US3192327A

US3192327A - Push-button or key actuated switch, particularly for controlling tool machines

Info

Publication number: US3192327A
Authority: US
Inventors: Holzer Walter Karl Josef
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-02-14
Filing date: 1962-02-05
Publication date: 1965-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-29
Also published as: CH410105A; DE1142935B; GB997288A; FR1313690A; DE1150739B

Description

June 29, 1965 w. K. J. HOLZER 3,192,327

' PUSH-BUTTON 0R KEY ACTUATED SWITCH, PARTICULARLY FOR CONTROLLING TOOL MACHINES Fild Feb. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g I INVENTVOR1 i" Mum? m1 HOLZER Attorneys June29, '1965 w K. J. HOLZER 3,192,327

PUSH-BUTTON 0R IIEY ACTUATED SWITCH, PARTICULARLY FOR CONTROLLING TOOL MACHINES Filed Feb. 5, I962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi 512. b g

. 42 L M l'I/I/I/I/III/ T Fig.14.

I |NVENTOR= warm A. a? HOLZER' Atto rneys United States Patent 3,192,327 PUSH-BUTTON OR KEY ACTUATED SWITCH, PARTICULARLY FOR CONTROLLING TOOL MACHINES Walter Karl Josef Holzer, 19 Drosteweg,

Meersburg-on-the-Bodensee, Germany Filed Feb. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 171,055 Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 14, 1961,

H 41,728; Dec. 27, 1961, H 44,4d3

9 Claims. (Cl. 200-4) The invention relates to a push-button switch particularly suitable for controlling tool machines.

The invention aims to provide a push-button switch having at least two buttons or keys so that, when one button is pressed, a programme sequence is carried out where, for example in the case of an automatic turret machine, the work is clamped, the turning tool is brought into position and the work is turned to a given length and severed. When a further button is pressed another programme sequence takes place, for example at another part of the machine.

The invention also aims to construct the push-buttons and/or controls so that contact-making is effected in a small space, with low production costs and a shockproof construction and very safe operation, and also so that the push-buttons can easily be replaced using key-like tools and can be mounted so that the fastening positions are not visible.

Push-button switches are known comprising a plurality of juxtaposed switch keys, each of which moves a slide in the direction of actuation, which in turn operates a cross-slide transversely to the direction of actuation until the contacts mounted on the cross-slide make contact.

Such push-buttons are used, for example, in radio sets where, for example by pressing the ultra-short wave key, contacts are closed which switch over the aerial accordingly and effect the subsequent switching processes.

The disadvantage of such constructions is that either the push-button, by displacing a slide in a parallel direction, actuates many contacts mounted on the slide, or else a cross-slide is provided to actuate one contact. To obtain a programme, many push-buttons have to be pressed so that the appropriate programme takes place. Such constructions are bulky. Inparticular, it is also impossible to change a programme, for example by exchanging the push-buttons, since it is constructionally diflicult to remove and/ or replace the many contacts which are generally firmly anchored and embedded in plastics material.

The invention aims to avoid these disadvantages and to permit many contacts to be actuated by one push-button or key but also to facilitate actuation of individual contacts in order to alter the programme.

According to the invention, a plurality of cams corresponding to a switching programme is mounted on the spring-loaded slide of the push-buttons or keys and engage contact slides carrying the programme contacts.

In this construction, the slide, which is integral with the push-button, no longer has many contacts mounted on it but serrations, cam profiles or the like are provided which, in turn, actuate many cross-slides in the form of contact slides. These contact slides generally operate only one contact so that, by judicious spacing and construction of the serrations on the slide, only one contact slide can be actuated to operate the appropriate contacts.

One possibility is for the contact slides to be springloaded against their direction of movement and to possess recesses in accordance with the spacing of the push-buttons with projections bearing on the cams of the pushbutton slides.

