Patent Publication Number: US-11380504-B2

Title: Relay with card made from resin

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is the U.S. National Phase of International Application No. PCT/JP2019/005932, filed on Feb. 18, 2019. This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-060045, filed Mar. 27, 2018. The contents of those applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a relay. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There is known a relay that opens and closes a contact by operating a card with a drive unit and pressing a movable contact piece with the card. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-160325A discloses a relay in which the card is disposed between an armature and the movable contact piece. When the armature is operated by electromagnetic force generated from a coil, the operation of the armature is transmitted to the movable contact piece via the card. 
     SUMMARY 
     When the card is made from resin, resin shavings are generated due to abrasion of the card by contact with the movable contact piece. When the resin shavings reach the contact by coming around behind the movable contact piece, there is a possibility that the contact may have a contact failure. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a relay with a card made from resin that can suppress an occurrence of contact failure due to resin shavings. 
     The relay according to one aspect comprises a fixed terminal, a fixed contact, a movable contact piece, a movable contact, a card, and a drive unit. The fixed contact is connected to the fixed terminal. The movable contact piece is disposed to face the fixed terminal. The movable contact is connected to the movable contact piece and is disposed to face the fixed contact. The card is made from resin and presses the movable contact piece to operate the movable contact piece. The drive unit generates a driving force for operating the card. 
     The card includes a first pressing portion and a second pressing portion. The first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are configured to contact the movable contact piece and press the movable contact piece. The second pressing portion is disposed apart from the first pressing portion in a width direction of the movable contact piece. The first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are disposed inside side edges of the movable contact piece in the width direction respectively. 
     In the relay according to this aspect, the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are disposed inside the side edges of the movable contact piece in the width direction respectively. Resin shavings generated by the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion contacting with the movable contact piece can easily pass through the sides of the movable contact piece to reach the contact side. Since the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are arranged as described above, it becomes difficult for resin shavings to reach the contact side through the sides of the movable contact piece. As a result, it is possible to suppress an occurrence of contact failure due to resin shavings. 
     The drive unit may include a coil and an armature. The armature may be operated by electromagnetic force generated from the coil to operate the card. The card may further include a central contact portion disposed at a center of the card in the width direction. The central contact portion may have a shape that is convexly curved toward the armature and may be pressed against the armature. In this case, the card comes into contact with the armature at one point in the central contact portion, whereas it comes into contact with the movable contact piece at two points of the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion. This can improve stability of operation. 
     The central contact portion may contact the armature at a location between the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion in the width direction. In this case, the stability of operation can be further improved. 
     A tip of the first pressing portion may have a shape that is convexly curved toward the movable contact piece. A tip of the second pressing portion may have a shape that is convexly curved toward the movable contact piece. In this case, the movable contact piece can be stably pressed by the tip of the first pressing portion and the tip of the second pressing portion. 
     The card may include a card body and the contact part. The card body may be disposed between the drive unit and the movable contact piece. The contact part may extend from the card body toward the movable contact piece. The first pressing portion and the second pressing portion may be disposed at the tip of the contact part. The card body may have a larger width than a width between an outer lateral end of the first pressing portion and an outer lateral end of the second pressing portion. In this case, since the card body is large in the width direction, an insulation distance between the movable contact piece and the drive unit can be increased. 
     The first pressing portion and the second pressing portion may contact a surface of the movable contact piece to press the movable contact piece. In this case, the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion come into contact with the surface of the movable contact piece to cause abrasion. This allows the effect of suppressing the occurrence of poor contact due to resin shavings to become more significant. 
     The card may include a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion may protrude toward the movable contact piece and may be connected to the movable contact piece. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion may be disposed outside the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion in the width direction. In this case, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion can suppress wobbling of the card in the width direction with respect to the movable contact piece. As a result, the movable contact piece can be stably pressed by the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion. 
