Safety switch device

By designing a safety switch device including a back support part, a main body-side clamping part and a movable part-side clamping part, the problem of maintaining stable installation of the portable terminal in multiple directions is solved by using elastic components and a material with a large friction coefficient, and the safe and reliable operation of the portable terminal is achieved.

CN115461200BActive Publication Date: 2025-06-24FANUC LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202180031013.3
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2020-04-28
Filing Date
2021-04-23
Publication Date
2025-06-24
Estimated Expiration
2041-04-23

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The prior art is difficult to achieve stable installation and operation on portable terminals of different sizes, especially to keep the position of the portable terminal in the three-dimensional direction without offset.

Method used

A safety switch device is designed, which includes a device main body and a movable part. By providing a back support part and a main body side clamping part on the device main body, and a movable part side clamping part on the movable part, the elastic member and a material with a large friction coefficient can be used to achieve stable clamping and fixing of the portable terminal in multiple directions.

Benefits of technology

The portable terminal is stable and fixed in multiple directions, avoiding the portable terminal being offset during operation, and ensuring the safety and reliability of operation.

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Abstract

A safety switch device (1) includes a device main body (2) and a movable part (3). The movable part (3) is arranged on the device main body so as to be movable in a specified moving direction. The device main body includes a back surface support part (7) and a main body side clamping part (8). The back surface support part (7) has a support surface (7a) for supporting the back surface of a portable terminal (100). The main body side clamping part (8) presses one side of the portable terminal in a state of being supported by the back surface support part. The movable part includes a movable part side clamping part (17). The movable part side clamping part (17) is disposed opposite to the main body side clamping part in the moving direction and presses the other side of the portable terminal. The main body side clamping part and the movable part side clamping part each include an inclined surface that is in close contact with one side or the other side of the portable terminal. Each inclined surface inclines in a direction approaching each other in the moving direction as it moves away from the support surface in a direction orthogonal to the support surface. In a region of the support surface that is in close contact with the back surface of the portable terminal, a treatment is performed to make the coefficient of friction larger than that of other parts of the surface of the device main body.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a safety switch device. Background Art

[0002] A known robot operation unit can be detachably mounted on a commercially available portable terminal and constitutes a teaching device for a robot (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] The robot operation unit includes: an operation unit main body having an emergency stop button and the like; and an attachment for mounting the operation unit main body on the portable terminal.

[0004] Prior Art Documents

[0005] Patent Documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-202550 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] In order to mount the operation unit main body on portable terminals of different sizes, the attachment is provided on the operation unit main body so as to be movable in the width direction of the portable terminal, and the portable terminal is clamped between the attachment and the operation unit main body by the elastic force of a spiral spring.

[0009] The portable terminal mounted on the operation unit is not directly held by the operator, but is operated in a state of being indirectly held by holding the operation unit. Therefore, when the portable terminal is operated by the operator, it is preferably not offset relative to the operation unit not only in the direction in which it is clamped by the operation unit main body and the attachment, but also in three-dimensional directions.

[0010] Solutions to the Problems

[0011] One aspect of the present disclosure is a safety switch device, which includes a device main body and a movable part. The movable part is arranged on the device main body so as to be movable in a specified moving direction. The device main body includes a back support part and a main body side clamping part. The back support part has a support surface for supporting the back of a portable terminal. The main body side clamping part presses one side of the portable terminal in a state of being supported by the back support part. The movable part includes a movable part side clamping part. The movable part side clamping part is disposed opposite to the main body side clamping part in the moving direction and presses the other side of the portable terminal. The main body side clamping part and the movable part side clamping part each include an inclined surface that is in close contact with one side or the other side of the portable terminal. Each of these inclined surfaces is inclined in a direction approaching each other in the moving direction as it moves away from the support surface in a direction orthogonal to the support surface. In a region of the support surface that is in close contact with the back of the portable terminal, a treatment is performed to make the coefficient of friction larger than the surfaces of other parts of the device main body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 is a front view showing a safety switch device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a side view of the safety switch device.

[0014] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a rear view of the safety switch device.

[0015] Figure 4 is a rear view showing a state in which an operator holds the device main body of the safety switch device Figure 1 .

[0016] Figure 5 is a partial enlarged view showing the first clamping part of the safety switch device Figure 1 .

[0017] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the back of the first elastic member included in the first clamping part of the safety switch device Figure 5 .

[0018] Figure 7 is a perspective view for explaining the installation of the first elastic member of the safety switch device Figure 6 onto the abutting surface of the first clamping part.

[0019] Figure 8 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing the first clamping part of the safety switch device Figure 5 .

[0020] Figure 9 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing the first clamping part of the safety switch device Figure 1Partial enlarged view of the second clamping portion of the safety switch device.

