KR20000006259A - Method of manufacturing a membrane switch and keyboard apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for making membrane switch and keyboard device using the membrane switch have a good manufacturing efficiency, do not drop adhesive strength, and lessens a quantity of the adhesive agent. CONSTITUTION: In adhesive agent attaching process for attaching the adhesive agent(3) on a rubber cap(2), a membrane switch making method forms adhesive agent film(3a) of uniform thickness by using adhesive agent film forming equipment(4) before attaching the adhesive agent(3) to the rubber cap(2). The method tightly connects the rubber cap(2) on the adhesive agent film(3a), and transcribes the adhesive agent(3a) on the rubber cap(2). Thereby a position of the adhesive agent(3) equals to a position of the rubber cap, thereby preventing a waste of adhesive agent.

Description

Method for manufacturing membrane switch and keyboard device using the same {METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A MEMBRANE SWITCH AND KEYBOARD APPARATUS USING THE SAME}

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to the manufacturing method of a membrane switch. It is related with the manufacturing method of a membrane switch at the time of adhering a rubber cap to an electrode sheet.

The manufacturing method of the conventional membrane switch is demonstrated based on FIG. First, the membrane sheet 21 which consists of a pair of upper and lower electrode sheets formed by opposing a some contact part (not shown) is positioned on the table 22, and is mounted.

Next, the screen plate 23 having the plurality of mask portions 23a formed at positions corresponding to the plurality of contact portions (not shown) of the membrane sheet 21 is covered from above the membrane sheet 1.

Subsequently, the adhesives 24 are stacked on the screen plate 23, and the adhesives 24 are moved to the surface of the membrane sheet 21 from the mask portion 23a by moving the adhesives 24 in the direction of the arrow A at the squeegee 25. The adhesive film 24a is formed by printing.

In this printing process, the membrane sheet 21 is pulled in the direction of arrow A while moving in the direction of arrow A of the squeegee 25 so that the adhesive film 24a after printing is supported by the rubber holding mechanism 26. The rubber cap 27 displaced from the position. As a countermeasure, printing was carried out around the membrane sheet 21 in a state of being completely adhered to the table 22 with a cello tape (not shown) or the like.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, the dome rubber cap 27 supported by the rubber holding | maintenance mechanism 26 was aligned with the some adhesive film 24a by which the membrane sheet 21 was printed and formed, and the rubber cap 27 Is pressed against the adhesive film 24a of the membrane sheet 21 and bonded. In this way, a conventional membrane switch is assembled.

In the conventional method for manufacturing a membrane switch, the periphery of the membrane sheet 21 is adhered onto the table 22 with a cello tape, and the adhesive film 24a is printed. Therefore, the process of printing and forming the adhesive film 24a took time, and manufacturing efficiency deteriorated.

In addition, when the rubber cap 27 supported by the rubber holding mechanism 26 is adhered to the adhesive film 24a formed by printing on the membrane sheet 21, the rubber holding mechanism 26 has irregular positioning or silk. Even if the formed screen plate 23 was extended with the squeegee 25, the position of the rubber cap 27 and the adhesive film 24a may shift. The outer dimension of the adhesive film 24a was made larger than the size of the adhesive portion of the rubber cap 27 so that the adhesive strength did not drop even when the positions of the rubber cap 27 and the adhesive film 24a were shifted.

Thus, the amount of the adhesive used increases, and the cost of the conventional membrane switch is high.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a membrane switch that can solve the problems as described above and can reduce the amount of adhesives with good production efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is sectional side view of the principal part of the membrane switch which concerns on this invention.

2 is a schematic view for explaining the production of an adhesive film according to the present invention.

It is a schematic diagram explaining the adhesive film formation process which concerns on this invention.

4 is a schematic view illustrating an bonding process according to the present invention.

5 is a sectional side view of the main portion of the keyboard device according to the present invention.

6 is a plan view of a keyboard device according to the present invention.

7 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional method for manufacturing a membrane switch.

8 is a schematic view illustrating a bonding process of a conventional membrane switch.

Description of the main parts of the drawing

1: Membrane Sheet 1a: Contact Part

1b: upper electrode sheet 1c: lower electrode sheet

1d: spacer 2: rubber cap

2a: support wall 2b: protrusion

2c: projection 2d: adhesive

3: adhesive 3a: adhesive film

4: adhesive film forming mechanism 5: planarization mechanism

6: rubber holding mechanism 6a: holding portion

6b: ventilation groove 6c: suction port

7: seat mounting base 10: support substrate

10a: first locking portion 10b: second locking portion

11: first supporting member 12: second supporting member

13: key top

Means to solve the problem

As a first solution for solving the above problems, the method for manufacturing a membrane switch according to the present invention includes a membrane sheet composed of a pair of upper and lower electrode sheets facing each other with a predetermined gap and a surface of the membrane sheet. A membrane switch composed of a rubber cap, comprising: an adhesive attaching step of attaching an adhesive to the rubber cap, and an adhesive step of adhering the rubber cap after attaching the adhesive to the membrane sheet surface, the rubber cap in the adhesive attaching step An adhesive film having a uniform thickness was formed by using an adhesive film forming mechanism, and the adhesive before attaching to the adhesive film was pressed against the rubber cap to transfer the adhesive film to the rubber cap.

