JP4271559B2 - Method for manufacturing cover member for pushbutton switch, key top aligning device - Google Patents

Description

  According to the present invention, a plurality of independent key tops obtained by cutting a connecting piece connecting key tops from a group of key tops in which a plurality of key tops are integrally formed are arranged at intervals of a use form narrower than the intervals at the time of molding. The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for completing a pushbutton switch cover member by bonding and fixing to a sheet-like elastic member, and a key top alignment device used in the manufacturing method.

  As a method of assembling a key top molded body in which a plurality of key tops are integrally molded in the same arrangement and the same interval as the usage pattern, a case of a keyboard used as an input device of an information processing device is known (see Patent Document 1). )

  Typically, in a keyboard, pushbutton switches are arranged at a pitch of 19.05 mm up, down, left, and right, and characters and symbols indicating signals that can be input are displayed on the top of the key tops fitted to the pushbutton switches. And the arrangement has a certain order. Further, the keyboard includes a plurality of push button switches each composed of a movable portion and a switch element portion, a panel for holding the movable portion so as to be movable up and down, and a substrate for supporting the switch element portion from the back.

Therefore, in this conventional technique, a plurality of key tops fitted to each of the movable parts of the push button switch constituting the keyboard are used with the connecting resin for connecting the key tops at a predetermined interval, using the same resin. By being integrally formed, the connecting bar can be bent at the connecting portion with the key top and the middle when the key top is fitted, and after fitting, it has a shape that can be folded from the connecting portion with the key top, Prior to fitting, there is no need to consider arranging the key tops in order, and positioning with the movable part of the pushbutton switch at the time of fitting becomes easy. In addition, there is no need to check the orientation of the key tops when fitting, and there is no need to check the orientation or arrangement order of the key tops after fitting. As a result, there is an advantage that the characters and symbols are arranged in advance in a desired order and can be easily assembled.
JP-A-7-78046

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, the connecting portion that connects adjacent key tops can be bent at the connecting portion with the key top and in the middle, and after fitting, from the connecting portion with the key top. Mobile phones, portable terminals, portable game devices, remote controls, etc. that require sufficient space to achieve a foldable shape, and the distance between adjacent key tops is small and the height of the key tops is limited. There is a problem that it cannot be applied to a pushbutton switch used in a small electric / electronic device. Further, in a keyboard in which pushbutton switches are arranged at a pitch of 19.05 mm vertically and horizontally, there is a space for performing an operation of folding a connecting bar that connects adjacent key tops, but it is used in a small electric / electronic device. There is a problem that the pushbutton switch cannot secure a space for the size limitation.

  Therefore, the present invention eliminates the problems of the prior art as described above, and is a method for manufacturing a cover member for a push button switch, which is effective in manufacturing a push button switch used in a small electric / electronic device, and its manufacture. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for aligning key tops used in a method.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a key top group in which a plurality of adjacent key tops are previously integrated with a connecting piece having the same arrangement as that of the usage pattern and holding a suitable interval for molding is formed, and the key tops are formed. After the plurality of key tops are made independent on a cutting jig that cuts the connecting pieces of the group, the same arrangement as the usage pattern is arranged through the aligning device that narrows the interval between the adjacent key tops of the key top group. A plurality of independent key tops are set on an alignment jig having a recessed portion positioned in the above, and a plurality of independent keys housed in the alignment jig and a sheet-like elastic member having a separately formed pressing convex portion by bonding and fixing the top, in the manufacturing method of the cover member for push button switch which is adapted to form a single piece in which a plurality of key tops on the surface of the sheet-like elastic member is disposed fixed, the alignment A suction hole for connecting to an external suction device is provided on the bottom surface of the recess of the tool, and the suction force of the suction device is introduced when the plurality of independent key tops are accommodated in the recess. Adsorption for vacuum adsorbing the sheet-like elastic member at a position corresponding to the pressing convex portion of a fixing jig for fixing the plurality of independent key tops and housing the sheet-like elastic member A hole is provided, and after bonding the bottom surface of the plurality of key top portions and the pressing convex portion of the sheet-like elastic member, air is ejected from the suction hole to fix the sheet-like elastic member to the fixing It is characterized by being released from the jig .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an alignment apparatus for use in the manufacturing method of the pushbutton switch cover member according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of independent key tops are transferred from the cut jig to the alignment jig. The carrying work is carried out using a robot hand equipped with a suction tool at the tip and capable of three-dimensional control .

