JP5145365B2 - Inter-unit connection device and ballot paper classification device having the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inter-unit connection apparatus and a voting paper classification apparatus including the same, and more particularly to an inter-unit connection apparatus that connects units while connecting a power supply or a signal circuit between two units.

  As a conventional inter-unit connection apparatus, for example, Patent Document 1 describes an inter-unit connection apparatus for connecting a unit to a unit board in a button telephone apparatus. In such a conventional inter-unit connection device, two units are slid back and forth so that the connection fittings are fitted together and then fastened with fixing brackets, and then a power supply or signal circuit connector between the units is joined. For units that connect units, when disconnecting between units, disconnect the connector that connects the power supply or signal circuit between the units, then open the fixing bracket and slide the two units back and forth to separate them. .

JP 2000-3008099 A

  However, there has been a problem that operation failure occurs if the connection between the units is forgotten to connect the connectors.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and provides an inter-unit connection device that can prevent forgetting to connect a connector for a power supply or a signal circuit between units, and a ballot paper classification device having the same. For the purpose.

The inter-unit connection apparatus according to the present invention is an inter-unit connection apparatus that connects two units to each other, the inter-unit telegraph connection means that connects a power source or a signal circuit between the two units, and the two units. and a unit between fixing means for fixing, after the inter-unit wire connection means for connecting the power supply or signal circuit between the two units, Ri said inter-unit securing means Do allow fixing the two units to each other The inter-unit telegraph connection means includes an inter-unit connection connector provided in each of the two units, and one inter-unit connection connector is slidable with respect to the unit provided with the inter-unit connection connector. A connector slide member that slides in conjunction with the inter-unit connection connector is provided, and the connector slide The material is provided with a first hole, and the unit provided with the slidable inter-unit connector is provided with a second hole, and the connector slide member is slidable and slidable between the units. When the connector becomes connectable with the other unit connection connector, the first hole portion and the second hole portion overlap each other, and the inter-unit fixing means is provided with the slidable unit connection connector. The fixing screw is provided in a unit different from the unit provided, and the fixing screw includes the first hole and the second hole in a state where the first hole and the second hole overlap each other. Ru can be inserted der to.
You may further provide the elastic means which applies force to the said inter-unit connection connector which can slide in the direction which cut | disconnects the coupling | bonding of the said inter-unit connection connectors.

A voting paper classification device according to the present invention includes the inter-unit connection device, and the voting paper classification device includes a reading unit that reads a description of the voting paper and a basic unit having a plurality of classification pockets for storing the voting paper; An expansion unit having a plurality of classification pockets and connected to the basic unit, wherein one of the units is the basic unit and the other of the units is the expansion unit.
A voting paper classification device according to the present invention includes the inter-unit connection device, and the voting paper classification device includes a reading unit that reads a description of the voting paper and a basic unit having a plurality of classification pockets for storing the voting paper; It has at least two extension units having a plurality of classification pockets and connected to the basic unit, and the two units are the extension units connected to each other.

  According to the present invention, the inter-unit fixing means cannot fix the two units to each other unless the inter-unit telegraph connecting means has connected the power source or signal circuit between the two units. Alternatively, forgetting to connect the connector for the signal circuit can be prevented.

It is a top view of the inter-unit connection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view of the inter-unit connection device according to the first embodiment. In the inter-unit connection apparatus according to Embodiment 1, it is a side view showing a state in which inter-unit connection connectors can be coupled. It is a top view in the state where the inter-unit connection device concerning this Embodiment 1 connected between two units. It is a front view of the voting paper classification device provided with the inter-unit connection device according to the first embodiment. It is a left-right side view of the basic unit of the ballot paper classification device provided with the inter-unit connection device according to the first embodiment. It is the left-right side view and rear view of an extension unit of the ballot paper classification device provided with the inter-unit connection device concerning this embodiment. It is the front view and top view of the inter-unit connection apparatus which concern on this Embodiment 2. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an inter-unit connection apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a side view thereof. The inter-unit connection apparatus according to the first embodiment is for connecting two units 1 and 2. The unit 1 is provided with a male unit connection fitting 3, and the unit 2 is provided with a female unit connection fitting 4. By inserting the protrusion 3a of the male unit connection fitting 3 into the groove 4a of the female unit connection fitting 4 and sliding the unit 1 and the unit 2 with each other, the protrusion 3a moves in the groove 4a, so that the male The mold unit connection fitting 3 and the female unit connection fitting 4 are engaged with each other.

