TRIP SWITCH AND DEVICE CONTAINING THE TRIP SWITCH

Abstract

A release switch capable of suppressing wear of a sliding electrode component and a device containing the release switch are provided. A release switch TS includes a front secondary brush 84 and a rear secondary brush 85, which, when a drive component is actuated by a movement of a release mechanism caused by a depressing action of the release mechanism, move from an "on" position, in which they contact a front secondary electrode 82a and a rear secondary electrode 82b on a substrate SU, to an "off" position, in which they do not contact the front secondary electrode 82a and the rear secondary electrode 82b. When the front secondary brush 84 and the rear secondary brush 85 move from the "on" position to the "off" position, contact between the front secondary brush 84 and the rear secondary brush 85 and the substrate SU is broken.

Description

BACKGROUNDTechnical field

[0001] The disclosure relates to a trigger switch that drives a driving part of a device by the movement of a trigger caused by a pressure on the trigger, and a device that includes the trigger switch. State of the art

[0002] A trigger switch used, for example, to control a device such as a power tool includes: a trigger that receives a push-in operation; a shaft member supporting the trigger at one end; a housing having a through-hole through which the other end of the shaft member passes; and a switching mechanism (a switching mechanism including a brush that forms a sliding contact of a circuit) housed in the housing and connected to the other end of the shaft member. In a trigger switch configured in this manner, pressing the trigger causes the shaft member to move inside the housing, and in accordance with the movement, the switching mechanism moves inside the housing and turns the sliding contact ON and OFF, thereby driving the driving part.In addition, when the trigger is released from the push-in action, the shaft element moves toward the outside of the housing. Along with this movement, the switching mechanism moves toward the inside of the housing (it moves in the opposite direction to the push-in action) and switches the sliding contact ON / OFF (it switches in the opposite direction to the push-in action), stopping the drive part.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a trigger switch in which a switching mechanism (referred to as a plunger in Patent Document 1) includes a brush that is a sliding contact having an ON / OFF switching function for the driving part and a brush that is a sliding contact that adjusts the power of the driving part. BibliographyPatent document

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. JP 2020-30999 A SUMMARYTechnical problem

[0005] A sliding contact disclosed in Patent Document 1 consists of an electrode formed on a substrate and a brush, which is a sliding electrode part provided on a switching mechanism. By moving the switching mechanism, the brush can be switched between a state in which it contacts the electrode (a state in which it moves to a position in which it contacts the electrode) and a state in which it does not contact the electrode (a state in which it moves to a position in which it does not contact the electrode). Furthermore, when the brush is not in contact with the electrode, the brush is in contact with the surface of the substrate (the surface of the substrate on which no electrode is formed is hereinafter referred to as the resin surface).

[0006] For example, if the sliding contact for activating a microcomputer on the substrate is an NC (normally closed) contact, the driving part is driven while the brush of the sliding contact is kept in contact with the resin surface. For this reason, there is a concern that vibrations generated by the driving part are transmitted to the brush and the substrate, and the brush is worn by the sliding between the brush and the resin surface. If the brush is worn (especially if the contact part of the brush that contacts the electrode is worn), the contact reliability may deteriorate when the contact part of the brush contacts the electrode. Furthermore, this problem occurs not only in a configuration where an electrode (fixed electrode) is mounted on a substrate, but also in a case where an electrode is fixed by other fixing structures.

[0007] The disclosure has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the disclosure is to provide a trigger switch capable of suppressing wear of the sliding electrode part and a device including the trigger switch. Solution to the problem

[0008] The solution disclosed for achieving the objective is a trigger switch including a sliding electrode part that, when a drive part is driven by a movement of the trigger caused by a pressing action on the trigger, moves from an on position in which it contacts a fixed electrode to an off position in which it does not contact the electrode. When the sliding electrode part moves from the on position to the off position, contact between the sliding electrode part and a fastener securing the electrode is released.

[0009] An example of a sliding electrode part referred to here also includes a brush that can contact the electrode on the mounting member. The mounting member mentioned here includes a substrate and other elements for securing the electrodes.

[0010] It is also provided with a circuit that transitions from an off state to an on state as the pressing action progresses to the trigger to drive the drive part. At a stage before the circuit transitions from the off state to the on state as the pressing action progresses, the contact between the sliding electrode part and the fastening element is released.

[0011] When the sliding electrode part moves from the on position to the off position, it is deformed in a direction away from the electrode, thereby breaking contact with the fastener.

[0012] Furthermore, it is provided with a position restriction member that, when the sliding electrode member is in the on position, restricts the sliding electrode member to a position elastically deformed in a direction of contact with the electrode. When the sliding electrode member is in the off position, the position restriction by the position restriction member is released, and the sliding electrode member returns to its shape from the elastically deformed position, thereby releasing contact with the fastener.

[0013] Furthermore, it is provided with a movable member movable between a pushing-in position and a pushing-in release position in accordance with the pushing-in operation to the trigger and a release of the pushing-in operation; and an elastic plate part configured to receive an external force from the movable member in a state where the movable member is in the pushing-in release position and assumes an elastically deformed posture, and restores its shape from the posture elastically deformed by the external force because the external force is released by the movable member moving from the pushing-in release position to the pushing position.In a state where the elastic plate member assumes the elastically deformed position, the sliding electrode member is in an on position, in which it contacts the electrode, its position being restricted by the position restriction member. In a state where the elastic plate member has restored its shape, the position restriction by the position restriction member is released, and contact with the fastening element is released.