     The card may further include a first recess and a second recess. The first recess may be disposed between the first pressing portion and the first connecting portion. The second recess may be disposed between the second pressing portion and the second connecting portion. In this case, resin shavings generated from the first pressing portion can be released through the first recess. Similarly, resin shavings generated from the second pressing portion can be released through the second recess. Therefore, it is possible to prevent resin shavings from reaching the contact side through the sides of the movable contact piece. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of contact failure due to resin shavings. 
     The card may further include a recess located between the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion. In this case, it is possible to prevent a portion of the card between the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion from contacting the movable contact piece. As a result, it is possible to prevent the card from coming into contact with the central portion of the movable contact piece in the width direction where the temperature becomes high. Accordingly, the relay can suppress wear of the card due to heat from the movable contact piece. 
     According to the present invention, the relay including a card made from resin can suppress an occurrence of contact failure due to resin shavings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a relay according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the relay. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the relay. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a card. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the card. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the card. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged front view of the relay. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the relay showing an armature. 
         FIG. 9  shows a part of a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3  taken along line IX-IX. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the relay showing a movable contact piece. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the movable contact piece. 
         FIG. 12  shows the movable contact piece. 
         FIG. 13  shows the movable contact piece. 
         FIG. 14  shows a fixed terminal. 
         FIG. 15  shows the fixed terminal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, an example of the relay according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.  FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views showing a relay  1  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a front view of the relay  1 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the relay  1  includes a fixed contact unit  2 , a movable contact unit  3 , a drive unit  4 , a card  5 , a base  6 , and a case  7 . In  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the case  7  is illustrated in cross section. In  FIG. 2 , the case  7  is not shown. 
     The fixed contact unit  2  includes a fixed terminal  11  and a fixed contact  12 . The fixed terminal  11  and the fixed contact  12  are made of a conductive material. The fixed contact  12  is attached to the fixed terminal  11 . The fixed terminal  11  is supported by the base  6 . One end of the fixed terminal  11  projects from the base  6  to the outside of the relay  1 . The other end of the fixed terminal  11  is located inside the case  7 , where the fixed contact  12  is attached. 
     The movable contact unit  3  includes a movable contact piece  13  and a movable contact  14 . The movable contact piece  13  and the movable contact  14  are made of a conductive material. The movable contact piece  13  is supported by the base  6 . One end of the movable contact piece  13  projects from the base  6  to the outside of the relay  1 . The other end of the movable contact piece  13  is located inside the case  7 , where the movable contact  14  is attached. The movable contact piece  13  is made of an elastic material. The movable contact piece  13  is disposed between the fixed terminal  11  and the drive unit  4 . The movable contact piece  13  is disposed to face the fixed terminal  11 . The movable contact  14  is disposed to face the fixed contact  12 . 
     In the following description, the direction in which the movable contact piece  13  extends from the base  6  is referred to as “upward” and its opposite direction is referred to as “downward” in the case  7 . Further, the width direction means a direction orthogonal to a plate thickness direction and an up-down direction of the movable contact piece  13 , which is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of  FIG. 3 . However, the definitions of these directions are used for convenience of description, and do not limit the orientation of the relay  1  and such other orientations. 
     The drive unit  4  generates a driving force for operating the card  5 . The drive unit  4  is supported by the base  6 . The drive unit  4  includes a coil  21 , a bobbin  22 , an iron core  23 , a yoke  24 , and an armature  18 . The coil  21  is wound around the bobbin  22 . The axis of the coil  21  extends in the up-down direction. The coil  21  is connected to the coil terminals  19   a  and  19   b . The coil terminals  19   a  and  19   b  are supported by the bobbin  22 . The iron core  23  is inserted in the bobbin  22 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the yoke  24  has an L-shaped bent. The yoke  24  is connected to the iron core  23 . Specifically, the yoke  24  has a yoke bottom  25  and a yoke side  26 . The yoke bottom  25  is disposed below the coil  21 . The lower end portion of the iron core  23  projects downward from the bobbin  22 , and the yoke bottom  25  is connected to the lower end portion of the iron core  23 . The yoke side  26  is disposed on a side of the coil  21 . The yoke side  26  extends in the up-down direction. 
