JPH08315668A - Membrane switch manufacturing equipment and manufacture of membrane switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the manufacturing equipment and manufacturing process of a membrane switch capable of enhancing productivity. CONSTITUTION: Membrane switch manufacturing equipment has a flat plate- shaped arraying jig 11 having a plurality of inserting holes 11a into each of which a dome-like rubber cap 103 for constituting a membrane switch is inserted from the upper part to a specified position, and also has a suction device 19 for sucking the insertion holes 11a, 11a... from the lower part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a membrane switch used for a keyboard switch of electronic equipment and a method for manufacturing the membrane switch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various membrane switches have been proposed as thin switch input devices in electronic devices such as personal computers and word processor keyboards. The most basic structure of this membrane switch consists of counter electrodes and spacers. Further, it is known that a dome-shaped rubber cap is provided above the counter electrode for the purpose of giving a click feeling. Such a membrane switch includes, for example, a single rubber cap 103 for each electrical contact 101a on a membrane sheet 101 provided with electrical contacts 101a as shown in FIG.
Are fixed via an adhesive 105. Then, by pushing the rubber cap 103 from above, the conductive electrode 103a provided in the rubber cap 103 and the electrical contact 101a provided on the membrane sheet 101.
And are conducted. The switching operation is performed in this manner.

When manufacturing this membrane switch, first, on the alignment jig 110 shown in FIG. 6 (a), which is provided with a plurality of insertion holes 110a having the same shape as the outer shape of the dome portion 103b of the rubber cap 103, in a predetermined arrangement. , A plurality of rubber caps 103 are supplied as shown in FIG. At this time, since the rubber cap 103 has not yet been inserted into the insertion holes 110a, 110a ... Of the alignment jig 110,
The alignment jig 110 is vibrated by a vibrating device (not shown) to be inserted into the insertion holes 110a, 110a. After that, the excess rubber cap 103s that has not been inserted into the insertion holes 110a, 110a ... Is manually aligned by using a brush 130 as shown in FIG. 6C.
10 Remove from above.

On the other hand, an adhesive is applied on the membrane sheet 101 in correspondence with the arrangement of the rubber caps 103. Then, as shown in FIG.
a, 110a ... With the rubber caps 103, 103 ... Inserted onto the upper surface of the aligning jig 110, the membrane sheet 101 coated with the adhesive is positioned such that the adhesive coated surfaces face each other. Place it. This allows
The rubber cap 103 is temporarily attached on the membrane sheet 101. Then, the rubber cap 103 is strongly pressed against the membrane sheet 101, and then the adhesive is dried and cured to manufacture a membrane switch.

[0005]

However, in the conventional method of manufacturing a membrane switch, the insertion holes 110a,
Excessive rubber cap 10 that was not inserted into 110a ...
Since 3 was removed from the alignment jig 110 using a brush, the rubber cap 103 once inserted into the insertion hole 110a may be removed from the insertion hole 110a. Moreover, another rubber cap 103 may be placed on the rubber cap 103 inserted into the insertion hole 110a. As a result, there is a problem that the working time becomes long and the productivity is remarkably reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a membrane switch manufacturing apparatus and a membrane switch manufacturing method capable of improving productivity.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first invention of the present application is a flat plate having a plurality of insertion holes into which a dome-shaped rubber cap constituting a membrane switch is inserted from a top to a predetermined position. The gist of the present invention is to have an alignment jig and suction means for sucking the insertion holes from below.

Further, the suction means has a groove portion covering the respective insertion holes on its upper surface, and a flat plate-shaped suction plate joined to the lower surface of the alignment jig, and connected to the groove portions and inserted into the insertion holes. And a suction device for sucking the rubber cap through the groove.

Further, it is desirable that the alignment jig and the suction plate rotate at least 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal.

The second invention of the present application is a flat plate-shaped aligning jig having a plurality of insertion holes into which a dome-shaped rubber cap constituting a membrane switch is inserted from above to a predetermined position, and the insertion holes. A flat plate-shaped suction plate that has a groove portion that covers the upper surface and is joined to the lower surface of the alignment jig; and a suction device that is connected to the groove portion and that sucks a rubber cap that is inserted into the insertion hole through the groove portion A supply step of supplying at least as many rubber caps as the insertion holes to the upper surface of the alignment jig of the manufacturing apparatus for a membrane switch, and an insertion step of inserting the supplied rubber caps into the insertion holes, A suction step of fixing the rubber cap inserted in the insertion hole to the insertion hole by suctioning the rubber cap through the groove portion by the suction device; An excluding step of rotating the alignment jig and the suction plate at least 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal in a state of being fixed in the insertion hole, and removing an excessive rubber cap not inserted into the insertion hole from the alignment jig; The gist of the present invention is to have a fixing step of fixing the rubber cap inserted in the insertion portion of the alignment jig to the flat plate-shaped membrane sheet.

