It was difficult to ship, and there was a risk that it would be shipped as a defective product that was assembled incorrectly.
Further, an upper code portion 55 made up of four divided bits is formed on each key top 52 of different types, and a lower portion made up of four divided bits is formed at all positions of the base plate 60 opposed to the upper code portion 55. Since the cord portion 61 is formed so as to protrude, there is a problem in that the structure of the key top 52 and the base plate 60 is complicated and the cost is increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to provide a keyboard device and an assembling method thereof that can easily find and prevent a key top combination with a key top and a base plate having a simple structure. To do.

  As a first means for solving the above problems, a keyboard device according to the present invention includes a plurality of key tops, a link member that supports the key tops at predetermined positions so as to be movable up and down, and the key tops via the link members. The key top is composed of at least two types of first and second key tops having different external shapes, and the two types of key tops are back surfaces facing the base plate. An upper support portion capable of supporting one end portion side of the link member is formed on the ceiling surface on the side, and the upper support portion of the second key top has a predetermined dimension with respect to the upper support portion of the first key top. The base plate is formed with a lower support portion that can support the other end portion of the link member, and the lower support portion is formed on the first key top. A first lower support portion that can support the first key top in a regular position that supports the side support portion, and the upper support portion that is displaced from the second key top. A second lower support portion capable of supporting the second key top is formed at a normal position, and the second key top is assembled to the first lower support portion, or the first key top is assembled to the second lower support portion. When the combination is wrong, the first or second key top having the wrong combination is displaced from the normal position.

  Further, as a second means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the first and second key tops are arranged adjacent to each other in the left and right lateral directions, and the upper support portions of the first and second key tops are When the first or second key tops are misaligned, the first or second key tops misaligned are misaligned in the vertical direction. It is characterized by.

  Further, as a third means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the first key top is formed with one outer peripheral wall projecting from the one side of the ceiling surface to the base plate side in a substantially vertical shape. A recess having a predetermined width dimension is formed between the outer peripheral wall of the first support portion and the upper support portion, and the base plate forms a protrusion portion that can enter the recess portion at least in the vicinity of the first lower support portion. The convex portion enters the concave portion when the first key top supported by the lower supporting portion is pushed down.

  The keyboard device assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the keyboard device assembly method according to the present invention is a fourth means for solving the above-mentioned problems. The upper support portion of the first key top is aligned with the link member supported on the base plate, and the upper support portion of the second key top is aligned with the link member supported on the second lower support portion of the base plate. When the first and second key tops are aligned and pushed down by applying a pressing load, the first and second key tops adjacent to each other in the lateral direction are assembled and arranged.

  Further, as a fifth means for solving the above-mentioned problem, when the first key top is pushed down, at least a convex portion formed in the vicinity of the first lower support portion enters a concave portion formed in the first key top. The first key top is assembled to the first lower support part.

In the keyboard device of the present invention, when the second key top is assembled to the first lower support portion or the first key top is assembled to the second lower support portion, the first or second key top having the wrong combination is Since the position is shifted from the normal position, it is possible to easily find and correct the key top combination.
Further, the bit divided into four in the horizontal direction formed on the conventional key top and base plate is not required, and the key top and base plate can be easily manufactured and the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the first and second key tops are arranged adjacent to each other in the left and right lateral directions, and the upper support portions of the first and second key tops are formed so as to be displaced in the vertical direction. When the key tops are misassembled, the misaligned first or second key tops are displaced in the vertical direction, so that it is possible to easily find the key top misassembly.

  In addition, when the first key top supported by the first lower support portion is pressed down, the convex portion enters the concave portion, so that the second key top is assembled to the first lower support portion by making a mistake. Even in this case, it is possible to prevent in advance an assembly error such that the convex portion gets in the way and the second key top is assembled to the first lower support portion.

  The keyboard device assembling method of the present invention is the keyboard device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper support portion of the first key top is attached to the link member supported by the first lower support portion of the base plate. When the upper support portion of the second key top is aligned with the link member supported by the second lower support portion of the base plate, and a pressing load is applied to the first and second key tops, Since the first and second key tops adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction are assembled while being aligned, different types of key tops can be assembled without any combination.

  Further, when the first key top is depressed, at least the convex portion formed in the vicinity of the first lower support portion enters the concave portion formed in the first key top, and the first key top is assembled to the first lower support portion. Therefore, even if the second key top is assembled to the first lower support portion, it is possible to prevent in advance a misalignment such that the convex portion gets in the way and the second key top is assembled to the first lower support portion. Can do.

   Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a plan view of a keyboard device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a first key top according to the present invention, and a bottom view of a second key top according to the present invention of FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the base plate according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side view for explaining the assembly of the second key top according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows the assembly mistake of the first key top according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a side view for explaining assembly of the first key top according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a side view for explaining an assembly error of the second key top according to the present invention.

First, in the keyboard device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of different types of key tops 2 are arranged at predetermined positions.
The plurality of key tops 2 are a horizontally long space key 2a and a plurality of first and second key tops 4 and 5, which are character input keys formed in a substantially square shape, arranged side by side in front, rear, left and right. Has been.
The character input key includes a first key top 4 including at least two home position keys F and J, and a plurality of normal keys G, H, and B other than the two first key tops 4. 2 key tops 5.

As shown in the bottom view of FIG. 2, the first key top 4 has a rectangular ceiling surface 4a as a bottom surface, and outer walls 4b and 4c are formed on the outer periphery of the four surfaces of the ceiling surface 4a. It is formed in a shape.
In addition, one outer peripheral wall 4b on the upper side in the figure is formed substantially perpendicular to the paper surface, and the three outer peripheral walls 4c other than the one outer peripheral surface 4b are formed obliquely in a skirt shape. That is, the one outer peripheral wall 4b is formed so as to project substantially vertically on the base plate 7 side described later in the state shown in FIG.

Moreover, the upper support parts 4d-4g are formed in four places in the recessed upper surface 4a, and the upper support parts 4d-4g are connected to one ends of a plurality of link members 6 as shown in FIGS. The part side can be slidably supported.
A pair of upper support portions 4d and 4f formed opposite to each other in the vertical direction in the figure are formed with an interval of a dimension A, and three convex walls are crossed at an interval of 60 ° at a substantially central portion of the dimension A. A rubber support portion 4h extending in a predetermined dimension in six directions is formed.
The rubber support 4h can support a rubber scribe (not shown), and the first key top 4 is elastically biased upward in a direction away from a base plate 7 described later by a rubber spring.

A dimension B is formed from the inner surface of one outer peripheral wall 4b to the support surface of one upper support portion 4d in the upper part of the figure.
And between one outer peripheral wall 4b and one upper support part 4d, the recessed part 4j of the width dimension C which is a predetermined width dimension is formed.
Since the first key top 4 composed of such a home position key has a fingertip detecting portion formed of a streak-like protrusion on the upper surface, the first key top 4 serving as a home position key is placed on the operator's fingertip. Can be easily detected.
Further, the second key top 5 made of normal keys has the same outer shape as the first key top 4 except that the first key top 4 has no fingertip detection portion.

As shown in the bottom view of FIG. 3, the second key top 5 has a substantially rectangular ceiling surface 5a formed substantially the same as the first key top 4, and one ceiling surface 5a is provided on the ceiling surface 5a. An outer peripheral wall 5b and the other outer peripheral wall 5c are formed, and upper support portions 5d to 5g are formed at four locations on the ceiling surface 5a.
One end side of the plurality of link members 6 can be slidably supported by the upper support portions 5d to 5g.

The pair of upper support portions 5d and 5f facing each other are formed with an interval of the dimension A as in the case of the first key top 4, and the same as the first key top 4 in the substantially central part of the dimension A. A rubber support portion 5h is formed to support a rubber spring (not shown).
Further, the inner surface of one outer peripheral wall 5b on the upper side in the figure to the support surface of one upper support portion 5d is formed with a dimension D smaller than the dimension B of the first key top 4, and one outer peripheral wall 5b and one A recess 5j having a dimension E smaller than the dimension C of the first key top 4 is formed between the upper support 5d.
That is, the upper support portions 5d to 5g of the first key top 5 are displaced from the upper support portions 4d to 4g of the first key top 4 by a predetermined dimension (BD) in the vertical direction in the vertical direction in the figure. Is formed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a base plate 7 made of a metal plate having a large area on which the plurality of key tops 2 can be placed is disposed on the lower side facing the plurality of key tops 2. A film-like membrane sheet 11 to be described later is placed.
The base plate 7 is formed with a lower support portion that can rotatably support the other end portion of the link member 6, and this lower support portion is an upper support of the first key top 4 as shown in FIG. 4. The first lower support portion 8 that supports the portions 4d to 4g via the link member 6 and can support the first key top 4 at a regular position, which is a predetermined position, is cut and raised at six locations.

Each of the six first lower support portions 8 is formed with a support hole 8a so that the lower end portion side of the link member 6 can be rotatably supported.
And the 1st key top 4 which is a home position key can be supported in a regular position via the link member 6 supported by the six 1st lower support parts 8. FIG.

