JPH09306298A - Multifunction control switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multifunction control switch which has both the function of a pushbutton switch and that of a snap switch, is excellent in controllability, and can reduce the number of switches arranged when it is used on a control board, etc. SOLUTION: This multifunction control switch includes a lever 1 serving as a control part for a switch operation; an outer case 3 on which an external connecting terminal 4 is placed; an inner case 6 placed inside the outer case 3 via a spring 5 so that it can be pressed in a predetermined direction and restored; a snap-switch contact mechanism part 12 placed inside the inner case 6 and designed so that contacts 11a, 11b placed at both ends of a conductor piece 10 are connected to predetermined external connecting terminals 4b, 4d depending on the direction in which the lever 1 is flipped down; and a contact plate 9 placed on the lower surface of the inner case 6 and making conducting contact with contacts 8a, 8b that are electrically connected to the external connecting terminal 4 when the inner case 6 is in a pressed position, so as to make pushbutton-switch contacts conducting; all of the above members are integrated together.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch, and more particularly, to a multi-function operation switch having a plurality of switch functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a control panel used to control various devices is connected as a switch by changing the direction in which a lever 51 is tilted. Switch states (for example,
By switching the snap switch 52 for switching forward / backward rotation of a predetermined device such as a motor or pressing the push button 53, the connection state is switched (for example, starting / starting a predetermined device such as a motor / In many cases, push button switches 54 and the like for performing switching (stop switching, etc.) are independently provided.

Therefore, for example, when the motor is normally rotated, the lever 5 of the snap switch 52 is used.
It is necessary to operate the motor 1 to switch the operating direction of the motor to normal rotation, and then push the push button 53 of the push button switch 54 to start the motor. Further, when performing the reverse rotation operation of the motor, after operating the lever 51 of the snap switch 52 to switch the operation direction of the motor to the reverse rotation,
It is necessary to push the push button 53 of the push button switch 54 to start the motor.

As described above, conventionally, for example, when performing a normal rotation operation and a home return operation of a motor, a switch is required for each function, so that the number of switches increases and the operability increases. However, there is a problem in that the operation panel is increased in size because it is necessary to dispose a large number of switches on the operation panel.

The present invention solves the above problems and has both a push-button switch function and a snap switch function, is excellent in operability, and has a switch function when used for an operation panel or the like. An object is to provide a multi-function operation switch capable of reducing the number of arrangements.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the multifunctional operation switch of the present invention switches the connection state of the contacts (contacts for push button switches) by pushing in or returning the lever. And a snap switch mechanism for switching the connection state of a contact different from the push button switch contact (snap switch contact) by changing the direction in which the lever is tilted. It has a feature. The push button switch mechanism that switches the connection state of the push button switch contacts by pushing in or returning the lever and the snap switch mechanism that switches the connection state by tilting the lever in a predetermined direction are integrated. By incorporating it, it becomes possible to perform two functions at the same time with one switch, improving operability, and reducing the number of installations when using it on an operation panel, etc. Space can be realized. Note that switching the contact state of the push button switch contact (and the snap switch contact) is not limited to opening and closing the contact, but also includes connecting the contact to another contact so that another circuit is configured. It is a broad concept that includes.

Further, in the multi-function operation switch of the present invention, the push button switch contact is opened and closed by the operation of pushing and returning the lever, and the lever is tilted in one or the other of two directions. It is characterized in that the connection state of the snap switch contacts is switched. When the push button switch contacts are opened / closed by the pushing / returning operation of the lever, and the connection state of the snap switch contacts is switched depending on which of the two directions the lever is tilted, for example, In the case of operating the motor, it is possible to start and stop the motor by pushing and returning the lever, and to switch the rotation direction of the motor depending on the direction in which the lever is tilted. Therefore, one switch can efficiently perform ON-OFF operation and rotation direction switching operation, which are often required for controlling an operated mechanism such as a motor, and the present invention can be effectively implemented. It becomes possible to tighten.

