JP2007287539A - Terminal bending apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal bending apparatus capable of surely bending, at a desired precision, a terminal bracket attached to a connector housing to which a hood covering the terminal bracket is fitted. <P>SOLUTION: A terminal bending apparatus 1 comprises a housing support 11, a terminal bending unit 14, and a control device 15. The housing support 11 supports a connector housing 2. The terminal bending unit 14 is equipped with a bending die 50. The bending die 50 is equipped with a plurality of positioning projections 79 for positioning a terminal bracket 3, and a terminal insert space 80 where the terminal bracket 3 is housed. The control device 15 controls the terminal bending unit 14 so that, after the positioning projections 79 are positioned between the points of the terminal bracket 3 close to the connector housing 2, the bending die 50 is moved away from the connector housing 2, and the terminal bracket 3 is inserted in the terminal insert space 80 while the positioning projections 79 are positioned between the terminal brackets 3, for bending the terminal bracket 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal bending apparatus that bends a linear terminal fitting attached to a connector housing into a square shape.

  A connector that connects a printed wiring board and a wire harness includes a connector housing and a rod-shaped terminal fitting that is attached to the connector housing and bent into a square shape. The terminal fittings described above are usually provided in plural (many) and arranged in parallel to each other. The plurality of terminal fittings are attached to the connector housing in such a manner that a plurality of terminal rows arranged in parallel with each other are stacked in a plurality of stages.

  A terminal bending apparatus has been proposed in which when the terminal fittings are bent into the above-described character shape, all the terminal fittings are attached to the connector housing, and then the linear terminal fittings of each terminal row are bent one by one. In the terminal bending apparatus described above, the terminal fitting is positioned at a predetermined position by positioning the terminal fitting between the positioning pins protruding from below the connector housing, and then the terminal fitting is bent.

  In the terminal bending apparatus described above, the terminal fitting is positioned between the positioning pins protruding from the lower side of the connector housing to position the terminal fitting. Therefore, when the hood portion covering the terminal fitting is attached to the connector housing, the terminal The bracket cannot be positioned and bent. For this reason, in the terminal bending apparatus described above, it is difficult to bend the terminal fitting at a desired location because the terminal fitting attached to the connector housing to which the hood portion covering the terminal fitting is attached is not positioned. In addition, it is difficult to keep the direction of bending the terminal fitting in a desired direction. That is, in the terminal bending apparatus described above, it is difficult to bend the terminal fitting attached to the connector housing to which the hood portion covering the terminal fitting is attached with a desired accuracy.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal bending apparatus that can reliably bend a terminal fitting attached to a connector housing to which a hood portion covering the terminal fitting is attached with a desired accuracy.

  In order to achieve the object, a terminal bending apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a housing support portion that supports a connector housing with a terminal fitting, and a linear terminal fitting attached to the connector housing. In a terminal bending apparatus comprising a terminal bending unit that bends in a letter shape, the terminal bending unit includes a bending mold for bending the terminal fitting, and a mold moving unit that moves the bending mold to bend the terminal fitting. And the bending die is provided with a plurality of positioning projections for positioning the terminal fittings between the distal end portions close to the housing supporting portion and positioning the terminal fittings, and the housing supports more than the positioning projections. A terminal insertion space for accommodating the terminal fitting on the side away from the portion, and the terminal After positioning the positioning projection between the portions of the tool close to the connector housing, the bending mold is moved away from the connector housing, and the terminal fitting is moved to the terminal while the positioning projection is positioned between the terminal fittings. Control means for controlling the terminal bending unit is provided so as to be inserted into the insertion space and bend the terminal fitting.

  The terminal bending apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the terminal bending apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the bending mold is provided at a distal end portion close to the housing support portion and opposed to the housing support portion. An arcuate surface having a longitudinal cross-section in the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting, and the terminal insertion space into which the terminal fitting is inserted is formed between the arcuate surface and spaced from the arcuate surface. And a wall portion to be provided.

  A terminal bending apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the terminal bending apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein a cylindrical cylindrical pin whose longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting is provided at the tip of the folding mold. The arcuate surface is attached to form a part of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical pin, and the bending die is provided with an opening that opens above the terminal insertion space.

  A terminal bending apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the terminal bending apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the housing support portion bends the connector housing with the terminal fitting. An allowance that supports the housing support portion movably along the longitudinal direction of the previous terminal fitting and allows the connector housing supported by the housing support portion to move along the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting. A switching portion that can be switched between a state and a restricted state that restricts movement of the connector housing supported by the housing support portion along the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting, and the control means includes the control means, Control means for positioning the switching portion in the allowable state when the terminal bending unit bends the terminal fitting. It is characterized in that.

