JPH1153986A - Switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch device with stable characteristics and long life. SOLUTION: By pushing in a push button 1, an engaging projection part 1a of the push button 1 is engaged with an engaging projection part 13a of an operation dock 13 which is a pushing member and pushes a lever 6 of a microswitch 5 via the operation dock 13 to enter an operation state. By further pushing in the push button 1, the engaging projection part 1a of the push button 1 made of a resin deforms elastically in a direction separating from the operation dock 13, engagement with the operation dock 13 is tripped, and this device is constituted such that the operation dock 13 and the lever 6 return to the initial position. An operation panel is omitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch device, and more particularly, to a built-in switch that is operated by operating an operation section to a predetermined operation position and maintaining the operation state. The present invention relates to a switch device for returning the switch to an initial state by further operating an operation unit beyond the predetermined operation position while holding the switch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a hand-held programmable controller connected to an industrial robot or the like for inputting a program is provided with a safety switch on an edge on the rear side. , The user can input a program by performing the pressing operation, and input the program in this pressed state.

[0003] In such a programmable controller, when an abnormal situation occurs, for example, when an industrial robot runs away during input of a program, generally, a human must release his / her hand or grasp it immediately. In response to the fact that the safety switch is depressed, the built-in switch circuit is cut off and the circuit is cut off in response to the depressed state of the safety switch or the further depressing operation by further tightening. It is configured to be.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the structure of a conventional switch device used for such a safety switch.
Indicates an open state (initial state).

In the open state, the push button 30
Is pushed to a predetermined operation position where the lower end of the operation plate 32 abuts against the stopper 34 of the case 33 against the urging force of the return spring 31, and the operation switch 35 of the built-in switch 36 When the lever 37 is depressed and the built-in switch 36 is turned on, the program can be input in the on state, and the program is input while being pushed to the predetermined operation position.

When the push button 30 is released from the state where the push button 30 is pushed to the predetermined operation position, the push button 30 and the operation spring 35 incorporated in the push button 30 return upward by the urging force of the return spring 31, and the built-in switch 3
The lever 37 of 6 also returns, and the built-in switch 36 is turned off.

Further, when the push button 30 is pushed further against the urging force of the auxiliary spring 38 from a state where the push button 30 is pushed to a predetermined operation position, that is, a state where a program can be inputted, the operation spring 35 The operating end of the operating spring 35 is separated from the lever 37 of the built-in switch 36, and the operating end of the operating spring 35 is bent along the formed guide 39.
7 returns, and the built-in switch 36 is turned off.

In this manner, the built-in switch 36 can be turned off by releasing the push button 30 which has been pushed to a predetermined operation position or further pushing it.

[0009]

In such a conventional switch, the operating spring 35 is constituted by a bent leaf spring, and it is necessary to forcibly bend and assemble it when assembling the push button. In addition, there is a problem that the deformation due to the bending is increased by the repeated operation, the characteristics are easily varied, and the life is short.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and has as its object to provide a switch device having stable characteristics and a long life.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is configured as follows.

That is, the present invention comprises a pressing member interposed between an operating portion to be pushed and a lever of a built-in switch, and pushes the operating portion to a predetermined operating position to maintain the operating state. By doing so, the operating portion engages with the pressing member and presses the lever via the pressing member to hold the built-in switch in the operating state, while the operating portion moves beyond the predetermined operating position to perform the operation. By further depressing the part, the engagement between the operating part and the pressing member is released, the pressing of the lever by the operating part is released, and the built-in switch returns to the initial state.

A return spring that urges the operation portion to push the operation portion to the predetermined operation position and an auxiliary spring that urges the operation portion to push the operation portion beyond the predetermined operation position. Then, by releasing the operation state, the operation section and the pressing member return to the initial position, and the built-in switch returns to the initial state.

When the operating portion is pushed in beyond the predetermined operating position, the operating portion is elastically deformed in a direction away from the pressing member and is disengaged from the pressing member.

Further, the pressing member has a pressing surface for pressing the lever.

Further, the pressing member returns to the initial position by the return force of the lever of the built-in switch.

According to the switch device of the present invention, the built-in switch is maintained in the operating state by pushing the operating section to the predetermined operation position and maintaining the operation state, while the operation section is moved beyond the predetermined operation position. In the switch device for restoring the built-in switch to the initial state by further pressing the operation unit, the operation switch is replaced with a conventional operation spring composed of a bent leaf spring, and a pressing member engaged with the operation unit. Since the configuration is such that the lever of the built-in switch is pressed, there is no deformation due to repeated bending, the characteristics are stable, and the life can be extended.

