JPH0465037A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make assembly of a keyboard easy and transmit energizing force of a plate spring effectively to key buttons by making it possible to push a plurality of key buttons by one energizing means and installing a limiting part. CONSTITUTION:A pushing means 28 consists of a flat base part 30 made of one metal plate having spring property, a plurality of plate spring parts 34 which are made by press-punching the base part 30 to form a plurality of lines and columns of J-shaped parts and standing the parts from the base 30 while keeping connection with the base part at parts 32, and a plurality of restricting parts 48 which are a part of a plate 46 put in lower layer of a base part 30 and bent upward from the punched holes 38 of the base part 30. As a result, a plurality of key buttons 12 are able to be energized by assembling one base part 30. Consequently, the number of assembly processes is lessened and energizing force of the plate sprung parts 34 is transmitted to key buttons 12 effectively.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a keyboard.

(Prior Art) Keyboards for word processors, electronic typewriters, and the like are provided with a large number of key buttons.

The key button has a structure that closes the contact when it is pressed, and normally the contact is open. Therefore, each key button is provided with a coil spring serving as a biasing means, and constantly biases the key button in the -2 direction away from the contact point.

Therefore, the contact point is closed only when a force capable of resisting the biasing force of the coil spring is applied to the key button by a finger or the like.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the conventional keyboard described above has the following problems.

Because one coil spring must be placed on each key button, the work efficiency during keyboard assembly is poor, especially when the number of key buttons is large, such as in a word processor, which causes an increase in manufacturing costs. There are technical and economic challenges.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard with a simple structure and low cost.

(Means for solving problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes the following configuration.

That is, in a keyboard provided with a plurality of key buttons whose contacts are constantly opened or closed by a biasing means and which close or open the contacts when pressed against the biasing force of the biasing means, The force means includes a base having a flat plate shape;
A plurality of temporary spring parts arranged corresponding to the key button, one end of which is connected to the base part, and which urges the key button in a direction in which the contact point opens or closes, and each plate spring part is provided near the base part, respectively. It is characterized by comprising a regulating part which is arranged and regulates deformation in a direction opposite to the direction in which the contact point of the plate spring part opens or closes.

(effect) The effect will be explained.

By incorporating one base, it is possible to energize a plurality of key buttons, thereby reducing the number of assembly steps. Further, by providing the regulating portion, it becomes possible to effectively transmit the biasing force of the plate spring portion to the key button.

(Embodiments) Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, a word processor keyboard is taken as an example.

FIG. 1 shows a partial sectional view of one row or one column of the keyboard.

In FIG. 1, a key button 12 includes a key top portion 14 and a stem portion 16 extending vertically from the upper surface of the key top portion 14.

22 is a frame, and a sleeve 24 is erected on the upper surface. The stem portion 16 of the key button 12 is loosely inserted into the sleeve 24 so as to be vertically movable. In addition, stem part 1
6 is provided with a hook (not shown), and the sleeve 2
Frame 22 of key button 12 by hanging with 4
It is prevented from being pulled out upwards.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a biasing means, which includes a flat base 30 made of a single resilient metal plate, and the base 30 is punched out in a U-shape in multiple columns and rows using a press.
A plurality of plate spring parts 34 stand up from the base 30 while being connected to the base 30 , and a part of the plate 46 provided below the base 30 is bent upward from the punched hole 38 of the base 30 . It has a plurality of regulating parts 48. Regulation part 48
is in contact with the lower surface of the plate spring portion 34 in the vicinity of the portion 32, and protrudes upward from the hole 38 by an appropriate distance in order to restrict downward movement and deformation of the abutting portion of the plate spring portion 34. The leaf spring part 34 comes into contact with the lower end of the stem part 16 of the key button 12 at its midpoint, and constantly urges the key button 12 upward due to its springiness. This biasing force can be adjusted by the amount by which the restricting portion 48 protrudes upward from the hole 38 . A contact portion 36 is formed at the tip of the leaf spring portion 34 and projects downward.

40 is a contact sheet, which is fixed between the reinforcing plate 42 and the plate body 46. That is, the base portion 30, the plate body 46, and the contact sheet 40 are held between the lower end surface of the leg portion 26, which is suspended downward from the lower surface of the frame 22, and the upper surface of the reinforcing plate 42, and the whole is fixed. . The contact sheet 40 has a structure in which contacts 44 are provided inside, and the contacts 44 are normally open, and when the upper surface of the contact sheet 40 and the position corresponding to the contact 44 is pressed downward, the contact 44 closes. It has become. The contact portions 36 provided on the plate spring portions 34 of the biasing means 28 are provided above the contact points 44, respectively, and the contact portions 36 are provided on the contact sheet 4 corresponding to the contact points 44.
The top surface of 0 can be pressed. Note that the reinforcing plate 42 is maintained at a predetermined distance from the frame 22 by the legs 26 of the frame 22, and is fixed to the frame 22 by means (eg, screws) not shown.