  Inside the unit 1, a male inter-unit connector 5 for connecting a power supply or a signal circuit to the unit 2 is provided. The inter-unit connector 5 is attached to a plate-like slide member 7 having an L-shaped cross section. The slide member 7 is connected to the other end of a spring 8 which is an elastic means connected at one end to a fixing portion 9 fixed to the inner wall of the unit 1. The slide member 7 is slidable within the unit 1, and when the slide member 7 slides, the inter-unit connection connector 5 protrudes from the inside of the unit 1 to the outside or retracts from the outside to the inside. Yes. Further, due to the elastic force of the spring 8, a force is always applied to the slide member 7 in a direction in which the inter-unit connector 5 is retracted from the outside to the inside of the unit 1.

  Two connecting rods 17 and 18 are provided on the slide member 7 perpendicularly to the slide member 7 with a space in the horizontal direction, and the connecting rods 17 and 18 are respectively formed horizontally on the side surfaces of the unit 1. It protrudes outside the unit 1 through a groove (not shown) extending in the direction. The connecting rods 17 and 18 are inserted into the horizontally extending groove 11 provided in the connector slide member 10 outside the unit 1, whereby the connector slide member 10 is connected to the slide member 7. . The connector slide member 10 has a substantially L-shaped plate shape having a lower end protruding portion 10a extending in a direction in which the inter-unit connection connector 5 protrudes from the inside of the unit 1 to the outside. Is provided with a first hole 12. The connector slide member 10 is provided with a handle portion 13 formed so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the side surface of the unit 1.

  When the user picks the handle 13 and slides the connector slide member 10 along the side surface of the unit 1 in the direction of arrow A, one end 11a of the groove 11 pushes the connecting rod 17 in the direction of arrow A. The slide member 7 also slides in the direction of the arrow A, so that the inter-unit connector 5 protrudes from the inside of the unit 1 to the outside. When the user releases his hand from the handle portion 13 in this state, the slide member 7 slides in the direction of arrow B due to the elastic force of the spring 8, and the inter-unit connector 5 is retracted from the outside to the inside of the unit 1. When the slide member 7 slides in the direction of arrow B, the connecting rod 17 pushes the end 11a of the groove 11 in the direction of arrow B, so that the connector slide member 10 also slides in the direction of arrow B. That is, the inter-unit connector 5 and the connector slide member 10 slide in conjunction with each other. When the user slides the connector slide member 10 so that the inter-unit connection connector 5 protrudes from the inside of the unit 1 to the outside, the position overlaps the first hole 12 of the connector slide member 10. A second hole 14 is provided in the side surface of the unit 1.

  The unit 2 is provided with a female inter-unit connector 6 that is connected to the inter-unit connector 5 in a state where the male unit connector 3 and the female unit connector 4 are engaged. When the inter-unit connection connector 5 protrudes from the inside of the unit 1 to the outside, the inter-unit connection connector 5 and the inter-unit connection connector 6 can be coupled. Here, the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6 constitute inter-unit telegraph connection means for connecting a power source or a signal circuit between the units 1 and 2. The unit 2 is provided with a fixing screw 15 that is inserted into and fixed to the first hole 12 and the second hole 14 when they overlap each other. Here, the fixing screw 15 constitutes an inter-unit fixing means for fixing the units 1 and 2 to each other.

Next, the operation of the inter-unit connection apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described.
First, the operation for connecting the units 1 and 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the protrusion 3a of the male unit connection fitting 3 is inserted into the groove 4a of the female unit connection fitting 4, and the unit 1 and the unit 2 are slid relative to each other. Then, the protrusion 3a moves in the groove 4a, and the male unit connection fitting 3 and the female unit connection fitting 4 are engaged. Next, the user picks the handle portion 13 and slides the connector slide member 10 in the direction of arrow A along the side surface of the unit 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the inter-unit connection connector 5 protrudes from the inside of the unit 1 to the outside, so that the inter-unit connection connector 5 and the inter-unit connection connector 6 are coupled. In this state, the first hole portion 12 and the second hole portion 14 overlap each other, so that the fixing screw 15 is inserted into the first hole portion 12 and the second hole portion 14 as shown in FIG. By fixing, the units 1 and 2 are fixed. In this operation, since the fixing screws 15 cannot be inserted into the first hole portion 12 and the second hole portion 14 after the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6 are connected, the connection between the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6 is forgotten. Can be prevented.

