Elastic centering device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a kind of elastic centering alignment device, it is related to equipment technical field of assembly.The elastic centering alignment device includes positioning piece, at least three positioning pieces are provided, each positioning piece is distributed on the outer periphery of the component to be assembled, each positioning piece includes fixed end away from the component to be assembled and movable end abutting to the outer wall of the component to be assembled, under the abutting force of the component to be assembled, the movable end is configured to have the characteristics of micro-deformation towards the fixed end, and under the action of no external force, the movable end is configured to restore normal structure;Each positioning piece is positioned and centered by each movable end to set the component to be assembled, so that the component to be assembled as a whole remains in a stable and balanced state.This scheme can reduce the overall assembly tolerance of the component to be assembled.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of assembling equipment, and in particular, to a resilient centering alignment device. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the continuous evolution of information technology, the application of electronic devices is accelerating the rate of information acquisition of people, and the assembling efficiency and assembling precision of electronic devices are also increasingly concerned by the general public. Considering the portable application of electronic devices, notebook computers are gradually derived from computers. During the production and assembly process of notebook computers, it is often necessary to align and assemble at least two structural components without positioning function. At present, the pre-positioning mainly relies on the existing profiling fixture. Due to the existence of module tolerance, fixture tolerance and assembly tolerance at the same time, the cumulative tolerance of the assembly component will be very large.

[0003] In the related art, taking the assembly of a fingerprint module and a switch key as an example, the cumulative tolerance of the key module formed by the two after using the existing profiling fixture can reach ±0.25mm, while the tolerance range of the gap between the key module after assembly and the periphery of the whole machine is ±0.15mm. Obviously, the actual tolerance of the key module obtained by using the existing profiling fixture does not meet the expected tolerance requirement, which will result in a very high product failure rate in the overall production process. SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure provides a resilient centering alignment device to at least solve the above technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a resilient centering alignment device is provided, comprising: a plurality of positioning components, each of the positioning components is arranged on the outer periphery of a component to be assembled, each of the positioning components comprises a fixed end away from the component to be assembled and a movable end abutting the outer wall of the component to be assembled, under the abutting force of the component to be assembled, the movable end is configured to have a micro-deformation characteristic towards the fixed end, and under the action of no external force, the movable end is configured to restore to a normal structure; each of the positioning components positions and centers the component to be assembled through the movable end, so that the component to be assembled as a whole maintains a stable and balanced state.

[0006] In an implementable manner, the positioning component is configured as a resilient arm structure.

[0007] In an implementable manner, the resilient arm has a mounting hole, and the mounting hole is fixed to a surface by a fastener to form the fixed end.

[0008] In an implementable manner, the resilient arm has a long arm structure extending from the outer wall of the mounting hole, and the long arm structure and the outer wall of the mounting hole have a movable space therebetween to form the movable end.

[0009] In an embodiment, the components to be assembled include a first structure below and a second structure above the first structure, the first structure and the second structure are both configured as a central symmetric structure, the first structure includes a first outer wall, the second structure includes a second outer wall, and the first outer wall and the second outer wall are arranged in parallel in a radial direction.

[0010] In an embodiment, the long arm structure has a first facade abutting the first outer wall and a second facade abutting the second outer wall, and in a normal state, a first interference exists between the first facade and the first outer wall, and a second interference exists between the second facade and the second outer wall, and the first interference is equal to the second interference.

[0011] In an embodiment, the positioning member further has a guide end, the guide end is located on a side of the fixed end away from the movable end, and correspondingly, the elastic centering device further has a limiting part, the limiting part is used to prevent the guide end from rotating in a circumferential direction of the fixed end.

[0012] In an embodiment, the limiting part has a receiving groove, an opening of the receiving groove faces the guide end, the guide end is configured as an extension structure in the radial direction, the extension structure extends into the receiving groove, and the extension structure is configured not to shake obviously relative to the receiving groove.

