JP2001066342A - Continuity inspecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable continuity inspection by providing a continuity inspecting device with a fitting detecting function for a side retainer which is fitted in a hollow in a peripheral wall and confirming its fitting. SOLUTION: The continuity inspecting device 11 which displaces an inspection part 12 and an opposite connector insertion part 13 by a cylinder 17 is provided with an insertion opening 13e for a connector on the flank of the connector insertion part 13, and fitted with a detection plate 21 having a detection part 21a for side retainer fitting confirmation. Further, an engaging claw 22 which is energized by a spring is provided to the insertion opening 133, and the connector 50 is pressed in the insertion opening 13e and then taken out of an opening part 13b on the top surface after inspection ends.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a continuity inspection device for a connector attached to a wire group of a wire harness, and more particularly, to a continuity inspection and a side retainer fitted into a recess in a side wall of the connector. It is also intended to enable the matching detection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a continuity inspection device for a connector attached to an end of a wire harness, the present applicant has previously disclosed a drive of a cylinder or the like as shown in FIGS. An automatic continuity inspection device 1 for pressing a probe against a terminal of a connector has been proposed. (JP-A-10-2
39377)

In the continuity inspection apparatus 1, a two-stage telescopic cylinder 7 is connected to an inspection section 2 having an inspection probe pin 8, and a connector 10 having an extruding pin 5 and accommodating a connector 10 to be subjected to continuity inspection. It is configured to approach and separate from the insertion portion 3. Further, a lock opening / closing bar 4 having a protrusion 4a is attached to the inspection unit 2. Further, on the surface of the connector insertion portion 3 having the opening 3b, a lock piece 6 for inserting the lock opening / closing rod 4 into the hole 6a having the copying surface 6b is projected toward the opening 3b by the bias of the spring 9. Is attached.

In order to conduct a continuity test using the automatic continuity test apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 9A, the connector 10 is connected to the connector insertion portion 3 with the rod 7a of the cylinder 7 extended by one stage. The opening 3b is attached to the accommodating portion 3a. At this time, the protruding lock piece 6 is connected to the connector 1.
0 is pushed back by contact with the side wall 10a of the
When 0 is completely mounted, it protrudes again and suppresses the wire mounting surface 10b of the connector 10 to prevent the connector 10 from coming off. Next, as shown in FIG. 9 (B), the rod 7a of the cylinder 7 is extended by two steps to bring the inspection section 2 close to the connector insertion section 3, and the probe pin 8 is connected to the terminal T of the connector 10.
To the continuity test. After completion of the continuity test, as shown in FIG.
The inspection part 2 is pulled away from the connector insertion part 3 by retracting a. With this separation, the lock opening / closing rod 4 is also pulled down together with the inspection section 2, and the scanning surface 6 b of the hole 6 a of the lock piece 6 is formed.
Is in sliding contact with the slope 4b of the projecting portion 4a of the lock opening / closing rod 4, the lock piece 6 retreats from the opening 3b against the bias of the spring 9, and the connector 10 is pushed by the push pin 5 to receive the connector 3a. I try to extrude more.

[0005]

In the connector, a retainer is fitted from a side wall to securely lock and fix each terminal T normally inserted into each cavity. If the fitting of the retainer is incomplete, various inconveniences such as a contact failure occur. Therefore, the continuity inspection device 1 also detects the fitting of the retainer when the connector is mounted. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 0, if the fitting of the side retainer 10c is incomplete, the side retainer 10c protrudes from the side wall 10a.
Of the connector 10 so that the connector 10 cannot be mounted on the jig 1.

