JPH083942Y2 - Round foot switch - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided with a main body in which a cylindrical side wall is erected, a switch is arranged therein, and a cover formed in a crown shape so as to cover the main body. The present invention relates to a round foot switch that operates a switch by urging it.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a foot switch as shown in FIG. 9 has been known. First, as shown in FIG. 9A, the upper surface of a foot pedal 151 for stepping with a foot or the like is simply circular. The switch operating mechanism is the same as a normal foot switch for stepping operation in which the foot pedal 151 is swung around the support shaft 153 to operate the switch 155 and the return spring 157 returns the foot pedal 151. Is. When it is necessary to operate with a foot switch, both hands are often used for work, and it is rare to operate by looking at the switch itself, which is placed under or on the side of a workbench or machine. Therefore, it is effective from the viewpoint of improving workability that the foot pedal 151 or a member corresponding thereto can be operated regardless of the direction in which the foot pedal 151 is urged toward the base 159.

It can be operated no matter which direction it is pressed.
A so-called round foot switch is shown in FIG. 9 (B). In this round foot switch, a micro switch 207 is arranged on a base 203 of a main body 201. Then, a tray-shaped inner lid 211 is placed on a return spring 209 erected from the base 203, and a rubber cover 213 is attached so as to cover the tray-shaped inner lid 211 and the microswitch 207.

When the switch 207 is operated, the inner lid 211 is moved toward the base 203 by pressing the cover 213 with a foot or the like, and the inner lid 211 urges the switch 207. Then, when there is no pressing by the foot or the like, the return force of the return spring 209 pushes up the inner lid 211 and pushes back the cover 213.

[0005]

In the conventional round foot switch shown in FIG. 9B, the cover 213 needs to be flexible because the inner lid 211 is moved to operate the switch. And so on. The cover 213 needs to be thick to some extent due to wear due to repeated stepping motions and cracks due to aging. Then, if the thickness of the cover 213 is increased, it becomes difficult to return to the original state after the switch 207 is operated. Therefore, in order to prevent a return failure, the return spring 20
It is necessary to make 9 strong.

However, if the return spring 209 is made stronger, it is necessary to urge it with a stronger force than the return spring 209 when pressing it. These round switches may be attached to the side of a work table or the like as well as the foot, and may be used with a knee or a hand, so that it is possible to operate the switch 207 with a light pressing operation for a long time, for example. This is important in reducing fatigue of the body in the work in which the switching operation has to be frequently performed.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and to provide a round foot switch which can be operated by a light pressing operation while preventing the return failure of the cover, and which has good operability. It is in.

[0008]

The round foot switch of the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above object,
A main body in which a cylindrical side wall is erected on a base and a switch is arranged therein, a coronal cover formed in a coronal shape and covering the side wall, and a spring for urging the coronal cover away from the base. A round foot switch for operating the switch by pressing the crown-shaped cover against the spring member against the spring member, and the round-shaped foot switch is protruded from the inner circumference of the crown-shaped cover at intervals of 120 degrees. The locking claws and the outer periphery of the side wall of the main body are provided at positions corresponding to the locking claws when covered by the coronal cover, and the locking claws are locked to separate from the base. And a locking wall that prohibits the movement of the coronal cover, and when the coronal cover is pressed, the locking claws are simultaneously moved away from the locking wall toward the base and engaged with the locking wall. Stop
With the one or more locking claws
Any movement to move toward the above base away from the locking wall
The point is that it is configured to be movable .

Therefore, the round foot switch of the present invention is
When operating the switch, for example, the user steps with his / her foot and presses the crown-shaped cover against the spring member toward the base side. Then, the locking claws move away from the locking wall all together in the direction of the base, or one or more locking claws locked by the locking wall.
With the remaining locking claws as the fulcrum, leave the locking wall away from the base
And either moves to the direction, when moved to a predetermined position, the switch is activated. At this time, for example, near the center of the coronal cover
If you press, the coronal cover is naturally parallel to the base side.
Move to activate the switch. On the other hand, when stepping on the inner periphery of the coronal cover from the opposite side of the locking claws protruding at 120 ° intervals, the locking claws independently serve as a fulcrum to swing the coronal cover and move toward the base. The switch operates. Further, when the user depresses from a position other than that, the line connecting the two adjacent engaging claws on the opposite side of the depressed position serves as a swing axis to swing the coronal cover, and the switch operates. in this way,
Of course, if you step on the center of the coronal cover ,
It can be operated from any direction around.