[0013] In an embodiment, the elastic centering device further includes a first mounting position and a second mounting position, the first mounting position and the second mounting position are arranged in communication, the first mounting position is used to mount each of the positioning member, the first structure, and the second structure, and the second mounting position is used to place an associated component, and the associated component is connected with the first structure.

[0014] In an embodiment, the associated component is a flexible circuit board, the first structure is a fingerprint module, and the second structure is a switch key.

[0015] The elastic centering and aligning device of the present disclosure adopts at least three positioning members which are evenly distributed on the outer periphery of the to-be-assembled component, and each positioning member comprises a fixed end and a movable end abutting against the outer wall of the to-be-assembled component. The movable end has the characteristic of micro-deformation towards the fixed end, and can restore the normal structure under the action of no external force. Under the action of the abutting force formed by the abutment of each movable end with the outer wall of the to-be-assembled component, the to-be-assembled component can maintain a stable and balanced state as a whole. In this way, during the centering and aligning assembly process of the to-be-assembled component, the positioning column of the original profiling jig and the tolerance of the outer edge positioning hole of the fingerprint module, the separate positioning tolerance of the outer wall of the fingerprint module, and the separate positioning tolerance of the outer wall of the switch button are avoided. By using the elastic centering and aligning device of the present disclosure, the positioning function of the positioning column is removed, thereby avoiding the positioning column and the tolerance of the outer edge positioning hole of the fingerprint module. The separate positioning of the fingerprint module and the switch button is also removed, thereby avoiding the separate positioning tolerance of the outer wall of the fingerprint module and the separate positioning tolerance of the outer wall of the switch button. The present disclosure regards the fingerprint module and the switch button as a whole to-be-assembled component, and simultaneously abuts and positions the outer wall of the to-be-assembled component by using the positioning member. This can reduce the overall size tolerance of the to-be-assembled component as a whole, and can improve the yield rate in the overall production process.

[0016] It should be understood that the content described in this part is not intended to identify key or important features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] In the drawings, identical or corresponding reference numerals indicate identical or corresponding parts.

[0019] Figure 1 A top view structural schematic diagram of the elastic centering and aligning device of the embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0020] Figure 2 A positioning member shaft side structural schematic diagram of the elastic centering and aligning device of the embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0021] Figure 3 A top view structural schematic diagram of the elastic centering and aligning device of the embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0022] Figure 4 A to-be-assembled component shaft side structural schematic diagram of the elastic centering and aligning device of the embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the drawings:

[0024] 10-positioning member; 20-member to be assembled; 30-limiting part; 40-first mounting position; 50-second mounting position;

[0025] 11-fixed end; 12-movable end; 13-guiding end; 21-first structural member; 22-second structural member;

[0026] 111-positioning hole; 121-first vertical surface; 122-second vertical surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In order to make the objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure more apparent and easy to understand, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present disclosure, but not all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0028] For the convenience of description, spatial relative terms such as "above", "upper", "top surface", "upper" and the like can be used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of one or more components or features shown in the drawings with other components or features. It should be understood that the spatial relative terms not only include the positions of the components in the drawings, but also include different positions in use or operation. For example, if the components in the drawings are inverted as a whole, the components "above" or "on" other components or features will include the case of "below" or "under" other components or structures. Therefore, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below". In addition, the components or features can also be positioned at other different angles (for example, rotated by 90 degrees or other angles), and all these cases are intended to be included herein.

[0029] It should be noted that the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, and furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprise" and / or "include" are used in the specification, there is a feature, step, operation, component, assembly and / or combination thereof.

[0030] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", and the like in the description and claims of the present disclosure and the accompanying drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a particular sequential or chronological order. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances so that the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein are implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0031] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the orientation or position relationship indicated by the orientation words is generally based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description. Without the opposite description, these orientation words do not indicate and imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. The orientation words "in" and "out" refer to the inside and outside relative to the outline of each component.

[0032] Generally, during the production and assembly process of a notebook computer, at least two structural parts without positioning function often need to be aligned and assembled. At present, the pre-positioning mainly relies on a profiling jig. Since there are module tolerances, jig tolerances and assembly part tolerances at the same time, the cumulative tolerance of the assembly part will be very large.

