Holding mechanism and device having the same

Abstract

To provide a retention mechanism or the like that is stable even when the conduction between a main body having a conductive portion and a mounting body having an end provided with a conductive portion that can face the conductive portion is subjected to vibration at the time of attaching the mounting body to the main body.SOLUTION: A retention mechanism includes a main body having a conductive portion and a mounting portion on which a mounting body having an end provided with a conductive portion, which can face the conductive portion, is mounted, a holding member having a holding portion that is displaced between a holding position of contacting an end of the mounting body and holds the end, and a non-holding position of avoiding the end and not holding the end, and a conductive elastic member installed between at least the conductive portion of the main body and at least the holding portion when in the holding position, and the end of the mounting body, including the conductive portion at the end, is held between the holding portion in the holding position and the elastic member in the elastically deformed state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a holding mechanism and an apparatus provided with the same.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below describes a structure including a housing provided with an opening, a lid detachably disposed in the opening, a slot provided in a substrate disposed in the housing, and a conducting member that conducts the substrate and the lid provided in the slot.

[0003] Patent Document 2 below describes a conduction mechanism of an image forming apparatus that enables a unit member provided with a power supply required part to be detachably attached to an apparatus main body, and when the unit member is attached, a predetermined contact part of a power supply board of the apparatus main body and a contact part of the power supply required part can be electrically conducted through a conducting member. Further, Patent Document 2 describes that regarding the conduction mechanism, the conducting member is composed of a two-stage conductive compression coil spring in which a large diameter part and a small diameter part are continuous, a circular hole having a diameter larger than the small diameter part of the coil spring and smaller than the large diameter part is formed in a frame part of the apparatus main body, the small diameter part of the coil spring is inserted through the circular hole and protruded to the mounting part side of the unit member, and the large diameter part is elastically mounted between the frame part and the contact part of the power supply board in a compressed state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a holding mechanism and a device equipped therewith that ensures stable conductivity between the main body and the attached body, even when subjected to vibration, compared to a mechanism in which the end of the attached body, including the conductive portion at the end, is held between a holding portion of a holding member in the main body when it is in a holding position and an elastic member in an elastically deformed state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This invention (1) is, A main body having a conductive portion and a mounting portion to which a mounting body having an end provided with a conductive portion that can face the conductive portion is attached, A retaining member provided on the main body, having a retaining portion that can be displaced between a retaining position that contacts and holds the end of the mounting body and a non-retaining position that avoids the end and does not hold the end, A conductive elastic member is installed between at least the conductive portion of the main body and at least the holding portion when it is in the holding position, Equipped with, The aforementioned retaining member is It has a support column that supports the aforementioned holding portion, The holding portion is fixedly provided to the support column, and the support column is rotatably mounted to the main body, and the holding portion is displaced between the holding position and the non-holding position by rotating around the support column. This is a holding mechanism that holds the end of the mounting body, including the conductive portion at that end, by sandwiching it between the holding portion when it is in the holding position and the elastic member when it is elastically deformed.

[0008] This invention ( 2 ) in the holding mechanism of the above invention (1), The holding member is a holding mechanism having a displacement guiding portion that contacts the end of the mounting body as it moves towards the main body when the end of the mounting body is held, and guides the holding portion, which is in the process of being displaced to the non-holding position, toward the non-holding position.

[0009] This invention ( 3 ) in the holding mechanism of the above invention (1), The holding member is a holding mechanism having a pressing guide portion that, when the holding portion rotates and displaces from the non-holding position to the holding position, contacts the end of the mounting body and guides it to press the end against the elastic member.

[0010] This invention ( 4 ) in the holding mechanism of the above invention (1), The retaining member is a retaining mechanism having a restraining portion that contacts a part of the mounting body when the retaining portion is displaced from the non-retaining position to the retaining position, thereby preventing the displacement of the retaining portion.

[0011] This invention ( 5 ) in the holding mechanism of the above invention (1), This is a holding mechanism in which, when the holding portion is in the non-holding position, a part of the elastic member is positioned between the holding portion and the main body when the holding portion is in the holding position.

[0013] This invention ( 6 ) is the above invention (1) In the holding mechanism, This is a holding mechanism in which, when the holding portion is in the non-holding position, a part of the elastic member is positioned between the holding portion and the main body.

[0016] This invention ( 7 ) in the holding mechanism of the above invention (1), The elastic member is a coil spring, and the retaining member is a retaining mechanism located within the coil of the coil spring and positioned so that the retaining portion can contact a part of the coil spring.

[0017] Furthermore, this invention ( 8 )teeth, A main body having a conductive portion and a mounting portion to which a mounting body having an end provided with a conductive portion that can face the conductive portion is attached, The main body includes a holding mechanism for holding the attached object, An operating part that may transmit vibration to the main body, comprising, at least a part of the holding mechanism is constituted by any of the holding mechanisms from the above invention (1) to ( 7 ), and it is a device provided with a holding mechanism.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the holding mechanism of the above invention (1), when attaching a mounting body having an end provided with a conduction part that can face the conduction part to the main body having the conduction part, compared with a case where it is not a mechanism that sandwiches the end part of the mounting body, including the conduction part at the end part, between the holding part of the holding member and the elastic member in an elastically deformed state when in the holding position in the main body, the conduction between the main body and the mounting body is stabilized even if it is affected by vibration. Furthermore, according to the holding mechanism of the above invention (1), the mounting body can be easily attached to and detached from the main body by rotating the holding portion of the holding member. Furthermore, according to the holding mechanism of invention (1) described above, it is easier to stabilize the holding portion in the holding position compared to the case where the holding portion of the holding member is not fixedly provided on the support column.

[0020] According to the above invention ( 2 ), compared with the case where the holding member does not have a displacement guiding part, even when the holding part of the holding member is in an intermediate position between the holding position and the non-holding position, the holding part can be displaced toward the non-holding position in conjunction with the operation of attaching the mounting body to the main body.

[0021] According to the above invention ( 3 ), compared with the case where the holding member does not have a pressing guiding part, the elastic member can be elastically deformed and held in conjunction with the operation of attaching the mounting body to the main body.

[0022] According to the above invention ( 4 ), compared with the case where the holding member does not have a restraining part, when the mounting body is attached to the main body, the holding part can be accurately displaced to the holding position and stopped.

[0023] According to the above invention ( 5 ), in conjunction with the operation of attaching the mounting body to the main body, the end part of the mounting body can be brought into contact with a part of the elastic member to elastically deform the elastic member.

[0025] The above invention ( 6 According to this, the retaining member, including the retaining portion, can be supported by an elastic member when it is in a non-retaining position.

[0028] The above invention ( 7 According to this, compared to a case where the elastic member is not a coil spring, and the retaining member is located within the coil of the coil spring and the elastic part is positioned to come into contact with a part of the coil spring, there is no need to provide means for holding the elastic member.

