WO2023032846A1

WO2023032846A1 - Enabling switch

Info

Publication number: WO2023032846A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/032213
Authority: WO
Inventors: 雅丈山野
Original assignee: Idec株式会社
Priority date: 2021-08-30
Filing date: 2022-08-26
Publication date: 2023-03-09
Also published as: JPWO2023032846A1; TW202324467A; CN117769752A

Abstract

In the present invention, in a contact mechanism (5) of an enabling switch (1), an operation member (51) is retained by a button (3) and can move relative to the button (3). A switch member (52) makes direct contact with the operation member (51) and changes the state of a contact (4) by changing position as a result of a movement of the operation member (51). In the enabling switch (1), by placing the operation member (51) retained by the button (3) in direct contact with the switch member (52) and changing the position of the switch member (52) as a result of a movement of the operation member (51), the state of the contact (4) is switched in a first position, a second position and a third position. As a result, it is possible to reduce the size of the enabling switch (1).

Description

enable switch

The present invention relates to enable switches.
[Reference to related application]
This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application JP2021-140083 filed on August 30, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein.

Conventionally, there has been known an enable switch in which the state of the switch shifts from OFF to ON and then from ON to OFF as the button portion of the switch is pushed. The enable switch is provided in an operation unit, which is a terminal for an operator to input when operating a robot or machine. The operator keeps the switch in the ON state while performing the input. When the switch is in the OFF state, the input by the operator is cut off and is not transmitted to the operation target such as the robot. As a result, even if the operator takes his/her hand off the operation unit, or if he/she is surprised and grips the operation unit forcefully and presses the button, the input to the operation unit will not be transmitted to the operation target, thereby ensuring the safety of the operator. is ensured. Examples of such an enable switch include those disclosed in JP-A-2001-35300, JP-A-2002-42606, WO-2002/061779 and JP-A-2005-56635. .

By the way, with the enable switch, the structure for switching the state of the switch to OFF-ON-OFF becomes complicated, and the number of parts increases. Therefore, it has been difficult to miniaturize the enable switch.

The present invention is directed to an enable switch, and aims to miniaturize the enable switch.

A first aspect of the present invention is an enable switch, comprising: a case; a first movable member pushed downward toward the case; a contact; a contact mechanism that shifts the state of the contact from one of open and closed to the other, and further shifts from the other to the one. A position of the first movable member with respect to the case when the first movable member is not pushed in is defined as a first position. The position of the first movable member with respect to the case when the first movable member is pushed to the bottom is defined as a third position. A predetermined position of the first movable member with respect to the case between the first position and the third position is defined as a second position. When the first movable member is pushed in, the state of the contact changes from the one to the other between the first position and the second position, and between the second position and the third position. In between, the state of the contact transitions from the other to the one. When the first movable member returns from the third position to the first position, the one state of the contact is maintained. The contact mechanism includes: a second movable member held by the first movable member and movable relative to the first movable member; a switch member that changes the state of the contact by being displaced as the member moves. The first movable member includes an upper cam portion that contacts the second movable member from above, and a lower cam portion that contacts the second movable member from below. When the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, force is applied to the switch member by the second movable member that moves downward together with the first movable member. , the switch member is displaced to change the state of the contact from the one to the other. When the first movable member is pushed from the second position to the third position, the upper cam portion is moved to the second movable member while the downward movement of the second movable member is restricted. By contacting from above and moving the second movable member relative to the first movable member in a predetermined first direction as the first movable member descends, the switch is moved from the second movable member to the switch. Upon loss of the downward force applied to the member, the switch member returns to its original position and the state of the contacts transitions from the other to the one. When the first movable member returns from the third position to the first position, the second movable member moves upward together with the first movable member while the position of the switch member is maintained. Also, in a state in which the upward movement of the second movable member is restricted, the lower cam portion contacts the second movable member from below, and the second movable member moves upward as the first movable member rises. The movable member is moved relative to the first movable member in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

According to the present invention, the enable switch can be miniaturized.

Aspect 2 of the present invention is the enable switch according to aspect 1, wherein when the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, the second movable member pushes the switch member from above. The switch member is pushed down by the second movable member that contacts and moves downward together with the first movable member.

Aspect 3 of the present invention is the enable switch according to

aspect

1 or 2, wherein the first movable member includes an upper surface portion that an operator touches when pushing the first movable member, and extends downward from the upper surface portion. A cylindrical second movable member holding portion that holds the second movable member inside is further provided. The upper cam portion is the upper end surface of a groove portion extending in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction on the side surface of the second movable member holding portion, and the lower cam portion is the lower end surface of the groove portion.

Aspect 4 of the present invention is the enable switch according to

aspect

1 or 2, wherein the first movable member includes an upper surface portion that an operator touches when pushing the first movable member, and extends downward from the upper surface portion. A tubular second movable member holding portion for holding the second movable member inside thereof is further provided. The upper cam portion is provided on the lower surface of the upper surface portion. The lower cam portion is a lower end surface of a recess provided on the side surface of the second movable member holding portion.

Aspect 5 of the present invention is the enable switch of aspect 1 or 2 (may be any one of aspects 1 to 4), wherein the second movable member is a second movable member extending in the vertical direction. A member main body and a second movable member projecting portion that protrudes laterally from the second movable member main body. When the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, the second movable member projecting portion contacts the switch member from above to apply force. When the first movable member is pushed from the second position to the third position, the upper cam portion contacts the second movable member projecting portion from above. When the first movable member returns from the third position to the first position, the lower cam portion contacts the second movable member projecting portion from below.

Aspect 6 of the present invention is the enable switch of aspect 1 or 2 (may be any one of aspects 1 to 5), wherein the second movable member has a central axis extending in the vertical direction. It is cylindrical or columnar with a center. The relative movement of the second movable member in the first direction with respect to the first movable member is rotation to one side in the circumferential direction about the central axis. The relative movement of the second movable member in the second direction with respect to the first movable member is rotation to the other side in the circumferential direction about the central axis.

Mode 7 of the present invention is the enable switch of Mode 1 or 2 (which may be any one of Modes 1 to 6), wherein the first movable member moves from the second position to the third position. When pushed into the position, the downward movement of the second movable member is restricted by contacting the lower end surface of the second movable member with the case. The lower end surface of the second movable member is a convex surface curved so that the central portion thereof is downwardly convex.

Aspect 8 of the present invention is the enable switch of aspect 1 or 2 (which may be any one of aspects 1 to 7), wherein the contact is arranged with the push button facing laterally. located inside said push button of a tactile switch. The switch member includes a first switch member that directly contacts the second movable member, and a second switch member that is arranged between the first switch member and the push button of the tactile switch. Prepare. When the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, the first switch member displaced by the force applied from the second movable member causes the second switch member to move to the tactility. biased against the push button of the switch to transition the state of the contacts from the one to the other.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is the enable switch according to Aspect 8, wherein the second switch member is pressed against the push button when the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position. Even after being biased, the first switch member continues to be displaced by the force applied from the second movable member, and the second switch member is elastic between the first switch member and the push button. transform.

Mode 10 of the present invention is the enable switch of mode 1 or 2 (any one of modes 1 to 7 may be used), wherein the contact is attached to a fixed terminal and the switch member. and a conductive elastic member that elastically deforms as the switch member is displaced. When the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, the conductive elastic member is elastically deformed and the state of contact between the fixed terminal and the conductive elastic member is switched. The state of the contact transitions from the one to the other. When the first movable member is pushed from the second position to the third position, the switch member returns to its original position together with the conductive elastic member, and the fixed terminal and the conductive elastic member are separated from each other. The contact state is switched and the state of the contact shifts from the other to the one.

Aspect 11 of the present invention is the enable switch of aspect 1 or 2 (which may be any one of aspects 1 to 10), wherein the switch between the second movable member and the first movable member and is vertically compressed by the first movable member moving downward relative to the second movable member. When the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, the second movable member is provided in the case before the state of the contact changes from the one to the other. The downward movement of the second movable member is restricted by coming into contact with the temporarily fixed portion. When the first movable member moves downward while the downward movement of the second movable member is restricted, the operating elastic member is vertically compressed, and the upper cam portion moves toward the second movable member. The member is contacted from above to move the second movable member in the first direction as the first movable member descends. As a result, the second movable member is displaced from the temporary fixing portion, and the restoring force of the operating elastic member moves the second movable member downward to apply force to the switch member, thereby causing the switch to move. A member is displaced to change the state of the contact from the one to the other.

Aspect 12 of the present invention is the enable switch of aspect 1 or 2 (may be any one of aspects 1 to 11), wherein the switch is provided on the opposite side of the contact across the second movable member. It further comprises other contacts arranged. The state of the other contact is shifted by the contact mechanism in synchronization with the state of the contact. The contact mechanism further includes another switch member arranged on the opposite side of the switch member with the second movable member interposed therebetween and held by the case. The other switch member, like the switch member, is in direct contact with the second movable member and is displaced in synchronism with the displacement of the switch member as the second movable member moves, Changing the state of said other contact.

The above-mentioned and other objects, features, aspects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description of the present invention given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of an enable switch according to a first embodiment; FIG. It is a top view of an enable switch. It is a vertical cross-sectional view of an enable switch. It is a perspective view of a button case. It is a perspective view of an operating member. It is a top view which shows a part of enable switch. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a part of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows a part of enable switch. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a part of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows a part of enable switch. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a part of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows a part of enable switch. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a part of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows a part of enable switch. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a part of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows a part of enable switch. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a part of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows a part of enable switch. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a part of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows a part of enable switch. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a part of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows a part of enable switch. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a part of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows a part of enable switch. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a part of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows a part of enable switch. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a part of an enable switch. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the vicinity of the lower end surface of the operating member; It is a top view which shows the inner bottom face of a case. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of the button case and the operation member; It is a front view of an enable switch according to a second embodiment. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an enable switch; FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of a part of an enable switch, with the configuration omitted; FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of a part of an enable switch, with the configuration omitted; It is a perspective view of a button cover. It is a perspective view of a button case. It is a front view which shows the structure of a part of contact vicinity. It is a perspective view which shows some members near a contact mechanism. It is a bottom view of an operation member. It is a top view of a case. It is a front view of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows the structure of a part of enable switch. It is a front view of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows the structure of a part of enable switch. It is a front view of an enable switch. It is a top view which shows the structure of a part of enable switch. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the stroke of a button part, and an operation load. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the stroke of the button portion and the stroke of the microswitch; It is a front view of an enable switch according to a third embodiment. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an enable switch; FIG. It is a top view which shows the 1st switch member vicinity. It is a perspective view which shows the 1st switch member vicinity. It is a front view of an enable switch according to a fourth embodiment. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an enable switch; FIG. It is a side view which shows the structure of a part of contact vicinity. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a part of contact vicinity. It is a side view which shows the structure of a part of contact vicinity. It is a side view which shows the structure of a part of contact vicinity.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an enable switch 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the enable switch 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the enable switch 1 taken along line III--III in FIG. In FIG. 1, in order to facilitate understanding of the drawing, a button cover 31, which will be described later, is drawn with a two-dot chain line, and the internal configuration of the button cover 31 is drawn with a solid line. 2, illustration of the button cover 31 is omitted.

In FIG. 1, the three directions perpendicular to each other are called the X direction, Y direction and Z direction. Also, the Z direction is also referred to as the vertical direction. The Z direction may or may not match the vertical direction when the enable switch 1 is actually used. The same applies to other drawings.

The enable switch 1 is provided in an operation unit such as a teaching pendant of a robot or a controller of a work machine. Robots, work machines, and the like are objects to be operated by the operation unit. The enable switch 1 permits operation of an operation target from the operation unit. Specifically, while the enable switch 1 is in the ON state, the operation of the operation target is permitted, and when the operator makes an input to the operation unit, a signal from the operation unit according to the input is transmitted to the operation target. When the enable switch 1 is in the OFF state, the operation of the operation target is not permitted, and the operator's input is not transmitted to the operation target.

The enable switch 1 is a so-called 3-position enable switch. In the example described below, the enable switch 1 is OFF when the button portion 3 is not pressed (that is, the initial state), and is ON when the button portion 3 is pressed to some extent. When the portion 3 is further pushed in, it is in the OFF state. Note that the relationship between the state of the button portion 3 and the ON-OFF state of the enable switch 1 may be reversed to that described above. That is, the enable switch 1 may be in the ON state in the initial state, may be in the OFF state when the button portion 3 is pushed to some extent, and may be in the ON state when the button portion 3 is further pushed.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the enable switch 1 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member that is long in the X direction and short in the Y direction. In the following description, the X direction and Y direction are also referred to as "longitudinal direction" and "width direction", respectively. The enable switch 1 includes a case 2 , a button portion 3 , a contact 4 and a contact mechanism 5 . Case 2 supports button portion 3, contact 4, contact mechanism 5, and the like. The case 2 is also provided with connection terminals and the like for electrically connecting the enable switch 1 to other devices. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the case 2 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member that is long in the X direction and short in the Y direction.

The button part 3 is located on the upper side of the case 2. The button portion 3 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the case 2 . In the example shown in FIG. 1, the button portion 3 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member. The button portion 3 is pushed downward toward the case 2 when the operator of the enable switch 1 pushes the upper surface downward (that is, in the (-Z) direction).

The button portion 3 includes a button cover 31, a button case 32, and a return elastic member (not shown). The button cover 31 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped member that constitutes the outer shell of the button portion 3 and opens downward. The canopy portion of the button cover 31 (that is, the (+Z) side end surface portion, hereinafter also referred to as “upper surface portion 311”) is a portion that the operator touches when pressing the button portion 3 .

The button case 32 is a member that is housed in the internal space of the button cover 31 and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The button case 32 contacts the inner surface of the upper surface portion 311 of the button cover 31 (that is, the surface on the (−Z) side) from below at the substantially central portion of the button cover 31 in the X direction. The button case 32 is fixed to the inner surface of the upper surface portion 311 of the button cover 31 and extends downward from the upper surface portion 311 . When the button portion 3 moves vertically, the button case 32 moves vertically together with the button cover 31 . In the following description, the button portion 3 is also called a "first movable member".

4 is an enlarged perspective view of the button case 32. FIG. The button case 32 is provided with a substantially cylindrical through hole 35 centered on the central axis J1 extending in the Z direction. The through-hole 35 has a substantially circular shape in plan view (that is, when viewed parallel to the Z direction from the (+Z) side), and is positioned substantially in the center of the button case 32 . That is, the button case 32 is a cylindrical member having a through hole 35 in the center. Inside the through hole 35 (that is, inside the button case 32), an operation member 51, which will be described later, is held.

A groove portion 34 extending to the upper surface of the button case 32 is provided on the (-X) side surface and the (+X) side surface of the button case 32 . In other words, the two grooves 34 are open on the upper surface of the button case 32 .

On the (−X) side surface of the button case 32, the groove portion 34 extends in the (−Y) direction and the (+Z) direction from approximately the center portion of the side surface (that is, approximately the center portion in the Y and Z directions). . In other words, the groove 34 extends in the vertical direction and in the direction inclined with respect to the horizontal plane (that is, the XY plane). Further, the groove portion 34 is bent in the (+Z) direction near the (-Y) side surface of the button case 32 and reaches the upper surface of the button case 32 .