Further, in the multi-functional operation switch of the present invention, a lever which is an operation portion for operating the switch and a lever insertion hole into which the lever is inserted are formed, and a terminal for external connection (external (A connection terminal) is provided, and a conductor piece is provided inside the outer case via a spring so that the conductor piece can be pushed in and returned in a predetermined direction. Is formed by arranging contacts on both end sides of the lever, engages with the lever, and when the lever is not tilted in any direction, the contact is held in a floating state, and the lever When one of the contacts is connected to a predetermined contact depending on the direction, the connection state of the snap switch contact is switched by switching the lever tilt direction. And a lever support shaft for operably holding the lever so that the lever can be tilted from the neutral position in one direction and the other direction. Is attached to the inner case and the lower surface of the inner case. When the inner case is in the push-in position, it contacts and conducts with a contact that conducts with a predetermined external connection terminal, and the contact for the push button switch is in a conducting state. And a contact plate to be used. As described above, with the configuration including the lever, the outer case, the inner case, the contact plate, the contact mechanism portion for the snap switch, etc., it becomes possible to reliably realize the multifunction operation switch of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can be made more effective.

Further, in the multi-function operation switch of the present invention, when the lever insertion hole of the outer case is pushed into the lever, the lever is tilted in a predetermined direction so that the snap switch mechanism can be operated. It is characterized by its size that makes it impossible to do. The diameter of the lever insertion hole should be such that the snap switch mechanism can be operated but the lever cannot be tilted in the specified direction when the lever is pushed in, that is, when the push button switch mechanism is operated. By making it large, it is possible to interlock the lever operation, and when it is inconvenient to operate the snap switch mechanism when pushing the lever, it is impossible to tilt the lever and reliability is improved. Can be improved.

Further, in the multifunction operation switch of the present invention, the diameter of the lever insertion hole of the outer case is pushed in a predetermined direction so that the snap switch mechanism can be operated while the lever is pushed in. It is characterized by having a size that allows it. The diameter of the lever insertion hole must be such that the lever can be pushed down in the specified direction as long as the snap switch mechanism can be operated while the lever is pushed in, that is, the push button switch mechanism is operated. By making the size large, no interlock is applied to the lever operation, but it is possible to operate the snap switch mechanism when the lever is pushed, so that the push button switch mechanism and the snap switch mechanism can be used at the same time, or the push button switch can be turned on.
It is possible to obtain the convenience that the snap switch can be used in the state of N.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described, and features thereof will be described in more detail. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a multifunctional operation switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. This multi-function operation switch
A lever 1 which is an operation unit for performing a pushing / returning operation and an operation of tilting the neutral state in a predetermined direction or returning the neutral state, and a lever insertion hole 2 into which the lever 1 is inserted.
And an outer case 3 made of an insulating material, and terminals (external connection terminals) 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e) for connecting to the outside, which are arranged on the lower surface side of the outer case 3.
And an inner case 6 disposed inside the outer case 3 and supported by a coil spring 5 (5a, 5b, 5c) made of a conductor so that it can be pushed in and returned in a predetermined direction.
And

The inner case 6 is provided with an insertion hole 13 for inserting a lever, and inside thereof, a conductor piece 10 and contacts 11a and 11b arranged at both ends of the conductor piece 10,
A leaf spring 14 made of a conductor that elastically holds the conductor piece 10;
Similarly, a contact mechanism portion 12 for a snap switch, which is formed from a column 15 that holds the conductor piece 10, is provided.
It should be noted that one end of the leaf spring 14 is in contact with a contact 16b that is electrically connected to the contact plate 9.

As shown in FIG. 3, the contact mechanism portion 12 engages with the lever 1, and when the lever 1 is not tilted in any direction (in the neutral state), the contact 1
When the levers 1a and 11b are in a floating state and the lever 1 is tilted in one direction or the other direction, the conductor piece 10 inclines to the right or left depending on the direction, and both ends of the conductor piece 10 are inclined. The contactor 11a or 11b disposed in the contact with the contact 16a or 16c, and the coil springs 5a and 5c.
It is configured to be connected to a predetermined external connection terminal (4a or 4e) via.

The inner case 6 has the lever 1 on one side and the other side (left side and right side in FIG. 1) from the neutral position.
The lever support shaft 7 is attached so as to hold it so that it can be tilted in two directions. Further, on the lower surface side of the inner case 6, when the inner case 6 is in the position pushed downward (FIG. 2), the inner case 6 comes into contact with the contacts 8a, 8b, and the external connection terminals 4b, 8b via the contacts 8a, 8b. A contact plate 9 that is in conduction with 4d is provided. The contact plate 9 is arranged so that its lower surface engages with the coil spring 5b.

In the multifunction operation switch of the above embodiment, the push button switch mechanism is constituted by the contact plate 9, the contacts 8a, 8b, the coil springs 5a, 5b, 5c, etc. arranged in the outer case 3. There is.

