Limit Switch

Abstract

To provide a limit switch which is stably operable.SOLUTION: A limit switch comprises a switch main body capable of performing ON / OFF switching and an operation unit connected to the switch main body. The operation unit includes a housing, a shaft member, an energization member, and a plunger. The shaft member includes a shaft main body which is supported in the housing in a rotatable state from a recovery position to an operation position around a rotary shaft, and a cam part. The plunger includes a plunger main body and at least one contact part. The at least one contact part includes a recess which is disposed on an opposite face opposed to at least one protrusion and recessed in a direction of approach to the switch main body. The recess includes a first end, a second end and an inclined plane. The inclined plane is inclined in the direction of approach to the switch main body toward a second end 462 and the first end.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to limit switches. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a limit switch that includes a housing that houses an internal switch. This limit switch includes a rotatable shaft with a cam portion and a switch operating plunger that moves in response to the rotation of the shaft. When the cam portion tilts in response to the rotation of the shaft, the switch operating plunger moves in a direction away from the shaft, turning the internal switch on and off. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-204223 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the limit switch, the cam portion is positioned radially away from the central axis of the shaft, so when the shaft is rotated to move the switch operating plunger, the contact portion of the cam portion that comes into contact with the switch operating plunger may move from the bottom dead center in a direction approaching the shaft. In this case, the switch operating plunger also moves from the bottom dead center in a direction approaching the shaft together with the contact portion of the cam portion, so the switch operating plunger cannot be maintained at the bottom dead center, and there is a risk that the operation of the limit switch will become unstable.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a limit switch that can operate stably. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An example limit switch of the present disclosure includes: The switch body that can be switched on and off, an operating unit connected to the switch body; Equipped with The operation unit Housing and a shaft member including: a shaft body extending from the outside of the housing to the inside of the housing along a first direction and supported by the housing in a state rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the first direction from a return position to an operating position; and a cam portion disposed on the shaft body located inside the housing and rotating together with the shaft body; a biasing member disposed inside the housing and biasing the cam portion in a second direction intersecting the first direction and in a direction approaching the switch body, thereby returning the shaft body to the return position; a plunger that is disposed inside the housing between the switch body and the cam portion in the second direction and faces the cam portion, and that moves in the second direction in response to rotation of the cam portion to switch on and off the switch body; and The cam portion is a cam body with which the biasing member comes into contact; at least one protrusion protruding from the cam body in a radial direction relative to the rotation shaft and in a direction away from the cam body, the protrusion having a tip end away from the cam body in the radial direction that can come into contact with the plunger; and The plunger a plunger body facing the cam portion in the second direction; at least one contact portion that protrudes from the plunger body toward the cam portion along the second direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the at least one protrusion; and The at least one contact portion is a recessed portion disposed on an opposing surface facing the at least one protrusion, extending in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and recessed in the second direction and in a direction approaching the switch body; The recessed portion is a first end portion that is positioned farther away in the third direction than the tip end portion with respect to an imaginary line that passes through the rotation axis and extends in the second direction when the shaft body is in the return position; a second end portion disposed so that the imaginary line is located between the first end portion and the shaft body in the third direction, the second end portion being positioned farther away from the imaginary line in the third direction than the tip end portion when the shaft body is in the operating position; an inclined surface that extends from the second end toward the first end in the third direction and inclined toward the switch body in the second direction as it moves from the second end toward the first end in the third direction; It has. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the limit switch, a limit switch that can operate stably can be realized. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a limit switch according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an operating portion of the limit switch of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a plan view showing a cam portion and a plunger of the operation portion of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a plunger of the operation unit of FIG. 2. [Figure 6] 1. FIG. 4 is a first diagram for explaining the relationship between the rotation of a shaft body and the position of a plunger of the limit switch of FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a second diagram for explaining the relationship between the rotation of the shaft body and the position of the plunger of the limit switch of FIG. 1; FIG. [Figure 8] 1. FIG. 4 is a third diagram for explaining the relationship between the rotation of the shaft body and the position of the plunger of the limit switch of FIG. [Figure 9]FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a first modified example of the limit switch of FIG. 1. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a second modified example of the limit switch of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a first diagram for explaining the relationship between the rotation of a shaft body and the position of a plunger of a limit switch that does not have a recess. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a second diagram for explaining the relationship between the rotation of the shaft body and the position of the plunger of a limit switch that does not have a recess. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a third diagram for explaining the relationship between the rotation of the shaft body and the position of the plunger of a limit switch that does not have a recess. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An example of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, terms indicating specific directions or positions (e.g., terms including "upper," "lower," "right," and "left") are used as necessary. However, the use of these terms is intended to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings, and the meanings of these terms do not limit the technical scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its applications, or its uses. Furthermore, the drawings are schematic, and the proportions of the dimensions and the like do not necessarily correspond to reality.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, a limit switch 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a switch body 2 that can be switched on and off, and an operation unit 3 connected to the switch body 2.

