JP2000200667A - Terminal structure and its forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a bending die and part of a forming process for a male terminal in common with those for a female terminal in use for a connector. SOLUTION: A first boxed portion 120 of a male terminal 100, fitted in a resin case for a connector, and a crimp portion 130 for crimping a wire are formed in almost the same shape as that of a second boxed portion 220 of a female terminal 200, fitted into a resin case for the connector, and a crimp portion 230 for crimping a wire. A material for the male terminal 100 is the same as a plate material for the female terminal 200, thinner than usual. A tab portion 110 of the male terminal 100 to be joined to the female terminal is formed in a sectionally approximate U-shape, with its two opposed sides to the outside having a standard size (a thickness (t)) as predetermined.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a set of male and female terminals used for a connector and a method of forming the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows an external structure of a conventional set of male and female terminals used in a connector. 5A shows a state in which the male terminal 10 and the female terminal 20 are opposed so as to be connectable, FIG. 5B shows a state in which the male terminal 10 is viewed from the direction of arrow B, and FIG. , A state when the female terminal 20 is viewed from the direction of the arrow D, and (e) shows a state when the female terminal 20 is viewed from the direction of the arrow E.

Generally, the width w and the thickness t of the tab portion 11 protruding from the tip of the male terminal 10 are determined by standards so that connectors from different manufacturers can be connected. For example, when t = 0.64, a 0.3 mm-thick plate material is used as the material of the male terminal 10 and its tab portion 1
As shown in (a) to (c), the sheet material is folded back to be doubled, and a predetermined thickness t is secured.

On the other hand, the female terminal 20 has a leaf spring-like portion 21 for contacting with the tab portion 11 of the male terminal 10 and ensuring a constant contact pressure, which is folded inward from the open end at the tip. Is formed. In the case of the female terminal 20, if the plate thickness of the material is too large, it is difficult to turn the leaf spring-shaped portion 21 back. Therefore, the female terminal 2 corresponding to the male terminal 10
A sheet thickness of about 0.2 to 0.25 mm was used.

[0005]

As described above, since the male terminal 10 and the female terminal 20 have different shapes and different thicknesses of materials, a plate material punched into a predetermined shape is bent into a predetermined shape and the male terminal 10 and the female terminal 20 are respectively formed. When molded into 10 and female terminal 20,
Different bending dies were used. On the other hand, FIG.
As is clear from FIG.
Although the shapes are different from each other, box-like portions 12 and 22 for fitting into the resin case of the connector are provided.
For this reason, from the standpoint of manufacturing the male terminal 10 and the female terminal 20, different bending dies are required for molding both of them, resulting in poor working efficiency and increased cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has a terminal structure capable of sharing at least a part of a bending mold used in a molding process of a male terminal and a female terminal. It is intended to provide a molding method.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a first terminal structure of the present invention comprises a first box-shaped portion fitted in a resin case of a connector and a tab portion connected to a female terminal. And a female terminal including a leaf-like portion joined to the second box-shaped portion in which the resin case of the connector is fitted and the tab portion of the male terminal. The male terminal and the female terminal have the same thickness. The first box-shaped part and the second box-shaped part are at least partially identical in shape.

In the above construction, the cross-section of the tab portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the coupling direction of the male terminal and the female terminal is substantially U-shaped, and the dimension between the outer sides of the two opposing sides is a predetermined standard size. It may be formed as follows.

The cross section of each of the first box-shaped portion and the second box-shaped portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the connecting direction of the male terminal and the female terminal is substantially rectangular, and one of two sides having an open end is provided. The protrusion formed near the open end of the side may fit into the groove provided on the other side.

In a second terminal structure of the present invention, a male terminal including a first box-shaped portion fitted into a resin case of a connector and a tab portion coupled to a female terminal; A female terminal including a second box-shaped part to be fitted and a leaf spring-shaped part coupled to a tab part of the male terminal, wherein the male terminal is formed by press-fitting a separately molded tab member to the female terminal. It is characterized by.

On the other hand, a first terminal molding method of the present invention comprises a male terminal including a first box-shaped portion fitted into a resin case of a connector and a tab portion coupled to a female terminal; A method of forming a female terminal including a second box-shaped part fitted therein and a leaf spring-shaped part coupled to a tab part of a male terminal, wherein at least a part of the first box-shaped part and the second box-shaped part And the male terminal piece and the female terminal piece are punched out from a plate material having the same thickness, and the same shape portions of the first box-shaped portion and the second box-shaped portion are formed using the same bending mold. It is characterized by the following.

