KR20040056773A - Method of electric forming keypad - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a method for manufacturing a pole metal keypad by electroplating, the material of the pole metal keycap is formed of a pole metal (Ni, Cu, Cr, etc.), the thermosetting resin layer bonded to the inside surface of the pole metal key In addition, the hardened resin layer and the lower surface of the pole metal are formed of a silicon rubber layer which is protruded so as to be in contact with the contacts, and thus the pole metal key is formed in multiple layers. The present invention relates to a method for mass-producing, manufacturing, and producing a full-length metal keypad of a uniform product by etching using laser, marking and engraving methods.

As is well known, one of the special processings made by electrolysis of a metal salt solution is to place work on the cathode side of the electrolyte so that metal ions discharge to cause electrodeposition. In other words, after electrodepositing the metal to the thickness required on the surface of the model, and then separating the model from the electrodeposition layer, the master product is obtained. This casting can be used as it is, and if the metal is electrodeposited and separated on the master, it can be made into a complete product like a model. Repeating these operations will allow you to make large copies of the same dimensions.

In the present invention, the keypad is firmly made of metal using pole casting to increase durability, and thus maintain the key top surface without deformation in a long time from contact with the finger, and by contacting the finger for a long time by stamping the metal surface by etching, engraving, or laser marking. Numbers, letters, and figures (hereinafter, patterns) are semi-permanent without damage, deformation, discoloration, or peeling, and precise dimensional processing. Miscellaneous) It is to provide a uniformly duplicated keypad.

Description

Jeonju metal keypad and its manufacturing method {Method of electric forming keypad}

The present invention relates to a pole pad and a method of manufacturing the same.

The keypad is used as a device for inputting a keyword that is adopted in various devices such as a remote control, information communication equipment (telephone portable telephone computer). In most cases, the keypad uses a dome switch to obtain a feeling of operation. The dome switch is provided with an area on the bottom of the key so that the signal is generated by contacting the contact provided on the printed circuit board by the dome switch. It is. These keypads are broadly classified into silicone rubber type made of silicone rubber material and injection key type made of film type injection molding formed of synthetic resin. The above key types do not have the drawbacks in which the raw material is not good in durability and contacts the key top a number of times so that the top surface of the key top is changed and deformed. The above key types have a disadvantage in that numbers or letters and pictures are abraded, deformed, discolored, peeled off and erased from a long time finger contact by laser marking after printing or spraying on the surface of the top of the tower.

The raw materials of the key tops are affected by the heat and humidity, and due to the shrinkage, the change and the deformation thereof, the mechanical safety is insufficient. Therefore, the key tops are not completely secured when assembled with the front of the apparatus. It is occurring. In addition, the key top was limited in providing precision and elaboration in the shape of the key by forced molding using a mold, and each product did not secure safety in assembling the device because the produced product had no uniformity.

The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems as described above,

The object of the present invention is to increase the durability of the production using a metal key formed by poles to maintain the original state without changing the shape of the key top surface from prolonged contact, and stamping using etching, laser marking, engraving, etc. The numbers, letters and figures (hereafter, glyphs) are preserved without damage, deformation or discoloration.

Keys made of pole metal are not changed and deformed by heat and humidity, and mass production is replicated in the master with precise dimensional processing and various detailed designs to produce products without error. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an input key button for various electronic devices, various devices, and various machines, which can be operated by a pole metal keypad.

1 is a manufacturing process of the electro-metallic keypad according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment engraving plate of the present invention.

3 is a detail view 'a' of FIG.

4 is a sectional view taken along the line b-b 'of FIG.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of electrodeposition on a slice plate.

6 is a cross-sectional view of the electrodeposition electrodeposition plate.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment master plate of the present invention.

8 is a perspective view of an electrode pole electrodeposition plate of one embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a cross-sectional view of the epoxy discharged inside the electroplating electrodeposition plate.

10 is a cross-sectional view of epoxy and silicon molded in the electrodeposited electrode plate.

11 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment coated with a photosensitive agent for processing numbers, letters, and figures.

12 is a detailed view of a portion 'c' of FIG. 11;

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment in which the writing unit, such as numbers, letters, drawings.

14 is a detailed view of the 'd' portion of FIG.