[0021] Figure 10 It is to illustrate Figure 6 Partial enlarged view of the deformation example of the first elastic member. Detailed implementation manners

[0022] The safety switch device 1 of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] As Figure 1 shown, the safety switch device 1 of the present embodiment includes a device main body 2 and a sliding member (movable part) 3. The device main body 2 has a longitudinal direction, and the sliding member 3 is mounted on the device main body 2 so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction (moving direction: Y direction). The device main body 2 and the sliding member 3 are made of, for example, a hard resin.

[0024] As Figure 1 shown, an emergency stop button 4 is provided on the surface side of the device main body 2. As Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, a safety switch 5 is provided on the back side of the device main body 2. The emergency stop button 4 is arranged at a position close to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the device main body 2. A cable 6 is mounted on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the device main body 2, and the cable 6 connects the emergency stop button 4 and the safety switch 5 to a control device (not shown).

[0025] As Figure 4 shown, the safety switch 5 is arranged at a position where the index finger or thumb of the hand holding the device main body 2 is exactly located when the operator holds the device main body 2 with the right hand or the left hand. By pressing the safety switch 5 with the index finger or thumb of the hand holding the device main body 2 by the operator, the operation of the portable terminal 100 is permitted, and by separating the hand from the safety switch 5, an emergency stop state is entered.

[0026] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, a back support portion 7 and a first clamping portion (main body side clamping portion) 8 are provided on the surface side of the device main body 2. The back support portion 7 supports the back of the portable terminal 100 when the portable terminal 100 is mounted, and the first clamping portion 8 is arranged at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the back support portion 7. The back support portion 7 has a flat surface (support surface) 7a extending in two directions, i.e., the Y direction and the X direction orthogonal to the Y direction.

[0027] A sheet 9 made of a material such as silica gel having a friction coefficient larger than the surface of other parts of the device main body 2 is fixed on the flat surface 7a.

[0028] As Figure 5 and Figure 7As shown, the first clamping portion 8 has a contact surface (main body side base portion) 10 that extends from one end in the Y direction of the flat surface 7a along the Z direction orthogonal to the flat surface 7a and abuts against one end edge of the portable terminal 100. In addition, the first clamping portion 8 has a first elastic member 11, and the first elastic member 11 is detachably mounted on the contact surface 10 and is made of an elastic material.

[0029] As Figure 7 and Figure 8 shown, a protrusion (protrusion portion) 12 protruding in the Y direction is provided on the contact surface 10, and a hook portion 13 is provided on the protrusion 12. The hook portion 13 protrudes along the Z direction from two portions spaced apart in the X direction toward the direction approaching the flat surface 7a.

[0030] As Figure 5 shown, the first elastic member 11 has an inclined surface 14, and the inclined surface 14 is composed of a plane that inclines in the direction away from the contact surface 10 in the Y direction as it moves away from the flat surface 7a in the Z direction in a state where the first elastic member 11 is mounted on the contact surface 10.

[0031] In addition, as Figure 6 shown, a concave portion 15 is provided on the first elastic member 11, and the concave portion 15 has a shape that fits the protrusion 12 and the hook portion 13 on the contact surface 10 (a shape complementary to the protrusion 12 and the hook portion 13). The first elastic member 11 deforms the concave portion 15 by elastic deformation, and fits the protrusion 12 and the hook portion 13 into the concave portion 15, and is mounted on the contact surface 10 by restoring the elastic deformation.

[0032] As Figure 1 shown, the slider 3 has a strip-shaped sliding portion 16 and a second clamping portion (movable portion side clamping portion) 17. The sliding portion 16 is accommodated in a groove (not shown) provided in the device main body 2 so as to be movable in the Y direction, and the second clamping portion 17 is provided at one end of the sliding portion 16. As Figure 9 shown, the second clamping portion 17 also has a contact surface (movable portion side base portion) 18 and a second elastic member 19. The contact surface 18 extends from the sliding portion 16 along the Z direction orthogonal to the Y direction and abuts against the other end edge of the portable terminal 100. The second elastic member 19 is detachably mounted on the contact surface 18 and is made of an elastic material.

[0033] The second elastic member 19 also has an inclined surface 20, and the inclined surface 20 is composed of a plane that inclines in the direction away from the contact surface 18 in the Y direction as it moves away from the flat surface 7a of the device main body 2 in the Z direction.

[0034] In addition, on the abutment surface 18, similarly to the abutment surface 10, there is provided a flat plate-shaped protrusion protruding in the Y direction, and a hook portion is provided on the protrusion. The hook portion protrudes in the Z direction from two portions spaced apart in the X direction toward the flat surface 7a.

[0035] On the second elastic member 19, there is provided a concave portion having a shape that fits the protrusion and the hook portion of the abutment surface 18. The second elastic member 19 deforms the concave portion by elastic deformation, and fits the protrusion and the hook portion into the concave portion 15. By restoring the elastic deformation, it can be detachably mounted on the abutment surface 18. The protrusion, the hook portion of the abutment surface 18, and the concave portion of the second elastic member 19 have the same shape as the abutment surface 10 and the first elastic member 11, so the illustration is omitted.

