JPH0670803B2 - Card connector with ejector - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a card connector such as an IC memory card having an ejector that has improved durability against repeated use and has a reduced thickness.

[Prior Art] When connecting a conventional card with a contact, insert the card into a guide frame having a contact at the back, and when removing the card, grasp the card portion protruding from the guide frame and pull it out. Was there. However, since it is required to increase the number of contacts in recent years, the distance between the contacts and the size of the contacts are reduced, and if the precision is increased, the accident of causing the deformation of the contacts due to the twist of the card when taking out the card has occurred.

Therefore, it has been considered to prevent the card from being twisted by lengthening the guide frame. However,
If the guide frame is made too long, when the card is pushed in, the portion accommodated in the guide frame becomes large, and there is no grasping portion for pulling out when the card is taken out.

Therefore, a connector as shown in Fig. 11 was developed with an eject function for taking out the card that was mostly stored in the guide frame. The connector shown in FIG. 11 is provided with a terminal portion 58 (the connecting portion of the terminal with the card is not shown in the figure) for connecting with the terminal of the card at the rear end of the guide frame into which the card 50 is inserted. An eject button 53 'is installed so that it can be pushed along one side of the guide frame. In order to transmit the pushing motion of the eject button 53 ', one end is linked to the shaft 81 of the guide frame 51' located on the side opposite to the eject button 53 ', and the other end is linked to the rear portion of the eject button 53'. A lever 55 'is provided. Engagement portions 68, 6 that engage with the rear edge of the card 50 and push out are provided at approximately the center of the lever 55 '.
Two card ejectors 54 ', 54 "each having 8'
Are linked at their ends 82, 82 '. The card ejectors 54 ', 54 "are attached to shafts 80, 80' approximately at the center of each of the first end connected to the lever 55 'and the engaging portion 68, 68' for pushing out the card. When ejecting the card, when the eject button 53 'is pressed, the lever 55' moves in the direction away from the card, and the card ejectors 54 ', 5'are attached.
Pushing the respective first end of the 4 ", which causes the card ejectors 54 ', 54" to rotate and the ends of the engagement portions 68,68' to push the card.

However, in the above conventional technology, the eject button
When 53 'is pressed, the lever 55' moves in the direction opposite to the card removing direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, two card ejectors are provided to push out both end portions of the rear edge of the card 50. Therefore, the card is removed by two mechanisms. When the lever 55 'is pushed by the eject button 53', the lever 55 'rotates about the shaft 81 on the opposite side of the eject button of the guide frame, so that the two card ejectors which are coupled in the middle are displaced from each other.
The force given to 54 ', 54 "is not equal, and the force given to the card by the left and right card ejectors is different, so that the card is given a twisting force, which damages the connector of the small and fragile terminal, Further, since the distance between the card and the guide frame is precise, there is a problem that the card is stuck and does not come out.

In order to solve the above problems, the present inventor previously developed a card connector with an ejector described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. Heisei 2-99434. It comprises a guide frame 51 having a terminal portion 58 at the rear as shown in FIG. The guide frame 51 holds both ends of the card 50 and guides the card straight to the terminal portion. On the side of the guide frame,
A guide groove 73 for the eject button is provided, and the eject button 53 is arranged therein. It is sufficient if the guide groove 73 is provided on one side of the guide frame 51, but FIG. 12 shows an embodiment provided on both sides. Further, the guide frame guides the integrated T-shaped card ejector 54 so as not to move left and right. That is, the card ejector 54 is held by the guide frame 51 by the holding portion of the side portion being coupled to the side edge portion of the guide frame 51, and is movable in parallel with the side edge, and further has a corresponding protrusion portion. Groove the card ejector 54 and the guide frame
51 and card ejector 54
Prevents the left and right movements with respect to the guide frame 51 and allows only the forward and backward movements. Further, the lever 55 is mounted by inserting the holes formed in the lever 55 into the shaft 63 provided on the guide frame 51, the projection 69 provided on the card ejector 54, and the projection 64 provided on the eject button 53, respectively. To be The lever 55 is linked to the leg portion of the T-shaped card ejector 54 and the rear portion of the eject button 53, and is rotatably attached to the guide frame with the central portion of the lever 55 as a fulcrum.