[0033] In the related art, taking the assembly of a fingerprint module and a switch key as an example, the fingerprint module can be regarded as a first structural part, and the switch key can be regarded as a second structural part. After using the existing profiling jig, the cumulative tolerance of the key module formed by the two can reach ±0.25mm, while the whole machine appearance requires that the tolerance range of the key module after assembly is ±0.15mm. Obviously, the actual tolerance of the key module obtained by using the existing profiling jig does not meet the expected tolerance requirement, which will result in a very high product failure rate in the overall production process.

[0034] In order to alleviate the above problems, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides an elastic centering alignment device, which can reduce the overall size tolerance of the to-be-assembled component composed of the first structural part and the second structural part, and further meet the tolerance range of ±0.15mm required by the overall appearance.

[0035] Reference Figures 1-4The elastic centering and aligning device provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure comprises positioning members 10, wherein the positioning members 10 are arranged at least in three, and each of the positioning members 10 is arranged uniformly on the outer periphery of a component to be assembled 20, each of the positioning members 10 comprises a fixed end 11 away from the component to be assembled 20 and a movable end 12 abutting against the outer wall of the component to be assembled 20, and the movable end 12 is configured to have a micro-deformation feature towards the fixed end 11 under the abutting force of the component to be assembled 20, and the movable end 12 is configured to restore to a normal structure without external force.

[0036] For example, the component to be assembled 20 of the present disclosure can be understood as an assembled structure of two or more structural members, and for the convenience of description, the embodiments of the present disclosure take the component to be assembled 20 comprising two structural members as an example for subsequent scheme elaboration.

[0037] The positioning member 10 of the embodiments of the present disclosure comprises a fixed end 11 and a movable end 12 having a micro-deformation feature and restoring to a normal structure without external force, which can be understood as that the positioning member 10 has a micro-deformation elastic feature.

[0038] For example, the positioning member 10 can be made of a material structure having a micro-deformation feature as a whole, for example, the positioning member 10 can be made of plastic or rubber material, for example, the positioning member 10 can be made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polyformaldehyde, etc. plastic material, or the positioning member 10 can also be made of polyurethane, silicone rubber, acrylate, etc. rubber material. Alternatively, for example, the positioning member 10 can adopt a movable end 12 structure having a micro-deformation function, for example, the micro-deformation can be realized by means of the deformation of a torsion spring or a spring.

[0039] For example, when the positioning member 10 is arranged in three, the three positioning members 10 can be uniformly distributed on the outer periphery of the component to be assembled 20, when the three same positioning members 10 simultaneously abut against the outer wall of the component to be assembled 20, the force acting on the component to be assembled 20 by the three positioning members 10 is balanced, the positioning effect on the overall structure of the component to be assembled 20 is realized, and the stable and balanced state is maintained, in the common abutting and positioning process of the positioning members 10, no separate positioning of the outer edge hole of the component to be assembled 20 is involved, and no positioning of one of the structures of the component to be assembled 20 by different positioning members 10 is involved, so that the overall size tolerance of the assembled component can be reduced.

[0040] In summary, the at least three positioning members 10 are evenly distributed on the outer periphery of the to-be-assembled component 20, and each positioning member 10 includes a fixed end 11 and a movable end 12 abutting against the outer wall of the to-be-assembled component 20. The movable end 12 has a micro-deformation feature towards the fixed end 11, and can restore to a normal structure without external force. Under the action of the abutting force formed by the abutting of each movable end 12 against the outer wall of the to-be-assembled component 20, the to-be-assembled component 20 can be kept in a stable and balanced state as a whole. In this way, during the centering and positioning assembly process of the to-be-assembled component, the original positioning column of the profiling jig and the tolerance of the outer edge positioning hole 111 of the fingerprint module, the separate positioning tolerance of the outer wall of the fingerprint module, and the separate positioning tolerance of the outer wall of the switch button are avoided. The elastic centering and positioning device of the present disclosure eliminates the positioning function of the positioning column, thereby avoiding the tolerance of the positioning column and the outer edge positioning hole 111 of the fingerprint module. The separate positioning of the fingerprint module and the switch button is also eliminated, thereby avoiding the separate positioning tolerance of the outer wall of the fingerprint module and the separate positioning tolerance of the outer wall of the switch button. The present disclosure regards the fingerprint module and the switch button as a whole to-be-assembled component 20, and simultaneously abuts and positions the outer wall of the to-be-assembled component 20 by using the positioning member 10. This can reduce the overall size tolerance of the to-be-assembled component as a whole, and can improve the yield rate during the overall production process.