Also, since a return spring is provided to urge the operation unit against the pushing operation, when the operation state at a predetermined operation position is released, the operation unit returns and the switch returns to the initial state. Since it returns, it can be suitably implemented as a safety switch.

Further, when the operating portion is pushed in beyond a predetermined operating position, the engaging portion of the operating portion is elastically deformed in a direction away from the pressing member, and the operating portion is in contact with the pressing member. Since the engagement is released and the lever returns, the wear and deformation of the lever can be suppressed as compared with the conventional example in which the operation spring that directly presses the lever bends and releases the pressing.

Further, since the pressing member presses the lever with its pressing surface, that is, the pressing is performed by surface contact, there is no wear between the lever and the pressing member, and the life can be extended.

Further, since the pressing member returns to the initial position by the returning force of the lever of the built-in switch, it is not necessary to separately provide an urging means for returning.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cutaway sectional view showing the structure of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an open state (initial state).

The switch device of this embodiment is used as a safety switch of a hand-held programmable controller connected to, for example, an industrial robot for inputting a program.

This switch device has a push button 1 as an operation section, and an operation dock 13 as a pressing member is provided between a lower portion of the push button 1 and a plate-like lever 6 of a built-in micro switch 5. Are arranged.

The resin push button 1 has a storage recess 7 opened downward. The storage recess 7 is provided with an operation plate 8 slidable within a certain range. An auxiliary spring 9 is interposed between the push button 1 and the bottom surface 7 a of the storage recess 7 of the push button 1. Further, the bottom surface 7 a of the storage recess 7 of the push button 1 is connected to the case 3 through the through hole of the operation plate 8. The return spring 1 is located between the stopper 10 and the formed stopper 10.
1 is interposed. The auxiliary spring 9 and the return spring 11
Means that the load is made different so that the auxiliary spring 9 bends after the return spring 11 bends in accordance with the pressing operation of the push button 1 as described later. Furthermore, this push button 1
In FIG. 1, an engagement projection 1a that engages with the operation dock 13 is formed on a lower inner wall, and the engagement projection 1a is formed to extend in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.

The operation dock 13 made of resin has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has, on its side surface, an engagement projection 13a which engages with the engagement projection 1a of the push button 1. Part 1
Reference numeral 3a is formed so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1 in correspondence with the engaging projection 1a of the push button 1. In addition, the lower surface of the operation dock 13 has a pressing surface 13 b that comes into surface contact with the free end of the plate-shaped lever 6 so that the lower surface of the operation dock 13 is guided along a guide surface 4 a that extends vertically of the guide 4 of the case 3. Has become.

The above-mentioned microswitch 5 having a lever 6 is built in the case 3, and when the lever 6 is pressed, the built-in contact is turned on and the microswitch 5 is brought into an operating state. Is released, the lever 6 returns to the initial position, the contacts are turned off, and the lever returns to the initial state. Operation dock 13
Is held at the initial position shown in FIG. 1 by the return force of the lever 6 of the microswitch 5. In addition, 12 is a cover.

The open state (initial state) shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the push button 1 is pushed to a predetermined operating position where the operating plate 8 provided on the push button 1 abuts against the stopper 10 of the case 3 against the urging force of the return spring 11. When operated, the engaging projection 1 of the push button 1
a engages with the engaging projection 13 a of the operation dock 13, the operation dock 13 moves downward together with the push button 1, and the lever 6 of the microswitch 5 moves the pressing surface 1 of the operation dock 13.
3b, the lever 6 is depressed, and the microswitch 5 is turned on to be in an operative state. In the above-mentioned programmable controller, a program can be inputted.

When the pushing operation of the push button 1 is released in a state where the push button 1 is pushed down to the predetermined operation position, the push button 1 is returned upward by the urging force of the return spring 11 and is moved through the operation dock 13. When the pressing is released, the operation dock 13 and the lever 6 return to the initial positions by the return force of the lever 6, and the microswitch 5
Turns off and returns to the initial state shown in FIG.

In a state where the push button 1 is pushed down to a predetermined operation position, the push button 1 is further pushed.
Is pressed against the urging force of the auxiliary spring 9,
As shown in FIG. 2, the operation dock 13 has its bottom surface in contact with the guide surface 4 b of the guide 4 of the case 3, so that downward displacement is regulated.

In this state, when the push button 1 is further pushed in, the engaging portion of the push button 1 having a spring property is elastically deformed in a direction away from the operation dock 13 (to the right in FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 3, the engagement between the engaging projection 1a of the push button 1 and the engaging projection 13a of the operation dock 13 is released, and the pressing of the lever 6 is released. The dock 13 returns and the microswitch 5 is turned off. Further, the push button 1 is moved upward by the urging force of the auxiliary spring 9 and the return spring 11, and the engaging projection 1 a of the push button 1 It will return to the initial state shown in FIG. 1 after getting over the engagement projection 13a.