In this embodiment, the leaf spring 1
4 and the coil springs 5a, 5b, 5c have spring constants of 5 to prevent the push button switch mechanism from malfunctioning when the snap switch mechanism is operated.
When the sum of the spring constants of a, 5b, and 5c is ΣK, the spring constant of the leaf spring is set to be <1/2 · ΣK.

In the multi-function operation switch of this embodiment, although not particularly shown, when a push button switch mechanism is used, the lever 1 is pushed down and the contact plate 9 is connected to the contacts 8a and 8b for external connection. A conducting state holding / releasing mechanism is provided which is configured to maintain the conducting state when conducting with the terminals 4b and 4d and to release the conducting state when the lever 1 is pushed down again. There is.

Next, the operation of the multi-function operation switch configured as described above will be described. [When using the push button switch mechanism] When using the push button switch mechanism of this multi-function operation switch, as shown in FIG. 2, the lever 1 is vertically erected and is pushed down substantially vertically. When the lever 1 is vertically pushed down in this way, the inner case 6 slides vertically and is pushed downward. When the lever 1 is continuously pressed, the coil springs 5a, 5b, 5c contract,
The contact plate 9 and the contacts 8a and 8b are connected, and the external connection terminal 4
The conductive state is maintained with b and 4d, and the conductive state is maintained by the above-described conductive state holding / releasing mechanism (not shown). In addition,
When the lever 1 is vertical, the snap switch mechanism in the inner case 6 does not operate even when the lever 1 and the inner case are pushed down. Then, when the lever 1 is pushed down again, the conducting state holding / releasing mechanism functions again and the conducting state is released.

[When using the snap switch mechanism]
When using the snap switch mechanism of this multifunctional operation switch, as shown in FIG. 3, when the lever 1 is tilted to the right, the lower end of the lever 1 moves to the left with the lever support shaft 7 as a fulcrum. As a result, the conductor piece 10 is pressed downward and inclined to the left, the contact 11a arranged on the left end side contacts the contact 16a, and is electrically connected to the external connection terminal 4a via the coil spring 5a. Further, the conductor piece 10 and the central contact point 16b maintain the conductive state while absorbing the inclination and height change of the conductor piece 10 by the action of the leaf spring 14.

When the lever 1 is tilted to the left, the lower end of the lever 1 moves to the right with the lever support shaft 7 as a fulcrum. As a result, the conductor piece 10 is inclined downward to the right while being pressed downward, the contactor 11b arranged on the right end side contacts the contact 16c, and is electrically connected to the external connection terminal 4e via the coil spring 5c. In addition, the conductor piece 10 and the center contact 1
By 6b, the action of the leaf spring 14 keeps the conductive state while absorbing the inclination and height change of the conductor piece 10.

Since the conductor piece 10 is held by the support column 15, it is reliably positioned in the left-right direction, so that the lever 1 does not shift to the left-right direction.
Depending on the direction of tilting, tilt it to the right or left like a seesaw. Therefore, by operating the lever 1, the snap switch mechanism can surely function.

Further, in the multi-function operation switch of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), when the lever 1 is pushed in, the lever 1 is snapped into the diameter of the lever insertion hole 2 of the outer case 3. Since the size of the switch mechanism is limited so that it can be operated but cannot be tilted in the specified direction, it becomes possible to interlock the lever operation and the lever 1 is pushed in (press The reliability can be improved in the case where it is inconvenient to operate the lever 1 with the button switch turned on.

As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the lever insertion hole 2 is tilted in a predetermined direction so that the snap switch mechanism can be operated while the lever 1 is pushed in. If the size is set so that the lever can be operated, the lever is not interlocked, but on the other hand, it becomes possible to operate the snap switch mechanism while the lever 1 is pushed in. The convenience that the mechanism can be used at the same time and that the snap switch can be used while the push button switch is ON is obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but the concrete constitution of the push button switch mechanism and the snap mechanism, the lever, the outer case, the inner case,
With respect to the shape of the contact plate, the configuration of the contact mechanism portion for the snap switch, the specific value of the diameter of the lever insertion hole, and the like, various applications and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention.

[0025]

As described above, in the multi-function operation switch of the present invention, the push button switch mechanism for switching the connection state of the push button switch contacts by pushing or returning the lever, and the lever are predetermined. By pushing in the direction of, the push button switch contact and the snap switch mechanism that switches the connection state of the contact different from that of the push button switch are integrated, so one switch can perform two functions at the same time. This makes it possible to improve the operability, and when it is used for an operation panel or the like, it is possible to reduce the number of installations and realize space saving.