     The armature  18  is rotatably supported on the upper end of the yoke  24 . The armature  18  operates by electromagnetic force generated from the coil  21 . Specifically, the armature  18  is rotatably supported on the upper end of the yoke side  26 . The armature  18  has an L-shaped bent. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the armature  18  includes a first portion  27 , a second portion  28 , and a third portion  29 . The first portion  27  is disposed above the iron core  23 . The first portion  27  is disposed to face the iron core  23 . The second portion  28  is disposed to face the card  5 . The third portion  29  is disposed between the first portion  27  and the second portion  28 . The armature  18  has a bent shape at the third portion  29 . 
     A hinge spring  31  is attached to the armature  18  and the yoke  24 . The hinge spring  31  is made of an elastic material. The hinge spring  31  biases the armature  18  in a direction in which the first portion  27  contacts the iron core  23 . 
     The base  6  is made of an insulating material. The base  6  is made from resin. However, the base  6  may be formed of a material other than resin. The base  6  supports the fixed contact unit  2 , the movable contact unit  3 , and the drive unit  4 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the case  7  is put on the base  6 . The case  7  is made of an insulating material. The case  7  is made from resin. However, the case  7  may be formed of a material other than resin. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the case  7  has a wall  61 . The wall  61  is disposed between the armature  18  and the card  5 . The wall  61  is formed integrally with the case  7 . However, the wall  61  may be separate from the case  7 . 
     The card  5  is disposed between the drive unit  4  and the movable contact piece  13 . The card  5  transmits the operation of the armature  18  to the movable contact piece  13 . The card  5  is made from resin.  FIGS. 4 and 5  are perspective views of the card  5 .  FIG. 6  is a top view of the card  5 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the card  5  includes a card body  41 , a first contact part  42 , and a second contact part  43 . 
     The card body  41  has a plate-like shape extending in the up-down direction. The card body  41  includes a first card protrusion  411  and a second card protrusion  412 . The first card protrusion  411  and the second card protrusion  412  protrude from the card body  41  toward the drive unit  4 . The first card protrusion  411  and the second card protrusion  412  extend in the up-down direction. The first card protrusion  411  and the second card protrusion  412  are disposed along and on both side edges of the card body  41  respectively. 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged front view of the relay showing a structure around the card. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the card body  41  is disposed between the movable contact piece  13  and the second portion  28  of the armature  18 . The first contact part  42  extends from the card body  41  toward the armature  18 . The first contact part  42  is disposed to face the second portion  28  of the armature  18 . The first contact part  42  is connected to the second portion  28  of the armature  18 . The second contact part  43  is disposed to face the movable contact piece  13 . The second contact part  43  is connected to the movable contact piece  13 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the first contact part  42  includes a central contact portion  44 , a first extending portion  45 , and a second extending portion  46 . The first extending portion  45  is disposed on one side of the central contact portion  44  and extends toward the drive unit  4  further than the central contact portion  44  does. The second extending portion  46  is disposed on the other side of the central contact portion  44  and extends toward the drive unit  4  further than the central contact portion  44  does. The central contact portion  44  has a shape that is convexly curved toward the armature  18 . 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the relay  1 . In  FIG. 8 , the case  7 , the fixed contact unit  2 , the movable contact unit  3 , and the card  5  are not shown. The second portion  28  of the armature  18  includes a first recess  47 , a second recess  48  and a pressing portion  49 . The pressing portion  49  is disposed between the first recess  47  and the second recess  48 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the first extending portion  45  of the card  5  is disposed in the first recess  47 . Similarly, the second extending portion  46  of the card  5  is disposed in the second recess  48 . 