A connector used for circuit connection has various shapes other than the above-described connector 10 in consideration of a use location, a use situation, and the like. One of them has a shape as shown in FIG. A side retainer 50c is provided in the recess 50e of the side wall 50d.
There is a connector 50 of a type that fits. This connector 50
Is attached to the continuity inspection apparatus 1 through the opening 3b, even if the side retainer 50c projects half-fitted,
Since it is lower than the surface height of d, it is housed without being caught by the lower end 3c of the opening 3b, and there is a problem that the half-fitting of the side retainer 50c cannot be detected at the lower end 3c of the opening 3b.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been made in consideration of the above problem. Even when a connector having a side retainer fitting portion in a recess in a side wall of the connector is mounted on a continuity inspection jig, the side retainer is not used. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to perform a continuity test by confirming fitting.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to an inspection section provided with a probe pin, wherein a connector insertion section having a connector accommodating section is moved close to and separated from a test section provided with a probe pin by a driving means. An opening communicating with the housing portion of the connector is provided on the opposite side of the connector insertion portion from the inspection portion side, and is protruded from the opening at the inspection position, the neutral position, and the separation opening position. A lock piece urged to the lock piece is provided, a hole having a copying surface is provided in the lock piece, and one end of a lock opening / closing rod is attached to the inspection section via an elastic body, and the lock opening / closing rod is attached to the lock piece A protrusion having an inclined surface that slides on the other end side and is in sliding contact with the copying surface of the hole of the lock piece is provided, and the protrusion is brought into sliding contact with the copying surface of the lock piece by interlocking the lock opening / closing rod by the movement of the inspection unit. Open the lock piece above In the continuity inspection device for retracting, a connector having a side retainer fitting portion in a recess of a side wall is to be inspected, and the connector insertion portion communicates with a housing portion of the connector on a side surface orthogonal to a surface having the opening. On the other hand, a detection portion for confirming the fitting of the side retainer is protruded from the insertion port, and the connector is pushed into the connector insertion portion through the insertion port from a side direction of the connector. In the case of a semi-fitted side retainer projecting, the continuity inspection device is characterized in that the connector comes into contact with the detection portion so that the connector cannot be inserted, and the connector after the continuity inspection is taken out from the opening. providing.

As described above, the connector is inserted from the side of the connector through the insertion hole provided on the side surface of the connector insertion portion, and the detection for confirming the side retainer fitting is performed at a position corresponding to the side retainer fitting portion of the connector. Since the portion is protruded, the fitting of the side retainer can be detected. In other words, if the side retainer is half-fitted and protrudes from the recess in the side wall, the side retainer is hooked on the detection part at the time of insertion, so that the connector cannot be inserted. Can be. After the continuity test, the connector is pushed out in the same direction as the conventional one, so that it is not difficult to take out the connector.

[0010] The insertion port is provided with an engagement claw that is protruded by urging by an elastic body, and prevents the connector pushed into the connector insertion portion by the engagement claw and performs positioning.

That is, since the insertion portion is provided on the side surface of the housing portion of the connector, there is no side wall on one side surface. Therefore, by providing the engagement claws as described above, it is possible to prevent the inserted connector from falling out of the insertion opening. Specifically, at the time of mounting the connector, the engaging claw comes into contact with the side wall of the connector and retracts against the bias of the elastic body, so that the connector can be smoothly mounted to the housing portion. After installation, the contact with the connector side wall is lost, so the engaging claw projects again and comes into contact with the side of the connector to prevent disconnection of the connector and perform positioning, and to set each probe pin corresponding to the position of each terminal of the connector. Can be surely matched.

The lock opening / closing bar has a projection on the back surface of the surface having the projection, and when the connector is inserted at the neutral position, the projection abuts on the edge of the hole of the lock piece to project the lock piece. To prevent the connector from being inserted through the opening, and if a continuity test detects a failure in the connector, the lock opening / closing bar is set to the neutral position and the lock opening / closing bar is pressed against the urging force of the elastic body. When pressed, the convex part comes out of the hole of the lock piece and unlocks the lock piece,
Retract the lock piece by sliding contact between the protruding part and the copying surface,
The defective connector can be removed from the opening, and in the proximity inspection position, even if the connector is pushed in, the above-mentioned protrusion is located inside the hole of the lock piece, and the lock piece is projected into the opening to lock the connector. In the disengagement release position, the protrusion is disengaged from the hole and the protrusion slides on the copying surface of the lock piece to retreat the lock piece, so that the connector can be removed.

