JPH07211198A - Key switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a key switch which securely prevents a key from falling out by means of a simple constitution without using any electromagnetic solenoid. CONSTITUTION:A key switch is provided with cases 5 and 9 having a key insertion pore 11, switch part 6 provided in the cases 5 and 9, and an actuator 10 for actuating the switch part by interlocking it with a key 2 provided inside the cases 5 and 9 and inserted from the key insertion pore 11. In this key switch, a falling out preventing member 41 for preventing the key 2 inserted in the key insertion pore 11 from falling out from the hole.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key switch used as a safety door switch or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Safety door switches are used for various machine tools,
In order to prevent accidents due to inadvertent operation or accidental misoperation in industrial machinery, it is attached to the safety door of the machinery or the door of a protective fence.

This safety door switch works as an interlock switch for a machine tool. For example, a key is attached to the door side and a switch body is attached to the fixed frame side of the doorway, and the key is switched when the door is closed. When it is inserted into the main body and the internal switch is turned on to enter the drive start state, conversely when the door is opened the key is removed from the switch main body and the internal switch is turned off so that the machine tool is stopped. .

If the above switch is used, the operation of the machine tool is stopped when the door is opened, but the machine tool may actually rotate due to inertia.
Safety is not ensured due to continuous dangerous conditions for workers.

Therefore, there is a safety door switch provided with an electromagnetic solenoid for locking the key so that the key cannot be pulled out freely in order to protect an operator who handles such a highly dangerous machine from an accident.

In this safety door switch, the electromagnetic solenoid is driven by the stop detection signal of the rotation of the machine tool to release the lock of the key extraction, whereby the operation of the machine tool is surely stopped. Only then can the key be removed and the door opened to ensure worker safety.

[0007]

However, in the case where the key is prevented from coming off by the electromagnetic solenoid as described above, the electromagnetic solenoid is provided inside the switch, and there are the following problems.

(A) The equipment is large and requires a large installation space.

(B) Since the electromagnetic solenoid and its circuit parts are incorporated, the internal structure becomes very complicated, and its assembling is very troublesome.

(C) Since the number of parts is increased and the assembly is troublesome, the manufacturing cost is significantly increased.

The present invention has been made paying attention to such a point, and provides a key switch in which a key is reliably prevented from coming off with a simple structure without using an electromagnetic solenoid.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the case having the key insertion hole, the switch portion provided in the case, and the switch portion interlocked with the key provided in the case and inserted from the key insertion hole. In the key switch including the actuating member for activating, a retaining member for retaining the key inserted in the key insertion hole is provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the key insertion hole is provided so as to communicate with the case, and the end portion of the key inserted from one end side of the key insertion hole is the above-mentioned. A structure that protrudes outward from the other end side of the key insertion hole, and the retaining member is attached to the end portion of the key and is locked to the opening edge on the other end side of the key insertion hole when the key is pulled out. And

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the retaining member is provided in the case via a connecting member.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the retaining member is a pin that is mounted in a mounting hole formed at the end of the key, and the connecting member is a chain. did.

According to the invention of claim 5, in the invention of claim 4, the pin is a lock pin locked in the mounting hole.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the retaining member is a ring body which is formed into an annular shape by engaging the engaging ends with each other.
The ring body is mounted in a mounting hole formed at the end of the key.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the retaining member is provided at the end of the key so as to be bendable.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the key insertion hole is provided so as to communicate with the case, and the end portion of the key inserted from one end side of the key insertion hole is the above-mentioned. And a structure in which the retaining member is projected outward from the other end side of the key insertion hole, and the retaining member is provided at an opening edge on the other end side of the key insertion hole and locked to the end portion of the key. did.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the eighth aspect of the invention, the retaining member is locked to the end portion of the key,
It is configured to be automatically operated by elasticity as the key is inserted into the key insertion hole.

[0022]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the retainer member prevents the key inserted in the key insertion hole from retaining.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, the retaining member attached to the end portion protruding outward from the other end side of the key insertion hole is further provided for pulling out the key. The key is locked by being locked to the opening edge on the other end side of the insertion hole.

According to the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, the retaining member is further attached to the case and provided.