The upper end surface 341 of the groove 34 extends in the (-Y) direction and the (+Z) direction from the approximate center of the side surface. That is, the upper end surface 341 of the groove portion 34 is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal plane. A lower end surface 342 of the groove portion 34 extends in the (-Y) direction from approximately the center of the side surface, bends in the middle, and extends in the (-Y) direction and the (+Z) direction. That is, the lower end surface 342 of the groove portion 34 is a surface in which a surface extending substantially horizontally and an inclined surface inclined with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal surface are continuous. The shape of the groove portion 34 provided on the (+X) side surface of the button case 32 is substantially the same as the shape of the groove portion 34 provided on the (−X) side surface. The grooves 34 provided on the (+X) side surface of the button case 32 extend in the circumferential direction centered on the central axis J1 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the “circumferential direction”). ) is rotated 180°.

A return elastic member (not shown) is a member that can be elastically compressed in the vertical direction. placed in The return elastic member is, for example, a helical spring extending substantially parallel to the vertical direction. In the enable switch 1, the button portion 3 is pushed downward by the operator, and the button cover 31 and the button case 32 move downward from their initial positions, thereby elastically compressing the return elastic member in the vertical direction. . When the operator releases the button portion 3 from pressing, the restoring force of the restoring elastic member pushes the button cover 31 and the button case 32 upward to return to their initial positions. The arrangement, shape and structure of the return elastic member may be changed in various ways. Also, the return elastic member may be an elastic member (for example, a plate spring or the like) other than the coiled spring.

The enable switch 1 has two contacts 4 . The two contacts 4 are arranged on the (+X) side and the (−X) side of the button case 32 and the operating member 51 . In other words, one of the two contacts 4 is located on one side of the button case 32 and the operation member 51 in the X direction, and the other contact 4 is located on the button case 32 and the operation member 51 in the X direction. 51 is placed on the opposite side of the one contact 4 .

The (−X) side contact 4 includes two fixed contacts 41 , one moving contact 42 , and a contact moving mechanism 43 . The two fixed contacts 41 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. The moving contact 42 is arranged between the two fixed contacts 41 and vertically faces the two fixed contacts 41 . The contact moving mechanism 43 moves the moving contact 42 vertically. The contact moving mechanism 43 is a known mechanism including a lever that holds the moving contact 42, a rotating shaft that rotatably supports the lever, a spring that is connected to the lever, and the like. The structure of the contact moving mechanism 43 may be changed variously. Also, the two fixed contacts 41 do not necessarily have to be arranged in the vertical direction, and the arrangement of the two fixed contacts 41 and the one moving contact 42 may be changed in various ways. Furthermore, the structure of the contact 4 does not necessarily have two fixed contacts 41 and one moving contact 42, and may be modified in various ways.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the state in which the moving contact 42 is in contact with the upper fixed contact 41 is the "open" state (that is, the OFF state) of the contact 4. A state in which the moving contact 42 is in contact with the lower fixed contact 41 is a state in which the contact 4 is "closed" (that is, in an ON state). In the enable switch 1, the contact 4 is closed when the moving contact 42 is in contact with the fixed contact 41 on the upper side, and the moving contact 42 is in contact with the fixed contact 41 on the lower side. The state may be that the contact 4 is "open". The structure of the contact 4 on the (+X) side is substantially the same as the structure of the contact 4 on the (-X) side. The (+X) side contact 4 is arranged at a position obtained by rotating the (−X) side contact 4 by 180° in the circumferential direction around the central axis J1.

The contact mechanism 5 shifts the state of the contact 4 from "open" to "closed" and then from "closed" to "open" as the button portion 3 is pushed toward the case 2. Incidentally, as described above, the open/closed state (that is, the ON-OFF state) of the contact 4 may be reversed. That is, as the button portion 3 is pushed toward the case 2, the contact mechanism 5 shifts the state of the contact 4 from one of "open" and "closed" to the other, and further shifts from the other to the one.

The contact mechanism 5 includes the operation member 51 described above, two switch members 52, and an operation elastic member 53. The operation member 51 is held by the button case 32 of the button portion 3 so as to be relatively movable with respect to the button case 32 . Specifically, the operation member 51 is arranged inside the through hole 35 (see FIG. 4) of the button case 32, and held by the button case 32 so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction about the central axis J1. . Note that the button case 32 does not rotate in the circumferential direction. The operating member 51 is a "second movable member" held by the button portion 3, which is the first movable member. Further, the button case 32 is a second movable member holding portion that holds the second movable member.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the operating member 51. FIG. The operation member 51 is a substantially cylindrical member that extends vertically around the central axis J1. The operating member 51 includes an operating member main body 511 and two operating member projecting portions 512 . The operation member main body 511 is a substantially cylindrical member that extends vertically. In the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the operation member main body 511 is a substantially cylindrical member with a bottom centered on the central axis J1. A lower end surface 513 of the operation member main body 511 is a convex surface (for example, a portion of a spherical surface) curved so that the central portion is convex downward.

The two operating member protrusions 512 are portions that protrude sideways from the upper end of the outer surface of the operating member main body 511 . Each operation member projecting portion 512 has, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in a radial direction centered on the central axis J1 (hereinafter also simply referred to as “radial direction”). In the state shown in FIG. 2, the two operating member projecting portions 512 are positioned on the (+X) side and the (−X) side of the central axis J1. In other words, one operating member projecting portion 512 of the two operating member projecting portions 512 is located on one side of the central axis J1 in the X direction, and the other operating member projecting portion 512 is located at the center in the X direction. It is located on the opposite side of the one operating member projecting portion 512 across the axis J1. The two operating member projecting portions 512 have substantially the same shape, and one operating member projecting portion 512 is arranged at a position obtained by rotating the other operating member projecting portion 512 by 180° in the circumferential direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the operating member main body 511 is positioned within the through hole 35 (see FIG. 4) of the button case 32, and the two operating member projecting portions 512 extend into the two groove portions 34 of the button case 32. (see FIG. 4), respectively. The operation member projecting portion 512 extends from the through hole 35 of the button case 32 through the side wall of the button case 32 at the groove portion 34 to the outside of the button case 32 . As described above, the operating member 51 is held by the button case 32 so as to be rotatable about the central axis J1, and when the operating member 51 rotates, the operating member projecting portion 512 moves within the groove portion 34. . As described above, when the operation member 51 is called the "second movable member", the operation member main body 511 and the operation member protrusion 512 are respectively the "second movable member main body" and the "second movable member protrusion". .

An upper end surface 341 (see FIG. 4) of the groove 34 of the button case 32 is an upper cam portion that contacts the operating member projecting portion 512 from above. When the upper end face 341 of the groove portion 34 directly contacts the operating member projecting portion 512 and pushes it downward while the downward movement of the operating member 51 is restricted, a circumferential force is applied to the operating member projecting portion 512 . , and the operating member 51 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. The inclined surface of the lower end surface 342 of the groove portion 34 of the button case 32 is a lower cam portion that contacts the operating member projecting portion 512 from below. When the inclined surface of the lower end surface 342 of the groove portion 34 directly contacts the operating member protruding portion 512 and pushes it upward while the upward movement of the operating member 51 is restricted, the operating member protruding portion 512 is pushed upward. A circumferential force acts to rotate the operating member 51 clockwise in FIG.

The operation elastic member 53 is arranged inside the operation member 51 (that is, inside the operation member main body 511) inside the through hole 35 of the button case 32. In the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the operating elastic member 53 is inserted from above into the internal space of the bottomed substantially cylindrical operating member main body 511, and the upper portion of the operating elastic member 53 extends upward from the upper end of the operating member main body 511. protruding to. The operation elastic member 53 is a member that can be elastically compressed in the vertical direction. The operation elastic member 53 is, for example, a spiral spring that extends substantially parallel in the vertical direction about the central axis J1. 1 and 3, the operation elastic member 53 is drawn in a substantially cylindrical shape for the sake of convenience. The same applies to other drawings.

The lower end of the operating elastic member 53 contacts the bottom of the operating member main body 511 . The operating elastic member 53 is held from below by the operating member 51 . The upper end of the operating elastic member 53 contacts the inner surface of the upper surface portion 311 of the button cover 31 . That is, the operation elastic member 53 is arranged between the button portion 3 and the operation member 51 . Further, the operating member 51 is an elastic member holder that holds the operating elastic member 53 from below. The operating elastic member 53 is vertically compressed inside the operating member 51 by the downward movement of the button portion 3 relative to the operating elastic member 53 . Note that the shape and structure of the operation elastic member 53 may be changed in various ways. For example, the operation elastic member 53 may be an elastic member other than the coiled spring. Further, if the operation member 51 does not need to accommodate the operation elastic member 53 inside, the operation member 51 may be, for example, a columnar member centered on the central axis J1.

The two switch members 52 are held by the case 2. The two switch members 52 are arranged on the (+X) side and the (−X) side of the button case 32 and the operation member 51 . In other words, one switch member 52 of the two switch members 52 is located on one side of the button case 32 and the operation member 51 in the X direction, and the other switch member 52 is located on the button case 32 in the X direction. and the operation member 51 on the opposite side of the one switch member 52 . The two switch members 52 have substantially the same shape, and one switch member 52 is arranged at a position obtained by rotating the other switch member 52 by 180° in the circumferential direction.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the switch member 52 is a substantially rectangular single member in plan view. In the state shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the two switch members 52 are positioned below the two operating member projecting portions 512 and directly contact the lower end surfaces of the two operating member projecting portions 512 . Alternatively, the switch member 52 is close to the lower end surface of the operating member projecting portion 512 with a small gap therebetween.

When the operating member 51 moves downward while the operating member protrusion 512 is in direct contact with the switch member 52 from above, the switch member 52 is pushed down from the initial position by the operating member protrusion 512 . In other words, the switch member 52 is displaced downward along with the movement of the operating member projecting portion 512 . When the switch member 52 is displaced downward from the initial position shown in FIG. 3, the end of the lever of the contact moving mechanism 43 is pushed down by the switch member 52, and the lever is rotated to move the movable contact 42 downward. and contact the fixed contact 41 on the lower side. As a result, the state of the contact 4 is changed from "open" to "closed", and the enable switch 1 is turned on.

When the contact 4 is in the "closed" state, the spring in the contact moving mechanism 43 is in an expanded state. Therefore, when the operating member projecting portion 512 retreats from above the switch member 52 and the force pushing down the switch member 52 is removed, the restoring force of the spring rotates the lever and moves the moving contact 42 upward. Moving. The moving contact 42 comes into contact with the fixed contact 41 on the upper side, the state of the contact 4 shifts from "closed" to "open", and the enable switch 1 is turned off. Also, the switch member 52 is pushed up by the rotating lever and returns to the initial position shown in FIG.

Thus, in the enable switch 1, the state of the contact 4 is changed between "open" and "closed" by displacing the switch member 52. Further, in the enable switch 1, the forces applied to the two switch members 52 from the two operating member projecting portions 512 of the operating member 51 change substantially simultaneously. As a result, the two switch members 52 are displaced in synchronization with each other, and the states of the two contacts 4 are changed substantially simultaneously. Therefore, the states of the two contacts 4 are transferred synchronously with each other.

In the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the case 2 is provided with temporary fixing portions 61 in the vicinity of each switch member 52 . The temporary fixing portion 61 is, for example, a columnar portion extending in the vertical direction. The temporary fixing portion 61 may be a part of the case 2 or may be a separate member attached to the case 2 . In the state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the temporary fixing portion 61 is positioned below the operating member projecting portion 512 and spaced downward from the operating member projecting portion 512 . The temporary fixing portion 61 overlaps the operation member projecting portion 512 in plan view (that is, in the vertical direction). The temporary fixing portion 61 may partially overlap the operation member protruding portion 512 in a plan view, or may overlap the operation member projecting portion 512 entirely. When the operating member 51 moves downward from the position shown in FIG. 3, the operating member projecting portion 512 comes into contact with the temporary fixing portion 61 from above, thereby restricting the downward movement of the operating member 51 .

Next, the operation of each configuration when the enable switch 1 is used will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6A to 16A and 6B to 16B. 6A to 16A are plan views showing the (-X) side portion of the enable switch 1. FIG. 6A to 16A, similarly to FIG. 2, the illustration of the button cover 31 is omitted. 6B to 16B are longitudinal sectional views showing the (-X) side portion of the enable switch 1. FIG. The operation of each component in the (+X) side portion of the enable switch 1 is the same as the operation of each component in the (-X) side portion described below.

6A to 14A and 6B to 14B show how the button portion 3, which is the first movable member, is pushed down toward the case 2 by an operator (not shown). 14A to 16A and 14B to 16B show how the operator releases the button portion 3 and the button portion 3 returns from the pushed position to the original position.

In the following description, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the position of the button portion 3 in a state in which the button portion 3 is not pushed (that is, the relative position of the button portion 3 with respect to the case 2) is referred to as the "first position." ”. Further, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the position of the button portion 3 in the state where the button portion 3 is pushed to the bottom is called the "third position". Further, the position of the button portion 3 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is called "second position". The second position is a predetermined position of the button portion 3 between the first position and the third position.

When the button portion 3 is positioned at the second position, the lower end of the operation member 51 is in contact with the inner bottom surface 21 of the case 2 , and the button case 32 is spaced upward from the inner bottom surface 21 of the case 2 . there is The lower end of the operating member 51 and the lower end of the button case 32 are in contact with the inner bottom surface 21 of the case 2 when the button portion 3 is positioned at the third position. It should be noted that the operation member 51 and the button case 32 are separated upward from the inner bottom surface 21 of the case 2 when the button portion 3 is positioned at the first position.

In this embodiment, when the button portion 3 of the enable switch 1 is pushed, the state of the contact 4 shifts from "open" to "closed" between the first position and the second position. The state of the contact 4 changes from "closed" to "open" between the position and the third position. Then, when the button portion 3 returns from the third position to the first position, the state of the contact 4 remains "open".

In the enable switch 1, when the button portion 3 is pushed downward from the first position shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the operation member 51 moves downward together with the button case 32 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. do. At this time, the operating member 51 does not rotate, and the relative position of the operating member 51 with respect to the button case 32 remains unchanged from that shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Further, since the operating member projecting portion 512 vertically overlaps the switch member 52 , the switch member 52 moves downward together with the operating member 51 . In the state shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the state of contact 4 is "open", as in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In the state shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B , the operating member projecting portion 512 contacts the upper end of the temporary fixing portion 61 . As a result, the operating member 51 is temporarily fixed (that is, temporarily locked) to the case 2, and its downward movement is restricted.

When the button portion 3 is further pushed downward, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the operation member 51 does not move vertically because its downward movement is restricted by the temporary fixing portion 61, and the button is pressed. Cover 31 and button case 32 move downward. That is, the button portion 3 moves downward relative to the operation member 51 . As a result, the operating elastic member 53 positioned between the button portion 3 and the operating member 51 is vertically compressed. Further, the upper end surface 341 (that is, the upper cam portion) of the groove portion 34 of the button case 32 contacts the operating member projecting portion 512 of the operating member 51 from above. At this time, the operating member 51 does not rotate. Further, since the operating member 51 does not move vertically, the switch member 52 does not move vertically either. In the state shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the state of contact 4 remains "open".

When the button portion 3 is pushed further downward, the operation member 51 does not move vertically because its downward movement is restricted by the temporary fixing portion 61, and the button cover 31 and the button case 32 move further downward. and move. That is, the button portion 3 moves further downward relative to the operation member 51 . Thereby, as shown in FIG. 9B, the operating elastic member 53 is further compressed in the vertical direction.

