JP7845309B2 - cabinet - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to an enclosure comprising a case and a cover.

There are housings comprising a case and a cover that can be opened and closed to cover a portion of the case (for example, Patent Document 1). Such housings are sometimes used as the outer casing of electronic devices. The area covered by the cover may contain functional parts that do not need to be operated during normal operation, such as a power switch or an external storage device slot. Since accidental operation of such functional parts could cause malfunctions in the electronic device, it is necessary to prevent the cover from being opened during normal operation.

For example, to prevent the cover from opening, the cover may be secured to the case with screws, or fastened to the case with a string-like fastener.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-65363

In a housing where the cover can be secured to the case with screws, if the worker closing the cover only has a string-type fastener and not screws, the cover cannot be secured. In other words, in a housing where the cover can only be secured with either screws or a string-type fastener, the worker closing the cover cannot be secured if they only have screws and not the string-type fastener.

Here, if the cover is secured with screws, holes for the screws must be formed in both the cover and the case. If the cover is secured with a string-like fastener, holes for the string-like fastener must be formed in both the cover and the case.

Therefore, to prevent a situation where a worker is unable to secure the cover because they do not possess suitable fastening materials, it is conceivable to form holes in both the cover and the case for both screws and string-like fastening materials.

However, by forming both screw holes and string-like fastening holes in the cover and case, the area of the hole formed within the covered region becomes larger, potentially preventing the placement of necessary functional components or requiring the device to be larger in order to accommodate them.

The present invention aims to provide a housing that allows for increased options for components that can secure the cover while preventing an increase in the overall size of the device.

The housing according to the present invention comprises a case and a cover that covers a first region of the case. The case has a first hole formed in the first region and having internal threads, a second hole connecting a second region not covered by the cover to the first hole, and a guide plate provided inside the second hole. The cover has a third hole that overlaps the first hole while covering the first region, and the guide plate has a guide surface facing the entrance side of the first hole that is inclined toward the second hole.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a housing that allows for an increased selection of components for securing the cover while preventing an increase in the overall size of the device.

This is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of an electronic device equipped with a housing according to Embodiment 1. This is a partially enlarged front view of section A shown in Figure 1. This is a magnified front view of section A shown in Figure 1, with the cover removed. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the housing cut along the line B-B. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the housing cut along the line B-B, illustrating the use of screws for fastening. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the housing cut along the line B-B, illustrating the use of screws for fastening. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the enclosure cut along the line B-B, illustrating the use of wire locks for fastening. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the enclosure cut along the line B-B, illustrating the use of wire locks for fastening. This is a close-up front view of the third hole into which the cable tie is inserted.

A housing according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[Embodiment 1]
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of an electronic device equipped with a housing according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is a partially enlarged front view showing an enlarged portion A in Figure 1. The electronic device 1 is, for example, a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). The electronic device 1 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 includes a case 20 and a cover 30. The case 20 is box-shaped and constitutes the outer shell of the electronic device 1. Electronic components and the like, which are not shown, are housed inside the case 20.

Figure 3 is a magnified front view of portion A shown in Figure 1, with the cover removed. The cover 30 covers a first region 20a, which is a part of the outer surface of the case 20. In Embodiment 1, the first region 20a is located on the front surface of the housing 10.

The first area 20a is equipped with switches such as a power switch 21 for switching the power of the electronic device 1 on and off, and a reset switch 22 for resetting the operation of the electronic device 1, as well as functional components such as an insertion slot 23 for inserting an external storage device. Most of the functional components in the first area 20a are operated when the electronic device is started up or during maintenance. If these functional components are accidentally operated during normal operation, it may cause malfunctions in the operation of the electronic device. Therefore, the first area 20a is covered by a cover 30, and the cover 30 is fixed to the case 20 so that it cannot be easily removed.

Next, the structure and method for fixing the cover 30 to the case 20 will be described. As shown in Figure 3, a first hole 24 is formed in the first region 20a of the case 20.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the housing cut along the line B-B shown in Figure 2. An internal thread is formed on the inner surface of the first hole 24. The internal thread may be formed directly in the case 20, or it may be formed by embedding a nut.

A plate-shaped guide plate 25 is formed inside the first hole 24 to block the hole. The side of the guide plate 25 facing the entrance side of the first hole 24 is the guide surface 25a. The guide plate 25 is made of a hard material and is thin enough to break when pressed. The function of the guide surface 25a will be explained in detail later. The case 20 and the guide plate 25 are made of, for example, resin.