On the other hand, after the switch is actuated, when the force pressed by the foot is removed, the coronal cover moves in the direction of being separated from the base by being biased by the spring member, and the locking claw engages with the locking wall. Stop and prevent the coronal cover from moving away from the base. Only the coronal cover is moved by the spring member in this return operation. Therefore, the spring member has only to have an urging force enough to move the coronal cover, and the switch operation can be performed by a light pressing operation, and the operability is very good.

Further, a substantially J-shaped groove is formed on the outer periphery of the side wall of the main body at a position corresponding to each locking claw when covered with a coronal cover, and a concave portion where the J-shape starts is formed on the end face of the side wall. While continuing, the end portion of the J-shape may be used as the locking wall. In this way, by providing the J-shaped groove, the work at the time of mounting becomes easy. For example, if the coronal cover is pressed against the spring member, the locking claw is moved toward the base from the recess of the J-shaped groove where the J-shape starts, and the pressing force is removed after a slight rotation, the locking claw will become J. The attachment is completed by engaging with a retaining wall formed at the end of the letter. In this way, the locking claw can be moved to the predetermined position by tracing the J-shaped groove. Further, since it is a groove, the locking claw is also prevented from rotating in the circumferential direction in the so-called non-operating state in which the locking claw is locked to the locking wall and the mounting is completed, so that the positional shift does not occur.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a round foot switch 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the round foot switch 1 of this embodiment includes a main body 3, a cover 5, and a bottom plate 7.

A substantially cylindrical side wall 13 is erected on a base 11 of the main body 3, and a housing portion 15 is provided inside the side wall 13. An automatic return type micro switch (not shown) is built in the housing portion 15, and an operating rod 17 for turning on / off the micro switch extends laterally. A switch operating unit 21 for operating the operating rod 17 is arranged on the side where the operating rod 17 extends.

FIG. 2A shows a view of the switch operating portion 21 in FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow A, and FIG. A circular hole 23a is formed at one end of the operating plate 23 and is loosely fitted in a cylindrical projection 25 having a diameter smaller than that of the circular hole 23a. Then, the screw 27 and the washer 28 form the cylindrical projection 25.
The operating plate 23 has some play in the vertical direction, but if it moves to a certain extent, the screw 27 and washer 28
Regulated by and. A movement restricting plate 29 is erected on the left and right of the cylindrical projection 25, and the operation plate 23 can be slightly moved in the left and right direction, but the movement restricting plate 29 restricts the movement to a certain extent or more. There is.

On the other hand, the other end 23b of the operating plate 23 is in contact with a cylindrical roller 31 made of resin. The roller 31 is mounted on a support base 33, and the operating rod 1
It is also in contact with 7. When no force is applied to the motion plate 23,
The roller 31 is urged downward by the other end 23b,
The rod 17 is urged laterally by the operating rod 17 and is supported in a state of being in contact with the slope portion 33a of the support base 33.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the other end portion 23b of the operating plate 23 is moved in the direction of arrow C, the roller 31 contacts the slope portion 33a of the support base 33 and the arrow D.
The operation rod 17 is urged in the direction of arrow E by moving in the direction, descends to the bottom surface portion 33b, and stops. At this time, the bottom surface portion 33b
The arrangement of the support base 33, the shape of the roller 31 and the like are set so that the roller 31 that has descended to the position does not bias the operation rod 17 too much. Before the roller 31 reaches the bottom surface portion 33b, the micro switch is turned on / off via the operating rod 17.
The off operation is possible.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, three cylindrical return spring fixing seats 41 are provided upright on the base 11 inside the main body 3 at intervals of approximately 120 degrees. One end side of a return spring 43 is externally fitted and fixed to each of the three return spring fixing seats 41. Then, inside the main body 3, the electric wire 47 connected to the housing portion 15 is swirled so as to avoid the switch operating portion 21, the return spring 43, etc., and is guided by the electric wire positioning member 49 so that the first cut 13a of the side wall 13 is formed. Has been extended to outside. As shown in FIG. 3, which is a bottom view of the main body 3, a second cut 11a is formed on the base 11 side following the first cut 13a.

