JPH09134228A - Extension station - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify structure in an extension station and to facilitate the attaching/detaching operation of an information processor main body. SOLUTION: The slider 2 of a station main body 1 having a connector 10 to the incorporated extension unit is moved to a connector 10 side and the information processor main body held on the slider 2 is plugged in and connected to the extension unit. In such a case, a scale body 4 protruded sideways is freely rotatably pivoted to the slider 2 with a branch part 40 and a fitting hook 41 as rotary centers. The station main body 1 is provided with an interference part 5 interrerring the branch part 40 at the time of a sliding operation to the connector 10 side of the slider 2, compulsorily turning the scale body 4 and moving the fitting hook 41 to an erected posture where it is engaged with the engagement part of the information processor main body.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to expansion stations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An expansion station is used by being connected to an information processing apparatus main body for the purpose of expanding a small information processing apparatus such as a notebook personal computer, which is less expandable than a desktop information processing apparatus. In order to maintain the connection state of the information processing apparatus main body to the expansion station and prevent the information processing apparatus main body and the expansion station from being unintentionally disconnected from each other, the expansion station is provided with fixing means of the information processing apparatus main body.

This fixing means locks the information processing apparatus main body when the information processing apparatus main body is connected to the extension station, and shifts to the unlocked state when the connection is released. Conventionally, this fixing means has been used. There has been proposed a person who operates a link device to operate a locking member.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, it is necessary to separately equip a link device or the like, which complicates the structure and easily causes the user to forget to lock. Have.

The present invention has been made to solve the above drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide an expansion station having a simple structure and a simple operation for attaching and detaching the main body of the information processing apparatus.

[0006]

In the expansion station of the present invention, the slider 2 of the station main body 1 having the connector 10 for connecting the expansion unit incorporated therein is moved to the connector 10 side and held on the upper surface of the slider 2. The information processing device body 3 is configured to be plug-in connected to the expansion unit.

On the slider 2, a rod 4 having a branch portion 40 and a locking hook 41 protruding laterally with respect to the center of rotation is rotatably mounted, and at the station body 1,
When the slider 2 is slid to the side of the connector 10, it interferes with the branch portion 40 to forcibly rotate the rod 4 to lock the hook 4.
An interference unit 5 is provided that shifts 1 to an upright posture in which the engagement unit 30 of the information processing apparatus body 3 is engaged.

Under the above structure, the information processing apparatus main body 3 is connected to the extension station by first placing the information processing apparatus main body 3 on the slider 2 slidably mounted on the station main body 1 and then moving the slider 2 Is moved to the connection connector 10 side.

A rod 4 which is rotatably pivotally attached to a slider 2.
Moves to the side of the connecting connector 10 as the slider 2 moves, and immediately before the connector of the information processing apparatus main body 3 is plugged into the connecting connector 10 of the expansion station, the branch portion 40 of the rod 4 interferes with the interference portion 5 on the side of the station main body 1. Interfere with the movement and prevent horizontal movement.

The branch portion 40 abuts against the interference portion 5 and is prevented from moving forward, and the rod 4 moves forward, so that the rod 4 is rotated by a predetermined angle about the pivot point. Then, the locking hook 41 formed integrally with the rod 4 also rotates together with the rod 4 and engages with the engaging portion 30 formed in the information processing device body 3.

In this state, the information processing apparatus main body 3 is firmly fixed on the slider 2, and it is possible to completely prevent disconnection during use in the connected state. Moreover, since the locking and unlocking operations of the locking hook 41 are automatically performed only by operating the slider 2, it is possible to completely prevent forgetting to apply the lock.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the rod body 4 is formed of a rod body, and the branch portion 40 is formed by bending the central portion of the rod body into a crank shape. By bending the rod body to form the branch portion 40, the rod 4
Manufacturing is simplified and the cost is reduced.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the rod 4 is attached to the back surface of the slider 2 with the branch portion 40 facing forward, and the slider support surface 11 of the station body 1 is
A drop opening 6 is formed to allow the branch 40 to fall inside the station body 1.

Under such a structure, when the slider 2 is moved to the side of the connector 10, the rod 4 moves while the branch portion 40 slides on the upper surface of the station body 1. Immediately before the connector of the information processing device body 3 is plugged into the connector 10 on the station body 1 side, the branch portion 40 reaches the drop opening 6 of the station body 1, and at this position, the branch portion 40 is rotated by its own weight and dropped. Opening 6
As the branch portion 40 interferes with the edge of the drop opening 6 on the side of the connection connector 10 when it further falls into the interior and further advances, the branch hook 40 is further forcedly rotated in the same direction, and the locking hook 41 of the information processing device main body 3 engages. Engage with the mating portion 30.

In the fourth aspect of the invention, the slider 2, the rod 4, and the locking hook 41 are made of a conductor. The ground line of the information processing device body 3 is connected to the slider 2 in a state where the locking hook 41 is engaged with the engagement portion 30 of the information processing device body 3, and it is not necessary to separately connect to the ground.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an expansion station is composed of a disk unit or a station body 1 containing an expansion unit such as an external interface circuit, and a slider 2.