15 is a plan view of the embodiment of the keypad keypad of the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

1; engraving plate 2; guide hole

3; engraving

4; keycap 5; electric pole electrodeposition plate

6; master edition

7; insulator 8; hook

9; epoxy

10; silicon 11; Boss

12; photoresist (paint)

13; character writing unit 14; telephone pole

15; key connection

In order to achieve the above object, the telephone pole metal pole according to the present invention comprises the steps of obtaining a plate and a hologram plate engraved in the engraved or embossed metal pole shape and numbers, letters, figures (hereinafter, patterns); Acquiring the electrodeposition plate by using the engraving plate as a model; Obtaining a master plate using the electrodeposition plate as a model; Using a master plate as a model to obtain mass replicated pole metal keycap plates; Forming a resin layer by discharging and thermosetting a thermosetting resin (epoxy, etc.) on a mass produced electroforming metal keycap; Forming a silicon rubber layer, the BOSS being formed to be in contact with the contact, the silicon rubber layer being bound to the pole metal face and the resin face; And stamping numbers, letters, and figures (hereinafter, glyphs) on the upper portion of the metal button by etching laser marking pieces or the like.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying flowchart.

1 is a process chart showing a method for manufacturing a pole pad for metal according to the present invention. First, a brass plate of a suitable thickness is prepared, and the shape of a desired keypad is precisely embossed using a CNC machine or an engraver on one surface of the brass plate. Carving through the step of obtaining a carved model plate (S1). The material used as the engraving plate material can be selectively used according to the shape of the keycap, and the material is brass plate, hologram, nickel plate, other metal plate, wood, resin, rubber, etc. Here, brass with excellent cutting processability and good conductivity is used. In the case of using a non-conductive material, it is possible to perform deposition and silver diameter treatment for conducting a conductive film for good conduction. The CAVITY quantity of the engraving board can be arbitrarily adjusted according to the production quantity of the same pole-type keypad to be produced considering the workability and quality. Acquiring the electrodeposited plate (S2), using the engraving plate as a model, the electroplating in the electrolytic casting containing the electrolytic solution to obtain an electrodeposition plate having the same keycap shape as the engraving plate and vice versa. When conducting the electroforming, the conductive medium is treated with good conduction, the front surface is coated with release agent such as dichromic acid, and the other side is masked, and the electroforming is carried out in the electroforming bath containing electrolyte. do. Electrode electrodeposition plate is formed irregularities opposite to the irregularities of the engraving plate.

In the step of obtaining the master plate (S3), the electrodeposition plate obtained in the previous step is further refined to the required part, and the pattern is inserted to repeat the electric pole in the electrolytic casting containing the electrolyte to produce the master for mass production. Replicate a lot according to the quantity. The hook formed in the upper center of the master plate is for hanging on the minus (-) pole of the electric pole. Jeonju Keycap product production step (S4) uses the master plate as a model and repeatedly performs the electric pole in the bath containing the electrolyte in the model. The type of metal that forms the keycap is determined by the type of electrolyte added to the electroforming solution. For example, the electrodeposition metal is used as nickel, and the electroplating work is carried out at the bath temperature of 45 ° to 50 ° C, voltage 3V, and 2 to 8 hours. In this case, a nickel metal keycap of a size corresponding to that of the master plate can be produced in large quantities. On the other hand, if the master electrodeposited plate is intaglio irregularities, the duplicated product is formed with embossed concave and convexities. The keycap metal type may be nickel (Ni) chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), or the like depending on the type of medium added to the bath.

Epoxy discharging (S5) and thermosetting binding step (S6) is a metal surface by discharging the epoxy mixed with the main material and the curing agent in the bottom portion formed by the concave bottom surface of the large-scale replica electro-metal keycap and heat-cured in a drying furnace It is a complete binding with.

The purpose of using epoxy resin is to reinforce the durability so that the metal keycaps are not deformed by external impacts and allow the keycaps to be completely bonded with the silicone rubber. The pigments are mixed with epoxy and discharged to the corresponding keycaps using the metering dispenser and tube so that the numbers, letters and figures required by the design can be expressed by color. The fixed guide hole is machined to insert the epoxy ejection thermosetting-bonded pole keycap into the rubber molding tool. The fixed guide hole processing step may be performed before the epoxy discharge thermosetting binding step (S6), or may be carried out after the epoxy discharge thermosetting binding step.