     The pressing portion  49  is disposed between the first extending portion  45  and the second extending portion  46 . The pressing portion  49  is disposed to face the central contact portion  44  of the first contact part  42 . When the armature  18  rotates so that the first portion  27  comes closer to the iron core  23 , the pressing portion  49  contacts and presses the central contact portion  44  of the first contact part  42 . This causes the operation of the armature  18  to be transmitted to the card  5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the second contact part  43  includes a first pressing portion  53 , a second pressing portion  54 , and a recess  57 . The first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  protrude from a tip of the second contact part  43  toward the movable contact piece  13 . The first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  are disposed to face the movable contact piece  13 . The first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  contact the movable contact piece  13  to press the movable contact piece  13 . 
     The first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  are disposed apart from each other in the width direction of the movable contact piece  13 . The first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  are disposed inside the side edges of the movable contact piece  13  in the width direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the width W 6  of the card body  41  is larger than the width W 7  between the outer lateral end of the first pressing portion  53  and the outer lateral end of the second pressing portion  54 . A tip of the first pressing portion  53  has a shape that is convexly curved toward the movable contact piece  13 . A tip of the second pressing portion  54  has a shape that is convexly curved toward the movable contact piece  13 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the tip of the first pressing portion  53  and the tip of the second pressing portion  54  are disposed to face the movable contact piece  13 . The first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  are not fixed with respect to the movable contact piece  13 . The tip of the first pressing portion  53  and the tip of the second pressing portion  54  contact a surface of the movable contact piece  13  to press the movable contact piece  13 . 
     The recess  57  is disposed between the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54 . The recess  57  faces a central portion of the movable contact piece  13  in the width direction. The recess  57  has a shape recessed in a direction away from the movable contact piece  13 . The recess  57  is disposed apart from the movable contact piece  13 . 
     The second contact part  43  includes a first connecting portion  55 , a second connecting portion  56 , a first recess  58 , and a second recess  59 . The first connecting portion  55  and the second connecting portion  56  protrude from the tip of the second contact part  43  toward the movable contact piece  13 . The first connecting portion  55  and the second connecting portion  56  are connected to the movable contact piece  13 . The first connecting portion  55  and the second connecting portion  56  are respectively disposed outside the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  in the width direction. The first connecting portion  55  and the second connecting portion  56  have a tubular shape. 
     The first recess  58  is disposed between the first pressing portion  53  and the first connecting portion  55 . The second recess  59  is disposed between the second pressing portion  54  and the second connecting portion  56 . The first recess  58  is disposed outside the first pressing portion  53  in the width direction. The second recess  59  is disposed outside the second pressing portion  54  in the width direction. The first recess  58  and the second recess  59  have a shape recessed in a direction away from the movable contact piece  13 . The first recess  58  and the second recess  59  are disposed apart from the movable contact piece  13 . 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the relay showing the movable contact piece  13 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the movable contact piece  13  includes a first side edge  62  and a second side edge  63 . The first side edge  62  is one edge of the movable contact piece  13  in the width direction, and the second side edge  63  is the other edge of the movable contact piece  13  in the width direction. The first side edge  62  and the second side edge  63  extend in the up-down direction. 
     The first side edge  62  includes a first receiving portion  64 . The first connecting portion  55  is connected to the first receiving portion  64 . The second side edge  63  includes a second receiving portion  65 . The second connecting portion  56  is connected to the second receiving portion  65 .  FIG. 11A  is an enlarged view of the first receiving portion  64 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11A , the first receiving portion  64  has a shape recessed from an edge of the first side edge  62 . Burring is applied to the edge of the first receiving portion  64 . The first receiving portion  64  includes a curved portion  641 , a first straight portion  642 , and a second straight portion  643 . The first connecting portion  55  is inserted in a space surrounded by the first receiving portion  64 . 