Two first grooves 24a are formed on the outer edge of the first hole 24. The first grooves 24a are positioned opposite each other, with the center of the first hole 24 in the center, when viewed from the front. The front view in this embodiment can also be described as viewing the case 20 along the central axis of the first hole 24. The first grooves 24a extend from the front surface of the case 20 toward the inside of the first hole 24, then curve toward the bottom surface to reach the second hole 26.

The case 20 has a second hole 26 that connects the first hole 24 to a second region 20b, which is an area of the outer surface of the case 20 not covered by the cover 30. In other words, the second region 20b is a different region from the first region 20a. In this embodiment, the second region 20b is the bottom surface of the case 20.

The guide surface 25a of the guide plate 25, which is installed inside the first hole 24, is formed to be inclined toward the second hole 26.

The cover 30 has a third hole 31 that overlaps with the first hole 24 when the cover 30 covers the first region 20a. Two second grooves 31a are formed on the outer edge of the third hole 31. The second grooves 31a are positioned opposite each other in a front view, straddling the center of the third hole 31. The second grooves 31a are formed to penetrate both the front and back surfaces of the cover 30. Furthermore, the second grooves 31a are formed to overlap with the first groove 24a when the cover 30 covers the first region 20a.

Next, the method for fixing the cover 30 to the case 20 will be described. In the electronic device 1 equipped with the housing 10 according to Embodiment 1, fixing can be performed using screws or using a string-like fastening member.

Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of the housing cut along the line B-B shown in Figure 2, illustrating the use of screws for fastening.

As shown in Figure 5, when fixing with a screw 41, with the first region 20a covered by the cover 30, the screw 41 is inserted into the third hole 31 of the cover 30. The tip of the screw 41 contacts the guide surface 25a of the guide plate 25 inside the first hole 24. Here, as shown in Figure 6, by pushing the screw 41 further, it can be inserted deeper, piercing the guide plate 25. When the screw 41 is screwed in, the external threads formed on the screw 41 and the internal threads formed in the first hole 24 engage, fixing the cover 30 to the case 20.

A wire lock is an example of a string-like fastening member. Figures 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of the housing cut along the line B-B shown in Figure 2, illustrating the fastening method using a wire lock.

As shown in Figure 7, when using the wire lock 42 for fastening, with the first area 20a covered by the cover 30, one end of the wire lock 42 is inserted into the third hole 31 of the cover 30. One end of the wire lock 42 contacts the guide surface 25a of the guide plate 25 inside the first hole 24. Because the wire lock 42 is flexible, pushing it in causes one end of the wire lock 42 to move along the guide surface 25a and enter the second hole 26, as shown in Figure 8. Then, one end of the wire lock 42 protrudes from the opening on the bottom side of the second hole in the case 20. By fixing the one end of the wire lock 42 that protrudes from the second hole 26 to the other end that protrudes from the first hole 24, the cover 30 is fixed to the case 20.

Cable ties are also exemplified as string-like fastening members. Figure 9 is a partially enlarged front view of the third hole into which a cable tie is inserted. The cable tie 43 is a member formed from a thin sheet of resin into a string shape. As shown in Figure 9, even if the width of the cable tie 43 is larger than the diameters of the third hole 31, the first hole 24, and the second hole 26, the second groove 31a and the first groove 24a allow the cable tie 43 to be inserted into the third hole 31, the first hole 24, and the second hole 26. Furthermore, the cable tie 43 inserted into the third hole 31 is guided by the first groove 24a and the second groove 31a and pops out of the second hole 26. In this state, the cover 30 is fixed to the case 2 by inserting one end of the cable tie 43 into the retaining part formed at the other end.

Furthermore, if the width of the cable tie 43 is smaller than the diameters of the third hole 31, the first hole 24, and the second hole 26, it will not fit into the second groove 31a and the first groove 24a, and therefore will not be guided by the second groove 31a and the first groove 24a to protrude from the second hole 26. However, since one end of the cable tie 43 contacts the guide surface 25a of the guide plate 25, similar to the wire lock 42, the one end is guided by the guide surface 25a and protrudes from the second hole 26. Therefore, even if the width of the cable tie 43 is smaller than the diameters of the third hole 31, the first hole 24, and the second hole 26, the cover 30 can still be fixed to the case 2. Furthermore, if it is anticipated that cable ties with a width smaller than the diameters of the third hole 31, the first hole 24, and the second hole 26 will be used, the first groove 24a and the second groove 24b may not be formed.