[0029] Furthermore, the above invention ( 8 In a device equipped with the holding mechanism, the electrical connection between the main body and the attached object remains stable even when subjected to vibrations transmitted from the moving part, compared to a device in which the holding mechanism does not hold the object by sandwiching it between the holding portion of the holding member when it is in the holding position on the main body and the elastic member in an elastically deformed state. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0030] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the holding mechanism according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] (A) is a plan view of the holding mechanism, (B) is a partial cross-sectional view of (A) along line BB, and (C) is a partial cross-sectional view of (A) along line CC. [Figure 3] (A) is a partial cross-sectional view of the area enclosed by the dashed circle in Figure 2(B), and (B) is a partial cross-sectional view of the area enclosed by the dashed circle in Figure 2(C). [Figure 4] (A) is a plan view of the main body of the holding mechanism and the mounting body attached to that main body, and (B) is a partial cross-sectional view of the main body along line BB. [Figure 5] (A) is a plan view of the main body when the holding part of the holding mechanism is in the non-holding position, and (B) is a partial cross-sectional view of the main body along line BB. [Figure 6] (A) is a perspective view of the retaining member of the retaining mechanism, and (B) is a three-way side view and a plan view of the retaining member and the elastic member. [Figure 7](A) is a perspective view of the retaining mechanism when it is holding or removing the mounted object, and (B) is a partial cross-sectional view of the retaining member and its surrounding area in the retaining mechanism of (A). [Figure 8] (A) is a partial cross-sectional view of the displacement guidance section and its surrounding area in the holding mechanism, and (B) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state of operation of the displacement guidance section in (A). [Figure 9] (A) is a partial cross-sectional view of the pressing guide part and its surrounding area in the holding mechanism, and (B) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the pressing guide part in (A). [Figure 10] (A) is a plan view and a side view of the holding member in the holding position and non-holding position in a modified example of Embodiment 1, and (B) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the holding state by the holding member of (A). [Figure 11] (A) is a partial cross-sectional view of the holding mechanism according to Embodiment 2 in a holding state, and (B) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state when the mounting object is attached to the holding mechanism of (A). [Figure 12] (A) is a side view of the retaining member and elastic member in the retaining mechanism of Figure 11, and (B) is a side view showing the state when the retaining member of (A) is displaced to the retaining position and the non-retaining position. [Figure 13] (A) is a plan view of the mounting mechanism in Figure 11 when the mounting body is attached, and (B) is a partial cross-sectional view of the state in (A). [Figure 14] (A) is a partial cross-sectional view of the holding state in a modified example of Embodiment 2, and (B) is a partial cross-sectional view of the mounting body in the modified example of (A) when it is attached. [Figure 15] (A) is a side view of the retaining member and elastic member in a modified example of Embodiment 3, and (B) is a side view showing the state of the retaining member in (A) when it is displaced to the retaining position and the non-retaining position. [Figure 16] This is a schematic diagram of a device equipped with a holding mechanism according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 17] (A) is a partial cross-sectional view of another example configuration of the holding mechanism, and (B) is a plan view of a conductive elastic member used in the holding mechanism of (A). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] The embodiments for carrying out this invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0032] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the holding mechanism 1A according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 2 is a plan view of the holding mechanism 1A, a partial cross-sectional view of the holding mechanism 1A along line BB, and a partial cross-sectional view along line CC. Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the parts enclosed by the dashed circles in Figures 2(B) and (C). Figure 4 is a plan view of the main body of the holding mechanism 1A, the mounting body attached to the main body, and a partial cross-sectional view of the main body along line BB.

[0033] The holding mechanism 1A comprises a main body 10, a holding member 2A, and an elastic member 4A, as shown in Figures 1 to 4.

[0034] The main body 10 is a structure having a portion to which the mounting body 6 is attached. The main body 10 is a structure having a conductive portion 12 and a mounting portion 15 to which the mounting body 6 is attached, the mounting portion having an end portion 63 provided with a conductive portion 62 that can face the conductive portion 12.

[0035] In Embodiment 1, the main body 10 is composed of a plate-shaped member 11, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The main body 10 is not limited to this plate-shaped form, and may take any form as long as it has a portion to which the mounting body 6 is attached.

[0036] The conductive portion 12 is the part that establishes conductivity with the conductive portion 62 of the mounting body 6 for purposes such as power supply and securing ground potential. As shown in Figure 3, the conductive portion 12 in Embodiment 1 is provided around the mounting hole 13 of the retaining member 2A, which is provided in the plate-shaped member 11 of the main body 10. This conductive portion 12 is formed in an annular shape with a required width, following the circular shape of the mounting hole 13. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 2(B) and (C), this conductive portion 12 is provided so as to be exposed on both the front and back surfaces of the plate-shaped member 11 around the mounting hole 13 of the retaining member. The conductive portion 12 is formed using a conductive material such as metal. The conductive portion 12 may be an electrode portion that is exposed to the outside, for example, if the plate-shaped member 11 is a printed circuit board. The conductive portion 12 only needs to be formed so as to be exposed on the side of the main body 10 where the retaining member 2A and the elastic member 4A are located.

[0037] The mounting section 15 is the part of the main body 10 for attaching the mounting body 6. This mounting portion 15 is composed of a slot connector into which the insertion end 64 of the printed circuit board 61 is inserted, for example, when the mounting body 6 is a plate-shaped printed circuit board 61. The mounting portion 15, which consists of a slot connector, is provided with an insertion recess 16 into which the insertion end 64 of the printed circuit board 61 is inserted. Furthermore, the mounting portion 15, which consists of a slot connector, is configured to mount the mounting body 6, which consists of a printed circuit board 61, while keeping it substantially parallel to the surface of the plate-shaped member 11 of the main body 10. In other words, the mounting portion 15 is installed such that the insertion recess 16 is substantially parallel to the surface of the plate-shaped member 11.

[0038] On the other hand, the mounting body 6 is a structure that is attached to the main body 10 and is required to have electrical contact with the conductive portion 12 of the main body 10. As shown in the lower part of Figure 4(A), the mounting body 6 has an end portion 63 on which a conductive portion 62 is provided that can face the conductive portion 12 of the main body 10 when attached to the main body 10.

[0039] In Embodiment 1, the mounting body 6 is configured as a printed circuit board 61 on which electronic components 65, including integrated circuits, are mounted. The end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 is provided with a conductive portion 62 and is the end portion that will be held by the holding portion 21 of the holding member 2A. Furthermore, although this end portion 63 is provided on the end opposite to the portion that is attached to the mounting portion 15 of the main body 10 (insertion end portion 64), it may also be provided in addition to or independently on other ends if the holding by the holding member 2A is effective. In Embodiment 1, the end portion 63 is a plate-like portion, as shown in the lower part of Figure 4(A), and is formed as a recessed end portion cut out in a semicircular shape.

[0040] The conductive portion 62 in the mounting body 6 is formed in a semi-annular shape with a predetermined width that follows the semi-circular recess shape of the recessed end portion 63. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2(B) and (C), the conductive portion 62 is provided so as to be exposed on both the front and back surfaces of the recessed end portion 63 of the printed circuit board 61. In addition, the conductive portion 62 is made of a conductive material such as metal. Note that the conductive portion 62 only needs to be provided so as to be exposed on at least the surface of the mounting body 10 that faces the conductive portion 12 of the main body 10 when the mounting body 6 is mounted on the main body 10. Furthermore, as shown in the lower part of Figure 4(A), the mounting body 6, which consists of a printed circuit board 61, is provided with a connection terminal 66 for transmitting signals and the like to the main body 10 at the insertion end 64 that is inserted into the insertion recess 16 of the slot connector of the mounting part 15.

[0041] Next, the retaining member 2A is a member that holds the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6. As shown in Figures 2, 4, 5, etc., the retaining member 2A has a retaining portion 21 that can be displaced between a retaining position Ph that contacts and holds the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 and a non-retaining position Pf that avoids the end portion 63 and does not hold the end portion 63.

[0042] In Embodiment 1, the retaining member 2A has a support column 22 that supports the retaining part 21, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, and is configured as a member that is displaced between a retaining position Ph and a non-retaining position Pf by the retaining part 21 rotating around the support column 22. Furthermore, in this retaining member 2A, the retaining part 21 is fixedly attached to the support column 22, and the support column 22 is rotatably attached to the main body 10.

[0043] The holding portion 21 is a part that can at least contact and hold the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6, which has a conductive portion 62, attached to the main body 10. As shown in Figure 6, this holding portion 21 is configured as a part that protrudes outward by a required amount m1 from a part of the upper side surface of the support column portion 22, for example. The support column 22 is the part that can support the holding part 21. As shown in Figure 6, this support column 22 is made up of a cylindrical member having, for example, a required diameter r and length h.