The cam profiles or serrations of the slides are now scanned from the outside by projections mounted in the contact slides. It is now possible to arrange the contact 3,192,327 Patented June 29, 1965 slides one behind the other and one over the other, since they always need to have only a small width. The cam fixed to the slides is needed only to move one contact slide, whilst the cam adjacent or behind itmoves a different contact slide. If the push-buttons are now changed, different projections and recesses in the cam on the slide engage recesses and projections on the contact slide, so that contact combinations can be actuated at will to switch on a great variety of programmes.

It is desirable for the projections in the contact slide recesses to be arranged adjacently or offset and to match the cams on, or recesses in, the push-button slides.

In order that the buttons or keys can be replaceable, it is desirable for the slides of the push-buttons to be provided near the push-buttons with projections which displace the contact slides far enough for the push-buttons to be removed with the slides.

Thus, in this construction the contact slides lock the push-buttons. If corresponding projections on the pushbuttons and/ or their slides engage recesses in the contact slides, the latter are displaced so that the push-buttons can be changed.

When the push-button is depressed, the projections arranged near the push-buttons permit the uppermost holder, which takes the form of a cover strip, to be moved far enough to enable the push-buttons to be exchanged. However, this cover strip may equally well be fixed with screws to enable the buttons to be exchanged.

Another possible arrangement where the push-buttons can be changed consists in constructing the cover strip as a lock slide mounted in the switch casing and behind which the contact slides are located.

In this construction the cover strip is replaced by a specially constructed lock slide which serves to lock the individual push-buttons. It the lock slide is appropriately displaced, for example by means of a tool, the push buttons can be changed. Such ease in changing the push-buttons is important since now dilferent push-buttons with different projections switching on a different programme can be inserted by linear displacement or rotation if the greatest possible variety of programme preselection and sequence is to be made use of.

It is also important for the switch casing accommodating the push-buttons and slide springs to have tapped holes to receive the mounting screws connecting the push-button casing to the switch casing.

In this arrangement there are now two separate constructional parts which are separately assembled and the relation between which can be altered by suitably exchanging contaet slides or push-buttons with slides. The contact slides with the lock slide are in the switch casing. This casing is fixed in any place, for example on the ma chine. and associated slides to actuate the contact slides.

Since the casings are separate, a clear picture is available as to what projections, cams, etc., the slides have and what programme is being operated. The two casings can be joined by means of the lock slide by fixing the pushbutton casing without any push-buttons and slides on the switch casing and then inserting a tool to bring the lock slide into a position where the push-buttons with the slides and slide springs can be readily inserted. When the tool is removed, the slides lock the switch housing through the lock slide. Unauthorised persons are therefore unable to change any parts, and the fastening has a pleasing appearance on the outside.

Various tools can be used to actuate the lock slide. One possibility is for a slot aligned with the gap between the push-buttons to be provided in the switch and pushbutton casing for the insertion of a tool which moves the lock slide in one direction and the still blocking contact slide in the other direction.

The push-button casing carries the push-buttons A great variety of constructions is possible for the slides. They may be rectangular, square or polygonal in section, and a desirable arrangement is for the push-buttons to operate square slides having carns or recesses on all their surfaces, so that the contact slides are displaced when the slides of the push-buttons and the puslrbuttons themselves are reciprocated and/ or turned.

Such a push-button switch can be applied to the most varied controls and can safely be used with widely-spaced contacts to operate the most varied programmes. The buttons or keys may have rest or operating positions, the rest position being obtained by a turning and/or reciprocating movement.

Examples of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates tle arrangement of two pushdreys with three contact slides,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a contact slide as shown in FIG. 1 without keys,

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but with the contact slide arranged for different contact actuation,

FIG. 4 shows groups of contact slides with one key,

FIG. 5 is a possible construction of recesses and projections inside the contact slide,

FIGS. 6 to 9 are diiferent constructions corresponding to FIG. 5,

FIG. 10 illustrates the arrangement of a cover strip to enable keys to be exchanged,

FIG. 11 illustrates the key and switch casing with one lock slide and contact slide,

FIG. 12 shows a construction of the lock and contact slide,

FIG. 13 shows a diiierent construction, and

FIG. 14 shows the construction of a slide for an operating position.

