Leaf spring for slide contact and slide rail using the same

Abstract

To provide a leaf spring for slide contact capable of flexibly corresponding to a change in shape and flatness of a slid part, and a slide rail using the same.SOLUTION: A leaf spring 22 for slide contact includes: an attachment part 23; an erection part 31 that erects from the attachment part 23 via a bending part 32 and is cantilever-supported by the attachment part 23; and an extension part 33 that extends from the erection part 31 along the bending part 32 and is cantilever-supported by the erection part 31. A slide contact 34 is formed in a distal end side of the extension part 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a leaf spring for sliding contact and a slide rail using the same for supporting a drawer unit so that the drawer unit can be inserted into or removed from the main body of, for example, office automation equipment. [Background technology]

[0002] Various types of leaf springs and slide rails for sliding contacts have been proposed in the past.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a slide rail having a housing side rail formed with an approximately C-shaped cross section and a drawer unit side rail also formed with an approximately C-shaped cross section that is slidably fitted into the housing side rail.

[0004] Furthermore, in order to prevent the drawer unit from becoming electrically charged, the slide rail is provided with an electrical contact that allows electrical current to flow between the rail on the housing side and the rail on the drawer unit side.

[0005] This conductive contactor has a connecting portion that is electrically connected to one rail, a contact protrusion that protrudes toward the outer surface of the other rail and is constantly biased in the contact direction, and a contact protrusion (sliding contact point) that is provided on the contact protrusion and is constantly in contact with the outer surface of the other rail, all of which are formed integrally with a leaf spring.

[0006] Moreover, Patent Document 2 discloses a multi-stage antenna that uses a leaf spring for a sliding contact between an outer conductive member and an inner conductive member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3398528 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-293715 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, both of these have a cantilever support structure in which a sliding contact is provided at the tip side of a leaf spring whose base end is fixed, so the sliding contact can only bend in one direction perpendicular to the surface of the leaf spring and cannot flexibly respond to changes in the shape or flatness of the slidable part with which the sliding contact comes into contact.

[0009] In addition, since the former leaf spring is designed to bend only in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction, if the distance between the fixed part of the leaf spring and the slidable part is short, the length of the leaf spring becomes short, and it is not possible to ensure a large amount of bending.

[0010] On the other hand, the latter leaf spring is arranged along the sliding direction, so the length of the leaf spring can be made longer and a large amount of deflection can be ensured, but it cannot be used in cases where the sliding part is perpendicular to the surface of the fixed part of the leaf spring.

[0011] The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide a leaf spring for sliding contacts and a slide rail using the same, which can flexibly respond to changes in the shape and flatness of the slidable part, while ensuring a large amount of deflection, and further, can respond to cases where the slidable part is perpendicular to the surface of the fixed part of the leaf spring. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, the leaf spring for a sliding contact of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an attachment portion, an upright portion that stands up from the attachment portion via a bent portion and is cantilevered on the attachment portion, and an extension portion that extends from the upright portion along the bent portion and is cantilevered on the upright portion, and a sliding contact is formed on the tip side of the extension portion.

[0013] In addition, the leaf spring for a sliding contact according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an attachment portion and a sliding contact supported by the attachment portion via a bent portion and having a cylindrical peripheral surface at its tip along the sliding direction.

[0014] Furthermore, the slide rail of the present invention supports a drawer unit so that it can be inserted and removed from a main body, and comprises an outer rail supported on either the main body side or the drawer unit side, an inner rail supported on the other of the main body side or the drawer unit side, and a conductive member connecting the outer rail and the inner rail, wherein the outer rail has an outer groove along its length, and the inner rail has an inner groove that is slidably fitted into the outer groove of the outer rail and faces the outer rail, and the conductive member is composed of a sliding contact leaf spring, which has a mounting portion attached to the outer groove of the outer rail, a rising portion that rises from the mounting portion towards the inner rail via a bent portion and is cantilevered on the mounting portion, and an extension portion that extends from the rising portion along the outer rail and is cantilevered on the rising portion, and a sliding contact is formed at the tip of the extension portion which elastically comes into sliding contact with the inner groove of the inner rail. Effect of the Invention