Further, on the left side of the region where the six first lower support portions 8 are formed, the upper support portions 5d to 5g of the second key top 5 are supported via the link member 6 and are in a predetermined position. A second lower support portion 9 capable of supporting the second key top 5 at a regular position is formed by cutting and raising at six locations.
Each of the second lower support portions 9 is formed with a support hole 9 a in the same manner as the first lower support portion 8.
The second key top 5, which is a normal key, can be supported at the normal position on the second lower support portion 9.
The first and second lower support portions 8 and 9 adjacent to each other have a dimension G corresponding to the positional shift of the upper support portions 4d to 4g and 5d to 5g of the first and second key tops 4 and 5. It is formed with misalignment. That is, BD = G.

Further, on the upper side of the figure in the vicinity of the first lower support portion 8 shown in FIG. 4, the base plate 7 is cut and raised to form a convex portion 10 having a predetermined height. This convex portion 10 is formed on the first lower support portion 8. The first key top 4 is assembled so as to enter the recess 4j. The membrane sheet 11 placed on the upper surface of the base plate 7 is formed by laminating a plurality of film sheets, and a switch circuit is formed at a position corresponding to each key top 2.
A rubber spring (not shown) having a hollow inside and formed in a dome shape is fixed to the membrane sheet 11 at a portion where the switch circuit is formed with an adhesive or the like. When the key top 2 is pushed down, the rubber spring is elastically deformed to press the membrane sheet 11 and the switch circuit is switched.

In the method of assembling the keyboard device 1 of the present invention having such a configuration, first, the membrane sheet 11 to which the rubber springs are fixed is placed on the base plate 7 at positions corresponding to the plurality of switch circuits.
Then, the plurality of first and second lower support portions 8 and 9 protrude upward from the membrane sheet 11. Next, the lower end side of the link member 6 is inserted into the support holes 8 a and 9 a of the first and second lower support portions 8 and 9 to support the link member 6 on the base plate 7.

Thereafter, the first key top 4 is positioned and placed from above the link member 6 supported by the first lower support portion 8, and the first key top 4 is placed from above the link member 6 supported by the second lower support portions 8 and 9. The 2-key top 5 is aligned and placed.
For example, when the plurality of key tops 2 are pressed downward with a pressing jig (not shown) or the like, the upper end side that is one end side of the link member 6 is simultaneously placed on each of the upper support portions 4d to 4g and 5d to 5g. The plurality of key tops 2 are assembled to the base plate 7 via the link members 6 by being snapped in.
Thereafter, when the pressing by the pressing jig is released, each key top 2 is raised to a predetermined height supported by the link member 6 by the urging force of the rubber spring, and is assembled at the normal position.
As described above, the first and second key tops 4 and 5 assembled at the regular positions are aligned along the reference line F extending linearly in the lateral direction, and the keyboard device 1 of the present invention is assembled. .

In addition, when the keyboard device 1 of the present invention places the first key top 4 on the first lower support portion 8 during assembly and presses it with a pressing jig, as shown in FIG. The convex portion 10 enters the concave portion 4j, the first key top 4 is positioned at the normal position, and normal assembly is performed, and one outer peripheral wall 4b is assembled along the reference line F.
However, if the second key top 5 is mistakenly aligned with the first lower support portion 8 at the time of assembly, the second key top 5 has a dimension G with respect to the reference line F, as shown in FIG. Misaligned in the direction.
Even if the displaced second key top 5 is pressed against the base plate 7 side by a pressing jig, one outer peripheral wall 5b hits the convex portion 10 of the base plate 7, and the second key top 5 is further lowered. The second key top 5 cannot be assembled to the first lower support portion 8.
For this reason, it is possible to prevent in advance an assembly error such that the second key top 5 is erroneously assembled to the first lower support portion 8.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, one outer peripheral wall 5 b is assembled along the reference line F of the second key top 5 that is assembled to the second lower support portion 9 and is positioned at the normal position. However, when the first key top 4 is assembled to the second lower support portion 9 by mistake at the time of assembly, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, it is assembled in a state in which the position is shifted in the right direction of the dimension G in the figure.

  Since the misaligned second key top 5 is misaligned with respect to the reference line F, the second key top 5 can be visually confirmed and easily found. Further, by increasing the positional displacement dimension G caused by the combination of the second key top 5, the key tops 2 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction (the front-rear direction in the drawing) shown in FIG. It is also possible to do.