As described above, even if the connector is erroneously mounted through the opening of the connector mounting portion during the continuity test,
Since the lock piece protruding toward the opening is locked by the projection of the lock opening / closing bar, erroneous insertion can be prevented. Further, a connector determined to be defective in the continuity test needs to be taken out of the device and corrected, and if only a defective connector can be taken out, the inspection process can be performed without affecting a normal product. Therefore, in a state where the inspection section and the connector insertion section are in the neutral position as described above, the worker can press the lock opening / closing rod so that the connector can be taken out, so that an irregular process of correcting a defective product can be performed. It can be smoothly incorporated into a normal process and can easily cope with occurrence of a defect. In the continuity inspection state, even if the lock opening / closing rod is inadvertently pushed in, the locked state of the lock piece is maintained and the connector is not pushed out, so that the reliability of the inspection work can be secured.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an automatic continuity inspection device 11 of the present invention, in which a connector 50 of a type in which a side retainer is fitted into a recess in a side wall of a connector is inserted into a connector insertion portion 13 and an inspection portion having a probe pin 18 is provided. The continuity test is performed by moving the cylinder 12 toward and away from the cylinder 17.

The connector insertion portion 13 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B has a housing portion 13a for housing a connector inside, and a surface 13 opposite to the side where the inspection portion 12 is located.
c has an opening 13b communicating with the housing 13a. An insertion opening 13e is provided on a side surface 13d orthogonal to the surface 13c having the opening 13b to communicate with the housing 13a. The shape of the insertion opening 13e is formed to be the same as the shape of the side surface of the connector 50 without any depression.

A detection plate 21 is provided on the side surface 13d so as to protrude a detection portion 21a for confirming the engagement of the side retainer. Further, a portion of the insertion port 13e where the distal end portion of the connector 50 is mounted is attached via a spring 23 using the engaging claw 22 as an elastic body. As shown in FIG. 2 (A), the engaging claw 22 has a plate shape and an outer surface is a tapered surface 22a, and an inner surface on the side of the housing 13a is a flat surface 22b. The engagement claw 22 normally projects into the insertion opening 13e by the biasing force of the spring 23.

The opening 13b of the connector insertion portion 13
Hole 13a having a profiling surface 16c
Is attached by a spring 24 so that the tip protrudes into the opening 13b. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIG.
3b, a leaf spring 24 for pushing out a connector is provided at the lower end on the side of the inspection section 12, one end of which is a free end 24a, and the other end is a fixed end 24.
b, it is attached diagonally so that the free end 24a side protrudes.

On the other hand, the inspection section 12 is connected to a pneumatic cylinder 17 in which a rod 17a expands and contracts in two stages as a driving means, so that the inspection section 12 approaches and separates from the connector insertion section 13 at three positions. A required number of probe pins 18 for continuity inspection are attached to a portion of the inspection section 12 facing the opening 13b of the connector mounting section 13.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, a lock opening / closing rod 14 is attached to one end side 14e of the inspection section 12 via a spring 25 which is an elastic body. The lock opening / closing rod 14 has a projecting portion 14a having a slope 14d protruding from a tip end serving as the other end side 14f.
A step-like convex part 14b is projected from a surface 14c on the back side. The lock opening / closing rod 14 moves in conjunction with the movement of the inspection unit 12, and the other end 14 f is continuously inserted through the connector insertion portion 13 and the hole 16 a of the lock piece 16. As shown in FIG. 7A, the protrusion 14b is located inside the hole 16a when the rod 17a of the cylinder 17 is in the most extended state, and the rod 17a shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. Is extended only one stage,
The hole 16a comes into contact with the inner end 16b of the connector insertion portion 13 side. The distance between the convex portion 14b and the protruding portion 14a at the distal end is set in the state shown in FIG.
The setting is such that a does not affect the movement of the lock piece 16, but only abuts on the semicircular copying surface 16 c of the hole 16 a of the lock piece 16.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a large number of the continuity inspection devices 11 are provided on the continuity inspection diagram 30 in various directions in accordance with the position of the connector of the terminal of the wire harness. Each continuity inspection device 11 is completely buried in the mounting board 30a, and has a cutout portion 30b on the insertion opening 13e side so that a connector can be inserted. In addition, the inspection drawing board 30 has an operation preparation button 31a, an inspection start button 31
b, a reexamination button 31c, etc., and a display unit 32 for displaying the inspection result. FIG.
As shown in (B), the continuity inspection device 11 includes an insertion port 13.
In order to secure e, the connector insertion portion 13 may be attached in a state where the connector insertion portion 13 protrudes from the attachment drawing board 30a.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, in order to facilitate the insertion of the connector, the guide bracket 28 is attached to the connector insertion portion 1.
3, the connector may be pushed into the insertion opening 13e after the tip of the connector is once brought into contact with the bracket surface 28a as shown by the arrow in the figure.

