JP6406434B2 - Rotary encoder - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary encoder.

  Conventionally, as a rotary encoder, for example, there is one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-95242 (Patent Document 1). The rotation encoder of Patent Document 1 includes a shaft, a click mechanism that regulates the rotation angle of the shaft, an encoder mechanism that detects the rotation direction and rotation angle of the shaft, and a switch mechanism that is pressed against the shaft.

  The encoder mechanism of Patent Document 1 includes a rotor attached to a shaft, a slider attached to the bottom surface of the rotor, and a ring-shaped electrode pattern formed on an encoder substrate disposed below the rotor; It is configured to be in sliding contact.

JP 2004-95242 A

  However, in the rotary encoder of Patent Document 1, when the shaft is pressed, the rotor is also pulled, so that the slider is pressed against the resistance pattern. As a result, when the shaft is pressed with a strong force, the slider may be deformed, and the reliability of the encoder output may be reduced.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a rotary encoder capable of suppressing deformation of a slider due to pressing of a shaft.

In order to solve the above problems, the rotary encoder of the present invention is:
A shaft,
An encoder mechanism for holding the shaft in a state of insertion so as to be rotatable and vertically movable, and detecting a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the shaft;
A rotary encoder having a switch mechanism pressed by an end of the shaft inserted through the encoder mechanism,
The encoder mechanism includes a rotor attached to the shaft so as to be rotatable integrally with the shaft, a slider attached to the rotor, and a fixed contact member in sliding contact with the slider. The encoder mechanism and the switch mechanism are arranged such that a moving element is positioned closer to the switch mechanism than the fixed contact member.

  According to the present invention, since the slider is located on the switch mechanism side of the resistor pattern (an example of the fixed contact member), even if the shaft is pressed, the slider is resisted by the weight of the rotor. Since a force is applied in a direction away from the body pattern, the slider can be prevented from being pressed against the resistor pattern. Thereby, deformation | transformation of a slider is suppressed and the fall of the reliability of the output of an encoder can be suppressed.

  As an embodiment, the encoder mechanism may include a substrate, and the fixed contact member may be a resistor pattern provided on the substrate.

  According to the one embodiment, by using a resistor pattern provided on the substrate as the fixed contact member, the resistor pattern includes not only an annular or comb-shaped resistor pattern but also a plurality of discontinuous portions. Since a resistor pattern can also be used, the freedom degree of selection of a resistor pattern can be increased.

  As another embodiment, the shaft may be movable up and down with respect to the rotor.

  According to the another embodiment, since the shaft can move up and down with respect to the rotor, even if the shaft is pressed, the position of the rotor is maintained and the contact between the slider and the resistor pattern is maintained. can do.

  According to the rotary encoder of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the slider due to the pressing of the shaft, and thus it is possible to suppress a decrease in the reliability of the encoder output due to the deformation of the slider.

It is the perspective view seen from the upper direction of the rotary encoder of one Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the downward direction of a rotary encoder. It is a disassembled perspective view seen from the upper direction of a rotary encoder. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the downward direction of the rotary encoder. It is sectional drawing of a rotary encoder. It is an exploded perspective view seen from the lower part of an encoder mechanism. It is the perspective view seen from the downward direction of an encoder mechanism. It is a circuit diagram which shows the equivalent circuit of an encoder mechanism. It is a wave form diagram which shows the output waveform of an encoder mechanism. It is a top view which shows the relationship between a shaft and a control member. It is a graph which shows the change of the torque of the 1st contact part and the 2nd contact part when a shaft rotates. It is a graph which shows the change of the torque which synthesize | combined the torque of a 1st contact part, and the torque of a 2nd contact part. It is a perspective view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the rotary encoder of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of a rotary encoder. It is a top view of a rotary encoder.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
The rotary encoder of the present invention includes a shaft, an encoder mechanism that holds the shaft in a rotatable and vertically movable state, and detects a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the shaft, and the shaft inserted through the encoder mechanism. A rotary encoder having a switch mechanism pressed by an end portion of the shaft, wherein the encoder mechanism is rotatably attached to the shaft so as to be rotatable integrally with the shaft; and a sliding attached to the rotor And the encoder mechanism and the switch mechanism are arranged such that the slider is positioned closer to the switch mechanism than the fixed contact member. It is characterized by that.