[0014] An example of a movable member referred to herein also includes a drive switching mechanism that includes a portion of the switching circuit.

[0015] In addition, an opening is formed in the fastening element in a region opposite to the sliding electrode part in the off position.

[0016] In addition, a peripheral part of the electrode on the fixing member has a depressed shape to release the contact between the sliding electrode part and the fixing member when the sliding electrode part moves from the on position to the off position.

[0017] Furthermore, a device with a trigger switch also falls within the scope of the technical concept described in the disclosure. In other words, the drive part is driven in a state where the contact between the sliding electrode part and the fastening element is released. Effects

[0018] When the sliding electrode part moves from the on position to the off position, the contact between the sliding electrode part and the fixing member that secures the electrode (fixed electrode) is released. This prevents the driving part from being driven in a state where the sliding electrode part and the fixing member are in contact with each other, and wear of the sliding electrode part can be suppressed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of an electrical device according to the disclosure. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the trigger switch according to the disclosure. Fig. 3 is a schematic side view showing an example of the interior of a housing of the trigger switch according to the disclosure. Fig. 4 is a schematic side view showing an example of a released state of the trigger switch according to the disclosure. Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a released state of the trigger switch according to the disclosure. Fig. 6 is a cross section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a part of a control configuration of the electrical device according to the disclosure. Fig. 8 is a schematic side view showing an example in which a pushing operation is performed on a trigger of a trigger switch according to the disclosure. Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing an example in which a pushing operation is performed on a trigger of a trigger switch according to the disclosure. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a timing chart showing an example of changes in a sub-sliding contact and the signal of the switching part, the state of the microcomputer, and the device rotation speed when a trigger pressing operation is performed in the electric device according to the disclosure. Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing a contact state between a sub-brush and a sub-electrode when the trigger switch is in a released state in a modified example of the trigger switch according to the disclosure. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. [Application examples]

[0020] The trigger switch according to the disclosure is applicable to various electrical devices, including electric tools (devices) such as electric drills, electric drivers, electric wrenches, and electric grinders that include a driving part such as a motor.

[0021] Furthermore, the trigger switch according to the disclosure is configured to release the contact between the brush and a fastener when the brush (a brush movable between an on position where it contacts an electrode attached to a fastener and an off position where it does not contact the electrode), which serves as a sliding electrode part forming a sliding contact of a circuit provided in an electrical device, moves from an on position to an off position. Details will be described below. The following describes a case where a substrate is used as an example of the fastener. [Configuration example](Electrical device PT)

[0022] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of an electrical device PT according to the disclosure. The electrical device PT according to the disclosure includes a main device 100, and the main device 100 includes a trigger switch TS that receives the user's pressing operation. The main device 100 includes a door part 110 that can be opened and closed, and the door part 110 includes a window part 120 through which a connected state of a trigger 1 of the trigger switch TS can be visually confirmed.

[0023] The Fig. The electrical device PT shown in Figure 1 has a shape in which a handheld part is attached to a substantially cylindrical part. In the following description, the direction of the substantially cylindrical part is referred to as the top, and the direction of the handheld part is referred to as the bottom, as shown in the drawings. In addition, the direction in which the trigger 1 of the trigger switch TS is positioned is referred to as the front, and the direction in which the trigger 1 is pressed is referred to as the rear. In other words, in the electrical device PT and the trigger switch TS, the front-to-rear direction is the operation direction in which the trigger 1 is pressed by a pushing operation. These directions are provided for convenience of description and do not limit the directions of use of the electrical device PT and the trigger switch TS.

[0024] Fig. Fig. 1 shows a released state in which the user does not operate the trigger switch TS. When a user places his finger on the trigger 1 and presses the trigger 1 toward the main device 100 (backward), a driving part (not shown), such as an electric motor built into the main device 100, in which Fig. 1. The configuration of the sliding contact of the circuit for driving and stopping the drive part and the switching part is described below. (Trigger switch TS)

[0025] The following describes the trigger switch TS, which is attached to the electrical device PT. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the trigger switch TS according to the disclosure. Fig. 2 shows the appearance of the trigger switch TS according to the invention in an oblique view from above. Fig. Fig. 3 is a side view showing an example of the interior of a housing of the trigger switch TS according to the present invention. In the following description, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is used in Fig. 3 The left-right direction of the switch. The front side of the paper surface is the left side of the switch, and the back side of the paper surface is the right side of the switch. This is also a direction for convenience of description and does not limit the use direction of the electrical device PT and the trigger switch TS.

[0026] The trigger switch TS is a switch operated by a user of the electrical device PT and includes a trigger 1 with which the user can perform a pressing operation. The trigger switch TS includes a housing 2 built into the electrical device PT, a trigger 1, a plunger 3, a return spring 4 that biases the trigger 1, and a cover element 5. Furthermore, the trigger switch TS includes a switching lever 6 for switching the drive direction of the drive part, e.g., the forward and reverse rotation direction of an electric drive.