       FIG. 11B  is an enlarged view of the second receiving portion  65 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11B , the second receiving portion  65  has a shape recessed from an edge of the second side edge  63 . Burring is applied to the edge of the second receiving portion  65 . The second receiving portion  65  includes a curved portion  651 , a first straight portion  652  and a second straight portion  653 . The second connecting portion  56  is inserted in a space surrounded by the second receiving portion  65 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the widthwise distance W 1  between a center of the first connecting portion  55  and a center of the second connecting portion  56  is larger than the maximum widthwise distance W 2  between the curved portion  641  of the first receiving portion  64  and the curved portion  651  of the second receiving portion  65 . The maximum distance between the curved portion  641  of the first receiving portion  64  and the curved portion  651  of the second receiving portion  65  is a distance between the connection portion P 1  as illustrated in  FIG. 11A  and the connection portion P 2  as illustrated in  FIG. 11B , wherein the connection portion P 1  connects between the curved portion  641  and the first straight portion  642  of the first receiving portion  64 , and the connection portion P 2  connects between the curved portion  651  and the first straight portion  652  of the second receiving portion  65 . Alternatively, the maximum distance between the curved portion  641  of the first receiving portion  64  and the curved portion  651  of the second receiving portion  65  may be a distance between the connection portion P 3  as illustrated in  FIG. 11A  and the connection portion P 4  as illustrated in  FIG. 11B , wherein the connection portion P 3  connects between the curved portion  641  and the second straight portion  643  of the first receiving portion  64 , and the connection portion P 4  connects between the curved portion  651  and the second straight portion  653  of the second receiving portion  65 . 
     By setting the widthwise distance W 1  between the center of the first connecting portion  55  and the center of the second connecting portion  56  as described above, it becomes difficult for the first connecting portion  55  to contact the curved portion  641  of the first receiving portion  64 . Similarly, the second connecting portion  56  is less likely to come into contact with the curved portion  651  of the second receiving portion  65 . Therefore, abrasion of the first connecting portion  55  and the second connecting portion  56  is suppressed, and the generation of resin shavings can be suppressed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the first side edge  62  includes a first upper side edge  66  and a first lower side edge  67 . The second side edge  63  includes a second upper side edge  68  and a second lower side edge  69 . The first receiving portion  64  described above is provided at the first upper side edge  66 . The second receiving portion  65  is provided at the second upper side edge  68 . 
     The width W 3  between the first upper side edge  66  and the second upper side edge  68  is larger than the width W 4  between the first lower side edge  67  and the second lower side edge  69 . The width W 3  between the first upper side edge  66  and the second upper side edge  68  at least in a range from above the first receiving portion  64  and the second receiving portion  65  to below a center of the movable contact  14  is larger than the widthwise minimum distance W 5  between the first connecting portion  55  and the second connecting portion  56 . The widthwise minimum distance W 5  between the first connecting portion  55  and the second connecting portion  56  is a distance between an inner end  551  of the first connecting portion  55  as illustrated in  FIG. 11A  and an inner end  561  of the second connecting portion  56  as illustrated in  FIG. 11B . 
     The movable contact piece  13  having the above-described shape prevents the movable contact piece  13  from being fitted between the first connecting portion  55  and the second connecting portion  56  when the card  5  is put onto the movable contact piece  13 . This prevents the first connecting portion  55  and the second connecting portion  56  from being shaved by the edges of the movable contact piece  13 , and thus suppresses the generation of resin shavings. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show the movable contact piece  13 . As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the movable contact piece  13  includes a fixing part  71 . The fixing part  71  is inserted into a fixing hole  601  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of the base  6 . The fixing part  71  is pressed into the fixing hole  601  of the base  6  to be attached to the base  6 . When assembled, the movable contact piece  13  is pressed into the fixing hole  601  of the base  6  from a lower end  711  side of the fixing part. The fixing part  71  includes a first press-fitting portion  712  and second press-fitting portions  713 - 715 . The second press-fitting portions  713 - 715  are disposed at locations below the first press-fitting portion  712 . 