  Next, the operation of separating the connected units 1 and 2 will be described. The fixing screw 15 is pulled out from the first hole portion 12 and the second hole portion 14. Then, due to the elastic force of the spring 8, the slide member 7 slides in the direction of arrow B, and the inter-unit connection connector 5 is pulled from the outside to the inside of the unit 1, so that the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6 are automatically disconnected. It is. Next, when the unit 1 and the unit 2 are slid to each other, the protruding portion 3a moves in the groove 4a, and the protruding portion 3a is pulled out from the groove 4a, so that the male unit connecting metal 3 and the female unit connecting metal 4 And the units 1 and 2 are disconnected. In this operation, when the fixing screw 15 is pulled out from the first hole portion 12 and the second hole portion 14, the slide member 7 is slid in the direction of arrow B by the elastic force of the spring 8, and the inter-unit connector is automatically connected. Since the units 5 and 6 are separated, the unit connection connectors 5 and 6 can be prevented from being damaged by sliding the unit 1 and the unit 2 with the unit connection connectors 5 and 6 being joined.

Next, the voting paper classification device provided with the inter-unit connection device according to the first embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the voting paper classification device 20 includes a basic unit 21 and three extension units 22, 23, and 24 that are added to the basic unit 21. The basic unit 21 includes a scanner 25 that reads a candidate name written on a ballot paper (not shown) and five classification pockets 26 that classify and store the ballot paper for each candidate name. Each of the extension units 22 to 24 includes eight classification pockets 27.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (a), on the right side surface 21a of the basic unit 21, female unit connection fittings 4 are respectively provided at the central portion and the left and right three locations, and one inter-unit connection connector is provided. 6 is provided. As shown in FIG. 6B, a fixing screw 15 is provided on the back surface 21c of the basic unit 21 so as to protrude with respect to the right side surface 21a.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the right side surface 22a of the extension unit 22 is provided with female unit connection fittings 4 at the center portion and the lower left and right three locations, respectively, and one inter-unit connection connector. 6 is provided. As shown in FIG. 7B, the left side surface 22b of the extension unit 22 is provided with male unit connection fittings 3 at the center portion and the lower left and right three locations, respectively, and one inter-unit connection connector. 5 is provided. As shown in FIG. 7C, the rear surface 22 c of the extension unit 22 is provided with a connector slide member 10 that slides in conjunction with the inter-unit connection connector 5. Further, a fixing screw 15 is provided on the back surface 22c so as to protrude with respect to the right side surface 22a. Although not shown, the extension units 23 and 24 also have the same configuration as the extension unit 22.

  In connection with the basic unit 21 and the extension unit 22, the male unit connection fitting 3 and the female unit connection fitting 4 are engaged with each other in accordance with the operation described above, and then the connector slide member 10 is slid, Finally, the fixing screws 15 are inserted into the first hole 12 of the connector slide member 10 and the second hole 14 provided on the back surface 22c of the extension unit 22. By fixing, the extension unit 22 is connected to the right side of the basic unit 21. Further, according to the same operation, the extension unit 23 is connected to the right side of the extension unit 22, and the extension unit 24 is further connected to the right side of the extension unit 23. If this operation is followed, one or more extension units can be connected to the right side of the extension unit 24. It should be noted that when the extension unit is disconnected, it can be disconnected according to the disconnection operation already described.

  In this way, the fixing screws 15 cannot be inserted into the first hole 12 and the second hole 14 unless the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6 are joined, and the units 1 and 2 are fixed to each other. Therefore, forgetting to connect the power source or signal circuit connector between the units 1 and 2 can be prevented. Further, since the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6 are automatically disconnected by the elastic force of the spring 8, it is possible to prevent the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6 from being damaged due to forgetting to disconnect the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, an inter-unit connection apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 7 are the same or similar components, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.
The inter-unit connection apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is obtained by changing the fixing mechanism using the fixing screw 15 with respect to the first embodiment.