On the other hand, the cylindrical side wall portion 5a of the crown-shaped cover 5 is
Three locking claws 51 are provided on the inner circumference of the claw 51 at intervals of 120 degrees.
Corresponding to No. 1, three J-shaped grooves 55 are provided at 120-degree intervals. These three J-shaped grooves 55 are arranged in the vertical direction with respect to the side wall 13 so that the three J-shaped grooves 55 have the same substantially "J" shape in the same direction.

A first linear recess 55a formed linearly downward from the J-shaped starting portion continues to the upper end surface of the side wall 13, and a second linear recess 55b connected to the J-shaped ending portion. Is provided at the end, that is, the end of the J-shape, of the locking wall 55d facing toward the base 11.
Is provided. Then, by forming the groove in a substantially J shape, the first linear recess 55a and the second linear recess 55b are formed.
A protrusion 55c is formed between the and. The first linear recess 55a of the J-shaped groove 55 has a width that allows the locking claw 51 to pass therethrough, and the locking wall 55d also has a width that allows the locking claw 51 to abut and lock. . Further, the second linear recess has a width larger than that of the locking claw 51, so that the locking claw 51 can freely move up and down, and there is a sufficient margin for the inclination of the locking claw 51. is there.

The cylindrical side wall portion 5 of the cover 5 corresponding to the first cut 13a of the side wall 13 when the three locking claws 51 of the cover 5 are in contact with the locking wall 55d, respectively.
A third cut 53 for leading out the electric wire 47 is provided in a. Next, how to assemble the above-mentioned main body 3, cover 5, and bottom plate 7 will be described. First, the electric wire 47 is taken out from the second cut 11a of the base 11 and is bent substantially at a right angle as shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. In that state, the locking claw 5 of the cover 5
1 is guided to the first linear recess 55a of the J-shaped groove 55, and the cover 5 is moved to the base 11 side while compressing the return spring 43. When the locking claw 51 is guided to the first linear recess 55a of the J-shaped groove 55, the first linear recess 55a continues to the upper end surface of the side wall 13, so that the locking claw 51 does not need to be expanded to the outside. All you have to do is move it down.

Then, the cover 5 itself is rotated so that the locking claw 51 rides over the projection 55c of the J-shaped groove 55, and the locking claw 51 is moved to the second linear recess 55b side. When the force applied to the cover 5 is released, the compressed return spring 43 is compressed.
The cover 5 is urged in the direction away from the base 11 by the repulsive force of, and the locking claw 51 moves in the second linear recess 55b and contacts the locking wall 55d. In this state, the movement of the cover 5 in the direction away from the base 11 is restricted. In this way, it is possible to dispose the locking claw 51 at a predetermined position simply by moving it along the J-shaped groove 55, and the assembly can be performed very easily.

In the state where the locking claw 51 is in contact with the locking wall 55d, the first cut 13a of the side wall 13 and the third cut 53 of the cover 5 coincide with each other. The electric wire 47 that has been bent at a right angle is extended to the outside from the third cut 53 as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, and is returned to the original state. Then, the positioning protrusion 61 protruding from the bottom surface of the base 11 is fitted into the through hole 7a of the bottom plate 7 made of an iron plate or the like, and the countersunk screw 63 is attached to the bottom plate 7 and the base 11.
Both are fixed by screwing into the mounting hole 64 of.

The positioning protrusion 61 is provided with a blind hole 61a, which is fitted to a protrusion provided on the fixed side when fixing the round switch 1 from the back side via the bottom plate 7. It is used to make it or screw it to the fixed side. If a rubber magnet plate (not shown) is attached to the bottom plate 7, it can be easily fixed and can be easily removed.

With the bottom plate 7 fixed to the base 11,
Since the electric wire 47 is fixed at the position shown by the solid line in FIG.
The reference numeral 7 serves as a stopper around the cover 5. Therefore, the locking claw 51 can move up and down the second linear recess 55b, but cannot move to the first linear recess 55a side.

The round-shaped switch 1 of the first embodiment having the above-described structure can be turned on / off by stepping on it from any direction on the entire circumference. Next, the operation at this time will be described. First, the operation when the center of the cover 5 is stepped on will be described with reference to FIG. Locking claw 5 of the cover 5 described above
A distance between the bottom plate 7 and the lower end of the cylindrical side wall portion 5a of the cover 5 in the state where 1 is in contact with the locking wall 55d of the main body 3 is S. The symbol P in the figure indicates a stepping point.

