JPH08221165A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To decrease the man-hours of assembly by manufacturing a switch panel and a rubber spring which were constituted as independent components before as a mutually connected integrated member. CONSTITUTION: This keyboard is equipped with a membrane switch 14 which is arranged on a support panel 12, the switch panel 16 which is arranged on the membrane switch 14 and has plural key fitting parts 18, a key top 20 which is arranged at the key fitting part 18 of the switch panel 16 movably in the up-down direction and can make and break the contact of the membrane switch 14, and the rubber spring 22 which returns the pressed key top 20 upward; and the switch panel 16 and rubber spring 22 are fixed to each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard, and more particularly to a structure of a switch panel and a rubber spring used in the keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a keyboard has been used in word processors, personal computers and the like, and the keyboard has many keys in which letters and numbers are written. The part of the key that is operated by hand is called the key top. There is a membrane switch inside the keyboard, and when the key top is pressed, the contacts of the membrane switch are opened and closed.
There is a rubber spring under the key top so that the key top naturally returns to the top after pressing the key top.

13 and 14 are views showing an example of a keyboard having a rubber spring. The keyboard is a membrane switch 54 located on the support panel 52.
And a switch panel 56 having a plurality of key attachment portions 58, and a membrane switch 5 arranged on the key attachment portion 58 of the switch panel 56 so as to be vertically movable.
A key top 60 that can open and close the contact 55 of No. 4 and a rubber spring 62 that returns the pressed key top 60 upward. Key mounting part 5 of switch panel 56
Reference numeral 8 denotes a tubular guide, and the key top 60 includes a slider 64 slidably engaged with the tubular guide 58.

The rubber spring 62 has a cup-like shape and is elastically deformed when the key top 60 is pressed, and then naturally returns to the top when the key top 60 becomes free. In FIG. 13, the rubber spring 6
The two 2 are individually made and arranged on the key attachment portion 58 of the switch panel 56. In FIG.
A rubber spring 62 is formed by connecting it on a rubber sheet, and this rubber sheet is laminated between the membrane switch 54 and the switch panel 56.

[0005]

In the conventional keyboard, the switch panel 56 and the rubber spring 62 are formed as separate parts in separate steps. Therefore, in assembling the keyboard, it is necessary to insert the rubber spring 62 into the key attaching portion 58 of the switch panel 56, which causes a problem that the number of assembling steps is increased.

An object of the present invention is to manufacture a switch panel and a rubber spring, which are conventionally configured as separate parts, and even a key top as an integrated member which is connected to each other, so that the number of assembling steps can be reduced. Is to provide.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A keyboard according to the present invention comprises a membrane switch 14 disposed on a support panel 12, a switch panel disposed on the membrane switch and having a plurality of key attachment portions 18, and the switch. The switch panel 16 is provided with a key top 20 movably arranged in the up and down direction on the key mounting portion of the panel and capable of opening and closing the contacts of the membrane switch, and a rubber spring 22 for returning the depressed key top in the upward direction.
And the rubber spring 22 are fixed to each other.

[0008]

In the above structure, since the switch panel 16 and the rubber spring 22 are fixed to each other, it is possible to omit the labor of inserting the rubber spring 22 into the key mounting portion 18 of the switch panel 16 in assembling the keyboard. Therefore, the number of assembling steps can be reduced.
Further, since the switch panel 16 and the rubber spring 22 are fixed to each other, both can be managed as one component, and the labor for management and handling can be saved.

In addition to the above configuration, the following configuration can be adopted. A structure in which the switch panel and the rubber spring are integrally formed by two-color molding, and the switch panel and the rubber spring are fused to each other, whereby the switch panel and the rubber spring are fixed to each other. Can be easily achieved.

If the key mounting portion of the switch panel is composed of a cylindrical guide and the key top includes a slider slidably engaged with the cylindrical guide, it is not necessary to change the conventional structure largely. . In this case, the inner slider is placed between the rubber spring and the slider,
By arranging the coil spring on the inner slider, the operation feeling of the key top can be improved.

If the inner slider is insert-molded on the rubber spring, the labor of assembling the inner slider can be substantially omitted. The switch panel has a notch, and a part of the rubber spring is inserted into the notch and fixed to the switch panel, so that the switch panel and the rubber spring are reliably integrated by two-color molding. It

Further, the present invention provides a keyboard having a key top fixed to a rubber spring and a switch panel. This keyboard has a membrane switch 14 arranged on a support panel 12.
A switch panel 16 arranged on the membrane switch and having a plurality of key attachment portions 18, and a key arranged vertically movable on the key attachment portion of the switch panel and capable of opening and closing contacts of the membrane switch. A top 20 and a rubber spring 22 for returning the depressed key top to the upper direction are provided. The rubber spring 22 is arranged between the key top 20 and the switch panel 16 and fixed to the key top 20 and the key mounting portion 18. It is characterized by

Also in the operation of this structure, since the switch panel 16 and the rubber spring 22 are fixed to each other, the rubber spring 22 is assembled in assembling the keyboard.
It is possible to omit the labor for inserting the key into the key attachment portion 18 of the switch panel 16, reduce the number of assembling steps, and save the labor for managing the parts and handling. Further, in this configuration, the rubber spring 22 is the key top 2
It is also fixed to 0, and it is possible to further reduce the number of assembling steps and simplify the management of parts.