  According to the terminal bending apparatus of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, since the positioning projection for positioning the terminal fitting is provided on the bending die, the folding mold is provided even if the hood portion covering the terminal fitting is attached to the connector housing. The terminal fitting can be positioned using the positioning projection provided on the.

  Also, since the positioning fitting is positioned by inserting a positioning protrusion between the terminal fittings near the connector housing, the positioning protrusion can be inserted between the terminal fittings more securely, and the terminal fitting can be positioned reliably. Can do. Further, since the positioning metal fitting is positioned by inserting a positioning protrusion between locations of the terminal metal fitting near the connector housing, it is possible to reduce the size of the folding mold and manufacture a multi-pin (having many terminal metal fittings) connector. Suitable for bending terminal fittings.

  Furthermore, since the bending mold with the positioning protrusions positioned between the terminal fittings is gradually moved away from the housing support portion, that is, the connector housing, the terminal fittings are positioned in order from the location near the connector housing toward the location away from the connector housing. Become.

  According to the terminal bending apparatus of the present invention described in claim 2, since the arc-shaped arc-shaped surface is formed at the tip of the folding mold, the arc-shaped surface is formed when the folding mold bends the terminal fitting. The terminal fitting is bent along.

  According to the terminal bending apparatus of the present invention as set forth in claim 3, since the circular arc surface is formed by providing the cylindrical pin, the circular arc surface can be easily formed into a circular arc shape in cross section.

  Further, since the opening is provided in the bending mold, the terminal insertion space is opened by the opening.

  According to the terminal bending apparatus of the present invention described in claim 4, when the terminal bending unit bends the terminal fitting, the housing support portion, that is, the connector housing to which the terminal fitting is attached becomes movable, so that the terminal fitting is bent. In conjunction with the operation, the connector housing supported by the housing support portion moves in a direction approaching the terminal bending unit.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the terminal fitting is positioned by using the positioning protrusion provided on the folding mold even if the hood portion that covers the terminal fitting is attached to the connector housing. be able to. For this reason, the terminal fitting can be bent in a desired direction at a desired location. Therefore, the terminal fitting attached to the connector housing to which the hood portion covering the terminal fitting is attached can be reliably bent with a desired accuracy.

  In addition, since the positioning fitting can be positioned by inserting a positioning protrusion between locations of the terminal fitting near the connector housing, and the bending mold can reliably position the terminal fitting before being bent, the terminal folding unit becomes the terminal fitting. Can be bent more reliably.

  Since the terminal fitting is sequentially positioned from the location near the connector housing toward the location away from the connector housing, the terminal fitting can be positioned more reliably, and the terminal bending unit can bend the terminal fitting more reliably.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the bending die bends the terminal fitting, the terminal fitting is bent along the arcuate surface, so that the terminal fitting can be bent without breaking.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the circular arc surface can be easily formed into a circular arc shape by providing the cylindrical pin, the cost of the bending die can be reduced.

  In addition, since the terminal insertion space is opened by the opening, it is possible to prevent the bending mold from rubbing against the terminal fitting, to prevent the quality of the terminal fitting from being deteriorated, and to scrape the terminal fitting etc. Can be prevented from clogging the terminal insertion space.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the connector housing supported by the housing support portion moves in a direction approaching the terminal bending unit in conjunction with the operation of bending the terminal metal fitting. The reaction force acting on the bending mold for bending the terminal fitting of the terminal bending unit can be reduced.

  For this reason, since the thickness of the folding mold can be reduced, by using this thinly formed folding mold, after all the terminal fittings are attached to the connector housing, the thin folding mold is used as the terminal fitting. The terminal fitting can be reliably bent without interfering with. Accordingly, since all the terminal fittings can be bent after being attached to the connector housing, it is not necessary to repeat the terminal fitting attaching operation and the bending operation, and the time required for bending the terminal fitting can be shortened.

  Hereinafter, a terminal bending apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The terminal bending apparatus 1 is an apparatus for assembling a connector 4 by bending a linearly extending rod-shaped terminal fitting 3 attached to a connector housing 2 90 degrees upward in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the connector 4 includes a connector housing 2, a hood portion 8, and a plurality of terminal fittings 3.

  The connector housing 2 is made of an insulating synthetic resin and includes a single bottom wall 5 and a plurality of peripheral walls 6 erected from the outer edge of the bottom wall 5 and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The hood portion 8 includes a bottom wall 9a connected to one peripheral wall 6 of the connector housing 2 and a peripheral wall 9b erected from the outer edge of the bottom wall 9a, and is formed integrally with the connector housing 2 in a flat box shape. Has been. The hood portion 8 covers the terminal fitting 3 described above and protects the terminal fitting 3.