In the silicone rubber molding binding step (S7), a silicone molding mold manufactured in the same manner as the keycap model is mounted on a rubber molding machine, and then the mold is heated to a required temperature, and a predetermined amount of silicon is discharged onto the lower surface of the epoxy keyed metal keycap ejected and heated. After the rubber mold is inserted into the mold, the rubber molding machine is operated and the mold is heat-cured for a certain time. In addition, by using the silicone rubber as the lower material of the keypad can be mechanically stable, good tact feeling and smooth operation can be solved mechanical instability in design and production.

When the above process is completed, a number (S8) is stamped on the electroplated metal surface by etching, laser marking, engraving, or the like process. However, the figure (hereinafter glyph) can be engraved by yin and yang or hologram by yin and yang as an element of design. Through this manufacturing process has been described the process of manufacturing the electric pole metallic keypad substantially will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the engraving plate, FIG. 3 is a detail view 'a' of the engraving plate, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line b-b of FIG.

First, select a material that can make good use of the characteristics required by the design and cut it on one side to increase flatness. Determine the CAVITY quantity by considering the workability and quality by considering the required design data, input the data into the CNC engraver, and confirm that the numerical value of the data fits correctly. Glyphs (3) etc. are processed into engraving and embossing precisely. Lettering (3) may be made after the silicone rubber molding binding step (S7) depending on the characteristics of the design. If the design specification is a holographic pattern or a hologram, the engraving (3) in the engraving plate acquisition step (S1). In the case that the character stamp 3 is a specification that the light is transmitted to the entire surface is stamped through an etching process after the silicon molding binding step (S7).

When the key surface is tasted to meet the requirements of the design after the engraving work is completed, it is processed by using various processing methods such as mirror finishing, sending, and die cutting. In case of difficulty in processing due to the unevenness, the electroplating electrodeposition plate 5 additionally meets the design specification using the above process method. Here, brass with excellent cutting processability and good electrical conductivity was used, and the engraving plate (1) material is brass plate, nickel, holo plate, other metal plate, wood, resin, rubber and other materials as described in the engraving plate obtaining step (S1). If the material is a non-conductor material, it should be coated with a conductive film so that it can be energized well. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electroplating electrodeposition plate 5 and the engraving plate 1 obtained by electroplating using the engraving plate 1 as a model, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electroplating electrodeposition plate 5.

In order to obtain the electroplating electrodeposition plate (5), the engraving plate (1) obtained in the previous step is used as a model, and the electroplating is used in electroforming to remove the replica of the irregularities deposited on the upper portion of the engraving plate (1) to correspond to the sculpture model. Acquire electroplated electrode plate (5). Electroplated electrodeposited plate (5) is the electroplated electrodeposited plate when the keypad model of engraving plate (1) is intaglio

An embossed concave-convex is formed in (5), and an engraved concave-convex is formed in the electrodeposited plate which is reproduced when the keypad of the engraving plate 1 is embossed. The design requirements not shown in the engraving plate 1 on the obtained electroplated electrodeposited plate 5 are further refined and processed to design specifications using various processing methods such as taste mirror sanding, sanding, and die cutting. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electrodeposited electrode plate (5). FIG. 7 illustrates a master plate 6 capable of mass-producing a Jeonju Metal Keycap 4 obtained in Jeonju by modeling the Jeonju Electrodeposition Plate 5. The number of master plates 6 is determined according to the number of keypads to be produced, and the required number of masters can be obtained by repeating the poles with the electro-electrode electrodeposition plate 5 as a model. Electrodepositing electrodeposition plate (5) is electrodeposited to allow a metal thickness of 1 ~ 2 mm to prevent distortion, bending, stamping deformation, etc. that may appear during processing. The edge of the electrodeposition electrode plate (5) is cut and the insulator (7) is coated on the edge, and the hook (8) is made in the upper center of the master plate. The hook ring 8 is made to be energized by walking on the negative pole of the electro-casting not shown and copper (Cu) having good conductivity is used. The coating of the insulator 7 on the edge of the master plate 6 is to prevent the metal from being electrodeposited on the insulator portion, so that the electrodeposited electrode plate 5 can be easily and conveniently peeled off. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a pole-type metal keycap product electrodeposited from the master plate 6 and subjected to mass replication production peeling. Electrode electrodeposition plate (5) production can be obtained in a large amount of the electroplating metal keycap (4) by repeatedly performing in the electroforming tank containing the electrolytic solution using the master plate (6) obtained in the above process as a model. Here, the metal type of the electroplating keycap 4 may be selected from nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and the like depending on the type of medium added to the electroforming casting.