[0027] The trigger 1 is a member that receives a pressing operation by a user. The front surface of the trigger 1 has a shape on which the user places their finger during operation. The plunger 3 includes a rod-shaped shaft part 31 and a drive switching mechanism (movable member) 32 formed continuously with the rear end of the shaft part 31. The trigger 1 is supported at the front end of the shaft part 31. The trigger 1 is fitted into the front end of the shaft part 31 and can be attached to and detached from the front end of the shaft part 31.

[0028] The housing 2 is a hollow housing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is configured by the integral assembly of a first housing 21 located on the left side of the switch and a second housing 22 located on the right side of the switch. A drive switch mechanism 32 is housed in the interior of the housing 2, which consists of the first housing 21 and the second housing 22. In addition, a substrate (fixing member) SU (see Fig. 6) is mounted, and a circuit (not shown) for driving the drive part is arranged on the substrate SU.

[0029] At the front of the housing 2, there is a substantially circular through-hole 23 through which the rear end (the other end side) of the shaft part 31 passes. The periphery of the through-hole 23 protrudes forward in a cylindrical shape. The switching lever 6 is fixed to the top of the housing 2. The interior of the housing 2 is divided into a lower chamber 24 and an upper chamber 25. The drive switching mechanism 32 is housed in the lower chamber 24 of the housing 2, and an operation direction switching mechanism 61 is housed in the upper chamber 25. The drive switching mechanism 32 is a mechanism that opens and closes an electric circuit formed on the substrate SU and controls the drive part. The drive switching mechanism 32 reciprocates as the shaft part 31 moves.In other words, the drive switching mechanism 32 moves between a push-in position and a push-in release position in accordance with the push-in operation of the trigger 1 and a release of the push-in operation. As shown in FIG. Fig. 8 (a schematic side view showing an example when a pushing operation is performed to the trigger 1 of the trigger switch TS according to the disclosure), the driving part operates when the driving switch mechanism 32 moves rearward to the trigger 1 by a pushing operation, and as shown in Fig. 3, the drive part stops when the drive switching mechanism 32 returns forward.

[0030] The return spring 4 is formed using a spring, such as a helical compression spring. The return spring 4 winds the shaft part 31 in the circumferential direction on the outside of the housing 2 and pushes the shaft part 31 forward, which is the opposite direction to the pushing direction, thereby returning the shaft part 31, which has been pushed backward together with the trigger 1, to the front release position. The front end of the return spring 4 is locked to the shaft part 31, and the rear end is locked to the periphery of the through hole 23 of the housing 2.

[0031] The cover member 5 is formed in a generally cylindrical bellows shape and covers the shaft part 31 and the return spring 4 circumferentially outside the housing 2. A front end, which is one end side, of the cover member 5 is fixed to the shaft part 31. A rear end, which is the other end side, of the cover member 5 is attached to cover the protrusion part of the periphery of the through hole 23 of the housing 2. The cover member 5 is a gasket made of a flexible and airtight material such as rubber, and expands and contracts in the axial direction to seal the interior.

[0032] The operating direction switching mechanism 61 is a mechanism that switches the wiring of the circuit opened and closed by the drive switching mechanism 32. The operating direction switching mechanism 61 is attached to the switching lever 6 and operates when the switching lever 6 swings. The operating direction switching mechanism 61 serves to switch the operating direction of the drive part. The switching lever 6 is a member that swings left and right after a switching operation by a user to switch the driving direction of the drive part and transmits the swing operation to the operating direction switching mechanism 61. When the switching lever 6 is operated in the middle of its swing range, the switching lever 6 also functions as a stopper to prevent the trigger 1 from being operated.

[0033] The trigger switch TS configured as above is built into the electrical device PT and is operated by the user. A user of the electrical device PT performs operations such as pushing the trigger 1 and the switching operation by swinging the switching lever 6. The trigger 1, which receives the pushing operation, moves backward. When the trigger 1 moves backward, the shaft part 31 attached to the trigger 1 also moves backward. When the shaft part 31 moves backward, the drive switching mechanism 32 connected to the rear end of the shaft part 31 also moves backward, and the drive part is driven. In addition, when the shaft part 31 moves backward, the return spring 4 and the cover member 5 are compressed in the axial direction.

[0034] The user releases the trigger 1 by pressing the trigger button while the drive member stops. When the trigger button is released, the trigger 1, the shaft member 31, and the drive switching mechanism 32 are moved forward by the urging force of the return spring 4 and returned to the release position. As the shaft member 31 moves forward, the return spring 4 and the cover member 5 extend in the axial direction.

[0035] The trigger switch TS includes a switching part 7 with a sensing function that detects the movement (or position) of the trigger 1 when the trigger 1 is pressed, and switches between driving and stopping the driving part in response to the movement. The switching part 7 includes a switching circuit. The circuit is configured to use sensors such as optical sensors, magnetic sensors, electrostatic sensors, and electrical resistance sensors that non-contact detect the movement (or position) of the trigger 1, and outputs an ON signal or an OFF signal in response to the position of the trigger 1 detected by the sensor. In addition, the circuit can also output an ON signal or an OFF signal in response to contact between a movable contact and a fixed contact caused by the movement (or position) of the trigger 1.

