controller

Abstract

This invention achieves miniaturization of the controller and makes the substrate equipped with external connectors easily accessible. The controller (1) has an outer housing (2) for housing a communication substrate (3) equipped with external connectors (11-17). The outer housing (2) includes: an interface panel (20) with holes (27) for equipping the external connectors (11-17); a housing body (21) for detachably fixing the interface panel (20); and a substrate fixing panel (4) fixed to the interface panel (20) and extending along a first direction (X) intersecting the interface panel (20). The communication substrate (3) is fixed to the substrate fixing panel (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a controller having an external connector disposed on the outer surface of the housing. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a controller for controlling a robot. The controller in Patent Document 1 has multiple communication control system substrates arranged on the inner side of the front wall (interface panel) of a cuboid housing body. The multiple substrates are stacked at regular intervals by mounting bosses. External connection connectors are disposed at the ends of each substrate. The external connection connectors are disposed in holes formed in the front wall. Existing technical documents Patent documents

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-136780 Summary of the Invention

[0004] In miniaturizing controllers for robot control, the gaps between components housed in the outer casing become narrower. If the space around the board of the communication control system is limited, it becomes difficult to access the electronic components or connectors mounted on the board. Therefore, it is difficult to connect connectors mounted on the board to connectors on the other side. Furthermore, inspecting and maintaining the electronic components mounted on the board is also difficult.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the objective of the present invention is to achieve miniaturization of the controller and to make it easy to access the substrate on which the external connection connector is configured.

[0006] To address the aforementioned issues, the present invention is characterized by having a substrate for configuring an external connector and a housing for housing the substrate, the housing comprising: an interface panel having a hole for configuring the external connector; a housing body for detachably fixing the interface panel; and a substrate fixing panel fixed to the interface panel and extending along a first direction intersecting the interface panel, thereby fixing the substrate on the substrate fixing panel.

[0007] According to the present invention, a substrate equipped with an external connection connector is fixed to a substrate fixing panel separate from the housing body, and the substrate fixing panel is fixed to an interface panel. This allows the substrate equipped with the external connection connector, the substrate fixing panel, and the interface panel to be unitized and processed as a substrate unit that can be detached from the housing body. Therefore, the substrate can be easily moved to the outside of the housing body simply by removing the interface panel. This makes it easy to access electronic components or wiring connectors on the substrate. This simplifies wiring operations and maintenance of electronic components, connectors, etc., on the substrate, and also makes it easy to remove the substrate to the outside. Furthermore, when the substrate is housed inside the housing body, it is not necessary to ensure working space around the substrate. This allows for miniaturization of the controller.

[0008] In this invention, it is preferable that the substrate fixing panel has an opening or notch opposite to the substrate. This allows for product inspection or maintenance by accessing electronic components or wiring patterns on the substrate through the opening or notch while the substrate is fixed to the substrate fixing panel.

[0009] In this invention, preferably, the housing body has a housing opening for fixing the interface panel and an outer panel extending from the edge of the housing opening along the first direction. The outer panel has a guide portion for guiding the substrate fixing panel along the first direction. This allows the guide portion to guide the substrate fixing panel when attaching or detaching the interface panel relative to the housing body. Therefore, it facilitates the attachment, removal, and positioning of the interface panel and the substrate.

[0010] In this invention, it is preferable that the substrate fixing panel includes a guided portion extending in the first direction, and the guided portion contacts the guided portion in a direction intersecting the first direction. For example, when the substrate fixing panel has the notch, it is preferable that the guided portion is the edge of the notch, and the guided portion is a protrusion disposed inside the notch. This facilitates the loading, unloading, and positioning of the interface panel and the substrate. Furthermore, the edge of the notch used to access the first substrate can be utilized as the guided portion. Therefore, the substrate fixing panel can have a simple structure.

[0011] In this invention, it is preferable that the substrate includes a wiring connector located at an end different from the end on the interface panel side. This eliminates the need to ensure sufficient working space around the wiring connector for attaching and detaching it relative to the other connector when the interface panel is mounted on the housing body. Therefore, the controller can be miniaturized.

