JP2008059268A - Rotary type operator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate adjustment of a rotary type operator to desired operation torque, and to efficiently perform an assembly operation. <P>SOLUTION: A knob 22 is installed so as to be freely rotated at a fixing part 7, and when the knob 22 is rotated, the flange section 26 of the knob 22 and a disk-shaped section 12 of the fixing part 7 are brought into contact with each other, and a groove 28 is formed at the disk-shaped section 12, and the groove 28 is filled with grease, and a protrusion 30 formed at the flange part 26 intrudes in the groove 28. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary operation element, and more particularly, to an operation element whose operation torque is adjusted.

  The rotary operation element may be used for setting parameters in an audio mixer, for example. It is necessary to set the operating torque of the knob provided in the rotary operator so that the setting of this parameter can be easily set to the optimum value. A technique capable of setting the operation torque is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the technique of Patent Document 1, a bearing that rotatably supports a rotating shaft of a rotary operation component is inserted through a hole formed in the panel. The bearing has a male screw on its outer periphery, an O-ring is placed on this bearing, a cap nut is screwed onto the male screw of the bearing so that it covers the O-ring, and the rotary operation component is fixed to the panel. is there. In this cap nut, the O-ring is compressed and deformed, pressed against the rotary shaft and the cap nut, and the operation torque of the rotary operation knob inserted through the rotary shaft becomes constant.

JP 2005-38117 A

  However, in this technique, in order to obtain an operation torque of a desired value, it is necessary to adjust the tightening degree of the cap nut or change the O-ring to one having different elasticity. Moreover, even if the number of parts is excluded, there are many bearings, O-rings and cap nuts, and an O-ring is mounted on the bearing of the rotating shaft, and the cap nut must be screwed onto the rotating shaft. The assembly work was troublesome.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary operation element that can be easily adjusted to a desired operation torque and that can efficiently perform an assembly operation.

  The rotary operation element according to one aspect of the present invention includes a fixed portion and a knob provided rotatably on the fixed portion. For example, a rotary operation component that is rotated according to the rotation of the knob, for example, a rotary volume, a rotary encoder, or the like is accommodated in the fixed portion. When the knob rotates, the knob and the fixing portion both have contact surfaces that are in surface contact with each other. For example, when the flange of the knob is a contact surface, the fixed portion has the contact surface that contacts the flange. Or when a part of inner peripheral surface of a knob is a contact surface, the part of the fixing | fixed part which is in surface contact with this inner peripheral surface is a contact surface. Similarly, when a part of the outer peripheral surface of the knob is a contact surface, the portion of the fixed portion that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface is the contact surface. A groove is formed in one of the contact surface of the knob and the contact surface of the fixed portion along the rotation direction of the knob. This groove can be formed in an annular shape or in an arc shape. A viscous fluid such as grease is accommodated in the groove.

  In the rotary operation element configured as described above, since the contact surfaces of the knob and the fixed portion are in contact with each other, a frictional force generated between the two is large, which becomes a resistance when the knob is rotated. Moreover, the viscous fluid in the groove formed on one of the contact surfaces comes into contact with the other contact surface of the knob and the fixing portion, and further increases the resistance force when the knob is rotated. As a result, it is possible to set an operation torque that can prevent the knob from rotating too lightly, and fine adjustment of the amount of rotation can be easily performed when the knob is rotated. Moreover, the operation torque can be adjusted by selecting an appropriate viscosity of the viscous fluid, and the number of parts is small with the fixed part and the knob, and the assembly of the rotary operation element is also possible. The knob can be efficiently operated because the contact surface only needs to be in contact with the contact surface of the fixed portion.

  A protrusion that enters the groove can be formed on the other of the contact surface of the knob and the contact surface of the fixing portion. Only one protrusion can be provided, or a plurality of protrusions can be provided at intervals.

  If comprised in this way, since a protrusion functions as a resistor within grease, a larger operating torque can be generated and fine adjustment becomes easier. Also, the magnitude of the operating torque can be easily adjusted by adjusting the number and size of the protrusions.

  The groove and the protrusion can be formed in a complementary shape. For example, if the longitudinal section of the groove is semicircular, the longitudinal section of the protrusion is also slightly smaller than that, and if the longitudinal section of the groove is rectangular, the longitudinal section of the protrusion is slightly smaller than that. Is a small rectangle.

  If comprised in this way, a protrusion functions as a resistor efficiently with respect to the viscous fluid in a groove | channel, and a viscous fluid is not wasted.

  The rotary shaft of the rotary operation component may be configured to rotate according to the rotation of the knob. As the rotary operation component, a rotary shaft having a penetrating shaft can be used, or a rotary shaft having a rotary shaft protruding from the rotary operation component can be used.

