JP2000147047A - Connector inspecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discriminate the quality of a locking member to be attached to a housing, and at the same time, the locking state of the member. SOLUTION: A locking member detecting means SW2 is provided to a housing holder 13 of a connector C. The detecting means SW2 detects the locking member 4 of a housing 1 which is held, when the member 4 is protruded from at least its normal attaching position. A means 40, which discriminates the connector C as a defectless connector in such a case that the locking member 4 is detected, when the locking member 4 is properly inserted by means of a pressing mechanism provided to the housing holder 13 is provided. In case the locking member 4 is pressed in excessively, therefore, the locking member detecting means SW2 detects to the effect that the locking member does not exists.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a connector inspection device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a connector to which the present invention is applied. Referring to the figure, generally, a wire harness and a subassembly that configures the wire harness (hereinafter, referred to as a subassembly)
A connector used in an electric wiring system such as a “wire assembly” has a plurality of cavities 2 formed in a resin housing 1, and the cavities 2 are connected to electric wires. Terminals (not shown) are inserted. Then, by connecting the mating connector from the opening side (front side) of the cavity 2, the terminals inserted into each connector are fitted in a state of being electrically connected. The connector and the terminal are mechanically connected by a lance type. In this lance type, a locking piece provided on one of the two is locked to a locking portion provided on the other.

Here, in order to make the connection structure between the connector and the terminal more rigid, a mounting hole 3 is provided in the housing 1, and a locking member 4 mounted in the mounting hole 3 allows the inside of each cavity 2 to be fixed. A double locking structure for double locking the terminal is widely used. In the above-mentioned connector having a so-called double locking structure, the locking member is temporarily inserted into the mounting hole 3 of the housing 1 and then the locking member 4 is fully inserted into the housing 1 using some tool. ing.

Accordingly, the present applicant has previously developed a connector inspection device having an insertion mechanism into which a locking member can be inserted, and has received registration of a utility model (No. 2,568,609). In such a configuration, when the locking member 4 is not inserted in a regular state and protrudes without engaging, a locking mechanism that locks the locking member 4 by engaging with the protruding portion of the locking member 4 includes: An insertion mechanism for pressing the projection into the housing 1 when the projection is incompletely inserted is provided.

[0005]

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a connector for explaining the object of the present invention. In the configuration according to the above-described prior art, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the locking member 4 protrudes from the housing 1, this can be detected by the lock mechanism, and furthermore, by the insertion mechanism. Incomplete insertion can be corrected.

However, as shown in FIGS. 8 (B) and 8 (C), when the locking member 4 is not inserted or when the locking member 4 is depressed, depending on the lock mechanism, the locking mechanism may be disengaged. Since the failure state of the stop member 4 cannot be detected and cannot be corrected even by the insertion mechanism, it may flow to a subsequent process. In addition, the applicant of the present application has previously described the locking member 4.
Has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-287044), but a lock mechanism that locks the mounting hole 3 of the connector is provided. It was difficult to use together with a lock mechanism for detecting a stop failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a connector inspection apparatus capable of determining whether or not there is a locking member to be mounted on a housing and whether or not the locking state is good. It is an issue.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a mounting member formed on a side wall of a housing, the locking member for double locking a terminal inserted in the housing. A housing holder for holding the housing of the connector inserted from the housing so that the housing can be inspected, and a locking member provided on the housing holder and temporarily locked to the housing held by the housing holder. As described above, in the connector inspection device provided with the pressing mechanism capable of pressing the locking member, the locking member is detected when the locking member of the held housing projects at least from the proper mounting position. Locking member detecting means for performing, when the locking member is fully inserted by the pressing mechanism, determining means for determining whether the locking member detecting means has detected the locking member, Another means is a connector testing device, characterized by comprising a determination means to be nondefective when the locking member is detected during the operation of the pressing mechanism.

[0009] In the invention including the specific matter, the housing is mounted on the housing holder while the locking member is temporarily held. Then, the pressing mechanism operates at a predetermined timing, and the temporarily locked locking member is pressed and fully inserted.
Therefore, as in the case of the conventional device, it becomes possible to fully insert the temporarily locked locking member at the time of inspection, or to correct a defective insertion member if it has occurred.