According to the invention of claim 4, in the invention of claim 3, the retaining member has a simple structure as a pin and the connecting member as a chain.

According to the invention of claim 5, in the invention of claim 4, the lock pin is locked in the mounting hole and is not easily disengaged.

According to the invention of claim 6, in addition to the invention of claim 1 or 2, the retaining member comprises a ring body in which the respective engaging ends are engaged, and the ring body is engaged unless the engagement is released. The key cannot be removed from the key, and the key is prevented from coming off.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the key is removed by the retaining member formed by bending the end of the key when the key is inserted into the key insertion hole. Stopping is done.

According to the invention of claim 8, in the invention of claim 1, the retaining member provided at the opening edge on the other end side of the key insertion hole is locked to the end of the key, Will be locked out.

According to the invention of claim 9, in the invention of claim 8, further, by inserting the key into the key insertion hole, the retaining member is automatically elastically attached to the end of the key.

[0031]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a schematic description will be given of the relationship between the main drawings. FIG. 1 shows the overall appearance of a key switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the switch body 1 and the switch component 3 of FIG. 1 and 2 with the key 2 side in FIG. 1 as the front and the switch body 1 in cross section, and FIG. 3 shows the switch body 1 in FIG. 1 in cross section and enlarged from the side surface thereof. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the switch body of FIG. 2 from the front, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the periphery including the lock mechanism 17 from the lower surface side, and FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the components constituting the lock mechanism 17, showing its appearance.
FIG. 7 shows the external configuration of the key 2 as viewed from the lower surface side thereof.

As will be described below, the key switch of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a switch body 1 and a key 2, and the switch body 1 is a switch component 3 and a head screw-connected to the upper portion thereof. And part 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, a switch element 6 serving as a switch portion for opening and closing a power supply circuit is provided inside a box-shaped switch body case 5 which constitutes the outer shape of the switch constituent portion 3. Two sets of normally-closed contact mechanisms 7, 7 are provided in the switch element 6, and the upper end of the operating portion 8 for opening and closing the normally-closed contact mechanisms 7, 7 is located on the upper surface of the switch element 6.

Inside the head case 9 of the upper and lower halves structure forming the outer shape of the head portion 4, the drum 10 is rotatable around the horizontal axis P through the small-diameter support shafts 10a and 10b provided at both ends thereof. A key insertion hole 11 is formed through the upper portion of the drum 10 in parallel with the cam shaft center. Spiral cam grooves 12 are formed on both ends of the outer periphery of the drum 10 at a rotation phase of 90 °.
A straight guide groove 13 that communicates with is provided along the key insertion hole 11 at the lower center of its width. In addition, one screw 40 of the head case 9 has a pin 4 serving as a retaining member for the key 2 attached to the end of the screw 4 at the end thereof.
3 is integrally fixed as a connecting member.

The switch body case 5, the head case 9, and the switch body case constitute a case of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, on the lower surface of the front portion of the key 2 which is inserted into and removed from the key insertion hole 11 in the longitudinal direction, a spiral of the drum 10 is provided through the linear guide groove 13 as shown in FIG. An operation pin 2a that engages with the cam groove 12 is provided in a protruding manner, and the operation pin 2a linearly moves forward and backward along the linear guide groove 13 as the key 2 is inserted and removed, whereby the spiral cam groove 12 Operation pin 2 via
The drum 10 engaged with a is rotated relative to the forward and reverse directions.

Further, the insertion portion of the key 2 into the key insertion hole 11 is formed longer than the length of the key insertion hole 11. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the tip end thereof is inserted into the key insertion hole 11. In this state, the key insertion hole 11 is projected to the outside from the front end opening, and the protruding portion has a mounting hole 30 into which the pin 41 is mounted.