  Here, the fixed contact member used in the rotary encoder of the present invention is a fixed contact member, and is a contact member that a sliding member that rotates together with the shaft comes into sliding contact with. The fixed contact member may be a conductive member having various shapes provided on a support such as a substrate, for example, a resistor pattern, or the fixed contact member itself may also serve as a support. . In the following embodiments, an example in which a resistor pattern is used for a fixed contact member will be described.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary encoder according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rotary encoder as viewed from below. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary encoder as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary encoder as viewed from below. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary encoder.

  In each figure, the width direction of the rotary encoder is the X direction, and the length direction of the rotary encoder is the Y direction. The height direction of the rotary encoder is taken as the Z direction. The positive direction in the Z direction is the upper side, and the negative direction in the Z direction is the lower side.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the rotary encoder 1 includes a casing 2, a shaft 3 having a rotation axis and movable along the rotation axis, and a regulating member 5 that regulates the rotation angle of the shaft 3. The encoder mechanism 6 detects the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the shaft 3, and the switch mechanism 7 is pressed against the shaft 3 by the movement along the rotation axis of the shaft 3. The restriction member 5, the encoder mechanism 6, and the switch mechanism 7 are arranged in order from the upper side to the lower side along the axis of the shaft 3.

  The casing 2 is made of metal, for example. The casing 2 integrally assembles the shaft 3, the regulating member 5, the encoder mechanism 6, and the switch mechanism 7.

  The casing 2 includes an upper wall 21, side walls 22, 22 provided on both sides of the upper wall 21 in the X direction and extending downward, and a protruding wall provided in the positive direction of the upper wall 21 in the Y direction and extending downward. 23 and a protruding piece 24 provided in the negative direction of the upper wall 21 in the Y direction and extending downward. The upper wall 21 has a hole 21a. The side wall 22 has a hole 22a on the lower side and a groove 22b on the upper side. On the inner surface of the hole 22a, a locking portion 22c that protrudes inside the casing 2 is provided. The protruding wall 23 extends over the entire length of the upper wall 21 in the X direction. The projecting piece 24 is provided at the center of the upper wall 21 in the X direction.

  The shaft 3 is made of, for example, resin. The shaft 3 includes an operation portion 35, a gear-shaped outer peripheral surface 30, and an end portion 36. The operation part 35, the gear-shaped outer peripheral surface 30, and the end part 36 are arranged in order from the upper side to the lower side along the rotation axis. The operation unit 35 has a notch that serves as a mark for the rotation of the shaft 3. The gear-shaped outer peripheral surface 30 includes a plurality of convex portions 31 and concave portions 32. The plurality of convex portions 31 and concave portions 32 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. The operation unit 35 penetrates the hole 21 a of the upper wall 21 of the casing 2, and the user can operate the operation unit 35 from the outside of the casing 2.

  The regulating member 5 is made of metal, for example. The regulating member 5 is a leaf spring, for example. The regulating member 5 has a first contact portion 51 and a second contact portion 52 that can come into contact with the outer peripheral surface 30 of the shaft 3. The first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 are elastically biased to contact the convex portion 31 of the outer peripheral surface 30 of the shaft 3, while being fitted in the concave portion 32 of the outer peripheral surface 30 of the shaft 3. Regulate the rotation angle. The first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 are configured to be bent. The 1st contact part 51 and the 2nd contact part 52 exist in the position which opposes substantially.

  The encoder mechanism 6 holds the shaft 3 in an inserted state so as to be rotatable and vertically movable, and detects the rotation direction and rotation angle of the shaft 3, and includes resistor patterns 61, 62, 63 and the resistor pattern 61. , 62, 63, an encoder board 60 having encoder terminals 601, 602, 603, a rotor 65 attached to the shaft 3 so as to be rotatable together with the shaft 3, and a resistance attached to the rotor 65. The body pattern 61, 62, 63 and the slider 66 that is in sliding contact are provided.