Here, the locking member detecting means detects the locking member when the held locking member of the housing projects at least from the proper mounting position. Of course, even if the locking member is pushed too much, the locking member detecting means detects that there is no locking member.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector inspection apparatus A and a connector C to be inspected according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description, the same type of connectors as those described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 are employed, and therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the connectors, and the description thereof is omitted. First, referring to FIG. 1, a connector inspection apparatus A according to the present embodiment is configured such that a pair of rails 12 are integrally formed on a resin base 11 formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view in parallel with the longitudinal direction, A connector holder 13 for holding and positioning the housing 1 of the connector C is fixed to one end of the connector 12, and an inspection unit 14 is disposed at the other end so as to be relatively displaceable with respect to the connector holder 13. . Inspection unit 14 includes connector C to be inspected.
The probe pin 15 is provided corresponding to the number of poles, and the probe pin 15 is brought into close proximity to the housing 1 held by the connector holder 13 so as to come into contact with an internal terminal. The rail 1 is moved so that it can be displaced to an open position (see FIG.
2 so as to be slidable. Further, a toggle lever 16 is provided at the other end of the base 11, and the toggle lever 16 is attached to the base 11.
The inspection unit 14 can be displaced between an inspection position and an open position by rotating about a pin PV that passes through the mounting plate portion 17 that is extended from the main body, and a continuity inspection can be performed in the same manner as in a known device. It has become.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector holder 13 employed in the connector inspection apparatus A according to the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of the connector holder 13. is there. FIG. 4 is a partially broken perspective view showing a main part of the connector inspection apparatus A of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 4A shows a state in which an acceptable product has been inspected, and FIG. Each of the inspection states is shown.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a main part of the connector inspection apparatus A shown in FIG. 1 when an acceptable product is inspected. FIG. 6 shows a case where the connector C having no locking member is inspected. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a main part of the connector inspection device A of FIG. In the following description, the inspection section 14 side of the connector holder 13 is temporarily assumed to be the front.

Referring to these drawings, a connector holder 13 according to the illustrated embodiment has a resin block 1.
3a. The block 13a defines an accommodating portion 13b into which the housing 1 can be inserted and withdrawn, corresponding to the outer shape of the housing 1 of the connector C. The inspection portion 14 (FIG. 1) is provided in front of the accommodating portion 13b. Open). Also, on the back of the block body 13a,
A back plate 2 in which a slit 13c through which an electric wire (not shown) of the connector C housed in the housing portion 13b is inserted is formed, and a slit 21 corresponding to the slit 13c is defined.
2 is screwed to receive the back surface of the housing 1 of the connector C housed in the housing portion 13b.

In the illustrated embodiment, the connector C
The inner shape of the housing portion 13b is defined such that the locking member 4 is inserted and withdrawn in a posture facing one side of the block body 13a. A rectangular recess is formed on one side of the block body 13a, and a chamber 24 is provided by fixing a side plate 23 covering the recess to the one side with a screw 23a. In this chamber 24, a slide guide bar 26 is provided so as to project from the lower surface side. A lift 27 is connected to the slide guide bar 26. The elevating element 27 is an operation member that can slide up and down, and is configured to be able to move up and down by connecting the slide guide bar 26 to a concave portion 27a formed at the lower part thereof.

The upward / downward movement of the lifter 27 is restricted by the upper wall of the chamber 24, and is controlled by a coil spring 28 arranged on the outer periphery of the slide guide bar 26.
It is biased upward. A bar 29 with a handle protrudes from the elevator 27. The bar 29 with the handle is connected to the elevator 27 in a state of penetrating the block 13a, so that the elevator 27 is connected to the block 27. It can be raised and lowered from outside 13a.

A cam surface 27b is formed on a side wall of the lifter 27, and the pressing element 3 connected to the cam surface 27b is formed.
0 is located in the chamber 24. As shown in FIG.
The pressing element 30 is configured to be able to enter into the concave portion 31 formed on the inner wall of the chamber 24 and to be displaced in the width direction of the block body 13a, and is also provided with three protrusions 30 arranged vertically.
a into the recesses 3 formed corresponding to the projections 30a.
1 is fitted in the through hole 31a. The position where the concave portion 31 or the through hole 31a is formed depends on the position of the block 13
a of the connector C accommodated in the accommodating portion 13b of FIG.
, And each of the projections 30a of the pressing element 30 fitted in the recess 31 allows the connector C
Is set to be mounted at the regular mounting position P (see FIG. 4A).

In the illustrated embodiment, the lifter 27 and the presser 30 are connected by a cam surface, so that the presser 30 is in the home position where the presser 30 is located above the housing portion 13b. The projection 30a is retracted, and the elevating element 27 is pushed downward, so that the projection 30a is set to project to the regular mounting position P.

Further, a pin 32 is attached to a predetermined position of the pressing element 30 so as to extend and retreat in the direction of displacement of the pressing element 30 (the direction facing the locking member 4). Pin 3
2 is accommodated by a coil spring 33 which is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat relative to the presser 30 and which is contracted between a flange portion 32a formed in the middle and a mounting hole 30c of the presser 30. The end protrudes into the portion 13b. As a result, the pin 32 is
When the locking member 4 is mounted on the connector C accommodated in the connector, the distal end of the locking member 4 comes into contact with the locking member 4 so that the connector C is slightly pushed into the chamber 24 side. When the member 4 is not mounted, it is set so as to enter the mounting hole 3 of the connector C.

