Leaf spring for sliding contacts 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 a sliding contact and a slide rail that can support a draw unit so that it can be inserted into and removed from a main body such as an OA device using the same.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various types of leaf springs for sliding contacts and slide rails of this kind have been proposed.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a slide rail including a housing-side rail formed in a substantially C-shaped cross section and a draw-unit-side rail formed in a substantially C-shaped cross section that is slidably fitted inside the housing-side rail.

[0004] Further, this slide rail includes an energization contact that enables energization between the housing-side rail and the draw-unit-side rail in order to prevent the draw unit from being charged.

[0005] And this energization contact has a connecting portion that is connectable to one rail for energization, a contact protruding piece that protrudes in the outer surface direction of the other rail and is always biased in the contact direction, and a contact protrusion (sliding contact) provided on this contact protruding piece that always contacts the outer surface of the other rail, and these are integrally formed by a leaf spring.

[0006] Also, 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 Document 2

Summary of the Invention

[0008] However, since both are cantilever support structures in which a sliding contact is provided on the tip side of a leaf spring whose base end is fixed, 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 sliding surface with which the sliding contact makes contact.

[0009] Furthermore, since the former type of leaf spring is designed to flex only in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction, if the distance between the fixed part of the leaf spring and the sliding part is short, the length of the leaf spring becomes short, and it becomes impossible to secure a large amount of flex.

[0010] On the other hand, the latter type of leaf spring, being installed along the sliding direction, allows for a longer leaf spring length and thus a larger amount of deflection, but it cannot accommodate 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 circumstances, and its objective is to provide a sliding contact leaf spring and a slide rail using the same that can flexibly respond to changes in the shape and flatness of the sliding part, can secure a large amount of deflection, and can also accommodate the case when the sliding part is perpendicular to the surface of the fixing part of the leaf spring. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] To solve the above problems, the leaf spring for sliding contacts according to the present invention is configured in a certain direction toThe device comprises a mounting portion extending along a certain direction, an upright portion rising from the mounting portion via a bent portion and cantilevered by the mounting portion, and an extension portion extending from the upright portion along the bent portion and cantilevered by the upright portion, wherein a sliding contact is formed on the tip side of the extension portion, the extension portion is formed to extend in the direction in which the mounting portion extends, the bent portion, the upright portion, the extension portion, and the sliding contact are each provided in pairs symmetrically in plane, the pair of extension portions are formed to gradually move away from each other from the base end side where the upright portion is located to the tip end side where the sliding contact is located, the pair of sliding contacts are formed by curving the extension portion so as to move away from each other, and each of the pair of sliding contacts is characterized in that the sliding portion contacts each of the outer surfaces of the portions formed by curving the extension portion so as to move away from each other.

[0013] Furthermore, the leaf spring for sliding contacts according to the present invention The sliding contacts are It is supported at the mounting portion via a bent portion and has a cylindrical circumferential surface at its tip that is aligned with the sliding direction. Ruko It is characterized by the following.

[0014] Furthermore, the slide rail according to the present invention supports a drawer unit so that it can be moved in and out of the main body, and comprises an outer rail supported on either the side of the main body or the side of the drawer unit, an inner rail supported on the other side of either the side of the main body or the side of the drawer unit, and a conductive member that connects the outer rail and the inner rail, wherein the outer rail has an outer groove along its length, the inner rail is slidably fitted into the outer groove of the outer rail and has an inner groove facing 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, an upright portion that rises from the mounting portion via a bent portion toward the inner rail side and is cantilevered by the mounting portion, and an extension portion that extends from the upright portion along the outer rail and is cantilevered by the upright portion, and a sliding contact is formed at the tip of the extension portion that elastically slides into the inner groove of the inner rail. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the leaf spring for a sliding contact and the slide rail using the same according to the present invention, it is possible to flexibly cope with changes in the shape and flatness of the sliding portion, and moreover, a large amount of deflection can be ensured. Further, it is possible to cope with the case where the sliding portion is orthogonal to the surface of the fixed portion of the leaf spring.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] The drawings show specific embodiments of the present invention according to the present disclosure, including not only the essential configurations of the invention but also optional and preferred embodiments. [Figure 1] A plan view showing a slide rail according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] An exploded plan sectional view of the same slide rail. [Figure 3] An exploded perspective view of the same slide rail. [Figure 4] A longitudinal sectional view of the same slide rail. [Figure 5] A perspective view showing the same slide rail with a part broken away. [[ID=2x]] [Figure 6] An enlarged perspective view showing the same slide rail with a part broken away. [Figure 7] An enlarged perspective view showing the same slide rail with a part broken away from another direction. [Figure 8] A perspective view showing a conduction member used for the same slide rail. [Figure 9] A front view showing the same conduction member. [Figure 10] A plan view showing the same conduction member. [Figure 11] A side view showing the same conduction member.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

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

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

[0019] This slide rail 1 supports, for example, a drawer unit such as an internal unit so that it can be moved in and out of the main body of an office automation device, and has a first rail unit 2 and a second rail unit 3.