  The encoder board 60 is made of resin, for example. A concave portion 60a is provided on the upper surface of the encoder substrate 60, and the regulating member 5 is fitted in the concave portion 60a. Protrusions 60b are provided on both sides of the encoder board 60 in the X direction. The protrusion 60 b is fitted in the groove 22 b of the side wall 22 of the casing 2. Both sides of the encoder board 60 in the Y direction are sandwiched between the protruding wall 23 and the protruding piece 24. Thus, the encoder board 60 is fixed to the casing 2 by the groove 22b of the side wall 22, the protruding wall 23, and the protruding piece 24. In other words, the groove portion 22 b of the side wall 22, the protruding wall 23, and the protruding piece 24 constitute an encoder fixing portion that fixes the encoder board 60. In the center of the encoder board 60, a hole 64 serving as an insertion hole for holding the shaft 3 in an inserted state is formed.

  The resistor patterns 61, 62, and 63 are provided on the lower surface of the encoder substrate 60. The resistor patterns 61, 62, and 63 are for detecting the rotation direction and rotation angle of the shaft 3. The first resistor pattern 61, the second resistor pattern 62, and the third resistor pattern 63 are formed in an annular shape and arranged concentrically. The first resistor pattern 61, the second resistor pattern 62, and the third resistor pattern 63 are sequentially arranged from the outer side to the inner side in the radial direction. The first resistor pattern 61 and the second resistor pattern 62 are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. The third resistor pattern 63 is formed continuously.

  The encoder terminals 601, 602, and 603 are insert-molded on the encoder substrate 60. The first encoder terminal 601 is electrically connected to the first resistor pattern 61, the second encoder terminal 602 is electrically connected to the second resistor pattern 62, and the third encoder terminal 603 is a third resistor. The body pattern 63 is electrically connected.

  The rotor 65 only needs to be rotatable integrally with the shaft 3, and may or may not be movable in the axial direction. In the drawing, the rotor 65 is positioned in the circumferential direction with respect to the shaft 3 and is movable in the axial direction (upper limit movable). More specifically, the rotor 65 has a D-shaped hole 65a. The outer peripheral surface of the end portion 36 of the shaft 3 is formed in a D shape. The D-shaped end portion 36 is fitted into the D-shaped hole 65a, so that the rotor 65 is fixed to the shaft 3 in the circumferential direction and is not fixed in the axial direction.

  The rotor 65 is formed in a substantially oval shape. The rotor 65 has a long diameter portion 651 in which the outer diameter of the rotor 65 is a long diameter, and a short diameter portion 652 in which the outer diameter of the rotor 65 is a short diameter. The length of the long diameter portion 651 is larger than the gap between the locking portions 22c of the opposite side walls 22, and the length of the short diameter portion 652 is smaller than the gap between the locking portions 22c of the opposite side walls 22. . In other words, the locking portion 22 c is configured such that the short diameter portion 652 is detached without locking and the long diameter portion 651 can be engaged and disengaged by the rotation of the rotor 65.

  The slider 66 is made of metal, for example. The slider 66 is fixed to the two protrusions 65 b on the upper surface of the rotor 65. The slider 66 is formed in an annular shape. The slider 66 has a first contact portion 661, a second contact portion 662, and a third contact portion 663. The first contact portion 661, the second contact portion 662, and the third contact portion 663 are sequentially arranged from the outer side to the inner side in the radial direction. The first contact part 661, the second contact part 662, and the third contact part 663 are electrically connected. The first contact portion 661 can contact the first resistor pattern 61, the second contact portion 662 can contact the second resistor pattern 62, and the third contact portion 663 can contact the third resistor pattern 63. It becomes possible to contact.

  The switch mechanism 7 includes a switch board 70, first to third switch terminals 701, 702, and 703 provided on the switch board 70, and a conductor provided on the switch board 70 and pressed against the end portion 36 of the shaft 3. 71. The conductor 71 is electrically connected to the first and second switch terminals 701 and 702. The conductor 71 is pressed by the end portion 36 of the shaft 3 and is electrically connected to the third switch terminal 703 to conduct the first and second switch terminals 701 and 702 and the third switch terminal 703. When the first and second switch terminals 701 and 702 are electrically connected to the third switch terminal 703, the switch signal is turned on. For example, each function operates when the switch signal is turned on. Note that only one of the first and second switch terminals 701 and 702 may be provided.

  Protrusions 70b are provided on both sides of the switch board 70 in the X direction. The protrusion 70 b is fitted in the hole 22 a of the side wall 22 of the casing 2. As described above, the switch board 70 is fixed to the casing 2 by the hole 22 a of the side wall 22. In other words, the hole 22 a of the side wall 22 constitutes a switch fixing portion that fixes the switch substrate 70.