     The first press-fitting portion  712  has a larger width than a portion of the fixing part  71  of the movable contact piece  13  below the first press-fitting portion  712 . When press-fitted, the first press-fitting portion  712  contacts an inner surface of the fixing hole  601 , thereby defining a position for attaching the movable contact piece  13  in the width direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the second press-fitting portions  713 - 715  have a larger thickness than the other portion of the fixing part  71 . When press-fitted, the second press-fitting portions  713 - 715  contact the inner surface of the fixing hole  601 , thereby defining a position for attaching the movable contact piece  13  in the thickness direction. The number of second press-fitting portions  713 - 715  is not limited to three, and may be less than three or more than three. 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  show the fixed terminal  11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the fixed terminal  11  includes a fixing part  72 . The fixing part  72  is inserted into a fixing hole  602  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of the base  6 . The fixing part  72  is pressed into the fixing hole  602  of the base  6  to be attached to the base  6 . When assembled, the fixed terminal  11  is pressed into the fixing hole  602  of the base  6  from a lower end  721  side of the fixed terminal  11 . The fixing part  72  includes a first press-fitting portion  722  and second press-fitting portions  723 - 725 . The second press-fitting portions  723 - 725  are disposed at locations below the first press-fitting portion  722 . 
     The first press-fitting portion  722  has a larger width than a portion of the fixing part  72  of the fixed terminal  11  below the first press-fitting portion  722 . When press-fitted, the first press-fitting portion  722  contacts an inner surface of the fixing hole  602 , thereby defining a position for attaching the fixed terminal  11  in the width direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the second press-fitting portions  723 - 725  have a larger thickness than the other portion of the fixing part  72 . When press-fitted, the second press-fitting portions  723 - 725  contact the inner surface of the fixing hole  602 , thereby defining a position for attaching the fixed terminal  11  in the thickness direction. The number of second press-fitting portions  723 - 725  is not limited to three, and may be less than three or more than three. 
     Next, the operation of the relay  1  will be described. When the coil  21  is not energized and the drive unit  4  is demagnetized, the armature  18  is not attracted to the iron core  23 . In this state, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the movable contact  14  is separated from the fixed contact  12  by an elastic force of the movable contact piece  13 . 
     When the coil  21  is energized and the drive unit  4  is excited, the armature  18  is attracted to the iron core  23 , and rotates about the upper end of the yoke  24  in an ON direction (counterclockwise in  FIG. 7 ) against the elastic force of the movable contact piece  13 . When the armature  18  rotates in the ON direction, the pressing portion  49  of the armature  18  presses the central contact portion  44  of the card  5 . Then, the card  5  moves in the ON direction (to the right in  FIG. 7 ), whereby the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  of the card  5  press the surface of the movable contact piece  13  to bring the movable contact  14  closer to the fixed contact  12 . As a result, the movable contact  14  is pressed against and comes into contact with the fixed contact  12 . 
     On the contrary, when the coil  21  is de-energized and the drive unit  4  is demagnetized, the first portion  27  of the armature  18  rotates in an OFF direction (clockwise in  FIG. 7 ) to be separated from the iron core  23  by the elastic force of the movable contact piece  13 . When the armature  18  rotates in the OFF direction, the pressing portion  49  of the armature  18  moves in a direction away from the central contact portion  44  of the card  5 . Then, the card  5  is moved in the OFF direction (to the left in  FIG. 7 ) by the elastic force of the movable contact piece  13 , whereby the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  of the card  5  move in a direction to bring the movable contact  14  separate from the fixed contact  12 . As a result, the movable contact  14  separates from the fixed contact  12 . 
     With the relay  1  according to the present embodiment as described above, the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  are disposed inside the side edges  62  and  63  of the movable contact piece  13  in the width direction. The resin shavings generated due to contact of the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  with the movable contact piece  13  are likely to pass through the sides of the movable contact piece  13  to reach the contacts  12  and  14  side. The first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  are arranged as described above, it is possible to prevent the resin shavings from reaching the contacts  12 ,  14  side through the sides of the movable contact piece  13 . As a result, an occurrence of contact failure due to resin shavings can be suppressed. 
     In this embodiment, the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  contact a surface of the movable contact piece  13  to press the movable contact piece  13 . In this case, the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  come into contact with the surface of the movable contact piece  13 , which tends to cause abrasion. This allows the effect of suppressing the occurrence of poor contact due to resin shavings to become more significant. 