A switch operating plunger 14 is vertically movably mounted on a fitting boss 9a formed in the lower portion of the head case 9, and is urged to slide upward by a spring 15. A large-diameter portion 14a is provided at the upper end of the plunger 14, and the large-diameter portion 14a is provided on the drum 10.
Is pressed against the lower surface of the outer circumference. The outer peripheral portion of the drum 10 with which the large diameter portion 14a abuts is partially flatly cut away to form a recessed portion 16, and in the key extraction state, as shown in FIG. 2, the large diameter portion of the plunger 14 is formed. 14a
Is brought into contact with the circular outer peripheral surface of the drum 10, the plunger 14 is pushed down against the spring 15, and the drum 10 is rotated 90 ° by inserting the key 2.
As shown in (b), the concave portion 16 of the drum 10 faces downward, and the plunger 14 is urged and displaced upward by the spring 15.

The drum 10 and the plunger 14 constitute an operating body of the present invention.

With the head case 9 connected to the upper surface of the switch body case 5, the fitting boss portion 9a is fitted into the opening of the upper surface of the switch body case 5, and the plunger 14 projects downward from the fitting boss portion 9a. Is arranged such that the lower end of the key opposes the upper end of the operating portion 8 of the switch element 6, and the key 2 is pulled out and the plunger 14 is forcibly displaced downward by the drum 10 as described above. Now, with this plunger 14, the switch element 6
The operation unit 8 is forcibly pushed down to operate the switch element 6 in the switch-off state.

A lock mechanism 17 for preventing the rotation of the drum 10 in the key pulled-out state is incorporated in the head portion 4.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the lock mechanism 17 has a pair of locking members 19, 1 in a pair of circumferential recesses 18, 18 formed on the outer periphery of the front end of the drum 10.
The rotation of the drum 10 is prevented by biasing the engaging pieces 19a and 19a extending from the spring 9 by springs 20 and 20, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 6, each lock member 19 is formed by punching and bending a metal plate, and is supported in the head case 9 so as to be vertically movable only. Each lock body 19 has an engagement piece 19a which is engaged with and disengaged from each recess 18 of the drum 10 from below, and a release operation piece 19b which stands upright.
And a spring receiving projection 19c for positioning and supporting the upper end of the spring 20, and the release operation pieces 19b project from below into the hole at the left and right portions near the entrance of the key insertion hole 11. Then, the releasing operation piece 19b is inclined and bent inward and extends inward in the key insertion direction so as to project at the inner side of the key insertion hole 11.

The lock mechanism 16 constructed in this way is released by the initial insertion operation of the key 2, and
The slopes 2b formed on the left and right of the lower surface of the tip end of each of the locks 19 abut on the release operation pieces 19b and push the release operation pieces 19b downward, whereby the lock fittings 19 are pushed downward against the springs 20 to lock both locks. The pieces 19a, 19a are formed in both recesses 18, 18
The drum 10 is disengaged and the rotation of the drum 10 is allowed, and the subsequent insertion operation of the key 2 causes the spiral cam groove 12 to move as described above.
The drum 10 is rotated by a cam action of the operation pin 2a.

The key switch of the present invention is configured as described above, and the specific operation when the key switch is used as a safety switch in the door of the protective fence surrounding the machine tool as described above. explain.

When the door is open, the key 2 is pulled out from the switch body 1, and as shown in FIG.
The plunger 14 moves downward, the switch element 6 is in a switch-off state, and the lock mechanism 16 is in a lock state in which the rotation of the drum 10 is blocked. In this state, the drum 10 does not rotate unduly due to vibration, and the drum 10 cannot be rotated only by inserting a driver or the like into the key insertion hole 11 and pressing one of the releasing operation pieces 19b. . Therefore, in this door open state, the power supply circuit is reliably turned off, and the power supply is not inadvertently turned on.

When the door is closed, the key 2 is inserted into the switch body 1, and the initial insertion operation of the key 2 causes the lock mechanism 1 to be operated.
After 6 is unlocked, further insertion of the key 2 causes the drum 10 to move the spiral cam groove 12 and the operation pin 2a.
And the concave portion 10c of the drum 10 faces the upper end of the plunger 14 to move the plunger 14 upward. When the plunger 14 moves upward, the actuating body 6a of the switch element 6 from which the contact regulation from above is released is urged upward, the switch element 6 is switched on, and the power of the machine tool is turned on.