  A step portion 70 c is provided on one side in the X direction on the lower surface of the switch substrate 70. End portions of the bent encoder terminals 601, 602, and 603 are locked to the stepped portion 70c. That is, the encoder board 60 and the switch board 70 are integrally held by the bent encoder terminals 601, 602, and 603.

  The depth of the stepped portion 70c is deeper than the thickness of the encoder terminals 601, 602, 603. Thereby, when the lower surface of the switch substrate 70 is installed on the mounting substrate, the lower surface of the switch substrate 70 can be used as the installation surface instead of the encoder terminals 601, 602, and 603.

  The first to third switch terminals 701, 702 and 703 are insert-molded on the switch board 70. The third switch terminal 703 is located between the first switch terminal 701 and the second switch terminal 702.

  The conductor 71 has elasticity. The conductor 71 is formed in a dome shape. The conductor 71 is fitted in the recess 70 a on the upper surface of the switch substrate 70.

  A peripheral portion 71 a of the conductor 71 is electrically connected to the first and second switch terminals 701 and 702. The zenith portion 71b of the conductor 71 is separated from the third switch terminal 703 in the free state of the conductor 71, while being pressed by the end portion 36 of the shaft 3 penetrating the encoder mechanism 7 and electrically connected to the third switch terminal 703. Connected.

  That is, when the shaft 3 is pressed downward, the end portion 36 of the shaft 3 presses the zenith portion 71 b of the conductor 71, and the zenith portion 71 b of the conductor 71 is electrically connected to the third switch terminal 703. Is done. As a result, the first and second switch terminals 701 and 702 and the third switch terminal 703 are electrically connected, and the switch signal is turned on.

  On the other hand, when the downward pressing of the shaft 3 is released, the conductor 71 returns to the free state, so that the shaft 3 moves upward, and the zenith portion 71b of the conductor 71 is separated from the third switch terminal 703. . As a result, the first and second switch terminals 701 and 702 and the third switch terminal 703 are not electrically connected, and the switch signal is turned off.

  Here, the slider 66 is located closer to the switch mechanism 7 (lower side) than the resistor patterns 61, 62, and 63. As a result, when the shaft 3 is pressed toward the switch mechanism 7, the slider 66 receives a force in a direction away from the resistor patterns 61, 62, 63 even if the rotor 65 is pulled downward. For this reason, the slider 66 is not pressed and deformed by the resistor patterns 61, 62, and 63, and the reliability of the output of the encoder mechanism 6 can be maintained. Further, by allowing the shaft 3 to move in the vertical direction with respect to the rotor 65, the position of the rotor 65 is maintained even when the shaft 3 is pressed, and the slider 66 and the resistor patterns 61, 62, 63 are retained. Can be kept in contact with.

  FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the encoder mechanism 6 as viewed from below. As shown in FIG. 6, first, second, and third electrode portions 671, 672, and 673 are provided on the lower surface of the encoder substrate 60. The 1st electrode part 671, the 2nd electrode part 672, and the 3rd electrode part 673 are formed in an annular shape, and are arranged concentrically. The 1st electrode part 671, the 2nd electrode part 672, and the 3rd electrode part 673 are arranged in order from the outside in the diameter direction to the inside. The first electrode portion 671 is electrically connected to the end portion 601a of the first encoder terminal 601, the second electrode portion 672 is electrically connected to the end portion 602a of the second encoder terminal 602, and the third electrode portion. 673 is electrically connected to the end 603a of the third encoder terminal 603.

  An insulating sheet 68 is laminated on the first, second, and third electrode portions 671, 672, and 673. The insulating sheet 68 includes a first electrode portion 671 and a second electrode portion 672 so that the first electrode portion 671 is intermittently exposed in the circumferential direction and the second electrode portion 672 is intermittently exposed in the circumferential direction. Cover. That is, the insulating sheet 68 has a plurality of holes 68 a that are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction, and the first electrode part 671 and the second electrode part 672 are exposed from the hole 68 a of the insulating sheet 68. The third electrode portion 673 is not covered with the insulating sheet 68.