By moving the eject button 53, the lever 55 rotates about the shaft 63 as a fulcrum with respect to the guide frame, and moves the T-shaped card ejector 54 in the card removing direction. At this time, the card ejector 54 can push out the card without twisting, without causing a lateral shift.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the card connector with an ejector described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-99434, since each component is manufactured using resin, if it is repeatedly used, the lever hole and the ejector are ejected. The engagement between the button 53 and the protrusion of the card ejector 54 was worn, resulting in looseness in the connection, resulting in poor durability.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can eject without twisting the card when removing the card as in the prior art,
Moreover, as compared with the card connector with an ejector described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-99434, the durability against repeated use is improved, there is no rattling of the connecting portion of the lever, and the card connector with an ejector is easy to assemble. The purpose is to

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a card connector according to the present invention includes a rear portion having a terminal portion, a bottom portion formed as a fixing plate for mounting the card, and the card having the terminal portion. A frame portion having a guide frame for guiding up to, an eject button, a movable plate guided by the guide frame to drive ejection of the card, a rear portion of the eject button at one end, and the fixed portion at substantially the central portion. A metal lever that is linked to a plate and is rotatably attached to the fixed plate, and has a drum-shaped hole portion at the other end that is coupled to the claw portion of the movable plate. It is made of metal, and has a rear end part that engages with the rear edge of the card and pushes out, and near the center is the drum-shaped part of the metal lever. This is achieved by a card connector with an ejector having a claw portion that meshes with the hole.

[Operation] When the eject button is pressed when the card is taken out, the metal lever, one end of which is linked to the eject button, rotates with respect to the guide frame with the center part as the fulcrum. When the metal lever rotates, the movable plate whose claw portion meshes with the hourglass-shaped hole at the other end of the lever moves in the card removing direction. The movable plate does not receive the force to move left and right due to the rotation of the lever because the claw part meshes with the drum-shaped hole part of the metal lever, and the guide frame prevents the frame from moving left and right and is taken out. Since the structure is guided in the direction, the card extruding portion can apply a uniform force parallel to the extruding direction to both rear ends of the card, and extrudes the card without twisting. Further, since the lever is made of metal, the engaging portion of the lever with the eject button and the movable plate is not worn, and durability against repeated use can be improved. Further, due to the shape of the hourglass-shaped hole, the claw portion of the movable plate is driven without rattling with respect to the rotation of the lever.

Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First
As shown in the figure, the card connector according to the present invention comprises a frame portion, an eject button 21, a metal lever 8 and a movable plate 7. Although the frame portion can be integrally formed by molding, in this embodiment, for convenience of manufacturing, the front frame provided with the fixing plate 1 formed of resin on the bottom surface and the guide frame 2 on the side portion, and the terminal portion. It is manufactured by being divided into a rear housing member 4 and a rear housing member 4. The housing member 4 is attached to the front fixing plate 1 and the guide frame 2.
It is fitted in a frame provided with and is integrally connected by elastic connection. The guide frame 2 holds and guides both ends of the card 5 and a movable plate 7 which will be described later, and is provided with guide paths 6 for eject buttons on its side portions.