  The terminal fitting 3 is made of a conductive metal and is formed in a rod shape. The terminal fitting 3 is attached to the connector housing 2 through the bottom wall 5 described above. One end of the terminal fitting 3 is accommodated in the connector housing 2, and the other end is positioned in the hood portion 8. The other end of the terminal fitting 3 is bent approximately 90 degrees from the connector housing 2 toward the opening of the hood portion 8.

  The plurality of terminal fittings 3 are arranged in parallel to each other. In the illustrated example, the connector 4 includes a plurality of terminal rows 7 formed by arranging a plurality of the terminal fittings 3 in the depth direction in FIG. In the illustrated example, four terminal rows 7 are provided. In FIG. 1, these four terminal rows 7 are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. The terminal fitting 3 is attached to the connector housing 2 by being press-fitted into the connector housing 2 or integrally formed with the connector housing 2 by insert molding or the like.

  The connector 4 has the other end of the terminal fitting 3 connected to a conductor pattern of a printed wiring board (not shown) housed in the hood 8, and one end of the terminal fitting 3 connected to a terminal of the connector of the wire harness, The conductor pattern of these printed wiring boards and each electric wire of a wire harness are electrically connected.

  After the terminal fittings 3 of all the terminal rows 7 are attached to the connector housing 2, the terminal bending apparatus 1 has a lower terminal fitting 3 from the terminal row 7 in which the terminal fitting 3 in FIG. The terminal fittings 3 of the terminal row 7 located at the position are bent in a square shape in order. Further, in the illustrated example, the terminal fitting 3 of the terminal row 7 located below the terminal fitting 3 of the terminal row 7 located at the upper side in FIG. 1 protrudes further toward the inside of the hood portion 8 and is bent. The bent portion is positioned more inside the hood portion 8.

  The terminal bending device 1 includes a base 10 as a device main body, a housing support portion 11, a switching portion 12, a terminal bending unit 14, and a control device 15 as control means. The base 10 is formed in a flat plate shape.

  The housing support part 11 includes a fixed part 16, a linear guide 17, and a slide moving part 18. The fixing part 16 includes a standing part 19 standing from the base 10 and a horizontal plate 20 attached to the upper end of the standing part 19. The horizontal plate 20 is disposed at a distance from the base 10 along the vertical direction, and its upper surface is formed flat along the horizontal direction. The horizontal plate 20 has a through hole 21 through which a rod 29 described later of the switching unit 12 passes.

  The linear guide 17 includes a rail 22 and a slider 23. The rail 22 extends linearly and is attached to the upper surface of the horizontal plate 20. The longitudinal direction of the rail 22 is arranged in parallel with the left-right direction in FIG. The slider 23 is slidable with respect to the rail 22 along the longitudinal direction of the rail 22.

  The slide moving unit 18 includes a horizontal plate 24 and a holding frame 25. The horizontal plate 24 is attached to the slider 23 of the linear guide 17. The holding frame 25 is erected upward from the upper surface of the horizontal plate 24. The holding frame 25 is formed in a frame, and the inner shape thereof is substantially equal to the planar shape (outer shape) of the connector housing 2 and the hood portion 8 of the connector 4. The holding frame 25 positions the connector housing 2 and the hood portion 8 of the connector 4 inside, and holds the connector housing 2 and the hood portion 8. The holding frame 25 overlaps the bottom wall 9a of the hood portion 8 with the horizontal plate 24, and the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 3 before bending attached to the connector housing 2 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rail 22. The connector housing 2 and the hood portion 8 are held.

  The housing support portion 11 holds the connector housing 2 and the hood portion 8 in the holding frame 25, and the slide moving portion 18, that is, the holding frame 25 is slidable along the longitudinal direction of the rail 22. The connector housing 2 is movably supported along the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 3 before being bent.

  The switching unit 12 includes a switching cylinder 27, a positioning hole 28, and a rod 29. The switching cylinder 27 includes a cylinder body 30 and a telescopic rod 31 that can protrude and retract from the cylinder body 30. The cylinder body 30 is attached to the upper surface of the base 10 and is disposed below the horizontal plate 20. The cylinder body 30 is attached to the upper surface of the base 10 in a state where the longitudinal direction of the telescopic rod 31 is along the vertical direction and the telescopic rod 31 extends upward.

  The positioning hole 28 passes through the horizontal plate 24 of the slide moving unit 18 and is disposed above the switching cylinder 27. A tapered surface 32 is provided on the inner surface of the positioning hole 28 over the entire circumference so as to gradually decrease the inner diameter of the positioning hole 28 as it goes upward.