Next, the operation of the keyboard configured as described above will be explained with further reference to FIG. 2.

When no external force is applied to the key button 12 (the state shown in FIG. 1), the lower end surface of the stem portion 16 of the key button 12 is pushed upward by the elasticity of the plate spring portion 34 itself. . Therefore, contact point 4 of contact point sea) 40
4 is in the open state.

Therefore, when a force F is applied to one key button 12 as shown in FIG. 2, the key button 12 is pushed down against the biasing force of the leaf spring section 34.

Then, as the key button 12 moves downward, the leaf spring portion 34 rotates counterclockwise around the portion 32.

As a result, the contact portion 36 presses the upper surface of the contact sheet 40 corresponding to the contact point 44, so that the corresponding contact point 44 is closed. Note that the key button 12 can be moved further down than the amount required to close the contact 44 due to the further downward flexibility of the plate spring portion 34 and the elasticity of the contact sheet 40 and the like. It not only makes the closure more secure, but also reduces the impact on the operator's fingers.

When the force F pressing down the key button 12 is released, the key button 12 returns to the state shown in FIG. 1 due to the springiness of the plate spring portion 34, and the closed contact 44 is opened.

At this time, the urging force of the plate spring part 34 can be effectively transmitted to the key button 12 by the regulating part 48 .

In the above embodiment, the plate spring part 34 is provided with the contact part 36 for closing the contact 44, but the tip of the plate spring part 34 is fixed, for example, in the middle of the stem part 16, and the lower end surface of the stem part 16 is attached to the contact part 36. Q may be applied to press the top surface of 40. In that case, the contact portion 36 of the plate spring portion 34 becomes unnecessary.

In addition, regarding the contacts 44, the circuit board pre-installation on which the contacts are arranged instead of the contact sheet 401 is used instead of the contact sheet 1-401, so that when the key button 12 is pressed, the The contacts may be electrically connected at the lower end surface of the stem portion 16 of the button 12. In that case, at least the contact portion 36 or the lower end surface of the stem portion 16 is made of a conductive material or subjected to conductive treatment.

Further, when the plate spring portion 34 merely urges the key button 12, the push means 28 can be used in a keyboard in which the contact point is released by pressing the key button 12.

Regarding the regulating part 48, in addition to forming it by bending the plate 46, holes 1 are made in the contact sheet 40, and the reinforcing plate 42 is formed by making holes 1 in the contact sheet 40.
The regulating portion may be formed by bending a part of the upper portion upward. Furthermore, instead of the plate body 46, a boss may be provided protrudingly.

Various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, instead of providing one biasing means for one keyboard, Of course, many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as a combination of a plurality of biasing means may be provided on one keyboard.

(Effects of the Invention) When the keyboard according to the present invention is used, a plurality of key buttons can be biased with one biasing means, so the number of parts can be considerably reduced. Therefore, the keyboard can be easily assembled, and work efficiency in the assembly process can be improved. Further, by providing the regulating portion, it becomes possible to effectively transmit the biasing force of the leaf spring portion to the second key button-1. In addition, since only one biasing means is required instead of multiple small springs, the problem of parts management can be eliminated, delivery is easier, and the total manufacturing cost can be reduced. It is very effective.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing an embodiment of a keyboard according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial view showing a state in which the key buttons in FIG. 1 are pressed. 12...Key button 1. 28... biasing means, 30
...Base 5, 34...Plate spring part, 36...Abutment part, 44...Contact 1.4 days...Regulation part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of key buttons are provided whose contacts are constantly opened or closed by a biasing means and which close or open the contacts when pressed against the biasing force of the biasing means. In the keyboard, the biasing means is disposed corresponding to a flat base and the key button, one end is connected to the base, and the biasing means biases the key button in a direction in which the contact opens or closes. a plurality of leaf spring parts, and a regulating part disposed near the base of each leaf spring part to restrict deformation in a direction opposite to the direction in which the contact point of the leaf spring part opens or closes. Features a keyboard. 2. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the leaf spring portion has an abutting portion formed at the other end thereof to abut the contact and close or open the contact.