  In the keyboard device 1 of the present invention assembled as shown in FIG. 1, the switch circuit of the membrane sheet 8 is switched by pushing the desired key top 2 against the urging force of the rubber spring. For example, a desired character or the like is input to the personal computer side and displayed on the display.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the dimension B from one outer peripheral wall 4b of the first key top 4 to the upper support portion 4d is such that the one outer peripheral wall 5b of the second key top 5 extends from the upper support portion 5d. Although it has been described that it is formed so as to be displaced from each other in the vertical direction so as to be larger than the dimension D, the dimension from one outer peripheral wall 4b of the first key top 4 to the upper support portion 4d is the second key top 5 These may be displaced from each other so as to be smaller than the dimension from one outer peripheral wall 5b to the upper support portion 5d.
That is, the upper support portion 4d of the first key top 4 is formed so as to be displaced in the direction in which the dimension from the one outer peripheral wall 4b is larger than at least the upper support portion 5d of the second key top 5.

Further, the convex portion 10 on the base plate 7 side is described as being formed only in the vicinity of the first lower support portion 8, but it can enter the concave portion 5 j of the second key top 5 also in the vicinity of the second lower support portion 9. The convex portion 10 may be formed.
That is, the base plate 7 is formed with a convex portion 10 that can enter the concave portion 4j at least in the vicinity of the first lower support portion 8.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the key top 2 has been described as the first and second key tops 4 and 5 for character input. However, the key top 2 may be implemented as a horizontally long key top such as a space key.

It is a top view of the keyboard apparatus regarding this invention. It is a bottom view of the 1st key top concerning this invention. It is a bottom view of the 2nd key top concerning this invention. It is the elements on larger scale of the baseplate concerning this invention. It is a side view explaining the assembly of the 1st key top concerning invention. It is a side view explaining the assembly mistake of the 2nd key top concerning this invention. It is a side view explaining the assembly of the 2nd key top concerning this invention. It is a side view explaining the assembly mistake of the 1st key top concerning this invention. It is the schematic of the conventional keyboard apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Keyboard apparatus 2 of this invention Key top 2a Space key 4 1st key top 4a Ceiling surface 4b One outer peripheral wall 4c The other outer peripheral wall
4d to 4g Upper support portion 4h Rubber support portion 4j Recessed portion 5 Second key top 5a Ceiling surface 5b One outer peripheral wall 5c The other outer peripheral wall
5d to 5g Upper support portion 5h Rubber support portion 5j Recess 6 Link member 7 Base plate 8 First lower support portion 8a Support hole 9 Second lower support portion 9a Support hole 10 Projection F Reference line

Claims (5)

A plurality of key tops, a link member that supports the key tops in a predetermined position so that the key tops can be moved up and down, and a base plate that can support the key tops via the link members, the key tops having a part of the outer shape At least two types of different first and second key tops are formed, and the two types of key tops are upper support portions capable of supporting one end portion side of the link member on a ceiling surface on the back side facing the base plate. And the upper support portion of the second key top is formed with a predetermined dimensional displacement with respect to the upper support portion of the first key top,
The base plate is formed with a lower support portion capable of supporting the other end portion side of the link member, and the lower support portion supports the upper support portion of the first key top and is in the predetermined position. A first lower support portion capable of supporting the first key top in a position and a second support portion supporting the second key top in the normal position by supporting the upper support portion shifted in position from the second key top; 2 lower support portions are formed,
When the second key top is assembled to the first lower support portion or the first key top is assembled to the second lower support portion, the first or second key top having the wrong combination is A keyboard device characterized by being displaced from a position.   The first and second key tops are arranged adjacent to each other in the lateral direction of the left and right, and the upper support portions of the first and second key tops are formed to be displaced in the vertical direction, 2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein when the second key top is misassembled, the first or second key top having the misalignment is displaced in the vertical direction.   The first key top is formed with one outer peripheral wall that protrudes substantially vertically from one side of the ceiling surface to the base plate side, and has a predetermined width between the one outer peripheral wall and the upper support portion. A concave portion having a size is formed, and the base plate is formed with a convex portion that can enter the concave portion at least in the vicinity of the first lower support portion, and the first key top supported by the first lower support portion is pushed down. 3. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the convex portion enters the concave portion.   4. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the upper support portion of the first key top is aligned with the link member supported by the first lower support portion of the base plate, and When the upper support portion of the second key top is aligned with the link member supported by the second lower support portion of the base plate and a pressing load is applied to the first and second key tops, A method for assembling a keyboard device, wherein the first and second key tops adjacent in the lateral direction are assembled in an aligned manner. When the first key top is pushed down, at least a convex portion formed in the vicinity of the first lower support portion enters a concave portion formed in the first key top, and the first key top is inserted into the first lower support portion. The keyboard device assembly method according to claim 4, wherein the keyboard device is assembled.

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