In addition, due to the downward relative movement of the button portion 3 with respect to the operating member 51, a circumferential force acts on the operating member projecting portion 512 from the upper end surface 341 of the groove portion 34 that contacts the operating member projecting portion 512 from above. As the button portion 3 descends, the operating member 51 rotates counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 8A to the position shown in FIG. 9A. As a result, the operating member projecting portion 512 is displaced from the temporary fixing portion 61 toward the (−Y) side (that is, the vertical overlap between the operating member projecting portion 512 and the temporary fixing portion 61 is eliminated), and the temporary fixing portion 61 The temporary fixing of the operation member 51 by is released.

When the temporary fixing of the operating member 51 is released, the operating member 51 moves from the position shown in FIG. 9B to the position shown in FIG. move downwards at once. Further, as shown in FIG. 10A , the operation member projecting portion 512 overlaps the switch member 52 in the vertical direction and is in contact with the switch member 52 from above. A force is applied, and the switch member 52 moves downward together with the operation member 51 at once. Then, the contact moving mechanism 43 is operated by the switch member 52 pushed down by the operating member projecting portion 512 , and the moving contact 42 moves downward to contact the lower fixed contact 41 . That is, the downward displacement of the switch member 52 changes the state of the contact 4 from "open" to "close."

In the enable switch 1, as described above, the operation member 51 is lowered from the position shown in FIG. 9B to the position shown in FIG. Lowering and lowering of the switch member 52 on the (+X) side of the operating member 51 are also performed in an extremely short time. Therefore, the timing of the state transition from "open" to "closed" of the contact 4 located on the (-X) side of the operating member 51 and the timing from "open" of the contact 4 located on the (+X) side of the operating member 51 It is possible to suppress deviation from the timing of state transition to "closed". In other words, the state transitions of the two contacts 4 can be performed substantially simultaneously. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 10A, the operating member 51 does not rotate in the circumferential direction when the operating member 51 descends from the position shown in FIG. 9B to the position shown in FIG. 10B.

When the button portion 3 is further pushed downward, the operating member 51 moves downward together with the button case 32 as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. At this time, the operating member 51 does not rotate, and the relative position of the operating member 51 with respect to the button case 32 remains unchanged from that shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. Further, since the operating member projecting portion 512 vertically overlaps the switch member 52 , the switch member 52 moves downward together with the operating member 51 . In the state shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the state of the contact 4 is "closed" as in FIGS. 10A and 10B. 11A and 11B, the lower end surface 513 of the operation member main body 511 of the operation member 51 contacts the inner bottom surface 21 of the case 2. As shown in FIG. This restricts the downward movement of the operating member 51 . As described above, the position of the button portion 3 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is the second position.

When the button portion 3 is pushed further downward, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the downward movement of the operating member 51 is restricted by the inner bottom surface 21 of the case 2, so that it does not move vertically. , the button cover 31 and the button case 32 move further downward. That is, the button portion 3 moves further downward relative to the operation member 51 . As a result, the operating elastic member 53 is further compressed in the vertical direction.

In addition, due to the downward relative movement of the button portion 3 with respect to the operating member 51, a circumferential force acts on the operating member projecting portion 512 from the upper end surface 341 of the groove portion 34 that contacts the operating member projecting portion 512 from above. As the button portion 3 is lowered, the operation member 51 rotates counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 11A to the position shown in FIG. 12A. As a result, the operating member projecting portion 512 is displaced from the position overlapping the switch member 52 in the vertical direction to the (-Y) side. In other words, the operation member projecting portion 512 retreats from above the switch member 52 to the side, and the vertical overlap between the operation member projecting portion 512 and the switch member 52 is eliminated.

In the enable switch 1, as described above, the lower end surface 513 of the operation member main body 511 that contacts the inner bottom surface 21 of the case 2 is a convex surface that projects downward. Friction between the main body 511 and the inner bottom surface 21 of the case 2 can be reduced. Therefore, the force required to rotate the operating member 51 can be reduced.

When the operating member projecting portion 512 retreats from above the switch member 52 , the downward force applied from the operating member projecting portion 512 to the switch member 52 is lost, and the restoring force of the spring of the contact moving mechanism 43 causes the switch member 52 to move. moves upward from the position shown in FIG. 12B to the original position shown in FIG. 13B (ie, the initial position shown in FIG. 6B). Further, the moving contact 42 is moved upward by the contact moving mechanism 43 and comes into contact with the upper fixed contact 41 . That is, with the upward displacement of the switch member 52, the state of the contact 4 changes from "closed" to "open."

Note that, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 13A, the operation member 51 does not rotate in the circumferential direction while the switch member 52 moves upward. When the switch member 52 returns to the initial position, the operating member projecting portion 512 faces the side surface of the switch member 52 on the (-Y) side in the Y direction. The operation member projecting portion 512 may be in contact with the side surface of the switch member 52 on the (-Y) side, or may be close to it with a slight gap.

When the button portion 3 is pushed further downward, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the downward movement of the operating member 51 is restricted by the inner bottom surface 21 of the case 2, so that it does not move vertically. , the button cover 31 and the button case 32 move further downward. That is, the button portion 3 moves further downward relative to the operation member 51 . As a result, the operating elastic member 53 is further compressed in the vertical direction. In addition, due to the downward relative movement of the button portion 3 with respect to the operating member 51, a circumferential force acts on the operating member projecting portion 512 from the upper end surface 341 of the groove portion 34 that contacts the operating member projecting portion 512 from above. As the button portion 3 is lowered, the operating member 51 rotates counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 13A to the position shown in FIG. 14A. As described above, the position of the button portion 3 shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B is the third position where the button portion 3 is pushed to the bottom.

When the operator releases the button portion 3 while the button portion 3 is in the third position, the restoring force of the restoring elastic member (not shown) causes the button cover 31 and the button case 32 to move as shown in FIG. 14B. from the position shown in Fig. 15B upwards to the position shown in Fig. 15B. The position of the button portion 3 shown in FIG. 15B is substantially the same as the second position shown in FIG. 11B. When the button portion 3 moves upward from the third position, the operating elastic member 53 vertically compressed between the button portion 3 and the operating member 51 applies downward force to the operating member 51 . The upward movement of the operating member 51 is restricted. Therefore, the button case 32 moves upward relative to the operation member 51 , and the inclined surface (that is, the lower cam portion) of the lower end surface 342 of the groove portion 34 of the button case 32 moves the operation member 51 . The member projecting portion 512 is contacted from below. Then, a circumferential force acts on the operation member projecting portion 512 from the lower cam portion, and the operation member 51 rotates clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 14A to the position shown in FIG. 15A.

In the following description, the rotation direction (counterclockwise in the above example) of the operation member 51 when the button portion 3 is lowered, and the rotation in that rotation direction are referred to as the "first direction" and the "first direction." Also called "movement of Further, the rotation direction (clockwise in the above example) of the operation member 51 when the button portion 3 is raised, and the rotation in that rotation direction are also referred to as "second direction" and "movement in the second direction", respectively. call. The second direction is opposite to the first direction. The same applies to other embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 15A, the operating member projecting portion 512 contacts the side surface of the switch member 52 on the (-Y) side. Therefore, the operating member 51 does not rotate clockwise any more. That is, the clockwise rotation of the operating member 51 is restricted by the switch member 52 . While the button portion 3 is raised from the third position and returned to the second position, the switch member 52 does not move (that is, the position of the switch member 52 is maintained), and the contact 4 is in the "open" state. maintained as is.

When the button portion 3 moves further upward and reaches the vicinity of the first position, as shown in FIG. 512 is removed from the side surface of the switch member 52 on the (-Y) side. Then, in a state in which the upward movement of the operating member 51 is restricted by the operating elastic member 53, the operating member 51 is moved as shown in FIG. 16A, above the switch member 52. As shown in FIG. The button portion 3 shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B is located at the first position. While the button portion 3 is raised from the second position and returned to the first position, the switch member 52 does not move (that is, the position of the switch member 52 is maintained), and the contact 4 is in the "open" state. maintained as is.

As described above, the enable switch 1 includes the case 2, the first movable member (that is, the button portion 3), the contact 4, and the contact mechanism 5. The button part 3 is pushed downward toward the case 2 . The contact mechanism 5 shifts the state of the contact 4 from one of "open" and "closed" to the other as the button portion 3 is pushed toward the case 2 (in the present embodiment, the state of the contact 4 is changed from "open" to "closed"). closed"), and then from the other to the one.

As described above, the position of the button part 3 with respect to the case 2 when the button part 3 is not pushed is the first position. Further, the position of the button portion 3 with respect to the case 2 when the button portion 3 is pushed to the bottom is referred to as the third position. Further, a predetermined position of the button portion 3 with respect to the case 2 between the first position and the third position is defined as a second position. When the button portion 3 is pushed, the state of the contact 4 shifts from the one to the other between the first position and the second position, and the state of the contact 4 changes between the second position and the third position. The state transitions from the other to the one. When the button portion 3 returns from the third position to the first position, the state of the contact 4 is maintained in the one state.

The contact mechanism 5 includes a second movable member (that is, an operating member 51) and a switch member 52. The operation member 51 is held by the button portion 3 and is relatively movable with respect to the button portion 3 . The switch member 52 changes the state of the contact 4 by being in direct contact with the operating member 51 and being displaced as the operating member 51 moves. The button portion 3 includes an upper cam portion (the upper end surface 341 of the groove portion 34 in the above example) that contacts the operation member 51 from above, and a lower cam portion (the upper end surface 341 of the groove portion 34 in the above example) that contacts the operation member 51 from below. and a lower end surface 342).

In the enable switch 1, when the button portion 3 is pushed from the first position to the second position, force is applied to the switch member 52 by the operation member 51 that moves downward together with the button portion 3. 52 is displaced to change the state of the contact 4 from the one to the other. Further, when the button portion 3 is pushed from the second position to the third position, the upper cam portion contacts the operation member 51 from above while the downward movement of the operation member 51 is restricted. 3 is lowered, the operation member 51 is moved relative to the button portion 3 in a predetermined first direction (in the above example, rotated counterclockwise). As a result, the downward force applied from the operating member 51 to the switch member 52 is lost, the switch member 52 returns to its original position, and the state of the contact 4 shifts from the other to the one.

In the enable switch 1, when the button portion 3 returns from the third position to the first position, the operation member 51 is operated while the position of the switch member 52 (that is, the position relative to the button portion 3) is maintained. It moves upward together with the button part 3 . In addition, in a state in which the upward movement of the operating member 51 is restricted, the lower cam portion contacts the operating member 51 from below, and the operating member 51 moves above the button portion 3 as the button portion 3 rises. Relatively move in a second direction opposite to the first direction (rotate clockwise in the above example).

As described above, in the enable switch 1, the operation member 51 held by the button portion 3 is brought into direct contact with the switch member 52, and the switch member 52 is displaced as the operation member 51 is moved, whereby the switch member 52 is moved to the first position. , the switching of the state of the contact 4 in the second position and the third position. As a result, the number of parts of the enable switch 1 can be reduced and the size of the enable switch 1 can be reduced. Specifically, as described above, in the enable switch 1 in which the contact 4, the switch member 52, and the operation member 51 are arranged in the X direction, if another interlocking member or the like is provided between the operation member 51 and the switch member 52, , the length of the enable switch 1 in the X direction (that is, the longitudinal direction) can be reduced.

As described above, preferably, when the button portion 3 is pushed from the first position to the second position, the operating member 51 contacts the switch member 52 from above and moves downward together with the button portion 3. 51 pushes down the switch member 52 . Thereby, the enable switch 1 can be further miniaturized in the X direction (that is, in the longitudinal direction) as compared with the case where the switch member 52 is displaced in the X direction.

As described above, the button portion 3 preferably further includes the upper surface portion 311 and the tubular second movable member holding portion (that is, the button case 32). The upper surface portion 311 is a portion that the operator touches when pressing the button portion 3 . The button case 32 extends downward from the upper surface portion 311 and holds the operating member 51 inside. Preferably, the above-mentioned upper cam portion is the upper end surface 341 of the groove portion 34 extending in the side surface of the button case 32 in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction, and the lower cam portion is the lower end surface 342 of the groove portion 34 . Thus, the structure of the enable switch 1 can be simplified by providing the button case 32 with the function of holding the operation member 51 and the functions of the upper cam portion and the lower cam portion described above. As a result, further miniaturization of the enable switch 1 can be achieved.

As described above, the operating member 51 includes a second movable member main body (that is, the operating member main body 511) that extends in the vertical direction, and a second movable member protruding portion (that is, the operating member main body 511) that protrudes laterally from the operating member main body 511. Preferably, a protrusion 512) is provided. In this case, when the button portion 3 is pushed from the first position to the second position, the operation member projecting portion 512 comes into contact with the switch member 52 from above and applies force. Further, when the button portion 3 is pushed from the second position to the third position, the upper cam portion contacts the operating member projecting portion 512 from above. Furthermore, when the button portion 3 returns from the third position to the first position, the lower cam portion comes into contact with the operating member projecting portion 512 from below. In this way, the structure of the contact mechanism 5 can be simplified by sharing the portion that contacts the switch member 52 and the portion that contacts the upper cam portion and the lower cam portion in the operating member 51 . As a result, further miniaturization of the enable switch 1 can be achieved.

As described above, the operating member 51 preferably has a tubular or columnar shape centered on the vertically extending central axis J1. Further, the relative movement of the operation member 51 with respect to the button portion 3 in the first direction is rotation in the circumferential direction about the central axis J1 (counterclockwise direction in the above example). The relative movement of 51 with respect to button portion 3 in the second direction is preferably rotation in the other circumferential direction (clockwise direction in the above example) around central axis J1. As a result, the enable switch 1 can be made smaller than when the relative movement in the first direction and the second direction is linear movement in the vertical direction or the like.

As described above, when the button portion 3 is pushed from the second position to the third position, the downward movement of the operating member 51 is limited by the contact of the lower end surface 513 of the operating member 51 with the case 2 . It is preferably implemented. In this case, it is preferable that the lower end surface 513 of the operation member 51 is a convex surface curved so that the central portion is convex downward. Thereby, the frictional force at the contact portion between the operation member 51 and the case 2 can be reduced. As a result, the force required to move the operating member 51 in the first direction and the second direction can be reduced. In the above example, the force required to rotate the operating member 51 counterclockwise and clockwise can be reduced. Therefore, the force required to press the button portion 3 can be reduced, and the operability of the enable switch 1 can be improved.

As described above, the enable switch 1 preferably further includes the operating elastic member 53 arranged between the operating member 51 and the button portion 3 . The operating elastic member 53 is vertically compressed by the downward movement of the button portion 3 relative to the operating member 51 . In this case, when the button portion 3 is pushed from the first position to the second position, the operation member 51 is provided on the case 2 before the state of the contact 4 shifts from the one to the other. The downward movement of the operation member 51 is restricted by coming into contact with the stop portion 61 . In the enable switch 1 , when the button portion 3 moves downward while the downward movement of the operating member 51 is restricted, the operating elastic member 53 is vertically compressed, and the upper cam portion is moved by the operating member 51 . The operation member 51 is brought into contact from above and moved in the first direction as the button portion 3 is lowered. As a result, the operating member 51 is displaced from the temporary fixing portion 61, and the restoring force of the operating elastic member 53 causes the operating member 51 to move downward. Then, the state of the contact 4 shifts from the one to the other.

