JP4209992B2 - Resin key top with coating layer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a push button switch that is arranged on the upper part of a switch contact used for a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, a remote controller for various home appliances, a card remote controller, and various keyboards, and that is turned on and off by pressing the switch contact from above. It is about the key top of.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a push button switch such as a mobile phone has a click feeling so that the on / off of a switch contact can be clearly seen. In recent years, a key top push button switch made of a resin molded so that the click feeling is easily transmitted is often used. This molded resin keytop pushbutton switch is a type that combines a molded resin keytop body and a keypad made of silicone rubber. A resin film is integrated on the surface of the molded resin keytop body. Many of the formed types are used. This is because it is easy to cope with diversification of designs such as key top shapes, colors, and color tones.
However, these molded resin key top pushbutton switches have problems such as being hard to feel, slippery and easily damaged when pressed with a finger or the like because the surface is made of resin.
[0003]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention solves such problems by laminating a soft layer such as rubber on the top of the key top, and responding to diversification of design such as the shape, color, and color tone of the key top. A key top with a covering layer of a pushbutton switch that can be provided is provided.
[0004]
That is, the present invention is a resin key top with a coating layer in which an elastic polymer coating layer is laminated on the upper surface of a molded resin key top.
Furthermore, the present invention is a resin key top with a coating layer in which a display portion is provided on the upper surface of the key top, and an elastic polymer coating layer is further laminated on the upper surface.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a key top of a pushbutton switch formed by combining a molded resin key top body and a keypad made of silicone rubber, with a coating layer in which an elastic polymer coating layer is laminated on the surface of the key top body. Resin key top.
[0005]
Furthermore, the present invention provides a key top of a push button switch in which a resin film is integrally formed on the upper surface side of a molded resin key top body, and a key with a coating layer in which an elastic polymer coating layer is laminated on the surface of the resin film Top.
Furthermore, the present invention is a resin key top with a coating layer using an elastic polymer coating layer having a thickness of 5 μm to 200 μm and a hardness of 95 degrees or less on Shore A. When the elastic polymer coating layer has a thickness of 5 μm to 200 μm and a layer hardness of 95 degrees or less at Shore A, a key top with a coating layer having a pencil hardness of HB or less is obtained. In addition, the Shore A hardness of this invention is based on the measurement by JISK-6253. The pencil hardness is measured by JIS K-5400.
[0006]
If the thickness of the elastic polymer coating layer is less than 5 μm, the mechanical properties of the elastic polymer coating layer are weak and easily peeled off. If the layer thickness is greater than 200 μm, the display portion is recessed when the display portion is provided. It looks like this and visibility is inferior. The layer thickness of the more preferable elastic polymer coating layer is in the range of 15 μm to 100 μm. If the pencil hardness is higher than HB, the soft feeling like rubber disappears.
[0007]
The molded resin key top body of the present invention is not particularly limited in terms of resin composition, type, elastic modulus, and color tone, but has good transparency, such as polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, silicone resin, amorphous polyester, polyvinyl chloride Polystyrene, polyarylate, amorphous polyolefin, polymethylpentene, amorphous nylon, polyurethane, ester-based thermoplastic elastomer, styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, nylon-based thermoplastic elastomer, and the like are preferable. In addition, polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS resin, crystalline polyester such as PET and PBT, crystalline nylon, polyphenylene ether, polyacetal, polyacetal, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyimide, polyether, polyketone, polyetherketone, A translucent or slightly colored resin such as polyetheretherketone, polyethernitrile, polyetherimide, liquid crystal polymer, or fluororesin may be used. It is also possible to use known resins such as silicone resins, epoxy resins, phenol resins, unsaturated polyesters, diallyl phthalates, acrylic resins, urethane resins, etc., such as thermosetting, photo-curing and moisture-curing resins. is there.
The elastic polymer coating layer of the present invention can be laminated by applying and curing an uncured liquid resin, or can be laminated by coating an elastic film.
[0008]
The uncured liquid resin does not specify the material, curing method, and coating method, but the material is a resin blended with a monomer or oligomer such as urethane, acrylic, silicone, epoxy, or ester. Examples of the curing method include a thermosetting type, a light curing type, and a moisture curing type, and examples of the coating method include spray coating, pad printing, screen printing, and dropping using a jig or dispenser. . Among them, the urethane resin is most preferable from the viewpoint of elasticity and wear resistance. The uncured liquid resin can be blended with fillers such as silica and resin powder according to the desired feel, and a solvent can be blended appropriately according to the coating method.