  With this configuration, the value of the output generated by the rotary operation component can be finely adjusted. When the rotary operation component has a rotation axis and this rotation shaft is coupled to the knob, if a lateral stress is applied to the knob, the lateral stress is directly applied to the internal components of the rotary operation component via the rotation axis. It is easy to damage the rotary operation part, but when a through-shaft type is used as the rotary operation part and the shaft provided on the knob is inserted into this through-shaft, lateral stress is applied to the knob. However, the lateral stress is not transmitted to the internal components of the rotary operation part, and is not easily damaged.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily adjust the operation torque, which is a resistance generated when the knob of the rotary operation element is rotated, to a desired value, and to assemble the rotary operation element. You can work efficiently.

  The rotary operation element according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used as a parameter setting device in an audio mixer, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, a substrate, for example, a printed circuit board 4 is arranged in parallel with the control panel 2 at a certain distance below the control panel 2. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of light emitting elements, for example, 12 LEDs 6 are provided on one surface, for example, the upper surface, of the substrate 4. These LEDs 6 are arranged at an equal angle, for example, at intervals on the circumference of a virtual circle that can be drawn on the substrate 4. This arrangement is performed such that the light emitting portions of the respective LEDs 6 face upward.

  A fixing portion 7 is arranged so as to surround these LEDs 6. The fixed part 7 has a cylindrical part 8. The cylindrical portion 8 has, for example, light shielding properties and is arranged so that the center is located at the center of the above-described virtual circle. A total of four fixing means, for example, claws 10 are formed on the peripheral edge of the lower portion at fixed angles, and the cylindrical portion 8 is fixed to the substrate 4 by these claws 10 as shown in FIG.

  An annular disc portion 12 is formed integrally with the cylindrical portion 8 at a position slightly deviated from the upper edge on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 8 toward the substrate 4 side, that is, at the lower side. This disk portion 12 also has a light shielding property and is positioned substantially parallel to the substrate 4. A circular truncated cone-shaped portion 14 is formed integrally with the annular peripheral surface of the disk-shaped portion 12. The truncated cone-shaped portion 14 is supported by the disk-shaped portion 12 in the middle, the proximal end portion is in a position close to the LED 6, and the distal end portion penetrates the control panel 2 in a direction away from the substrate 4. It protrudes. The frustoconical portion 14 is also arranged so that the center thereof coincides with the center of the virtual circle described above. The diameter of the truncated cone portion 14 on the distal end side is set to be somewhat smaller than the diameter on the proximal end side. The diameter on the base end side is larger than the diameter of the virtual circle described above. The frustoconical portion 14 is formed in a hollow shape, and a through hole 16 is formed at the center of the tip portion.

  A first light guide portion 18 and a light shielding portion 20 are formed on the truncated cone portion 14. The first light guide 18 is a transparent body or a translucent body extending from the base end portion to the tip end portion of the truncated cone portion 14. The installation positions of the first light guides 18 correspond to the respective LEDs 6, and the base end portions of the first light guides 18 are located above the respective LEDs 6 as shown in FIG. 2. The first light guides 18 are formed from the inner peripheral surface to the outer peripheral surface of the frustoconical portion 18, and are formed radially around the center of the frustoconical portion 14 at predetermined angles. A light shielding portion 20 is formed between the adjacent ones of the first light guide portions 18 so as to fill these gaps. Therefore, the light emitted from each LED 6 is introduced into the first light guide 18 from the base end of the corresponding first light guide 18, propagated through the first light guide 18, and radiated from the tip. Is done. Since the light shielding portion 20 is provided, the light does not leak in the circumferential direction of the virtual circle described above during the propagation of this light, and the light of each LED 6 is only in the corresponding first light guide portion 18. And does not enter the first light guide 18 adjacent to the corresponding first light guide 18.

  The cylindrical portion 8, the claw 10, the disc portion 12, the first light guide portion 18, and the light shielding portion 20 are integrally formed of multicolor molding resin.

  A knob 22 is arranged so as to surround the periphery of the truncated cone portion 14. The knob 22 has a body portion 24 outside the frustoconical portion 14. The trunk | drum 24 also has light-shielding property, and is formed in the truncated cone-shaped cylindrical body. The inner peripheral surface of the trunk portion 24 approaches the outer peripheral surface of the frustoconical portion 14, and the center of the trunk portion 24 is also located on the center of the virtual circle described above. The base end portion of the body portion 24 is located in the vicinity of the disc-shaped portion 12, and the distal end portion is located in the vicinity of the distal end of the truncated cone-shaped portion 14.