Thus, in the enable switch 1, the operating member 51 is temporarily fixed while the button portion 3 is being lowered to the second position, and the operating member 51 is moved downward at once by the restoring force of the compressed operating elastic member 53. As a result, the state of the contact 4 can be rapidly and reliably changed from "open" to "closed". In addition, when the enable switch 1 includes a plurality of contacts 4 , it is possible to prevent the contact 4 from shifting the state of the contacts 4 from “open” to “closed”. As a result, the operational stability of the enable switch 1 can be improved.

As described above, the enable switch 1 further includes another contact 4 arranged on the opposite side of the contact 4 with the operation member 51 interposed therebetween. Preferably, the transition is synchronous with the state. In this case, the contact mechanism 5 further includes another switch member 52 arranged on the opposite side of the switch member 52 with the operation member 51 interposed therebetween and held by the case 2 . In addition, the other switch member 52 is in direct contact with the operation member 51 in the same manner as the switch member 52 described above, and is displaced in synchronization with the displacement of the switch member 52 as the operation member 51 is moved. The state of the other contact 4 is changed. Thereby, the state transition of the plurality of contacts 4 (that is, the opening and closing of the plurality of contacts 4) can be suitably realized with a simple structure.

Various modifications are possible for the enable switch 1 described above.

For example, in order to improve the operability of the enable switch 1, the force required to push the button portion 3 may be partially increased while the button portion 3 is moving from the first position to the third position. Specifically, for example, the force required to push the button portion 3 from the second position to the third position may be increased.

17A and 17B are diagrams showing an example of a structure for realizing the change in pushing force. FIG. 17A is a side view showing the vicinity of the lower end surface 513 of the operating member 51 when the button portion is positioned at the second position. 17B is a plan view showing the inner bottom surface 21 of the case 2 with which the lower end surface 513 of the operating member 51 contacts in the state shown in FIG. 17A. In FIG. 17B, the lower end surface 513 of the operating member 51 is indicated by broken lines.

In the example shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, a substantially hemispherical protrusion 514 protruding downward is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the lower end surface 513 of the operating member 51 . Further, the inner bottom surface 21 of the case 2 is provided with a convex portion 211 extending radially about the central axis J1 at a position overlapping the outer peripheral portion of the operation member 51 in plan view. The convex portion 514 of the operation member 51 is adjacent to the convex portion 211 of the case 2 on the clockwise side in plan view when the button portion 3 is positioned at the second position.

When pushing the button portion 3 from the second position to the third position, the convex portion 514 of the operation member 51 needs to climb over the convex portion 211 of the case 2 and move to the counterclockwise side of the convex portion 211 in plan view. There is In order to move the convex portion 514, it is necessary to compress the operation elastic member 53 (see FIG. 3) in the vertical direction. The force required to push in 3 increases. As a result, it is possible to prevent the operator from erroneously pushing the button portion 3 maintained at the second position to the third position.

The relative movement of the operation member 51 with respect to the button case 32 in the first direction and the second direction does not necessarily have to be rotation in one direction and the other direction in the circumferential direction about the central axis J1. may be changed to For example, the above-described relative movements in the first direction and the second direction may be movements in the (+Y) direction and movements in the (−Y) direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 18, grooves 34 of substantially the same shape extending in the same direction are formed on the (-X) side and the (+X) side of the button case 32. Two operating member projecting portions 512 of the operating member 51 may be arranged in one groove portion 34 . Each groove 34 extends in the (+Y) direction and the (+Z) direction from the central portion of the side surface of the button case 32 (that is, the central portion in the Y and Z directions). In the example shown in FIG. 18, the operation member 51 moves downward from the position shown in FIG. relative movement in the (+Y) direction. Further, by moving the button case 32 upward while the upward movement of the operating member 51 is restricted, the operating member 51 moves relative to the button case 32 in the (-Y) direction.

The number of contacts 4 provided on the enable switch 1 is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.

In the operating member 51, the portion that contacts the switch member 52 may be different from the portion that contacts the upper cam portion and the lower cam portion. For example, the upper cam portion and the lower cam portion do not necessarily need to contact the operating member projecting portion 512 to move the operating member 51 , and may contact other portions of the operating member 51 . Also, the portion of the operating member 51 that contacts the switch member 52 is not necessarily limited to the operating member projecting portion 512 , and may be a portion of the operating member 51 other than the operating member projecting portion 512 .

The upper cam portion and the lower cam portion do not necessarily have to be provided in the groove portion 34 of the button case 32, and may have other structures. Further, the upper cam portion and the lower cam portion do not necessarily have to be provided on the (+X) side and (−X) side of the button case 32, and the button case 32 or the button portion 3 It may be provided in a part other than the button case 32 of.

In the above example, the operating member 51 is temporarily fixed by the operating member projecting portion 512 coming into contact with the temporary fixing portion 61, but the temporary fixing portion 61 is provided at another position, and the operating member main body 511 The operating member 51 may be temporarily fixed by contacting the 61 . Moreover, the temporary fixing of the operation member 51 is not necessarily performed, and the temporary fixing portion 61 and the operation elastic member 53 may be omitted.

The shape of the operation member 51 is not limited to the above example, and may be changed in various ways. For example, the lower end surface 513 of the operation member 51 does not necessarily have to be a convex surface, and may be a flat surface substantially parallel to the inner bottom surface 21 of the case 2 . The operation member main body 511 does not necessarily have a cylindrical or columnar shape centered on the central axis J1, and may have another shape. The operation member 51 does not necessarily have the operation member main body 511 and the operation member projecting portion 512, and may have other structures.

The shape and moving direction of the switch member 52 are not necessarily limited to the above examples, and may be changed in various ways. For example, the state of the contact 4 may be changed by displacing the switch member 52 in a direction inclined with respect to the Z direction. Also, the structure of the contact 4 is not limited to the above example, and may be variously changed.

Next, an enable switch 1a according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 19 is a front view showing the enable switch 1a. FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the enable switch 1a. 21 and 22 are side views of the enable switch 1a with part of the configuration omitted. In FIG. 21, the case 2a is indicated by broken lines. In FIG. 22, the case 2a and the button cover 31a are indicated by dashed lines. FIGS. 19, 21 and 22 show the enable switch 1a in a state in which the button portion 3a is not pushed (that is, in the initial state). The same applies to FIGS. 25 and 26, which will be described later.

The enable switch 1a is a substantially cylindrical switch centered on a central axis J2 extending in the Z direction (that is, in the vertical direction). The enable switch 1a is a three-position enable switch like the enable switch 1 described above. The enable switch 1a includes a case 2a, a button portion 3a, a contact 4a, and a contact mechanism 5a. The case 2a is a substantially cylindrical member centered on the central axis J2, and supports the button portion 3a, the contact 4a, and the contact mechanism 5a.

The button part 3a is a substantially cylindrical member with a lid centered on the central axis J2. The button portion 3a is inserted into an upper opening of the case 2a. The upper portion of the button portion 3a protrudes upward from the upper end of the case 2a. The button portion 3a is pushed downward toward the case 2a when the operator of the enable switch 1a pushes the upper surface downward (ie, in the (-Z) direction).

The button portion 3a includes a button cover 31a, a button case 32a, and a return elastic member 33a. The button cover 31a is a substantially cylindrical member with a lid centered on the central axis J2, and opens downward. The canopy portion of the button cover 31a (that is, the end face portion on the (+Z) side, hereinafter also referred to as "upper surface portion 311a") is a portion that the operator touches when pushing the button portion 3a.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the button cover 31a as viewed obliquely from below. Two protrusions 312a are provided on the lower surface of the upper surface portion 311a of the button cover 31a. The two projections 312a are of substantially the same shape, and one projection 312a rotates the other projection 312a by 180° in the circumferential direction centered on the central axis J2 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the “circumferential direction”). placed in a rotated position. Each protrusion 312a is arranged in the vicinity of the side wall of the button cover 31a at a position spaced radially inward from the side wall. Each protrusion 312a is a substantially arcuate portion extending in the circumferential direction in plan view. The lower end surface of each protrusion 312a is an inclined surface that slopes toward the (+Z) side as it goes counterclockwise in plan view (that is, when viewed along the Z direction from the (+Z) side).

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the button case 32a as viewed obliquely from above. The button case 32a is a substantially tubular member (in the example shown in FIG. 24, a substantially cylindrical shape centered on the central axis J2). The button case 32a is inserted from the lower opening of the button cover 31a and attached to the button cover 31a. The lower portion of the button case 32a protrudes downward from the lower end of the button cover 31a. In other words, the button case 32a extends downward from the upper surface portion 311a of the button cover 31a. When the button portion 3a moves vertically, the button case 32a moves vertically together with the button cover 31a. In the following description, the button portion 3a is also called a "first movable member".

An operation member 51a, which will be described later, is held inside the button case 32a in the radial direction (that is, in the radial direction about the central axis J2). Two recesses 34a are provided on the side surface of the button case 32a. The two recessed portions 34a are of substantially the same shape, and one recessed portion 34a is arranged at a position obtained by rotating the other recessed portion 34a by 180° in the circumferential direction. Each recess 34a is recessed downward from the upper end of the button case 32a. A projecting portion 312a of the button cover 31a and an operating member projecting portion 512a, which will be described later, are arranged in each recess 34a. The operating member projecting portion 512a is sandwiched from above and below by the projecting portion 312a of the button cover 31a and the lower end surface of the recessed portion 34a of the button case 32a. The lower end surface of each recess 34a includes a first end surface 341a and a second end surface 342a. The first end surface 341a is a substantially horizontal surface extending substantially perpendicular to the central axis J2. The second end face 342a spreads counterclockwise from the counterclockwise end of the first end face 341a in plan view. The second end surface 342a is an inclined surface directed toward the (+Z) side in the counterclockwise direction in plan view.

A return elastic member 33a shown in FIGS. 20 to 22 is a member that can be elastically compressed in the vertical direction. The return elastic member 33a is, for example, a spiral spring that extends substantially parallel to the vertical direction. 20 to 22, the restoring elastic member 33a is drawn in a substantially cylindrical shape for the sake of convenience. In the example shown in FIG. 20, the two return elastic members 33a are arranged radially inside the button case 32a at positions that are circumferentially shifted by 180°. A lower portion of each return elastic member 33a protrudes downward from the button case 32a and is supported from below by the case 2a. In the enable switch 1a, the button portion 3a is pushed downward by the operator, and the button cover 31a and the button case 32a move downward from their initial positions, thereby elastically compressing the return elastic member 33a in the vertical direction. be. When the operator releases the button portion 3a from pressing, the restoring force of the restoring elastic member 33a pushes the button cover 31a and the button case 32a upward to return to their initial positions. The arrangement, shape and structure of the return elastic member 33a may be changed in various ways. Also, the return elastic member 33a may be an elastic member (for example, a plate spring or the like) other than the coiled spring.

The enable switch 1a comprises two microswitches 40a each having a contact 4a. In other words, the enable switch 1a comprises two contacts 4a, each contact 4a being part of a microswitch 40a. Each microswitch 40a is also provided with a connection terminal or the like for electrically connecting the enable switch 1a to another device. The structure of the two contacts 4a is substantially the same, and one contact 4a is arranged at a position obtained by rotating the other contact 4a by 180° in the circumferential direction.

FIG. 25 is a front view showing the configuration of one contact 4a and part of the vicinity of the contact 4a. In FIG. 25, the button portion 3a and the case 2a are indicated by dashed lines. The contact 4a includes two fixed contacts 41a, one moving contact 42a, and a contact moving mechanism 43a. The two fixed contacts 41a are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. The moving contact 42a is arranged between the two fixed contacts 41a and vertically faces the two fixed contacts 41a. The contact moving mechanism 43a vertically moves the moving contact 42a. The contact moving mechanism 43a is a known mechanism including a lever that holds the moving contact 42a, a rotating shaft that rotatably supports the lever, a spring that is connected to the lever, and the like. The structure of the contact moving mechanism 43a may be changed variously. Also, the two fixed contacts 41a do not necessarily have to be arranged in the vertical direction, and the arrangement of the two fixed contacts 41a and the one moving contact 42a may be changed in various ways. Furthermore, the structure of the contact 4a does not necessarily have two fixed contacts 41a and one moving contact 42a, and may be modified in various ways.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, the state in which the moving contact 42a is in contact with the upper fixed contact 41a is the "open" state (that is, the OFF state) of the contact 4a. The state in which the moving contact 42a is in contact with the lower fixed contact 41a is the "closed" state (that is, the ON state) of the contact 4a. In the enable switch 1a, the state in which the moving contact 42a is in contact with the upper fixed contact 41 is the "closed" state of the contact 4a, and the moving contact 42a is in contact with the lower fixed contact 41a. The contact 4a may be in the "open" state.

The contact mechanism 5a shifts the state of the contact 4a from "open" to "closed" and then from "closed" to "open" as the button portion 3a is pushed toward the case 2a. Incidentally, as described above, the open/close state (that is, the ON-OFF state) of the contact 4a may be reversed. That is, as the button portion 3a is pushed toward the case 2a, the contact mechanism 5a shifts the state of the contact 4a from one of "open" and "closed" to the other, and further shifts from the other to the one.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing the contact mechanism 5a and some members in the vicinity of the contact mechanism 5a. As shown in FIGS. 20, 25 and 26, the contact mechanism 5a includes the above-described operation member 51a, two switch members 52a, and an operation elastic member 53a. The operation member 51a is held by the button case 32a of the button portion 3a so as to be relatively movable with respect to the button case 32a. Specifically, the operation member 51a is arranged radially inward of the button case 32a, and is held by the button case 32a so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction about the central axis J2. Note that the button case 32a does not rotate in the circumferential direction. The operation member 51a is a "second movable member" held by the button portion 3a, which is the first movable member. Further, the button case 32a is a second movable member holding portion that holds the second movable member.

The operation member 51a is a substantially cylindrical member that extends vertically around the central axis J2. The operation member 51a has substantially the same shape as the operation member 51 (see FIG. 5) described above, and includes an operation member main body 511a and two operation member projecting portions 512a. The operating member main body 511a is a substantially cylindrical member that extends vertically. In the example shown in FIG. 20, the operation member main body 511a is a substantially cylindrical member with a bottom centered on the central axis J2.

FIG. 27 is a bottom view of the operating member 51a. A lower end surface 513a of the operation member main body 511a is provided with a convex portion 514a projecting downward from the bottom surface. In the example shown in FIG. 27, four projections 514a extending substantially linearly in the radial direction are arranged at substantially equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion of the lower end surface 513a of the operation member main body 511a.

FIG. 28 is a plan view of the case 2a. A substantially flat partition plate 21a substantially perpendicular to the central axis J2 is provided inside the case 2a. The partition plate 21a is provided substantially in the vertical center of the case 2a. The aforementioned microswitch 40a (see FIG. 22) is arranged below the partition plate 21a inside the case 2a. The lower portion of the operation member main body 511a (see FIG. 27) is arranged above the partition plate 21a inside the case 2a. The upper surface of the partition plate 21a vertically faces the lower end surface 513a of the operation member main body 511a. The upper surface of the partition plate 21a is provided with a convex portion 211a that protrudes upward from the upper surface. In the example shown in FIG. 28, four convex portions 211a extending substantially linearly in the radial direction are arranged at substantially equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction. The four projections 211a of the partition plate 21a are located at substantially the same positions as the four projections 514a of the operation member main body 511a in the radial direction about the central axis J2. Also, the four projections 211a of the partition plate 21a are positioned circumferentially displaced from the four projections 514a of the operation member main body 511a.