For example, if the electrodeposition metal is used as nickel and the electrolytic solution temperature of the electroforming is 45 to 50 ° C., the voltage is 3V, and the electroforming is performed, the nickel metal keycap 4 having the same size as that of the master plate 6 can be produced in large quantities. The thickness of the metal of the electroplated metal keycap 4 is determined by the electroplating time, and the thickness of 0.15 to 0.2 mm required by the electroplated metal keycap 4 can be obtained by processing for 6 to 8 hours in electroforming, The machining time can thus be chosen.

Metal keycaps (4) obtained by electroplating should clean and dry foreign substances, other chemicals, etc. in order to increase adhesion with the epoxy (9) before the discharge of the epoxy (9). Unnecessary portions of the edges of the electroplated metal keycap plates shall be blanked. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the epoxy 9 is discharge thermoset-bonded to the electrodeposited electrode plate 5. Epoxy (9) mixes pigments by color in the base material and produces them by color, and mixes a small amount of hardening material in a completely mixed material by weight ratio.

Epoxy (9) resin is dispensed to the inside of the electroforming metal keycap (4) using a metering dispenser and a tube. At this time, the amount of the discharged epoxy (9) should not exceed 2/3 of the depth of all the keycaps (4), which is the depth of the amount in consideration of the binding force and deformation, generation of gas, etc. with silicon during the molding of the silicon (10) of the post-process to be. The epoxy (9) resin is preferably made of a material in which the electrodeposited electrode plate (5) and the silicon (10), the epoxy (9) and the silicon (10) can be bound well when forming the silicone rubber (10). Epoxy (9) discharging should discharge only fixed quantity by using a fixed quantity dispenser capable of discharging the quantity. The amount of discharged amount is different according to the small and large amount of the discharged color. It should be noted that this may occur. After the discharge of epoxy (9) and the completion of thermosetting binding, the fixing pin guide hole (2) is required to insert and fix the electrode electrodeposition plate (5) to the rubber mold. Wherein the fixing pin guide hole (2) machining process may be carried out before the epoxy discharge step (S5). The material of the thermosetting resin layer used as a medium for reinforcing the durability of the electroplated metal keycaps 4 from being deformed by external shocks and the electroplated metal keycaps 4 completely bonded with the silicone rubber 10 is epoxy or phenolic. Urethane type, melamine type, etc. can be used.

10 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment in which the epoxy 9 and the silicon 10 are formed on the electrodeposited electrode plate 4. The silicone molding mold is manufactured by dividing the upper side and the lower side, and the lower side is manufactured to insert a pole metal keycap, and the upper side is manufactured such that the lower end of the key is made of silicon. After mounting this mold to a rubber molding machine, the mold is heated to a temperature at which the silicone rubber 10 is thermoset. The temperature at this time should be maintained at the same temperature until the end of the machining operation. Epoxy (9) is ejected into the lower mold, which is formed into a keycap shape by discharging the silicon 10 of a suitable quantity for molding on the lower surface of the electro-metal keycap (4) from which the epoxy mold is discharged. Close contact is molded and heat cured. After a certain period of time hardening step, the shape of the pole metal keypad is shaped. Depending on the design, the silicon-formed shape of the key may have a skirt, or may be flat or other shapes. According to the adhesive strength of the silicone rubber 10 may be subjected to a further primer treatment to improve the adhesive binding force. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view in which paint or a photosensitive agent is applied to the upper surface of the electrodeposition electrodeposition plate 5 to imprint letters, and FIG. 12 is a detail 'c' part of FIG. Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the patterned engraving 3 on the upper side of the pole metal keycap 4; FIG. 14 is a detailed view of a portion 'd' of FIG. 13, and FIG. 15 is a plan view of the embodiment of the keypad of the present invention.

The upper part of the key cap needs to be engraved, which can be silk-printed, but here it is embossed using laser marking and etching.

The pattern is marked on the upper surface of the metal keycap 4 by laser marking on the metal keycap. In order to ensure that light is transmitted from the back of the keypad, the markings on the pole metal keycaps (4) are made using a special processing method.