[0009]
As the elastic film, a film having a layer thickness of 5 μm to 200 μm and a layer hardness of 95 degrees or less at Shore A is used. Although the material is not specified, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyamide, 1,2-polybutadiene, polyethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, styrene thermoplastic elastomer, olefin thermoplastic elastomer, ester Examples thereof include thermoplastic thermoplastic elastomers, urethane thermoplastic elastomers, amide thermoplastic elastomers, vinyl chloride thermoplastic elastomers, fluorine thermoplastic elastomers, and ion-crosslinked thermoplastic elastomers. Of these, urethane thermoplastic elastomers are most preferable because of their elasticity and wear resistance.
The elastic polymer coating layer of the present invention is not limited to a single layer, and may be a multilayer in which elastic polymer coating layers of a plurality of materials and hardnesses are laminated in consideration of wear resistance and weather resistance.
[0010]
The resin film of the present invention is not particularly limited with respect to the composition, type, elastic modulus, and color tone of the film, but polyester, polyolefin, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyamide, silicone, 1,2-polybutadiene, polyethylene vinyl acetate having good transparency A thermoplastic film such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinyl alcohol, a polyamide film, a polyethylene terephthalate film, a polypropylene film, a polycarbonate film, a polyvinyl chloride film, a polyvinyl alcohol film, and a cellophane film are preferred.
[0011]
Keypad is silicone rubber, natural rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, 1,2-polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, acrylic rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber , Polysulfide rubber, fluorine rubber, urethane rubber, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyamide, polyethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, styrene thermoplastic elastomer, olefin plastic elastomer, ester thermoplastic elastomer, urethane Thermoplastic elastomer, Amide thermoplastic elastomer, Vinyl chloride thermoplastic elastomer, Fluorine thermoplastic elastomer, Ion Bridge-based thermoplastic elastomer and the like. Among these materials, silicone rubber is preferable because of its elasticity and wear resistance.
[0012]
In order to improve the adhesion between the elastic polymer coating layer of the present invention and the resin key top or resin film, the surface of the resin key top or resin film is subjected to short-wave ultraviolet irradiation treatment, corona treatment, or coupling agent treatment. It is possible to apply a surface treatment such as
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A typical embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is a push button switch formed by combining a molded resin key top body 1 and a keypad 2 made of silicone rubber, and an elastic polymer coating layer 3 is laminated on the upper surface thereof. It is the resin key top with a coating layer made.
The manufacturing method is such that a display portion 4 for characters, symbols, etc. is formed on the upper surface and / or lower surface of the molded keytop body 1 and an uncured liquid resin is applied to the upper surface of the keytop body 1 having the display portion. The elastic polymer coating layer 3 was cured and laminated, and the key top body and the keypad 2 made of silicone rubber were adhered to obtain a key top with a coating layer.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention is a push button switch in which a resin film 5 having a display portion curved in the same shape is integrally formed on the surface of a molded resin key top body 1, and further This is a resin key top with a coating layer in which an elastic polymer coating layer 3 is laminated on the upper surface.
[0015]
The manufacturing method is such that the resin film 5 on which characters, symbols, and the like are printed in advance on the upper surface and / or lower surface is deformed into the shape of a key top, and injection molding, compression molding, transfer molding, A key top body 1 is formed by filling a resin melted or melted by rotation molding or a liquid resin to form a key top body 1, and a push button switch in which the key top body 1 and the resin film 5 are integrally formed is manufactured. On the upper surface, an uncured liquid resin was applied and cured to laminate the elastic polymer coating layer 3 to obtain a resin key top with a coating layer.
At this time, when the resin film 5 is deformed, in order to prevent the character shape from being changed due to the elongation or distortion of the display portion of the resin film 5, the reinforcing printing layer 6 (see FIG. 5) is preferably laminated.
[0016]
The method for laminating the reinforced printing layer 6 is not limited to the screen printing method, the spray coating method, the potting method, the dispenser method, the pad printing method, and the transfer method. Examples of the reinforced printing layer 6 include thermosetting, photocurable, and moisture curable materials such as acrylic resins, urethane resins, silicone resins, epoxy resins, and diallyl phthalate resins.
[0017]
Further, in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the key top is manufactured, the elastic film 9 is previously sandwiched between the molds, and the resin or the resin melted by heating by injection molding, compression molding, transfer molding, rotational molding or the like is used. The elastic polymer coating layer can be laminated on the key top by manufacturing the liquid uncured resin by filling the mold from the lower surface side of the elastic film 9 and solidifying it.
[0018]
EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example and a comparative example are shown and this invention is demonstrated concretely, this invention is not limited to the following Example.
[Example 1]
Example 1 is shown in FIG.
A display 4 for characters, symbols, etc. is printed on the lower surface of the key top body 1 obtained by injection molding polycarbonate resin (Panlite L1225L manufactured by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.), and heat is applied to the upper surface of the key top body 1. A curable urethane paint (Hi-Chem Ohashi Chemical Co., Ltd., JIS-K6253-A 80 degrees) was applied by spraying to form an elastic polymer coating layer 3 having a layer thickness of 45 μm. Further, a pushbutton switch was obtained by bonding the keypad 2 formed of silicone rubber (SH851u, manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) using an adhesive.