[0015] The leaf spring for sliding contact and the slide rail using the same of the present invention can flexibly accommodate changes in the shape and flatness of the slidable part, while ensuring a large amount of deflection, and can also accommodate cases where the slidable part is perpendicular to the surface of the fixed part of the leaf spring. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] The drawings show specific embodiments of the invention according to the present disclosure, including essential features of the invention as well as alternative and preferred embodiments. [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a slide rail according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the slide rail in a partially cutaway state. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the slide rail from another direction with a part cut away. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conductive member used in the slide rail. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a slide rail according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] The slide rail 1 supports a drawer unit such as an internal unit in a main body of an office automation device or the like so that the unit can be inserted into or removed from the main body.

[0020] The first rail unit 2 and the second rail unit 3 have the same structure, and each has an outer rail 4 disposed on the outside and an inner rail 5 disposed on the inside.

[0021] The inner rail 5 is slidable relative to the outer rail 4.

[0022] Furthermore, the inner rail 5 of the first rail unit 2 and the inner rail 5 of the second rail unit 3 are joined by welding or the like, resulting in a symmetrical arrangement structure.

[0023] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the outer rail 4 is formed into a generally C-shaped cross section by bending both long sides 8,8 of a long plate-like member 7, whereby an outer groove 9 is formed between the long sides 8,8.

[0024] The inner rail 5 is slidably fitted within the outer groove 9 of the outer rail 4 .

[0025] Like the outer rail 4, the inner rail 5 is formed by bending both long sides 11, 11 of a long plate-shaped member 10 to form an approximately C-shaped cross section, thereby forming an inner groove 12 running along the length between the long sides 11, 11 so as to face the outer rail 4.

[0026] Furthermore, a first stopper 13 formed by bending a plate-shaped member 7 is formed at one end of the outer rail 4, and a second stopper 14 formed by bending a plate-shaped member 10 is formed at one end of the inner rail 5.

[0027] The second stopper 14 hits the first stopper 13, thereby restricting the movement of the inner rail 5 relative to the outer rail 4.

[0028] Furthermore, a retainer 15 is slidably interposed between the outer rail 4 and the inner rail 5 .

[0029] The retainer 15 has a plurality of balls 16 and a retaining frame 17 for retaining the balls 16 .

[0030] The sliding range of this retainer 15 is restricted by a second stopper 14 of the inner rail 5 and a third stopper 18 provided in the outer groove 9 of the outer rail 4 .

[0031] Further, the long sides 8, 8 of the outer rail 4 are curved outward to form recesses 19, 19 for receiving the balls 16 of the retainer 15.

[0032] On the other hand, the long sides 11, 11 of the inner rail 5 are curved inward to form recesses 20, 20 for receiving the balls 16 of the retainer 15.

[0033] That is, the balls 16 of the retainer 15 are sandwiched between the recesses 19, 19 and the recesses 20, 20, whereby the outer rail 4 and the inner rail 5 are maintained in a fitted state and are configured so as to be able to slide easily relative to each other.

[0034] Slide rail 1 configured in this manner is provided with conductive member 21 for electrically connecting outer rail 4 and inner rail 5, as shown in Figs.

[0035] The conductive member 21 has a sliding contact leaf spring 22 arranged across the outer groove 9 of the outer rail 4 and the inner groove 12 of the inner rail 5 .

[0036] As shown in Figures 8 to 11, this leaf spring 22 has a long, flat mounting portion 23 for mounting within the outer groove 9 of the outer rail 4, and one end side is a narrow portion 24 and the other end side is a wide portion 25, with the wide portion 25 being longer than the narrow portion 24.

[0037] In the narrow portion 24, a plurality of holes 27 for fixing rivets 26 for fixing the leaf spring 22 to the outer rail 4 are drilled at intervals in the longitudinal direction, and in the wide portion 25, holes 29 for mounting screws 28 for fastening the leaf spring 22 together with the outer rail 4 to a main body of an OA device or a drawer unit such as an internal unit.

[0038] A pair of recesses 30 are formed on both sides of the center in the longitudinal direction of the mounting portion 23 , and the width between these recesses 30 is formed to be substantially the same as the width of the narrow portion 24 .