A second terminal molding method according to the present invention provides a male terminal including a first box-shaped portion fitted into a resin case of a connector and a tab portion coupled to a female terminal; A method of forming a female terminal including a plate-like portion to be fitted with a second box-like portion to be fitted and a tab portion of a male terminal, wherein a female terminal piece is punched from a plate material having a first predetermined thickness,
After molding using a predetermined bending mold, a tab member is separately punched from a plate material having a second predetermined thickness, and the tab member is press-fitted into some of the female terminals to form male terminals.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of a terminal structure and a method of forming the same according to the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the male terminal 100 and the female terminal 200 are separately formed, and the main portions of the male terminal 100 and the female terminal 200 have a common shape.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the first embodiment. The male terminal 100 protrudes from its tip and is connected to the female terminal 200, a tab portion 110, a first box-shaped portion 120 fitted in a resin case of the connector, and a crimping wire (not shown). It is composed of a crimping portion 130 and the like. The tab portion 110 has a predetermined width w, thickness t, and length d specified in the standard. On the other hand, the female terminal 200 is
And a second box-shaped portion 220 fitted into the resin case of the connector, a crimping portion 230 for caulking an electric wire (not shown), and the like. Further, inside the second box-shaped portion 220 of the female terminal 200, a leaf spring-shaped portion 210 is formed, which is coupled to the tab portion 110 of the male terminal 100 with a predetermined pressure contact force. In FIG. 1, the female terminal 200 is drawn in a direction opposite to a normal coupling direction in order to easily understand a common portion of the shape of the male terminal 100 and the female terminal 200.

Next, the shapes of the male terminal piece and the female terminal piece used in the first embodiment are shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, (a) is a female terminal piece 200 ', and (b) is a male terminal piece 100'.
It is. As is clear from the figure, the male terminal piece 100 ′ and the female terminal piece 200 ′ have their tip portions 110 ′, 2 ′.
Except for 10 ', they have almost the same shape.

The female terminal piece 200 'has a tip portion 210',
It comprises a central portion 220 'and a rear end portion 230'. The central portion 220 'has a substantially rectangular cross section along the two-dot chain line.
It is bent into two sides 220A, 220B, 220C and 220D to form the second box-shaped portion 220. Tip part 21
0 ′ is folded back so as to be on the side 220C side of the central portion 220 ′ and inside the second box-shaped portion 220, and becomes a leaf spring-shaped portion 210. The rear end portion 230 is symmetrical with respect to a center line indicated by a dashed line and is bent so as to have a substantially U-shaped cross section, and becomes a crimping portion 230 for caulking an electric wire.

A substantially rectangular groove 222 is formed near the open end 221 on one side 220D of the central portion 220. Further, a convex portion 224 is formed near the open end 223 of the other side 220A. When the central portion 220 is bent into a substantially rectangular cross section, the protrusion 224 is
22. Generally, when a plate-shaped material is bent into a predetermined shape using a bending mold, the plate-like material tends to be restored in a direction opposite to the bending direction. That is, the side 22 having the convex portion 224
After the OA is bent, when trying to restore the original planar shape, the convex portion 224 engages with the end face of the groove 222 of the side 220D and pushes in a direction substantially orthogonal to the end face. as a result,
The groove 222 and the convex portion 224 serve as a stopper, and prevent the central portion 220 bent to have a substantially rectangular cross section from being restored.

Similarly, the male terminal piece 100 ′ has a tip portion 1.
10 ', a central portion 120' and a rear end portion 130 '. The central portion 120 'has four sides 120A, 120B, 120C and 1 forming a substantially rectangular cross section along the two-dot chain line.
The first box-shaped part 120 is bent by 20D. The tip portion 110 ′ is bent so as to have a substantially U-shaped cross section along the two-dot chain line, and becomes the tab-shaped portion 110. The rear end portion 130 'is bent so as to be symmetrical with respect to the center line indicated by the dashed line and to have a substantially U-shaped cross section, and becomes the crimping portion 130 for caulking the electric wire.

A substantially rectangular groove 122 is also formed near the open end 121 on one side 120D of the central portion 120. Also, a convex portion 124 is formed near the open end 123 on the other side 120A. When the central portion 120 is bent into a substantially rectangular cross section, the convex portion 124 is
22 prevents the central portion 120 from being restored to a substantially rectangular cross section.

Note that the tip portion 110 'and the central portion 120'
The substantially triangular portion 111 ′ is squeezed into a substantially quadrangular pyramid by a bending mold such that the tab portion 110 is located at a predetermined position, for example, the center of the male terminal 100 when the tip portion 110 ′ is bent. .

The male terminal piece 100 'and the female terminal piece 200' are both stamped from a plate-like metal material having the same thickness, and have a thickness of, for example, 0.2 to 0.25 mm. The male terminal piece 100 'and the female terminal piece 200' have a central portion 120 ', 220' and a rear end portion 130 ', 230'.
Are common and have the same plate thickness, so that at least these portions can be bent using the same bending mold.