[0011]

In the membrane switch manufacturing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, each of the flat plate-shaped aligning jigs having a plurality of insertion holes into which the dome-shaped rubber cap constituting the membrane switch is inserted from above to a predetermined position. The rubber cap can be fixed to the insertion hole by the suction means because the suction means sucks from below with the rubber cap inserted in the insertion hole. As a result, it becomes easy to remove the excess rubber cap that is not inserted in the insertion hole from the alignment jig, and the productivity of the membrane switch is improved.

A method of manufacturing a membrane switch according to a second aspect of the present invention is a flat plate-shaped aligning jig having a plurality of insertion holes into which a dome-shaped rubber cap for performing a click operation in the membrane switch is inserted from an upper position to a predetermined position. A flat plate-shaped suction plate that is provided with a groove portion that covers each of the insertion holes on the upper surface and that is joined to the lower surface of the alignment jig; and a rubber cap that is connected to the groove portion and that is inserted into the insertion hole through the groove portion. Supplying at least the number of the rubber caps of the insertion holes to the upper surface of the alignment jig of the manufacturing apparatus of the membrane switch having a suction device for sucking by inserting the supplied rubber caps into the insertion holes, The rubber cap inserted into the insertion hole is fixed to the insertion hole by sucking the rubber cap through the groove portion by the suction device.
Then, with the rubber cap fixed to the insertion hole, the alignment jig and the suction plate are rotated at least 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal, and an excess rubber cap not inserted into the insertion hole is removed from above the alignment jig. The rubber cap inserted into the insertion portion of the alignment jig is fixed to the flat sheet membrane sheet. Therefore, it becomes easy to remove the excess rubber cap that is not inserted into the insertion hole from the alignment jig, and the productivity of the membrane switch is improved.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a membrane switch manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof. Since the membrane switch used in this example is the same as that shown in FIG. 5, the same symbols are given and detailed description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 for manufacturing a membrane switch of this embodiment has a rubber cap 1 on the upper surface side.
03 are aligned and arranged, a suction plate 13 joined to the lower surface side of the alignment jig 11, a support plate 15 joined to the lower surface of the suction plate 13, and a lower surface of the support plate 15. Vibrating device 17 and suction device 1 connected to the suction plate 13.
9 and 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, the alignment jig 11 is provided with a plurality of insertion holes 11a having the same shape as the outer shape of the dome portion 103b of the rubber cap 103 in a predetermined arrangement. Each insertion hole 1
.. pass through from the upper surface of the alignment jig 11 to the suction plate 13 side. As shown in FIG. 3, the suction plate 13 has on its upper surface a groove portion 13a that covers the insertion holes 11a provided in the alignment jig 11 ,. Further, a through hole 13b is provided on one side surface of one end of the suction plate 13 so as to penetrate the opposite side surface.

The support plate 15 has a through hole 1 as shown in FIG.
A guide 15a having a U-shaped cross section at the end corresponding to 3b
Is provided. Further, the guide 15a is provided with a hole 15b at a position corresponding to the through hole 13b. Hole 15 of this guide 15a
A shaft 15c is inserted through the b and the through hole 13b. Therefore, the alignment jig 11 and the suction plate 13 can be rotated about the shaft 15c.

The vibrating device 17 includes an alignment jig 11 and a suction plate 1.
3 and the support plate 15 are vibrated. Due to this vibration, the plurality of rubber caps 103 supplied to the upper surface of the alignment jig 11,
103 are inserted into the insertion holes 11a, 11a. The suction device 19 is connected to the groove portion 13a of the suction plate 13 via a resin tube 19a, and by turning on a switch 19b provided on the upper surface, the insertion holes 11a and 11a are inserted.
The rubber caps 103, 103 inserted in ... Are sucked through the groove 13a.

Next, a method of manufacturing a membrane switch using the membrane switch manufacturing apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described. First, the operator joins the alignment jig 11 and the suction plate 13 to the support plate 15. In this state, the worker supplies the plurality of rubber caps 103, 103 ... On the alignment jig 11 (supply step). At this time, supply rubber cap 10
The number of 3 is greater than the number of insertion holes 11a.

Next, the operator actuates the vibrating device 17 to vibrate the alignment jig 11, the suction plate 13, and the support plate 15 so that the rubber caps 103, 103 ... Are inserted into the insertion holes 11a, 11a. Insert (insert step).

Then, the operator operates the suction device switch 19a.
Is turned on, and the rubber caps 103, 103 ... Inserted in the insertion holes 11a, 11a ... Are sucked through the groove portions 13a (suction process). This allows the rubber cap 10
3, 103 ... Insert holes 11a, 11a ...
Fixed to.