When the cover 5 is moved in the direction of the base 11 (which is also the direction of the bottom plate 7 in this case), the inner surface of the cover 5 comes into contact with the operating plate 23 to move the operating plate 23 downward,
The operating rod 17 is moved in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 2B via the other end 23b and the roller 31 to operate the microswitch. In this embodiment, the center of the cover 5 is the base 11
The microswitch is turned on / off by moving in the direction about 1/4 of the distance S.

The cover 5 is in contact with the operating plate 23 at its central portion, and in this case, the cover 5 approaches the base 11 while maintaining a substantially parallel state, as shown in FIG. 5 (B). The microswitch can be turned on / off by stepping on about 1/4 of the distance S. It should be noted that the roller 31 reaches the bottom surface portion 33b before the stepping is completed by the distance S and further stepping is restricted.

Next, two examples of operation when stepping on the periphery of the cover 5 will be shown. First, FIG. 6 shows a case where one of the positions on the opposite side of the three locking claws 51 is depressed with respect to the center C of the cover 5. In this case, the locking claw 51 on the opposite side of the stepping point P becomes the fulcrum M and swings.

As can be seen from FIG. 6A, when the radius of the cover is R, the radius from the center of the cover to the stepping point P and the locking claw 51 serving as a fulcrum is equal to R, respectively. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 (B), the depression point P is changed to the stroke S.
If only 1 is moved to the base 11 side, the center C of the cover 5
Can be moved by a half of the stroke S1. Therefore, when the stepping point P moves by a half of the distance S, the center C of the cover 5 moves by a quarter of the distance S, and the microswitch can be turned on and off.

FIG. 7 shows a case where the upper side of the three locking claws 51 is depressed. In this case, the line connecting the two locking claws 51 other than the locking claw 51 located at the stepping point P serves as the swing axis N and the cover 5 swings. As can be seen from FIG. 7A, the distance from the cover center to the stepping point P is equal to the radius R, and from the cover center C to the swing axis N is half the radius R.
Becomes Therefore, as shown in FIG.
By moving the stroke S2 toward the base 11 side, the center C of the cover 5 can be moved by a third of the stroke S2. Therefore, when the stepping point P moves by 3/4 of the distance S, the center C of the cover 5 moves by ¼ of the distance S, and the micro switch can be turned on / off.

Even when the position other than the positions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is depressed, the cover 5 swings with one locking claw 51 as the fulcrum M or the line connecting the two locking claws 51. Since it swings as the moving axis N, the switch can be turned on / off even if the pedal is depressed from any direction around the entire circumference.

Further, unlike the conventional case, the cover is made of rubber or the like and the deformed cover is not returned by the return spring. Therefore, even if the return spring 43 is not strengthened, if the stepping force is removed, It smoothly returns to its original state. Therefore, the force applied when pressing may be small. Therefore,
The switch can be operated with a light pressing action when it is attached to the side of a workbench as well as the foot and used with a knee or hand. For example, work that requires frequent switch changeover over a long period of time. Is very effective in reducing body fatigue.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. The first embodiment described above is particularly effective as a small / flat switch, but for a slightly large switch, the second one shown in FIG.
It may be configured as in the embodiment. 8A is a top view of the round switch 101 of the second embodiment with the cover 5 removed, and FIG. 8B is a partial cross-sectional side view of the round switch 101. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the housing portion 1 in which a micro switch (not shown) is built in near the center of the inside of the main body 3.
5 is arranged, and the operating rod 17 extends upward at approximately the center. A protrusion 103 is also provided in the center of the ceiling 5b of the cover 5, and the protrusion 103 directly contacts the operating rod 17 when the cover 5 is stepped on. Therefore, by moving the cover 5 downward, the micro switch can be turned on / off via the protrusion 103 and the operating rod 17.