The invention according to claim 3 is an alignment apparatus used in the manufacturing method of the cover member for a pushbutton switch according to claim 1, wherein the recess includes the plurality of independent key tops of the cutting jig and the alignment. Performing via an air shooter provided with a conveyance path capable of conveying the plurality of independent key tops from the cutting jig to the alignment jig in a state where the concave portions of the jig are arranged to face each other. It is characterized by.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the conveying force of the plurality of independent key tops in the air shooter is generated by the suction force of the suction device connected to the suction hole formed in the recess of the alignment jig. It is characterized by letting it.

  The present invention produces the following effects by the above configuration.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, after an unnecessary connecting piece is cut from a key top group in which a plurality of adjacent key tops are previously arranged in the same manner as in the usage mode, an alignment device is used to align the intervals between adjacent key tops. A plurality of key tops are set in the recesses of the alignment jig positioned at the same intervals as the usage pattern, and then an adhesive is applied to the bottom surface of the key top exposed from the recesses of the alignment jig. It is possible to bond with a separately formed sheet-like elastic member.
In addition, a suction hole for connecting to an external suction device is provided on the bottom surface of the recess of the alignment jig, and the suction force of the suction device is introduced when a plurality of independent key tops are received in the recess. A plurality of independent key tops are fixed, while a suction hole for vacuum-sucking the sheet-like elastic member is provided at a position corresponding to the pressing convex portion of the fixing jig containing the sheet-like elastic member. Since the bottom part of the key top part and the pressing convex part of the sheet-like elastic member are bonded together, air is ejected from the suction hole to release the sheet-like elastic member from the fixing jig. The plurality of key tops are securely fixed to the concave portions of the alignment jig and are arranged on the pressing convex portions of the sheet-like elastic member, and the sheet-like elastic members to which the key tops are bonded are discharged from the alignment jig. .

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to control in a three-dimensional direction with high accuracy after cutting unnecessary connection pieces from a key top group in which a plurality of adjacent key tops are previously arranged in the same manner as the usage pattern. Since the robot hands are positioned with the same arrangement and the same interval as the usage pattern by the robot keys, the accurate positioning is executed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the suction of the suction device connected to the air shooter is performed after cutting unnecessary connection pieces from the key top group in which a plurality of adjacent key tops are previously arranged in the same manner as the usage pattern. Due to the force, the plurality of key tops are sucked into the concave portions of the alignment jig positioned at the same intervals as in the usage pattern, and are placed in a predetermined position.

  In addition to the operation of the third aspect, the invention according to the fourth aspect is the same as the usage mode by moving the shortest distance by the suction force of the suction device connected to the suction port provided in the concave portion of the alignment jig. It is transported to the concave portion of the alignment jig that is positioned at the same interval and placed in a predetermined position.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the aligning device that changes the large interval between the key tops at the time of integral molding of the plurality of key tops to the small interval between the key tops at the time of use, the key is used. While maintaining the molding interval between the adjacent key tops, which is necessary due to the nature of the resin that is the top material and the manufacturing problems of the mold, it is possible to arrange extremely small intervals in the usage form that uses a pushbutton switch. The cover member for the push button switch used in the realized small electric / electronic device is completed.
In addition, a plurality of key tops are firmly fixed to the concave portions of the alignment jig and are arranged on the pressing convex portions of the sheet-like elastic member, so that the key tops are adhered to accurate positions and the key tops are adhered. Since the sheet-like elastic member is discharged from the alignment jig, it is easy to take out the finished product of the push button switch cover member.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of independent key tops are conveyed by a robot hand from a cutting jig to an alignment jig for bonding a sheet-like elastic member, accurate movement in three dimensions is performed. Therefore, since the optimum transport route can be determined, it is possible to align the interval of the usage pattern accurately in a short time.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of independent key tops are transported from the cutting jig to the alignment jig for bonding the sheet-like elastic member by the air shooter, a complicated mechanism is not used. Since three-dimensional movement is possible, it is possible to align the usage pattern at an extremely small interval without requiring expensive equipment, and it is possible to suppress an increase in cost of the cover member for the push button switch.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the third aspect, when the key top is transported from the cutting jig to the aligning jig, the suction used for fixing the concave portion of the aligning jig. Since equipment for generating force can be used, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of constructing a structure for transporting a plurality of independent key tops to the alignment jig from the beginning, thereby further suppressing the cost increase of the cover member for the push button switch. .