Moreover, as a 2nd solution means for solving the said subject, the said adhesive agent attachment process forms the recessed part of predetermined depth in the said adhesive film formation mechanism, arrange | positions a flattening mechanism on this recessed part, and the said adhesive agent in the said recessed part. The adhesive was made into the manufacturing method which planarizes this adhesive agent in the said recessed part with the said planarization mechanism, and obtains the said adhesive film.

Moreover, as a 3rd solution means for solving the said subject, it was set as the manufacturing method of making the depth of the said recessed part into the dimension of 0.1 to 0.2 mm, and forming the thickness dimension of the said adhesive film in the same dimension as the depth of the said recessed part.

In addition, as a fourth solution for solving the above problems, the adhesive attaching step includes placing a rubber holding mechanism on which the plurality of rubber caps are sucked and held at one time on the adhesive film and attaching the plurality of rubber caps to the adhesive film. It was set as the manufacturing method which squeezes and adheres the said adhesive agent to the said several rubber cap at once, and attaches.

In addition, as a fifth solution for solving the above problems, the adhesive attaching process and the bonding process in a state in which the rubber cap is aligned and maintained in the rubber holding mechanism in accordance with the position of the plurality of contact portions of the membrane sheet. It was set as the manufacturing method to implement.

And as a 6th solution for solving the said subject, the keyboard apparatus of this invention adhere | attaches the said rubber cap by the method of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. It was set as the structure using one membrane switch.

Embodiment of the invention

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiment of the manufacturing method of the membrane switch of this invention is described. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a membrane switch according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an adhesive film forming process according to the present invention, Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an adhesive attaching process according to the present invention. 5 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of the keyboard device according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the keyboard device according to the present invention.

First, the configuration of the membrane switch formed by the manufacturing method of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, between the upper and lower pair of electrode sheets (1b, 1c) facing the contact portions (1a, 1a) with a predetermined gap The spacer sheet 1d is attached to the membrane sheet 1.

On one surface of the membrane sheet 1, a rubber cap 2 made of silicone rubber or the like is adhered to and adhered with an adhesive 3.

The rubber cap 2 is formed with a dome-shaped support wall 2a and is hollow inside. A pipe-like protrusion 2b for attaching a key top 13, which will be described later, protrudes from the ceiling outer portion of the domed support wall 2a.

Inside the support wall 2a which opposes the protrusion 2b, a substantially conical projection 2c is formed downward with a predetermined length. In addition, a ring-shaped adhesive portion 2d is formed below the support wall 2a.

And the rubber cap 2 is adhere | attached on the membrane sheet 1 surface by the adhesive agent 3 which transferred and adhered to the lower surface of the adhesion part 2d by the method mentioned later.

The membrane sheet 1 shown in FIG. 1 is partially enlarged for better understanding, but the actual membrane sheet 1 is formed by combining a thin film and is very thin.

In the membrane switch having such a configuration, when the protrusion 2b of the rubber cap 2 is pressed downward, the support wall 2a is elastically deformed so that the projection 2c in the hollow is lowered to the upper electrode sheet 1b. Then, the projection 2c presses the upper electrode sheet 1b on the contact portion 1a so that the upper contact portion 1a abuts on the lower contact portion 1a.

The upper and lower contact portions 1a and 1a are electrically connected to each other.

The manufacturing method of this invention which adhere | attaches the rubber cap 2 of the membrane switch of such a structure to the membrane sheet 1 is demonstrated based on drawing.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the adhesive attaching step of attaching the adhesive 3 to the rubber cap 2 has a predetermined depth B on the surface of the adhesive film forming mechanism 4 formed in a horizontally long flat plate shape. Recesses 4a are formed, and a viscous predetermined amount of adhesive 3 is injected into the recesses 4a. The depth dimension B of the recessed portion 4a is formed from 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm.

Next, the flattening mechanism 5 is placed on the recessed portion 4a, and the flattening mechanism 5 is moved in the direction of the arrow C shown in FIG. 2 to concave the adhesive 3 accumulated on the recessed portion 4a. When it flows in the part 4a and planarizes, the adhesive film 3a of uniform thickness can be obtained.

The thickness dimension of this adhesive film 3a is the same as the depth dimension of the recessed part 4a, and is formed in the dimension of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm.