[0044] Furthermore, the holding portion 21 is configured, in more detail as shown in Figure 6, as a part that protrudes outward in the radial direction r from a part of the upper side surface of the cylindrical support portion 22 by a required amount m1. In this case, the entire holding portion 21 is formed as a plate-like structural part that protrudes with a width w of a curved surface narrower than half the circumference of the side surface of the support portion 22, and is curved to follow the side surface of the support portion 22, with a height j and a thickness of the protrusion amount m1.

[0045] Furthermore, the holding portion 21 has a holding surface 21a that is positioned opposite the surface of the main body 10 at a distance and is substantially parallel to that surface. Such a retaining portion 21 can be provided either by being molded integrally with the support portion 22 and fixed in place, or by being formed separately from the support portion 22 and then fixed to the support portion 22.

[0046] The retaining member 2A is then provided on the main body 10, for example, as follows. In other words, the retaining member 2A is installed by inserting the lower part of the support column 22 into the mounting hole 13 provided in the main body 10, passing a portion of it through, and then attaching the spacing maintenance part 23 to the portion of the support column 22 that protrudes from the mounting hole 13 (the portion on the opposite side of the main body 10 from the retaining part 21). At this time, the retaining member 2A is installed so that the retaining part 21 faces the mounting part 15. Also, at this time, the spacing maintenance part 23 is fixed to the support column 22 and is not fixed to the main body 10. Furthermore, when the holding member 2A is attached to the main body 10, its support column portion 22 is rotatably mounted to the mounting hole 13 of the main body 10. This allows the holding member 2A to move so that its holding portion 21 rotates arbitrarily with respect to the main body 10, with the support column portion 22 (including the spacing maintenance portion 23 in this example) as a single unit.

[0047] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the spacing maintenance section 23 is a part that maintains the required spacing S1 between the holding surface 21a of the holding section 21 and the surface of the main body 10 when the mounting body 6 is not being held. As shown in Figure 6, the spacing maintenance section 23 is composed of a member consisting of a main body section 23a with a mounting hole 23b into which, for example, the support column section 22 is fitted and passed through, and an upper end flange section 23c provided at the upper end of the main body section 23a. The spacing maintenance section 23 may be composed of a member without the upper end flange section 23c if the main body section 23a has dimensions larger than the opening of the mounting hole 13 in the main body 10. As shown in Figure 6(B), the above-mentioned interval S1 is smaller than the interval S2 between the holding surface 21a of the holding part 21 and the upper end flange part 23c of the interval maintenance part 23 when the main body 10 is excluded, by the amount by which the thickness d1 of the main body 10 (see Figure 3(A)) is subtracted (S1 ≈ S2 - d1).

[0048] Furthermore, the retaining member 2A is configured as either a conductive material or a non-conductive material. Therefore, the retaining member 2A may be configured so that all or part of it is conductive, or so that all of it is non-conductive. In Embodiment 1, the retaining member 2A is configured such that at least the surface layer or the entirety of its retaining portion 21 and support portion 22 is made of a conductive material. Furthermore, the spacing maintenance portion 23 of this retaining member 2A is also configured as a conductive material.

[0049] Next, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the elastic member 4A is a conductive elastic member installed between at least the conductive portion 12 of the main body 10 and at least the holding portion 21 when it is in the holding position Ph.

[0050] In Embodiment 1, the elastic member 4A is configured as a coil spring. The coil spring used as the elastic member 4A is a coil spring having the required length L, coil inner and outer diameters, and spring constant, and is made of a conductive material or a material with conductivity added. The conductivity of the elastic member 4A should be such that when it comes into contact with the conductive portion 12 of the main body 10 and the conductive portion 62 of the mounting body 6, the required conductivity performance can be obtained between the main body 10 and the mounting body 6.

[0051] Furthermore, the inner diameter of the coil spring should be such that it can be compressed and elastically deformed around the support column 22. For this reason, the inner diameter of the coil is set to be larger than, for example, the diameter of the support column 22 in the retaining member 2A. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the coil spring (including the thickness of the coil wire) should be such that, when holding the mounting body 6, the upper end of the coil spring contacts the holding surface 21a of the holding portion 21 of the holding member 2A and the conductive portion 12 of the main body 10, and the lower end of the coil spring contacts the conductive portion 62 of the mounting body 6.

[0052] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(B), the elastic member 4A, which is made of a coil spring, is installed with its coil portion fitted into the support portion 22 of the holding member 2A from the outside. Also, expressing the installation of the elastic member 4A, which is made of a coil spring, from the perspective of the holding member 2A, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the holding member 2A is located within the coil of the coil spring of the elastic member 4A, and is installed so that the holding portion 21 can contact a part of the coil spring. As a result, the elastic member 4A is held by the holding member 2A, and there is no need to separately prepare means (holding member, holder, etc.) to hold the elastic member 4A.

[0053] The elastic member 4A, which consists of a coil spring, is provided on the main body 10, for example, as follows. In other words, the elastic member 4A is installed on the main body 10 by fitting the support column 22 of the retaining member 2A into the coil of the coil spring, inserting the lower part of the support column 22 into the mounting hole 13 of the main body 10 and passing a part of it through, and then performing the retaining member 2A installation work as described above.

[0054] Furthermore, when the elastic member 4A is provided on the main body 10, if the distance S1 between the holding surface 21a of the holding portion 21 of the holding member 2A and the surface of the main body 10 is set to the same dimension as or longer than the length (free length) L of the coil spring, then, as shown in Figure 4(B), one end of the coil spring (for example, the lower end) will be in contact with the conductive portion 12 of the main body 10, while the other end of the coil spring (for example, the upper end) will be in contact with the holding surface 21a of the holding portion 21. In this case, the holding member 2A is supported by the elastic member 4A, so that the holding surface 21a of the holding part 21 is kept at a distance S1 from the surface of the main body 10.

[0055] The holding mechanism 1A is assembled by attaching the holding member 2A and the conductive elastic member 4A to the main body 10. The assembled holding mechanism 1A is a mechanism that allows the holding member 2A to be moved so that the holding part 21 rotates around the support column 22 in the directions indicated by arrows Ea and Eb, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0056] Furthermore, in this holding mechanism 1A, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the holding position Ph is configured when the holding portion 21 faces the mounting portion 15 on the main body 10, and as shown in Figure 5, the non-holding position Pf is configured when the holding portion 21 does not face the mounting portion 15 on the main body 10. The retaining member 2A is rotated and displaced so that the retaining portion 21 is in the non-retaining position Pf during the process of attaching and retaining the mounting body 6 to the main body 10 and when removing the mounting body 6 from the main body 10.

[0057] Furthermore, in this holding mechanism 1A, as shown in Figures 5(B), 7(B), etc., when the holding portion 21 is in the non-holding position Pf, a part of the elastic member 4A (for example, the part located closer to the mounting portion 15) is positioned between the holding portion 21 and the main body 10 as if it were in the holding position Ph. In other words, in the holding mechanism 1A, when the holding portion 21 is in the non-holding position Pf, a part of the elastic member 4A is positioned below the holding portion 21 as it would be in the holding position Ph.

[0058] Furthermore, in this holding mechanism 1A, as shown in Figures 5(B), 7(B), etc., when the holding portion 21 is in the non-holding position Pf, another part of the elastic member 4A (for example, the side furthest from the mounting portion 15 or the part on the opposite side of the support portion 22 from the mounting portion 15) is positioned between the holding portion 21 in the non-holding position Pf and the main body 10. In Embodiment 1, when the holding portion 21 is in the non-holding position Pf, the elastic member 4A is positioned such that another part of it comes into contact with the holding surface 21a of the holding portion 21 in the non-holding position Pf (and at this time, it also comes into contact with the main body 10).