In FIG. 1, contact slides 2, 3, 4 are mounted on a base 1 and are urged by springs in the direction of the arrow 5. The contact slides have apertures or recesses 6 in which the slides 7, 8 are reciprocated. The slides 7, 8 are provided with push-buttons or

keys

9, 10. If one or both of the push-

buttons

9, 10 are pressed in the direction of the arrow 11, then the cams 12 mounted on the slides cause the contact slides to move in the direction of the arrow 13. However, only the

contact slide

2, 3, 4 of which the recess 6 is touched by the cams 12 is moved. The

buttons

9, 10 are, of course, mounted in bearings 14.

In FIG. 2, a contact slide 2 is shown in plan, also mounted in bearings 14. The recesses 6 are of rectangular section and, depending on which of the cams 12 of the slides 7, 8 touches a recess 6, the

appropriate contact slide

2, 3, 4 is pushed in the direction of the arrow 13 against the action of the spring 15. Contacts 16, mounted perpendicular to the direction of the arrow 13, are then operated by these contact slides and switch on any part of the machine (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows that projections 17 can be arranged on the contact slide 3 to move the contacts 16 parallel to the direction of the arrow 13.

In FIG. 4 like references denote like parts. In this construction groups 18, 19, 20 of contact slides are formed. These groups have recesses 6 with different projections.

FIG. 5 shows the relative arrangement of four such contact slides forming a group. One has a projection 21, the next the projection 22, the third the projection 23 and the last the projection 24. If the slide '7 is moved by the button 9 in the direction of the arrow 11 in FIG. 4, then that contact slide of the group 18 whose appropriate projection 21 to 24 bears on the corresponding projection of the slide 7 will be moved.

This enables contacts to be safely operated in a very small space. A great length of travel is available, and contact slides can easily be changed so as to actuate other contacts. The contact slides forming the group 18 are constructed as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 as regards springing and contact arrangement.

amass? H6. 10 illustrates the possibility of exchanging buttons. A laterally displaceable cover strip 25 with a recess 26 takes the form of a contact slide. On further depression of the key and retaining it in this position, an enlarged projection 29, arranged below'the push-button in this example, advances the cover strip a further distance 30 in the direction of the arrow 2%.

This makes it possible for all the other push-buttons to be withdrawn in the direction of the arrow 31 and exchanged for push-buttons with diiierently-arranged projections, i.e. with different operating possibilities. Conversely, it is also possible to change the push-button 9 shown in the example, by similarly depressing another push-button. The button 9 may also have depressed positions. The spring 32, which acts against the direction of the arrow 11, ensures that the slides 2 to 4 always hear on the recess 33 and thereby prevent the button from return- The push-button switch arrangements shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 are constructed differently and different references are therefore used for the push-buttons.

FIG. 11 shows the push-button casing I54. This may be in the form of a cover, or it may be a strip connected to the switch casing 36 by fastening screws through the threaded holes 37 in the switch casing. The push-button casing accommodates the push-buttons 38 and slide springs 39. One of the push-buttons is shown in section, and the slide spring 39 is illustrated diagrammatically. The slide is releasably or unreleasably connected to the push-button 33 and provided with projections 4-1 or cams for displacing the contact slide 42 which takes the form of a cross-slide. Contact slides 42 are provided in accordance with the number of projections 41 and in turn actuate programme contacts (not shown). The lock slide 43 is arranged above the contact slides 42. The two slides 42 and 43 are supported by springs 44 which cause the contact or lock slides to be returned to their starting position when they have been moved. It will be seen from the example that the lock slide 43 has a bent-out lug 45 and the contact slide 42 a lug 46 bent in the opposite direction. The gap 47 between the buttons and a slot 48 aligned with this gap, together with the switch and pushbutton casings are used for inserting a knife-shaped instrument 49. If this is inserted in the direction of the arrow 51) the

legs

45, 46 are applied to the instrument 49. The lock slide 43 is thereby moved in the direction of the arrow 51 and the contact slide 42 in the direction of the arrow 52. The opening formed by the recesses 53 in the lock slide and 54 in the contact slide now permit the projection 41 to be released and the slide 40 is removed in the direction of the arrow 55.