The inspection probe pins 18 of the continuity inspection device 11 are connected to a control device (not shown) such as a sequencer for determining the continuity inspection. The control device includes a button 31a for preparing the inspection of the operation unit 31 and starting the inspection,
An ON signal of 31b, a continuity check signal from the probe pin 18 and the like are input, a continuity check signal to the probe pin 18, a switching signal of a solenoid valve (not shown) for controlling the cylinder 17, and a check result of the check result. A display signal or the like to the display unit 32 is output. The control device receives the input signal as described above, outputs a switching signal to the solenoid valve, expands and contracts the rod 17a of the cylinder 17, and moves the inspection unit 12 of the continuity inspection jig 11 close to the connector insertion unit 13. I'm trying to leave.

The connector to be inspected is the connector 50 shown in FIG. 1 and the like, in which the side retainer 50c is fitted into the recess 50e of the peripheral wall 50d. The side retainer 50c protrudes from the recess 50e in the half-fit state where the fitting is incomplete, but does not protrude beyond the surface height of the peripheral wall 50d.

The continuity inspection device 11 uses the connector 50
In order to perform the continuity inspection, first, the inspection preparation button 31a is turned on, and as shown in FIG. 5B, the rod 17a of the cylinder 17 is extended only one stage, and the inspection unit 12 and the connector insertion unit are inserted. 13 is held in a neutral position. In this state, as shown in FIG. 5A, the connector 50 is pushed from the direction of the side surface 50f of the connector 50 into the housing portion 13a of the connector insertion portion 13 through the insertion opening 13e.

6A and 6B, if the side retainer 50c of the connector 50 projects half-fitted, it interferes with the detection portion 21a of the detection plate 21 and Since it becomes impossible to push the 50, the fitting failure of the side retainer 50c can be detected.

When the connector 50 is pushed into the accommodating portion 13a, the engaging claw 22 protruding from the insertion opening 13e is pressed by the pushing while the tapered surface 22a comes into contact with the side surface 50f of the connector 50, and the connector insertion portion is pushed. Since the connector 50 is pushed back into the connector 13, the connector 50 can be smoothly pushed into the housing portion 13a without the engaging claw 22 becoming a resistance. When the connector 50 is completely housed, as shown in FIG.
Is no longer in contact with the connector 50 and protrudes again.
0 g is brought into contact with the flat surface 22 b to prevent the connector 50 from coming off and to position the connector 50. Furthermore, leaf spring 2
4 is pushed into the front end portion 50h of the side wall of the connector 50 and is bent. Note that the accommodated connector 5
0 indicates that the wire mounting surface 50b is suppressed by the lock piece 16 protruding into the opening 13b.
There is no escape from 3b.