The station body 1 includes a slider support portion 1
The joining block 13 is provided at one end of the joining block 13, and a connection connector 10 into which a connector (not shown) of the information processing apparatus main body 3 is plugged is arranged on the front wall of the joining block 13.

The slider 2 is a box-shaped member made of a conductive material such as a metal plate that slides on the slider support surface 11 of the station body 1 along a guide rail (not shown), and the four corners of the ceiling surface. Ribs 20, 20 for positioning the information processing device main body 3 are provided in the portion.
・ Protrudes.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a rod formed by a rod rod having a circular cross section, and both ends thereof are supported by clamps 7, 7 and are rotatably mounted on the back surface of the ceiling surface of the slider 2. A branch portion 40 is formed by bending the center portion of the rod 4 into a crank shape. Further, in the vicinity of a pivotal support portion for the slider 2, the ceiling surface of the slider 2 is attached to the slider 2 as the rod 4 rotates. A locking hook 41 is formed which moves forward and backward from the opened opening 21 to the upper surface of the slider 2.

The rod 4, the locking hook 41 and the clamp 7 are made of a conductive material,
As will be described later, the locking hook 41 has the information processing device main body 3
When locked to the engaging portion 30 of, the contact with the ground pattern on the side of the information processing apparatus main body 3 arranged in the engaging portion 30,
The slider 2 is configured to be usable as a frame ground panel of the information processing device body 3.

On the other hand, a drop opening 6 is formed on the upper surface of the slider support portion 12 of the station body 1, that is, on the slider support surface 11. The drop-in opening 6 is provided at a position where the branch portion 40 of the rod 4 is located immediately before the connector of the information processing device body 3 placed on the upper surface of the slider 2 is plugged into the connection connector 10 on the station body 1 side. Further, a tongue-shaped interference portion 5 is cut and raised upward at an end edge portion of the drop opening 6 on the connection connector 10 side.

Therefore, in this embodiment, first, the information processing apparatus body 3 is placed on the upper surface of the slider 2 and the slider 2 is slid in the direction of the connector 10 side, that is, in the direction A in FIGS. The rod 4 moves while sliding on the slider support surface 11 of the station body 1 with the tip of the branching portion 40 facing the connection connector 10 side, and when it reaches the drop opening 6, it is shown in FIG. As described above, the branch portion 40 falls into the dropping opening 6 by its own weight.

When the branch portion 40 falls into the drop opening 6, the rod 4 pivots slightly clockwise in FIG. 3 so that the locking hook 41 projects from the opening to the upper surface of the slider 2 and the engagement of the information processing apparatus main body 3 occurs. Enter the junction 30. After that, when the slider 2 is further slid forward, the horizontal portion 40a of the branch portion 40 interferes with the interference portion 5 and the forward movement of the branch portion 40 is restricted (see FIG. 3B). When only the rod 4 is moved forward, only the pivotally supporting part of the rod 4 to the slider 2 is moved forward, so that the rod 4 is forcibly rotated clockwise, and as shown in FIG. It engages with the engaging portion 30 of the processing device body 3.

A ground pattern of the information processing apparatus main body 3 is connected to the engaging portion 30, and at the same time when the locking hook 41 is locked, the ground pattern is a slider via the locking hook 41, the rod 4, and the clamp. 2 and is also connected to the chassis of the station body 1.

[0025]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the structure is simple and the main body of the information processing apparatus can be easily attached and detached.

Further, since it is possible to surely prevent forgetting to lock, it is possible to improve connection reliability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B are diagrams showing the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a plan view, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of an extension station.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a locking operation of a locking hook.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Station Main Body 10 Connection Connector 11 Slider Support Surface 2 Slider 3 Information Processing Device Main Body 30 Engagement Part 4 Rod 40 Branching Part 41 Locking Hook 5 Interference Part 6 Drop-in Opening

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An expansion station in which a slider of a station main body having a connector for connecting to an expansion unit incorporated therein is moved to the connection connector side and an information processing device main body held on the upper surface of the slider is plug-in connected to the expansion unit. In addition, a rod having a branch portion and a locking hook projecting laterally with respect to the center of rotation is rotatably attached to the slider, and the station main body is connected to the slider connector side. An extension station provided with an interference part that interferes with the branch part during a sliding operation to forcibly rotate the rod and shifts the locking hook to a standing posture in which it engages with the engaging part of the information processing apparatus body. 2. The extension station according to claim 1, wherein the rod body is a rod body having a center portion bent into a crank shape to form a branched portion, and locking hooks are fixed to both end portions. 3. The branch part slides on the slider support surface of the station body with its free end portion facing the connection connector side, and the slider support surface of the station body guides the branch part toward the inside of the station body. The extension station according to claim 1, wherein a drop opening is formed to allow the drop, and an interference portion is formed at an edge of the drop opening on the side of the connection connector. 4. The slider, the rod, and the locking hook are made of a conductor, and the information processing apparatus main body is grounded to the slider with the locking hook engaged with an engaging portion of the information processing apparatus main body. The expansion station according to item 1, 2 or 3.