As shown in FIG. 2, the metal lever 8 is provided with a shaft 20 at a substantially central portion thereof, and the shaft 20 is coupled with a shaft hole portion provided in the fixed plate so that the fixed plate has substantially the same thickness as the fixed plate. It projects at the same height. Also the shaft of the metal lever 8
Lever holding protrusions 25 and 26 for swingably attaching to a fixed plate are projected on both sides of the position where 20 is provided. In order to reduce the overall thickness of the lever holding protrusions 25 and 26, a step portion having a height approximately the same as the thickness of the fixed plate is formed on the fixed plate side. Further, the metal lever 8 has a U-shaped cutout portion 22 having a portion 23 standing on the movable plate side for link connection with the projection 9 of the eject button 21 (shown by a broken line in FIG. 1) on its side. The movable plate has claws near the end opposite to the defect 22.
An hourglass-shaped hole 10 that engages with the hole 11 is provided. When the metal lever rotates with respect to the fixed plate, the metal lever moves in an arc shape so that the end position is slightly displaced not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction. Since the claw of the metal lever is connected, the claw can freely move in the left and right direction in the drum-shaped hole, and the displacement of the end of the metal lever in the left and right direction causes the movable plate to move forward and backward without driving the movable plate to the left and right. Can be slid into. Moreover, since the edge of the hole is curved like a drum, there is no backlash between the claw and the hole when the metal lever is rotated.

Fixing plate 1 made of resin as shown in FIG.
Has a substantially rectangular hole 15 formed substantially in the center thereof corresponding to the hourglass-shaped hole 10 of the metal lever 8 (the shape of the hole 15 is not limited to a square), and the lever holding projection of the metal lever 8 is also formed. A holding part is provided for connecting the parts 25, 26 to the fixed plate 1. It suffices if the holding portion is formed on one of the left and right sides of the metal lever, but in this embodiment, if the guide paths 6 are provided on both sides, the metal lever can be installed on either the left or right side. Two are formed on the left and right. In FIG. 3, a metal lever is arranged in the holding portion on the left side of the drawing. This holding part is the shaft of the metal lever 8.
A shaft hole portion 18 for accommodating the end portion of the shaft 20 (only the right side shaft hole portion 18 which is not used in the drawing is exposed, but the shaft hole portion 18 is also provided in the portion corresponding to the left shaft 20. And a housing opening 16, 16 'for housing the lever holding projection 25, 26 so that the lever holding projection 25, 26 can be moved when the metal lever 8 rotates about the shaft hole 18. There is.
When the metal lever 8 swings around the shaft 20 as a fulcrum, the lever holding protrusions 25 and 26 can freely move in the receiving openings 16 and 16 ', but the lever holding protrusions 25 and 26 are separated from the fixed plate 1. In order to prevent this, the engaging pieces 17, 17 ′ which are constantly engaged so as to contact the upper surfaces of the end portions of the lever holding projections 25, 26 formed with the stepped portions are formed in the accommodation openings 16, 16 ′. It is formed so as to cover a part of the upper surface. The engagement piece 17 is in the front 1/4 of the front accommodation opening 16, and the engagement piece 17 'is in the rear accommodation opening 1.
6'is formed on the diagonally rearward quarter of the engaging piece 17 and has lever-holding projections 25, 26 respectively for receiving openings 16, 16 '.
The corners have been cut off to make it easier to accommodate. Further, the fixed plate 1 is provided with a spring accommodating hole 19 for arranging a metal spring for conducting the electric charge charged in the card.

As shown in FIG. 4, the movable plate 7 is provided with engaging portions 14 at both ends of the rear portion for engaging and pushing out the rear edge of the card.
Further, the movable plate 7 is provided with a claw portion 11 which is cut and raised near the center so as to mesh with the hourglass-shaped hole portion 10 of the metal lever 8. Further, the movable plate 7 comes into contact with a card inserted in the rear of the central portion and the card is charged. It is provided with a leaf spring 12 (see FIG. 5) bent to the card side for conducting the generated electric charge. The opening portions are provided so as not to adversely affect the mobility of the movable plate by the engaging pieces 17 and 17 'of the fixed plate protruding with respect to the sliding surface.
13 is provided on the movable plate 7 so as to accommodate the engaging pieces 17, 17 '.