[0011] The switch body 2 has, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in Fig. 1. An operation unit 3 is detachably connected to one surface of the switch body 2.

[0012] The operating unit 3 has a housing 10, a shaft member 20, a biasing member 30, and a plunger 40. As shown in Fig. 3, the shaft member 20 extends from the outside of the housing 10 to the inside of the housing 10 along a first direction (for example, the X direction). The biasing member 30 and the plunger 40 are disposed inside the housing 10.

[0013] 2, the housing 10 has, for example, a hollow, substantially cubic housing main body 11 and a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall portion 12. The peripheral wall portion 12 is disposed on one of the side surfaces 111 adjacent to the surface of the housing main body 11 facing the switch main body 2.

[0014] The housing body 11 is connected to the switch body 2, and as shown in Fig. 3, has therein a bearing 13 and a accommodating portion 14. The bearing 13 is disposed in a through-hole 122, which will be described later, and rotatably supports the shaft member 20. The accommodating portion 14 accommodates the biasing member 30 and the plunger 40.

[0015] The housing body 11 has a recess 15 provided in an inner wall that constitutes the accommodating portion 14. The recess 15 is disposed so as to face the through-hole 122 in a first direction (for example, the X direction), and is recessed from the accommodating portion 14 in the first direction X and in a direction away from the peripheral wall portion 12.

[0016] The peripheral wall 12 extends from a side surface 111 of the housing main body 11 in a direction intersecting the side surface 111 (for example, the X direction in FIG. 3). The peripheral wall 12 has an opening 121 provided on the surface farther from the housing main body 11 in the X direction, and a through-hole 122 extending inside the peripheral wall 12 in the X direction and connected to the accommodating portion 14 and the opening 121.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 3, shaft member 20 has a shaft body 21 and a cam portion 22. Cam portion 22 is disposed on shaft body 21 located inside housing 10, and rotates together with shaft body 21 about a rotation axis 211 extending in first direction X. In the present embodiment, an operating lever 50 is connected to an end of shaft body 21 located outside housing 10. Operating lever 50 extends in a direction intersecting (for example, perpendicular to) shaft member 20, as shown in Fig. 1, for example, and is configured to be rotatable together with shaft body 21.

[0018] Shaft body 21 has, for example, a substantially cylindrical shape and extends from the outside of housing 10 to the inside of housing 10 along first direction X. Shaft body 21 is supported by housing 10 in a state where it can rotate about rotation axis 211 from return position P1 (see FIG. 2) to first operating position P2 (see FIG. 2) and second operating position P3 (see FIG. 2). End portion 212 of shaft body 21 located inside housing 10 is accommodated in recess 15 of housing main body 11.

[0019] In this embodiment, shaft body 21 is configured to be rotatable in both forward and reverse directions, for example. As shown in Fig. 2, rotation around rotation shaft 211 in the direction from return position P1 toward first operating position P2 (i.e., the direction of arrow A) is defined as forward rotation, and rotation in the direction from return position P1 toward second operating position P3, which is on the opposite side of return position P1 from first operating position P2 (i.e., the direction of arrow B), is defined as reverse rotation. In Fig. 2, the center line of operating lever 50 at each position is indicated by a dotted line.

[0020] 4, the cam portion 22 has a cam body 221, a first protruding portion 222, a second protruding portion 223, a first notch 224, and a second notch 225. The first protruding portion 222 and the second protruding portion 223 are examples of at least one protruding portion.

[0021] Cam body 221 is configured so as to be able to come into contact with biasing member 30. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, cam body 221 is a substantially rectangular plate-like body arranged so that the longitudinal direction is in the X direction, and has contact surface 226 that extends along the XY plane when shaft body 21 is located at return position P1. As shown in Fig. 3, contact surface 226 faces biasing member 30 in a second direction (e.g., Z direction) that intersects first direction X, and is arranged so as to be able to come into contact with biasing member 30. When shaft body 21 is located at return position P1, a majority of cam body 221 is arranged closer to switch body 2 than rotation shaft 211 in the second direction (e.g., Z direction) that intersects first direction X.

[0022] 4, when viewed along the second direction Z, the first protrusion 222 protrudes from one side of the cam body 221 in a third direction (e.g., Y direction) intersecting the first direction X and the second direction Z in a radial direction (hereinafter referred to as the radial direction) relative to the rotation axis 211 and in a direction away from the cam body 221. The first protrusion 222 is configured so that a tip 227 (an example of a first tip) that is farther away from the cam body 221 in the radial direction can come into contact with the plunger 40. In the present embodiment, the first protrusion 222 has a tapered shape and protrudes radially from the cam body 221 toward the closer of both ends of the plunger 40 in the third direction Y (the upper end in FIG. 4).