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

[0021] Furthermore, 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 other means, resulting in a symmetrical arrangement structure.

[0023] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the outer rail 4 is formed by bending the long sides 8, 8 of a long plate-like member 7 to create a roughly C-shaped cross-section, thereby forming an outer groove 9 between the long sides 8, 8.

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

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

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

[0027] Furthermore, the movement of the inner rail 5 relative to the outer rail 4 is restricted by the second stopper 14 abutting against the first stopper 13.

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

[0029] This retainer 15 has a plurality of balls 16... and a retaining frame 17 that holds these balls 16....

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

[0031] Furthermore, the long sides 8,8 of the outer rail 4 are curved outwards, forming recesses 19,19 that receive 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, forming recesses 20, 20 that receive the balls 16 of the retainer 15.

[0033] In other words, the balls 16 of the retainer 15 are held in place by the recesses 19, 19 and 20, 20, thereby maintaining the fitted state of the outer rail 4 and the inner rail 5 and allowing them to slide easily relative to each other.

[0034] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the slide rail 1 configured in this way is provided with a conductive member 21 that connects the outer rail 4 and the inner rail 5 electrically.

[0035] This conductive member 21 has a sliding contact leaf spring 22 that is 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, with one end being a narrow portion 24 and the other end being a wide portion 25, the wide portion 25 being longer than the narrow portion 24.

[0037] Furthermore, the narrow section 24 has multiple holes 27 for fixing rivets 26 to secure the leaf spring 22 to the outer rail 4, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, and the wide section 25 has holes 29 for mounting screws 28 to fasten the leaf spring 22 together with the outer rail 4 to the main body of office equipment or drawer unit such as an internal unit.

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

[0039] On both sides of the wide section 25 between the recess 30 and the narrow section 24, a pair of vertically standing upright sections 31 are connected via bent sections 32 and are cantilevered to the mounting section 23.

[0040] An extension portion 33 is connected to the upper part of each upright portion 31, extending toward the narrow portion 24 along the bent portion 32, that is, along the longitudinal direction of the mounting portion 23, and cantilevered to the upright portion 31.

[0041] These pair of extensions 33 are formed so that their tip ends are spaced apart from the upright portion 31.

[0042] In other words, each extension 33 is formed such that its tip is aligned with the narrow portion 24 and moves away from the narrow portion 24.

[0043] Furthermore, a sliding contact 34 is provided at the tip end of each extension 33, which is formed by curving the extension 33 so that it forms a convex cylindrical circumferential surface 35 facing outward (in the direction away from the narrow portion 24 along the narrow portion 24), and the circumferential direction of this cylindrical circumferential surface 35 is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the extension 33.

[0044] Therefore, these pair of upright portions 31, the pair of extension portions 33, and the pair of sliding contacts 34 are symmetrical in plane.

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

[0046] In other words, the leaf spring 22 is provided such that the extended portion 33 faces in the sliding direction relative to the upright portion 31.

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

[0048] As a result, the extension portion 33 flexes within the inner groove 12 of the inner rail 5, causing the cylindrical circumferential surface 35 of the sliding contact point 34 to contact the inner rail 5 with its circumferential direction aligned with the inner rail 5.

[0049] In this 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 the office automation equipment, and the outer rail 4 of the second rail unit 3 fixed to the drawer unit side of the internal unit.

[0050] This ensures electrical conductivity between the main unit and the drawer unit, and the drawer unit remains grounded even when pulled out from the main unit, thus preventing static electricity buildup in the drawer unit.

[0051] With the above configuration, the leaf spring 22 has a mounting portion 23 that is attached to the outer groove 9 of the outer rail 4, an upright portion 31 that rises from the mounting portion 23 towards the inner rail 5 via a bent portion 32 and is cantilevered by the mounting portion 23, and an extension portion 33 that extends from the upright portion 31 along the outer rail 4 and is cantilevered by the upright portion 31, and a sliding contact 34 that elastically slides in contact with the inner groove 12 of the inner rail 5 is formed on the tip side of the extension portion 33, so that 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, so that it can flexibly respond to changes in the shape and flatness of the inner rail 5 which is the sliding part, and moreover, a large amount of deflection can be secured, and furthermore, it can accommodate the case when the inner rail 5 is perpendicular to the surface of the fixed portion of the leaf spring 22.

[0052] Furthermore, since the sliding contact 34 is configured such that the circumferential direction of the cylindrical circumferential surface 35 is aligned with the sliding direction, 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 components or people can be prevented.

[0054] Furthermore, since the extension portion 33 is provided along the sliding direction, the deflection length of the extension portion 33 can be increased, thereby further reducing the sliding resistance.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the leaf spring 22 is provided with a pair of upright portion 31, extended portion 33, and sliding contact 34 symmetrically arranged on the mounting portion 23. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each may be provided individually.

[0056] The disclosure relating to the present invention described above can be summarized to at least the following:

[0057] In other words, the leaf spring for sliding contacts according to the present invention comprises a mounting portion, an upright portion that rises from the mounting portion via a bent portion and is cantilevered to the mounting portion, and an extension portion that extends from the upright portion along the bent portion and is cantilevered to the upright portion, and a sliding contact is formed on the tip side of the extension portion.