[0059] (Attachment and retention of the device) In the holding mechanism 1A having the above configuration, the mounting body 6 is attached and held in the following manner.

[0060] First, in the holding mechanism 1A, the holding member 2A is rotated to displace the holding portion 21 to the non-holding position Pf, as shown in Figures 5 and 7. This displacement to the non-holding position Pf is performed manually. This manual operation involves pinching and rotating the holding member 2A with the fingers.

[0061] As a result, in the holding mechanism 1A, the holding portion 21 of the holding member 2A is not in the holding position Ph. The non-holding position Pf of the holding portion 21 at this time is a position that does not obstruct the movement path of the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 when it is mounted. Furthermore, due to the displacement of the holding portion 21 to the non-holding position Pf at this time, in the holding mechanism 1A, as shown in Figures 5(B) and 7(B), a portion of the elastic member 4A (particularly a portion of the upper end of the coil spring) that was hidden from above by the holding portion 21 when it was in the holding position Ph becomes exposed upward on the side of the support portion 22.

[0062] Next, with respect to the mounting body 6 to be attached, as illustrated by the dashed line in Figure 5(B), insert its insertion end 64 into the insertion recess 16 of the mounting portion 15 on the main body 10, making it slightly angled, and then move the part with the conductive portion 62 and end 63 closer to the holding member 2A of the main body 10 in the direction indicated by arrow G1. The operation to displace the holding portion 21 to the non-holding position Pf may be performed in conjunction with the operation of attaching the mounting body 6 to the mounting portion 15 and moving it in the direction indicated by arrow G1.

[0063] As a result, the mounting body 6 moves so that the end portion 63 with the conductive portion 62 approaches the support portion 22 of the holding member 2A, and the end portion 63, including the conductive portion 62, comes into contact with the portion of the coil spring of the elastic member 4A that is exposed above the upper end portion 41. At this time, since the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 has a semicircular recessed end, it moves as if guided by the cylindrical support portion 22 of the holding member 2A, and moves precisely to the position where it is held by the holding member 2A. Furthermore, if the part of the mounting body 6 with the end 63 is moved further downward toward the main body 10 after this contact, the coil spring of the elastic member 4A undergoes elastic deformation to compress when pressed by its end 63.

[0064] Therefore, the holding mechanism 1A can bring the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 into contact with a part of the elastic member 4A in conjunction with the operation of attaching the mounting body 6 to the main body 10, thereby causing the elastic member 4A to be elastically deformed. In addition, as a result of the above operation of moving the mounting body 6, the insertion end portion 64 of the mounting body 6 is fully inserted into the insertion recess 16 of the mounting portion 15 and connected.

[0065] Next, in the holding mechanism 1A, the holding member 2A is rotated so that the holding portion 21 is moved as shown in Figures 2 and 3. From non-retaining position Pf The object is displaced to be located in the holding position Ph. This displacement operation to the holding position Ph is also performed manually.

[0066] As a result, in the holding mechanism 1A, as shown in Figure 2, the holding portion 21 of the holding member 2A rides up onto and contacts the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 via the holding surface 21a, and is displaced to the holding position Ph. At this time, the coil spring of the elastic member 4A is in a compressed and elastically deformed state below the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6.

[0067] As a result, the attachment 6 is attached to the main body 10, as shown in Figure 1, etc. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the holding mechanism 1A at this time holds the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6, including the conductive portion 62 located at that end portion 63, between the holding portion 21 of the holding member 2A when it is in the holding position Ph and the elastic member 4A when it is elastically deformed. Furthermore, when the mounting body 6 is held by the holding mechanism 1A, as shown in Figures 2(B), (C), etc., the entire mounting body (printed circuit board 61) is mounted on the main body 10 in a state where it is almost parallel to the surface of the main body 10.

[0068] When held in this elastically deformed state, the elastic member 4A, as shown in Figure 3, has at least a portion of its lower end in contact with a portion of the conductive portion 12 of the main body 10, while at least a portion of its upper end in contact with a portion of the conductive portion 62 of the mounting body 6.

[0069] As a result, the mounting body 6 is electrically connected to the main body 10 via the conductive portion 62, the conductive elastic member 4A, and the conductive portion 12. Furthermore, when the mounting body 6 is installed, the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6, including the conductive portion 62, is held in a state where it is elastically pressed toward the holding portion 21 (or holding surface 21a) of the holding member 2A by receiving a force F1 due to the restoring force after the elastic deformation of the elastic member 4A, as shown in Figure 3. The force F1 is a spring force generated in proportion to the amount by which the elastic member 4A is compressed and elastically deformed when the mounting body 6 is installed.

[0070] Therefore, with this holding mechanism 1A, the elastically deformed conductive elastic member 4A electrically connects the conductive portion 12 and the conductive portion 62, and elastically presses the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 against the holding portion 21 of the holding member 2A, so that the conductivity between the main body 10 and the mounting body 6 remains stable even if it is subjected to vibration.

[0071] Furthermore, in this holding mechanism 1A, as shown in Figure 4(B), a portion of the conductive elastic member 4A is positioned to face the holding portion 21 (or its holding surface 21a) when the holding member 2A is in the holding position Ph. Therefore, with the holding mechanism 1A, compared to the case where the conductive elastic member 4A is positioned on the main body 10 in a location that does not face the holding portion 21 (or holding surface 21a) of the holding member 2A (a position that is in contact with a portion away from the end 63 of the mounting body 6), the force F1 due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4A in an elastically deformed state is less likely to reach a portion of the mounting body 6 away from the end 63. As a result, the holding mechanism 1A can stabilize the conductivity between the main body 10 and the mounting body 6 while avoiding deformation of the mounting body 6 caused by the load of the force F1 being applied to a portion away from the end 63 of the mounting body 6.

[0072] Furthermore, in this holding mechanism 1A, at least the surface layer or the entirety of the holding portion 21, support portion 22, and spacing maintenance portion 23 of the holding member 2A are configured as conductive materials. Therefore, with the holding mechanism 1A, if the conductive holding member 2A is installed such that its support column portion 22 and spacing maintenance portion 23 are in contact with the conductive portion 12 of the main body 10, and the holding surface 21a of its holding portion 21 can come into contact with the conductive portion 62 of the mounted body 6 when the mounted body 6 is being held, then it becomes possible to ensure more stable conductivity between the main body 10 and the mounted body 6 compared to the case where the holding member 2A is not conductive.

[0073] Furthermore, in this holding mechanism 1A, as described above, when the holding portion 21 is in the non-holding position Pf, another part of the elastic member 4A is positioned between the holding portion 21 in the non-holding position Pf and the main body 10. Therefore, according to the holding mechanism 1A, as illustrated in Figure 3, if the support column portion 22 of the holding member 2A is mounted in the main body 10 with a gap Gp existing between it and the mounting hole 13 of the holding member 2A, and the elastic member 4A is not present, and the holding member 2A is mounted in a state where it swings slightly relative to the main body 10, then the holding member 2A, including the holding portion 21, is supported by the elastic member 4A when it is in the non-holding position Pf. As a result, even when the holding portion 21 is in the non-holding position Pf, the holding member 2A can be kept in a stable position without swinging and becoming unstable on the main body 10. This makes it easier to rotate the holding member 2A.

[0074] (Removal of the attached device) Furthermore, in the holding mechanism 1A, the mounting body 6 is removed from the main body 10 in the following manner.

[0075] First, in the holding mechanism 1A, the holding member 2A is rotated to displace the holding portion 21 from the holding position Ph to the non-holding position Pf, as shown in Figures 5 and 7. This displacement to the non-holding position Pf is also performed manually.