[0039] A pair of vertically standing portions 31 are connected to both sides of the wide portion 25 between the recess 30 and the narrow portion 24 via bent portions 32 and are supported by the mounting portion 23 in a cantilever manner.

[0040] An extension portion 33 is connected to the upper portion of each standing portion 31 , which extends along the bent portion 32 , i.e., along the longitudinal direction of the mounting portion 23 , toward the narrow width portion 24 and is cantilevered by the standing portion 31 .

[0041] The pair of extending portions 33 are formed such that their tip ends are spaced apart from each other from the standing portion 31 side.

[0042] That is, each extension portion 33 is formed such that the tip side is spaced apart from the narrow portion 24 along the narrow portion 24 .

[0043] In addition, a sliding contact 34 is provided at the tip side of each extension portion 33, which is formed by curving the extension portion 33 so that it forms a convex cylindrical peripheral surface 35 toward the outside (the direction away from the narrow width portion 24 along the narrow width portion 24) and the circumferential direction of this cylindrical peripheral surface 35 is along the longitudinal direction of the extension portion 33.

[0044] Therefore, the pair of standing portions 31, the pair of extending portions 33, and the pair of sliding contacts 34 are each symmetrical with respect to a plane.

[0045] The mounting portion 23 is attached near the third stopper 18 in the outer groove 9 of the outer rail 4 by a fixing rivet 26 and a mounting screw 28, and a pair of extension portions 33 are fitted into the inner groove 12 of the inner rail 5 and are configured to elastically slide in the expanding direction.

[0046] That is, the leaf spring 22 is provided so that the extension portion 33 faces the upright portion 31 in the sliding direction.

[0047] Furthermore, the third stopper 18 is formed by stamping the outer rail 4 from the outside to the inside, forming a gap 36 on the inside of the outer rail 4, and the leaf spring 22 is attached to the outer rail 4 with the wide portion 25 inserted into this gap 36.

[0048] As a result, when the extension 33 is deflected within the inner groove 12 of the inner rail 5 , the cylindrical peripheral surface 35 of the sliding contact 34 comes into contact with the inner rail 5 such that its circumferential direction runs along the inner rail 5 .

[0049] In such a configuration, the slide rail 1 is used with the outer rail 4 of the first rail unit 2 fixed to the main body side of an office equipment or the like, and the outer rail 4 of the second rail unit 3 fixed to the drawer unit side of an internal unit or the like.

[0050] This establishes electrical continuity between the main body and the drawer unit, so that the drawer unit is grounded even when it is drawn out from the main body, preventing the drawer unit from becoming charged.

[0051] According to the above configuration, the leaf spring 22 has the mounting portion 23 that is mounted in the outer groove 9 of the outer rail 4, the upright portion 31 that rises from the mounting portion 23 towards the inner rail 5 via the bent portion 32 and is cantilevered on the mounting portion 23, and the extension portion 33 that extends from the upright portion 31 along the outer rail 4 and is cantilevered on the upright portion 31. The sliding contact 34 that elastically comes into sliding contact with the inner groove 12 of the inner rail 5 is formed on the tip side of the extension portion 33. Therefore, the sliding contact 34 can bend not only with respect to the upright portion 31 but also with respect to the mounting portion 23, that is, it can bend in two directions. Therefore, the sliding contact 34 can flex not only with respect to the upright portion 31 but also with respect to the mounting portion 23. In other words, it can bend in two directions. Therefore, the sliding contact 34 can flex flexibly with respect to changes in the shape and flatness of the inner rail 5, which is the sliding portion, and can flex a large amount of flexure. Furthermore, it can be adapted to the case where the inner rail 5 is perpendicular to the surface of the fixed portion of the leaf spring 22.

[0052] Furthermore, the sliding contact 34 is configured so that the circumferential direction of the cylindrical peripheral surface 35 is aligned with the sliding direction, so that the contact area can be made as large as possible.

[0053] Furthermore, since the leaf spring 22 is built into the slide rail 1, contact with other members or people can be prevented.