  The rod 29 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is fixed to the telescopic rod 31 of the switching cylinder 27. The longitudinal direction of the rod 29 is arranged in parallel with the vertical direction. The upper end of the rod 29 is formed in a circular arc shape in cross section.

  When the telescopic rod 31 of the switching cylinder 27 extends, the switching unit 12 comes into contact with the tapered surface 32 while the upper end of the rod 29 enters the positioning hole 28. When the upper end of the rod 29 comes into contact with the tapered surface 32, the switching portion 12 is attached to the connector housing 2 by the slide moving portion 18 of the housing support portion 11, that is, the connector housing 2 supported by the housing support portion 11. Movement along the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 3 before bending is restricted.

  When the telescopic rod 31 of the switching cylinder 27 is reduced, the switching unit 12 causes the upper end of the rod 29 to come out of the positioning hole 28 and be spaced from the tapered surface 32. When the upper end of the rod 29 comes out of the positioning hole 28, the switching portion 12 is attached to the connector housing 2 by the slide moving portion 18 of the housing support portion 11, that is, the connector housing 2 supported by the housing support portion 11. It is allowed to move along the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 3 before being bent.

  As described above, the switching unit 12 includes the housing support unit 11 in an allowable state in which the connector housing 2 supported by the housing support unit 11 is allowed to move along the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 3, and the housing support unit. The connector housing 2 supported by 11 can be switched to any one of the restricted states that restrict the movement of the connector housing 2 along the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal bending unit 14 includes a mold moving unit 46 and a bending mold 50. The mold moving unit 46 includes a horizontal moving unit 47, an elevating unit 48, and a rotating unit 49. The horizontal moving unit 47 includes a linear guide 51, a vertical plate 52, and a cylinder (not shown).

  The linear guide 51 includes a rail 53 and a slider 54. The rail 53 extends linearly and is attached to the upper surface of the base 10. The longitudinal direction of the rail 53 is arranged in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rail 22 described above, that is, the terminal fitting 3 described above. The slider 54 is slidable with respect to the rail 53 along the longitudinal direction of the rail 53.

  The vertical plate 52 is formed in a flat plate shape whose both surfaces are flat along the vertical direction, and is attached to the slider 54. The cylinder moves the vertical plate 52 along the longitudinal direction of the rail 53 described above, that is, the terminal fitting 3 by extending and retracting the telescopic rod from the cylinder body.

  The elevating part 48 includes a linear guide 55, a horizontal plate 56, and a cylinder (not shown). The linear guide 55 includes a rail 57 and a slider 58. The rail 57 extends linearly and is attached to the surface of the vertical plate 52. The longitudinal direction of the rail 57 is arranged in parallel with the vertical direction. The slider 58 is slidable with respect to the rail 57 along the longitudinal direction of the rail 57.

  The horizontal plate 56 includes a U-shaped portion 59 and an attachment portion 60. The U-shaped portion 59 includes a pair of parallel portions 61 arranged in parallel with a space between each other, and a connecting portion 62 that connects one end portions of the pair of parallel portions 61, as viewed from above (plan view). Is formed in a U-shape. The attaching portion 60 extends from the center of the connecting portion 62 of the U-shaped portion 59 in a direction away from the U-shaped portion 59. The attachment portion 60 is attached to the slider 58 of the linear guide 55. The cylinder moves the horizontal plate 56 along the rail 57 described above, that is, the vertical direction by extending and retracting the telescopic rod from the cylinder body.

  The rotation unit 49 includes a motor 63 as a drive source, a U-shaped rotation plate 64, and a power transmission unit 65. The motor 63 has a motor body 66 fixed to a horizontal plate 56. The U-shaped rotating plate 64 includes a pair of parallel portions 67 that are parallel to each other and a connecting portion 68 that connects one end portions of the pair of parallel portions 67, and is U-shaped when viewed from above (plan view). Is formed. The parallel part 67 is formed shorter than the parallel part 61 described above, and the connecting part 68 is formed shorter than the connecting part 62 described above.

  The U-shaped rotating plate 64 is disposed between the pair of parallel portions 61 of the horizontal plate 56. The U-shaped rotating plate 64 has a parallel portion 67 disposed in parallel with the above-described parallel portion 61 with a space therebetween, and a connecting portion 68 disposed in parallel with the above-described connecting portion 62 with a space therebetween. A rotation pin 69 is attached to the other end of the parallel part 67. The rotation pin 69 is formed in a cylindrical shape and extends along the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 68 from the other end portion of the parallel portion 67. The rotation pin 69 is supported on the other end of the parallel portion 61 via a bearing 70 so as to be rotatable around the axis.