As shown in FIGS. 25 to 27, the two operating member projecting portions 512a are portions that protrude sideways from the upper end portion of the outer surface of the operating member main body 511a. Each operation member projecting portion 512a is, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped portion extending in the radial direction. The two operating member projecting portions 512a have substantially the same shape, and one operating member projecting portion 512a is arranged at a position obtained by rotating the other operating member projecting portion 512a by 180° in the circumferential direction.

As shown in FIG. 26, the operating member main body 511a is located radially inside the button case 32a, and the two operating member projecting portions 512a are located within the two concave portions 34a of the button case 32a. The operating member protrusion 512a protrudes radially outward from the button case 32a through the recess 34a. In the initial state shown in FIG. 26, the operating member projecting portion 512a is positioned above the first end surface 341a (see FIG. 24) of the lower end surface of the recess 34a. The operating member 51a is held by the button case 32a so as to be rotatable about the central axis J2. When the operating member 51a rotates, the operating member projecting portion 512a moves within the recess 34a. As described above, when the operating member 51a is called the "second movable member", the operating member main body 511a and the operating member protrusion 512a are respectively the "second movable member main body" and the "second movable member protrusion". .

The above-described projecting portion 312a (see FIG. 23) of the button cover 31a is an upper cam portion that comes into contact with the operating member projecting portion 512a located inside the recessed portion 34a from above. When the projection 312a of the button cover 31a directly contacts the operation member protrusion 512a and pushes it downward while the downward movement of the operation member 51a is restricted, the operation member protrusion 512a is pushed downward. A force acts, and the operation member 51a rotates counterclockwise in plan view. A second end surface 342a of the lower end surface of the concave portion 34a of the button case 32a is a lower cam portion that contacts the operating member projecting portion 512a from below. In other words, the lower end surface of the recess 34a includes the lower cam portion. When the second end surface 342a of the recess 34a directly contacts the operating member protruding portion 512a and pushes it upward while the upward movement of the operating member 51a is restricted, the operating member protruding portion 512a is pushed upward in the circumferential direction. A force acts, and the operation member 51a rotates clockwise in plan view.

The operation elastic member 53a shown in FIG. 25 is arranged inside the operation member 51a (that is, radially inside the operation member main body 511a). In the state shown in FIG. 25, the operating elastic member 53a is inserted from above into the inner space of the bottomed substantially cylindrical operating member main body 511a, and the upper portion of the operating elastic member 53a protrudes upward from the upper end of the operating member main body 511a. ing. The operation elastic member 53a is a member that can be elastically compressed in the vertical direction. The operation elastic member 53a is, for example, a spiral spring that extends substantially parallel in the vertical direction about the central axis J2. In FIG. 25, the operation elastic member 53a is drawn in a substantially cylindrical shape for the sake of convenience. The same applies to other drawings.

The lower end of the operating elastic member 53a contacts the bottom of the operating member main body 511a. The operating elastic member 53a is held from below by the operating member 51a. The upper end of the operating elastic member 53a contacts the lower surface of the upper surface portion 311a of the button cover 31a. That is, the operating elastic member 53a is arranged between the button portion 3a and the operating member 51a. The operating member 51a is an elastic member holder that holds the operating elastic member 53a from below. The operating elastic member 53a is vertically compressed inside the operating member 51a by the button portion 3a moving downward relative to the operating elastic member 53a. The shape and structure of the operation elastic member 53a may be changed in various ways. For example, the operation elastic member 53a may be an elastic member other than the coiled spring. Further, if the operation member 51a does not need to contain the operation elastic member 53a, the operation member 51a may be, for example, a substantially columnar member centered on the central axis J2.

The two switch members 52a are substantially rectangular band-shaped members extending in the vertical direction. The two switch members 52a have substantially the same shape, and one switch member 52a is arranged at a position obtained by rotating the other switch member 52a by 180 degrees in the circumferential direction. The switch member 52a is held by the case 2a while passing vertically through the partition plate 21a (see FIG. 28) of the case 2a, and is vertically movable relative to the case 2a. In the example shown in FIG. 25, the switch member 52a is a substantially flat plate-shaped single member that is substantially perpendicular to the radial direction. A projecting portion 521a projecting radially inward is provided on the lower portion of the inner surface of the switch member 52a. In the initial state shown in FIG. 26, the two switch members 52a are positioned below the two operating member projecting portions 512a and directly contact the lower end surfaces of the two operating member projecting portions 512a. Alternatively, the switch member 52a is close to the lower end surface of the operating member projecting portion 512a with a slight gap therebetween.

When the operating member 51a moves downward while the operating member projecting portion 512a is in direct contact with the switch member 52a from above, the switch member 52a is pushed down from the initial position by the operating member projecting portion 512a. In other words, the switch member 52a is displaced downward along with the movement of the operating member projecting portion 512a. When the switch member 52a is displaced downward from the initial position, the end of the lever of the contact moving mechanism 43a is pushed down by the protrusion 521a of the switch member 52a, and the lever rotates to move the movable contact 42a downward. It moves and contacts the fixed contact 41a on the lower side. As a result, the state of the contact 4a of the microswitch 40a is changed from "open" to "closed", and the enable switch 1a is turned on.

When the contact 4a is in the "closed" state, the spring in the contact moving mechanism 43a is in an extended state. Therefore, when the operating member projecting portion 512a retreats from above the switch member 52a and the force pushing down the switch member 52a is removed, the restoring force of the spring rotates the lever to move the moving contact 42a upward. Moving. The movable contact 42a comes into contact with the upper fixed contact 41a, the state of the contact 4a shifts from "closed" to "open", and the enable switch 1a is turned off. Also, the switch member 52a is pushed up by the rotating lever and returns to the initial position.

Thus, in the enable switch 1a, the state of the contact 4a is changed between "open" and "closed" by displacing the switch member 52a. Further, in the enable switch 1a, the forces applied from the two operating member projecting portions 512a of the operating member 51a to the two switch members 52a change substantially simultaneously. As a result, the two switch members 52a are displaced in synchronization with each other, and the states of the two contacts 4a are changed substantially simultaneously. Therefore, the states of the two contacts 4a are changed in synchronism with each other.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 29A to 32A and 29B to 32B, the operation of each configuration when the enable switch 1a is used will be described in detail. The operation of each component in the enable switch 1a is substantially the same as the operation of each component in the enable switch 1 described above. 29A to 31A are front views of the enable switch 1a. 29A to 31A, the button portion 3a and the case 2a are indicated by dashed lines. 29B to 31B are plan views showing the configuration of part of the enable switch 1a. 29B to 31B show button case 32a, operating member 51a and two switch members 52a. Figures 29A and 29B show enable switch 1a in the first position described above. Figures 30A and 30B show the enable switch 1a in the second position described above. Figures 31A and 31B show enable switch 1a in the third position described above.

FIG. 32A is a graph showing the relationship between the stroke (mm) of the button portion 3a when the button portion 3a moves from the first position to the third position and the operation load (N) required to press down the button portion 3a. be. FIG. 32B is a graph showing the relationship between the stroke (mm) of the button portion 3a and the stroke (mm) of the microswitch 40a. The horizontal axis of FIGS. 32A and 32B indicates the stroke of the button portion 3a, and also indicates positions corresponding to the first, second and third positions on the horizontal axis. The vertical axes in FIGS. 32A and 32B indicate the operation load of the button portion 3a and the stroke of the microswitch 40a, respectively. In FIG. 32B, the OP point stroke line 91 showing the stroke of the microswitch 40a when the contact 4a changes from "open" to "closed" and the micro switch 40a when the contact 4a changes from "closed" to "open". An RP point stroke line 92 indicating the stroke of the switch 40a is also shown.

In this embodiment, when the button portion 3a of the enable switch 1a is pushed, the state of the contact 4a shifts from "open" to "closed" between the first position and the second position. The state of the contact 4a changes from "closed" to "open" between the position and the third position. When the button portion 3a returns from the third position to the first position, the contact 4a is maintained in the "open" state. Also, the states of the two contacts 4a are changed approximately synchronously, similar to the enable switch 1 described above.

In the enable switch 1a, when the button portion 3a is positioned at the first position shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B, the contact 4a is in the "open" state, and the operating member 51a and the button case 32a are connected to the case 2a. is spaced upward from the partition plate 21a. When the button portion 3a is pushed downward from the first position, the return elastic member 33 is vertically compressed, and the operating member 51a moves downward together with the button case 32a. At this time, the operating member 51a does not rotate, and the relative position of the operating member 51a with respect to the button case 32a does not change from that shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B. Further, since the operating member projecting portion 512a vertically overlaps the switch member 52a, the switch member 52a moves downward together with the operating member 51a. This increases the stroke of the microswitch 40a. The operating member 51a contacts a temporary fixing portion (not shown) provided on the case 2a in substantially the same manner as the operating member 51 of the enable switch 1 described above. As a result, the operating member 51a is temporarily fixed (that is, temporarily locked) to the case 2a, and its downward movement is restricted. At this time, the state of the contact 4a remains "open".

When the button portion 3a is pushed further downward, the operation member 51a does not move vertically because its downward movement is restricted, and the switch member 52a does not move vertically either. On the other hand, the button cover 31a and the button case 32a move downward while vertically compressing the operating elastic member 53a. Therefore, the stroke of the button portion 3a increases, but the stroke of the microswitch 40a does not change. Moreover, the operation load of the button part 3a increases. Then, the projecting portion 312a (see FIG. 23) of the button cover 31a comes into contact with the operating member projecting portion 512a of the operating member 51a from above.

When the button portion 3a is pushed further downward, the operation member 51a does not move vertically because its downward movement is restricted, and the button cover 31a and the button case 32a move further downward. That is, the button portion 3a is moved further downward relative to the operating member 51a, and the operating elastic member 53a is further compressed in the vertical direction. Further, due to the downward relative movement of the button portion 3a with respect to the operation member 51a, the protrusion 312a (that is, the upper cam portion) of the button cover 31a that contacts the operation member protrusion 512a from above moves toward the operation member protrusion 512a. 29B to the position shown in FIG. 30B. As a result, the operating member 51a is released from the temporary fixing portion, and the temporary fixing of the operating member 51a is released.

When the temporary fixing of the operating member 51a is released, the operating member 51a moves downward at once due to the restoring force of the operating elastic member 53a that is vertically compressed inside the operating member 51a. In addition, since the operation member projecting portion 512a overlaps the switch member 52a in the vertical direction and is in contact with the switch member 52a from above, a downward force is applied from the operation member projecting portion 512a to the switch member 52a. 52a moves downward at once together with the operation member 51a. As a result, the moving contact 42a moves downward at once and comes into contact with the lower fixed contact 41a. That is, the stroke of the microswitch 40a quickly passes through the OP point stroke line 91, and the state of the contact 4a changes from "open" to "closed." The operation load of the button portion 3a is rapidly reduced as the operation elastic member 53a restores (that is, elastically returns).

In the enable switch 1a, as described above, the operation member 51a is lowered in an extremely short time, and the contact 4a is switched from "open" to "closed" in an extremely short time. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the timing of the state transition from "open" to "closed" of one contact 4a and the timing of the state transition from "open" to "closed" of the other contact 4a. . In other words, the state transition of the two contacts 4a can be performed substantially simultaneously. In addition, since the operation load of the button portion 3a is reduced at once, it becomes difficult to interrupt the pressing of the button portion 3a immediately before or during switching of the contact 4a, so that erroneous operation of the enable switch 1a can be suppressed. .

In the enable switch 1a, even after the state transition of the two contacts 4a is performed, the button portion 3a is pushed further downward and positioned at the second position shown in FIGS. 30A and 30B. When the button portion 3a is positioned at the second position, the lower end of the operating member 51a is in contact with the upper surface of the partition plate 21a of the case 2a, thereby restricting the downward movement of the operating member 51a. . Further, the button case 32a is spaced upward from the partition plate 21a.

When the button portion 3a is further pushed downward from the second position, the operation member 51a does not move vertically because its downward movement is restricted by the partition plate 21a of the case 2a. The button case 32a moves further downward. That is, the button portion 3a moves further downward relative to the operation member 51a. As a result, the operating elastic member 53a is vertically compressed. The return elastic member 33a is also compressed vertically.

In addition, due to the downward relative movement of the button portion 3a with respect to the operation member 51a, the protrusion 312a (see FIG. 23) of the button cover 31a that contacts the operation member protrusion 512a from above moves away from the operation member protrusion 512a. A directional force acts, and the operation member 51a rotates counterclockwise as the button portion 3a descends. As a result, the operation member projecting portion 512a is displaced in the circumferential direction from the position where it overlaps the switch member 52a in the vertical direction. In other words, the operation member projecting portion 512a retreats from above the switch member 52a to the side, and the overlap in the vertical direction between the operation member projecting portion 512a and the switch member 52a is eliminated.

When the operating member projecting portion 512a retreats from above the switch member 52a, the downward force applied from the operating member projecting portion 512a to the switch member 52a is lost, and the restoring force of the spring of the contact moving mechanism 43a (see FIG. 25) is applied. As a result, the switch member 52a moves upward from the position shown in FIG. 30A to the vicinity of the position shown in FIG. 31A. Further, the moving contact 42a is moved upward by the contact moving mechanism 43a and comes into contact with the upper fixed contact 41a. That is, as the switch member 52a is displaced upward, the stroke of the microswitch 40a is suddenly reduced as shown in FIG. 32B, and the state of the contact 4a changes from "closed" to "open."

In the enable switch 1a, as described above, the operation member 51a is temporarily fixed between the first position and the second position, so the OP point stroke line 91 shown in FIG. Separate. Thus, by delaying the timing at which the contact 4a is turned ON as compared with the timing at which it is turned OFF, the hysteresis can be increased.

In addition, in the enable switch 1a, before the operation member 51a is rotated and the operation member projecting portion 512a is retracted from above the switch member 52a, the projection 514a (see FIG. 27) and the convex portion 211a (see FIG. 28) provided on the partition plate 21a of the case 2a are in contact with each other in the circumferential direction. In order to further rotate the operating member 51a, the convex portion 514a needs to climb over the convex portion 211a. As a result, the force required to rotate the operating member 51a (that is, the operating load of the button portion 3a) increases as shown in FIG. 32A. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the button portion 3a located at the second position from being pushed by mistake and the state of the contact 4a from changing from "closed" to "open" against the intention.

After the switch member 52a moves upward, when the button portion 3a is further pushed downward, the button cover 31a and the button case 32a move further downward to the third position shown in FIG. 31A. At this time, the operating member 51a is in contact with the partition plate 21a of the case 2a and is restricted from moving downward, so that it does not move vertically. That is, the button portion 3a moves further downward relative to the operating member 51a, and the operating elastic member 53a is further compressed in the vertical direction. In addition, a circumferential force acts on the operation member protrusion 512a from the protrusion 312a (see FIG. 23) of the button cover 31a that contacts the operation member protrusion 512a from above, and the operation member 51a rotates counterclockwise. to move to the position shown in FIG. 31B.

In the enable switch 1a, when the button portion 3a is positioned at the third position, the lower end of the operating member 51a and the lower end of the button case 32a are in contact with the upper surface of the partition plate 21a. This prevents the button portion 3a from moving below the third position.