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various design changes can be made within the scope described in the means for solving the problems.

  First, the manufacturing method of the cover member for pushbutton switches concerning this invention is demonstrated.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of a key top group which is an intermediate material when manufacturing a push button switch cover member according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pushbutton switch cover member obtained by the method for manufacturing the pushbutton switch cover member according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the cover member for the push button switch shown in FIG.

  To produce a pushbutton switch cover member required for pushbutton switches used in small electrical and electronic equipment, first lay out a plurality of key tops 1, 1, 1, ... in the same layout as the usage pattern. The key top group 3 integrated with the connecting pieces 2, 2, 2,... Usually, at this stage of integration, a display unit 4 for characters, symbols, and the like indicating necessary input signals is formed on the top surface of the key top 1 by means such as printing. Further, the individual key tops 1 on which the display portions 4 are formed are the same as in the use state, and at the stage where they are integrally formed, the distance between the adjacent key tops is the distance between the use states due to the problem of formability. It is larger than.

  On the other hand, the sheet-like elastic member 5 is formed in a necessary size in order to generate an appropriate operational feeling when the key top 1 is pressed and in consideration of waterproofness. The sheet-like elastic member 5 has a thin movable portion 6 on the back side at a position corresponding to each key top 1 so that each key top 1 can move up and down independently. A pressing projection 7 is provided at the center of the dome-shaped portion having the thin movable portion 6 and can press a contact member arranged on a substrate (not shown). For example, a conductive material is printed on the pressing protrusion 7, and a desired circuit can be opened and closed by contacting the contact member on the substrate with the conductive material.

  Next, in order to complete the push button switch cover member 8 by integrating the sheet-like elastic member 5 and the key top 1, an adhesive process for pairing the two is performed after both are positioned.

  Therefore, the positioning operation performed before the bonding process will be described below.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of a state in which a connection piece and a gate necessary for integral molding are cut from a key top group in which a plurality of key tops are integrally molded. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a state in which a plurality of key tops separated from the key top group are rearranged at intervals in the use state.

  When the connection piece 2 and the gate 9 and the runner 10 necessary for integral molding are cut from the key top group 3, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of key tops remain in the same arrangement as in use and become independent. .

  Next, in order to change from the state shown in FIG. 4 to the same arrangement and the same interval as in the use state of FIG. 5, an alignment process is required to reduce the interval between adjacent key tops.

  When the twelve key tops 1, 1, 1,... Shown in FIG. 4 are arranged, for example, the key tops 1 adjacent to each other with reference to the key top 1 on which the numeral “5” is displayed. It is necessary to gather around the key top 1 on which the numeral “5” is displayed so that the interval between them becomes an extremely narrow array of usage patterns as shown in FIG.

  Next, an alignment apparatus used in the alignment process will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing an alignment process when a robot hand is used as the alignment device.

In a state in which the connecting piece 2 of the key top group 3 in which a plurality of adjacent key tops 1, 1, 1,... Are integrated and the gate 9 and the runner 10 are cut, the key is placed in the recess 12a of the cutting jig 11. Top 1 is stored. Therefore, after the key top 1 is taken out from the recess 12a of the cutting jig 11 by a robot hand (not shown) provided with a suction tool at the tip, the alignment is formed in which the recesses 12b are positioned at the same intervals as the usage pattern. It conveys to the jig | tool 13, and each keytop 1 transfers to the recessed part 12b of the alignment jig | tool 13 which respond | corresponds. At this time, it is necessary that the key top 1 is detached from the adsorbing tool of the robot hand and stored in the recess 12b of the alignment jig 13 and fixed in the recess 12b. For this purpose, a suction hole 14 for connecting to an external suction device (not shown) is provided in advance on the bottom surface of the recess 12b of the alignment jig 13, and the key top 1 is provided in the recess 12b of the alignment jig 13. At this point, the suction force from the external suction device is introduced into the suction hole 14, and then the suction force of the suction tool of the robot hand is stopped.