The key top with the cover layer of the obtained pushbutton switch had an elastic touch and the surface hardness was HB in pencil hardness.
[0019]
[Example 2]
Example 2 is shown in FIG.
A translucent printing layer is applied to the upper surface of the key top body 1 obtained by injection molding a polycarbonate resin (Panlite L1225L manufactured by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.), and a non-translucent layer is further applied. The display part 4 is formed by laser-cutting the layer, and further, a thermosetting urethane paint (Suncoat Glaze Nagashima Special Paint Co., Ltd., JIS-K6253-A 95 degrees) is spray applied on the upper surface of the key top body 1. Then, the elastic polymer coating layer 3 having a layer thickness of 60 μm is formed, and further, a push button switch is attached to the keypad 2 formed of silicone rubber (SH851u manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) using an adhesive. Obtained.
The obtained resin key top with a cover layer of the pushbutton switch had an elastic feel, and the surface hardness was HB in pencil hardness.
[0020]
[Example 3]
Example 3 is shown in FIG.
A thermoplastic amide film is used as the resin film 5, and a display portion 4 of characters, symbols, etc. is screen-printed on the lower surface of the resin film 5, and a reinforcing printing layer 6 is laminated on the display portion 4 of the resin film 5. The film 5 was deformed into the shape of a key top, set in a mold for molding the key top body 1, and polycarbonate resin (Panlite L1225L manufactured by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.) was injection molded and integrated. A thermosetting urethane paint (Labasan Musashi Paint Co., Ltd., JIS-K6253-A 88 degrees) is pad printed on this key top and cured to form an elastic polymer coating layer 3 having a layer thickness of 15 μm. A resin key top was obtained.
The obtained resin key top with a coating layer had an elastic tactile sensation, and the surface hardness was B in pencil hardness.
[0021]
[Example 4]
Example 4 is shown in FIG.
Polycarbonate / polybutylene terephthalate film (Bayfol CR6-2 Bayer) is used as the resin film 5 and transformed into the shape of the key top. The key top body 1 is set in the mold for molding, and the polycarbonate resin (Panlite L1225L Teijin Chemicals) was integrated by injection molding. A display 4 for characters, symbols, etc. was formed on the key top surface of the key top by PAD printing. A thermosetting urethane paint (Fantas Coat FS-6 Origin Electric Co., Ltd., JIS-K6253-A 85 degrees) is screen printed on this key top and cured to form an elastic polymer coating layer 3 having a layer thickness of 30 μm. The resin key top with a coating layer shown in FIG. 6 was obtained. The obtained resin key top with a coating layer had an elastic tactile feel, and the surface hardness was HB in pencil hardness.
[0022]
[Example 5]
Example 5 is shown in FIG.
A urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer film (layer thickness: 100 μm, JIS-K6253-A 88 degrees) is used as the elastic film 9, and screens are printed with a display portion 4 for characters, symbols, etc. on the lower surface, and a reinforced printing layer 6 is laminated. After printing, the elastic film 9 is transformed into the shape of a key top, set in a mold for molding the key top body 1, and polycarbonate resin (Panlite L1225L manufactured by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.) is injection molded and integrated. A resin key top with a coating layer was obtained.
The obtained resin key top with a coating layer had an elastic tactile feel, and the surface hardness was HB in pencil hardness.
[0023]
[Example 6]
Example 6 is shown in FIG.
A urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer film (layer thickness: 100 μm, JIS-K6253-A 88 degrees) is used as the elastic film 9 and deformed into the shape of the key top. (Panlite L1225L made by Teijin Chemicals Co., Ltd.) is injection-molded and integrated. On the lower surface of the obtained key top, a display 4 for characters, symbols, etc. is formed by PAD printing, and silicone rubber (SH851u Toray Dow A pushbutton switch was obtained by bonding the keypad 2 formed by Corning Silicone Co., Ltd. using an adhesive.
The obtained resin key top with a cover layer of the pushbutton switch had an elastic feel, and the surface hardness was HB in pencil hardness.
[0024]
[Comparative Example 1]
Comparative Example 1 is shown in FIG.
The display part 4 is printed on the lower surface of the key top body 1 obtained by injection molding polycarbonate resin (Panlite L1225L made by Teijin Chemicals Co., Ltd.) and molded with silicone rubber (SH851u manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) The keypad 2 was bonded using an adhesive to obtain a pushbutton switch.
The surface of the key top of the obtained pushbutton switch was hard and slippery.