     The card  5  comes into contact with the armature  18  at one point on the central contact portion  44 , and comes into contact with the movable contact piece  13  at two points on the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54 . This can improve the stability in operation. Further, the central contact portion  44  contacts the armature  18  at a location between the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  in the width direction. Therefore, the stability of operation can be further improved. 
     The card  5  includes a recess  57  disposed between the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54 . Therefore, the card  5  can be prevented from coming into contact with the movable contact piece  13  at a portion between the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54 . As a result, it is possible to prevent the card  5  from coming into contact with a central portion of the movable contact piece  13  in the width direction where the temperature becomes high. This can prevent the card  5  from wearing due to heat from the movable contact piece  13 . 
     A tip of the first pressing portion  53  has a shape that is convexly curved toward the movable contact piece  13 . A tip of the second pressing portion  54  has a shape that is convexly curved toward the movable contact piece  13 . Therefore, the movable contact piece  13  can be stably pressed by the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54 . 
     The width W 6  of the card body  41  is larger than the width W 7  of an outer lateral end of the first pressing portion  53  and an outer lateral end of the second pressing portion  54 . Therefore, an insulation distance between the movable contact piece  13  and the drive unit  4  can be increased. 
     The first connecting portion  55  and the second connecting portion  56  of the card  5  are disposed outside the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54  in the width direction. Therefore, wobbling of the card  5  in the width direction with respect to the movable contact piece  13  can be suppressed. Accordingly, the movable contact piece  13  can be stably pressed by the first pressing portion  53  and the second pressing portion  54 . 
     The card  5  includes the first recess  58  and the second recess  59 . Therefore, resin shavings generated from the first pressing portion  53  can be released through the first recess  58 . Similarly, resin shavings generated from the second pressing portion  54  can be released through the second recess  59 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the resin shavings from reaching the contacts  12 ,  14  through the sides of the movable contact piece  13 . As a result, an occurrence of contact failure due to resin shavings can be suppressed. 
     Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     A configuration of the contact of the relay  1  is not limited to the above, and may be altered. The configuration of the fixed contact unit  2  may be altered. For example, the shape or arrangement of the fixed terminal  11  may be altered. The shape or arrangement of the first press-fitting portion  722  and the second press-fitting portions  723 - 725  of the fixed terminal  11  may be altered. 
     The configuration of the movable contact unit  3  may be altered. For example, the shape or arrangement of the movable contact piece  13  may be altered. The shape or arrangement of the first press-fitting portion  712  and the second press-fitting portions  713 - 715  of the movable contact piece  13  may be altered. The shape or arrangement of the first receiving portion  64  and the second receiving portion  65  may be altered. The first receiving portion  64  and the second receiving portion  65  may be omitted. 
     The configuration of the drive unit  4  may be altered. For example, the shape or arrangement of the coil  21  may be altered. The shape or arrangement of the armature  18  or the yoke  24  may be altered. 
     The shape or arrangement of the card  5  may be altered. For example, the shape or arrangement of the first contact part  42  and the second contact part  43  may be altered. The shape or arrangement of the first connecting portion  55  and the second connecting portion  56  may be altered. The first connecting portion  55  and the second connecting portion  56  may be omitted. 
     The shape or arrangement of the base  6  may be altered. The shape or arrangement of the case  7  may be altered. For example, the shape or arrangement of the wall  61  may be altered. The wall  61  may be omitted. 
     According to the present invention, the relay including a card made from resin can suppress an occurrence of contact failure due to resin shavings. 
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       4 : Drive unit 
       5 : Card 
       11 : Fixed terminal 
       12 : Fixed contact 
       13 : Movable contact piece 
       14 : Movable contact 
       41 : Card body 
       43 : Second contact part 
       44 : Central contact portion 
       53 : First pressing portion 
       54 : Second pressing portion 
       55 : First connecting portion 
       56 : Second connecting portion 
       57 : Recess 
       58 : First recess 
       59 : Second recess