  The inter-unit connection device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is provided in a voting paper classification device. As shown in FIGS. 8A-1 and 8A-2, four connecting rods 37 are provided perpendicular to the slide member 7 on the slide member 7 to which the inter-unit connector 5 is attached. Each of the connecting rods 37 protrudes to the outside of the extension unit 22 and is connected to the connector slide member 10 via a groove 31 extending in the horizontal direction formed on the back surface 22 c of the extension unit 22. The connector slide member 10 is formed with a fitting hole portion 40 having a U-shaped outline, and a handle portion 33 having a recessed shape with respect to the back surface 22c. A fixing screw 15 is provided on the back surface 22c at a position where the fitting hole 40 fits when the connector slide member 10 is slid in the direction of arrow A. The fixing screw 15 can fix the connector slide member 10 at a position where the fitting hole 40 is fitted to the fixing screw 15. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  After the male unit connection fitting 3 and the female unit connection fitting 4 are engaged with each other in the same procedure as in the first embodiment, the user inserts a finger into the handle portion 33 and the connector slides in the direction of arrow A. When the member 10 is slid along the back surface 22c of the extension unit 22, the four connecting rods 37 are also slid together, so that the slide member 7 is also slid in the direction of arrow A, and the inter-unit connection connector 5 is added. It protrudes from the left side surface 22b of the unit 22, and as shown in FIGS. 8 (b-1) and (b-2), the inter-unit connection connector 5 and the inter-unit connection connector provided in the basic unit 21 6 are combined. At this time, since the fitting hole 40 is fitted to the fixing screw 15, the connector slide member 10 is fixed at this position by tightening the fixing screw 15, and the basic unit 21 and the extension unit 22 are connected. The same operation may be performed when one or more extension units are connected next to the extension unit 22.

  When the basic unit 21 and the extension unit 22 are separated, when the fixing screw 15 is loosened, the connector slide member 10 is released and the spring member 8 is slid in the direction of the arrow B by the elastic force of the spring 8. Since the inter-connection connector 5 is pulled from the outside to the inside of the extension unit 22, the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6 are automatically disconnected. Thereafter, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the basic unit 21 and the extension unit 22 are separated by separating the male unit connection fitting 3 and the female unit connection fitting 4 from each other. The method for separating the extension units is the same.

  In this manner, the fixing screw 15 cannot form the connector slide member 10 and the basic unit 21 and the extension unit 22 cannot be fixed unless the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6 are joined. Forgetting to connect the power supply or signal circuit connector between the extension unit 22 and the extension unit 22 can be prevented. Further, since the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6 are automatically disconnected by the elastic force of the spring 8, it is possible to prevent the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6 from being damaged due to forgetting to disconnect the inter-unit connection connectors 5 and 6.

  In the first and second embodiments, the inter-unit connection device is provided in the voting paper classification device, but this is not a limitation. As long as two units are physically and electrically connected, the inter-unit connection device may be used for any unit.

  1, 2 units, 5, 6 Inter-unit connection connector (inter-unit telegraph connection means), 8 spring (elastic means), 10 connector slide member, 12 first hole, 14 second hole, 15 fixing screw (between units Fixing means), 20 voting paper classification device, 21 basic unit, 22, 23, 24 extension unit, 25 scanner (reading means), 26, 27 classification pocket, 40 fitting hole.

Claims (4)

An inter-unit connection device that connects two units,
Inter-unit telegraph connection means for connecting a power source or a signal circuit between the two units;
An inter-unit fixing means for fixing the two units to each other;
After the inter-unit wire connection means for connecting the power supply or signal circuit between the two units, Ri said inter-unit securing means Do allow fixing the two units to each other,
The inter-unit telegraph connection means includes an inter-unit connection connector provided in each of the two units, and the one inter-unit connection connector is slidable with respect to the unit in which the inter-unit connection connector is provided,
A connector slide member that slides in conjunction with the slidable inter-unit connection connector is provided, and the connector slide member is provided with a first hole,
The unit provided with the slidable inter-unit connector is provided with a second hole, and the inter-unit connector that can slide by sliding the connector slide member can be coupled with the other inter-unit connector. The first hole and the second hole overlap,
The inter-unit fixing means is a fixing screw provided in a unit different from the unit provided with the slidable inter-unit connection connector, and the fixing screw includes the first hole portion and the second hole portion. insertable der Ru unit connecting device to the first hole and the second hole in a state where the overlap. The direction of releasing the coupling of the connection connectors between the unit further comprises resilient means for applying a force to the slidable the inter-unit connector, the unit connecting device according to claim 1. A ballot paper classification device comprising the inter-unit connection device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The ballot classification device
A basic unit having reading means for reading the description of the voting paper and a plurality of classification pockets for storing the voting paper;
An extension unit having a plurality of classification pockets and connected to the basic unit;
A voting paper classification device in which one of the units is the basic unit and the other of the units is the extension unit. A ballot paper classification device comprising the inter-unit connection device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The ballot classification device
A basic unit having reading means for reading the description of the voting paper and a plurality of classification pockets for storing the voting paper;
Comprising at least two extension units having a plurality of classification pockets and connected to the basic unit;
The two units are voting paper classification devices which are the extension units connected to each other.

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