Next, the difference between the present embodiment and the conventional bending structure will be compared with reference to FIG. (A) schematically shows the cross-sectional shape of the box-shaped portion 22 of the conventional female terminal 20 shown in FIG. 5, and (b) shows the tab portion 1 of the conventional male terminal 10.
1 schematically shows the cross-sectional shapes of the first and box-shaped portions 12. (C) schematically shows the cross-sectional shape of the box-shaped portion 220 of the female terminal 200 of the present embodiment,
(D) schematically shows a cross-sectional shape of the tab portion 110 and the box-shaped portion 120 of the male terminal 100 of the present embodiment.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the conventional male terminal 10
The female terminal 20 and the female terminal 20 had completely different structures and different material thicknesses, so that the same bending mold could not be used, and they had to be formed in completely different steps. In contrast, the male terminal 100 of the present embodiment
First box-shaped portion 120 and second box-shaped portion 2 of female terminal 200
Since the cross-sectional shape in the direction substantially perpendicular to the joining direction of the male terminal 100 and the female terminal 200 is the same, by forming the same thickness of both materials, the same process is performed using the same bending mold. can do. Tab part 1
The ten male terminals 100 and the female terminals 200 have a substantially U-shaped cross section in a direction substantially orthogonal to the coupling direction, and are molded so that the dimension between the outer sides of two opposing sides thereof becomes a predetermined standard size t. Accordingly, even when a material thinner than the conventional one is used, the width w and the thickness t of the tab portion 110 can be set to predetermined standard values.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the terminal structure and the method of forming the same according to the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the male terminal is not formed independently as in the first embodiment, but is formed into a male terminal by performing additional processing on the female terminal.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the male terminal 300 according to the second embodiment. (A) shows the tab member 31 on the female terminal 200.
0 shows a state before press-fitting, and (b) shows a state of the completed male terminal 300.

The female terminal 200 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, except that a notch 250 for engaging with the retaining portion 311 of the tab member 310 is provided. . The tab member 310 is formed by stamping out a material having the same thickness as the thickness t specified in the standard, and has a predetermined width w, thickness t, and length d. The completed male terminal 300 has substantially the same shape as the male terminal 100 of the first embodiment, but differs in that it is not integrally formed. Further, the male terminal 300 and the female terminal 2 of the second embodiment
00 is the male terminal 100 and the female terminal 20 of the first embodiment.
The function is exactly the same as 0.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the male terminal 300 is not formed separately and independently of the female terminal 200, but the tab member 310 is formed by about half of those manufactured as the female terminal 200. The male terminal 300 is obtained by performing an additional process called press fitting. Therefore, similarly to the case of the first embodiment, substantially the male terminal 300 is provided.
And the entire shape of the female terminal 200 is made common, and can be formed in the same process using the same bending mold.

[0028]

As described above, according to the first terminal structure of the present invention, the male terminal including the first box-shaped portion fitted into the resin case of the connector and the tab portion coupled to the female terminal. A terminal, a female terminal including a second box-shaped portion in which the resin case of the connector is fitted, and a plate spring-shaped portion coupled to the tab portion of the male terminal, wherein the male terminal and the female terminal have the same thickness, respectively. Since the first box-shaped portion and the second box-shaped portion are at least partially identical in shape, the first box-shaped portion of the male terminal and the first box-shaped portion of the female terminal are formed using the same bending mold. The two box-shaped portions can be formed in the same shape, and at least a part of the bending mold used in the forming process of the male terminal and the female terminal can be shared.

The cross section of the tab portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the connecting direction of the male terminal and the female terminal is substantially U-shaped,
By molding such that the dimension between the outer sides of the two opposing sides becomes a predetermined standard dimension, the same material as the female terminal plate material thinner than the conventional one can be used as the material of the male terminal. .

The first box-shaped portion and the second box-shaped portion each have a substantially rectangular cross section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the coupling direction of the male terminal and the female terminal, and one of two sides having an open end is provided. The convex portion formed in the vicinity of the open end of the side is configured to fit into the groove provided in the other side, so that the first direction is used by utilizing the restoring force in the direction opposite to the bending direction of the plate material.
It is possible to maintain the substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape of the box-shaped portion and the second box-shaped portion.

According to the second terminal structure of the present invention,
A male terminal including a first box-shaped portion fitted to the resin case of the connector and a tab portion coupled to the female terminal; a second box-shaped portion fitted to the resin case of the connector and a tab portion of the male terminal And a female terminal including a leaf spring-shaped portion joined to the female terminal.The male terminal is characterized in that a separately formed tab member is press-fitted into the female terminal. Without forming, a male terminal can be obtained by molding only a female terminal using one bending die and performing additional processing on about half of the female terminal.