  A flange portion 26 is integrally formed on the base end side of the body portion 24. The flange portion 26 is positioned substantially parallel to the disk-shaped portion 12, and the lower surface thereof is in surface contact with the upper surface of the disk-shaped portion 12. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 26 is located near the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 8.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an annular groove 28 is formed on the upper surface of the disk-shaped portion 12 concentrically with the truncated cone-shaped portion 14. The longitudinal sectional shape of the groove 28 is semicircular as shown in FIG. The groove 28 is filled with a viscous fluid such as grease. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of protrusions 30 are formed at predetermined angles on the lower surface of the flange 26 so as to enter the groove 28 and be immersed in grease. These protrusions 30 are formed in a hemispherical shape having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the groove 28, and the grooves 28 and the protrusions 30 are formed in complementary shapes.

  In order to prevent the body portion 24 from coming off from the truncated cone-shaped portion 14, the claws 32 projecting from the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 8 to the upper surface side of the flange portion 26 are integrally formed with the cylindrical portion 8. Is formed. In addition, the flange portion 26 can be pressed against the disk-shaped portion 12 by the claws 32.

  A flange-shaped second light guide portion 34 is provided integrally with the barrel portion 24 so as to cover the tip portion of the truncated cone portion 14 at the distal end portion of the trunk portion 24. The 2nd light guide part 34 is also a transparent body or a semi-transparent body. Therefore, the light propagated to the tip of the first light guide 18 is confirmed from the outside via the second light guide 34.

  The knob 22 rotates around the center of the imaginary circle described above, for example, when the user pinches and turns the trunk portion 24. During this rotation, each protrusion 30 is immersed in the grease in the groove 28, so that the grease generates resistance against the rotation of the knob 22.

  A coupling member, for example, a shaft 36 integrally provided at the center of the inner surface of the second light guide 34, passes through the inside of the truncated cone 14 from the through hole 16 at the center of the truncated cone 14, and the LED 6 is provided. It protrudes to the lower surface side of the substrate 4 which is the surface opposite to the surface on which it is formed. This axis 36 is also translucent. On the lower surface side of the substrate 4, a rotary operation component, for example, a 360-degree through-shaft rotation volume 38 is attached. The 360-degree through-shaft rotating volume 38 has a shaft 36 inserted and fixed to its hollow rotating shaft, and can continuously rotate the shaft 36 in any direction around the shaft 36. By rotating the knob 22, the rotation angle of the 360-degree through-shaft rotation volume 38 changes, and its resistance value changes.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the change in the resistance value of the 360-degree through-shaft rotating volume 38 is detected by a control means provided on the substrate 4, for example, the CPU 40. Based on the detected change in resistance value, the CPU 40 generates a parameter used in an audio mixer, for example, and changes the light emission state of each LED 6. For example, by increasing the rotation angle, the LED 6 to be turned on in the rotation direction of the knob 22 is increased in order from the LED 6 determined as the reference position.

  In the rotary type operator configured as described above, when the knob 22 is rotated, the resistance value of the 360-degree through-shaft rotating volume 38 changes, a parameter is generated, and the light emission state of the LED 6 changes according to the change of the resistance value. To do. The light emitted from the LED 6 propagates from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion of the first light guide portion 18 and is emitted from the second light guide portion 34 to the outside. At this time, the distal end portion of the first light guide 18 is located along the outer periphery of the second light guide 34, so that the light emission state of each LED 6 changes along the outer periphery of the second light guide 34.

  Since this rotary operation element employs a configuration in which light from each LED 6 provided on the substrate 4 is propagated to the tip of the knob 22 via the first light guide 18, each LED 6 is connected to the tip of the knob 22. It is not necessary to provide in the part. Therefore, since it is not necessary to secure a space for installing each LED 6 at the tip of the knob 22, the tip of the knob 22 can be thinned, and the rotary operation element can be downsized. Further, each LED 6 needs to be connected to the CPU 40 in order to cause each LED 6 to emit light. However, since the CPU 40 and each LED 6 are provided on the same substrate 4, the connection work can be easily performed.

  Further, in this rotary operation element, the disk-shaped part 12 and the flange part 26 are in surface contact. Therefore, when the body part 24 is rotated, a frictional force is generated on the surface contact surface, and the body part 24 is rotated. Resistance to rotation is generated. In addition, grease is filled in the groove 28 provided in the disk-shaped portion 12, and the protrusion 30 of the flange portion 26 of the trunk portion 24 enters the grease, so that the trunk portion 24 is rotated. This also creates resistance. By generating these resistance forces, it is possible to prevent the 360-degree through-shaft rotating volume 38 from rotating lightly and fine adjustment of the volume 38 can be easily performed.