[0036] As a specific configuration of the switching part 7, a sensor detection element 71 made of a conductive metal is provided on the surface on the left side of the switch in the drive switch mechanism 32. In addition, at a rear position on the substrate SU attached to the inner surface (the surface facing the right side of the switch) of the first housing 21, a detection part 72 (in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) that can detect the position of the sensor detection element 71. In other words, in the released state in which no pressing operation is performed on the trigger 1, the sensor detection element 71 is in an off state at a position away from the detection part 72, the circuit for driving the drive part is in an open state, and the drive part is stopped.

[0037] From this state, when the shaft part 31 and the drive switching mechanism 32 are moved backward by the pushing operation on the trigger 1, the sensor detecting element 71 is in an on state at a position overlapping (opposing) the detecting part 72 (see Fig. 8), and the drive member is driven. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rotational speed of the drive member is increased by detecting the position of the sensor detecting element 71, which changes as the pressing operation on the trigger 1 progresses.

[0038] In addition, the trigger switch TS includes a sub-sliding contact 8 for activating a microcomputer (not shown) on the substrate SU. Specifically, the second housing 22 supports a sub-brush 81 made by bending a conductive metal. Furthermore, sub-electrodes 82a and 82b (in Fig. 4 by virtual lines) that can be contacted by the sub-brush 81 (more specifically, a front sub-brush 84 and a rear sub-brush 85, which will be described below). In the released state in which no operation of the trigger 1 is performed, the sub-brush 81 is in a position where it overlaps the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b (on position, that is, a position where it contacts the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b), and in this state, the microcomputer is in a stopped state (sleep state). The posture of the sub-brush 81 is due to an external force applied by the drive switching mechanism 32, as described below.

[0039] From this state, when the shaft member 31 and the drive switching mechanism 32 are moved backward by the pushing operation on the trigger 1, when the amount of movement reaches a predetermined amount as shown in Fig. As shown in Fig. 8, the sub-brush 81 is located at a position away from the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b (off position, which is a position where the front sub-brush 84 and the rear sub-brush 85 are not in contact with the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b), and in this state, the microcomputer is in an activated (wake-up) state. The posture of the sub-brush 81 is due to the release of the external force received by the drive switching mechanism 32, as described below. In this embodiment, the sub-brush 81 is positioned away from the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b when it moves upward. The configuration for the upward movement of the sub-brush 81 will be described below. In this way, the sub-sliding contact 8 is configured as an NC contact.In this way, by setting the microcomputer to the sleep state in the triggered state when no pressing operation is performed on the trigger 1, the power consumption in the triggered state can be reduced to zero, and the power consumption of the electrical device PT as a whole can be reduced.

[0040] A feature of the disclosure is that the sub-sliding contact 8 is configured such that, in a stage before the switching part 7 transitions from an off state (a state in which the sensor detection element 71 does not overlap the detection part 72) to an on state (a state in which the sensor detection element 71 overlaps the detection part 72), not only the contact between the sub-brush 81 and the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b is released, but also the contact between the sub-brush 81 and the substrate SU is released (the contact between the sub-brush 81 and the resin surface of the substrate SU is released). More specifically, the sub-brush 81 is configured to deform in the direction away from the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b (in the direction of retraction from the substrate SU) when moving from the on position (in Fig. 4 shown position) to the off position (in Fig. 8), thereby releasing contact with the substrate SU. The configuration of the sub-sliding contact 8 is described in more detail below.

[0041] Fig. 4 is a schematic side view showing an example of a trigger switch TS in a released state. Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the trigger switch TS in a released state. Fig. Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show a state in which the first housing 21 is removed, and Fig. 6 shows a state in which the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b on the substrate SU fixed to the inner surface of the first case 21 are in contact with the sub-brush 81.

[0042] As shown in these drawings, sub-electrodes 82a and 82b are formed at two locations, front and rear, on the substrate SU. The sub-electrode located on the front side is referred to as the front sub-electrode 82a, and the sub-electrode located on the rear side is referred to as the rear sub-electrode 82b. The sub-electrodes 82a and 82b have a rectangular shape and are arranged at a position slightly lower than the lower end position of the drive switching mechanism 32 and at a predetermined interval in the front-to-rear direction.

[0043] The sub-brush 81 includes an elastic plate member 83 supported by the second housing 22, a front sub-brush (sliding electrode member) 84 integrally formed on the elastic plate member 83 and capable of contacting the front sub-electrode 82a, and a rear sub-brush (sliding electrode member) 85 capable of contacting the rear sub-electrode 82b.

[0044] The elastic plate part 83 includes a locking plate part 83a, a main body part 83b and a pressure plate part 83c.

[0045] Furthermore, a sub-brush support member 26 is integrally formed inside the housing 2. The sub-brush support member 26 is configured by partially setting a large thickness of the vertical wall (the vertical wall extending in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction of the switch) of the second housing 22 and includes a locking groove 27 and a position restricting member 28.