  As described above, when a robot hand is used as the aligning device, a plurality of adjacent key tops 1, 1, 1,... Are unnecessary from the key top group 3 that is arranged in advance in the same manner as the usage pattern. After the connection piece 2 is cut, the spacing between a plurality of adjacent key tops 1, 1, 1,. As a result, accurate positioning is performed.

  FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an alignment process when an air shooter is used as the alignment device.

  A plurality of independent key tops 1, 1, 1 are cut by cutting the connecting piece 2 and the gate 9 or the runner 10 of the key top group 3 in which a plurality of adjacent key tops 1, 1, 1,. Are housed in the recess 12a of the cutting jig 11, which is the same as the alignment process by the robot hand.

  The difference from the alignment process by the robot hand is that the concave portion 12 a of the cutting jig 11 and the concave portion 12 b of the alignment jig 13 are arranged so as to face each other, and the key top 1 is placed between the cutting jig 11 and the alignment jig 13. The air shooter 16 having the conveyance passage 15 having a slightly larger cross section than the planar shape is interposed.

  The concave portions 12a of the cutting jig 11 and the concave portions 12b of the alignment jig 13 correspond one-to-one, and all the concave portions 12a of the cutting jig 11 pass through all the concave portions 12b of the alignment jig 13 and the conveyance path 15. Connected.

Therefore, the alignment jig 13 in which the key top 1 is not accommodated in the recess 12b is opposed to the cutting jig 11 in which the plurality of independent key tops 1, 1, 1,... In the state in which is arranged, a suction force from an external suction device (not shown) is introduced into the suction hole 14 provided in the recess 12b of the alignment jig 13. Then, the suction force of the suction device acts on the key top 1 housed in the recess 12a of the cutting jig 11 via the transport passage 15 of the air shooter 16, and as a result, the key in the recess 12a of the cutting jig 11 The top 1 is drawn toward the alignment jig 13 and is stored in the recess 12 b of the alignment jig 13.

  As described above, when the air shooter 16 is used as the aligning device, a plurality of adjacent key tops 1, 1, 1,... After cutting the connecting piece 2, the shortest distance is moved by the suction force of the suction device connected to the air shooter 16, and the plurality of key tops 1, 1, 1,. It is sucked into the recess 12b of the alignment jig 13 positioned at the same interval and is stored in a predetermined position.

  Next, an adhesion process between the key top and the sheet-like elastic member will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a bonding process for integrating a plurality of independent key tops and a sheet-like elastic member.

  A plurality of independent key tops 1, 1, 1,... Stored in the recess 12 b of the alignment jig 13 from the cutting jig 11 through an alignment device such as a robot hand or an air shooter 16 are arranged with the alignment jig 13. By combining with the fixing jig 17 of the sheet-like elastic member 5 that is positioned facing each other, an adhesion process is performed for integrating with the sheet-like elastic member 5 that is separately formed into a necessary shape.

  A fitting portion 18 having a shape corresponding to the shape of the back surface side of the sheet-like elastic member 5 is formed in the fixing jig 17 in advance, and at a position corresponding to the pressing convex portion 7 of the sheet-like elastic member 5. Are formed with suction holes 19 for vacuum-sucking the sheet-like elastic member 5.

  The alignment jig 13 and the fixing jig 17 are aligned so that the center of the key top 1 coincides with the center of the dome-shaped portion (the pressing convex portion 7) having the thin movable portion 6 of the sheet-like elastic member 5. With the concave portion 12b of the jig 13 and the fitting portion 18 of the fixing jig 17 facing each other, a guide pin (not shown) provided on the alignment jig 13 and the fixing jig 17 is fitted to the guide pin. Due to the guiding action with the bush (not shown), the positional relationship in the horizontal direction can be moved closer to and away from each other without changing.

  Therefore, after applying an adhesive to the bottom surface of the key top 1 or the outer surface of the dome-shaped portion having the thin movable portion 6 of the sheet-like elastic member 5, the bottom surface portion of the key top 1 and the sheet-like elastic member 5 are applied. The key top 1 and the sheet-like elastic member 5 are integrated via an adhesive by pressing the outer surface of the dome-shaped portion provided with the thin movable portion 6. Then, air is ejected from the suction hole 19 of the fixing jig 14 that has adsorbed the sheet-like elastic member 5, the sheet-like elastic member 5 is released from the fixing jig 14, and the fixing jig 14 is aligned and repaired. Retract from the tool 13. Thereafter, after the adhesive is cured, the push button switch cover member 8 in which the plurality of key tops 1, 1, 1,... And the sheet-like elastic member 5 are integrated is taken out from the alignment jig 13.