In addition to this structure, the switch panel is composed of a substantially flat knitted plate having an opening and a cloth portion surrounding the opening, and the key attachment portion corresponds to the cloth portion. You can Then, it is possible to eliminate the conventional guide of the key top, the tubular guide of the switch panel, and the like, and the structure becomes simpler as a whole.

Also in this case, the switch panel is provided with a cutout in the cloth portion, and a part of the rubber spring is inserted into the cutout and fixed to the switch panel. The spring and the spring are securely integrated by two-color molding.

Further, the key top has a notch, and a part of the rubber spring is inserted into the notch and fixed to the key top, so that the key top and the rubber spring are formed by two-color molding. Reliably integrated. If the coil spring capable of pressing the contact of the membrane switch is attached to the inner surface of the key top, the contact of the membrane switch can be pressed more reliably.

Further, the rubber spring may be fixed to substantially the entire inner surface of the key top. In this case, the shaft made of the same material as the rubber spring is integrally projected from the inner surface of the rubber spring at the center position of the keytop, and the shaft can easily press the contact of the membrane switch. The contact of the switch can be pressed down more reliably.
In this case, if the tip portion of the shaft is formed in a shape having a weak spring property, the operation feeling of the key top can be improved.

[0018]

1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard 10 includes a membrane switch 14 arranged on a support panel 12 and a membrane switch 1
4 and a switch panel 16 having a plurality of key attachment portions 18, and a key arranged on the key attachment portion 18 of the switch panel 16 so as to be vertically movable and capable of opening and closing the contacts 15a and 15b of the membrane switch 14. The top 20 and the rubber spring 22 that returns the pressed key top 20 to the upper direction are provided. The membrane switch 14 is a well-known insulating sheet 14a facing each other,
14b and a spacer 14c, the contacts 15a, 1
5b and a conductive pattern (not shown) are provided on each of the insulating sheets 14a and 14b.

The key mounting portion 18 of the switch panel 16
Is a tubular guide, and the key top 20 includes a slider 24 slidably engaged with the key attachment portion (cylindrical guide) 18. The slider 24 may be made integrally with the key top 20, or may be made separately from the key top 20 and then the key top 2010.
It may be fixed to.

The rubber spring 22 is the switch panel 16
The structure is fixed to. The rubber spring 22 basically has a cup shape or a conical shape, and is elastically deformed when the key top 20 is pressed, and then naturally returns to the top when the key top 20 becomes free. . The upper end 25 of the rubber spring 22 has a lip shape that abuts the slider 24 of the key top 20. The lower end of the rubber spring 22 is a flange 26 extending outward in the radial direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flanges 26 of all the rubber springs 22 are in the same plane as the connecting portion 28.
Are linked by. At the position of the lower end of the key attachment portion (cylindrical guide) 18 of the switch panel 16, the switch panel 16 has a notch (step portion of the inner diameter) 3
0, the switch panel 16 enters the notch 30 and is fixed to the switch panel 16.

The operation of the keyboard 10 is similar to that of the conventional one, but the switch panel 16 and the rubber spring 2 are used.
2 are fixed to each other, the rubber spring 22 is attached to the switch panel 16 when assembling the keyboard 10.
It is possible to omit the labor of inserting the key into the key attaching portion 18, and to reduce the number of assembling steps.
It can be managed as a part, and further labor can be saved.

Switch panel 16 and rubber spring 22
In order to obtain a structure in which and are fixed to each other, the switch panel 16 and the rubber spring 22 are integrally molded by two-color molding. In the structure obtained by two-color molding,
The switch panel 16 and the rubber spring 22 are fused to each other.

3 and 4 are views for explaining the two-color molding of the switch panel 16 and the rubber spring 22. The switch panel 16 is made of a material suitable for injection molding such as ABS, PS and PPO. The rubber spring 22 is made of a material suitable for injection molding, and is made of a thermoplastic elastomer that has a low hardness and can be fused to a resin. Conventional rubber springs are compression molded and are not suitable for injection molding.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the first stage of the two-color molding, the rubber spring 22 is injection molded into a predetermined shape. The rubber spring 22 basically has a cup shape or a conical shape, and the upper end portion 25 has a lip shape. The flange 2 is attached to the lower end of the rubber spring 22.
6 and the connecting portion 28 are formed. The connecting portion 28 is provided to allow the molten material to flow to all the sites where the rubber springs 22 are to be formed in the molding die.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the second stage of the two-color molding, a part of the molding die forming the rubber spring 22 is left, and the remaining part of the molding die forms the switch panel 16. The mold is changed to a mold, and the molten resin for forming the switch panel 16 is injected with the rubber spring 22 maintained in the mold.