[0023] As shown in Fig. 4, the second protrusion 223 protrudes radially from the other side of the cam body 221 in the third direction Y and in a direction away from the cam body 221. The second protrusion 223 is configured so that a tip 228 (an example of a second tip) that is radially away from the cam body 221 can come into contact with the plunger 40. In this embodiment, the second protrusion 223 has a tapered shape and protrudes radially from the cam body 221 toward the closer of both ends of the plunger 40 in the third direction Y (the lower end in Fig. 4).

[0024] As shown in Fig. 4, the first notch 224 is disposed at one end of the first protruding portion 222 in the first direction X, and extends radially from a tip 227 of the first protruding portion 222 toward the rotation shaft 211. In the present embodiment, the first notch 224 is provided at an end of the first protruding portion 222 closer to the peripheral wall portion 12 in the first direction X. As shown in Fig. 4, the second notch 225 is provided at the other end in the first direction X, and extends from a tip 228 of the second protruding portion 223 toward the rotation shaft 211. In the present embodiment, the second notch 225 is provided at an end of the second protruding portion 223 farther from the peripheral wall portion 12 in the first direction X.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 3, the biasing member 30 is disposed inside the housing 10 farther from the switch body 2 in the second direction Z than the cam portion 22. The biasing member 30 has a coil spring 31 and a return plunger 32 disposed between the coil spring 31 and the cam portion 22. The coil spring 31 biases the cam portion 22 in the second direction Z and in a direction approaching the switch body 2, thereby returning the shaft body 21 to the return position P1. As an example, the return plunger 32 is composed of a transmission plate portion 321 that contacts the cam body 221 to transmit the biasing force of the coil spring 31 to the cam portion 22, and a guide plate portion 322 that guides the movement of the transmission plate portion 321 in the second direction Z.

[0026] 3, the plunger 40 is disposed inside the housing 10 between the switch body 2 and the cam portion 22 in the second direction Z. The plunger 40 is disposed opposite the cam portion 22 in the second direction Z, and moves in the second direction Z as the cam portion 22 rotates to switch the switch body 2 on and off.

[0027] 4, the plunger 40 has a plunger body 41, a first contact portion 42, a second contact portion 43, a third contact portion 44, and a non-contact portion 45, and is configured to perform one-sided operation such that the cam portion 22 comes into contact at the first operating position P2 but does not come into contact at the second operating position P3. The first contact portion 42, the second contact portion 43, and the third contact portion 44 are examples of at least one contact portion.

[0028] 5, the plunger body 41 has a substantially square plate shape, and one surface in the thickness direction thereof faces the cam portion 22 in the second direction Z.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 5 , the first contact portion 42, the second contact portion 43, and the third contact portion 44 each protrude from the plunger body 41 toward the cam portion 22 along the second direction Z. The first contact portion 42, the second contact portion 43, and the third contact portion 44 are configured to be able to come into contact with the first protrusion 222 and the second protrusion 223, respectively. The non-contact portion 45 is configured not to come into contact with the first protrusion 222 and the second protrusion 223. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 , the non-contact portion 45 is configured as a recess surrounded by the first contact portion 42, the second contact portion 43, and the plunger body 41 and capable of accommodating the first protrusion 222 and the second protrusion 223.

[0030] In this embodiment, the first contact portion 42 and the second contact portion 43 are arranged to face each other with a gap in the third direction Y. The third contact portion 44 and the non-contact portion 45 are arranged to face each other with a gap in the first direction X. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 , the plunger body 41 has a quadrangular shape including a first side 411 that is one of the sides facing the third direction Y, a second side 412 that faces the first side 411 in the third direction Y, a third side 413 that intersects with the first side 411 and the second side 412, and a fourth side 414 that faces the third side 413. The first contact portion 42 has a plate shape with a substantially rectangular cross section and is arranged on the first side 411 of the plunger body 41. The second contact portion 43 has a plate shape with a substantially rectangular cross section and is arranged on the second side 412 of the plunger body 41. The third contact portion 44 is plate-shaped with a substantially rectangular cross section, and is disposed on a third side 413 of the plunger body 41. The non-contact portion 45 is disposed on a fourth side 414 of the plunger body 41. One end of the third contact portion 44 in the third direction Y is connected to one end of the first contact portion 42 in the first direction X, and the other end of the third contact portion 44 in the third direction Y is connected to one end of the second contact portion 43 in the first direction X.