[0046] The locking groove 27 is provided approximately at the center of the sub-brush support part 26 in the front-to-rear direction, and its width in the front-to-rear direction is set to be equal to a plate thickness of the locking plate part 83a of the elastic plate part 83 or slightly larger than the plate thickness of the locking plate part 83a. Furthermore, the locking plate part 83a is inserted into the locking groove 27, so that the locking plate part 83a is locked in the locking groove 27.

[0047] The position restriction member 28 serves to restrict the positions of the front sub-brush 84 and the rear sub-brush 85 of the sub-brush 81 (to an elastically deformed position). The position restriction member 28 includes an inclined portion 28a that slopes downward toward the left side of the switch and a vertical portion 28b that extends vertically (in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction of the switch) from the lower end of the inclined portion 28a. The restriction of the positions of the front sub-brush 84 and the rear sub-brush 85 by the position restriction member 28 will be described below.

[0048] The main body part 83b of the elastic plate part 83 is connected to the upper end of the locking plate part 83a and is inclined upward toward the front.

[0049] The pressure plate part 83c of the elastic plate part 83 is connected to the front end of the main body part 83b. The pressure plate part 83c has a curved shape that is convex upwards. As shown in Fig. 8, the upper end position of the pressure plate part 83c, when no external force acts on the elastic plate part 83, is set to a position slightly higher than the lower end position of the drive switching mechanism 32 (a position slightly higher than the movement trajectory of the lower end position of the drive switching mechanism 32 when the drive switching mechanism 32 moves). In other words, as shown in Fig. 8, in a state where a pressing operation of the trigger 1 is performed, the drive switching mechanism 32 moves backward and does not contact the pressure plate part 83c, and no external force is applied to the elastic plate part 83 (pressure plate part 83c). On the other hand, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, when the trigger 1 is in the released state, the drive switch mechanism 32 moves forward and contacts the upper surface of the pressure plate part 83c. A downward external force acts from the upper surface and presses the pressure plate part 83c downward, so that the main body part 83b is elastically deformed downward. The rear end position of the main body part 83b (near the boundary of the upper end of the locking plate part 83a) is the pivot center. In this state, an upward reaction force is generated in the main body part 83b.

[0050] Next, the front sub-brush 84 and the rear sub-brush 85 will be described. The front sub-brush 84 and the rear sub-brush 85 have the same shape. Here, the front sub-brush 84 will be described as a representative example. As shown in Fig. 6, the front sub-brush 84 includes an inclined part 84a, an electrode contact part 84b, and a pressing part 84c.

[0051] The inclined part 84a is connected to the end of the left side of the switch of the main body part 83b of the elastic plate part 83 and is inclined downward toward the left side of the switch.

[0052] The electrode contact part 84b is a part that contacts the front sub-electrode 82a, connects to the lower end of the inclined part 84a, and has a curved shape that is convex toward the left side of the switch.

[0053] The pressure part 84c is connected to the lower end of the electrode contact part 84b and has a curved shape that is convex toward the right side of the switch.

[0054] When the front sub-brush 84 is in a state where no external force acts (external force toward the left side of the switch: external force toward the right side in Fig. 6 and Fig. 10), the distance between the position of the end of the left side of the switch in the main body part 83b and the position of the end of the left side of the switch in the electrode contact part 84b (size t1 in Fig. 10) is set shorter than the distance from the position of the end of the left side of the switch in the main body part 83b to the position of the front sub-electrode 82a by a predetermined amount (approximately equal to the distance from the position of the end of the left side of the switch in the main body part 83b to the position of the surface of the substrate SU: size t2 in Fig. 10). In other words, when no external force (external force toward the left side of the switch) acts on the front sub-brush 84, the electrode contact part 84b is retracted from the substrate SU (away from the substrate SU) and assumes a position where it does not contact the substrate SU.

[0055] As described above, the position restriction part 28 formed in the interior of the housing 2 includes an inclined part 28a and a vertical part 28b. The boundary position between the inclined part 28a and the vertical part 28b is in the state in which the electrode contact part 84b contacts the front sub-electrode 82a (the position shown in Fig. 6), slightly above the position of the pressing part 84c. In addition, the position of the vertical part 28b (position in the left-right direction of the switch) is set by a predetermined amount from the position of the pressing part 84c of the front sub-brush 84 in the state in which no external force acts on the front sub-brush 84 (the state shown in Fig. 10), positioned to the left side of the switch. The predetermined size is set to a size at which the electrode contact part 84b touches the front sub-electrode 82a when the pressing part 84c of the front sub-brush 84 abuts the vertical part 28b. As shown in the Fig. 4 to 6, when the trigger switch TS is in the released state, the drive switch mechanism 32 is in contact with the surface of the pressure plate part 83c, so that the pressure plate part 83c of the elastic plate part 83 is pressed downward. Accordingly, the front sub-brush 84 moves downward, and the pressure part 84c abuts against the vertical part 28b of the position restricting part 28 and is elastically deformed toward the left side of the switch (elastically deformed toward the front sub-electrode 82a) by receiving a pressing force from the vertical part 28b and being in contact (pressed) with the front sub-electrode 82a.