[0036] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the first clamping portion 8 and the second clamping portion 17 are arranged at positions opposite to each other in the Y direction. Accordingly, the inclined surface 14 of the first elastic member 11 provided on the first clamping portion 8 and the inclined surface 20 of the second elastic member 19 provided on the second clamping portion 17 are inclined toward each other as they move away from the flat surface 7a in the Z direction.

[0037] The operation of the safety switch device 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

[0038] The safety switch device 1 of the present embodiment is used by mounting the portable terminal 100.

[0039] Examples of the portable terminal 100 include a multifunctional form telephone terminal (smartphone) or a tablet terminal. To mount the portable terminal 100 to the safety switch device 1, the slider 3 is pulled out from the device main body 2 in the Y direction, and the back surface of the portable terminal 100 disposed between the first clamping portion 8 and the second clamping portion 17 is brought into close contact with the piece 9 of the flat surface 7a.

[0040] In this state, the slider 3 is pressed in the Y direction with respect to the device main body 2, and the portable terminal 100 is clamped between the first clamping portion 8 and the second clamping portion 17. Thereby, the portable terminal 100 is mounted on the safety switch device. The position of the slider 3 with respect to the device main body 2 can be freely changed in the Y direction. Accordingly, portable terminals 100 of different sizes can be easily mounted on the safety switch device 1.

[0041] In this state, as Figure 5 shown, the inclined surface 14 of the first elastic member 11 provided on the first clamping portion 8 is in close contact with one end edge of the portable terminal 100 in the Y direction. On the other hand, as Figure 9As shown, the inclined surface 20 of the second elastic member 19 provided on the second clamping portion 17 is in close contact with the other end edge of the portable terminal 100 in the Y direction.

[0042] Since the two inclined surfaces 14 and 20 are inclined in a direction approaching each other as they move away from the flat surface 7a, as Figure 8 shown, at the contact points of the inclined surfaces 14 and 20 with the portable terminal 100, a pressing force F acts on the portable terminal 100 from the sides of the inclined surfaces 14 and 20 in a direction orthogonal to the inclined surfaces 14 and 20. The pressing force F generates component forces fy and fz in the Y direction and the Z direction. The component force fy in the Y direction acts in opposite directions with the same magnitude in the first clamping portion 8 and the second clamping portion 17, so they cancel each other out.

[0043] Through the component force fz in the Z direction, the portable terminal 100 is pressed against the flat surface 7a of the device main body 2. Thus, the portable terminal 100 is fixed in such a way that it does not move in the Z direction relative to the device main body 2. In addition, since a sheet 9 made of a material with a large coefficient of friction is fixed on the flat surface 7a, a large frictional force can act between the device main body 2 and the portable terminal 100 in the XY direction. That is, the portable terminal 100 cannot move in the XY direction unless a force exceeding this large frictional force is applied to the device main body 2, and the portable terminal 100 is reliably fixed by the device main body 2.

[0044] In addition, since the inclined surfaces 14 and 20 in contact with one end edge and the other end edge of the portable terminal 100 are provided on the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19, the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19 are elastically deformed at the contact positions with the portable terminal 100, increasing the contact area with the portable terminal 100. As a result, the frictional force generated between the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19 and the portable terminal 100, especially the frictional force in the X direction, increases, and the positional deviation of the portable terminal 100 relative to the device main body 2 in the X direction can be more effectively prevented.

[0045] In addition, in order to move the slider 3 relative to the device main body 2 in the Y direction and maintain it in the moved position, there is a case where a ratchet mechanism (not shown) is disposed between the device main body 2 and the slider 3. In this case, the adjustment of the interval between the first clamping portion 8 and the second clamping portion 17 is discretely performed in units of the pitch of the teeth of the ratchet mechanism.

[0046] In this case, there is an advantage that by providing the first elastic member 11 on the first clamping portion 8 and the second elastic member 19 on the second clamping portion 17, even if discrete interval adjustment is performed, the portable terminal 100 can be clamped between the first clamping portion 8 and the second clamping portion 17 without gaps.

[0047] In addition, since the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19 are detachably mounted on the abutment surfaces 10, 18, it is possible to replace them with the optimal shape or material according to the thickness of the portable terminal 100 to be mounted or the shape of the edge. In this case, the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19 are elastically deformed to be detached from the protrusion 12 and the hook portion 13. When installing, it is only necessary to elastically deform the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19 to engage the protrusion 12 and the hook portion 13 with the recess 15, and then they can be simply installed.