  A first resistor pattern 61 is provided in a portion where the first electrode portion 671 is exposed from the insulating sheet 68; a second resistor pattern 62 is provided in a portion where the second electrode portion 672 is exposed from the insulating sheet 68; A third resistor pattern 63 is provided on the third electrode portion 673.

  Accordingly, the first resistor pattern 61 is electrically connected to the first encoder terminal 601 via the first electrode portion 671, and the second resistor pattern 62 is connected to the first electrode portion 672 via the second electrode portion 672. 2 is electrically connected to the encoder terminal 602, and the third resistor pattern 63 is electrically connected to the third encoder terminal 603 via the third electrode portion 673.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the encoder mechanism 6 as viewed from below. As shown in FIG. 7, the first contact portion 661 of the slider 66 is at a position corresponding to the first resistor pattern 61, and the second contact portion 662 of the slider 66 is the second resistor pattern 62. The third contact portion 663 of the slider 66 is at a position corresponding to the third resistor pattern 63.

  Then, by the rotation of the slider 66, the first contact portions 661 are alternately brought into contact with the first resistor pattern 61 and the insulating sheet 68, and the second contact portion 662 is contacted with the second resistor pattern 62 and the insulating sheet. 68 and alternately contact. The third contact portion 663 is always in contact with the third resistor pattern 63. That is, by the rotation of the slider 66, the first encoder terminal 601 and the third encoder terminal 603 are intermittently electrically connected, and the second encoder terminal 602 and the third encoder terminal 603 are intermittently connected. Electrically connected.

  FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the encoder mechanism 6. FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram showing an output waveform of the encoder mechanism 6. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, when the first encoder terminal 601 and the third encoder terminal 603 are electrically connected, a current flows between the points A and C, and the A signal is turned on. Become. When the second encoder terminal 602 and the third encoder terminal 603 are electrically connected, a current flows between point B and point C, and the B signal is turned on.

  In the clockwise rotation of the slider 66, the rotation angle of the slider 66 from the start of turning off the A signal to the start of the next off is 60 °. The same applies to the B signal. Further, the difference between the start of turning off the A signal and the start of turning off the B signal is 15 ° in the rotation angle of the slider 66. Then, in one rotation of the slider 66 (that is, the rotation angle of the slider 66 is 360 °), the change in the combination of ON and OFF of the A signal and the B signal is divided into 24. That is, it can be determined that the rotation angle of the slider 66 changes every 15 ° in one rotation of the slider 66. Therefore, the rotation direction and rotation angle (rotation amount) of the slider 66 can be determined by determining changes in the A signal and the B signal.

  As described below, the total number of clicks can be increased by shifting the torque waveform of the first contact portion 51 and the torque waveform of the second contact portion 52. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the relationship between the shaft 3 and the regulating member 5. As shown in FIG. 10, when the first contact portion 51 of the restriction member 5 is in contact with the convex portion 31 of the outer peripheral surface 30 of the shaft 3, the second contact portion 52 of the restriction member 5 is It fits into the recess 32 of the outer peripheral surface 30. On the other hand, when the first contact portion 51 of the regulating member 5 is fitted in the concave portion 32 of the outer peripheral surface 30 of the shaft 3, the second contact portion 52 of the regulating member 5 is the convex portion of the outer peripheral surface 30 of the shaft 3. 31 is contacted. That is, the phase difference of the rotation angle of the shaft 3 is provided between the contact between the first contact portion 51 and the convex portion 31 and the contact between the second contact portion 52 and the convex portion 31. And if the shaft 3 rotates, the 1st contact part 51 and the 2nd contact part 52 will fit in the recessed part 32 of the outer peripheral surface 30 of the shaft 3 by turns.

  FIG. 11A is a graph showing changes in torque of the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 when the shaft 3 rotates. As shown in FIG. 11A, as the shaft 3 rotates, each torque of the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 has a waveform that repeats maximum and minimum. For example, the torque becomes maximum when the convex portion 31 of the outer peripheral surface 30 of the shaft 3 passes against the elastic force of the first contact portion 51 due to the rotation of the shaft 3. The user gets a click when the torque is from maximum to minimum. The torque of the first contact portion 51 and the torque of the second contact portion 52 are alternately maximum.