As described above, by pushing the push button 1 to the predetermined operation position, the operation dock 13 is operated.
By pressing the lever 6 through the switch, the micro switch 5 is activated, and the depressed state is released, or the depressed operation is performed beyond a predetermined operation position.
Since the pressing of the lever 6 is released and the microswitch 5 returns to the initial state, it is suitable as a safety switch for a programmable controller.

Further, since the lever 6 is pressed through the operation dock 13 instead of the operation spring such as the bent leaf spring of the conventional example, there is no deformation due to repeated bending, the characteristics are stable and the life is extended. Can be achieved.

Further, in the conventional example, since the leaf spring directly pressing the lever is bent to release the pressing of the lever, undesired stress is applied to the lever when the leaf spring is bent and detached from the lever. However, in the present invention, since the push button 1 for pressing the operation dock 13 bends and releases the pressing of the lever 6, in the present invention, there is no deformation or wear of the lever 6, and the life is extended. Can be.

The free end of the lever 6 is connected to the operation dock 13.
Since the pressure is applied by the pressing surface 13b, that is, the surface is pressed, the wear and deformation of the lever 6 and the operation dock 13 are not caused, and the life can be further extended.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a safety switch of a programmable controller, but is not limited to this, and can be applied to other safety switches and other switches.

In the above-described embodiment, the built-in switch is turned on when operated to a predetermined operation position, and returned to the off state when further operated. However, as another embodiment of the present invention, The configuration may be such that the built-in switch is turned off when operated to a predetermined operation position, and returned to the on state when further operated.

In the above-described embodiment, when the pushing operation is performed beyond the predetermined operation position, the engaging portion of the push button 1 is elastically deformed and the engagement is released. However, in another embodiment of the present invention, Alternatively, when the push operation is performed beyond the predetermined operation position, the engagement may be released by elastically deforming the operation dock side.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation dock 13 is returned to the initial position by the return force of the lever 6 of the microswitch 5, but as another embodiment of the present invention, the operation dock 13 is initialized. A return spring for returning to the position may be added.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, the lever of the built-in switch is pressed via the pressing member which engages with the operating portion, instead of the conventional operating spring comprising a bent leaf spring. Therefore, there is no deformation due to repeated bending, the characteristics are stable, and the life can be extended.

Further, by pushing the operating section to a predetermined operating position and maintaining the operating state, the built-in switch is maintained in the operating state, while the operating section is pushed further beyond the predetermined operating position. By operating the switch, the switch is returned to the initial state, or by canceling the operation state, the switch is returned to the initial state. Therefore, the switch can be suitably implemented as a safety switch.

Further, when the operating portion is pushed in beyond a predetermined operating position, the engaging portion of the operating portion is elastically deformed in a direction away from the pressing member, and the operating portion is engaged with the pressing member. Since the lever is released after being disengaged, the abrasion and deformation of the lever can be suppressed as compared with the conventional example in which the operation spring that directly presses the lever bends and releases the pressing.

Further, since the pressing portion presses the lever with its pressing surface, that is, presses by surface contact, there is no wear between the lever and the pressing member, and the life can be extended.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cutaway sectional view showing the structure of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 in a state where a push button is pressed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 in a state where a push button is further depressed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Push button 5 Micro switch 6 Lever 9 Auxiliary spring 11 Return spring 13 Operation dock

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A push member interposed between an operation part to be pushed in and a lever of a built-in switch, wherein the operation part is pushed to a predetermined operation position to maintain the operation state, The operating portion engages with the pressing member and presses the lever via the pressing member to hold the built-in switch in the operating state, while further pushing the operating portion beyond the predetermined operating position. A switch device, wherein, when operated, the operation portion and the pressing member are disengaged from each other, the pressing of the lever by the operation portion is released, and the built-in switch returns to an initial state. 2. A return spring that urges the operation portion to push the operation portion to the predetermined operation position and an auxiliary spring that urges the operation portion to push the operation portion beyond the predetermined operation position. 2. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein when the operation state is released, the operation unit and the pressing member return to an initial position, and the built-in switch returns to an initial state. 3. The operating portion is pushed in beyond the predetermined operating position, whereby an engaging portion of the operating portion is elastically deformed in a direction away from the pressing member, and the operating portion is pressed into contact with the pressing member. 3. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein said switch device is disengaged. 4. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member has a pressing surface for pressing the lever. 5. A return force of a lever of the built-in switch,
The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member returns to an initial position.