It is of course also possible, forexample, for the lock slide 43 to be stationary and only the contact slide 42 to be moved. In the same way slots 48 may be arranged adjacent each push-button so that each push-button can be changed separately. instead of the bent lugs 45, 46, the lock and contact slides can have recesses 56, 57 with tapered sides 53, 59 (FIG. 13) which also cause a displace ment in opposite directions when a suitable instrument is inserted, thereby aligning the recesses which engage under the projections 41, and thus enabling the slide 40 with the push-buttons 38 to be changed.

The slides 40 may also have conical projections 60 (FIG. 14), these being dimensioned so that they cannot pass through the recess 54. When the slide is moved in the direction of the arrow 61 the contact slide 42 of FIG. 14 is moved in the direction of the arrow 62- while the spring 44 is stretchedonly so long as the pressure on the slide 40 in the direction of the arrow 61 is maintained. Scanning contacts 63, which may for example be used as starting contacts in a programme control sequence, are thereby closed.

The invention can be used in all cases where a great variety of controls are required to be effected using a push-button or key unit.

I claim:

1. Push button switching arrangement comprising: a plurality of flat and elongated contact slides arranged so that their respective flat extensions are disposed in spaced parallel planes, there being a plurality of recesses in each contact slide, with each recess in each contact slide being aligned with one recess in each of all other contact slides; contact means actuated by each of said slides upon shifting thereof in the direction of elongated extension of said latter slide; a plurality of key slides respectively traversing said aligned recesses, one recess of each contact slide, and in a direction transversely to Said fiat extension; springs for biasing said key slides; and a unique and distinguishing combination of cams arranged longitudinally along each key slide, each cam having an actuating surface for engaging at least one of said contact slides at the recess thereof as traversed by the key slide to which said latter cam pertains, whereby upon actuation of said latter key slide at least one contact slide is shifted in said direction of elongated extension for selectively actuating said contact means.

2. A switch according to claim 1, said key slides each having two opposed cams for cooperation with one contact slide and shifting same selectively into one of two operating positions.

3. Push button switching arrangement comprising: a plurality of flat and elongated contact slides arranged so that their respective flat extensions are disposed in spaced parallel planes, there being a plurality of recesses in each contact slide, with each recess in each contact slide being aligned with one recess in each of all other contact slides; contact means actuated by each of said slides upon shifting thereof in the direction of elongated extension of said latter slide; a plurality of key slides respectively traversing said aligned recesses, one recess of each contact slide, and in a direction transversely to said flat extension; springs for biasing said key slides; a unique and distinguishing combination of cams arranged longitudinally along each key slide; each cam having an actuating surface for engaging at least one of said contact slides at the recess thereof as traversed by the key slide to which said latter cam pertains, whereby upon actuation of said latter key slide at least one contact slide is shifted in said direction of elongated extension for selectively actuating said contact means; a projection on each key slide, and a cover strip having recesses traversed by said key slides and cooperating with said projection for selectively removing each of said key slides from all the recesses it traverses.

4. Push button switching arrangement comprising: a plurality of flat and elongated contact slides arranged so that their respective flat extensions are disposed in spaced parallel planes, there being at least one recess in each contact slide having a unique configuration; each recess in each contact slide being aligned with one recess in each of all other contact slides; contact means actuated by each of said slides upon shifting thereof in the direction of elongated extension of said latter slide; a key slide traversing all said recesses; and a unique and distinguishing combination of cams arranged longitudinally along each key slide, each cam having an actuating surface for engaging one of said contact slides at its unique recess, whereby upon actuation of said latter key slide at least one contact slide is shifted in said direction of elongated extension for selectively actuating said contact means.