[0076] As a result, in the holding mechanism 1A, as shown in Figure 2, the holding surface 21a of the holding portion 21 of the holding member 2A is displaced away from contact with the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 to the non-holding position Pf. As a result, the end portion 63 containing the conductive portion 62 of the mounting body 6 is released from the holding state by the holding mechanism 1A. At this time, the mounting body 6 receives a restoring force from the elastic member 4A, which had been elastically deformed, and as illustrated by the dashed line in Figure 7(A), the end portion 63 containing the conductive portion 62 is pushed slightly upward (in the direction indicated by arrow G2) so that it separates from the main body 10.

[0077] Next, the mounting body 6 pulls its insertion end 64 out of the mounting part 15. As a result, the attachment 6 is completely removed from the main body 10, as illustrated in Figure 4(A).

[0078] (Further detailed configuration of the holding mechanism) As shown in Figures 3(A), 4, 5, and 8, the retaining member 2A in the retaining mechanism 1A has a displacement guiding part 25 that makes contact with the retaining part 21 as it moves towards the main body 10 when the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 is being held, and guides the retaining part 21, which is in the process of being displaced to the non-retaining position Pf, toward the non-retaining position Pf.

[0079] As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the displacement guiding portion 25 in Embodiment 1 is provided as a sloping surface that inclines downward adjacent to the support portion 22 at the lower part of the back surface 21c on one side that protrudes from the support portion 22 of the holding portion 21. The back surface 21c is a flat side surface of the holding portion 21 that protrudes from the support portion 22. In other words, the back surface 21c is the surface portion of the holding portion 21 that does not face the mounting portion 15 of the main body 10 when it is in the holding position Ph. Furthermore, the inclined portion of the displacement guiding portion 25 is formed as a portion having an inclined surface that slopes downward at a required angle so as to gradually move away from the mounting portion 15 on the back surface 21c of the holding portion 21 when it is in the holding position Ph.

[0080] In the holding mechanism 1A equipped with the holding member 2A having the displacement guiding portion 25, as illustrated in Figure 8(A), even when the holding portion 21 of the holding member 2A is in an intermediate position between the holding position Ph and the non-holding position Pf during the process of attaching the mounting body 6 (especially when it is in a position slightly before the non-holding position Pf), the displacement guiding portion 25 functions as follows.

[0081] In other words, in this holding mechanism 1A, compared to the case where the holding member 2A does not have a displacement guide part 25, as illustrated in Figure 8(B), when the mounting body 6 is attached to the main body 10, the end 63 of the mounting body 6 moves downward while touching the slope of the displacement guide part 25, causing the arrow of the holding member 2A to move downward. Ea This induces rotation in the direction indicated, thereby displacing the holding portion 21 toward the non-holding position Pf.

[0082] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3(B), 7(B), and 9, the holding member 2A in the holding mechanism 1A has a pressing guide portion 27 that contacts the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 and guides it to press the end portion 63 against the elastic member 4A when the holding portion 21 rotates and displaces from the non-holding position Pf to the holding position Ph.

[0083] The pressing guide portion 27 in Embodiment 1 is shown in Figure 6. (B) As shown in the diagram, one corner at the bottom of the holding portion 21 is provided as a sloping surface that inclines downward to the holding surface 21a, thereby removing the corner. Furthermore, when the displacement guidance section 25 or the restraining section 28 described later is provided, the lower part of this pressing guidance section 27 is located on the opposite side of the support column 22 from the displacement guidance section 25 or the restraining section 28. of It is installed at the corner. Furthermore, the inclined portion of this pressing guide portion 27 starts from a position of the holding portion 21 that is a required distance from the holding surface 21a in the height direction (away from the main body 10) and slopes downward at a required angle. as It is formed. Furthermore, the slope is a surface formed with a width corresponding to the amount m1 (see Figure 6(B)) of the holding part 21 protruding from the support part 22.

[0084] In the holding mechanism 1A equipped with the holding member 2A having the pressing guide portion 27, as illustrated in Figure 9(A), when the holding member 2A is rotated to displace the holding portion 21 from the non-holding position Pf to the holding position Ph during the final process of attaching the mounting body 6, the pressing guide portion 27 functions as follows.

[0085] Specifically, first, the pressing guide portion 27 (or its inclined portion) comes into contact with the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6, which is approaching the elastic member 4A, as illustrated by the dashed line in Figure 9(B). At this point, the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 is temporarily placed in a provisional holding state. Next, the pressing guide unit 27 moves downward so that, as the holding member 2A continues to rotate, it presses the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 that is in contact with its inclined surface against the elastic member 4A located below it with a force Fp. As a result, the elastic member 4A is elastically deformed to compress in conjunction with the rotational movement of the holding member 2A. Finally, as the holding member 2A is further rotated and the inclined surface of the pressing guide portion 27 passes through and ceases to make contact with the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6, the holding surface 21a of the holding portion 21 rides up onto the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6, as shown by the solid line in Figure 9(B). As a result, the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 is held in place, sandwiched between the holding surface 21a of the holding portion 21 and the elastic member 4A.

[0086] Therefore, in the holding mechanism 1A having the pressing guide portion 27, compared to the case where the holding member 2A does not have the pressing guide portion 27, the elastic member 4A can be elastically deformed in conjunction with the operation of attaching the mounting body 6 to the main body 10 to hold it in place. Furthermore, if the pressing guide part 27 is provided, it becomes unnecessary to manually push down the mounting body 6 during the mounting process to elastically deform the elastic member 4A. Instead, the elastic deformation of the elastic member 4A can be performed in conjunction with the rotational movement of the holding member 2A.

[0087] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3(B), 7(B), and 9, the retaining member 2A in the retaining mechanism 1A has a restraining portion 28 that contacts a part of the mounting body 6 when the retaining portion 21 is displaced from a non-retaining position Pf to a retaining position Ph, thereby preventing the displacement of the retaining portion 21.

[0088] In Embodiment 1, as shown in Figure 6 and the like, the restraining portion 28 is provided as a protruding portion that extends from the support portion 22 along the direction of radius r at the lower part of the back surface 21c on one side that protrudes from the support portion 22 of the holding portion 21. In the case of this protruding portion, the portion located on the side where the holding portion 21 exists (the surface portion) is configured as the portion that actually contacts a part of the mounting body 6 (the end portion where the end portion 63 exists). Furthermore, if the displacement guiding portion 25 is provided, this restraining portion 28 is provided so as to be located below the displacement guiding portion 25. Furthermore, if the pressing guiding portion 27 is provided, this restraining portion 28 is provided so as to be located on the opposite side of the support portion 22 from the pressing guiding portion 27.

[0089] In the holding mechanism 1A equipped with the holding member 2A having the restraining portion 28, as shown in Figures 2, 3, 5, etc., when the holding member 2A is rotated to displace the holding portion 21 from the non-holding position Pf to the holding position Ph during the final process of attaching the mounting body 6, the restraining portion 28 functions as follows.

[0090] In other words, during the process of attaching the mounting body 6, as shown in Figure 5, the restraining portion 28 is located in a position where it does not come into contact with the mounting body 6 when the holding portion 21 of the holding member 2A is displaced to the non-holding position Pf. Subsequently, when the holding member 2A is rotated in the direction of arrow Ea so that the holding portion 21 is displaced from the non-holding position Pf to the holding position Ph, the restraining portion 28 moves together with the holding member 2A. Finally, the restraining portion 28 contacts the end of the mounting body 6 where the end portion 63 is located, as shown in Figures 2(A) and 3(A). This stops the rotation of the holding member 2A in the direction of arrow Ea, and at the same time, the displacement of the holding portion 21 is stopped. As a result, the holding member 2A is in a state where the holding portion 21 is stopped at the holding position Ph.