The photosensitive agent 12 is sprayed on the upper side of the pole metal keycap 4 and completely dried in a drying furnace. Since the photosensitive agent 12 reacts with light, care should be taken in light exposure. The photosensitive agent 12 sprayed with the laser marker must be removed until the electro-metal keycap 4 is exposed. In addition, a photo film may be attached onto the electro-metallic keypad coated with the photosensitive agent 12 without using a laser marker, and then exposed to light, and then developed on an alkaline chemical to remove the photosensitive film on the patterned portion. Application of the photosensitive agent 12 on the entire surface of the electroplating metal or a product in which the photosensitive film is removed by the exposure phenomenon of light is subjected to corrosion until the epoxy surface 9 is exposed with ferric chloride through an etching machine. The pattern imprinted on the electroplated metal keycap 4 through the processing method as described above is a major feature of the electroplated metal keypad, which allows to preserve the appearance of the first form semi-permanently without any damage deformation discoloration peeling off from long time contact. After completion of the stamp (3), press the metal key pads individually cut and press the components necessary for the assembly of the assembly to complete the complete metal key pad (14).

As described above, the keypad according to the present invention is characterized by the fact that there is no change in dimensional shape due to environmental factors such as heat, constant temperature, and humidity by increasing the durability of the keypad material using a metal key cap made by electroplating. .

Etching, laser marking, and engraving on the top of the metal keycap formed by poles, the numerical character picture (hereinafter, a pattern) stamped on the top of the key top is semi-permanently preserved from long contact without damage deformation, discoloration or peeling. It is done.

In addition, the pole key cap made by pole processing is produced by pole, peeling and mass duplication from the master made by the first model, so it is possible to mass-produce fine and detailed design and uniform products.

The thermosetting resin is completely bound to the metal surface to protect it from deformation of the metal by external force, and acts as a mediator to completely bond the silicon and metal surface to prevent separation and the silicone rubber functions as a key. It is designed to operate stably and smoothly. The present invention can improve the reliability of the keypad and produce a uniform product, so that various designs can be applied and the mechanical instability of the keypad can be solved to increase the added value of the product.

Claims (5)

Obtaining engraving plates and hologram plates engraved with engraved or embossed metal pole keypad shapes and numbers, letters, and figures (hereinafter, patterns); Using the engraving plate as a model to obtain a pole electrodeposition plate; Acquiring a master plate using the pole electrodeposition plate; Mass production of pole metal keycap plates using a master plate; Forming a resin layer inside the metal keycap by discharging and thermosetting the thermosetting resin (epoxy, etc.) into the mass produced electric pole metal keycap; Discharging silicon to the epoxy upper layer formed inside the electro-metal keycap, and applying heat to the rubber mold to form silicon to form a boss or a skirt; Stamping numbers, letters, figures (hereinafter, patterns) on top of a keycap formed of metal by etching, laser marking, engraving, or the like; And blanking the pole metal keypad to assemble the pole metal keypad into the instrument water. Jeonju metal keypad manufacturing method comprising a. The method of manufacturing a pole metal keypad according to claim 1, wherein the pole metal keycaps are obtained by a variety of (Ni, Cu, Cr, and other) metals by using the pole casting. The thermosetting resin (epoxy, etc.) is discharged and heat-cured in the electroplated metal keycaps to reinforce the durability so that the electroplated metal keycaps are not deformed by external impact, and the electroplated metal keycaps are completely bonded to the silicon surface. A method of manufacturing a keypad, comprising a function as an intermediate medium so as to provide a number, letters, pictures, etc. of various colors by using pigments of various colors in the epoxy resin. As the material of the thermosetting resin layer, epoxy, phenol, urethane, melamine or the like can be selectively used. The method of claim 1, wherein by discharging the silicon on the epoxy upper layer formed inside the electro-metal keycap to heat-set to form a boss or a skirt in the lower electro-metal keycap, to provide a soft touch when using the keypad. In addition, depending on the design, the formed shape of the silicon may have a skirt, or may be flat or other shape. The method for manufacturing a keypad according to claim 1, wherein a number, letters, figures (hereinafter, patterns) are formed on the upper part of the pole metal keycap, and processed by etching, laser marking, engraving, or the like to light the patterns.