When the operator releases the button portion 3a while the button portion 3a is located at the third position, the button cover 31a and the button case 32a are pushed back by the restoring force of the return elastic member 33a (see FIGS. 29A and 30A). , moves up to the first position shown in FIG. 29A. When the button portion 3a moves upward from the third position, the operating elastic member 53a vertically compressed between the button portion 3a and the operating member 51a applies a downward force to the operating member 51a. The upward movement of the operating member 51a is restricted. Therefore, the button case 32a moves upward relative to the operation member 51a, and the second end surface 342a (that is, the lower cam portion) of the concave portion 34a of the button case 32a moves toward the operation member projecting portion of the operation member 51a. 512a is contacted from below. Then, a circumferential force acts from the second end face 342a to the operation member projecting portion 512a, and the operation member 51a rotates clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 31B to the position shown in FIG. 29B. While the button portion 3a is raised from the third position and returned to the first position, no downward force is applied to the switch member 52a, and the contact 4a remains in the "open" state.

As described above, in the enable switch 1a, the contact mechanism 5a includes the second movable member (that is, the operating member 51a) and the switch member 52a, in substantially the same manner as the enable switch 1 described above. The operating member 51a is held by the first movable member (that is, the button portion 3a) and is relatively movable with respect to the button portion 3a. The switch member 52a is in direct contact with the operating member 51a, and changes the state of the contact 4a by being displaced as the operating member 51a moves. The button portion 3a includes an upper cam portion (the protrusion 312a of the button cover 31a in the above example) that contacts the operation member 51a from above, and a lower cam portion (the recess portion 34a in the above example) that contacts the operation member 51a from below. and a second end surface 342a) of

In the enable switch 1a, when the button portion 3a is pushed from the first position to the second position, force is applied to the switch member 52a by the operation member 51a that moves downward together with the button portion 3a. 52a is displaced to shift the state of the contact 4a from one side to the other (for example, from "open" to "closed"), and when the button portion 3a is pushed from the second position to the third position, the operating member In a state in which the downward movement of 51a is restricted, the upper cam contacts the operating member 51a from above, and as the button portion 3a descends, the operating member 51a moves in a predetermined first direction relative to the button portion 3a. (In the above example, the switch member 52a is rotated counterclockwise.) As a result, the downward force applied from the operation member 51a to the switch member 52a is lost and the switch member 52a returns to its original position. The state of 4a shifts from the other to the one.

In the enable switch 1a, when the button portion 3a returns from the third position to the first position, the operation member 51a is operated while the position of the switch member 52a (that is, the position relative to the button portion 3a) is maintained. It moves upward together with the button portion 3a. In addition, in a state in which the upward movement of the operating member 51a is restricted, the lower cam portion contacts the operating member 51a from below, and the operating member 51a moves above the button portion 3a as the button portion 3a rises. Relatively move in a second direction opposite to the first direction (rotate clockwise in the above example).

As described above, in the enable switch 1a, the operation member 51a held by the button portion 3a is brought into direct contact with the switch member 52a, and the switch member 52a is displaced as the operation member 51a moves, whereby the switch member 52a is moved to the first position. , the switching of the state of the contact 4a between the second position and the third position. As a result, substantially the same as the enable switch 1, the number of parts of the enable switch 1a can be reduced, and the size of the enable switch 1a can be reduced in the vertical direction.

As described above, the button portion 3a preferably includes the upper surface portion 311a and the tubular second movable member holding portion (that is, the button case 32a). The upper surface portion 311a is a portion that the operator touches when pushing the button portion 3a. The button case 32a extends downward from the upper surface portion 311a and holds the operation member 51a inside. Preferably, the upper cam portion is provided on the lower surface of the upper surface portion 311a. The lower cam portion is the lower end surface of the recess 34a provided on the side surface of the button case 32a. As a result, the enable switch 1a can be further miniaturized in the vertical direction as compared with the case where both the upper cam portion and the lower cam portion are provided in the button case 32a.

Next, an enable switch 1b according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 33 is a front view showing the enable switch 1b. FIG. 33 shows the enable switch 1b in the initial state. FIG. 34 is an exploded perspective view of the enable switch 1b. The enable switch 1b is a substantially cylindrical switch centered on a central axis J3 extending in the Z direction (that is, in the vertical direction). The enable switch 1b is a three-position enable switch like the enable switch 1a described above. The enable switch 1b has substantially the same structure as the enable switch 1a shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 except that it has a contact 4b and a contact mechanism 5b having different structures from the contact 4a and the contact mechanism 5a described above. That is, the case 2b and the button portion 3b of the enable switch 1b have substantially the same structure as the case 2a and the button portion 3a of the enable switch 1a.

The enable switch 1b is provided with two tactile switches 40b instead of the two microswitches 40a of the enable switch 1a. Each tactile switch 40b comprises a push button 44b in which the contact 4b is provided. Each tactile switch 40b is arranged with the push button 44b facing sideways (that is, radially outward about the central axis J3). In other words, in the tactile switch 40b, the pressing surface of the push button 44b is substantially perpendicular to the radial direction, and the pushing direction of the push button 44b is substantially parallel to the radial direction. In the example shown in FIG. 34, the push button 44b (and the contact 4b within the push button 44b) is oriented in the X direction.

The contact mechanism 5b includes an operation member 51b, two first switch members 52b, an operation elastic member 53b, two second switch members 54b, two switch elastic members 55b, and a switch support portion 56b. The operating member 51b and the operating elastic member 53b have substantially the same structure as the operating member 51a and the operating elastic member 53a of the enable switch 1a, and are arranged at substantially the same positions as the operating member 51a and the operating elastic member 53a. Like the operating member 51a, the operating member 51b includes a substantially cylindrical operating member main body 511b and two operating member projecting portions 512b projecting radially outward from the operating member main body 511b. The first switch member 52b has substantially the same structure as the switch member 52a of the enable switch 1a, and is arranged at substantially the same position as the switch member 52a. Like the switch member 52a, the first switch member 52b is provided with a protrusion 521b that protrudes radially inward.

The switch support portion 56b is a substantially cylindrical member centered on the central axis J3. The switch support portion 56b is inserted into the case 2b through an opening on the lower side of the case 2b and attached to the case 2b. The switch support portion 56b supports two second switch members 54b, two switch elastic members 55b, and two tactile switches 40b in the case 2b. In other words, the two second switch members 54b, the two switch elastic members 55b, and the two tactile switches 40b are indirectly held by the case 2b via the switch support portions 56b.

35 and 36 are a plan view and a perspective view showing the vicinity of the first switch member 52b. The second switch member 54b is a substantially flat plate-shaped member located below the first switch member 52b. The second switch member 54b is made of resin, for example. The second switch member 54b may be made of other material such as metal. Part of the second switch member 54b is in contact with the protrusion 521b of the first switch member 52b from below. The second switch member 54b includes a shaft portion 541b, a frame portion 542b, and a pressing portion 543b. The shaft portion 541b is a substantially cylindrical portion that extends substantially parallel in the vertical direction, and both ends in the vertical direction are rotatably held by the switch support portion 56b and/or the case 2b. The shaft portion 541b is arranged at a position apart from the first switch member 52b in the circumferential direction about the central axis J3.

The frame portion 542b is a substantially rectangular frame-shaped portion connected to the shaft portion 541b at one side. A pair of sides of the frame portion 542b extends substantially parallel to the vertical direction, and the other pair of sides extends substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction. The frame portion 542b extends along the circumferential direction from the shaft portion 541b toward the first switch member 52b. The frame portion 542b is curved so as to protrude radially outward in plan view. The end portion of the frame portion 542b opposite to the shaft portion 541b is positioned radially inside the first switch member 52b and is in direct contact with the projecting portion 521b of the first switch member 52b from below.

The pressing portion 543b is a substantially rectangular plate-like portion located inside the substantially rectangular frame-shaped frame portion 542b. The pressing portion 543b is continuous with one side of the frame portion 542b that is connected to the shaft portion 541b, and is separated from the other three sides without being directly continuous. The pressing portion 543b extends along the circumferential direction from the one side. The end of the pressing portion 543b opposite to the shaft portion 541b radially faces the push button 44b (and the contact 4b within the push button 44b) of the tactile switch 40b. The end of the pressing portion 543b protrudes radially inward toward the push button 44b. The end of the pressing portion 543b may be slightly spaced radially outward from the push button 44b of the tactile switch 40b and may be in contact with the push button 44b. The switch elastic member 55b is arranged below the first switch member 52b and contacts the first switch member 52b from below. The switch elastic member 55b is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. The switch elastic member 55b is, for example, a spiral spring that extends substantially parallel to the vertical direction. In FIG. 35, the switch elastic member 55b is drawn in a substantially cylindrical shape for the sake of convenience.

In this embodiment, when the button portion 3b of the enable switch 1b is pushed, the state of the contact 4b shifts from "open" to "closed" between the first position and the second position, The state of the contact 4b changes from "closed" to "open" between the position and the third position. Then, when the button portion 3b returns from the third position to the first position, the state of the contact 4b remains "open". Also, the states of the two contacts 4b are changed approximately synchronously, similar to the enable switch 1a described above.

In the enable switch 1b, when the button portion 3b is pushed from the first position to the second position, when pushed from the second position to the third position, and when returning from the third position to the first position, The operations of the operating member 51b and the first switch member 52b are substantially the same as those of the operating member 51a and the switch member 52a of the enable switch 1a.

Specifically, when the button portion 3b is pushed from the first position to the second position, the operating member protruding portion 512b of the operating member 51b is directed downward to the first switch member 52b in substantially the same manner as the enable switch 1a. A force is applied and the first switch member 52b is displaced downward. As a result, the free end of the frame portion 542b, which is in contact with the protrusion 521b of the first switch member 52b, is pushed downward and radially inward, and the second switch member 54b is moved around the shaft portion 541b. 36 in the counterclockwise direction. As a result, the pressing portion 543b of the second switch member 54b is urged against the push button 44b of the tactile switch 40b, the push button 44b is pushed in, and the state of the contact 4b shifts from "open" to "close." . In addition, the switch elastic member 55b positioned below the first switch member 52b is vertically compressed.

In the enable switch 1b, the first switch member 52b, the second switch member 54b, and the like make direct contact with the switch member (that is, the operation member 51b, which is the second movable member), and move as the operation member 51b moves. A switch member that changes the state of the contact 4b by being displaced is configured. In other words, the switch member comprises a first switch member 52b and a second switch member 54b.

In the enable switch 1b, as in the enable switch 1a, before the state of the contact 4b changes from "open" to "closed", the operating member 51b is temporarily fixed to restrict downward movement. After the button portion 3b is pushed in, the operation member 51b rotates slightly to release the temporary fixing. When the temporary fixation is released, the operating member 51b and the first switch member 52b move downward at once due to the restoring force of the operating elastic member 53b that is vertically compressed inside the operating member 51b, thereby turning the tactile switch into a tactile switch. The push button 44b of 40b is pushed forcefully. As a result, the state of the contact 4b is rapidly changed from "open" to "closed". Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deviation of the timing of the state transition from "open" to "closed" of one contact 4b and the timing of the state transition from "open" to "closed" of the other contact 4b. . In other words, the state transition of the two contacts 4b can be performed substantially simultaneously.

In addition, in the enable switch 1b, even after the pressing portion 543b of the second switch member 54b is urged against the push button 44b of the tactile switch 40b and the state of the contact 4b is changed from "open" to "closed." The downward force applied from the operating member 51b continues the downward displacement of the first switch member 52b. Therefore, the counterclockwise rotation of the second switch member 54b is also continued, and the frame portion 542b is relatively displaced radially inward with respect to the pressing portion 543b around the pressing portion 543b. . In other words, the second switch member 54b is elastically deformed between the first switch member 52b and the push button 44b so that the pressing portion 543b protrudes radially outward from the frame portion 542b. That is, the second switch member 54b is an elastically deformable resin spring, and serves as an overstroke absorbing member that absorbs the difference between the stroke of the button portion 3b and the stroke of the push button 44b of the tactile switch 40b (i.e., stroke difference). Function. As a result, the stroke of the button portion 3b when pushing the push button 44b of the tactile switch 40b can be increased by a desired amount. As a result, it is possible to prevent the contact 4b from failing to move due to insufficient pressing of the push button 44b due to an error or the like during assembly of the enable switch 1b.

When the button portion 3b is pushed from the second position to the third position, the button portion 3b moves downward relative to the operating member 51b, substantially similar to the enable switch 1a. As a result, a circumferential force acts on the operating member projecting portion 512b from the projecting portion 312b (that is, the upper cam portion) of the button cover 31b that contacts the operating member projecting portion 512b from above, and the operating member 51b rotates counterclockwise. rotate around. As a result, the operation member projecting portion 512b is displaced in the circumferential direction from the position vertically overlapping the first switch member 52b. In other words, the operating member projecting portion 512b retreats from above the first switch member 52b to the side, and the overlap in the vertical direction between the operating member projecting portion 512b and the first switch member 52b is eliminated.

When the operating member projecting portion 512b retreats from above the first switch member 52b, the downward force applied from the operating member projecting portion 512b to the first switch member 52b is lost, and the restoring force of the switch elastic member 55b causes the first switch member 52b to move downward. The switch member 52b moves upward. As a result, the force for pushing the second switch member 54b radially inward is lost, and the restoring force of the push button 44b of the tactile switch 40b causes the second switch member 54b to rotate clockwise in FIG. The state of the contact 4b is changed from "closed" to "open".

When the operator releases the button portion 3b while the button portion 3b is in the third position, the restoring force of the return elastic member 33b causes the button cover 31b and the button case 32b to move upward to the first position. move to a position. When the button portion 3b moves upward from the third position, a downward force is applied to the operating member 51b by the operating elastic member 53b, which is vertically compressed between the button portion 3b and the operating member 51b. The upward movement of the operating member 51b is restricted. Therefore, the button case 32b moves upward relative to the operation member 51b, and the second end surface 342b (that is, the lower cam portion) of the concave portion 34b of the button case 32b moves toward the operation member projecting portion of the operation member 51b. 512b is contacted from below. Then, a circumferential force acts on the operation member projecting portion 512b from the second end surface 342b, and the operation member 51b rotates and returns to the initial position. While the button portion 3b is raised from the third position and returned to the first position, no downward force is applied to the first switch member 52b, and the contact 4b is maintained in the "open" state.

As described above, in the enable switch 1b, substantially similar to the enable switch 1a described above, the contact mechanism 5b includes the second movable member (that is, the operation member 51b) and the switch member (in the above example, the first switch a member 52b and a second switch member 54b). The operating member 51b is held by the first movable member (that is, the button portion 3b) and is relatively movable with respect to the button portion 3b. The switch member changes the state of the contact 4b by being in direct contact with the operating member 51b and being displaced as the operating member 51b moves. The button portion 3b includes an upper cam portion (the protrusion 312b of the button cover 31b in the above example) that contacts the operation member 51b from above, and a lower cam portion (the recess portion 34b in the above example) that contacts the operation member 51b from below. and a second end face 342b) of the

In the enable switch 1b, when the button portion 3b is pushed from the first position to the second position, force is applied to the switch member by the operation member 51b that moves downward together with the button portion 3b. When the button portion 3b is pushed from the second position to the third position, the state of the contact 4b is changed from one to the other (for example, from “open” to “closed”). In a state in which downward movement is restricted, the upper cam contacts the operating member 51b from above, and the operating member 51b moves relative to the button 3b in the predetermined first direction as the button 3b descends. (In the above example, it is rotated counterclockwise.) As a result, the downward force applied to the switch member from the operating member 51b is lost and the switch member returns to its original position, and the state of the contact 4b is restored. Transition from the other to the one.