[0041] Further referring to Figure 2 The positioning member 10 can be configured as a resilient arm structure. The resilient arm can be understood as an extension structure with a preset shape made of plastic or rubber material. For example, the resilient arm can be an extension structure in a single direction, or the resilient arm can also be a curved structure extending in different directions. For example, the resilient arm can be configured as a C-shaped member, a Z-shaped member, or an S-shaped member, etc. The subsequent schemes are described by taking the resilient arm as an example.

[0042] Further referring to Figure 2 The resilient arm can have a mounting hole fixed to a surface by a fastener to form the fixed end 11. Such a structure is convenient for molding and facilitates the installation and removal of the resilient arm at the preset installation position.

[0043] Further referring to Figures 1-3 The resilient arm has a long arm structure extending from the outer wall of the mounting hole, and the long arm structure and the outer wall of the mounting hole have a movable spacing to form the movable end 12. In this way, the long arm structure can have a micro-deformation distance relative to the outer wall of the mounting hole when abutting against the outer wall of the to-be-assembled component 20, and the movable spacing can ensure that the outer wall of the mounting hole and the long arm structure do not contact, thereby not affecting the micro-deformation relative to the to-be-assembled component 20.

[0044] Specifically, further referring to Figure 4The to-be-assembled component 20 comprises a first structure 21 located below and a second structure 22 located above the first structure 21, both the first structure 21 and the second structure 22 are configured as a central symmetric structure, the first structure 21 comprises a first outer wall, and the second structure 22 comprises a second outer wall, which are arranged in parallel and spaced apart in the radial direction. Based on the structure of the to-be-assembled component 20, the first outer wall and the second outer wall can be simultaneously abutted and centered.

[0045] For example, further referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The long arm structure has a first facade 121 abutting against the first outer wall and a second facade 122 abutting against the second outer wall, and in the normal state, there is a first interference amount between the first facade 121 and the first outer wall, and a second interference amount between the second facade 122 and the second outer wall, and the first interference amount is equal to the second interference amount.

[0046] By setting the first interference amount equal to the second interference amount, since the positioning piece 10 is a whole structure, the tolerances of different positions of the whole structure can be understood as equal, and when the two facades with almost the same dimensional tolerance simultaneously abut against the first outer wall of the first structure 21 and the second outer wall of the second structure 22, the dimensional tolerance of the assembled component can be half or a part of the original overall tolerance of the assembled component, and the overall structural tolerance of the assembled component is reduced.

[0047] The specific values of the first interference amount and the second interference amount are not limited in the present disclosure, and can be determined according to factors such as the material and actual tolerance of the positioning piece 10, the material and actual tolerance of the first structure 21 and the second structure 22. For example, the first interference amount and the second interference amount can be +0.02mm at the same time.

[0048] Specifically, further referring to Figures 1-3 The positioning piece 10 also has a guide end 13 located away from the fixed end 11 on the side of the movable end 12, and correspondingly, the elastic centering and positioning device also has a limiting portion 30 for preventing the guide end 13 from rotating in the circumferential direction of the fixed end 11. In this way, it can be ensured that the positioning piece 10 will not have uncontrollable circumferential rotation during the abutting process with the to-be-assembled component 20, which is beneficial to the stability of the overall device.