Therefore, when the molten resin flows, at the position where the rubber spring 22 and the switch panel 16 come into contact with each other, the melted materials stick to each other and the rubber spring 22 and the switch panel 16 are fused to each other. By this fusion, the rubber spring 22 and the switch panel 16 are integrated. In the above example,
Although the rubber spring 22 is molded in the first stage of the two-color molding and the switch panel 16 is molded in the second stage of the two-color molding, the order can be reversed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment of FIG. 1 is that an inner slider 32 and a coil spring 34 are added between the rubber spring 22 and the key top 20 or the slider 24. The inner slider 32 is fixed to the rubber spring 22 and slidable with respect to the slider 24. The coil spring 34 is the key top 20.
The inner slider 32 is disposed around the protrusion 33 on the inner surface of the inner slider 32 and urges the inner slider 32 toward the rubber spring 22. The coil spring 34 improves the operation feeling of the keytop 20 in addition to the spring force of the rubber spring 22.

In manufacturing the keyboard 10 including the inner slider 32, first, the inner slider 32 is
Is molded and the inner slider 32 is insert-molded when the rubber spring 22 is molded, so that the inner slider 32 and the rubber spring 22 are first integrated as shown in FIG. All rubber springs 2
The connecting portion 28 for connecting the two may be formed in a rim shape as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or may be formed as a solid surface as shown in FIG. The flange 26 is included in the connection portion 28 when the entire surface is formed to be solid. In the second stage of the subsequent two-color molding, the switch panel 16
When molding, the inner slider 32, the rubber spring 22, and the switch panel 16 are integrated.

7 to 9 are diagrams showing a third embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard 10 according to this embodiment includes a membrane switch 14 arranged on a support panel 12.
A switch panel 16 disposed on the membrane switch 14 and having a plurality of key attachment portions 18, and a contact point 15 of the membrane switch 14 disposed on the key attachment portion 18 of the switch panel 16 so as to be vertically movable.
It is provided with a key top 20 capable of opening and closing a and 15b, and a rubber spring 22 for returning the pressed key top 20 in the upward direction.

As shown in FIG. 9, the switch panel 1
6 is a substantially flat knitted plate made up of an opening 36 according to the key arrangement and a cloth portion 38 surrounding the opening 36. The key attachment portion 18 corresponds to the cloth portion 38. That is, in this embodiment, the key top 20 is attached to the cloth portion 38 (key attaching portion 18) by the rubber spring 22. The material portion 38 is provided with a notch (or groove) 40.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rubber spring 22 has a shape corresponding to the rectangular skirt of the lower portion of the keytop 20, and the lower portion has two adjacent keytops 20. Has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape corresponding to the side wall. The lower end portion of the U-shaped cross section of the rubber spring 22 enters the notch 40 of the cloth portion 38 (key mounting portion 18) and is fixed to the switch panel 16. Similarly, the upper end of the rubber spring 22 enters the notch 41 of the key top 20 and is fixed to the key top 20.

Further, a coil spring 42 capable of pushing down the contacts 15a and 15b of the membrane switch 14 is attached to the inner surface of the key top 20. One end of the coil spring 42 is fixed to the protrusion 43 on the inner surface of the key top 20, and the other end is free. When the key top 20 is pressed, the coil spring 42 contacts the membrane switch 14 to close the contacts 15a and 15b. .

In the manufacture of the keyboard 10, the switch panel 16, the rubber spring 22 and the key top 20 are sequentially subjected to two-color molding to fuse and integrate these contact portions. Therefore, the number of assembling steps can be significantly reduced.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modification of the keyboard 10 of FIG. The support panel 12 and the membrane switch 14 are omitted. In this example, the lower portion of the rubber spring 22 has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape as in the case of FIGS. 7 to 9, and the lower end portion of the U-shaped cross-section of the rubber spring 22 is the fabric portion 38 (key attachment). It is inserted into the notch 40 of the portion 18) and is fixed to the switch panel 16. The rubber spring 22 is fixed to almost the entire inner surface of the key top 20. Rubber spring 2
A shaft 44 made of the same material as 2 is integrally projected from the inner surface of the rubber spring 22 at the central position of the key top 20,
The shaft 44 is the contacts 15a, 15 of the membrane switch 14.
It is possible to press b.