When the connector 50 is inserted,
Even if the connector 50 is erroneously inserted through the opening 13b as in the prior art, the lock piece 16 is
Is locked in a protruding state by the convex portion 14b of
It cannot be inserted through the opening 13b.

As described above, the connector 50 is
When the inspection start button 31b is turned on after being attached to the
As shown in (A), the rod 17a of the cylinder 17 extends most, the inspection part 12 and the connector insertion part 13 are in the proximity inspection position, and the probe pin 18 for continuity inspection is pressed against the terminal T of the connector 50. Have been. Also, in this proximity inspection position, the convex portion 14b of the lock opening / closing rod 14 is also provided.
Is located inside the hole 16a of the lock piece 16 and the lock piece 1
6 is projected into the opening 13b to lock the connector 50 in the connector housing 13a. At this proximity inspection position, even if the worker inadvertently pushes the lock opening / closing rod 14, the pushable amount of the lock opening / closing rod 14 and the lock piece 16
From the depth of the hole 16a of FIG.
This prevents the connector 50 from being unlocked during the continuity test. Therefore, the connector 50 is not pushed out from the connector mounting portion 13 and the safety of the continuity inspection work can be secured.

In the above state, a test signal is output from the probe pin 18 to perform a continuity test, and the control device checks whether the output signal returns, and determines whether or not the continuity of the connector is good. If it is determined that the product is non-defective, a message indicating good product is displayed on the display unit 32 and, as shown in FIG.
The rod 17a of the cylinder 17 is shrunk to the separated open position. The lock opening / closing rod 14 is pulled back in the direction of the arrow in the drawing in conjunction with the above position, and the semicircular scanning surface 1 of the hole 16a of the lock piece 16 is formed on the slope 14d of the projection 14a at the tip.
6c abuts, the lock piece 16 slides and retreats, and the unlocked connector 50 is pushed out of the housing portion 13a by the bias of the leaf spring 24. Thereafter, the connector 50 can be easily removed from the continuity inspection device 11 only by pulling the wire or the like connected to the connector 50 by the operator.

After the required time has passed from the release position, as shown in FIG. 5B, the cylinder 17 is driven to the neutral position to take out the inspected connector and prepare for the next inspection. I have to.

When a connector is determined to be defective by the continuity test at the proximity inspection position shown in FIG. 7A, all the continuity inspection devices 11 are set to the neutral position shown in FIG. 5B. . In this state, when the operator pushes the tip of the lock opening / closing rod 14 of only the continuity inspection device 11 that houses the connector determined to be defective against the urging of the spring 25, the convex part 14b as shown in FIG. Is disengaged from the hole 16a of the lock piece 16, and the slope 14d of the protrusion 14a and the hole 16a
The sliding piece is brought into sliding contact with the copying surface 16c so that the lock piece 16
The lock is released by retracting from the position b, and the connector 50 is taken out to correct the problem. When the lock opening / closing rod 14 is released from the pressed state, the spring 2
With the bias of 5, the lock piece 16 returns to the initial position, and the lock piece 16 again projects toward the opening 13b by the biasing force of the spring 24.

Note that the continuity inspection device is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be of various embodiments, and the position of the detection portion for confirming the engagement of the side retainer, the position of the engagement claw, and the like may be adjusted according to the shape of the connector. The relationship may be changed as appropriate. Further, the detection portion for confirming the fitting of the side retainer may be formed integrally with the connector insertion portion in addition to providing the detection plate by attaching the detection plate. The connector to be inspected is not limited to the type in which the side retainer is fitted into the recess of the side wall, but the continuity inspection jig can be applied to various connectors.

[0032]

As is clear from the above description, the use of the continuity inspection device of the present invention makes it possible to fit the retainer to the connector having the side retainer fitting portion in the side wall recess at the time of mounting. And a continuity test can be performed automatically. Also, even if a connector is determined to be defective by inspection, only the defective connector can be taken out, corrected, and returned to the inspection process again. Can be dealt with.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a continuity inspection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a connector insertion portion of the continuity inspection device,
(A) is a plan view and (B) is a front view of a main part.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the continuity inspection device taken along line AA in FIG. 2 (B).