[0049] Further, further referring to Figure 1 and Figure 3 The limiting portion 30 has a receiving groove, and the opening of the receiving groove faces the guide end 13; the guide end 13 is configured as an extension structure in the radial direction, the extension structure extends into the receiving groove, and the extension structure is configured not to have obvious shaking relative to the receiving groove. In this way, the limiting portion 30 can further limit the circumferential rotation of the guide end 13.

[0050] Specifically, further referring to Figure 1 The elastic centering alignment device further comprises a first mounting position 40 and a second mounting position 50, the first mounting position 40 is arranged in communication with the second mounting position 50, the first mounting position 40 is used for mounting the positioning member 10, the first structural member 21 and the second structural member 22, and the second mounting position 50 is used for placing an associated component, the associated component is connected with the first structural member 21. In this way, the first structural member 21, the second structural member 22 and the associated component without alignment structure can be matched to the corresponding positions of the elastic centering alignment device of the embodiment of the present disclosure at the same time, which is beneficial to the assembly process.

[0051] Specifically, the associated component can be a flexible circuit board, the first structural member 21 can be a fingerprint module, and the second structural member 22 can be a switch key. In this way, the elastic centering alignment device of the embodiment of the present disclosure can reduce the size tolerance of the key module of the fingerprint module and the switch key as a whole, and improve the yield of the process.

[0052] It should be understood that various forms of flow shown above can be used to reorder, add or delete steps. For example, each step described in the present disclosure can be executed in parallel, sequentially or in a different order, as long as the desired results of the technical solutions disclosed in the present disclosure can be achieved, which is not limited herein.

[0053] In addition, the terms "first", "second" are only for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second" can explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of the present disclosure, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more, unless otherwise specifically limited.

[0054] The above is only a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, but the protection scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and any skilled person in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical range disclosed in the present disclosure, which should be covered within the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A flexible centering and alignment device, characterized in that, include: The positioning component includes at least three positioning components, each of which is evenly distributed around the outer periphery of the component to be assembled. Each positioning component includes a fixed end away from the component to be assembled and a movable end abutting against the outer wall of the component to be assembled. Under the action of the abutting force of the component to be assembled, the movable end is configured to have the characteristic of slightly deforming towards the fixed end, and under the action of no external force, the movable end is configured to return to its normal structure. Each of the positioning components centers the component to be assembled through its movable end, so that the component to be assembled as a whole remains in a stable and balanced state. The positioning element is constructed as a spring arm structure; The elastic arm has a mounting hole, which is fixed by a fastener to form the fixed end; The elastic arm has a long arm structure extending from the outer wall of the mounting hole, and there is a movable gap between the long arm structure and the outer wall of the mounting hole to form the movable end; The component to be assembled includes a first structural member located below and a second structural member located above the first structural member. Both the first structural member and the second structural member are constructed as centrally symmetrical structures. The first structural member includes a first outer wall, and the second structural member includes a second outer wall. Along the radial direction, the first outer wall and the second outer wall are arranged parallel to each other at intervals. The long arm structure has a first facade that abuts against the first outer wall and a second facade that abuts against the second outer wall. In the normal structure, there is a first interference amount between the first facade and the first outer wall, and there is a second interference amount between the second facade and the second outer wall. The first interference amount and the second interference amount are equal.

2. The elastic centering and alignment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning element also has a guide end located on the side of the fixed end away from the movable end. Correspondingly, the elastic centering and alignment device also has a limiting part used to prevent the guide end from rotating in the circumferential direction of the fixed end.

3. The elastic centering and alignment device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The limiting portion has a receiving groove, the opening of which faces the guide end; the guide end is configured as an extension structure along the radial direction, the extension structure extending into the receiving groove, and the extension structure is configured not to wobble significantly relative to the receiving groove.

4. The elastic centering and alignment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible centering and alignment device further includes a first mounting position and a second mounting position. The first mounting position and the second mounting position are connected. The first mounting position is used to install each of the positioning components, the first structural component and the second structural component. The second mounting position is used to place an associated component. The associated component is connected to the first structural component.

5. The elastic centering and alignment device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The associated component is a flexible circuit board, the first structural component is a fingerprint module, and the second structural component is a switch button.

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