Next, a method for assembling the card connector with eject of the present invention will be described. The eject button 21 is inserted into the guide path 6 provided on the side portion of the guide frame 2. After that, as shown in FIG. 3, the U-shaped cutout 22 of the metal lever 8 is linked to the projection (not shown) of the eject button 21, and the shaft 20 is rotated to the shaft hole 18 of the fixing plate. The lever holding protrusion 2 of the metal lever 8 so that it can be housed as much as possible.
Fit 5,26 in the receiving openings 16,16 '. At this time, the metal lever 8 is rotated to move the lever holding protrusion 2 under the engaging pieces 17, 17 '.
When 5, 5 are moved, the engaging pieces 17, 17 'and the protrusions 25, 26 are engaged with each other, and the eject button 21 and the metal lever 8 are simultaneously attached to the fixed plate. At this time, the positions of the hourglass-shaped hole portion 10 of the metal lever 8 and the hole portion 15 of the fixed plate substantially correspond to each other. In addition, the spring 27
(See FIG. 5). Next, the movable plate 7 is inserted into the frame portion so that the engaging portion 14 for pushing out the card stands up on the side opposite to the fixed plate side. The movable plate 7 can be inserted straight by the guide frame 2 without being displaced left and right. As shown in FIG. 1, the inserted claw portion 11 of the movable plate 7 meshes with the hourglass-shaped hole 10 of the metal lever 8. Therefore, when the eject button 21 is moved and the metal lever 8 linked to the eject button rotates with respect to the fixed plate, the movable plate 7 does not rattle due to the special shape of the hourglass-shaped hole 10, Allows only back-and-forth movement without moving left or right with respect to the fixed plate. As shown in FIG. 5, the elasticity of the spring 27 accommodated in the spring accommodating hole 19 causes the movable plate 7 to move upward.
Board with card connector installed on and below
Press on 28.

With the above-described structure, the movable plate 7 moves the eject button 21 to rotate the metal lever 8 with respect to the fixed plate, and at the same time blocks the lateral movement with respect to the fixed plate and allows only the forward / backward insertion / removal movement. . Therefore, since no unbalanced force acts on the card, it is not twisted. Further, the static electricity charged in the card inserted in the card connector is conducted to the leaf spring 12 of the movable plate, transmitted through the movable plate 7 and flows to the substrate 28 via the spring 30, so that the card is protected from the static electricity.

As a second embodiment, the fixing plate as shown in FIG. 6 can be made of metal. In that case, as shown in FIG. 7, the fixing plate 30 made of metal is used.
Are integrated by caulking with a guide frame 31 molded with resin. The eject button 21 is inserted into the guide path 6 provided on the side portion of the guide frame.
As shown in FIG. 8, the inserted end of the eject button 21 is linked to the metal lever 32 by press fitting the rivet 33. The parts shown in FIG. 8 are shown with the eject button 21 not inserted in the guide path 6 for the sake of clarity in explaining the respective connections. As shown in FIG. 9, the metal lever 32 is rotatably connected to the metal fixing plate 30 by caulking the rivet with the metal rivet 34. The hourglass-shaped hole 10 is formed at one end of the metal lever 32 as in the first embodiment. The movable plate 7'is inserted on the fixed plate 30 to which the metal lever 32 is rotatably attached, and the hourglass-shaped hole portion 10 and the claw portion 11 are formed as in the first embodiment.
Are engaged by engaging with each other. Fixed plate 30
Since the movable plate 7'and the movable plate 7'are made of metal, it is possible to easily electrically connect the two by means such as a leaf spring, and the static electricity charged on the card is transmitted to the movable plate 7'and moved. It conducts to the fixed plate 30 connected to the plate. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to provide means such as the spring 27 of the first embodiment.