[0058] Furthermore, the leaf spring for sliding contacts according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a mounting portion and a sliding contact that is supported by the mounting portion via a bent portion and has a cylindrical circumferential surface at its tip that is aligned with the sliding direction.

[0059] Furthermore, the slide rail according to the present invention supports a drawer unit so that it can be moved in and out of the main body, and comprises an outer rail supported on either the side of the main body or the side of the drawer unit, an inner rail supported on the other side of either the side of the main body or the side of the drawer unit, and a conductive member that connects the outer rail and the inner rail, wherein the outer rail has an outer groove along its length, the inner rail is slidably fitted into the outer groove of the outer rail and has an inner groove facing 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, an upright portion that rises from the mounting portion via a bent portion toward the inner rail side and is cantilevered by the mounting portion, and an extension portion that extends from the upright portion along the outer rail and is cantilevered by the upright portion, and a sliding contact is formed at the tip of the extension portion that elastically slides into the inner groove of the inner rail.

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

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

[0062] (2) The upright portion and the extended portion shall each be provided in pairs in a symmetrical manner. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1. Slide rail 4. Outer rail 5. Inner rail 9 Outer groove 12 Inner groove 21 Conductive member 22. Leaf spring for sliding contacts 23 Mounting part 31 Standing part 32 Bend section 33 Extension 34 Sliding contacts 35 Cylindrical circumferential surface

Claims

1. A mounting portion extending in a certain direction, An upright portion that rises from the mounting portion via a bent portion and is cantilevered to the mounting portion, An extension portion that extends from the upright portion along the bent portion and is cantilevered to the upright portion, It is equipped with, A sliding contact is formed on the tip side of the extension portion. The extension portion is formed to extend along the direction in which the mounting portion extends, The bent portion, the upright portion, the extended portion, and the sliding contact point are each provided in pairs symmetrically in plane. The pair of extensions are formed so as to gradually move away from each other from the base end where the upright portion is located towards the tip end where the sliding contact is located. The pair of sliding contacts are formed by curving the extensions so that they are separated from each other. A leaf spring for sliding contacts, characterized in that each of the pair of sliding contacts has a sliding portion in contact with the outer surface of a portion formed by curving the extension so that it is separated from the other.

2. The sliding contact is supported by the mounting portion via a bent portion and has a cylindrical circumferential surface at its tip that is aligned with the sliding direction, as described in claim 1.

3. It is a device that supports the drawer unit so that it can be extended and retracted from the main body. An outer rail supported on either the side of the main body or the side of the drawer unit, An inner rail supported on either the side of the main body or the side of the drawer unit, A conductive member that connects the outer rail and the inner rail, It is equipped with, The outer rail has an outer groove along its length, The inner rail is slidably fitted into the outer groove of the outer rail and has an inner groove facing the outer rail. The conductive member is composed of a leaf spring for sliding contacts, The leaf spring for the sliding contact is, A mounting portion that is attached to the outer groove of the outer rail, An upright portion extends from the mounting portion, via a bent portion, toward the inner rail, and is cantilevered to the mounting portion, It has an extension that extends from the upright portion along the outer rail and is cantilevered to the upright portion, A slide rail characterized in that a sliding contact point is formed at the tip of the extension portion, which elastically slides in contact with the inner groove of the inner rail.

4. It is a device that supports the drawer unit so that it can be extended and retracted from the main body. An outer rail supported on either the side of the main body or the side of the drawer unit, An inner rail supported on either the side of the main body or the side of the drawer unit, A conductive member that connects the outer rail and the inner rail, It is equipped with, The outer rail has an outer groove along its length, The inner rail is slidably fitted into the outer groove of the outer rail and has an inner groove facing the outer rail. The conductive member is composed of a leaf spring for sliding contacts, The leaf spring for the sliding contact is, A mounting portion that is attached to the outer groove of the outer rail, An upright portion extends from the mounting portion, via a bent portion, toward the inner rail, and is cantilevered to the mounting portion, It has an extension that extends from the upright portion along the outer rail and is cantilevered to the upright portion, A sliding contact is formed at the tip of the extension portion, which elastically slides against the inner groove of the inner rail. The mounting portion is formed to extend along a certain direction, The extension portion is formed to extend along the direction in which the mounting portion extends, The bent portion, the upright portion, the extended portion, and the sliding contact point are each provided in pairs symmetrically in plane. The pair of extensions are formed so as to gradually move away from each other from the base end where the upright portion is located towards the tip end where the sliding contact is located. The pair of sliding contacts are formed by curving the extensions so that they are separated from each other. A slide rail characterized in that each of the pair of sliding contacts has a sliding portion in contact with the outer surface of a portion formed by curving the extension so as to be separated from each other.

5. The slide rail according to claim 3, characterized in that the sliding contact is formed by curving the extended portion.

6. The slide rail according to claim 3 or 5, characterized in that the upright portion and the extended portion are each provided in pairs symmetrically in plane.

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