Further, in the enable switch 1b, when the button portion 3b returns from the third position to the first position, the operation member 51b is moved to the button while the position of the switch member (that is, the position relative to the button portion 3b) is maintained. It moves upward together with the part 3b. In addition, in a state in which the upward movement of the operating member 51b is restricted, the lower cam portion contacts the operating member 51b from below, and the operating member 51b is moved above the button portion 3b as the button portion 3b rises. Relatively move in a second direction opposite to the first direction (rotate clockwise in the above example).

As described above, in the enable switch 1b, the operation member 51b held by the button portion 3b is brought into direct contact with the switch member, and the switch member is displaced as the operation member 51b is moved, whereby the first position and the second position are selected. Switching of the state of the contact 4b between the 2nd position and the 3rd position is realized. As a result, substantially the same as the enable switch 1a, the number of parts of the enable switch 1b can be reduced, and the size of the enable switch 1b can be reduced in the vertical direction.

As described above, the contact 4b is preferably arranged inside the push button 44b of the tactile switch 40b arranged with the push button 44b facing sideways. Moreover, the switch member includes a first switch member 52b that directly contacts the operation member 51b and a second switch member 54b that is arranged between the first switch member 52b and the push button 44b of the tactile switch 40b. and preferably. When the button portion 3b is pushed from the first position to the second position, the first switch member 52b displaced by the force applied from the operation member 51b causes the second switch member 54b to push the tactile switch 40b. The button 44b is urged to change the state of the contact 4b from the one to the other. In this way, by making part of the stroke when pushing the push button 44b by the button portion 3b substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction, the enable switch 1b can be further miniaturized in the vertical direction.

As described above, preferably, when the button portion 3b is pushed from the first position to the second position, even after the second switch member 54b is urged against the push button 44b, the pressure applied from the operating member 51b is preferably The applied force continues to displace the first switch member 52b, and the second switch member 54b is elastically deformed between the first switch member 52b and the push button 44b. In this manner, the second switch member 54b functions as an overstroke absorbing member that absorbs the stroke difference, thereby increasing the stroke of the operating member 51b. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of poor transition of the contact 4b due to insufficient pressing of the push button 44b due to an error or the like during assembly of the enable switch 1b.

Next, an enable switch 1c according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 37 is a front view showing the enable switch 1c. FIG. 37 shows the enable switch 1c in the initial state. FIG. 38 is an exploded perspective view of the enable switch 1c. The enable switch 1c is a substantially cylindrical switch centered on a central axis J4 extending in the Z direction (that is, in the vertical direction). The enable switch 1c is a three-position enable switch like the enable switch 1a described above. The enable switch 1c has substantially the same structure as the enable switch 1a shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 except that it has a contact 4c and a contact mechanism 5c having different structures from the contact 4a and the contact mechanism 5a described above. That is, the case 2c and the button portion 3c of the enable switch 1c have substantially the same structure as the case 2a and the button portion 3a of the enable switch 1a.

The enable switch 1c is provided with two contacts 4c instead of the two microswitches 40a of the enable switch 1a. The structure of the two contacts 4c is substantially the same, and one contact 4c is arranged at a position obtained by rotating the other contact 4c by 180° in the circumferential direction. FIG. 39 is a side view showing one contact 4c and some members in the vicinity of the contact 4c. In FIG. 39, the button portion 3c and the case 2c are indicated by dashed lines. The same applies to FIGS. 41 and 42 to be described later. FIG. 40 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the contact 4c and part of the vicinity of the contact 4c. Each contact 4c has a fixed terminal 45c and a conductive elastic member 46c. In the examples shown in FIGS. 39 and 40, each contact 4c is composed of a pair of fixed terminals 45c and one conductive elastic member 46c. The conductive elastic member 46c and the fixed terminal 45c are conductive members, and are made of metal, for example.

The fixed terminal 45c is a plate-like member substantially perpendicular to the Y direction. In the example shown in FIG. 40, the fixed terminal 45c is a substantially rectangular band-shaped member extending along the vertical direction (that is, the Z direction). A slit 451c extending downward from the upper edge of the fixed terminal 45c is provided in the upper portion of the fixed terminal 45c.

A pair of fixed terminals 45c of each contact 4c are arranged in the Y direction while being spaced apart from each other, and attached to the terminal support portion 56c. The pair of fixed terminals 45c are arranged substantially parallel, and the distance between the pair of fixed terminals 45c in the Y direction (that is, the distance between the pair of fixed terminals 45c) is substantially constant over substantially the entire length in the Z direction. be. The terminal support portion 56c is a substantially cylindrical member with a bottom centered on the central axis J4. The terminal support portion 56c is inserted into the case 2c through an opening on the lower side of the case 2c and attached to the case 2c. Thereby, the pair of fixed terminals 45c of each contact 4c is indirectly fixed to the case 2c via the terminal support portion 56c. A lower end portion of each fixed terminal 45c protrudes downward from the lower end of the case 2c. Note that the fixed terminal 45c may be directly fixed to the case 2c. Also, the terminal support portion 56c may be regarded as part of the case 2c.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 39 and 40, the conductive elastic member 46c is a torsion coil spring, which is a type of wire spring formed of conductive linear members. The conductive elastic member 46c includes a coil portion 461c and a pair of arm portions 462c. The coil portion 461c is a portion in which the linear member is wound in a coil shape or a circumferential shape. The central axis of the coil portion 461c is substantially parallel to the X direction. The diameter of the coil portion 461c in the Y direction is smaller than the interval between the pair of fixed terminals 45c. Also, the thickness of each arm portion 462c (that is, the diameter of the linear member) is larger than the width in the X direction of the slit 451c of the fixed terminal 45c.

The pair of arm portions 462c are continuous with the coil portion 461c and extend upward from the coil portion 461c so as to separate from each other. Each arm 462c comprises a first arm 463c, a second arm 464c and a third arm 465c. The first arm portion 463c extends obliquely outward upward from the coil portion 461c. The second arm portion 464c is continuous with the upper end portion of the first arm portion 463c and extends obliquely inward upward from the upper end portion of the first arm portion 463c. In other words, the second arm portion 464c extends obliquely inward from the end of the first arm portion 463c opposite to the coil portion 461c toward the opposite side to the coil portion 461c.

The arm portion 462c is bent at the connecting portion between the first arm portion 463c and the second arm portion 464c. In the following description, the connecting portion between the first arm portion 463c and the second arm portion 464c will also be referred to as the "flexion portion 466c". The Y-direction distance between the bent portions 466c of the pair of arm portions 462c is greater than the Y-direction diameter of the coil portion 461c. The third arm portion 465c is continuous with the upper end portion of the second arm portion 464c and extends upward from the upper end portion of the second arm portion 464c. The distance in the Y direction between the connection portion between the second arm portion 464c and the third arm portion 465c in the pair of arm portions 462c (that is, the upper end portion of the second arm portion 464c) is, for example, larger than the diameter.

In the example shown in FIG. 39, in one arm portion 462c, the first arm portion 463c extends in the (+Y) direction and the (+Z) direction from the vicinity of the (+Y) side end of the coil portion 461c. Above the upper end, it continues to the second arm portion 464c. The second arm portion 464c extends from the (+Z) side end of the first arm portion 463c in the (−Y) direction and the (+Z) direction, and the third arm portion 465c extends from the (+Z) side end of the second arm portion 464c. ) side end in the (+Z) direction. In the other arm portion 462c, the first arm portion 463c extends in the (-Y) direction and the (+Z) direction from the vicinity of the (-Y) side end of the coil portion 461c, and extends from the upper end of the coil portion 461c. It is continuous with the second arm portion 464c above. The second arm portion 464c extends from the (+Z) side end of the first arm portion 463c in the (+Y) direction and the (+Z) direction, and the third arm portion 465c extends from the (+Z) side of the second arm portion 464c. It extends in the (+Z) direction from the side end.

The contact mechanism 5c includes an operating member 51c, two switch members 52c, an operating elastic member 53c, and two switch elastic members 55c. The operating member 51c and the operating elastic member 53c have substantially the same structure as the operating member 51a and the operating elastic member 53a of the enable switch 1a, and are arranged at substantially the same positions as the operating member 51a and the operating elastic member 53a. Like the operating member 51a, the operating member 51c includes a substantially cylindrical operating member main body 511c and two operating member projecting portions 512c projecting radially outward from the operating member main body 511c.

The two switch members 52c are substantially rectangular band-shaped members extending in the vertical direction. The two switch members 52c have substantially the same shape, and one switch member 52c is arranged at a position obtained by rotating the other switch member 52c by 180 degrees in the circumferential direction. The switch member 52c is held by the case 2c while penetrating vertically through the partition plate (see the partition plate 21a shown in FIG. 28) of the case 2c, and is vertically movable relative to the case 2c. The upper portion of the switch member 52c is arranged radially inside the substantially cylindrical button case 32c and positioned between the inner surface of the button case 32c and the outer surface of the operation member main body 511c. In the initial state shown in FIG. 39, the upper end of the switch member 52c is positioned below the operating member projecting portion 512c and directly contacts the lower end face of the operating member projecting portion 512c. Alternatively, the switch member 52c is close to the lower end surface of the operating member projecting portion 512c with a slight gap therebetween.

In the example shown in FIG. 40, the switch member 52c is a substantially flat single member that is substantially perpendicular to the radial direction centered on the central axis J4. A stepped portion is provided in the vertical central portion of the switch member 52a, and the lower portion of the switch member 52a is located radially inside the upper portion of the switch member 52a. A substantially cylindrical protrusion 521c protruding radially outward is provided on the outer surface of the lower portion of the switch member 52c. The coil portion 461c of the conductive elastic member 46c is fitted to the projecting portion 521c. The third arm portion 465c of the conductive elastic member 46c is fixed to the stepped portion by passing through the stepped portion from below. The conductive elastic member 46c is attached to the switch member 52c in a state in which the pair of arm portions 462c are slightly elastically deformed (that is, in a compressed state) so that they are closer to each other in the Y direction than in the natural state. This can prevent the conductive elastic member 46c from coming off the switch member 52c.

A switch elastic member 55c is arranged radially inside the lower portion of the switch member 52c. The switch elastic member 55c is a member that is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. The switch elastic member 55c is, for example, a spiral spring extending in the vertical direction. The upper end of the switch elastic member 55c is fixed to the switch member 52c, and the lower end of the switch elastic member 55c is supported by the terminal support portion 56c. Therefore, when the switch member 52c moves downward, the switch elastic member 55c is vertically compressed.

In the state shown in FIG. 39, the coil portion 461c of the conductive elastic member 46c attached to the switch member 52c is positioned below the upper ends of the pair of fixed terminals 45c and is located between the pair of fixed terminals 45c in the Y direction. Located in In addition, the bent portions 466c of the pair of arm portions 462c are positioned above the pair of fixed terminals 45c and spaced upward from the upper ends of the pair of fixed terminals 45c. The distance in the Y direction between the bent portions 466c of the pair of arm portions 462c is greater than the distance between the pair of fixed terminals 45c (that is, the distance between the main surfaces of the pair of fixed terminals 45c facing each other in the Y direction).

In the enable switch 1c, in the state shown in FIG. 39, the pair of fixed terminals 45c are not electrically connected, and the state of the contact 4c is "open". Further, when the switch member 52c moves downward together with the conductive elastic member 46c from the state shown in FIG. ) is inserted from above between the pair of fixed terminals 45c in the Y direction. The pair of fixed terminals 45c are electrically connected via the conductive elastic member 46c by bringing the portions of the pair of arms 462c in the vicinity of the bent portions 466c into contact with the pair of fixed terminals 45c. The state transitions from "open" to "closed". Also, the pair of arm portions 462c are elastically deformed so as to approach each other (that is, the distance between the pair of arm portions 462c is changed), and the conductive elastic member 46c is compressed in the Y direction. A portion near the bent portion 466c of each arm portion 462c is, for example, fitted in the slit 451c of the fixed terminal 45c, and contacts the inner surface of the slit 451c at two or more terminal contact portions spaced apart from each other.

In this embodiment, when the button portion 3c of the enable switch 1c is pushed, the state of the contact 4c shifts from "open" to "closed" between the first position and the second position. The state of the contact 4c changes from "closed" to "open" between the position and the third position. When the button portion 3c returns from the third position to the first position, the contact 4c is maintained in the "open" state. Also, the states of the two contacts 4c are changed approximately synchronously, similar to the enable switch 1a described above.

In the enable switch 1c, when the button portion 3c is pushed from the first position to the second position, when pushed from the second position to the third position, and when returning from the third position to the first position, The operations of the operating member 51c and the switch member 52c are substantially the same as those of the operating member 51a and the switch member 52a of the enable switch 1a.

Specifically, when the button portion 3c (that is, the button cover 31c and the button case 32c) is pushed from the first position shown in FIG. 39 to the second position shown in FIG. Then, a downward force is applied to the switch member 52c from the operating member projecting portion 512c of the operating member 51c, and the switch member 52c is displaced downward together with the button portion 3c. As a result, the conductive elastic member 46c fixed to the switch member 52c also moves downward together with the switch member 52c. By inserting the portions of the pair of arms 462c near the bent portions 466c into the space between the pair of fixed terminals 45c, the conductive elastic members 46c are elastically deformed so as to be compressed in the Y direction. In addition, portions of the pair of arm portions 462c near the bent portion 466c directly contact the pair of fixed terminals 45c. In other words, the contact state between the pair of arm portions 462c and the pair of fixed terminals 45c is switched from "non-contact" to "contact." As a result, the pair of fixed terminals 45c are electrically connected via the conductive elastic member 46c, and the state of the contact 4c is changed from "open" to "closed". Also, the operation elastic member 53c and the switch elastic member 55c are compressed in the vertical direction.

When the button portion 3c is pushed from the second position to the third position shown in FIG. 42, the button portion 3c moves downward relative to the operating member 51c in substantially the same manner as the enable switch 1a. As a result, a force in the circumferential direction acts on the operating member projecting portion 512c from the projecting portion 312c (that is, the upper cam portion) of the button cover 31c that contacts the operating member projecting portion 512c from above, and the operating member 51c rotates counterclockwise. rotate around. As a result, the operating member projecting portion 512c is displaced in the circumferential direction from the position where it overlaps the switch member 52c in the vertical direction. In other words, the operation member projecting portion 512c retreats from above the switch member 52c to the side, and the vertical overlap between the operation member projecting portion 512c and the switch member 52c is eliminated.

When the operating member projecting portion 512c retreats from above the switch member 52c, the downward force applied from the operating member projecting portion 512c to the switch member 52c is lost, and the switch member 52c moves upward due to the restoring force of the switch elastic member 55c. do. As a result, the conductive elastic member 46c also moves upward together with the switch member 52c (that is, returns upward), escapes from the space between the pair of fixed terminals 45c, and separates upward from the pair of fixed terminals 45c. In other words, when the switch member 52c returns to its original position together with the conductive elastic member 46c, the contact state between the pair of arm portions 462c and the pair of fixed terminals 45c is switched from "contact" to "non-contact". be done. As a result, the electrical connection between the pair of fixed terminals 45c is released, and the state of the contact 4c shifts from "closed" to "open." The above-described upward movement of the switch member 52c may be performed using not only the restoring force of the switch elastic member 55c but also the restoring force of the conductive elastic member 46c. Alternatively, the switch elastic member 55c may be omitted and the switch member 52c may be moved upward by the restoring force of the conductive elastic member 46c.