In addition, by providing a groove in the vertical direction on the eject button inserted in the guide path, by accommodating a spring in the groove in the vertical direction and fixing a part of the spring to the guide frame,
It is also possible to automatically return the eject button to the protruding position and reduce the backlash when operating between the respective parts.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 10A, engaging portions that engage with the rear edge of the card of the movable plate and push it out may be provided on both sides behind the movable plate. In this case, the card to be inserted into the card connector as shown in FIG. 10B has a recess 41 formed on the rear side. The engaging portion 40 cuts and raises both rear side portions of the movable plate, and engages the front portion of the cut and raised portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the card is inserted so as to engage with the front end portion of the recess 41 of the card. It is formed by bending 90 degrees. In this second embodiment, the card is placed on the front and back and / or
Alternatively, when the front and back are inserted reversely, the engaging portion 40 and the edge of the card collide with each other, which is effective in preventing the reverse insertion of the card. Although the leaf spring 12 is not formed on the movable plate in FIG. 10A, it is of course possible to provide the leaf spring 12 as described above.

[Advantages of the Invention] With the configuration of the present invention as described above, the left and right movements when the card is taken out are blocked, the card can be ejected without being twisted, and the lever is made of metal. It is possible to provide a card connector with an ejector in which the engaging portions of the lever, the eject button, and the movable plate are not worn, and which has improved durability against repeated use. Moreover, the structure thereof is simple and easy to assemble.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a card connector with an ejector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 (a) is a top view of the metal lever in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 (b) is a sectional view taken along line aa in FIG. 2 (a). FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an assembled state of the card connector with a card ejector shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a top view of the movable plate in FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line aa in FIG. FIG. 6 is a front view of a card connector with an ejector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining the assembling of the fixing plate and the guide frame shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view for explaining the assembly of the eject button and the metal lever shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining the assembly of the fixing plate and the metal lever shown in FIG. 10A and 10B are top views of a movable plate and a card used at that time in another embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a front view of a conventional card connector with an ejector. FIG. 12 is a front view of a card connector with an ejector described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-99434. 1,30 …… Fixing plate, 2 …… Guide frame, 3 ……
Terminal part, 4 …… Housing member, 5 …… Card, 7 ……
Movable plate, 8 ... Metal lever, 10 ... Hourglass hole, 11
...... Claws, 12 ...... Leaf springs, 14,40 ...... Engagement parts, 15 ......
Hole, 19 ... Spring receiving hole, 21 ... Eject button, 27 ... Spring, 34 ... Metal rivet, 41 ... Recess.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A frame part having a rear part having a terminal part, a bottom part formed as a fixing plate for mounting a card, a guide frame for guiding the card to the terminal part, and an eject button. A movable plate guided by a guide frame to drive ejection of the card, one end of which is a rear portion of the eject button, and approximately the center of which is linked to the fixed plate and is rotatably attached to the fixed plate. And a metal lever having a drum-shaped hole formed at the other end for coupling with a claw portion of the movable plate, wherein the movable plate is made of metal, and the rear both ends are engaged with the rear edge of the card. A card connector with an ejector, which has a portion to be pushed out and has a claw portion that meshes with the hourglass-shaped hole portion of the metal lever near the center. 2. The card connector with an ejector according to claim 1, wherein the movable plate comprises a leaf spring bent toward the card at the rear of the central portion. 3. The fixing plate is formed of resin, the fixing plate is provided with at least one hole, and a metal spring for conducting the electric charge charged in the card is arranged in the hole. The card connector with an ejector according to 1 or 2. 4. The fixing plate is made of metal and is caulked to the side of the guide frame, and the metal lever is rotatable with the fixing plate by caulking the rivet with a metal rivet. The card connector with an ejector according to claim 1 or 2, which is connected. 5. A portion of the movable plate that engages with a card and pushes out a rear side portion of the movable plate,
The front part of this cut-and-raised part is formed by bending 90 ° inward perpendicular to the direction in which the card is inserted, and this part engages with the front end part of the recess formed on the rear side part of the card. The card connector with an ejector according to claim 1.