After that, the operator rotates the alignment jig 11 and the suction plate 13 by 90 degrees about the shaft 15c as shown in FIG. As a result, the excess rubber cap 103s not inserted into the insertion hole 11a is removed from the alignment jig 11 (exclusion step). Although the alignment jig 11 and the suction plate 13 are rotated 90 degrees about the shaft 15c here, the excess rubber cap 103s is removed.
Not limited to this, the excess rubber cap 103s may be removed by rotating the alignment jig 11 and the suction plate 13 by 180 degrees about the shaft 15c.

Thereafter, as in the conventional method for manufacturing a membrane switch, the rubber cap 10 is placed on the membrane sheet.
Adhesive is applied so as to correspond to the arrangement of 3, and then the rubber caps 103, 103 ... Are inserted into the insertion holes 11a, 11a.
The membrane sheet coated with the adhesive is placed on the upper surface of the aligning jig 11 in the inserted state with its adhesive coated surface facing each other and aligned. As a result, the rubber cap 103 is temporarily attached on the membrane sheet. Then, the rubber cap 103 is strongly pressed onto the membrane sheet, and then the adhesive is dried and cured to form the rubber cap 1 on the membrane sheet 101.
03 is fixed (fixing step). Thus, the membrane switch is manufactured.

As described above, in the membrane switch manufacturing apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the rubber cap 103 inserted into the insertion hole 11a of the alignment jig 11 is inserted into the groove portion 13a of the suction plate 13.
The suction device 19 is configured to suck through. Therefore, the rubber cap 103 is not inserted into the insertion hole 11a by rotating the alignment jig 11 and the suction plate 13 at least 90 degrees while being fixed to the insertion hole 11a of the alignment jig 11 by suction. The surplus rubber cap 103s can be removed from the alignment jig 11, and thus the productivity of the membrane switch can be improved.

In this embodiment, the excess rubber cap 103s is removed by rotating the alignment jig 11 and the suction plate 13 by 90 degrees, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the excess rubber cap 103s may be removed by blowing or sucking air with the rubber cap 103 fixed to the insertion hole 11a.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the insertion hole provided in the alignment jig is sucked by the suction means, the rubber cap inserted into the insertion hole is inserted into the insertion hole. Can be fixed to the alignment jig by sucking. Therefore, the rubber cap is fixed to the alignment jig by sucking, and the excess rubber cap not inserted into the insertion hole is removed from the alignment jig only by rotating the alignment jig at least 90 degrees. Therefore, the productivity of the membrane switch can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a membrane switch manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the membrane switch manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is a perspective view showing a suction plate of the membrane switch manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

4 is a side view showing a state in which an alignment jig and a suction plate of the membrane switch manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are rotated by 90 degrees.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a typical configuration of a membrane switch.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional alignment jig used when manufacturing a membrane switch and a method for manufacturing a membrane switch using the alignment jig.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Membrane Switch Manufacturing Equipment 11 Alignment Jig 11a Insertion Hole 13 Suction Plate 13a Groove 13b Through Hole 15 Support Plate 15a Guide 15b Hole 15c Shaft 17 Vibration Device 19 Suction Device 19a Tube 19b Switch 101 Membrane Sheet 103 Rubber Cap 103s Extra Rubber cap

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A flat plate-shaped aligning jig having a plurality of insertion holes into which a dome-shaped rubber cap constituting a membrane switch is inserted from above to a predetermined position, and suction means for sucking each of the insertion holes from below. An apparatus for manufacturing a membrane switch, comprising: 2. The suction means is provided with a groove portion on an upper surface that covers each of the insertion holes, and a flat plate-shaped suction plate joined to a lower surface of the alignment jig, and connected to the groove portion and inserted into the insertion hole. 2. A device for manufacturing a membrane switch according to claim 1, further comprising a suction device that sucks the rubber cap through the groove. 3. The apparatus for manufacturing a membrane switch according to claim 2, wherein the alignment jig and the suction plate rotate at least 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal. 4. A flat plate-shaped aligning jig having a plurality of insertion holes into which a dome-shaped rubber cap constituting a membrane switch is inserted from above to a predetermined position; A membrane switch manufacturing apparatus comprising: a flat plate-shaped suction plate joined to the lower surface of the alignment jig; and a suction device that suctions a rubber cap that is connected to the groove portion and inserted into the insertion hole through the groove portion. A supply step of supplying at least the number of the rubber caps to the upper surface of the alignment jig, an insertion step of inserting the supplied rubber caps into the insertion holes, and a rubber cap inserted into the insertion holes. And a suction step of fixing the rubber cap to the insertion hole by sucking the rubber cap through the groove portion by the suction device; An exclusion step of rotating the row jig and the suction plate at least 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction to remove an excess rubber cap not inserted into the insertion hole from the alignment jig, and an insertion portion of the alignment jig. A method of manufacturing a membrane switch, comprising: a fixing step of fixing the inserted rubber cap to a flat membrane sheet.