[0031] When shaft body 21 is rotated from return position P1 toward first operating position P2 (i.e., in the direction of arrow A), first protrusion 222 comes into contact with third contact portion 44, causing plunger 40 to move in second direction Z toward switch body 2 (hereinafter referred to as the operating direction). This switches switch body 2 from OFF to ON. Furthermore, when shaft body 21 is rotated from return position P1 toward second operating position P3 (i.e., in the direction of arrow B), third contact portion 44 is accommodated in second notch 225, and second protrusion 223 is accommodated in non-contact portion 45. Even if shaft body 21 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, plunger 40 does not move in the operating direction, and switch body 2 remains OFF and cannot be switched ON.

[0032] 6, each of the first contact portion 42, the second contact portion 43, and the third contact portion 44 has a recess 46. The recess 46 is disposed on an opposing surface 47 that faces the first protrusion 222 and the second protrusion 223 in the second direction Z, and is recessed in the second direction Z and in a direction approaching the switch body 2. The recess 46 extends in the direction in which each of the first contact portion 42, the second contact portion 43, and the third contact portion 44 extends.

[0033] For example, the recess 46 of the third contact portion 44 extends in the third direction Y. As shown in FIG. 5, the recess 46 of the third contact portion 44 has a first end 461, a second end 462, and an inclined surface 463.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 6, when shaft body 21 is in return position P1, first end 461 is positioned farther from imaginary line L1, which passes through rotation shaft 211 and extends in second direction Z, in the third direction Y than tip end 227. Second end 462 is positioned such that imaginary line L1 is located between second end 462 and first end 461 in the third direction Y. In other words, imaginary line L1 is located between first end 461 and second end 462. As shown in Fig. 8, when shaft body 21 is in first operating position P2, second end 462 is positioned farther from imaginary line L1 in the third direction Y than tip end 227.

[0035] 6 , the inclined surface 463 extends from the second end 462 toward the first end 461 in the third direction Y. The inclined surface 463 is inclined in the second direction Z in a direction approaching the switch body 2 as it moves from the second end 462 toward the first end 461. In the present embodiment, the inclined surface 463 is, for example, a curved surface that protrudes in the second direction Z in a direction approaching the switch body 2, and forms part of the bottom surface of the recess 46.

[0036] When the shaft body 21 is rotated from the return position P1 toward the first operating position P2, the tip 227 of the first protrusion 222 moves from the first end 461 to the second end 462 via the inclined surface 463 while in contact with the bottom surface of the recess 46.

[0037] Inclined surface 463 is configured such that height H in second direction Z (in other words, the linear distance from the bottom surface of recess 46 to the opening) is the same as the distance in second direction Z between tip 227 (see FIG. 7) when shaft body 21 is located on imaginary line L1 and tip 227 when shaft body 21 is located at first operating position P2. FIGS. 6 to 8 show imaginary line L2, which represents the position of the bottom surface of plunger 40 when shaft body 21 is located at return position P2, and imaginary line L3, which represents the position of the bottom surface of plunger 40 when tip 227 of first protrusion 222 is located on imaginary line L1. As shown in FIG. 7, tip 227 of first protrusion 222 and plunger 40 are closest to switch body 2 in the second direction Z when located on imaginary line L1. As shown in FIG. 8, when shaft body 21 is located at first operating position P2, the bottom surface of plunger 40 is located on imaginary line L3.

[0038] The limit switch 1 of this embodiment can provide the following effects.

[0039] The limit switch 1 includes a switch body 2 that can be switched on and off, and an operating unit 3 connected to the switch body. The operating unit 3 includes a housing 10, a shaft member 20, a biasing member 30, and a plunger 40. The shaft member 20 includes a shaft body 21 that extends from the outside of the housing 10 to the inside of the housing 10 along a first direction and is supported by the housing 10 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis 211 that extends in the first direction from a return position P1 to a first operating position P2, and a cam portion 22 that is disposed on the shaft body 21 located inside the housing 10 and rotates together with the shaft body 21. The biasing member 30 is disposed inside the housing 10 and biases the cam portion 22 in the second direction, in a direction approaching the switch body 2, to return the shaft body 21 to the return position P1. The plunger 40 is disposed between the switch body 2 and the cam portion 22 in the second direction inside the housing 10, facing the cam portion 22. The plunger 40 moves in the second direction in response to rotation of the cam portion 22, switching the switch body 2 on and off. The cam portion 22 has a cam body 221 with which the biasing member 30 comes into contact, and at least one protrusion. The at least one protrusion protrudes from the cam body 221 in a radial direction relative to the rotation axis and in a direction away from the cam body 221, and its tip away from the cam body 221 in the radial direction is configured to be able to contact the plunger 40. The plunger 40 has a plunger body 41 facing the cam portion 22 in the second direction, and at least one contact portion protruding from the plunger body 41 toward the cam portion 22 along the second direction and configured to be able to come into contact with the at least one protrusion. The at least one contact portion is disposed on an opposing surface facing the at least one protrusion, and has a recess 46 extending in the third direction and recessed in the second direction toward the switch body 2. Recess 46 has first end 461, second end 462, and inclined surface 463. When shaft body 21 is in return position P1, first end 461 is disposed farther away in the third direction from imaginary line L1 that passes through rotation shaft 211 and extends in the second direction than the tip of at least one of the protrusions.Second end 462 is disposed such that imaginary line L1 is located between second end 462 and first end 461 in the third direction. When shaft body 21 is in first operating position P2, second end 462 is disposed farther from imaginary line L1 in the third direction than the tip of at least one of the protrusions. Inclined surface 463 extends from second end 462 toward first end 461 in the third direction and is inclined toward switch body 2 in the second direction as it extends from second end 462 toward first end 461 in the third direction. With this configuration, when shaft body 21 is moved from return position P1 to first operating position P2, plunger 40 can be maintained at bottom dead center even if the tip of at least one of the protrusions that contacts plunger 40 moves from bottom dead center toward rotation shaft 211. As a result, a limit switch that can operate stably can be realized.