Further, in the state where the key 2 is inserted into the switch body 1 as described above, the operator inserts the key 2 into the mounting hole 30 formed in a portion protruding from the tip opening of the key insertion hole 11 to the outside. The pin 41 is attached. As described above, when the pin 41 is mounted in the mounting hole 30 and the pulling force is applied to the key 2, the pin 41 is locked to the opening edge of the key insertion hole 11 to prevent the key 2 from being pulled out. It

With such a structure, it is possible to reliably prevent the key 2 from being accidentally pulled out, and to avoid the risk of accidentally opening the door. In particular, the key 41 is prevented from being pulled out by a simple structure in which the pin 41 is mounted in the mounting hole 30 of the key 2.
With the structure in which the pin 41 is integrated with the switch body 1 side by the chain 43, it is possible to save the labor of separately storing the pin 41, and there is no fear of losing the pin 41.

When the door is opened by pulling out the pin 41 and the key 2 is pulled out, the drum 10 is forcibly rotated accordingly, and the plunger 14 is pushed down against the spring 15 to move the switch of FIG. It is turned off.

Another embodiment of the structure for preventing the key 2 from being pulled out from the key insertion hole 11 will be described below.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the pin 45 is elastically fitted in the mounting hole 30. That is,
This pin 45 has a bifurcated shape, and when it is contracted, the mounting hole 3
It has a lock pin structure in which it is mounted on the mounting hole 30, is elastically expanded in the mounting hole 30, is pressed into the mounting hole 30, and is locked in the mounting hole 30 in this state.

With such a structure, the pin 45 is prevented from being easily separated from the mounting hole 30 due to collision or vibration of an object, thereby further improving safety.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the ring body 50 is attached to the mounting hole 30, and the ring body 50 is locked to the opening edge of the key insertion hole 11 to prevent the key 2 from being pulled out. There is. The ring body 50 is opened by releasing the screw engaging portion 51, and in this opened state, the mounting hole 3
It is attached to and removed from 0.

As described above, by using the ring body 50, the ring body 50 is prevented from being easily separated from the mounting hole 30, and the safety is further enhanced.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the tip portion 60 of the key 2 is constructed so as to be bendable by a pivotal support structure, and is inserted into the key insertion hole 11 when it is not folded, and after the insertion, the tip portion is inserted. 60 is bent, and the tip portion 60a of the tip portion 60 is at the lower opening edge of the key insertion hole 11,
The base portions 60b are respectively locked to the upper opening edges so that the key 2 can be prevented from being pulled out.

As described above, by providing the key 2 itself with the retaining member, the labor for separately storing the retaining member can be saved, and the key 2 can be prevented from being lost.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the switch body 1
A mounting base 70 is provided so as to project below the opening of the key insertion hole 11 of the head portion 4, and an engaging pin 72 is mounted on the mounting base 70 via a spring 71. It is formed into a spherical surface and is urged upward by the elastic force of the spring 71 so that its head is normally the key insertion hole 11
It is located so as to face the opening. The above mounting base 7
0, the spring 71, and the engagement pin 72 constitute a retaining member. Then, the key 2 is inserted and the key insertion opening 1
The head is pressed down by the inclined surface of the lower surface of the tip of the key 2 protruding from the opening of 1, and the engaging pin 72 is lowered,
At a position where is fully inserted, the engaging pin 72 is raised by the bias of the spring 71 and engages with the mounting hole 30. In this way, the engagement pin 72 engages with the mounting hole 30 of the key 2 to prevent the key 2 from being pulled out. As shown in the figure, the key 2 is pulled out by pushing the lever portion 73 protruding laterally to engage the engagement pin 7.
This is done by lowering 2 and detaching from the mounting hole 30.

Since the retaining member is provided on the switch body 1 with such a configuration, the labor for separately storing the retaining member can be saved, and the risk of loss can be eliminated. In particular, since the engagement pin 72 is automatically engaged with the mounting hole 30 by the elasticity when the key 2 is inserted into the key insertion hole 11, it does not take time to engage the engagement pin 72 with the mounting hole 30. It is convenient.