[0056] On the other hand, as in the Fig. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, in a state where a pushing operation is performed on the trigger switch TS, the drive switch mechanism 32 is released from contact with the upper surface of the pressing plate part 83c, and the elastic plate part 83 returns to its original shape. Accordingly, the front sub-brush 84 moves upward, and the pressing part 84c moves from a position abutting against the vertical part 28b of the position restricting part 28 to a position not abutting against the vertical part 28b (e.g., a position abutting against the inclined part 28a or a position floating above the inclined part 28a), is deformed to the right side of the switch (recovering its shape), and assumes a position retracted from the substrate SU (a position away from the substrate SU) by releasing the pressing force from the vertical part 28b.

[0057] Moreover, the rear sub-brush 85 has the same configuration as the front sub-brush 84, and when the trigger switch TS is in the released state, it is elastically deformed toward the left side of the switch (elastically deformed toward the rear sub-electrode 82b) and contacts (presses against) the rear sub-electrode 82b, and when the trigger switch TS is in a state where a pushing-in operation is performed, it assumes a position retracted from the substrate SU. (Control configuration)

[0058] Next, a control configuration of the electrical device PT according to the disclosure will be described. Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a part of a control configuration of the electrical device PT according to the disclosure. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the electrical device PT is configured so that the main device 100 and the trigger switch TS can send and receive signals. The main device 100 includes a drive part M, e.g., a motor. The trigger switch TS includes a control unit 9 that outputs a drive signal to the main device 100 in response to signals from the switching part 7 and the sub-sliding contact 8.

[0059] The control unit 9 of the trigger switch TS is a circuit configured, for example, with a microcomputer using various integrated circuits such as LSI and VLSI, electronic elements, and various terminals, and is arranged on the substrate SU inside the housing 2. The control unit 9 receives signals from the switching part 7 and the sub-sliding contact 8 as inputs, performs various processing based on the inputs, and outputs a drive signal to the main device 100 to drive the drive part M, such as a motor provided in the main device 100 of the electric device PT. The electric device PT drives the drive part M based on a drive signal input to the main device 100.

[0060] In the embodiment, in the course of the pushing operation of the trigger 1, a signal (OFF signal) is transmitted from the sub-sliding contact 8, and then a signal (ON signal) is transmitted from the switching part 7. In other words, at a stage before the switching part 7 (the circuit of the switching part 7) transitions from the off state to the on state, as the pushing operation proceeds to the trigger 1, an OFF signal is output from the sub-sliding contact 8, and the contact between the front sub-brush 84 and the rear sub-brush 85 and the substrate SU is released. (Pressing action to release)

[0061] Next, the state of the sub-sliding contact 8 and the switching part 7, the state of the microcomputer, and the change of the device rotation speed when a trigger pressing operation is performed will be described. Fig. 11 is a timing chart showing an example of changes in the signals of the sub-sliding contact 8 and the switching part 7, the state of the microcomputer, and the device rotation speed when a pushing operation on the trigger 1 is performed in the electric device PT according to the disclosure.

[0062] As in the Fig. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the sub-sliding contact 8 is in an on state (a state where the front sub-brush 84 and the rear sub-brush 85 are in the on position) when the trigger switch TS is in a released state. In other words, when the drive switch mechanism 32 moves forward, it contacts the upper surface of the pressure plate part 83c. A downward external force acts from the upper surface and pushes the pressure plate part 83c downward, so that the main body part 83b is elastically deformed downward, with the rear end position of the main body part 83b being the pivot center.In this state, the pressing part 84c of each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 abuts the vertical part 28b of the position restricting part 28 and is elastically deformed toward the left side of the switch (elastically deformed toward each of the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b) by receiving a pressing force from the vertical part 28b, and each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 is in contact with each of the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b, respectively. In other words, the sub-sliding contact 8 is in the on state. In this state, the microcomputer is in a stopped state (sleep state). Furthermore, the switching part 7 is in the off state (the sensor detecting element 71 is in the off position), and the driving part M is stopped.

[0063] When the pressing operation of the trigger 1 is started from this state, the plunger 3 moves backward in accordance with the pressing operation, as shown in the Fig. 8 to 10. When the plunger 3 moves backward when the drive switching mechanism 32 is released from contact with the surface of the pressure plate part 83c, the elastic plate part 83 of the sub-brush 81 returns to its original shape, and accordingly, the sub-brushes 84 and 85 move upward, and contact with the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b is released. Accordingly, the pressure part 84c of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 moves over the vertical part 28b of the position restricting part 28, and the pressure force of the vertical part 28b is released. In other words, each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 returns to its original shape and is deformed to retract from the substrate SU (time of "sub-brush retraction deformation" in Fig. 11), and the contact with the substrate SU is released (see Fig. 10).