[0040] For example, in a limit switch having a plunger 40 that does not have a recess 46 on the opposing surface 47, as shown in Figures 11 to 13, when the shaft body 21 is in the first operating position P2, the bottom surface of the plunger 40 is located closer to the rotation axis 211 than the imaginary straight line L3, and the plunger 40 cannot be maintained at bottom dead center.

[0041] Inclined surface 463 is a curved surface that protrudes in the second direction toward switch body 2. With this configuration, shaft body 21 can be rotated smoothly.

[0042] The inclined surface 463 is configured such that the height H in the second direction is equal to the distance in the second direction between the tip of the at least one protrusion when the inclined surface 463 is positioned on the imaginary line L1 and the tip of the at least one protrusion when the shaft body 21 is positioned at the first operating position P2. This configuration allows the plunger 40 to be more reliably maintained at the bottom dead center.

[0043] The limit switch 1 can also be configured as follows.

[0044] Shaft body 21 is not limited to being configured to be rotatable in both forward and reverse directions around rotation axis 211. For example, shaft body 21 may be configured to be rotatable around rotation axis 211 from return position P1 to first operating position P2, but not rotatable from return position P1 to second operating position P3. In this case, second protrusion 223, first notch 224, and second notch 225 can be omitted.

[0045] The plunger 40 is not limited to being configured to operate on one side, in which the cam portion 22 makes contact at the first operating position P2 but does not make contact at the second operating position P3. For example, as shown in FIG. 9 , the third contact portion 44 may be disposed on the fourth side 414 of the plunger body 41, and the non-contact portion 45 may be disposed on the first side 411 of the plunger body 41. In this case, when the shaft body 21 is rotated from the return position P1 toward the second operating position P3 (i.e., in the direction of arrow B), the second protrusion 223 comes into contact with the third contact portion 44, moving the plunger 40 in the second direction Z and in a direction approaching the switch body 2 (hereinafter referred to as the operating direction). Furthermore, when the shaft body 21 is rotated from the return position P1 toward the first operating position P2 (i.e., in the direction of arrow A), the third contact portion 44 is accommodated in the first notch 224, and the first protrusion 222 is accommodated in the non-contact portion 45. Even if the shaft body 21 is rotated in the direction of the arrow A, the plunger 40 does not move in the operating direction, and the switch body 2 remains off and cannot be switched on.

[0046] In other words, when the plunger 40 is positioned as shown below, the operation mode of the limit switch 1 is set to one-sided operation. When configuring a limit switch 1 that is only capable of one-sided operation, the first contact portion 42 and the second contact portion 43 can be omitted. The plunger 40 is disposed in the second direction Z so that the third contact portion 44 faces the first notch 224 and the second protruding portion 223 and the non-contact portion 45 faces the second notch 225 and the first protruding portion 222. The plunger 40 is disposed so that the third contact portion 44 faces the second notch 225 and the first protrusion 222 in the second direction Z, and the non-contact portion 45 faces the first notch 224 and the second protrusion 223.

[0047] 10 , first contact portion 42 may be arranged on third side 413, second contact portion 43 may be arranged on fourth side 414, and third contact portion 44 may be arranged on second side 412. In this case, when shaft body 21 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, first protrusion 222 comes into contact with first contact portion 42, moving plunger 40 in the operating direction. Furthermore, when shaft body 21 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, second protrusion 223 comes into contact with second contact portion 43, moving plunger 40 in the operating direction.