[0012] In this invention, it is preferable to fix a plurality of substrates, stacked at intervals and intersecting the first direction and along the direction of the interface panel, on the substrate fixing panel. External connection connectors are respectively disposed on the plurality of substrates. Holes are provided on the interface panel at positions corresponding to the external connection connectors disposed on the plurality of substrates. This allows for unitization by stacking multiple substrates, facilitating the positioning of the multiple substrates relative to the interface panel. Furthermore, the centralized arrangement of substrates improves space efficiency. Additionally, electronic components or connectors disposed on each substrate can be easily accessed. Invention Effects

[0013] According to the present invention, a substrate equipped with an external connection connector is fixed to a substrate fixing panel separate from the housing body, and the substrate fixing panel is fixed to an interface panel. This allows the substrate equipped with the external connection connector, the substrate fixing panel, and the interface panel to be unitized and processed as a substrate unit that can be detached from the housing body. Therefore, the substrate can be easily moved to the outside of the housing body simply by removing the interface panel. This makes it easy to access electronic components or wiring connectors on the substrate. This simplifies wiring operations and maintenance of electronic components, connectors, etc., on the substrate, and also makes it easy to remove the substrate to the outside. Furthermore, when the substrate is housed inside the housing body, it is not necessary to ensure working space around the substrate. This allows for miniaturization of the controller. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the controller using the present invention, with a portion omitted. Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing the state of the communication board unit, which has been assembled with the interface panel, board fixing panel and board, after being removed from the housing body. Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional view of the communication substrate unit. Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view of the communication substrate unit. Figure 5 This is an illustrative diagram of the wiring connection method for the communication substrate unit. Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A partial sectional view of the controller (in) Figure 5 (a) Sectional view cut at position AA and its enlarged view. Figure 7 This is an explanatory diagram of the guide portion provided on the housing body and the guided portion provided on the substrate fixing panel. Detailed Implementation

[0015] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the controller 1 to which the present invention is applied will be described. The controller 1 is, for example, a device that provides power to a robot equipped with actuators such as motors. Alternatively, the controller 1 can also be a device for other purposes; the present invention can be applied to all devices that communicate or supply power to other devices via connectors.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the controller 1 using the present invention, with a portion omitted. Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing the communication board unit 5, which is assembled with the interface panel 20, the board fixing panel 4, and the communication board 3, after being removed from the main housing. In this specification, the X, Y, and Z directions are mutually orthogonal. For convenience, the third direction Z is defined as the vertical direction of the controller 1. Z1 is upward, and Z2 is downward. The first direction X is the front-back direction of the controller 1. X1 is forward, and X2 is backward. The second direction Y is the width direction of the controller 1. Y1 and Y2 are one side and the other side of the second direction Y. However, in actual use of the controller 1, the third direction Z may not be the same as the vertical direction.

[0017] (Overall structure) like Figure 1 As shown, the controller 1 has a metal outer housing 2. The outer housing 2 is cuboid in shape. The outer housing 2 has an interface panel 20 disposed on a surface in the X1 direction and a housing body 21 for attaching and detaching the interface panel 20. The housing body 21 has a frame-like frame 22 and an outer housing panel fixed to the frame 22. Here, in Figure 1 The image shows a state where a portion of the outer panel has been removed, and a state where the back panel 23 constituting the X2 direction, the side panel 24 constituting the Y1 direction, and the bottom panel 25 constituting the Z2 direction are mounted on the frame 22.

[0018] like Figure 2As shown, the housing body 21 has a housing opening 26 for attaching and detaching the interface panel 20. The housing opening 26 opens in the X1 direction. The housing opening 26 is a rectangular opening surrounded by a base plate 25 on the Z2 side and by a frame 22 on the Z1, Y1, and Y2 sides. The frame 22 includes: a first frame 22a, which is opposite to the end edge 25a of the base plate 25 on the X1 side in the third direction Z and extends in the second direction Y; a second frame 22b, which extends from the end of the first frame 22a on the Y2 side in the Z2 direction and is connected to the base plate 25; and a third frame 22c, which extends from approximately the center of the first frame 22a in the second direction Y in the Z2 direction and is connected to the base plate 25. The four corners of the interface panel 20 are fixed to the first frame 22a, the second frame 22b, and the second frame 22c by screws, thereby fixing the interface panel 20 to the housing body 21.

[0019] like Figure 1 As shown, the controller 1 includes a communication board 3 disposed at the corner where the base plate 25 of the outer housing 2 intersects with the interface panel 20. (As shown...) Figure 2 As shown, the communication substrate 3 is fixed to the interface panel 20 by the substrate fixing panel 4, and is integrally mounted and detached from the housing body 21 with the interface panel 20. That is, in this embodiment, the communication substrate 3, the substrate fixing panel 4, and the interface panel 20 constitute a communication substrate unit 5 that can be mounted and detached from the housing body 21. A plurality of holes 27 are formed on the interface panel 20, and each hole 27 is provided with an external connection connector 11 to 17 disposed on the edge of the X1 side of the communication substrate 3 and any one of electronic components 18 and 19.