11 and 12 show the keyboard 1 of FIG.
It is a figure which shows the example of a change of 0. In this example, the lower portion of the rubber spring 22 has a U-shaped cross section and is fixed to almost the entire inner surface of the key top 20, and the shaft 44 made of the same material as the rubber spring 22 is used.
Is integrally projected from the inner surface of the rubber spring 22 at the central position of the key top 20.

The tip of the shaft 44 is formed in a shape having a weak spring property (stronger than the contact pressing force). That is, the tip of the shaft 44 is formed into a beak-like shape, and as shown in FIG. 12, the tip of the shaft 44 deforms when it contacts the membrane switch 14, and contacts 15a,
It is possible to press 15b. As a result, an overstroke after the contact is turned on can be generated and the operation feeling of the keytop 20 can be improved.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the switch panel, rubber spring, and key top, which have been separated as conventional parts, can also be integrated, the number of parts can be reduced, the number of assembly steps can be reduced, and an inexpensive keyboard can be provided. be able to. Further, in the structure in which the rubber spring is fixedly attached to the key top and the switch panel, a vertical sliding portion such as a slider is not required, so that a thin structure can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rubber spring shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first stage of two-color molding.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second stage of two-color molding.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a keyboard of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a rubber spring integrated with an inner slider.

FIG. 7 is a cross section showing a keyboard of a third embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a perspective view showing a key top and a rubber spring of FIG. 7. FIG.

9 is a perspective view showing the switch panel of FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modification of the keyboard of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a modification of the keyboard of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a tip portion of the shaft of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a conventional technique.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Keyboard 12 ... Support panel 14 ... Membrane switch 16 ... Switch panel 18 ... Key attachment part 20 ... Key top 22 ... Rubber spring 24 ... Slider 32 ... Inner slider 38 ... Fabric part 40 ... Cutout 42 ... Coil spring 44 ... Shaft

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A switch panel (16) arranged on a support panel (12), a switch panel (16) arranged on the membrane switch and having a plurality of key attachment parts (18), and the switch panel. A key top (20) which is movably arranged in the up and down direction on the key attachment part and which can open and close the contacts of the membrane switch.
And a rubber spring (22) for returning the pressed key top in an upward direction, and the switch panel (16) and the rubber spring (22) are fixed to each other. 2. The switch panel (16) and the rubber spring (22) are integrally formed by two-color molding, and the switch panel and the rubber spring are fused to each other. The keyboard according to claim 1. 3. The key top portion (2) of the switch panel (16), wherein the key mounting portion (18) comprises a tubular guide.
The keyboard of claim 1, wherein 0) includes a slider (24) slidably engaging the tubular guide. 4. An inner slider (32) is arranged between a rubber spring (22) and a slider (24), and a coil spring (3) is arranged on the inner slider.
4. The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein 4) is arranged. 5. The keyboard according to claim 4, wherein the inner slider (32) is insert-molded on the rubber spring (22). 6. The switch panel (16) has a notch (3
Keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a (0) and a part of the rubber spring (22) enters into the notch and is fixed to the switch panel (16). 7. A switch panel (16) disposed on a support panel (12), a switch panel (16) disposed on the membrane switch and having a plurality of key attachment portions (18), and the switch panel. A key top (20) which is movably arranged in the up and down direction on the key attachment part and which can open and close the contacts of the membrane switch.
And a rubber spring (22) for returning the pressed key top to the upper direction, the rubber spring (22) being arranged between the key top (20) and the switch panel (16), and the key top (20). ) And the key attachment part (20). 8. The switch panel (16) has an opening (3).
6. A substantially flat knit plate comprising 6) and a fabric portion (38) surrounding the opening, wherein the key attachment portion (18) corresponds to the fabric portion (38). The keyboard according to 7. 9. The switch panel (16) has a notch (40) in the cloth portion (38), and a part of the rubber spring (22) is inserted into the notch and fixed to the switch panel (16). 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein
Keyboard described in. 10. The key top (20) according to claim 9, wherein the key top (20) has a notch, and the rubber spring (22) is inserted into the notch and fixed to the key top (20). keyboard. 11. The keyboard according to claim 7, wherein a coil spring (42) capable of pressing a contact of the membrane switch (14) is attached to an inner surface of the key top (20). 12. The keyboard according to claim 7, wherein a rubber spring (22) is fixed to substantially the entire inner surface of the key top (20). 13. A shaft (44) made of the same material as the rubber spring (22) integrally projects from the inner surface of the rubber spring (22) at the central position of the key top (20), and the shaft serves as a contact of the membrane switch. The keyboard according to claim 12, which can be pressed. 14. The tip of the shaft (44) is formed in a shape having a weak spring property.
Keyboard described in.