[0048] In other words, when the plunger 40 is positioned as shown below, the operation mode of the limit switch 1 is set to bilateral operation. When configuring a limit switch 1 that is only capable of bilateral operation, the third contact portion 44 and the non-contact portion 45 can be omitted. The plunger 40 is disposed so that, in the second direction Z, the first contact portion 42 faces the second notch 225 and the first protrusion 222, and the second contact portion 43 faces the first notch 224 and the second protrusion 223. The plunger 40 is disposed so that, in the second direction Z, the first contact portion 42 faces the first notch 224 and the second protrusion 223, and the second contact portion 43 faces the second notch 225 and the first protrusion 222.

[0049] From the above, the plunger 40 can be configured so that its operating mode can be set to either one-sided operation or two-sided operation.

[0050] The inclined surface 463 is not limited to a curved surface, but may be, for example, a flat surface.

[0051] The switch body 2 can have any configuration that allows on / off switching via the plunger 40 by rotation of the shaft body 21.

[0052] The operation unit 3 may be connected to the switch body 2 in an undetachable manner.

[0053] The peripheral wall portion 12 need not necessarily be provided integrally with the housing body 11, but may be provided separately. In this case, the peripheral wall portion 12 may be made of the same material as the housing body 11, or may be made of a different material.

[0054] The shapes and configurations of the members constituting the limit switch 1 in the above embodiment are merely examples, and any other shapes and configurations may be adopted.

[0055] For example, the plunger body 41 is not limited to having a rectangular shape when viewed in the second direction Z. The shape of the plunger body 41 may be a polygonal shape or a circular shape when viewed in the second direction Z.

[0056] For example, non-contact portion 45 is not limited to being surrounded by first contact portion 42, second contact portion 43, and plunger body 41. Non-contact portion 45 may have any configuration that does not contact first protruding portion 222 and second protruding portion 223 when shaft body 21 rotates.

[0057] Various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to the drawings. Finally, various aspects of the present disclosure will be described. Note that in the following description, reference numerals will also be used as examples.

[0058] The limit switch 1 of the first aspect of the present disclosure includes: 2 switch units that can be turned on and off, an operating unit 3 connected to the switch body; Equipped with The operation unit 3 a housing 10; a shaft member (20) including a shaft body (21) extending from the outside of the housing (10) to the inside of the housing (10) along a first direction and supported by the housing (10) in a state rotatable about a rotation axis (211) extending in the first direction from a return position to an operating position, and a cam portion (22) disposed on the shaft body (21) located inside the housing (10) and rotating together with the shaft body (21); a biasing member (30) disposed inside the housing (10) and biasing the cam portion (22) in a second direction intersecting the first direction and in a direction approaching the switch body (2), thereby returning the shaft body (21) to the return position; a plunger 40 that is disposed between the switch body 2 and the cam portion 22 in the second direction inside the housing 10 and faces the cam portion 22, and that moves in the second direction as the cam portion 22 rotates to switch the switch body 2 on and off; and The cam portion 22 is a cam body 221 with which the biasing member 30 comes into contact; at least one protrusion protruding from the cam body 221 in a radial direction relative to the rotary shaft 211 and in a direction away from the cam body 221, the tip of which is configured to be able to come into contact with the plunger 40; and The plunger 40 a plunger body 41 facing the cam portion 22 in the second direction; at least one contact portion that protrudes from the plunger body 41 toward the cam portion 22 along the second direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the at least one protrusion; and The at least one contact portion is a recess 46 disposed on an opposing surface 47 opposing the at least one protrusion, extending in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and recessed in the second direction and in a direction approaching the switch body 2; The recess 46 is a first end portion (461) that is disposed farther away in the third direction than the tip end portion with respect to a virtual straight line (L1) that passes through the rotation shaft (211) and extends in the second direction when the shaft body (21) is in the return position; a second end 462 that is disposed so that the imaginary line L1 is located between the first end 461 in the third direction, and that is disposed farther away from the imaginary line L1 in the third direction than the tip end when the shaft body 21 is in the operating position; an inclined surface 463 that extends from the second end 462 toward the first end 461 in the third direction and inclined in a direction approaching the switch body 2 in the second direction as it moves from the second end 462 toward the first end 461 in the third direction; It has.

[0059] The limit switch 1 according to the second aspect of the present disclosure includes: The inclined surface 463 is a curved surface that protrudes in a direction approaching the switch body 2 in the second direction.

[0060] The limit switch 1 of the third aspect of the present disclosure includes: The inclined surface 463 is configured so that the height H in the second direction is the same as the distance in the second direction between the tip when it is located on the virtual straight line L1 and the tip when the shaft body 21 is located in the operating position.