The contact of the push button switch is opened / closed by the pushing / returning operation of the lever, and the connection state of the contact of the snap switch is switched depending on which of the two directions the lever is tilted. If configured,
For example, when operating a motor, start and stop it by pushing and returning the lever,
It is possible to switch the rotation direction of the motor depending on the direction in which the lever is tilted. Therefore, one switch can efficiently perform ON-OFF operation and rotation direction switching operation, which are often required for controlling an operated mechanism such as a motor, and the present invention can be effectively implemented. It becomes possible to tighten.

According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain a multi-function operation switch having the lever, the outer case, the inner case, the contact plate, the contact mechanism portion for the snap switch, and the like, and reliably exhibiting the above effects. It becomes possible to make the present invention more effective.

The diameter of the lever insertion hole is set so that the snap switch mechanism can be operated in a predetermined direction while the lever is pushed in, that is, the push button switch mechanism is operated. If the size is set so that the lever cannot be operated, it becomes possible to interlock the lever operation, so that the lever cannot be tilted when it is inconvenient to operate the snap switch mechanism when pushing the lever. The reliability can be improved.

The diameter of the lever insertion hole is set so that the snap switch mechanism can be operated in a predetermined direction while the lever is pushed in, that is, the push button switch mechanism is operated. If you make it a size that can be operated, while interlocking does not apply to lever operation, it becomes possible to operate the snap switch mechanism when pushing the lever, and you can use the push button switch mechanism and the snap switch mechanism at the same time, The convenience that the snap switch can be used while the push button switch is ON can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a multifunctional operation switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the push button switch mechanism of the multi-function operation switch according to the embodiment of the present invention is functioning.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a snap switch of the multi-function operation switch according to the embodiment of the present invention is being operated.

4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the multi-function operation switch according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A shows an operation when the interlock function is provided, and FIG. It is a figure which shows operation | movement when not doing.

FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing an operation panel using a conventional switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Lever 2 Lever insertion hole 3 Outer case 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e) External connection terminal 5 (5a, 5b, 5c) Coil spring 6 Inner case 7 Lever support shaft 8a, 8b Contact point 9 Contact plate 10 Conductor Piece 11a, 11b Contact element 12 Contact mechanism section 13 Insertion hole 14 Leaf spring 15 Support 16a, 16b, 16c Contact point

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A push button switch mechanism for switching the connection state of contacts (push button switch contacts) by pushing in or returning the lever, and the push button switch by changing the direction in which the lever is tilted. A multi-function operation switch, comprising a snap switch mechanism for switching a connection state of a contact (snap switch contact) different from the contact for contact. 2. A contact is opened / closed by a pushing / returning operation of a lever, and a connection state of a snap switch contact is switched by tilting the lever in one or the other of two directions. The multi-function operation switch according to claim 1, wherein the multi-function operation switch is configured as follows. 3. An outer side provided with a lever, which is an operation portion for performing a switch operation, and a lever insertion hole into which the lever is inserted, and a terminal for connecting to the outside (external connection terminal). The case and the case are arranged inside the outer case via a spring so that the case can be pushed in and returned in a predetermined direction, and
It is formed by arranging contacts on both ends of the conductor piece, engages with the lever, and holds the contact in a floating state when the lever is not tilted in any direction. , When the lever is tilted in one direction or the other, depending on the direction, either one of the contacts is connected to a predetermined contact, and the direction in which the lever is tilted is changed to connect the snap switch contacts. Is provided with a contact mechanism portion for a snap switch that is configured to switch, and a lever support that operably holds the lever so that the lever can be tilted in one direction and the other direction from the neutral position. An inner case to which the shaft is attached, and a contact which is arranged on the lower surface side of the inner case and conducts with a predetermined external connection terminal when the inner case is in the pushing position. The multi-function operation switch according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a contact plate that is brought into contact with and brought into conduction to bring a contact of the push button switch into a conduction state. 4. The diameter of the lever insertion hole of the outer case is set to such a size that the snap switch mechanism can be operated and the lever cannot be tilted in a predetermined direction when the lever is pushed in. The multi-function operation switch according to claim 3, wherein 5. The diameter of the lever insertion hole of the outer case is set such that the lever can be pushed down in a predetermined direction so that the snap switch mechanism can be operated while the lever is pushed in. The multi-function operation switch according to claim 3, wherein