  In order to improve the visibility of the display unit 4 and the touch of the finger when pressed, generally, a hard resin such as polycarbonate is used for the key top 1, and the sheet-like elastic member 5 is used for the sheet-like elastic member 5. Silicone rubber is often used in consideration of elastic properties. In the adhesion of such different materials, it is difficult to give sufficient adhesive force only with the adhesive, so if necessary, the adhesive surface can be modified and the adhesive force can be improved before applying the adhesive. In order to improve, it is preferable to apply a primer.

  A plurality of key tops 1, 1, 1,... Are bonded and fixed at predetermined positions of the sheet-like elastic member 5, and one mode of the push button switch cover member 8 is completed. . As another aspect, it is also conceivable to form a movable contact by applying a conductive material to the surface of the pressing convex portion 7 thereafter.

It is a top view of the key top group which is an intermediate material at the time of manufacturing the cover member for pushbutton switches concerning this invention. It is a top view of the cover member for pushbutton switches obtained by the manufacturing method of the cover member for pushbutton switches which concerns on this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of the cover member for pushbutton switches shown in FIG. It is a top view of the state which cut | disconnected the connection piece and the gate required for integral molding from the keytop group which concerns on this invention. It is a top view of the state which rearranged the several keytop cut | disconnected from the keytop group which concerns on this invention to the space | interval of a use state. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the alignment process at the time of using a robot hand as an alignment apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the alignment process at the time of using an air shooter as an alignment apparatus based on this invention. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the adhesion process which integrates the several independent keytop and sheet-like elastic member by the manufacturing method of the cover member for pushbutton switches which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key top 2 Connection piece 3 Key top group 5 Sheet-like elastic member 6 Thin movable part 7 Pressing convex part 8 Cover member for pushbutton switches 11 Cut jig 12a, 12b Concave part
13 Alignment jig
14 Suction hole 15 Transport passage 16 Air shooter (alignment device)

Claims (4)

A cut that forms a key top group in which a plurality of adjacent key tops are integrated with a connection piece that has the same arrangement as the usage form and maintains a suitable interval for molding, and cuts the connection piece of the key top group After the plurality of key tops are made independent by a jig, the alignment jig has recesses that are positioned at the same interval as the usage pattern through an alignment device that narrows the interval between adjacent key tops of the key top group. A plurality of independent key tops are set on the sheet, and a sheet-like elastic member having a pressing convex portion separately formed and the plurality of independent key tops stored in the alignment jig are bonded and fixed, and the sheet In a manufacturing method of a cover member for a pushbutton switch in which a plurality of key tops are arranged and fixed on the surface of a shaped elastic member, the bottom surface of the concave portion of the alignment jig is outside A suction hole for connecting to the suction device is provided, and when the plurality of independent key tops are accommodated in the recess, the suction force of the suction device is introduced to fix the plurality of independent key tops On the other hand, a suction hole for vacuum-sucking the sheet-like elastic member is provided at a position corresponding to the pressing convex portion of the fixing jig containing the sheet-like elastic member, The key top of the sheet and the pressing convex portion of the sheet-like elastic member are bonded, and then air is ejected from the suction hole to release the sheet-like elastic member from the fixing jig. Manufacturing method of cover member for pushbutton switches. The aligning device used in the manufacturing method of the cover member for pushbutton switches according to claim 1, wherein a transport operation for transporting the plurality of independent key tops from the cutting jig to the aligning jig is attracted to the tip. A keytop aligning device characterized by using a robot hand equipped with a tool and capable of three-dimensional control. The alignment device used in the method for manufacturing a cover member for a pushbutton switch according to claim 1, wherein the recesses for accommodating the plurality of independent key tops of the cutting jig and the recesses of the alignment jig face each other. The key top aligning device is characterized in that it is performed via an air shooter having a transport passage capable of transporting the plurality of independent key tops from the cutting jig to the aligning jig in a state of being arranged on the key top. . The conveying force of the plurality of independent key tops in the air shooter is generated by a suction force of a suction device connected to a suction hole formed in the recess of the alignment jig. Item 4. The keytop aligning device according to Item 3.

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