When the operator releases the button portion 3c while the button portion 3c is in the third position, the restoring force of the return elastic member 33c causes the button cover 31c and the button case 32c to move upward to the first position. move to a position. When the button portion 3c moves upward from the third position, the operating elastic member 53c vertically compressed between the button portion 3c and the operating member 51c applies downward force to the operating member 51c. The upward movement of the operating member 51c is restricted. Therefore, the button case 32c moves upward relative to the operation member 51c, and the second end surface 342c (that is, the lower cam portion) of the concave portion 34c of the button case 32c moves toward the operation member projecting portion of the operation member 51c. 512c is contacted from below. Then, a circumferential force acts on the operation member projecting portion 512c from the second end surface 342c, and the operation member 51c rotates and returns to the initial position. While the button portion 3c is raised from the third position and returned to the first position, no downward force is applied to the switch member 52c, and the contact 4c is maintained in the "open" state.

As described above, in the enable switch 1c, the contact mechanism 5c includes the second movable member (that is, the operating member 51c) and the switch member 52c, in substantially the same manner as the enable switch 1a described above. The operating member 51c is held by the first movable member (that is, the button portion 3c) and is relatively movable with respect to the button portion 3c. The switch member 52c is in direct contact with the operating member 51c and displaces along with the movement of the operating member 51c to change the state of the contact 4c. The button portion 3c includes an upper cam portion (the protrusion 312c of the button cover 31c in the above example) that contacts the operating member 51c from above, and a lower cam portion (the concave portion 34c in the above example) that contacts the operating member 51c from below. a second end face 342c) of the

In the enable switch 1c, when the button portion 3c is pushed from the first position to the second position, force is applied to the switch member 52c by the operation member 51c that moves downward together with the button portion 3c. 52c is displaced to shift the state of the contact 4c from one side to the other (for example, from "open" to "closed"), and when the button portion 3c is pushed from the second position to the third position, the operating member While the downward movement of 51c is restricted, the upper cam portion contacts the operating member 51c from above, and as the button portion 3c descends, the operating member 51c moves in a predetermined first direction relative to the button portion 3c. (In the above example, the switch member 52c is rotated counterclockwise.) As a result, the downward force applied from the operation member 51c to the switch member 52c is lost, and the switch member 52c returns to its original position. The state of 4c shifts from the other to the one.

In the enable switch 1c, when the button portion 3c returns from the third position to the first position, the operation member 51c is operated while the position of the switch member 52c (that is, the position relative to the button portion 3c) is maintained. It moves upward together with the button portion 3c. In addition, in a state in which the upward movement of the operating member 51c is restricted, the lower cam portion contacts the operating member 51c from below, and the operating member 51c moves above the button portion 3c as the button portion 3c rises. Relatively move in a second direction opposite to the first direction (rotate clockwise in the above example).

As described above, in the enable switch 1c, the operation member 51c held by the button portion 3c is brought into direct contact with the switch member 52c, and the switch member 52c is displaced as the operation member 51c moves, whereby the switch member 52c is moved to the first position. , the switching of the state of the contact 4c between the second position and the third position. As a result, substantially the same as the enable switch 1a, the number of parts of the enable switch 1c can be reduced, and the size of the enable switch 1c can be reduced in the vertical direction.

As described above, the contact 4c preferably includes the fixed terminal 45c and the conductive elastic member 46c. Moreover, it is preferable that the conductive elastic member 46c is attached to the switch member 52c and elastically deformed as the switch member 52c is displaced. Then, when the button portion 3c is pushed from the first position to the second position, the conductive elastic member 46c is elastically deformed, and the contact state between the fixed terminal 45c and the conductive elastic member 46c is switched to the contact 4c. state changes from the one to the other. Further, when the button portion 3c is pushed from the second position to the third position, the switch member 52c returns to the original position together with the conductive elastic member 46c, and the contact state between the fixed terminal 45c and the conductive elastic member 46c is maintained. is switched, and the state of the contact 4c shifts from the other to the one.

Thus, in the enable switch 1c, a part of the contact 4c (that is, the conductive elastic member 46c) is attached to the switch member 52c and displaced together with the switch member 52c, thereby realizing the state transition of the contact 4c. As a result, the number of parts of the enable switch 1c can be further reduced, and the size of the enable switch 1c can be further reduced in the vertical direction. Further, the contact 4c can be miniaturized by configuring the contact 4c with the fixed terminal 45c and the conductive elastic member 46c without using the microswitch 40a or the tactile switch 40b. As a result, it is possible to further reduce the size of the enable switch 1c in the vertical and radial directions.

Various modifications are possible for the enable switches 1a to 1c described above.

For example, the number of contacts 4a provided in the enable switch 1a is not limited to two, and may be one, or may be three or more. The same applies to the enable switches 1b and 1c.

In the operating member 51a, the portion that contacts the switch member 52a may be different from the portion that contacts the upper cam portion and the lower cam portion. For example, the upper cam portion and the lower cam portion do not necessarily need to contact the operating member projecting portion 512a to move the operating member 51a, and may contact other portions of the operating member 51a. Also, the portion of the operating member 51a that contacts the switch member 52a is not necessarily limited to the operating member projecting portion 512a, and may be a portion of the operating member 51a other than the operating member projecting portion 512a. The same applies to the enable switches 1b and 1c.

In the enable switch 1a, the upper cam portion does not necessarily have to be the protrusion 312a provided on the button cover 31a, and may have another structure. Also, the lower cam portion does not necessarily have to be the second end face 342a of the recess 34a provided in the button case 32a, and may have another structure. The same applies to the enable switches 1b and 1c.

In the enable switch 1a, the lower cam portion (the second end surface 342a of the recessed portion 34a) contacts the operating member 51a from below, thereby returning the button portion 3a from the third position to the first position. It is not limited to the above examples, and may be modified in various ways. For example, by using a compression torsion coil spring as the operating elastic member 53a, the restoring force thereof may be used to return the button portion 3a from the third position to the first position. The same applies to the enable switches 1b and 1c.

In the enable switch 1a, the relative movement of the operation member 51a with respect to the button case 32a in the first direction and the second direction is necessarily the rotation in one side and the other side in the circumferential direction about the central axis J2. It is not required and may be varied. For example, the above-described relative movements in the first direction and the second direction may be movements in the (+Y) direction and movements in the (−Y) direction. The same applies to the enable switches 1b and 1c.

In the enable switch 1a, the operation member 51a does not necessarily have to be temporarily fixed when the button portion 3a moves from the first position to the second position. The same applies to the enable switch 1b. In the enable switch 1c, the operation member 51c may be temporarily fixed when the button portion 3c moves from the first position to the second position.

In the enable switch 1a, the shape of the operation member 51a is not limited to the above example, and may be changed in various ways. For example, the convex portion 514a of the lower end surface 513a of the operating member 51a may be omitted. Further, the operation member main body 511a does not necessarily have a cylindrical or columnar shape centered on the central axis J2, and may have another shape. The operation member 51a does not necessarily have the operation member main body 511a and the operation member projecting portion 512a, and may have other structures. The same applies to the enable switches 1b and 1c.

In the enable switch 1a, the shape and moving direction of the switch member 52a are not necessarily limited to the above example, and may be changed in various ways. For example, the state of the contact 4a may be changed by displacing the switch member 52a in a direction inclined with respect to the Z direction.

In the enable switches 1a to 1c, the structures of the contacts 4a to 4c are not limited to the above examples, and may be changed in various ways. For example, in the enable switch 1c, the coil portion 461c of the conductive elastic member 46c is attached to the substantially central portion of the switch member 52c in the vertical direction, and the pair of arm portions 462c are separated from each other obliquely downward from the coil portion 461c. may extend to Also, the shape of the conductive elastic member 46c may be changed in various ways. Specifically, for example, the third arm portion 465c may be omitted from the pair of arm portions 462c of the conductive elastic member 46c, or the third arm portion 465c and the second arm portion 464c may be omitted. The conductive elastic member 46c is not limited to a torsion coil spring, and may be an elastic member having various structures. For example, the conductive elastic member 46c may be a V-shaped or U-shaped wire spring that does not have a coil portion, or may be an elastic member (for example, a plate spring) other than the wire spring.

In the enable switch 1a, contrary to the above example, when the button portion 3a is pushed, the state of the contact 4a changes from "closed" to "open" between the first position and the second position. , the state of the contact 4a is changed from "open" to "closed" between the second position and the third position, and when the button portion 3a returns from the third position to the first position, the contact 4a may be maintained as "closed". The same applies to the enable switches 1b and 1c.

The configurations in the above embodiment and each modification may be combined as appropriate as long as they do not contradict each other.

Although the invention has been described in detail, the above description is illustrative and not limiting. Accordingly, many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1, 1a to 1c enable

switch

2, 2a to 2c case 3, 3a to 3c

button portion

4, 4a to 4c

contact

5, 5a to 5c

contact mechanism

32, 32a to 32c button case 34 groove 34a to 34c recess 40b tactile switch 44b push button 45c fixed terminal 46c conductive

elastic member

51, 51a to

51c operation member

52, 52a, 52c switch member 52b

first switch member

53, 53a to 53c operation elastic member 54b second switch member 61

temporary fixing portion

311, 311a Upper surface portion 312a to 312c Projection portion 341 (of button cover) Upper end surface 342 (of groove portion) Lower end surface (of groove portion) 342a to 342c Second end surface (of concave portion) 511, 511a to 511c

Operation member body

512, 512a to 512c Operation

Member projecting portion

513, 513a Lower end surface (of operating member) J1 to J4 Central axis

Claims

an enable switch,
a case;
a first movable member pushed downward toward the case;
a point of contact;
a contact mechanism that shifts the state of the contact from one of open and closed to the other and further shifts from the other to the one as the first movable member is pushed toward the case;
with
A position of the first movable member with respect to the case in a state in which the first movable member is not pushed in is defined as a first position;
A third position is a position of the first movable member with respect to the case when the first movable member is pushed to the bottom,
A predetermined position of the first movable member with respect to the case between the first position and the third position as a second position,
When the first movable member is pushed in, the state of the contact changes from the one to the other between the first position and the second position, and between the second position and the third position. during which the state of the contact transitions from the other to the one;
when the first movable member returns from the third position to the first position, the state of the contact is maintained in the one state;
The contact mechanism is
a second movable member held by the first movable member and movable relative to the first movable member;
a switch member that is in direct contact with the second movable member and changes the state of the contact by being displaced along with the movement of the second movable member;
with
The first movable member is
an upper cam portion that contacts the second movable member from above;
a lower cam portion that contacts the second movable member from below;
with
When the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, force is applied to the switch member by the second movable member that moves downward together with the first movable member. , the switch member is displaced to shift the state of the contact from the one to the other;
When the first movable member is pushed from the second position to the third position, the upper cam portion is moved to the second movable member while the downward movement of the second movable member is restricted. By contacting from above and moving the second movable member relative to the first movable member in a predetermined first direction as the first movable member descends, the switch is moved from the second movable member to the switch. when the downward force applied to the member is removed, the switch member returns to its original position and the state of the contact transitions from the other to the one;
When the first movable member returns from the third position to the first position, the second movable member moves upward together with the first movable member while the position of the switch member is maintained. Also, in a state in which the upward movement of the second movable member is restricted, the lower cam portion contacts the second movable member from below, and the second movable member moves upward as the first movable member rises. The movable member is moved relative to the first movable member in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
The enable switch of claim 1, comprising:
When the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, the second movable member contacts the switch member from above and moves downward together with the first movable member. 2 the switch member is pushed down by the movable member;
3. The enable switch according to claim 1 or 2,
The first movable member is
an upper surface portion that an operator touches when pushing the first movable member;
a tubular second movable member holding portion extending downward from the upper surface portion and holding the second movable member inside;
further comprising
The upper cam portion is an upper end surface of a groove portion extending in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction on the side surface of the second movable member holding portion,
The lower cam portion is the lower end surface of the groove portion.
3. The enable switch according to claim 1 or 2,
The first movable member is
an upper surface portion that an operator touches when pushing the first movable member;
a tubular second movable member holding portion extending downward from the upper surface portion and holding the second movable member inside;
further comprising
The upper cam portion is provided on the lower surface of the upper surface portion,
The lower cam portion is a lower end surface of a recess provided on the side surface of the second movable member holding portion.
3. The enable switch according to claim 1 or 2,
The second movable member is
a second movable member main body extending in the vertical direction;
a second movable member protruding portion that protrudes laterally from the second movable member main body;
with
when the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, the protrusion of the second movable member contacts the switch member from above to apply force;
when the first movable member is pushed from the second position to the third position, the upper cam portion contacts the second movable member projecting portion from above;
When the first movable member returns from the third position to the first position, the lower cam portion contacts the second movable member projecting portion from below.
3. The enable switch according to claim 1 or 2,
the second movable member has a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape centered on a central axis extending in the vertical direction;
The relative movement of the second movable member in the first direction with respect to the first movable member is rotation to one side in the circumferential direction about the central axis, and the second movable member moves in the first movable direction. The relative movement in the second direction with respect to the member is rotation in the other circumferential direction around the central axis.
3. The enable switch according to claim 1 or 2,
When the first movable member is pushed from the second position to the third position, the downward movement of the second movable member is restricted such that the lower end surface of the second movable member contacts the case. realized by
The lower end surface of the second movable member is a convex surface curved so that the central portion thereof is downwardly convex.
3. The enable switch according to claim 1 or 2,
The contact is arranged inside the push button of a tactile switch arranged with the push button facing sideways,
The switch member is
a first switch member in direct contact with the second movable member;
a second switch member disposed between the first switch member and the push button of the tactile switch;
with
When the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, the first switch member displaced by the force applied from the second movable member causes the second switch member to move to the tactility. biased against the push button of the switch to transition the state of the contacts from the one to the other.
9. The enable switch of claim 8, comprising:
Even after the second switch member is urged against the push button when the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, the switch is applied from the second movable member. The force continues to displace the first switch member, and the second switch member is elastically deformed between the first switch member and the push button.
3. The enable switch according to claim 1 or 2,
The contact is
a fixed terminal;
a conductive elastic member attached to the switch member and elastically deformed as the switch member is displaced;
with
When the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, the conductive elastic member is elastically deformed and the state of contact between the fixed terminal and the conductive elastic member is switched. the state of the contact transitions from the one to the other;
When the first movable member is pushed from the second position to the third position, the switch member returns to its original position together with the conductive elastic member, and the fixed terminal and the conductive elastic member are separated from each other. The contact state is switched and the state of the contact shifts from the other to the one.
3. The enable switch according to claim 1 or 2,
An operating elastic member disposed between the second movable member and the first movable member and compressed vertically by the first movable member moving downward relative to the second movable member. further comprising
When the first movable member is pushed from the first position to the second position, the second movable member is provided in the case before the state of the contact changes from the one to the other. the downward movement of the second movable member is restricted by coming into contact with the temporarily fixed portion;
When the first movable member moves downward while the downward movement of the second movable member is restricted, the operating elastic member is vertically compressed, and the upper cam portion moves toward the second movable member. contacting the member from above to move the second movable member in the first direction along with the descent of the first movable member; The second movable member is moved downward by the restoring force of the elastic member, and force is applied to the switch member, thereby displacing the switch member and changing the state of the contact from the one to the other. .
3. The enable switch according to claim 1 or 2,
Further comprising another contact arranged on the opposite side of the contact across the second movable member,
the state of the other contact is shifted in synchronization with the state of the contact by the contact mechanism;
The contact mechanism further comprises another switch member arranged on the opposite side of the switch member across the second movable member and held by the case,
The other switch member, like the switch member, is in direct contact with the second movable member and is displaced in synchronism with the displacement of the switch member as the second movable member moves, Changing the state of said other contact.