[0091] Therefore, in the holding mechanism 1A having the restraining portion 28, compared to the case where the holding member 2A does not have the restraining portion 28, the holding portion 21 can be accurately displaced and stopped at the holding position Ph when the mounting body 6 is attached to the main body 10.

[0092] (Modified version of Embodiment 1) The holding mechanism 1A may use a holding member 2B as shown in Figure 10 instead of the holding member 2A. The retaining member 2B differs in that the retaining portion 24 is provided to rotate relative to the support column portion 22 fixed to the main body 10, but otherwise it is configured the same as the retaining member 2A.

[0093] The holding part 24 is mounted at a predetermined position on the upper part of the support column 22 so as to rotate in the directions indicated by arrows Ea and Eb, thereby allowing it to be displaced between a holding position Ph and a non-holding position Pf. As shown in Figure 10(A), the holding portion 24 is configured as a part that protrudes outward by a required amount m2 from a part of the upper side surface of the support column portion 22. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10(B), the holding portion 24 has a holding surface 24a that is spaced apart from the surface of the main body 10 and is substantially parallel to the surface of the main body 10. When the mounting body 6 is attached, the holding surface 24a is displaced to the holding position Ph and comes into contact with the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6.

[0094] The retaining member 2B having the retaining portion 24 is provided by inserting the lower part of the support column 22 into the mounting hole 13 provided in the main body 10, passing a portion of it through, and then attaching the spacing maintenance portion 23 to the portion of the support column 22 that protrudes from the mounting hole 13, as shown in Figure 10(B). In this configuration, the lower part of the support column 22 of the retaining member 2B is fitted into the mounting hole 13 in the main body 10 with almost no gap. As a result, the retaining member 2B is fixed to the main body 10 via the lower part of the support column 22.

[0095] When mounting and holding the mounting body 6, the holding mechanism 1A equipped with the holding member 2B rotates the holding portion 24 of the holding member 2B around the support portion 22 to displace the holding portion 24 to the non-holding position Pf, then inserts the mounting body 6 into the mounting portion 15, and then, after pressing the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 against the elastic member 4A, displaces the holding portion 24 to the holding position Ph.

[0096] As a result, as shown in Figure 10(B), the holding mechanism 1A holds the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6, including the conductive portion 62 located at that end portion 63, between the holding portion 24 of the holding member 2B when it is in the holding position Ph and the elastic member 4A when it is elastically deformed. Furthermore, when removing the mounting body 6 from the main body 10, the holding mechanism 1A rotates the holding portion 24 of the holding member 2B around the support portion 22, displacing it from the holding position Ph to the non-holding position Pf, thereby releasing the holding state of the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6. After that, the mounting body 6 is pulled out from the mounting portion 15. As a result, the mounting body 6 is removed from the main body 10.

[0097] Embodiment 2. Figure 1 1 is This is a plan view and a partial cross-sectional view showing the holding mechanism 1B according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The holding mechanism 1B differs in that it uses a holding member 3A instead of a holding member 2A, but otherwise has the same configuration as the holding mechanism 1A according to Embodiment 1. Therefore, as shown in Figure 11 and the like, the holding mechanism 1B comprises a main body 10, a holding member 3A, and an elastic member 4A.

[0098] In Embodiment 2, the retaining member 3A is As shown in Figures 11 and 12, The device has a holding portion 31 that can be displaced between a holding position Ph in which it contacts and holds the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 and a non-holding position Pf in which it does not hold the end portion 63, and an elastic support portion 32 that supports the holding portion 31.

[0099] The holding portion 31 is a part that can at least contact and hold the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6, which has a conductive portion 62, attached to the main body 10. As shown in Figure 12(A), this holding portion 31 is configured as a part that protrudes outward by a required amount m3 from a part of the upper side surface of the support column portion 32, for example.

[0100] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11(B), the retaining portion 31 faces the surface of the main body 10 at a distance and has a retaining surface 31a that is substantially parallel to the surface of the main body 10. When the mounting body 6 is attached, the retaining surface 31a is displaced to the retaining position Ph and comes into contact with the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6. Furthermore, the holding portion 31 has an inclined surface 31b formed on its upper part that slopes downward with respect to the direction of protrusion.

[0101] Such a retaining portion 31 is provided either molded integrally with the support portion 32 and fixed in place, or it is provided by forming it separately from the support portion 32 and fixing it to the support portion 32. The support portion 32 is made of an elastic material.

[0102] The support column 32 is an elastic part that supports the holding part 31 and is capable of elastic deformation when subjected to external force. As shown in Figure 12(A), the support column 32 is composed of a rectangular prism-shaped member having a required length h2, for example. As shown in Figure 12(B), the support column 32 elastically deforms in the directions indicated by arrows Da and Db, thereby supporting the holding part 31 so as to displace it between the holding position Ph and the non-holding position Pf. The support column 32 may, for example, have a cylindrical shape in the portion below the holding part 31.

[0103] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 11 and 13, the retaining member 3A is positioned such that its support column 32 is located within the coil of the conductive elastic member 4A, which is made of a coil spring, and its retaining portion 31 is located above the coil spring. Furthermore, the retaining member 3A is configured as either a conductive or non-conductive material. In Embodiment 2, the retaining member 3A is configured as a non-conductive material.

[0104] Furthermore, the retaining member 3A is provided on the main body 10, for example, as follows. In other words, as shown in Figures 11(B) and 13(B), the retaining member 3A is provided by inserting the lower part of the support column 32 into the mounting hole 13 provided in the main body 10, passing a portion of it through, and then attaching the spacing maintenance part 33 to the portion of the support column 32 that protrudes from the mounting hole 13 (the portion located on the opposite side of the main body 10 from the retaining part 31). In this configuration, the retaining member 3A is positioned so that the retaining portion 31 faces the mounting portion 15. Furthermore, the lower part of the support column 32 of the retaining member 3A is fitted into the mounting hole 13 in the main body 10 with almost no gap. As a result, the retaining member 3A is fixed to the main body 10 via the lower part of the support column 32. While the lower part of the support column 32 is in contact with the conductive portion 12 provided around the mounting hole 13, it is also acceptable to install it without contacting the conductive portion 12.

[0105] (Attachment and retention of the device) In the holding mechanism 1B having the above configuration, the mounting body 6 is attached and held in the following manner.

[0106] First, in the holding mechanism 1B, as shown in Figure 13, the holding portion 31 of the holding member 3A is displaced to be in the non-holding position Pf. This displacement to the non-holding position Pf is performed manually. The manual operation involves pinching the holding portion 31 of the holding member 3A with the fingers and moving it in the direction indicated by arrow Da. In this process, the holding member 3A elastically deforms so that the portion of the elastic support column 32 exposed on the main body 10 curves in the direction indicated by arrow Da. The displacement of the holding portion 31 to the non-holding position Pf is maintained manually until just before it holds the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6.

[0107] As a result, in the holding mechanism 1B, the holding portion 31 of the holding member 3A is not in the holding position Ph. At this time, the holding member 3A elastically deforms the support portion 32 until it is displaced to a non-holding position Pf that does not obstruct the movement path of the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 when the holding portion 31 is attached. Furthermore, due to the displacement of the holding portion 31 to the non-holding position Pf at this time, in the holding mechanism 1B, as shown in Figure 13(B), a part of the elastic member 4A (particularly a part of the upper end of the coil spring) that was hidden from above by the holding portion 31 when it was in the holding position Ph becomes exposed upward on the side of the support portion 32. In addition, in the holding mechanism 1B, if there is a concern that the elastic member 4A of the coil spring may detach from the holding member 3A when the holding portion 31 of the holding member 3A is displaced to the non-holding position Pf, or that the position of the elastic member 4A may shift and a part of the elastic member 4A may not be exposed as described above, it is advisable to configure the elastic member 4A (one end) to be restricted in position relative to the main body 10, for example.