[0064] Thereafter, when the pressing operation of the trigger 1 continues and the plunger 3 continues to move backward and the sensor detecting element 71 is in an on state at a position overlapping with the detecting part 72 (see Fig. 8), the circuit for the drive of the drive part M is closed and the drive of the drive part M is started (the time of the “switching part ON” in Fig. 11). Furthermore, as the actuation of the trigger 1 progresses, the signal of the switching part 7 changes, and the rotational speed of the driving part M increases accordingly. In this way, at the time the driving of the driving part M is started, since each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 is deformed to retract from the substrate SU, the sub-brushes 84 and 85 and the substrate SU will not slide even if vibration due to the driving of the driving part M is transmitted to each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 or the substrate SU. (Effects of the embodiment)

[0065] As described above, in the trigger switch TS of the embodiment, when each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 constituting the partial sliding contact 8 moves from the on position to the off position, the contact between each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 and the substrate SU is released. This can prevent the driving part M from being driven in a state where the sub-brushes 84 and 85 are in contact with the substrate SU, thereby suppressing wear of the sub-brushes 84 and 85, and maintaining good contact reliability when the sub-brushes 84 and 85 are brought into contact with the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b.In addition, since the wear of the resin surface of the substrate SU can be suppressed, resin powder is less likely to be generated due to wear, so that it is possible to maintain good contact reliability when the sub-brushes 84 and 85 are brought into contact with the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b.

[0066] In the trigger switch TS of the present embodiment, the contact between the sub-brushes 84 and 85 and the substrate SU is released before the switching part 7 transitions from the off state to the on state as the trigger 1 is progressively operated. Thus, the driving part M can be reliably prevented from being driven in a state where each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 is in contact with the substrate SU, and wear of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 can be reliably suppressed. (Modified example)

[0067] In the above-described embodiment, each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 is released from contact with the substrate SU by restoring its shape from an elastically deformed position. In other words, the sub-brushes 84 and 85 are retracted from the substrate SU to release the contact between the sub-brushes 84 and 85 and the substrate SU. In the modified example, the substrate SU is improved to release the contact between the sub-brushes 84 and 85 and the substrate SU.

[0068] Fig. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the position of each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 of the sub-sliding contact 8 when the trigger switch TS is in a released state in a modified example of the trigger switch TS according to the disclosure. As shown in Fig. 12, an opening 29 is formed above each of the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b in the substrate SU of the modified example. The opening 29 is shaped so that the sub-brushes 84 and 85 do not contact the substrate SU when the sub-brushes 84 and 85 are moved to the off position. In other words, when each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 is moved to the off position, the electrode contact part 84b of each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 faces the opening 29 and thus does not contact the substrate SU. That is, the peripheral parts of each of the sub-electrodes 82a and 82b on the substrate SU have a depressed shape that releases the contact between each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 and the substrate SU when each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 moves from the on position to the off position.

[0069] In the modified example, there is no need to elastically deform each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 when the sub-brushes 84 and 85 are in the Fig. 12. In other words, since there is no need to retract the sub-brushes 84 and 85 from the substrate SU when performing a pushing operation on the trigger 1 when the pushing part 84c abuts the vertical part 28b of the position restricting part 28, there is no need to elastically deform the sub-brushes 84 and 85 toward the left side of the switch (elastic deformation toward the front sub-electrode 82a). Thus, the design of each of the sub-brushes 84 and 85 is simple. (Other embodiments)

[0070] The disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modified examples and may be embodied in various other forms. Therefore, the above-described embodiments and modified examples are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be construed as limiting. The technical scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims and is in no way limited by the text of the specification. Furthermore, all modifications and variations within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the disclosure.

[0071] In the above embodiments and modified examples, the case where the disclosure is applied to the electric device PT was described as an example, but the disclosure can also be applied to devices such as water guns, paint guns, and model guns.

[0072] In the above embodiments and the modified example, the drive switching mechanism 32 provided with the sensor detection element 71 is used to elastically deform the sub-brush 81, but the disclosure is not limited to this. In other words, any movable element can be configured as long as it can move between the push-in position and the push-in release position when the push-in operation is performed on the trigger 1 and the push-in operation is released.

[0073] In the above embodiments and the modified example, the sub-brush 81 has a configuration in which the elastic plate member 83 and the sub-brushes 84 and 85 are integrally formed, but the disclosure is not limited to this. In other words, the elastic plate member 83 and the sub-brushes 84 and 85 may be formed separately, so that the sub-brush 81 is composed of a plurality of components.

[0074] Furthermore, the embodiments and other matters disclosed in this specification may also be understood as the technical ideas described in the following supplementary notes. (Supplementary Embodiment 1)

[0075] A trigger switch comprising: a sliding electrode member that, when a drive member is driven by movement of a trigger caused by a depression of the trigger, moves from an on position in which it contacts a fixed electrode to an off position in which it does not contact the electrode. When the sliding electrode member moves from the on position to the off position, contact between the sliding electrode member and a fastener securing the electrode is released. (Supplementary embodiment 2)

[0076] The trigger switch according to Supplementary Embodiment 1, including: a switching circuit that transitions from an off state to an on state as the pushing operation to the trigger proceeds to drive the driving part. In a stage before the switching circuit transitions from the off state to the on state as the pushing operation proceeds, the contact between the sliding electrode part and the fixing member is released. (Supplementary Embodiment 3)

[0077] The trigger switch according to Supplementary Embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the sliding electrode part is deformed in a direction away from the electrode when moving from the on position to the off position, thereby releasing the contact with the fixing member. (Supplementary Embodiment 4)

