JPH0512848Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention has a sliding contact member (hereinafter referred to as a wiper) integrally provided on the number wheel side, and a predetermined conductive pattern printed and wired opposite to this. The present invention relates to a counter with contacts which is configured to send an electric signal at a predetermined number position of a number wheel by arranging a printed circuit board.

[Conventional technology]

For example, in electrical equipment such as copying machines, machine tools, and other various equipment and devices, it is common practice to use an integration counter to display numerical values such as the number of times the equipment is used and the operating time. It plays an important role in determining equipment usage costs, maintenance, inspection timing, etc. Among such integration counters, counters with contacts have been known that can send out a required electrical signal when the integrated display value reaches a predetermined value to notify the usage status of the device. .

As schematically shown in FIG. 3, this type of contact-equipped counter is rotatably supported on a numerical axle 2 supported between side plates of a counter frame 1 having an upward U-shape. Multiple number wheels 3 displaying 10 numbers from `` to 9''
and a shift pinion 4 interposed between these number wheels 3. Of the three groups of number wheels, a wiper 5 having a plurality of contact pieces 5a, 5b is fixedly installed on the side surface of the highest digit number wheel 3A, and on the fixed side (frame 1 side) these contact pieces 5a , 5b, a configuration is generally adopted in which a printed circuit board 6 formed by printing and wiring a predetermined conductive pattern is disposed corresponding to the conductive patterns. Note that the counter structure of this type of counter with contacts is well known, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

According to the counter with contacts having such a configuration, when the highest digit number wheel 3A reaches a specific number position, the contact pieces 5a, 5b of the wiper 5 are activated.
When the conductive pattern on the printed circuit board 6 is short-circuited through the circuit board 6, electrical signals are sent and various controls are performed.For example, by counting the number of copies in a copying machine, it is used to notify when to replenish toner, etc. It is effective when used as a control counter for

By the way, in the above-mentioned counter with contacts,
Depending on how the device is used, it is desirable to adopt a configuration that can send out signals corresponding to two types of numerical positions. For example, in a copying machine, when the number of copies reaches 6000, a warning light is turned on to notify the user that it is time to replenish toner, and the warning light is kept lit, and the number of copies is further increased. One possible method of use is to make the user aware that it is time to replenish toner by sounding a warning buzzer or forcibly stopping the operation of the device when the toner reaches "8000."

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in the counter with contacts having the above-mentioned configuration, in the case where the configuration is such that signals are sent out at two types of numeric positions specified for one number wheel 3A, and the first signal sending state is maintained. If it is necessary to do so,
Typically, two sets of contact mechanisms are required, and the first contact mechanism also requires a self-retaining mechanism. If such a configuration is adopted, many electrical circuits and mechanical parts are required, which not only complicates the structure and increases costs, but also increases the space to accommodate them, resulting in an increase in the size of the entire counter. It is desired that some kind of countermeasure be taken to eliminate these problems.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve such problems, the counter with contacts according to the present invention has common contact pieces arranged at different radial and circumferential positions on the wiper integrated on the highest digit number wheel side. , 1st
and a second contact piece, and on the printed circuit board disposed on the side thereof, each contact piece is located on a concentric circle corresponding to each of these contact pieces, and when the number wheel displays a specific number, each contact forming a conductive pattern of a common fixed contact, first and second fixed contacts each having an arc shape with a circumferential length dimension so that the pieces are selectively short-circuited;
It is possible to send signals at two specified number positions on the number wheel.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, when the number wheel reaches two specified number positions, each contact piece of the wiper connects the common fixed contact and the first or second number position.
The first contact is short-circuited and a required electrical signal is sent out, and by appropriately setting the length of each fixed contact in the circumferential direction, the short-circuited state of the first contact can be maintained.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using embodiments shown in the drawings.

Figures 1 to 2 a and b show one embodiment of a counter with contacts according to the present invention, and in these figures, parts that are the same as or correspond to those in Figure 3 described above are designated by the same numbers. The explanation thereof will be omitted.

Now, according to the present invention, the common contact piece 5a, the first and second contacts are arranged at different positions in the radial direction and the circumferential direction, respectively, on the wiper 5 integrated on the side of the highest digit number wheel 3A. Pieces 5b, 5c
and each of these contact pieces 5a, 5b, 5c is provided on the printed circuit board 6 disposed on the side thereof.
The number wheel 3A is located on a concentric circle corresponding to a specific number ("6", "8" in this example).
When displaying, each contact piece 5a, 5b; 5a, 5c
A conductive pattern is formed by a common fixed contact 10 and first and second fixed contacts 11 and 12 each having an arc shape with a circumferential length dimension determined so as to selectively short-circuit. car 3A
The device is characterized in that it is configured so that signals can be sent at the positions of the two specified numbers "6" and "8".

Note that 13, 14, 15 in the figure are lead portions 13a, 14a, 15 from the fixed contacts 10, 11, 12.
15a and a common contact extraction end extending to the extended end of the printed circuit board 6, and the first and second contact extraction ends. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the above-mentioned conductive pattern is formed in three layers and divided as appropriate.
The other segments 16a, 16b, 16c serve as fixed terminals 10, 1
1 and 12, the arc-shaped contact pieces 5a, 5b, and 5c of the wiper 5 are formed in an arc shape to prevent significant wear on the contact portions caused by directly sliding on the surface of the substrate 6. These parts are electrically connected to each other where they function as conductor parts.