By arranging the housing portion 15 at the substantially central portion of the main body 3, the electric wire 47 can be linearly extended to the outside without going around the inside of the main body 3. The method of assembling is the same as in the first embodiment, the electric wire 47 is extended from the second cut 11a of the base 11 and bent at a substantially right angle, and the locking claw 51 of the cover 5 is made into the first linear recess 55a of the J-shaped groove 55. Then, while compressing the return spring 43, the cover 5 itself is rotated so that the locking claw 51 gets over the projection 55c of the J-shaped groove 55. Then, when the locking claw 51 is moved toward the second linear recess 55b and the force applied to the cover 5 is relaxed, the locking claw 51 moves the second linear recess 55b by the repulsive force of the compressed return spring 43. Moving and locking wall 55d
Abut. After that, the electric wire 47 that has been bent at a right angle is returned to the original state, and the operation is completed.

The second embodiment also operates in the same manner as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 for the first embodiment, and if the center of the cover 5 is stepped on, it approaches the base 11 while maintaining a substantially parallel state. To go. Then, no matter which position is pressed, the cover 5 either swings with one locking claw 51 as a fulcrum or swings with a line connecting the two locking claws 51 as a swing axis. Therefore, the switch can be turned on / off from any direction on the entire circumference.

Further, even if the return spring 43 is not strengthened, if the stepping force is released, the return spring 43 will return to its original state smoothly, and the force applied when pressing will be small, and the switch switching operation will be performed frequently for a long time. It is also very effective in reducing body fatigue during work.

The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment as described above, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the three locking claws 51 are provided at intervals of 120 degrees.
The same operation can be performed by providing four or five or more at intervals. If at least three locking claws 51 are provided, it is possible to obtain an effect that the operation can be performed by stepping on the coronal cover 5 from any direction.

[0039]

As described above in detail, in the round-shaped switch of the present invention, the locking claw independently serves as a fulcrum to swing the crown-shaped cover, and the line connecting the two locking claws serves as the swing shaft. Then the crown cover swings and the switch can be operated,
It can be operated from any direction around the coronal cover. Further, the spring member has only to have an urging force enough to move the coronal cover, and the switch operation can be performed by a light pressing operation, and the operability is very good.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a round foot switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a view of the switch operating portion in FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow A, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the main body.

FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining an assembling method of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5A is a top view for explaining the operation when the center of the cover is stepped on, and FIG. 5B is a side view of the same.

FIG. 6A is a top view for explaining the operation when the other side of the locking claw is stepped on, and FIG. 6B is a side view of the same.

FIG. 7A is a top view for explaining the operation when the upper portion of the locking claw is stepped on, and FIG. 7B is a side view of the same.

FIG. 8A is a top view with a cover of the round switch according to the second embodiment removed, and FIG. 8B is a partial cross-sectional side view of the round switch.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

C ... center, M ... fulcrum, N ... swing axis,
P ... stepping point, 1 ... round foot switch, 5 ... cover, 5a ... cylindrical side wall part, 7 ... bottom plate, 11
... base, 13 ... side wall, 15 ... housing part, 17
… Operation rod, 21… Switch operation part, 23
... Operating plate, 31 ... Roller, 33 ... Support base, 33a ...
Slope surface portion, 33b ... Bottom surface portion, 47 ... Electric wire, 51 ... Locking claw, 55 ... J-shaped groove, 55a ... First linear recessed portion, 5
5b ... 2nd linear recessed part, 55c ... Projection part, 5
5d ... Locking wall

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A main body in which a cylindrical side wall is erected on a base and a switch is arranged therein, a coronal cover formed in a coronal shape and covering the side wall, and a direction for separating the coronal cover from the base. A round foot switch for operating the switch by pressing the crown cover against the spring member toward the base side against the spring member. The locking claws protruding at intervals are provided on the outer periphery of the side wall of the main body at positions corresponding to the respective locking claws when covered with the coronal cover. A locking wall that prohibits movement of the coronal cover in a direction away from the locking cover, and when the coronal cover is pressed, the locking claws simultaneously move away from the locking wall toward the base , and Locking
One or more locking claws that are locked to the wall are used as fulcrums
Do not move the pawl away from the locking wall toward the base.
A round foot switch characterized by being configured so that it can be displaced . 2. A substantially J-shaped groove is formed on the outer periphery of the side wall of the main body at a position corresponding to each locking claw when covered with the crown-shaped cover, and the recess where the J-shape starts is formed in the side wall. The round foot switch according to claim 1, wherein the end surface of the J-shape is the locking wall while continuing to the end face of the.