[0061]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the key that is inserted into the key insertion hole is prevented from coming off by the coming-off preventing member, so that it is possible to ensure the simple structure. It is possible to prevent the key from being pulled out, and as a result, it is possible to provide a key switch with excellent safety without increasing the size of the device, facilitating assembly, and increasing the manufacturing cost.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, further, the key is prevented from coming off at the end portion protruding outward from the other end side of the key insertion hole, so that it is simpler. With the configuration, it is possible to provide a key switch having a strong pull-out prevention configuration.

According to the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, further, since the retaining member is provided by being attached to the case, the labor for separately storing the retaining member can be saved, and It is possible to provide a key switch capable of preventing the retaining member from being lost.

According to the invention of claim 4, in the invention of claim 3, further, since the retaining member has a simple structure as a pin and the connecting member as a chain, it is easy to manufacture, and
It becomes possible to provide an inexpensive key switch.

According to the invention of claim 5, in the invention of claim 4, it is possible to provide a highly safe key switch in which the pin is locked in the mounting hole and does not easily come off.

According to the invention of claim 6, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, the ring body cannot be removed from the key unless the engagement is released, and the key is prevented from coming off. Will be able to provide.

According to the invention of claim 7, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, the retaining member is further provided integrally with the key, so that the labor for separately storing the retaining member can be saved and the retaining member can be removed. It is possible to provide a key switch that can prevent the stopper member from being lost.

According to the invention of claim 8, in the invention of claim 1, the retaining member is provided integrally with the case, so that the retaining member can be saved separately and the retaining member can be saved. It will be possible to provide a key switch that can prevent the loss of the key switch.

According to the invention of claim 9, in the invention of claim 8, further, by inserting the key into the key insertion hole, the retaining member is automatically operated at the end of the key by elasticity. It will be possible to provide excellent key switches.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of a key switch device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view showing a state where a key of the switch body is pulled out.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a state where a key of the head unit is pulled out.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which a key of the head unit is pulled out.

FIG. 5 is a transverse plan view of the lock mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a drum and a lock mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a key

FIG. 8A is a schematic front view of a main part showing a state where a key is being inserted. FIG. 8B is a schematic front view of a main part showing a key insertion completed state.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the structure for preventing the key from being pulled out from the switch.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of still another embodiment of the structure for preventing the key from being pulled out from the switch.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of still another embodiment of a structure for preventing the key from being pulled out from the switch.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of still another embodiment of the structure for preventing the key from being pulled out from the switch.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the structure for preventing the key from being pulled out from the switch.

FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view of the engagement pin of the embodiment shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Switch body case (case) 6 Switch element (switch part) 9 Head case (case) 10 Drum (actuator) 11 Key insertion hole 14 Plunger (actuator) 41 Pin (retaining member)

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A case having a key insertion hole, a switch portion provided in the case, and an actuating body which operates the switch portion in association with a key provided in the case and inserted through the key insertion hole. A key switch comprising: a key switch comprising a retaining member for retaining the key inserted in the key insertion hole. 2. The key insertion hole is provided so as to communicate with the case, and an end portion of the key inserted from one end side of the key insertion hole projects outward from the other end side of the key insertion hole. The key switch according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member is attached to an end portion of the key and is locked to an opening edge on the other end side of the key insertion hole when the key is pulled out. 3. The key switch according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member is provided on the case via a connecting member. 4. The key switch according to claim 3, wherein the retaining member is a pin mounted in a mounting hole formed at an end portion of the key, and the connecting member is a chain. 5. The key switch according to claim 4, wherein the pin is a lock pin locked in the mounting hole. 6. The retaining member is a ring body which is annular when the engaging ends are engaged with each other,
3. The key switch according to claim 1, wherein the ring body is mounted in a mounting hole formed at an end of the key. 7. The key switch according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member is provided at an end portion of the key so as to be bendable. 8. The key insertion hole is provided so as to communicate with the case, and an end portion of the key inserted from one end side of the key insertion hole projects outward from the other end side of the key insertion hole. The key switch according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member is provided on an opening edge on the other end side of the key insertion hole and is locked to an end portion of the key. 9. The key switch according to claim 8, wherein the retaining member is locked to the end portion of the key by elastic force as the key is inserted into the key insertion hole.