5. Push button switching arrangement comprising: a plurality of flat and elongated contact slides arranged so that their respective flat extensions are disposed in parallel planes, there being a plurality of recessses in each contact slide, with each recess in each contact slide being aligned with one recess in each of all other contact slides; contact means actuated by each of said slides upon shifting thereof in the direction of elongated extension of said latter slide; a plurality of key slides respectively traversing said aligned recesses, one recess of each contact slide, and in a direction transversely to said flat extension; springs for biasing said key slides; means including a lock slide for locking said key slides; and a unique and distinguishing combination of cams on each key slide, each cam thereof having an actuating surface for engaging at least one of said contact slides at the recess thereof as traversed by the key slide to which said latter cam pertains, whereby upon actuation of said latter key slide at least one contact slide is shifted in said direction of elongated extension for selectively actuating said contact means.

6. A switch according to claim 5, wherein said lock slide and one contact slide has bent-out lugs capable of bearing on a knife-shaped instrument so as to cause the lock and contact slides to move.

'7. A switch according to claim 5, wherein said lock slide and said contact slides have openings with tapered sides capable of bearing on the edges of a correspondingly shaped instrument. I

8. Push button switching arrangement comprising: a plurality of flat and elongated contact slides arranged so that their respective fiat extensions are disposed in spaced parallel planes, there being a plurality of recesses in each contact slide, with each recess in each contact slide having a projection and being aligned with one recess in each of all other contact slides; springs for biasing said contact slides; contact means actuated by each of said slides upon shifting thereof in the direction of its elongated extension; a plurality of key slides respectively traversing said aligned recesses, one recess of each contact slide, and in a direction transversely to said fiat extension; springs for biasing said key slides; and a unique and distinguishing combination of cams arranged longitudinally along each key slide, each cam having an activating surface for engaging the projection in the recess of at least one contact slide, whereby upon actuation of said latter key slide at least one contact slide is shifted in said direction of elongated extension for selectively actuating said contact means.

9. A switch according to claim 8, wherein the projections in the contact slide recesses are juxtaposed and olfset and correspond to the cams on the key slides.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,234,405 3/41 Hall et al. 2005 2,672,060 3/54 Den Hertog et al. 74-483 2,819,356 1/58 Hutt 200-5 2,968,704 1/61 Woodward et al 2005 2,973,664 3/61 Williams 74483 3,022,409 2/62 Williams et al. 2005 3,127,482 3/64 I-Iutt 200-5 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. PUSH BUTTON SWITCHING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF FLAT AND ELONGATED CONTACT SLIDES ARRANGED SO THAT THEIR RESPECTIVE FLAT EXTENSIONS ARE DISPOSED IN SPACED PARALLEL PLANES, THERE BEING A PLURALITY OF RECESSES IN EACH CONTACT SLIDE, WITH EACH RECESS IN EACH CONTACT SLIDE BEING ALIGNED WITH ONE RECESS IN EACH OF ALL OTHER CONTACT SLIDES; CONTACT MEANS ACTUATED BY EACH OF SAID SLIDES UPON SHIFTING THEREOF IN THE DIRECTION OF ELONGATED EXTENSION OF SAID LATTER SLIDE; A PLURALITY OF KEY SLIDES RESPECTIVELY TRAVERSING SAID ALIGNED RECESSES, ONE RECESS OF EACH CONTACT SLIDE, AND IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY TO SAID FLAT EXTENSION; SPRINGS FOR BIASING SAID KEY SLIDES; AND A UNIQUE AND DISTINGUISHING COMBINATION OF CAMS ARRANGED LONGITUDINALLY ALONG EACH KEY SLIDE, EACH CAM HAVING AN ACTUATING SURFACE FOR ENGAGING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CONTACT SLIDES AT THE RECESS THEREOF AS TRAVERSED BY THE KEY SLIDE TO WHICH SAID LATTER CAM PERTAINS, WHEREBY UPON ACTUATION OF SAID LATTER KEY SLIDE AT LEAST ONE CONTACT SLIDE IS SHIFTED IN SAID DIRECTION OF ELONGATED EXTENSION FOR SELECTIVELY ACTUATING SAID CONTACT MEANS.