[0025]
[Comparative Example 2]
Comparative Example 2 is shown in FIG.
A translucent printing layer is applied to the upper surface of the key top body 1 obtained by injection molding a polycarbonate resin (Panlite L1225L manufactured by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.), and a non-translucent layer is further applied to the non-translucent layer. The display part 4 is formed by laser-cutting, and a thermosetting urethane paint (manufactured by Plabak T Origin Electric Co., Ltd., JIS-K6253-A 99 degrees) is spray-applied on the upper surface of the key top body, and the film thickness is 20 μm. A protective layer 7 was formed. Further, a push button switch was obtained by pasting together a keypad formed of silicone rubber (SH851u manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) using an adhesive.
The surface of the key top of the obtained pushbutton switch was hard and slippery. The surface hardness was 2H in pencil hardness.
[0026]
[Comparative Example 3]
Comparative Example 3 is shown in FIG.
A thermoplastic amide film is used as the resin film 5, and a display portion 4 such as characters and symbols is screen-printed on the lower surface of the resin film 5, and a reinforced printing layer 6 is laminated on the resin film 5. The key top body 1 was deformed into a top shape, set in a mold for molding the key top body 1, and polycarbonate resin (Panlite L1225L manufactured by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.) was injection molded and integrated to obtain a key top.
The surface of the obtained key top was hard and easily damaged.
[0027]
[Comparative Example 4]
Comparative Example 4 is shown in FIG.
A thermoplastic amide film is used as the resin film 5 and transformed into the shape of the key top. The key top body 1 is set in a mold for molding, and polycarbonate resin (Panlite L1225L manufactured by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.) is injection molded. Integrated. A display 4 for characters, symbols, etc. was formed on the key top surface of the key top by PAD printing. The key top of the key top other than the key top surface is covered with a mask jig 8 and sprayed with a thermosetting urethane-based paint (Purabak T Origin Electric Co., Ltd., JIS-K6253-A 99 degrees) and cured to a film thickness of 20 μm. A protective layer was formed to obtain a key top.
The surface of the obtained key top was hard and slippery. The surface hardness was 2H in pencil hardness.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, since the elastic polymer coating layer is formed on the upper surface or the entire surface of the key top made of the molded resin, it is possible to provide a key top with a soft feel and excellent operability. . The key top of the present invention has a surface hardness of a pencil hardness and a flexibility of HB or less, and is hardly scratched or slippery. And, it can cope with diversification of design such as any key top shape, color, and color tone.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a key top of a push button switch formed by combining a resin key top body and a keypad made of silicone rubber, or a key top of a push button switch formed by integrally forming a resin film on the surface of the resin key top body. The present invention also provides a resin key top that is easy to see the display part, has a flexible feel, is hardly damaged, and is difficult to slip.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a typical implementation of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a representative implementation of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of Example 3 of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of Example 4 of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of Example 5 of the present invention. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of Example 6 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of Comparative Example 1. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of Comparative Example 2. FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of Comparative Example 3. ] Vertical sectional view of Comparative Example 4 [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key top main body 2 Keypad 3 Elastic polymer coating layer 4 Display part of characters, symbols, etc. 5 Resin film 6 Reinforced printing layer 7 Protective layer 8 Mask jig 9 Elastic film

Claims (11)

On the top surface of the resin key top with the display ,
A resin key top with a coating layer having a surface hardness of pencil hardness and HB or less, in which an elastic polymer coating layer having a urethane bond having a thickness of 5 μm to 200 μm and a hardness of 95 degrees or less at Shore A is laminated. The resin key top with a coating layer according to claim 1, wherein a display portion is provided on an upper surface or a lower surface of the resin key top.   3. The resin key top with a covering layer according to claim 1, wherein the resin key top is formed by combining a key top body and a keypad made of silicone rubber. 4. The resin key top with a coating layer according to claim 1 , wherein the resin key top is formed by integrally forming a resin film on a surface thereof.   The resin key top with a coating layer according to claim 1, wherein the resin key top is formed by molding a polycarbonate resin.   2. The resin key top with a coating layer according to claim 1, wherein the elastic polymer coating layer is formed by laminating by applying and curing an uncured liquid resin.   2. The resin key top with a coating layer according to claim 1, wherein the elastic polymer coating layer is formed by coating an elastic film.   2. The resin key top with a coating layer according to claim 1, wherein the elastic polymer coating layer is made of a urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer film.   The resin key top with a coating layer according to claim 1, wherein the elastic polymer coating layer is made of a thermosetting urethane paint.   The resin key top with a coating layer according to claim 1, wherein the elastic polymer coating layer has a thickness of 15 to 100 µm.   The resin key top with a coating layer according to claim 1, wherein the elastic polymer coating layer has a hardness of 80 to 88 at Shore A.

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