  Moreover, the magnitude of the resistance can be easily set to a desired value by changing the grease to one having a different viscosity or adjusting the size and number of the protrusions 30.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the rotary operation element of the second embodiment is of a type in which the base end portion of the body portion 24a covers the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 8a of the fixed portion 7a. Therefore, a groove 28a is formed on the entire inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 8a, and this is filled with grease. A plurality of protrusions 30a are formed at intervals in a position corresponding to the groove 28a on the inner peripheral surface of the body portion 24a. Other configurations are the same as those of the rotary operation element of the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 6 as well, the same components as those of the rotary operation element of the first embodiment are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the rotary operation element of the third embodiment is of a type in which the base end portion of the body portion 24b is accommodated in the cylindrical portion 8b of the fixing portion 7b. Therefore, a groove 28b is formed on the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 8b, and this is filled with grease. A plurality of protrusions 30b are formed at intervals at positions corresponding to the grooves 28b on the inner peripheral surface of the body portion 24b. Other configurations are the same as those of the rotary operation element of the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. In the rotary operation element according to the third embodiment, although not shown in FIG. 7, the truncated cone portion is formed separately from the cylindrical portion 8 b, and each first light guide portion thereof is each It arrange | positions so that it may be located on LED.

  In the first embodiment, the cylindrical portion 8 and the truncated cone portion 14 are integrally formed for easy assembly. However, the cylindrical portion 8 and the truncated cone portion 14 are separately provided. It can also be formed. In addition, the first light guide 18 and the light shielding part 20 are integrally formed to form the truncated cone-shaped part 14, but in some cases, the first light guide part 18 and the light shielding part 20 are separately provided. The light shielding part 20 can also be removed. In this case, light is not leaked from the inside of the first light guide 18 to the peripheral surface of each first light guide 18, and light is completely blocked to prevent light from entering the first light guide 18 from the outside. A light-sensitive film is plated or light in the first light guide 18 does not leak to the outside, but light can enter the first light guide 18 from the outside, that is, a semi-reflective film. If plating is performed, there is no leakage of light from the outside of each first light guide 18, and the same effect as that provided by the light shield 20 can be obtained. Even if a film is formed by painting instead of plating, the same configuration can be adopted. Moreover, although the transparent or semi-transparent thing was used as the 1st light guide part 18, an optical fiber can also be used. Also in this case, the light shielding unit 20 is not necessary. In addition, another light emitting element may be provided below the shaft 36 that is a transparent body or a semi-transparent body so that the center of the second light guide section 34 is illuminated. In the first embodiment, the 360-degree through-shaft rotating volume 38 is used. However, instead of this, a normal rotating volume, a rotary volume, or a rotary encoder may be used. Further, in the case where these rotary volumes and rotary encoders have a rotation shaft, the shaft 36 may be removed and the rotation shaft may be coupled to the central portion of the second light guide 34. In the above embodiment, each LED 6 is provided over the entire circumference of the virtual circle, but may be provided on a partial arc of the circumference.

  In the first embodiment, the groove 28 is formed in the disk-shaped part 12, but conversely, the groove 28 can be formed in the flange part 26. Moreover, although the groove | channel 28 was formed in the perimeter of the disk-shaped part 12 in 1st Embodiment, a groove | channel can also be formed in circular arc shape only in the part. Similarly, in the second and third embodiments, the grooves 28a and 28b are formed on the entire circumference of the cylindrical portions 8a and 8b, but these can also be formed in an arc shape. Further, the grooves 28, 28a, and 28b are formed in an arc shape in the longitudinal section, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the grooves 28, 28a, and 28b may have a rectangular longitudinal section. In the first embodiment, a plurality of protrusions may be provided at intervals on the bottom of the groove 28, and the protrusions 30 of the flange 26 may be in contact with each other to increase the resistance.

It is a side view of the rotary operation element according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal side view of the rotary operation element of FIG. 1. It is the assembly figure seen from diagonally upward of the rotary operation element of FIG. FIG. 2 is an assembly view of the rotary operation element of FIG. 1 viewed from obliquely below. It is a block diagram of the rotary operation element of FIG. It is a partial abbreviation longitudinal cross-sectional view of the rotary operation element of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a partial abbreviation longitudinal cross-sectional view of the rotary operation element of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

7 Fixed part 12 Disc-shaped part (contact surface)
24 body part 26 flange part (contact surface)
28 groove 30 protrusion

Claims (4)

A fixed part;
A knob provided rotatably on this fixed part,
The knob and the fixing part have a contact surface that is in surface contact with each other when the knob rotates, and one of the contact surface of the knob and the contact surface of the fixing part. A rotary operation element in which a groove is formed along the rotation direction of the knob, and a viscous fluid is accommodated in the groove.   2. The rotary operation element according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion that enters the groove is formed on the other of the contact surface of the knob and the contact surface of the fixing portion.   3. The rotary operation element according to claim 2, wherein the groove and the protrusion are formed in a complementary shape.   4. The rotary operation element according to claim 1, wherein a rotary shaft of the rotary operation part rotates in accordance with the rotation of the knob.

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