Rotary/push operating device for a man-machine interface

Abstract

A rotary/push operating device () for a man-machine interface, in particular for an operating unit of a vehicle, comprises a manually operable rotary/push element () which can be rotated about a rotational axis () and which can be pushed down in the direction of the rotational axis (), and a rolling-body bearing () which defines the rotational axis () and which comprises a immobile bearing ring (), a movable bearing ring (), and a rolling-body cage () arranged between said bearing rings. The rotary/push element () is coupled to the movable bearing ring () in such a manner that the rotary/push element () will move together with the movable bearing ring () when, during rotation of the rotary/push element (), the movable bearing ring () rotates or is axially moved in the direction of the rotational axis (). The rolling-body cage () comprises a plurality of rolling bodies () arranged in at least one radial plane of the rolling-body cage (). The immobile bearing ring () and the movable bearing ring () form at least one circular moving channel () in which the rolling bodies (), during rotation of the rotary/push element () in the circumferential direction of the two bearing rings (), are movable with rolling movements on opposite moving tracks () of the two bearing rings (), and, when the rotary/push element () is being pushed down in the direction of the rotational axis (), can move on the moving tracks () at a right angle relative to said circumferential direction. For limiting the movement of the rotary/push element () in the direction of the rotational axis () between a base position and a push-down position, the rotary/push operating device () further comprises end abutment elements ().