[0061] The limit switch 1 according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure includes: The shaft body 21 is the housing 10 is supported in a state in which the housing 10 can rotate forward around the rotation shaft 211 from the return position toward a first operating position and can rotate backward from the return position toward a second operating position on the opposite side of the return position from the first operating position, The aforementioned Cam part 22 but, a first protruding portion 222 that protrudes in the radial direction from one side of the cam body 221 in the third direction and in a direction away from the cam body 221 when viewed along the second direction, and has a first tip 227 that is away from the cam body 221 in the radial direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the plunger 40; a second protruding portion 223 that protrudes from the other side of the cam body 221 in the third direction in the radial direction and in a direction away from the cam body 221, and has a second tip 228 that is away from the cam body 221 in the radial direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the plunger 40; a first notch 224 disposed at one end of the first protrusion 222 in the first direction and extending from the first tip 227 of the first protrusion 222 toward the rotation shaft 211; a second notch 225 disposed at the other end of the second protrusion 223 in the first direction and extending from the second tip 228 of the second protrusion 223 toward the rotation shaft 211; and The plunger 40 a contact portion 44 that protrudes from the plunger body 41 toward the cam portion 22 along the second direction and is arranged so as to be able to be housed in the first notch 224 and come into contact with the second protruding portion 223 or to be housed in the second notch 225 and come into contact with the first protruding portion 222; a non-contact portion (45) that is spaced apart from the contact portion (44) in the first direction and does not contact the first protrusion (222) and the second protrusion (223); and In the second direction, the contact portion 44 is arranged so as to face the first notch 224 and the second protrusion 223 and the non-contact portion 45 is arranged so as to face the second notch 225 and the first protrusion 222, or the contact portion 44 is arranged so as to face the second notch 225 and the first protrusion 222 and the non-contact portion 45 is arranged so as to face the first notch 224 and the second protrusion 223.

[0062] The limit switch 1 of the fifth aspect of the present disclosure includes: The shaft body 21 is the housing 10 is supported in a state in which the housing 10 can rotate forward around the rotation shaft 211 from the return position toward a first operating position and can rotate backward from the return position toward a second operating position on the opposite side of the return position from the first operating position, The aforementioned Cam part 22 but, a first protruding portion 222 that protrudes in the radial direction from one side of the cam body 221 in the third direction and in a direction away from the cam body 221 when viewed along the second direction, and has a first tip 227 that is away from the cam body 221 in the radial direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the plunger 40; a second protruding portion 223 that protrudes from the other side of the cam body 221 in the third direction in the radial direction and in a direction away from the cam body 221, and has a second tip 228 that is away from the cam body 221 in the radial direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the plunger 40; a first notch 224 disposed at one end of the first protrusion 222 in the first direction and extending from the first tip 227 of the first protrusion 222 toward the rotation shaft 211; a second notch disposed at the other end of the second protrusion 223 in the first direction and extending from an end of the second protrusion 223 away from the second tip 228 toward the rotation shaft 211; and The plunger 40 a first contact portion 42 that protrudes from the plunger body 41 toward the cam portion 22 along the second direction and is arranged so as to be able to be accommodated in the first notch 224 and to be able to come into contact with the second protruding portion 223; a second contact portion (43) that is disposed at an interval from the first contact portion (42) in the first direction, that protrudes from the plunger body (41) toward the cam portion (22) along the second direction, and that is disposed so as to be receivable in the second notch (225) and to be able to come into contact with the first protruding portion (222); It has.

[0063] Any of the various embodiments or modifications described above can be combined appropriately to achieve the effects of each. In addition, combinations of embodiments, combinations of examples, or combinations of embodiments and examples are possible, and combinations of features from different embodiments or examples are also possible.

[0064] Although the present disclosure has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims unless they depart therefrom. [Industrial Applicability]

[0065] The limit switch of the present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an assembly line for automobiles and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1 limit switch 2 Switch body 3 Control section 10. Housing 11 Housing body 12 Peripheral wall section 13 Bearings 14 Storage section 15 recess 20 Shaft member 21 Shaft body 211 Rotation axis 212 End 22 Cam section 221 Cam body 222 1st protrusion 223 Second protrusion 224 First notch 225 Second notch 226 Contact surface 227, 228 Tip 30 biasing member 31 Coil spring 32 Return plunger 321 Transmission plate section 322 Guide plate part 40 Plunger 41 Plunger body 411 Side 1 412 Side 2 413 Third Side 414 Side 4 42 1st contact part 43 Second contact part 44 Third contact part 45 Non-contact part 46 Recess 461, 462 End 463 Slope 47 Opposite Surface 50 Operating lever