Furthermore, each of the fixed contacts 10, 11, 12 constituting the conductive pattern described above is connected to the number wheel 3A.
It is well known that it is formed at a predetermined angle corresponding to the 10 numbers displayed on the outer periphery of the board, and in this case, the angle corresponding to one number is 36 degrees. Further, 20a and 20b in the figure are screw holes for positioning and fixing the wiper 5 to the side of the number wheel 3A, and each of the contact pieces 5a, 5b, 5c
is bent from the wiper base to the printed circuit board 6 side at a predetermined angle, as shown in FIG. 2b,
Appropriate bending is performed to obtain the required contact pressure.

According to such a configuration, the number wheel 3A
At the position where the number "0" is displayed, each contact piece 5a, 5b, 5c located at the position indicated by the broken line in FIG.
arcuate conductor portion 16a and first fixed contact 1, respectively.
1. The common fixed contact 10 and the first and second fixed contacts 11 and 12 on the arc-shaped conductor portion 16c are all in a non-conducting state and no signal is sent out.

When the number wheel 3A is sequentially advanced from this state and reaches the position where the number "6" is displayed, it becomes the state shown by the solid line in the figure, and at this time, the common fixed contact 10 and the first
The fixed contacts 11 are short-circuited by the contact pieces 5a and 5b and are brought into conduction, whereby a first signal is sent out and a necessary notification operation such as turning on a warning light is performed.

When the number wheel 3A is incremented to "6" and "7", as is clear from FIG.
0. When the number wheel 3A moves over the first fixed contact 11 and maintains its short-circuited state, and further reaches the position of the number "8", as shown by the dashed line in the figure,
The second contact piece 5c is located on the second fixed contact 12, and the common contact piece 5a located on the common fixed contact 10 is short-circuited and conductive, and the electricity that turns on the warning buzzer etc. A signal will be sent out.

That is, according to the counter with contacts configured as described above, a warning light, etc. as the first alarm is turned on at the first setting number "6" position (counter "6000" number), and the on state is maintained as it is. At the same time, when the second set number ``8'' position (counter ``8000'' number) is reached, a warning buzzer etc. as a second alarm is turned on, and a two-step notification function can be achieved. Something,
In addition, the configuration etc. of the required conductive patterns 10, 1
1 and 12 and a wiper 5 having three contact pieces 5a, 5b, and 5c that are in sliding contact with the printed circuit board 6, the structure is simple, and its practical advantages include The effect is great.

Further, according to the above-mentioned counter with contacts, since the wiper 5 has three contact pieces 5a, 5b, and 5c, these can also be used as an elastic member for regulating the side brake of the number wheel 3. It is also possible to use it as a device, and its advantages are great. This can be easily understood from the fact that a stable elastic action can be obtained by the three-point support by the three contact pieces mentioned above.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the structure of the embodiment described above, and the shape, structure, etc. of each part may be modified and changed as appropriate. For example, in the embodiment described above, among the displayed numbers of the highest digit number wheel 3A of the counter, "6" and "8" were short-circuited to send a signal, but the configuration is not limited to this. All you have to do is select the required number and form a conductive pattern, etc. in accordance with it, and the applicable equipment and devices are not limited to the above-mentioned copying machine.
Various things are possible.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, according to the counter with contacts according to the present invention, the wiper integrated on the highest digit number wheel side has a common contact piece and a first and a second contact piece, and on the printed circuit board disposed on the side thereof, each contact piece is located on a concentric circle corresponding to each of these contact pieces, and when the number wheel displays a specific number, each contact Since we formed a conductive pattern consisting of the common fixed contact, the first and second fixed contacts, each having an arc shape with a defined length in the circumferential direction so that the pieces are selectively short-circuited, the number wheel is When the specified two types of numerical positions are reached, each contact piece of the wiper can short-circuit the common fixed contact and the first or second fixed contact as appropriate to send out the required electrical signal, and further short-circuit the common fixed contact and the first or second fixed contact. By appropriately setting the length in the circumferential direction, it is possible to maintain the short-circuited state of the first contact, and the overall configuration is simple, and it has various excellent effects such as being able to achieve small size and low cost. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view showing a conductive pattern on a printed circuit board showing an embodiment of a counter with contacts according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 shows a wiper having a contact piece that slides on the conductive pattern to make contact. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the wiper of FIG. 3... Number wheel, 3A... Highest digit number wheel, 5...
...Wiper (sliding contact member), 5a... Common contact piece, 5b, 5c... First and second contact piece,
6...Printed circuit board, 10...Common fixed contact,
11, 12...first and second fixed contacts.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A sliding contact member is integrally fixed to the side of the highest digit number wheel, and a printed circuit board on which a fixed contact on which the contact piece of the sliding contact member slides is printed and wired is arranged on the side of the number wheel. In the counter with contacts, the contact pieces of the sliding contact member are composed of a common contact piece, a first contact piece, and a second contact piece, which are provided at different positions in the radial direction and the circumferential direction, respectively, The fixed contacts of the printed circuit board are composed of a common fixed contact, first and second fixed contacts, which are provided concentrically in correspondence with each contact piece of the sliding contact member, and these The fixed contact group has an arc shape with a circumferential length dimension such that each contact piece of the sliding contact member is selectively short-circuited when the number wheel displays a specific number, A counter with contacts, characterized in that it is configured to send signals at two specified numeric positions of the highest digit number wheel.