As described above, in the housing 10 according to this embodiment, the cover 30 can be fixed with a screw 41 or a string-like fastening member by utilizing the single first hole 24 formed in the first region 20a of the case 20. Therefore, while increasing the options for the fastening members used to secure the cover 30, the area occupied by the holes for securing the cover 30 in the first region 20a can be reduced compared to the case where separate holes for securing with a screw 41 and holes for securing with a string-like fastening member are provided in the first region 20a. This prevents the number of functional parts provided in the first region 20a from being limited due to separate holes for securing the cover 30, and prevents the first region 20a from being enlarged and the housing 10 from becoming larger due to separate holes for securing the necessary functional parts and the cover.

Furthermore, a guide plate 25 is formed inside the first hole 24, and the guide plate 25 is provided with a guide surface 25a that is inclined toward the second hole 26. Therefore, one end of the fastening member can be advanced toward the exit of the second hole 26, ensuring that it reliably protrudes to the outside through the second hole 26. This makes it possible to easily fasten using a string-like fastening member.

Furthermore, since the guide plate 25 can be pierced by the tip of the screw 41, the presence of the guide plate 25 does not interfere with the fixing using the screw 41.

Furthermore, since the second groove 31a and the first groove 24a are formed in the third hole 31 and the first hole 24, the cover 30 can be secured using a cable tie 43 with a width larger than the diameter of the third hole 31 and the first hole 24.

Furthermore, since the first groove 24a extends to the bottom end of the second hole 26, the cable tie 43 fitted into the first groove 24a is guided by the first groove 24a and reliably ejected from the second hole 26.

Furthermore, the formation of a second groove 31a in the third hole 31 of the cover 30 makes it easier for an operator attempting to secure the cover 30 to visually understand that it can also be secured with a cable tie 43.

Furthermore, if the diameters of the first hole 24 and the second hole 26 are greater than the distance D between the bottoms of the second groove 31a formed in the third hole 31, then it is not necessary to form the first groove 24a in the first hole 24.

Furthermore, in Embodiment 1, the second region 20b is the bottom surface of the case 20, but it is not limited to the bottom surface as long as it is adjacent to the surface on which the first region 20a is formed. For example, if the first region 20a is provided on the front surface, as in the housing 10 of this embodiment, the surface on which the second region 20b, where the second hole 26 is formed, is provided may be a side surface or the top surface.

〔others〕
Some examples of the combinations of technical features that will be disclosed are listed below.

(1) A housing comprising a case and a cover that covers a first region of the case, wherein the case has a first hole formed in the first region and having internal threads, a second hole connecting a second region not covered by the cover to the first hole, and a guide plate provided inside the second hole; the cover has a third hole that overlaps with the first hole while covering the first region, and the guide plate has a surface facing the entrance side of the first hole that is inclined toward the second hole.

(2) The housing according to (1), wherein the edges of the first hole are formed at positions opposite to each other, when viewed along the central axis of the first hole, with respect to the center of the first hole.

(3) The housing according to (1), wherein a second groove is formed on the edge of the third hole at positions opposite to each other, when viewed along the central axis of the third hole, with respect to the center of the third hole.

(4) The housing according to (2), wherein a second groove is formed on the edge of the third hole at positions opposite to each other on either side of the center of the third hole when viewed along the central axis of the third hole, and the first groove and the second groove overlap when viewed along the central axis of the third hole.

(5) The housing according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the first region is provided on the front of the case and the second region is provided on the bottom of the case.

1 Electronic device 10 Enclosure 20 Case 20a First area 20b Second area 21 Power switch 22 Reset switch 23 Insertion slot 24 First hole 24a First groove 25 Guide plate 25a Guide surface 26 Second hole 30 Cover 31 Third hole 31a Second groove 41 Screw 42 Wire lock 43 Cable tie

Claims (5)

The case and,
A housing comprising a cover that covers a first area of the case,
The case is formed with a first hole in the first region and having internal threads, a second hole connecting the first hole to a second region not covered by the cover, and a guide plate provided inside the second hole.
The cover has a third hole formed therein that overlaps with the first hole while covering the first region.
The aforementioned guide plate is a housing in which the guide surface facing the entrance side of the first hole is inclined toward the second hole. The housing according to claim 1, wherein a first groove is formed on the edge of the first hole at positions opposite to each other, when viewed along the central axis of the first hole, with respect to the center of the first hole. The housing according to claim 1, wherein a second groove is formed on the edge of the third hole at positions opposite to each other, when viewed along the central axis of the third hole, with respect to the center of the third hole. A second groove is formed on the edge of the third hole at positions that are opposite to each other on either side of the center of the third hole when viewed along the central axis of the third hole.
The housing according to claim 2, wherein the first groove and the second groove overlap when viewed along the central axis of the third hole. The first region is provided on the front of the case,
The housing according to claim 1, wherein the second region is provided on the bottom surface of the case.