In the illustrated example, the pressing element 30 and the recess 3
A coil spring 34 is contracted between the lifter 2 and the lifter 2.
7, the pressing element 30 causes the protrusion 30a to move the projection 30a by the urging force of the coil spring 34.
b has been retracted. Next, referring to FIG. 2, a limit switch SW1 is provided in the chamber 24, which is activated when the lifter 27 descends until the projection 30a of the presser 30 projects to the mounting position P. At the same time, when the distal end of the pin 32 is at least in the normal mounting position P (see FIG. 5) or in a position protruding beyond the normal mounting position, the distal end of the pin 32 is in the normal mounting position. A limit switch SW2 that does not operate when it is inserted into the connector C rather than P is disposed, and is connected to the inspection device 40, respectively.

The inspection device 40 is composed of a microcomputer and other electrical components. In the illustrated example, the inspection device 40 is connected to the inspection unit 14 and determines whether the continuity is good or not, and a limit switch SW1. When the limit switch SW1 is connected at the time of inspection by the inspection unit 14, the operation inspection unit 42 that detects whether or not the locking member 4 is fully inserted is connected to the operation unit 42 and the limit switch SW2. And the presence or absence of the locking member 4 when the switch C1 is operating (when the limit switch SW1 is operated), and the quality of the connector C is determined based on the determination results of the parts 41 to 43, and the output is determined. And a determination unit 44 that performs the determination.

In the inspection device 40, the continuity inspection by the inspection unit 14 and the switch SW
1, the operation of SW2 is checked, and if both switches SW1, SW2 are operated, it is set so as to determine that the product is acceptable. In the above configuration,
First, the connector C, to which the locking member 4 is temporarily mounted in advance, is accommodated in the accommodating portion 13b of the connector holder 13 so as to be inspectable, and the inspection is performed by the inspection portion 14 by operating the lever 16. At this time, when the connector C is accommodated, the locking member 4 comes into contact with the pin 32, and the pin 32 is pushed toward the chamber 24 to operate the switch SW2 (FIG. 4A,
(See FIG. 5). After that, if there is no error signal, this time, the work of fully inserting the locking member 4 is performed by grasping and pushing the bar 29 with handle on the connector holder 13 side downward. As a result, the elevating element 27 descends and the pressing element 30
Presses the locking member 4 until it reaches the regular mounting position P. At this time, if the locking member 4 is pushed down to the regular mounting position P, the switch S2 is operated while the switch SW2 is operated by the pin 32.
Since W1 operates, the inspection apparatus 40 determines that the connector C is a non-defective product.

On the other hand, if the attachment of the locking member 4 is forgotten or collapsed, as shown in FIG. 4B or FIG.
The tip of the pin 32 is in the connector C
As a result, the switch SW1 is operated while the switch SW2 is not operated. As a result, the inspection device 40 can determine that the locking member 4 of the connector C is not mounted or depressed.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to detect a forgetting to attach the locking member 4 or a depression when the full mounting operation of the locking member 4 is performed at the time of the continuity test. Therefore, there is a remarkable effect that both the presence or absence of the locking member 4 to be mounted on the housing 1 and the quality of the locking state can be determined. Each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of a preferred specific example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. It goes without saying that various design changes are possible within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When performing the actual mounting work of the locking member at the time of the continuity inspection,
Since it is also possible to detect forgetting or depressing of the locking member, it is possible to determine the presence or absence of the locking member to be mounted on the housing and the quality of the locking state. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector inspection apparatus and a connector to be inspected according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a connector holder employed in the connector inspection device according to the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of the connector holder.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a main part of the connector inspection apparatus A of FIG. 1, wherein FIG.
(B) has shown the state which inspected the connector C in which the locking member is not mounted, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a main part of the connector inspection device of FIG. 1 when a passed product is inspected.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the connector inspection device of FIG. 1 in a case where a connector on which a locking member is not mounted is inspected.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a connector to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a connector for explaining the problem of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector housing 4 Locking member 13 Connector holder 14 Inspection part 27 Elevator 30 Presser 31 Depression 40 Inspection device A Connector inspection device C Connector P Mounting position SW1 limit switch SW2 limit switch

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2G014 AA13 AA14 AA25 AB60 AC08 5E021 FA05 FA09 FB09 FC38 JA05 JA20 KA09 KA13 5E063 HA02 HB14 HB19 KA10 XA02 XA09 5E087 EE14 FF12 GG15 GG17 GG23 GG31 GG26 GG31

Claims (1)

[Claims] A housing for double-locking a terminal inserted in a housing, the housing for inspecting the housing of a connector inserted from a mounting hole formed in a side wall of the housing. A holder and a pressing mechanism provided on the housing holder and capable of pressing the locking member so that the locking member temporarily locked to the housing held by the housing holder is properly mounted. A connector inspection device provided with: a locking member detecting means for detecting the locking member when the held locking member of the housing protrudes from at least a regular mounting position; At the time of the main insertion, a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the locking member detecting means detects the locking member, and the discriminating means detecting the locking member when the pressing mechanism operates. A connector inspection apparatus, comprising: a determination unit that determines a non-defective product when the connector is inspected.