[0078] The trigger switch according to Supplementary Embodiment 3, including: a position restriction member that, in a state where the sliding electrode member is in the on position, restricts the sliding electrode member to a position elastically deformed in a direction of contact with the electrode. When the sliding electrode member is in the off position, the position restriction by the position restriction member is released, and the sliding electrode member returns to its shape from the elastically deformed position, thereby releasing contact with the fixing member. (Supplementary Embodiment 5)

[0079] The trigger switch according to Supplementary Embodiment 4, including: a movable member movable between a push-in position and a push-in release position in accordance with the push-in operation to the trigger and a release of the push-in operation; and an elastic plate member configured to receive an external force from the movable member in a state where the movable member is in the push-in release position and assumes an elastically deformed posture, and restore its shape from the posture elastically deformed by the external force because the external force is released by the movable member moving from the push-in release position to the push-in position.In a state where the elastic plate part assumes the elastically deformed posture, the sliding electrode part is in the on position in which it contacts the electrode by being restricted in position by the posture restricting part, and in a state where the elastic plate part has restored its shape, the restriction of the position by the posture restricting part is released and the contact with the fixing member is released. (Supplementary Embodiment 6)

[0080] The trigger switch according to supplementary embodiment 1 or 2, wherein an opening is formed in the fixing member in a region opposite to the sliding electrode part in the off position. (Supplementary Embodiment 7)

[0081] The trigger switch according to supplementary embodiment 1 or 2, wherein a peripheral part of the electrode on the fixing member has a depressed shape to release the contact between the sliding electrode part and the fixing member when the sliding electrode part moves from the on position to the off position. (Supplementary Embodiment 8)

[0082] A device including: the trigger switch according to any one of supplementary embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the driving part is driven in a state where the contact between the sliding electrode part and the fixing member is released. [List of reference symbols] 1 trigger 28 Position restriction part 32 Drive switching mechanism (movable element) 82a Anterior secondary electrode (electrode) 82b Posterior secondary electrode (electrode) 83 Elastic plate part 84 Front sub-brush (sliding electrode part) 85 Rear secondary brush (sliding electrode part) SU substrate (fastening element) PT Electrical device (device) TS trigger switch M drive part QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2020-30999 A

[0004]

Claims

[1] Trigger switch (TS), comprising: a sliding electrode part (84, 85) which, when a driving part (M) is driven by a movement of a trigger (1) caused by a pressing operation on the trigger (1), moves from an on position in which it contacts a fixed electrode (82a, 82b) to an off position in which it does not contact the electrode (82a, 82b), wherein, when the sliding electrode part (84, 85) moves from the on position to the off position, contact between the sliding electrode part (84, 85) and a fixing member (SU) fixing the electrode (82a, 82b) is released. [2] Trigger switch (TS) according to claim 1, comprising: a circuit which changes from an off state to an on state as the pressing operation on the trigger (1) progresses in order to control the drive part (M), wherein, at a stage before the circuit transitions from the off-state to the on-state as the pushing-in operation proceeds, the contact between the sliding electrode part (84, 85) and the fixing member (SU) is released. [3] A trigger switch (TS) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the sliding electrode member (84, 85) moves from the on position to the off position, it is deformed in a direction away from the electrode (82a, 82b), releasing the contact with the fixing member (SU). [4] Trigger switch (TS) according to claim 3, comprising: a position restriction member (28) which, in a state in which the sliding electrode member (84, 85) is in the on position, restricts the sliding electrode member (84, 85) to a position which is elastically deformed in a direction of contact with the electrode (82a, 82b), wherein, when the sliding electrode part (84, 85) is in the off position, restriction of the position by the position restriction part (28) is released and the sliding electrode part (84, 85) restores its shape from the elastically deformed position, releasing the contact with the fastening element (SU). [5] Trigger switch (TS) according to claim 4, comprising: a movable member (32) movable between a pushing-in position and a pushing-in release position in accordance with the pushing-in operation to the trigger (1) and a release of the pushing-in operation; and an elastic plate member (83) configured to receive an external force from the movable member (32) in a state where the movable member (32) is in the push-in release position and assumes an elastically deformed posture, and restores its shape from the position elastically deformed due to the external force caused by the movable member (32) moving from the push-in release position toward the push-in position, wherein in a state in which the elastic plate member (83) assumes the elastically deformed posture, the sliding electrode member (84, 85) is in the on position in which it contacts the electrode (82a, 82b) by being restricted in position by the position restricting member (28), and in a state in which the elastic plate member (83) has restored the shape, the restriction of the position by the position restricting member (28) is released and the contact with the fixing member (SU) is released. [6] A trigger switch (TS) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an opening is formed in the fixing member (SU) in a region opposite to the sliding electrode part (84, 85) in the off position. [7] The trigger switch (TS) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a peripheral part of the electrode (82a, 82b) on the fixing member (SU) has a depressed shape to release the contact between the sliding electrode part (84, 85) and the fixing member (SU) when the sliding electrode part (84, 85) moves from the on position to the off position. [8] A device (PT) comprising the trigger switch (TS) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the driving part (M) is driven in a state in which the contact between the sliding electrode part (84, 85) and the fixing member (SU) is released.

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