  FIG. 11B is a graph showing a change in torque obtained by combining the torque of the first contact portion 51 and the torque of the second contact portion 52. As shown in FIG. 11B, the wavelength of the waveform of the combined torque is twice the wavelength of the torque waveform of the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52. That is, in one rotation of the shaft 3, the quantity (number of clicks) that maximizes the combined torque is the quantity (number of clicks) that maximizes the torque of the first contact part 51 and the torque of the second contact part 52 is maximum. It becomes the quantity which added the quantity (number of clicks).

  Therefore, by shifting the torque waveform of the first contact portion 51 and the torque waveform of the second contact portion 52, the total number of clicks is 2 of the number of clicks of the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52. Doubled. Therefore, even if the shaft 3 is downsized, the number of clicks can be increased.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the resistor pattern is used for the fixed contact member has been described. However, the same effect can be obtained even when the fixed contact member itself also serves as a support. For example, a member in which a resin base material is impregnated with a conductive material, for example, a material in which a phenolic resin base material is impregnated with carbon black can be used instead of the encoder substrate used in the above embodiment. .

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the rotary encoder of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary encoder. FIG. 14 is a plan view of the rotary encoder. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configurations of the shaft, the regulating member, and the encoder board. This different configuration will be described below. Note that in the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment have the same configurations as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  The shaft 3 </ b> A has an operation part 35, a flange part 37, and an end part 36. The operation part 35, the collar part 37, and the end part 36 are arranged in order from the upper side to the lower side along the rotation axis. A plurality (two in this embodiment) of concave portions 38 a are provided on the outer peripheral surface 38 of the flange portion 37. The outer peripheral surface 38 of the flange portion 37 is formed in a substantially oval shape when viewed from the axial direction of the shaft 3A. The outer peripheral surface 38 of the collar portion 37 has long side portions facing each other on the short diameter side and arc portions facing each other on the long diameter side. A concave portion 38a is provided in each of the long side portions facing each other on the short diameter side. The two recesses 38a face each other with respect to the axis of the shaft 3A. Thus, the outer peripheral surface 38 of the collar part 37 is a substantially oval shape which has a constriction.

  The restricting member 5A is a leaf spring formed in an annular shape. The restricting member 5A is formed in a substantially oval shape when viewed from the axial direction of the shaft 3A. The regulating member 5A has long side portions facing each other on the short diameter side and arc portions facing each other on the long diameter side. The restricting member 5 </ b> A has a first contact portion 51 and a second contact portion 52 in each of arc portions facing each other on the long diameter side. The first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 face each other with respect to the axis of the shaft 3A. The first contact part 51 and the second contact part 52 protrude toward the encoder board 60A along the axial direction of the shaft 3A. The shape of the inner peripheral surface 55 of the regulating member 5A is substantially the same as the shape of the outer peripheral surface 38 of the flange portion 37 of the shaft 3A, and is a substantially oval shape having a constriction. On the inner peripheral surface 55 of the restricting member 5A, convex portions 55a projecting radially inward are provided on the long side portions facing each other on the short diameter side. The two convex portions 55a face each other with respect to the axis of the shaft 3A.

  A plurality (12 in this embodiment) of convex portions 67a are provided on the upper surface of the encoder board 60A. The convex portion 67a protrudes toward the regulating member 5A along the axial direction of the shaft 3A. The plurality of convex portions 67a are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction around the axis of the shaft 3A. A concave portion 67b is provided between the adjacent convex portions 67a.

  The regulating member 5A is positioned in the circumferential direction with respect to the shaft 3A and is movable in the axial direction (upper limit movable). Specifically, the flange portion 37 of the shaft 3A is fitted to the inner peripheral surface 55 of the regulating member 5A. The convex portion 55a of the inner peripheral surface 55 of the restricting member 5A is locked to the concave portion 38a of the flange portion 37 of the shaft 3A. Thereby, the regulating member 5A is fixed in the circumferential direction with respect to the shaft 3A. Further, a gap is provided between the arc portion of the inner peripheral surface 55 of the restricting member 5 </ b> A and the arc portion of the outer peripheral surface 38 of the flange portion 37. Thereby, the regulating member 5A is not fixed in the axial direction with respect to the shaft 3A. Thus, the regulating member 5A is not integrally fixed to any part by welding, caulking, adhesion, or the like.