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a continuity inspection diagram plate, FIG. 4B is a modified example of attachment of the continuity inspection device, and FIG. 4C is a modified example of an insertion port of a connector insertion portion.

5A and 5B are push-in states of the connector, FIG. 5A is a plan view at the time of push-in, FIG. 5B is a front view at the time of push-in,
(C) is a top view at the time of completion of pushing.

FIG. 6 shows a state of detection of half-fitting of the side retainer,
(A) is a plan view and (B) is a front view of a main part.

FIG. 7A is a front view of a proximity inspection position, and FIG. 7B is a front view of a separation solution position.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing the time of handling when a failure occurs.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are front views showing a series of inspection positions by a conventional continuity inspection device.

FIG. 10 is a main part schematic diagram showing a state of detecting a failure of a retainer by a conventional continuity inspection device.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a main part showing a problem of a conventional continuity inspection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 11 Continuity inspection device 2, 12 Inspection part 3, 13 Connector insertion part 4, 14 Lock opening / closing rod 6, 16 Lock piece 7, 17 Cylinder 8, 18 Probe pin 10, 50 Connector 10c, 50c Side retainer 13e Insertion opening DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Detection plate 21a Detection part 22 Engagement claw 30 Continuity inspection drawing board

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A connector insertion portion having a connector accommodating portion is moved toward and away from a test portion provided with a probe pin by a driving means to be relatively displaced to a proximity test position, a neutral position, and a separation open position, and An opening communicating with the housing portion of the connector is provided on a surface of the connector insertion portion opposite to the inspection portion side, and a lock piece urged to protrude into the opening is provided. On the other hand, one end of a lock opening / closing bar is attached to the inspection unit via an elastic body, and the lock opening / closing bar is passed through the hole of the lock piece, and the other end of the lock opening / closing rod has a surface on which the lock piece hole is formed. A continuity inspection device having a projection having a slope that is slidably contacted, wherein the projection is slid in contact with a contour surface of the lock piece and the lock piece is retracted from the opening by interlocking a lock opening / closing rod by movement of the inspection section; In the hollow The connector having the retainer fitting portion is to be inspected, and the connector insertion portion is provided with an insertion port communicating with the housing portion of the connector on a side surface orthogonal to the surface having the opening, while the insertion port is provided in the insertion port. Protrudes a detection part for confirming the engagement of the side retainer, pushes the connector into the connector insertion part through the insertion opening from the side of the connector, and in the case of half-fitting in which the side retainer projects, A continuity inspection device characterized in that the connector cannot be inserted due to contact with the detection portion, and the connector after the continuity test is taken out from the opening. 2. The insertion port is provided with an engagement claw that is protruded by an elastic body, and is configured to prevent the connector pushed into the connector insertion portion by the engagement claw and perform positioning. The continuity inspection device according to claim 1. 3. The lock opening / closing bar has a convex portion on the back surface of the surface having the protruding portion, and when the connector is inserted in the neutral position, the convex portion comes into contact with the edge of the hole of the lock piece to lock the lock piece. The connector is locked in the protruding state to prevent the connector from being inserted through the opening.If a continuity test detects a defective connector, the lock opening / closing bar is set to the neutral position, and the lock opening / closing bar is pressed against the urging force of the elastic body. When pressed in opposition, the convex portion is disengaged from the hole of the lock piece to release the lock of the lock piece, and the lock piece is retracted by sliding contact between the protruding portion and the copying surface, thereby opening the defective connector. In the proximity inspection position, the protrusion is located inside the hole of the lock piece even if it is pushed in, the lock piece protrudes into the opening to lock the connector, and in the separation release position after inspection, As the protrusion comes off the hole The continuity inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is slidably contacted with the profiling surface of the lock piece to retreat the lock piece so that the connector can be removed.