[0020] (Communication substrate unit) Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional view of communication substrate unit 5. Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view of the communication substrate unit 5. The communication substrate unit 5 includes three communication substrates 3 stacked in the third direction Z. The three communication substrates 3 are stacked on the Z1 side of the substrate fixing panel 4. Figure 4 As shown, the substrate fixing panel 4 includes: a rectangular plate portion 40; a pin with a hole 41 that protrudes from the plate portion 40 toward the Z1 side; and a fixing portion 42 that bends from both ends of the end edge of the plate portion 40 on the X1 side toward the Z1 direction, and the interface panel 20 is threadedly fastened to the fixing portion 42.

[0021] The three communication substrates 3 are: a first substrate 31 that abuts against the substrate fixing panel 4 from the Z1 side with a perforated pin 41; a second substrate 32 that abuts against the first substrate 31 from the Z1 side with a perforated spacer 34; and a third substrate 33 that abuts against the second substrate 32 from the Z1 side with a perforated spacer 34. The three communication substrates 3 are fixed to the substrate fixing panel 4 by passing screws (not shown) through holes provided on each substrate and holes in the spacer 34, and by threading the front end of the screws onto the perforated pin 41.

[0022] The electronic components disposed on the communication substrate 3 include: external connection connectors 11 and 12 disposed on the X1 side edge of the first substrate 31; external connection connectors 13, 14, and 15 disposed on the X1 side edge of the second substrate 32; and external connection connectors 16 and 17 disposed on the X1 side edge of the third substrate 33. Additionally, the electronic components disposed on the communication substrate 3 include: a display electronic component 18 disposed on the X1 side edge of the first substrate 31; and a display electronic component 19 disposed on the X1 side edge of the third substrate 31. The interface panel 20 has holes 27 formed at positions corresponding to these external connection connectors 11-17 and electronic components 18 and 19, respectively.

[0023] Figure 5 This is an explanatory diagram of the wiring connection method of the communication board unit 5, and is a side view of the end of the housing body 21 on the X1 side and the communication board unit 5 viewed from the Z2 side. Figure 5 (a) shows the state in which the communication board unit 5 is fixed to the housing body 21. Figure 5 (b) shows the state in which the communication board unit 5 is moved to a position where it can be attached to or detached relative to the wiring connector 10. Figure 3 As shown, the edge of the first substrate 31 on the X2 side extends further towards the X2 side than the edges of the second substrate 32 and the third substrate 33 on the X2 side. Figure 4 As shown, a plurality of wiring connectors 10 are disposed on the edge of the first substrate 31 on the X2 side. In this embodiment, wiring connectors 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, and 10e are disposed as wiring connectors 10.

[0024] like Figure 5 As shown in (a), a substrate on which a large electronic component 6 is mounted is disposed on the X2 side of the first substrate 31. In the controller 1, the gap between the wiring connector 10 disposed at the X2 side end of the first substrate 31 and the electronic component 6 is set to be narrow in order to reduce miniaturization. Therefore, in Figure 5 In the configuration shown in (a), it is difficult to install or remove the other side connector 7 relative to the wiring connection connector 10.

[0025] However, in this embodiment, such as Figure 5 As shown in (b), the interface panel 20 can be detached from the housing body 21, allowing the communication board unit 5 to move towards the X1 side. Consequently, since the three communication boards 3 and the interface panel 20 move together outward from the housing body 21, the gap between the wiring connector 10 and the electronic component 6 widens, making it easier to access the wiring connector 10. Therefore, the installation and removal of the opposite-side connector 7 and the wiring connector 10 can be performed easily. Furthermore, since the installation and removal of the opposite-side connector 7 becomes easier, it also becomes easier to remove the communication board 3 from the outside of the housing body 21.

[0026] like Figure 4 As shown, the substrate fixing panel 4 has a rectangular notch 43 cut from the edge of the plate portion 40 in the X2 direction toward the X1 direction. Figure 2 As shown, the notch 43 is opposite to the substrate surface of the first substrate 31. Therefore, the notch 43 is opposite to the electronic components or wiring patterns disposed on the substrate surface of the first substrate 31, so that when the first substrate 31 is mounted on the substrate fixing panel 4, the electronic components or wiring patterns on the first substrate 31 can be approached from the notch 43.

