KEYCAP FORMING METHOD

• US 20190315030A1
• Filed: 06/25/2018
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Chou, Yi-Te, Li, Che-An
• Granted Patent: US 10,960,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0441 involving a rotational movement B29C45/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14549 Coating rod-like, wire-like or belt-like articles B29C45/14426 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7676 Keyboards keypads, keytops B29L2031/466

Abstract

A keycap forming method includes the following steps. Firstly, a stabilizer bar is fixed on a first male mold. Then, a keycap is formed through a second male mold and a female mold according to an injection molding process. Then, the second male mold and the female mold are separated from each other, so that the keycap is fixed on the female mold. Then, the first male mold and the female mold are stacked on each other, so that the stabilizer bar and the keycap are combined together. Then, the first male mold and the female mold are separated from each other. Consequently, the stabilizer bar is detached from the first male mold. By using the keycap forming method, it is not necessary to manually assemble the stabilizer bar with the keycap.

Claims

1. A keycap forming method, comprising steps of:

(A) fixing a stabilizer bar on a first male mold;

(B) forming a keycap through a second male mold and a female mold according to an injection molding process;

(C) separating the second male mold from the female mold, so that the keycap is fixed on the female mold;

(D) allowing the first male mold and the female mold are aligned with and stacked on each other, so that the stabilizer bar and the keycap are combined together; and

(E) separating the first male mold from the female mold, so that the stabilizer bar is detached from the first male mold.

2. The keycap forming method according to claim 1, wherein the step (A) comprises steps of:

(A1) moving the stabilizer bar to the first male mold; and

(A2) fixing the stabilizer bar on plural fixing structures of the first male mold.

3. The keycap forming method according to claim 2, wherein the step (E) comprises steps of:

(E1) separating the first male mold from the female mold; and

(E2) allowing the plural fixing structures to be shrunk back into the first male mold to externally push the stabilizer bar, so that the stabilizer bar is detached from the plural fixing structures and fixed on the keycap.

4. The keycap forming method according to claim 2, wherein the step (E) comprises steps of:

(E1) separating the first male mold from the female mold; and

(E3) using a first ejecting mechanism of the first male mold to push the stabilizer bar, so that the stabilizer bar is detached from the plural fixing structures and fixed on the keycap.

5. The keycap forming method according to claim 1, wherein in the step (C), the keycap is pushed by a second ejecting mechanism of the second male mold, so that the keycap is detached from the second male mold and fixed on the female mold.

6. The keycap forming method according to claim 1, wherein the step (B) comprises steps of:

(B1) allowing the second male mold and the female mold to be stacked on each other; and

(B2) injecting a molding material into a space between the second male mold and the female mold according to the injection molding process, so that the keycap is formed, wherein when the molding material is filled into a recess of the second male mold, a hook of the keycap is formed.

7. The keycap forming method according to claim 6, wherein in the step (E), a first segment of the stabilizer bar is fixed in the hook of the keycap, and a second segment of the stabilizer bar is fixed on the plural fixing structures of the first male mold.

8. The keycap forming method according to claim 6, wherein in the step (B), the second male mold is moved in a first direction through a moving mechanism, so that the second male mold and the female mold are stacked on each other, wherein in the step (C), the second male mold is moved in a second direction through the moving mechanism, so that the second male mold and the female mold are separated from each other.

9. The keycap forming method according to claim 1, wherein the step (D) comprises steps of:

(D1) moving the first male mold and the second male mold, so that the second male mold is away from the female mold and the first male mold is close to the female mold; and

(D2) allowing the first male mold and the female mold to be aligned with each other, moving the first male mold, and allowing the first male mold and the female mold to be stacked on each other.

10. The keycap forming method according to claim 9, wherein in the step (D1), a moving mechanism is rotated in a rotating direction, and the first male mold and the second male mold are correspondingly rotated with the moving mechanism, so that the second male mold is away from the female mold and the first male mold is close to the female mold.