  The regulating member 5A is positioned in the axial direction of the shaft 3A by the casing 2 shown in FIG. 1 so as not to be separated from the encoder board 60A. Accordingly, by rotating the shaft 3A, the regulating member 5A is rotated together with the shaft 3A, and the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 are alternately positioned in the convex portion 67a and the concave portion 67b of the encoder substrate 60A. It will be. More specifically, the first contact portion 51 located in the recess 67b moves over the projection 67a while sliding on the projection 67a by elastic deformation of the regulation member 5A due to the rotation of the regulation member 5A. It fits into a recess 67b adjacent to the protrusion 67a. The second contact portion 52 operates in the same manner as the first contact portion 51. The first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 are simultaneously fitted in different recesses 67b. Accordingly, by rotating the regulating member 5A, the regulating member 5A gets over the convex portion 67a and fits into the concave portion 67b, thereby generating a click feeling.

  Further, the shaft 3A has a function of stroking a distance of about 0.15 mm up and down along the axial direction for the purpose of pressing the conductor 71 of the switch mechanism 7. Since the restricting member 5A is merely engaged with the shaft 3A in the rotational direction, the restricting member 5A is not displaced in the vertical direction. For this reason, the load-displacement characteristic (spring characteristic) of the regulating member 5A is not deteriorated by the vertical stroke of the shaft 3A. Therefore, even if the shaft 3A is stroked up and down, a load in the vertical direction is not applied to the regulating member 5A.

Moreover, the click feeling of desired intensity | strength can be selected by adjusting the quantity of 5 A of control members incorporated in the shaft 3A. That is, the click feeling can be strengthened by increasing the number of restricting members 5A that are stacked along the axial direction of the shaft 3A.
Here, instead of adjusting the number of regulating members 5A, the strength of the click feeling can be adjusted by adjusting the thickness of one regulating member 5A. However, when the thickness of one regulating member 5A is increased, there is a demerit that the limit becomes lower with respect to “fatigue failure” due to repeated operation of overcoming the convex portion 67a of the encoder substrate 60A and falling into the concave portion 67b. Resulting in. That is, the breaking life of the regulating member 5A is shortened.
Therefore, by stacking a plurality of thin “restricting members 5A”, it is possible to obtain an effect of further increasing the spring load while maintaining a high limit of fatigue failure from the viewpoint of fatigue resistance failure.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims. For example, the casing and the regulating member are not limited to those described in the above embodiment, and various known casings and regulating members can be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rotary encoder 2 Casing 22 Side wall 22a Hole (switch fixing | fixed part)
22b Groove (encoder fixing part)
22c Locking part 23 Projection wall (encoder fixing part)
24 Projection piece (encoder fixing part)
3, 3A shaft 30 gear-shaped outer peripheral surface 31 convex portion 32 concave portion 37 flange portion 38 outer peripheral surface 38a concave portion 5, 5A regulating member 51 first contact portion 52 second contact portion 55 inner peripheral surface 55a convex portion 6 encoder mechanism 60, 60A Encoder board 61, 62, 63 Resistor pattern (fixed contact member)
601, 602, 603 Encoder terminal 65 Rotor 651 Long diameter portion 652 Short diameter portion 66 Slider 67 a Convex portion 67 b Concave portion 7 Switch mechanism 70 Switch substrate 71 Conductor 701, 702, 703 Switch terminal

Claims (3)

A shaft,
An encoder mechanism for holding the shaft in a state of insertion so as to be rotatable and vertically movable, and detecting a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the shaft;
A regulating member for regulating the rotation angle of the shaft;
A rotary encoder having a switch mechanism pressed by an end of the shaft inserted through the encoder mechanism,
The encoder mechanism includes a rotor attached to the shaft so as to be rotatable integrally with the shaft, a slider attached to the rotor, and a fixed contact member in sliding contact with the slider. The encoder mechanism and the switch mechanism are arranged so that the moving element is located on the switch mechanism side with respect to the fixed contact member,
The encoder mechanism has an encoder board,
The shaft is held in an inserted state in the hole of the encoder board,
The restriction member is provided on the first surface of the encoder board,
The fixed contact member is provided on a second surface of the encoder board,
The slider and the switch mechanism are rotary encoders located on the second surface side of the encoder board . Before Symbol fixed contact member is a resistor pattern, claim 1 rotation encoder according.   The rotary encoder according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is movable up and down with respect to the rotor.

Images