[0027] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A partial sectional view of controller 1 (in) Figure 5 (a) Sectional view cut at position AA and its enlarged view. Figure 7 This is an explanatory diagram of the guide portion provided on the housing body 21 and the guided portion provided on the substrate fixing panel 4, viewed from the Z1 direction as a view of the base plate 25, the substrate fixing panel 4, and the interface panel 20. When attaching or detaching the communication substrate unit 5 relative to the housing body 21, the substrate fixing panel 4 slides along the Z1 side surface of the base plate 25 in the first direction X. With the interface panel 20 fixed to the housing body 21, as shown... Figure 6 As shown, the substrate fixing panel 4 abuts against the Z1 side surface of the base plate 25.

[0028] like Figure 7 As shown, the inner edge of the notch 43 provided on the substrate fixing panel 4 has edges 44 and 45 extending parallel to the X direction. Figure 6As shown, the base plate 25 has a protrusion 46 protruding towards the Z1 side. The protrusion 46 is disposed at two locations separated along the second direction Y. When the communication substrate unit 5 is attached or detached from the housing body 21, the protrusion 46 contacts the edges 44 and 45 of the notch 43 in the second direction Y of the substrate fixing panel 4, respectively. Therefore, the substrate fixing panel 4 moves along the first direction X while being guided by the protrusion 46. That is, the protrusion 46 provided on the base plate 25 is a guide portion for guiding the substrate fixing panel 4, and the edges 44 and 45 of the notch 43 in the second direction Y are guided portions that contact the protrusion 46 in a direction intersecting with the first direction X. In other words, the protrusion 46 and the edges 44 and 45 constitute a guide mechanism for guiding the substrate fixing panel 4 during the attachment and detachment of the communication substrate unit 5.

[0029] (The main effects of this embodiment) As described above, the controller 1 of this embodiment has an outer housing 2, which houses a communication board 3 equipped with external connectors 11 to 17. The outer housing 2 includes: an interface panel 20 having holes 27 for arranging the external connectors 11 to 17; a housing body 21 for detachably fixing the interface panel 20; and a board fixing panel 4 fixed to the interface panel 20 and extending along a first direction X intersecting the interface panel 20. The communication board 3 is fixed to the board fixing panel 4.

[0030] In this embodiment, the communication board 3, the board fixing panel 4, and the interface panel 20 are treated as a communication board unit 5 that can be detached from the housing body 21. Therefore, the communication board 3 can be easily removed from the housing body 21 simply by removing the interface panel 20. This allows easy access to the electronic components or wiring connectors 10 on the communication board 3. Consequently, wiring and maintenance of the electronic components and connectors on the communication board 3 can be easily performed.

[0031] Thus, by employing a structure that allows the communication board 3 to be easily removed from the exterior of the housing body 21, a large working space around the communication board 3 is not required inside the housing body 21. For example, in this embodiment, the communication board 3 includes a wiring connector 10 located at an end different from the end on the interface panel 20 side (the end on the X1 side) (the end on the X2 side), but as... Figure 5 As shown in (b), the connection operation with the counterpart connector 7 can be performed while the communication board 3 is moved toward the outside (X1 side) of the housing body 21 and can be easily approached. Therefore, as Figure 5 As shown in (a), the gap between the controller 1 and the adjacent electronic component 6 can be narrowed, eliminating the need to ensure a large working space between them. Therefore, the controller 1 can be miniaturized.

[0032] The substrate fixing panel 4 of this embodiment has a notch 43 opposite to the communication substrate 3. This allows access to electronic components or wiring patterns on the communication substrate 3 through the notch 43 while the communication substrate 3 is fixed to the substrate fixing panel 4. Therefore, product inspection and maintenance can be performed while the communication substrate 3 is fixed to the substrate fixing panel 4, without disassembling the communication substrate unit 5. Alternatively, the notch 43 may be omitted, and an opening opposite to the communication substrate 3 may be provided on the substrate fixing panel 4. In this case, the components on the communication substrate 3 can also be accessed through the opening, thus achieving the same effect.

[0033] In this embodiment, the housing body 21 includes a housing opening 26 for fixing the interface panel 20 and a base plate 25 extending from the Z2 side edge of the housing opening 26 along a first direction X as an outer mounting panel. The base plate 25 has a protrusion 46 serving as a guide portion for guiding the substrate fixing panel 4 along the first direction X. By forming the protrusion 46 (guide portion) on the base plate 25, the insertion of the substrate fixing panel 4 can be guided by the protrusion 46 (guide portion) when attaching or detaching the interface panel 20 relative to the housing body 21. Therefore, it is easy to perform the attachment, detachment, and positioning operations of the interface panel 20 and the communication substrate 3.