[0108] Next, with respect to the mounting body 6 to be attached, as illustrated by the dashed line in Figure 13(B), insert its insertion end 64 into the insertion recess 16 of the mounting portion 15 on the main body 10, making it slightly angled, and then move the part with the conductive portion 62 and end 63 closer to the holding member 3A of the main body 10 in the direction indicated by arrow G1. The above operation of displacing the holding portion 31 of the holding member 3A to the non-holding position Pf may be performed in conjunction with the operation of attaching the mounting body 6 to the mounting portion 15 and moving it in the direction indicated by arrow G1.

[0109] Furthermore, the retaining member 3A has an inclined surface 31b that slopes downward in a direction that protrudes from the upper part of the retaining portion 31. Therefore, in the retaining member 3A, if the elastic restoring force of the support column 32 is relatively small, as illustrated by the solid line in Figure 13(B), it is possible to move the mounting body 6 downward in the direction indicated by arrow G1 while the end portion 63 is in contact with the inclined surface 31b in conjunction with the mounting operation of the mounting body 6, thereby elastically deforming the support column 32 and displacing the retaining portion 31 to the non-retaining position Pf.

[0110] Next, in the holding mechanism 1B, after the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 comes into contact with the conductive elastic member 4A, the mounting body 6 moves downward in the direction indicated by arrow G1, deforming the elastic member 4A to compress it. When the end portion 63 passes the protruding tip of the holding portion 31, which was in the non-holding position Pf of the holding member 3A, the holding portion 31, which had been manually displaced to the non-holding position Pf, is released.

[0111] As a result, the holding member 3A moves in the direction indicated by arrow Db due to the restoring force caused by the elastic deformation of the support column 32, returning to a position almost perpendicular to the main body 10. Consequently, the holding portion 31 is displaced from the non-holding position Pf back to the holding position Ph. At this time, the holding surface 31a of the holding portion 31, which is displaced to return to the holding position Ph, comes into contact with the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6, including the conductive portion 62, which is pressing against the elastic member 4A in such a way that it elastically deforms it.

[0112] As a result, the attachment 6 is attached to the main body 10, as shown in Figure 11. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11(B), the holding mechanism 1B at this time holds the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6, including the conductive portion 62 located at the end portion 63, between the holding portion 31 of the holding member 3A when it is in the holding position Ph and the elastic member 4A when it is elastically deformed. Furthermore, when the mounting body 6 is held by the holding mechanism 1B, as shown in Figure 11(B), the entire mounting body (printed circuit board 61) is mounted on the main body 10 in a state where it is almost parallel to the surface of the main body 10.

[0113] When held in this elastically deformed state, the elastic member 4A, as shown in Figure 11(B), has at least a portion of its lower end in contact with a portion of the conductive portion 12 of the main body 10, while at least a portion of its upper end in contact with a portion of the conductive portion 62 of the mounting body 6.

[0114] As a result, the mounting body 6 is electrically connected to the main body 10 via the conductive portion 62, the conductive elastic member 4A, and the conductive portion 12. Furthermore, when the mounting body 6 is attached, the end portion 63, including the conductive portion 62, is held in a state where it is elastically pressed toward the holding portion 31 (or holding surface 31a) of the holding member 3A by receiving a force F1 due to the restoring force after the elastic deformation of the elastic member 4A, as shown in Figure 11(B).

[0115] Therefore, with this holding mechanism 1B, the elastically deformed conductive elastic member 4A electrically connects the conductive portion 12 and the conductive portion 62, and elastically presses the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 against the holding portion 31 of the holding member 3A, so that the conductivity between the main body 10 and the mounting body 6 remains stable even if it is subjected to vibration.

[0116] (Removal of the attached device) Furthermore, in the holding mechanism 1B, the mounting body 6 is removed from the main body 10 in the following manner.

[0117] First, the holding mechanism 1B displaces the holding portion 31 of the holding member 3A, which is in the holding position Ph, to the non-holding position Pf. This displacement to the non-holding position Pf is performed manually.

[0118] As a result, in the holding mechanism 1B, as shown in Figure 13(B), the holding surface 31a of the holding portion 31 of the holding member 3A is displaced away from contact with the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 to the non-holding position Pf. As a result, the end portion 63 containing the conductive portion 62 of the mounting body 6 is released from the holding state by the holding mechanism 1B. At the same time, the mounting body 6 receives a restoring force from the elastic member 4A, which had been elastically deformed, and as illustrated by the dashed line in Figure 13(B), the end portion 63 containing the conductive portion 62 is pushed slightly upward (in the direction indicated by arrow G2) so that it separates from the main body 10.

[0119] Next, the mounting body 6 pulls its insertion end 64 out of the mounting part 15. This completely removes the attachment 6 from the main body 10.

[0120] (Modified version of Embodiment 2) The holding mechanism 1B may use a holding member 3B as shown in Figures 14 and 15 instead of the holding member 3A. The retaining member 3B differs in that the retaining portion 31 has a pressing guide portion 37 instead of the inclined surface 31b, but otherwise it is configured the same as the retaining member 3A.

[0121] As shown in Figures 14(B) and 15(A), the pressing guide portion 37 is the part that contacts the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 and guides it to press against the elastic member 4A when the support portion 32 of the holding member 3B returns to its original shape after elastic deformation and the holding portion 31 is displaced from the non-holding position Pf to the holding position Ph. The pressing guide portion 37 is configured as an inclined surface portion that is inclined at a required angle from the protruding tip portion 31 of the holding portion 31 of the holding member 3B to the holding surface 31a. The pressing guide portion 37 may also function as part of the holding surface 31a, with a portion of its lower side being used as part of the holding surface 31a.

[0122] In the holding mechanism 1B equipped with the holding member 3B having the pressing guide portion 37, the operation of the mounting process described below differs in some respects, but otherwise the mounting and holding of the mounting body 6 is performed in substantially the same manner as the mounting and holding of the mounting body 6 in Embodiment 2.

[0123] The operation of this different mounting process occurs when the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 faces the pressing guide portion 37 of the holding portion 31 of the holding member 3B, and the holding portion 31, which had been manually displaced to the non-holding position Pf, is released.

[0124] In other words, as shown in Figure 15, the retaining member 3B at this time has its retaining portion 31 displaced from the non-retaining position Pf to the retaining position Ph. Therefore, in the retaining mechanism 1B, as illustrated by the dashed line in Figure 14(B), the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 is pressed downward by the inclined portion of the pressing guide portion 37 of the retaining portion 31 that is moving toward the retaining position Ph, and moves in the direction indicated by arrow G1, finally coming into contact with the portion of the coil spring of the elastic member 4A that is exposed toward the upper end. Furthermore, at this time, the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6, after contacting the elastic member 4A, is pressed downward by the inclined surface of the pressing guide portion 37 of the holding portion 31, which continues to move toward the holding position Ph, and is moved in the direction indicated by arrow G1. As a result, the coil spring of the elastic member 4A is elastically deformed to be compressed by being pressed by its end portion 63, as shown in Figure 14(A).

[0125] In this modified holding mechanism 1B, ultimately, as shown in Figure 14(A), the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6, including the conductive portion 62 located at that end portion 63, is held between the holding portion 31 of the holding member 3B when it is in the holding position Ph and the elastic member 4A when it is elastically deformed.

[0126] Embodiment 3. Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of a device 7 equipped with a holding mechanism 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[0127] The device 7 equipped with the holding mechanism 1 has a housing 70, in which an image forming unit 81, a medium supply unit 86 for the recording medium 79, and a medium transport unit 88 are arranged as examples of the operating units 8, and a control unit 75 is arranged for controlling the operation of the operating units 8, etc. Therefore, the apparatus 7 according to Embodiment 3 is configured as an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium 79 based on image information input from an external source.