Claims

1. The switch body that can be switched on and off, an operating unit connected to the switch body; Equipped with The operation unit Housing and a shaft member including: a shaft body extending from the outside of the housing to the inside of the housing along a first direction and supported by the housing in a state rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the first direction from a return position to an operating position; and a cam portion disposed on the shaft body located inside the housing and rotating together with the shaft body; a biasing member disposed inside the housing and biasing the cam portion in a second direction intersecting the first direction and in a direction approaching the switch body, thereby returning the shaft body to the return position; a plunger that is disposed inside the housing between the switch body and the cam portion in the second direction and faces the cam portion, and that moves in the second direction in response to rotation of the cam portion to switch on and off the switch body; and The cam portion is a cam body with which the biasing member comes into contact; at least one protrusion protruding from the cam body in a radial direction relative to the rotation shaft and in a direction away from the cam body, the protrusion having a tip end away from the cam body in the radial direction that can come into contact with the plunger; and The plunger a plunger body facing the cam portion in the second direction; at least one contact portion that protrudes from the plunger body toward the cam portion along the second direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the at least one protrusion; and The at least one contact portion is a recessed portion disposed on an opposing surface facing the at least one protrusion, extending in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and recessed in the second direction and in a direction approaching the switch body; The recessed portion is a first end portion that is disposed farther away in the third direction than the tip end portion with respect to an imaginary line that passes through the rotation axis and extends in the second direction when the shaft body is in the return position; a second end portion disposed so that the imaginary line is located between the first end portion and the shaft body in the third direction, the second end portion being positioned farther away from the imaginary line in the third direction than the tip end portion when the shaft body is in the operating position; an inclined surface that extends from the second end toward the first end in the third direction and inclined toward the switch body in the second direction as it moves from the second end toward the first end in the third direction; A limit switch having:

2. The limit switch according to claim 1 , wherein the inclined surface is a curved surface that protrudes in a direction approaching the switch body in the second direction.

3. 3. The limit switch according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface is configured so that the height in the second direction is the same as the distance in the second direction between the tip when the inclined surface is located on the imaginary straight line and the tip when the shaft body is located at the operating position.

4. The shaft body is the housing is supported in a state in which the rotation shaft is rotatable in a forward direction from the return position toward a first operating position and in a reverse direction from the return position toward a second operating position on the opposite side of the return position from the first operating position, The cam portion is a first protrusion that, when viewed along the second direction, protrudes from one side of the cam body in the third direction in the radial direction and in a direction away from the cam body, and has a first tip that is away from the cam body in the radial direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the plunger; a second protruding portion that protrudes from the other side of the cam body in the third direction in the radial direction and in a direction away from the cam body, and has a second tip that is away from the cam body in the radial direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the plunger; a first notch disposed at one end of the first protruding portion in the first direction and extending from the first tip of the first protruding portion toward the rotation shaft; a second notch disposed at the other end of the second protruding portion in the first direction and extending from the second tip of the second protruding portion toward the rotation shaft; and The plunger a contact portion that protrudes from the plunger body toward the cam portion along the second direction and is arranged to be accommodated in the first notch and to be able to come into contact with the second protruding portion, or to be accommodated in the second notch and to be able to come into contact with the first protruding portion; a non-contact portion that is spaced apart from the contact portion in the first direction and does not contact the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion; and 4. The limit switch according to claim 1, wherein, in the second direction, the contact portion faces the first notch and the second protruding portion and the non-contact portion faces the second notch and the first protruding portion, or the contact portion faces the second notch and the first protruding portion and the non-contact portion faces the first notch and the second protruding portion.

5. The shaft body is the housing is supported in a state in which the rotation shaft is rotatable in a forward direction from the return position toward a first operating position and in a reverse direction from the return position toward a second operating position on the opposite side of the return position from the first operating position, The cam portion is a first protrusion that, when viewed along the second direction, protrudes from one side of the cam body in the third direction in the radial direction and in a direction away from the cam body, and has a first tip that is away from the cam body in the radial direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the plunger; a second protruding portion that protrudes from the other side of the cam body in the third direction in the radial direction and in a direction away from the cam body, and has a second tip that is away from the cam body in the radial direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the plunger; a first notch disposed at one end of the first protruding portion in the first direction and extending from the first tip of the first protruding portion toward the rotation shaft; a second notch disposed at the other end of the second protruding portion in the first direction and extending from the second tip of the second protruding portion toward the rotation shaft; and The plunger a first contact portion that protrudes from the plunger body toward the cam portion along the second direction and is arranged to be receivable in the first notch and to be able to contact the second protruding portion; a second contact portion that is disposed at a distance from the first contact portion in the first direction, that protrudes from the plunger body toward the cam portion along the second direction, and that is disposed so as to be receivable in the second notch and to be able to come into contact with the first protruding portion; 4. The limit switch according to claim 1, further comprising:

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