[0034] In this embodiment, the substrate fixing panel 4 includes a notch 43, which has edges 44 and 45 extending along a first direction X as guided portions. A protrusion 46 (guide portion) provided on the base plate 25 is disposed inside the notch 43, positioned to contact the edges 44 and 45 in a second direction Y (a direction intersecting the first direction X). Therefore, when attaching or detaching the interface panel 20 relative to the housing body 21, the protrusion 46 slides along the edges 44 and 45, thereby guiding the insertion of the substrate fixing panel 4. This facilitates the attachment, detachment, and positioning of the interface panel 20. Thus, by using the edges 44 and 45 of the notch 43, which facilitate access to the substrate surface of the first substrate 31, as guided portions of the guiding mechanism, the substrate fixing panel 4 can be simplified.

[0035] Alternatively, the guiding mechanism for the substrate fixing panel 4 can be a structure other than the protrusion 46 provided on the base plate 25 and the edges 44 and 45 of the notch 43 provided on the substrate fixing panel 4. For example, the guided portion formed on the substrate fixing panel 4 can be a rib, groove, slit, etc. extending in the first direction X. Alternatively, a protrusion can be formed on the substrate fixing panel 4, and ribs, grooves, slits, etc. extending in the first direction X can be provided on the base plate 25.

[0036] In this embodiment, a plurality of communication substrates 3, stacked on a substrate fixing panel 4 and intersecting the first direction X and along the second direction of the interface panel 20 with spacers 34 between them, are fixed to the substrate fixing panel 4. Each of the plurality of communication substrates 3 is provided with an external connection connector 11 to 17, and holes 27 are provided on the interface panel 20 at positions corresponding to the external connection connectors 11 to 17. This stacking of the plurality of communication substrates 3 improves space efficiency, thus enabling miniaturization of the controller 1. Furthermore, by unitizing the plurality of communication substrates 3, they can be detached from the housing body 21, allowing easy access to the electronic components and connectors disposed on each communication substrate 3. Figure Labels

[0037] 1…Controller; 2…Outer housing; 3…Communication board; 4…Board fixing panel; 5…Communication board unit; 6…Electronic component; 7…Match-side connector; 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e…Connectors for wiring; 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17…Connectors for external connection; 18, 19…Electronic components; 20…Interface panel; 21…Housing body; 22…Frame; 22a…First frame; 22b…Second frame; 22c…Third frame; 23…Back panel; 24…Side panel; 25…Bottom plate; 25a…End edge; 26…Housing opening; 27…Hole; 31…First board; 32…Second board; 33…Third board; 34…Spacer; 40…Plate; 41…Pin with hole; 42…Fixing part; 43…Notch; 44, 45…Edge of notch; 46…Protrusion.

Claims

1. A controller, characterized in that, have: A substrate, the substrate being provided with an external connection connector; and A housing that houses the substrate. The housing includes: An interface panel having holes for configuring the external connector; A housing body that detachably secures the interface panel; and A substrate fixing panel is fixed to the interface panel and extends along a first direction intersecting the interface panel. On the substrate fixing panel, a plurality of substrates are fixedly stacked, intersecting the first direction and spaced apart by spacers along the direction of the interface panel. The external connection connectors are respectively disposed on the plurality of substrates. On the interface panel, holes are provided at positions corresponding to the external connection connectors disposed on the plurality of substrates. The plurality of substrates includes a first substrate opposite to the substrate fixing panel. The edge of the first substrate opposite to the interface panel extends longer than the edges of the other substrates (excluding the first substrate) opposite to the interface panel. A wiring connector is provided on the edge of the first substrate opposite to the interface panel, which can be inserted from the side opposite to the substrate fixing panel. The substrate fixing panel has an opening or notch opposite to the substrate.

2. The controller according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body of the shell includes: A housing opening, which secures the interface panel; and An outer panel extending from the edge of the housing opening along the first direction. The outer panel has a guide portion that guides the substrate fixing panel along the first direction.

3. The controller according to claim 2, characterized in that, The substrate fixing panel has a guided portion extending in the first direction. The guide portion contacts the guided portion in a direction intersecting the first direction.

4. The controller according to claim 3, characterized in that, The substrate fixing panel has the notch portion. The guided portion is the edge of the notch portion. The guide portion is a protrusion disposed inside the notch portion.

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