On the other hand, according to the first terminal molding method of the present invention, the male terminal including the first box-shaped portion fitted into the resin case of the connector and the tab portion coupled to the female terminal, A method of molding a female terminal including a second box-shaped portion fitted with a resin case and a leaf spring-shaped portion coupled to a tab portion of a male terminal, wherein at least one of the first box-shaped portion and the second box-shaped portion is formed. A part of the shape is the same, a piece for the male terminal and a piece for the female terminal are punched out from a plate material having the same thickness, and the same shape portion of the first box-shaped portion and the second box-shaped portion is formed using the same bending mold. Since it is characterized by molding, it is possible to mold at least a part of the bending mold and to mold both the male terminal and the female terminal with a small number of bending molds.

Further, according to the second terminal molding method of the present invention, the male terminal including the first box-shaped portion fitted into the resin case of the connector and the tab portion coupled to the female terminal, A method of forming a female terminal including a second box-shaped portion in which a resin case is fitted and a leaf spring-shaped portion coupled to a tab portion of a male terminal, wherein a female terminal piece is formed from a plate material having a first predetermined thickness. After punching and forming using a predetermined bending mold, a tab member is separately punched from a plate material having a second predetermined thickness, and a tab member is press-fitted into some female terminals to form a male terminal. Therefore, both the male terminal and the female terminal can be formed using only the female terminal bending die without preparing a male terminal bending die.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a terminal structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing shapes of a male terminal piece and a female terminal piece used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram comparing the differences in the cross-sectional shapes of the male terminal and the female terminal of the first embodiment with those of the conventional male terminal and the female terminal.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the terminal structure of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional terminal structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100: Male terminal 100 ': Piece for male terminal 110: Tab part 110': Tip part 111 ': Substantially triangular part 120: First box-like part 120': Central part 120A-D: Each side 121 of central part 121: Open end 122: Groove 123: Open end 124: Convex part 130: Crimped part 130 ': Rear end part 200: Female terminal 200': Piece for female terminal 210: Leaf spring-like part 210 ': Front end part 220: First Two box-shaped parts 220 ': Central part 220A-D: Each side of central part 221: Open end 222: Groove 223: Open end 224: Convex part 230: Compression part 230': Rear end part 250: Notch 300 : Male terminal 310: tab member 311: retaining part

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takuya Inoue 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi F-term in Harness Research Institute, Inc. (reference) 5E063 GA01

Claims (6)

[Claims] A first connector fitted to a resin case of the connector;
A male terminal including a box-shaped portion and a tab portion coupled to the female terminal, and a female including a second box-shaped portion fitted with a resin case of the connector and a leaf spring-shaped portion coupled to the tab portion of the male terminal. A terminal, wherein the male terminal and the female terminal are each formed of a plate-shaped material having the same thickness, and at least a part of the first box-shaped portion and the second box-shaped portion have the same shape. Construction. 2. A cross section of a tab portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to a coupling direction of a male terminal and a female terminal is substantially U-shaped, and a dimension between outer sides of two opposite sides thereof is a predetermined standard size. The terminal structure according to claim 1, wherein the terminal structure is formed. 3. The first box-shaped portion and the second box-shaped portion each have a substantially rectangular cross section in a direction substantially orthogonal to the coupling direction of the male terminal and the female terminal.
3. The terminal structure according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion formed near an open end of one side is fitted into a groove provided on the other side. 4. A first connector fitted in a resin case of a connector.
A male terminal including a box-shaped portion and a tab portion coupled to the female terminal, and a female including a second box-shaped portion fitted with a resin case of the connector and a leaf spring-shaped portion coupled to the tab portion of the male terminal. A terminal structure comprising a terminal, wherein the male terminal is formed by press-fitting a separately formed tab member to the female terminal. 5. A first connector fitted in a resin case of a connector.
A male terminal including a box-shaped portion and a tab portion coupled to the female terminal, and a female including a second box-shaped portion fitted with a resin case of the connector and a leaf spring-shaped portion coupled to the tab portion of the male terminal. A method of forming a terminal, wherein at least a part of a first box-shaped part and a second box-shaped part have the same shape, and a male terminal piece and a female terminal piece are punched out from a plate material having the same thickness. A method of forming a terminal, comprising forming the same shaped portion of the first and second box-shaped portions using the same bending mold. 6. A first connector fitted in a resin case of a connector.
A male terminal including a box-shaped portion and a tab portion coupled to the female terminal, and a female including a second box-shaped portion fitted with a resin case of the connector and a leaf spring-shaped portion coupled to the tab portion of the male terminal. A method of forming a terminal, wherein a piece for a female terminal is punched from a plate material having a first predetermined thickness, and molded using a predetermined bending mold.
A terminal forming method, wherein a tab member is separately punched from a plate material having a second predetermined thickness, and a tab member is press-fitted into a part of female terminals to form a male terminal.