JPH04294016A - Push switch and manufacture thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To manufacture push switches having long lifetime with reduced man-hours in assembly process. CONSTITUTION:A rubber sheet 26 made from a cushioning flat plate is placed in a groove 21 provided at the periphery of an insulative case 22, which is molded in a single piece with contacts 23, 24, and is sandwiched by projection 29 formed on a cover 31, and thus a push switch is yielded. The rubber sheet 26 in the form of flat plate reduce the man-hours in assembly process and accomplish automating.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a long-life push switch used in data input devices for office automation equipment and video/audio equipment, and a method for manufacturing the same.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional push switch will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. According to the figure, a cup-shaped insulation case 1
A contact point 2 for holding the diaphragm is integrally molded into the diaphragm holding contact point 2, a contact point 3 formed adjacent to the inner side of the contact point 2, and a contact point 3 formed of a metal having spring properties such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze for springs and having a diameter of 5~ A diaphragm 4 approximately in the shape of a 12 mm plate is arranged, and a cup-shaped cap 7 formed by molding a resin such as vinyl chloride with a diameter of 6 to 14 mm and having a protrusion 5 in the center and a bulge 6 on the outer periphery is placed on top of the diaphragm 4. An operating body 9 having a protrusion 8 formed on the bottom surface for moving the center part of the diaphragm 2 up and down by the operation of a button is disposed thereon, and these are covered with a cover 10. 7 is a detailed perspective view of the cap 7 shown in FIG. 6, 5 is a protrusion that presses the diaphragm, 11 is a hinge portion provided to allow the protrusion 5 to move up and down easily, and 6 is a bulge for dustproofing.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with the above configuration, the cap 7 has a diameter of only 6 to 14 mm, making it difficult to deburr or insert it into the case 1, making it unsuitable for mass production. .

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a cup-shaped insulating case in which a groove is provided in the holding part of a rubber sheet, and a contact point for holding a diaphragm that is integrally molded, and a contact point for holding a diaphragm inside the case. A substantially plate-shaped diaphragm made of a metal with spring properties such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze for springs is arranged on the contact points formed adjacent to each other, and a flat plate-shaped diaphragm with a cushioning property is placed on top of the contact points. A rubber sheet is placed, and an operating body that moves the center of the diaphragm up and down by button operation is placed on top of the rubber sheet. It is constructed by covering it with a cover.

[0005]

[Operation] As described above, the present invention is capable of sandwiching a flat cushioning rubber sheet between the groove of the insulating case, which has a groove in the holding portion of the rubber sheet, and the protrusion provided on the cover. Because the elasticity of the cap has been increased, a flat rubber sheet can be used instead of the conventional molded cap, improving productivity.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the push switch of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

According to the figure, a contact 23 for holding a diaphragm is integrally molded on a cup-shaped insulating case 22 in which a groove 21 is provided in the holding part of the rubber sheet, and a contact 24 is formed adjacent to the inside thereof. A substantially dish-shaped diaphragm 25 made of a metal with spring properties such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze for springs is placed on top of this, and a diaphragm 25 with a thickness of 0.0
A rubber sheet 26 with cushioning properties made of a sheet of silicone rubber or the like with a hardness of 30° to 80° and 5 to 2 mm is arranged, and a protrusion 27 is formed on the bottom surface of the diaphragm so that the center of the diaphragm can be raised or lowered by operating a button. The operating body 28 is arranged and covered with a protrusion 29 for sandwiching the rubber sheet 26 in a groove 21 of a holding portion of the rubber sheet, and a cover 31 having a convex portion 30 at an opening of the operating body 28. Note that the cover 31 is fixed by a claw 32 of the case 22, and 33 is an operating rod of a button that presses the operating body 28. Here, if the protruding dimension of the operating body from the convex portion 30 of the cover 31 is a, the stroke of the diaphragm is b, and the compressed dimension of the rubber sheet at the time of overload is c, then the relationship is b<a<b+c, and the above Due to this relationship, when an overload is applied to the rod 33, the rod 33 comes into contact with the convex portion 30, and the operating body 28 is not pressed down, so that the diaphragm 25 can be protected.