[0048] In addition, the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19 are subjected to a reaction force fz' in a direction opposite to the component force fz in the direction of pressing the portable terminal 100 against the flat surface 7a.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the hook portion 13 extends in a direction opposite to the reaction force fz' acting on the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19 and engages with the recess 15, so that it is possible to prevent the protrusion 12 from being pulled out of the recess 15 due to the reaction force.

[0050] In order to use the portable terminal 100 in a state where the safety switch device 1 is installed, as Figure 4 shown, the operator holds the device body of the safety switch device 1 disposed on the back surface of the portable terminal 100 with the left hand or the right hand. And the operator presses the safety switch 5 with the index finger or the thumb of the holding hand. This allows the operator to operate the portable terminal 100, so that teaching operations of the robot and the like can be performed.

[0051] In addition, during the teaching operation of the robot, if the emergency stop button 4 provided on the safety switch device 1 is pressed or the pressing state of the safety switch 5 is released, the robot can be brought into an emergency stop state.

[0052] In this case, the operator only directly holds the device body 2 and does not directly hold the portable terminal 100. According to the present embodiment, with the above structure, there are the following advantages: even if a self-weight or a large external force acts on the portable terminal 100, the portable terminal 100 can be stably held so that it does not shift in any direction of the XYZ directions from the device body 2.

[0053] In addition, in the present embodiment, the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19 have planar inclined surfaces 14, 20. Instead, the inclined surfaces 14, 20 may be formed by curved surfaces. In this case, as Figure 10 shown, it can be bent into the following form: as it moves away from the flat surface 7a of the device body 2 in the Z direction, the included angle with the flat surface 7a gradually becomes smaller.

[0054] Thus, as Figure 10As shown, the greater the thickness and weight of the portable terminal 100 to be installed, the greater the Z-direction component force that the portable terminal 100 receives from the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19. Therefore, it has the following advantages: the portable terminal 100 can be held with a greater force in the XYZ directions.

[0055] In addition, inclined surfaces 14 and 20 are provided on the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19 that can be detached from the abutting surfaces 10 and 18. Instead, the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19 can also be fixed to the abutting surfaces 10 and 18. Alternatively, the abutting surfaces 10 and 18 themselves can be the inclined surfaces 14 and 20 without using the first elastic member 11 and the second elastic member 19.

[0056] In addition, although two hook portions 13 are provided on each protrusion 12 at intervals in the X direction, the number of the hook portions 13 can be any number of 1 or more.

[0057] Explanation of reference numerals:

[0058] 1 Safety switch device

[0059] 2 Device main body

[0060] 3 Slider (movable part)

[0061] 7 Rear support portion

[0062] 7a Flat surface (support surface)

[0063] 8 First clamping portion (main body side clamping portion)

[0064] 10 Abutting surface (main body side base portion)

[0065] 11 First elastic member

[0066] 12 Protrusion (protrusion portion)

[0067] 13 Hook portion

[0068] 14 Inclined surface

[0069] 15 Recess

[0070] 17 Second clamping portion (movable part side clamping portion)

[0071] 18 Abutting surface (movable part side base portion)

[0072] 19 Second elastic member

[0073] 20 Inclined surface

[0074] 100 Portable terminal

Claims

1. A safety switch device, characterized in that the safety switch device includes a device main body and a movable part, and the movable part is arranged on the device main body so as to be movable in a specified moving direction. The device main body includes a back support part and a main body side clamping part. The back support part has a support surface for supporting the back of the portable terminal, and the main body side clamping part presses one side of the portable terminal in a state of being supported by the back support part. The movable part includes a movable part side clamping part, and the movable part side clamping part is oppositely arranged to the main body side clamping part in the moving direction and presses the other side of the portable terminal. The main body side clamping part and the movable part side clamping part respectively include inclined surfaces that are in close contact with one side or the other side of the portable terminal. Each of the inclined surfaces is inclined in a direction approaching each other in the moving direction as it moves away from the support surface in a direction orthogonal to the support surface. In the area of the support surface that is in close contact with the back of the portable terminal, a treatment is performed to make the coefficient of friction larger than the surfaces of other parts of the device main body. The main body side clamping part includes a main body side base part and a first elastic member. The main body side base part extends along a direction intersecting with the support surface, and the first elastic member can be detachably mounted on the main body side base part. The movable part side clamping part includes a movable part side base part and a second elastic member. The movable part side base part extends along a direction intersecting with the support surface, and the second elastic member can be detachably mounted on the movable part side base part. The inclined surfaces are provided on the first elastic member and the second elastic member. On the main body side base part and the movable part side base part, a protrusion part and a hook part are provided. The protrusion parts extend in directions approaching each other along the moving direction, and the hook parts extend from the outer surfaces of the respective protrusion parts in a direction approaching the support surface. On the first elastic member and the second elastic member, concave parts having shapes for fitting the protrusion parts and the hook parts are respectively provided.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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