Subsequently, the rubber holding mechanism 6 used in the process of holding the rubber cap 2 in the rubber holding mechanism 6 and attaching the adhesive 3 has a domed shape of the rubber cap 2 as shown in FIG. 3. It has a plurality of holding parts 6a in which the botbot hole was formed in the same shape as the shape, and in the ceiling part of this holding part 6a, the ventilation groove 6b which leads to the suction opening 6c of the upper center part of the rubber holding mechanism 6 is carried out. Are formed respectively.

The plurality of holding portions 6a are formed in alignment with the positions of the plurality of contact portions 1a formed on the membrane sheet 1.

The holding of the rubber cap 2 with respect to the holding part 6a inserts the rubber cap 2 into the holding part 6a which is formed in multiple alignment with the rubber holding mechanism 6 and operates a suction device (not shown). Air in the ventilation groove 6b is sucked from the suction port 6c.

Then, the rubber cap 2 inserted in the holding part 6a can be attracted and the plurality of rubber caps 2 can be sucked and held by the rubber holding mechanism 6.

Therefore, the rubber cap 2 does not fall downward even if the rubber holding mechanism 6 is downward as shown in FIG. 3.

The rubber holding mechanism 6 in which the plurality of rubber caps are adsorbed and held is placed on the adhesive film 3a formed in the adhesive film forming mechanism 4, as shown in FIG. 3. .

Then, the rubber holding mechanism 6 is moved downward in the direction of the arrow D, the rubber cap 2 is pressed against the adhesive film 3a, and then the rubber holding mechanism 6 is moved upward. (2d) The adhesive film 3a in the portion where the lower surface is press-contacted is separated from the adhesive film forming mechanism 4, and the adhesive 3 can be transferred to and attached to the plurality of rubber caps 2 at a time.

Subsequently, in the bonding process of adhering the rubber cap 2 after attaching the adhesive 3 to the membrane sheet 1 surface, as shown in FIG. On the surface of the base 7 is mounted a membrane sheet 1 positioned with a plurality of positioning pins (not shown).

When the rubber holding mechanism 6 holding the rubber cap 2 to which the adhesive agent 3 is transferred and attached onto the membrane sheet 1 is positioned with a positioning mechanism (not shown), the plurality of rubber caps 2 are separated. It is located on the contact portion 1a of.

The rubber holding mechanism 6 in this state is lowered to the surface of the membrane sheet 1 to press the rubber cap 2 to the membrane sheet 1. Then, when the suction of the suction device (not shown) connected to the suction port 6c is released and the rubber holding mechanism 6 is moved upward, the rubber cap 2 is separated from the holding portion 6a and the plurality of rubber caps are removed. (2) This is adhered to the membrane sheet 1 at one time.

Then, when the membrane sheet 1 to which the rubber cap 2 is bonded is heated at a predetermined temperature, the adhesive is cured so that the rubber cap 2 is firmly adhered to the membrane sheet 1.

The keyboard device using the membrane switch manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

First, a supporting substrate 10 made of metal is provided at the lowermost portion, and the supporting substrate 10 has a first locking portion 1a having a trapezoidal cross section and a second locking portion 1b having a U-shaped cross section at an upper side thereof. It protrudes and is installed.

In addition, a membrane switch is attached to a predetermined position on the support substrate 10 so that the first and second locking portions 10a, 10b protrude from the membrane sheet 1.

The link mechanism L is provided in the said 1st and 2nd latching parts 10a and 10b, and this link mechanism L is comprised from the 1st support member 11 and the 2nd support member 12. As shown in FIG. And the sliding locking pin 11a is provided in the lower end part of the 1st support member 11, and this sliding locking pin 11a is slidably engaged in the 1st locking part 10a.

The pivot shaft 11b is provided in the center part of the 1st support member 11, and the rotating shaft 11c is provided in the upper end part.

The lower end of the second supporting member 12 is provided with a rotational motion engaging pin 12a, and the rotational motion locking pin 12a is rotatably engaged with the second locking portion 10a.

The pivot hole 12b is formed in the center part of the 2nd support member 12, The pivot hole 12b fits the pivot shaft 11b of the 1st support member 11, and the 1st and 2nd support member ( 11 and 12 are integrated to enable link operation.

The key top 13 is made of a resin material, and various symbols and the like as shown in Fig. 6 are formed on the operation surface 13a of the upper surface by printing or engraving.

Further, on the lower surface, a support shaft 13c for hanging the rotary shaft 11c of the first support member 11 and a support shaft 13c for slidably supporting the sliding shaft 12c of the second support member 12 are provided. Formed. And the protrusion part 2b of the rubber cap 2 is located in the center part of the lower surface of the key top 13. As shown in FIG.