FIG. 2 shows the shape of the flat cushioning rubber sheet 26 used in FIG. 1, and is formed only by punching.

Next, the method of punching out and inserting the rubber sheet 26 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
A ribbon-like cushioning rubber sheet 41 is supplied with a tray 40 and punched into a specified size with a punch 42 to form a rubber sheet 26. At the same time, a case 22 of a push switch is supplied with a tray 43 below the rubber sheet 26. A rubber sheet 26 is inserted into the hole. Of course, the feeding of the ribbon-shaped rubber sheet 41 and the case 22 and the operation of the punch 42 are synchronized. This construction method makes it possible to continuously punch out and insert the rubber sheet 26.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the push switch of the present invention, in which a contact 53 for holding a diaphragm is integrally molded into a cup-shaped insulating case 52 in which a groove 51 is provided in the holding part of a rubber sheet, and a contact 53 for holding a diaphragm is formed inside the case. A contact point 54 is formed adjacent to the contact point 54, and a substantially dish-shaped diaphragm 55 formed of a metal having spring properties such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze for springs is placed thereon.
is placed, a rubber sheet 56 is placed on top of this, and a protective sheet 57 made of a polymer film such as polyester or polyimide with a thickness of 30 to 150 microns is placed on top of it.
These are covered with a cover 60 having an opening 59 and a protrusion 58 for sandwiching the rubber sheet 56 in the groove 51 of the rubber sheet holding portion. In addition, since an operating protrusion 61 is formed at the tip of the operating rod 62 from the button so that the contact surface 63 of the rod 62 comes into contact with the cover 60 when an overload is applied, the diaphragm 55 can be protected. be.

[0011]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, a rubber sheet with cushioning properties can be easily fabricated from a general-purpose sheet-like rubber with cushioning properties, and since a push switch is constructed by sandwiching the rubber sheet, a push switch can be manufactured with a low production process. This is something that can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the push switch of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Perspective view of a rubber sheet with the same gist

[Figure 3] A schematic top view of the device to explain the assembly method.

[Figure 4] Side sectional view of Figure 3

[Fig. 5] Side sectional view of another embodiment

[Figure 6] Side sectional view of a conventional push switch

[Fig. 7] Partial cross-sectional perspective view of the cap, which is the main part

[Explanation of symbols]

21 Groove 22 Insulation case 23 Contact 24 Contact 25 Diaphragm 26 Rubber sheet 28 Operation body

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claim 1: A contact for holding a diaphragm and a contact formed adjacent to the inside thereof are integrally molded in a cup-shaped insulating case in which a groove is provided in the holding part of the rubber sheet, and a stainless steel or A roughly plate-shaped diaphragm made of a metal with spring properties such as phosphor bronze for springs is placed, and a cushioned rubber sheet is placed on top of it, and the center of the diaphragm is then operated by a button. A push switch characterized in that an operating body that moves up and down is arranged, and these are covered with a cover having an opening for the operating body and a protrusion for sandwiching the rubber sheet into a groove in a holding portion of the rubber sheet. 2. A cup-shaped insulating case in which a groove is provided in the holding portion of the rubber sheet, a contact point for holding a diaphragm integrally molded, and a contact point formed adjacent to the inside thereof;
On top of this, a roughly dish-shaped diaphragm made of a metal with spring properties such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze for springs is arranged,
A rubber sheet with cushioning properties is placed on top of this, a protective sheet made of polymer film is placed on top of this, and a cover with protrusions and openings for sandwiching the rubber sheet into the grooves of the holding part of the rubber sheet. A push switch characterized by being covered with. 3. The operating body according to claim 1, wherein the relationship between the protruding dimension a of the operating body from the operating body opening of the cover, the stroke b of the diaphragm, and the compressed dimension c of the rubber sheet at the time of overload is b<a<b+c. push switch. 4. The rubber sheet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rubber sheet is supplied in the form of a ribbon, separated into a predetermined shape by pressing or cutting, and simultaneously inserted into the case supplied below. A method for manufacturing push switches.