[0054] Furthermore, since the extension 33 is provided along the sliding direction, the bending length of the extension 33 can be increased, which can further reduce the sliding resistance.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the leaf spring 22 has a pair of the upright portion 31, the extension portion 33 and the sliding contact 34 provided on the mounting portion 23 in a plane symmetrical manner, but the present invention is not limited to this and may have only one each.

[0056] The disclosure regarding the present invention described above can be summarized at least as follows.

[0057] In other words, the leaf spring for sliding contact of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an attachment portion, an upright portion that stands up from the attachment portion via a bent portion and is supported in a cantilever manner on the attachment portion, and an extension portion that extends from the upright portion along the bent portion and is supported in a cantilever manner on the upright portion, and a sliding contact is formed at the tip side of the extension portion.

[0058] In addition, the leaf spring for a sliding contact according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an attachment portion and a sliding contact supported by the attachment portion via a bent portion and having a cylindrical peripheral surface at its tip along the sliding direction.

[0059] Furthermore, the slide rail of the present invention supports a drawer unit so that it can be inserted and removed from a main body, and comprises an outer rail supported on either the main body side or the drawer unit side, an inner rail supported on the other of the main body side or the drawer unit side, and a conductive member connecting the outer rail and the inner rail, wherein the outer rail has an outer groove along its length, and the inner rail has an inner groove that is slidably fitted into the outer groove of the outer rail and faces the outer rail, and the conductive member is composed of a sliding contact leaf spring, which has a mounting portion attached to the outer groove of the outer rail, a rising portion that rises from the mounting portion towards the inner rail via a bent portion and is cantilevered on the mounting portion, and an extension portion that extends from the rising portion along the outer rail and is cantilevered on the rising portion, and a sliding contact is formed at the tip of the extension portion which elastically comes into sliding contact with the inner groove of the inner rail.

[0060] The above invention can include at least the following embodiments, which can be adopted separately or in combination with each other.

[0061] (1) The sliding contact is formed by curving the extension.

[0062] (2) Each pair of upright portions and extending portions shall be provided symmetrically in the same plane. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Slide rail 4 Outer Rail 5 Inner Rail 9 Outer groove 12 Inner groove 21 Conductive materials 22 Leaf spring for sliding contact 23 Mounting part 31 Standing part 32 Bend part 33 Extension part 34 Sliding contact 35 Cylindrical Surface

Claims

1. A mounting portion and a rising portion that rises from the mounting portion via a bent portion and is cantilever-supported by the mounting portion; an extension portion that extends from the standing portion along the bent portion and is cantilevered by the standing portion; Equipped with A leaf spring for a sliding contact, characterized in that a sliding contact is formed on the tip side of the extension portion.

2. 2. The leaf spring for a sliding contact according to claim 1, wherein the sliding contact is formed by curving the extending portion.

3. 3. The leaf spring for a sliding contact according to claim 1, wherein each of said upright portions and each of said extending portions are provided in a pair, which are symmetrical with respect to a plane.

4. A mounting portion and a sliding contact point supported by the mounting portion via a bent portion and having a cylindrical peripheral surface at a tip end along a sliding direction; A leaf spring for a sliding contact, comprising:

5. A drawer unit is supported so as to be retractable relative to a main body, an outer rail supported on either one of the main body side and the drawer unit side; an inner rail supported on the other of the main body side and the drawer unit side; a conductive member for electrically connecting the outer rail and the inner rail; Equipped with The outer rail has an outer groove along its length; the inner rail has an inner groove that is slidably fitted into the outer groove of the outer rail and faces the outer rail, The conductive member is composed of a leaf spring for a sliding contact, The sliding contact leaf spring comprises: a mounting portion that is mounted within the outer groove of the outer rail; a rising portion that rises from the mounting portion via a bent portion toward the inner rail and is cantilevered on the mounting portion; an extension portion extending from the upright portion along the outer rail and cantilevered on the upright portion, a sliding contact point formed on the tip side of the extension portion, which elastically comes into sliding contact with the inner groove of the inner rail.

6. 6. The slide rail according to claim 5, wherein the sliding contact is formed by curving the extending portion.

7. 7. The slide rail according to claim 5, wherein each of the upright portions and the extending portions is provided in pairs symmetrically on a plane.

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