The above-mentioned link mechanism L and the key top 13 are arrange | positioned to the some rubber cap 2 of the membrane sheet 1, respectively, and the keyboard apparatus like FIG. 6 is comprised.

In the operation of the keyboard device as described above, when the key top 13 is pressed, the support wall 5a of the rubber cap 5 is elastically deformed, and the protrusion 5c therein presses the surface of the membrane sheet 1. Then, the upper contact portion 1a moves downward to contact the lower contact portion 1a, and the two upper and lower contact portions 1a and 1a are electrically connected to each other so that the keyboard device of the present invention is switched.

In the method for manufacturing a membrane switch of the present invention, an adhesive film having a uniform thickness is formed by an adhesive film forming mechanism on the adhesive before attaching the adhesive to the rubber cap in an adhesive attaching step, and the rubber cap is pressed against the adhesive film to form the adhesive film. Since the film is transferred to and attached to the rubber cap, the misalignment between the adhesive and the rubber cap can be eliminated and the adhesive is not wasted.

Moreover, since it is not necessary to use the screen plate of consumables like the conventional method, the cost of a membrane switch can be reduced.

Moreover, as a 2nd solution means for solving the said subject, the said adhesive agent attachment process forms the recessed part of predetermined depth in the said adhesive film formation mechanism, places a flattening mechanism on this recessed part, and the said adhesive agent in the said recessed part. Since this adhesive was flattened in the recess by the flattening mechanism to obtain the adhesive film, a uniform adhesive film can be obtained and waste of adhesive can be prevented.

In addition, as a third solution for solving the above-mentioned problems, since the depth of the concave portion is 0.1 to 0.2 mm and the thickness of the adhesive film is formed to the same dimension as the depth of the concave portion, You can get it.

Moreover, as a 4th solution means for solving the said subject, the said adhesive agent attachment process places the rubber holding | maintenance mechanism which attracted and hold | maintained the several rubber caps at once on the said adhesive film, and said plurality of rubber caps to the said adhesive film. Since the adhesive is transferred by attaching the adhesive to the plurality of rubber caps at one time by pressing, the operation of attaching the adhesive to the rubber caps can be made efficient, thereby providing a manufacturing method of a membrane switch having good manufacturing efficiency.

In addition, as a fifth solution for solving the above problems, the adhesive attaching process and the adhering process are performed in a state in which the rubber cap is aligned with and maintained in the rubber holding mechanism in accordance with the position of the plurality of contact portions of the membrane sheet. Since the rubber cap is adhered to the membrane sheet by pressing the rubber cap, the rubber cap can be bonded. Therefore, since no tensile force or the like is applied to the membrane sheet as in the related art, it is not necessary to adhere the membrane sheet around with a cello tape or the like and the manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

In addition, as a sixth solution for solving the above problems, the keyboard device of the present invention, the rubber cap by the manufacturing method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. Because of the use of bonded membrane switches, low-cost membrane switches can be used, thus reducing the cost of keyboard devices.

Claims (6)

A membrane switch comprising a membrane sheet consisting of a pair of upper and lower electrode sheets facing each other with a predetermined gap and a rubber cap bonded to one surface of the membrane sheet, the adhesive attaching step of attaching an adhesive to the rubber cap; And an adhesive step of adhering the rubber cap after the adhesive is attached to the surface of the membrane sheet, and forming an adhesive film having a uniform thickness with the adhesive film forming mechanism by attaching the adhesive before attaching the rubber cap to the rubber cap in the adhesive attaching step, The rubber cap is pressed onto the adhesive film to transfer the adhesive film to the rubber cap so as to be attached thereto. The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive attaching step includes forming a recess having a predetermined depth in the adhesive film forming mechanism, placing a flattening mechanism on the recess, and injecting the adhesive into the recess to flatten the adhesive. A method of manufacturing a membrane switch characterized in that the adhesive film is flattened in the recess to obtain the adhesive film. The method of manufacturing a membrane switch according to claim 2, wherein the depth of the recess is set to a dimension of 0.1 to 0.2 mm, and the thickness of the adhesive film is formed to the same dimension as the depth of the recess. The said adhesive agent attaching process of Claim 1, 2 or 3 WHEREIN: The rubber holding | maintenance mechanism which aspirated and hold | maintained the several rubber caps at once is located on the said adhesive film, and the said several rubber | gum is attached to the said adhesive film. A method of manufacturing a membrane switch characterized in that the cap is pressed to transfer the adhesive to the plurality of rubber caps at once. The membrane according to claim 4, wherein the adhesive attaching step and the attaching step are performed in a state in which the rubber cap is aligned with and maintained in the rubber retaining mechanism in accordance with the positions of the plurality of contact portions of the membrane sheet. Method of manufacturing a switch. The keyboard device which adhered the said rubber cap by the method of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 was used.