[0128] The image forming unit 81 is the part that actually forms an image on the recording medium 79. This image forming unit 81 is composed of equipment and related equipment corresponding to the required image forming method, such as electrophotography, ink ejection, electrostatic recording, or thermal recording.

[0129] The media supply unit 86 is the part that houses and supplies the recording media 79 used in the image forming unit 81. This media supply unit 86 consists of a housing that houses multiple recording media 79, a delivery device that sends the recording media 79 housed in the housing to the media transport unit 88, etc. The recording media 79 can be any medium that can form an image by the image forming unit 81 and can be transported by the media transport unit 88.

[0130] The media transport unit 88 transports the recording medium 79 sent from the media supply unit 86 to the image forming unit 81, and also transports the recording medium 79 with the image formed in the image forming unit 81 to the media discharge unit 72 provided in the housing 70. This media transport unit 88 is composed of a plurality of transport rolls for transporting the recording medium 79, guide members for transporting and guiding the recording medium 79, and the like.

[0131] The control unit 75 is composed of equipment necessary for control operations (including equipment necessary for detection). In Embodiment 3, the control unit 75 includes, for example, a main body 10 made of an electronic circuit board, and a mounting body 6 such as a memory mounting board that is attached to the main body 10.

[0132] The main body 10 has a conductive portion 12 and a mounting portion 15 for attaching the mounting body 6, similar to the main body 10 in Embodiment 1, for example (see Figures 1, 2, 4, etc.). The mounting body 6, for example, in the case of the mounting body 6 in Embodiment 1 (see Figures 1, 2, 4, etc.), has an end portion 63 provided with a conductive portion 62 that can face the conductive portion 12 of the main body 10, and an insertion end portion 64 that is inserted into the mounting portion 15 for mounting.

[0133] Furthermore, the main body 10, as in the case of the main body 10 in Embodiment 1, etc., is equipped with a holding mechanism 1 that holds the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 attached to the mounting portion 15, enabling electrical communication between the main body 10 and the mounting body 6 via the conductive portion 62 and the conductive portion 12.

[0134] Furthermore, the holding mechanism 1 is composed of part or all of the holding mechanism 1A according to Embodiment 1 (including its modified form) (see Figures 1 to 4, etc.) or the holding mechanism 1B according to Embodiment 2 (including its modified form) (see Figures 11 to 13, etc.). As a result, when the mounting body 6 is attached to the main body 10 in the control unit 75, the end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 is held by the holding mechanisms 1A and 1B.

[0135] On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 7, for example, when it is time to form an image, the operating parts 8, namely the image forming unit 81, the media supply unit 86, and the media transport unit 88, start to operate, and vibrations are generated as a result of this operation. These vibrations may include vibrations that are transmitted to the main body 10 of the control unit 75, etc. In this case, if the main body 10 or other components are subjected to vibrations during operation, the electrical connection between the main body 10 and the mounting body 6 in the control unit 75 may become unstable.

[0136] In this respect, the device 7, compared to a device in which the holding mechanism 1 does not hold the object by sandwiching it between the holding parts 21, 31 such as holding members 2A, 3A when the main body 10 is in the holding position Ph and the conductive elastic member 4A in an elastically deformed state, maintains stable conductivity between the main body 10 and the mounted object 6 without being adversely affected by vibrations transmitted from the moving part 8. As a result, in the device 7, there is no risk of malfunction due to poor electrical conductivity between the main body 10 and the mounting body 6 caused by vibration in the control unit 75, and stable operation is ensured.

[0137] others. Although this invention has shown representative configurations in Embodiments 1 to 3 (including their variations), it is not limited to these configurations, and parts of the configuration may be changed as needed.

[0138] For example, the conductive elastic member is not limited to the elastic member 4A which is made of a coil spring, but may also be an elastic member 4B which is made of a conductive leaf spring as illustrated in Figure 17(A).

[0139] This leaf spring elastic member 4B is a leaf spring that is bent into a U-shape, as shown in Figure 17(B), for example, and has a through hole 45 through which the support portion 22 of the holding member 2A passes. It is installed and used in a horizontal position. Furthermore, when this elastic member 4B is applied, the retaining member 2A can be provided with its support column 22 passing through the through hole 45.

[0140] Furthermore, the main body 10 is not limited to a plate-like shape, but may take on other forms as long as it is capable of electrically connecting to the mounting body 6. The mounting body 6 is not limited to a plate-like shape, but may also be of other shapes. The end portion 63 of the mounting body 6 on which the conductive portion 62 is provided is not limited to a recessed shape, but may be, for example, a straight-extending end or a protruding end.

[0141] Furthermore, if the mounting body 6 has multiple end portions 63 with conductive portions 62, the holding mechanism 1 (1A, 1B) may be provided on the main body 10 with holding members 2 (2A, 3A, etc.) corresponding to some or all of the multiple end portions 63.

[0142] The apparatus 7 equipped with the holding mechanism 1 is not limited to an image forming apparatus, but may be any apparatus that has moving parts that can transmit vibrations generated during operation to the main body 10 or the like that constitute the holding mechanism 1. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0143] 1,1A,1B…holding mechanism 2, 2A, 2B... Holding members (examples of members that are displaced by rotation) 3A, 3B... Retaining members (examples of displacement due to elastic deformation) 4A... Coil spring (an example of an elastic component) 4B...Leaf spring (an example of an elastic member) 6... Wearable body 10...Main unit 12… Continuity Department 15... Mounting part 21,61...Holding part 25...Displacement induction section 27…Press guide part 28...Stopping part 62… Continuity Department 63...end Ph…holding position Pf…Non-holding position

Claims

1. A main body having a conductive portion and a mounting portion to which a mounting body having an end provided with a conductive portion that can face the conductive portion is attached, A retaining member provided on the main body, having a retaining portion that can be displaced between a retaining position that contacts and holds the end of the mounting body and a non-retaining position that avoids the end and does not hold the end, A conductive elastic member is installed between at least the conductive portion of the main body and at least the holding portion when it is in the holding position, Equipped with, The holding member has a support column that supports the holding portion, the holding portion is fixedly mounted on the support column, the support column is rotatably attached to the main body, and the holding portion is displaced between the holding position and the non-holding position by rotating around the support column. A holding mechanism that holds the end of the mounting body, including the conductive portion at that end, by sandwiching it between the holding portion when it is in the holding position and the elastic member when it is elastically deformed.

2. The holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the holding member has a displacement guiding portion that contacts the end of the mounting body as it moves toward the main body when the end of the mounting body is held, and guides the holding portion, which is in the process of being displaced toward the non-holding position, toward the non-holding position.

3. The holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the holding member has a pressing guide portion that contacts the end of the mounting body and guides it to press the end against the elastic member when the holding portion rotates and is displaced from the non-holding position to the holding position.

4. The holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the holding member has a restraining portion that contacts a part of the mounting body when the holding portion is displaced from the non-holding position to the holding position, thereby preventing the displacement of the holding portion.

5. The holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein when the holding portion is in the non-holding position, a part of the elastic member is positioned between the holding portion and the main body when the holding portion is in the holding position.

6. The holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein when the holding portion is in the non-holding position, a part of the elastic member is positioned between the holding portion and the main body.

7. The retaining mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring, and the retaining member is located within the coil of the coil spring and is positioned so that the retaining portion can contact a part of the coil spring.

8. A main body having a conductive portion and a mounting portion to which a mounting body having an end provided with a conductive portion that can face the conductive portion is attached, The main body includes a holding mechanism for holding the attached object, A moving part that may transmit vibrations to the main body, Prepare, An apparatus comprising a holding mechanism, wherein at least a portion of the holding mechanism is composed of a holding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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