  The power transmission unit 65 includes a pulley attached to the output shaft 71 of the motor 63, a pulley attached to one rotation pin 69, and an endless belt 72 spanned between these pulleys. The rotation part 49 rotates the U-shaped rotation plate 64 around the rotation pin 69, that is, the other end of the parallel part 67 by the rotational driving force of the motor 63.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the bending die 50 includes a main body 73 and a cylindrical pin 74. The main body 73 is formed in a flat plate shape, and one end thereof is attached to the connecting portion 68 of the U-shaped rotating plate 64. When the main body 73, that is, the bending die 50 is attached to the connecting portion 68 of the U-shaped rotating plate 64, the center of curvature of a part 83 of the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical pin 74 as an arcuate surface described later is the rotating pin 69. It is arranged on the same line as the shaft core P. That is, the bending die 50 is rotated around the part 83 of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical pin 74 as an arcuate surface by the rotating portion 49.

  The main body 73 includes a substantially flat wall 77, a plurality of partition walls 78 erected from the outer surface of the wall 77, and a partition wall 78 erected from an edge of the wall 77 near the housing support 11. A plurality of positioning protrusions 79 are provided. The wall 77 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape. The edge near the housing support 11 forms the tip of the bending die 50 near the housing support 11.

  The partition wall 78 and the positioning projection 79 extend linearly along the longitudinal direction of the rail 22, that is, the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 3 before being bent. The plurality of partition walls 78 and the positioning protrusions 79 are arranged at intervals from each other along the longitudinal direction of the rail 22, that is, the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 3 before bending. That is, the plurality of partition walls 78 and the positioning protrusions 79 are arranged at intervals from each other along the direction in which the terminal fittings 3 of each terminal row 7 are arranged side by side. The interval between the partition walls 78 and the positioning projections 79 adjacent to each other is formed to be slightly larger than the width of the terminal fitting 3.

  The partition walls 78 and the positioning projections 79 adjacent to each other position the terminal metal fitting 3 before and after the bending, and position the terminal metal fitting 3 therebetween. The positioning projection 79 has a curved surface 81. The curved surface 81 is arranged at a position aligned with the wall portion 77 of the positioning protrusion 79 along the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 3 before bending (longitudinal direction of a terminal insertion space 80 described later). The curved surface 81 is convexly curved in a direction in which the width of the positioning projection 79 gradually decreases toward the bottom surface of the wall portion 77 and toward the outside of the positioning projection 79.

  The cylindrical pin 74 is attached to the main body portion 73 through a portion that is formed in a cylindrical shape and is positioned above the wall portion 77 of the positioning projection 79. The cylindrical pin 74 is disposed coaxially with the rotation pin 69. For this reason, the cylindrical pin 74 is disposed at a distance from the wall 77. The longitudinal direction of the cylindrical pin 74, that is, the axial center of the cylindrical pin 74 is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 3 before bending. A part 83 of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical pin 74 near the housing support 11 and near the wall 77 is provided at the front end of the folding die 50 near the housing support 11 so as to be opposed to the housing support 11. . Of course, part 83 of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical pin 74 is formed such that the longitudinal section of the terminal fitting 3 before bending is formed in an arc shape. That is, a part 83 of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical pin 74 described above forms an arc-shaped surface described in the claims.

  In the bending die 50 described above, the terminal fitting 3 before being bent is inserted between the positioning protrusion 79 and the partition wall 78, the wall portion 77, and the cylindrical pin 74 that are adjacent to each other. A space surrounded by the adjacent partition walls 78, the wall 77, and the cylindrical pin 74 is a terminal insertion space 80 into which the terminal fitting 3 is inserted. That is, the bending die 50 is provided with a terminal insertion space 80 for accommodating the terminal fitting 3 on the side farther from the housing support 11 than the positioning projection 79 described above. That is, the wall portion 77 forms a terminal insertion space 80 in which the terminal fitting 3 is inserted between the wall portion 77 and a part 83 of the outer peripheral surface forming the arcuate surface of the cylindrical pin 74.

  For this reason, the main body portion 73, that is, the bending die 50 is provided with an opening 82 that opens the upper side of the terminal insertion space 80. The bending die 50 inserts the terminal fitting 3 into the terminal insertion space 80 and bends the terminal fitting 3 along a part 83 as an arcuate surface of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical pin 81. Thus, the bending die 50 is a die for bending the terminal fitting 3 attached to the connector housing 2.

  In the terminal bending unit 14 described above, the mold moving part 46, that is, the horizontal moving part 47, the lifting / lowering part 48, and the rotating part 49 make the bending mold 50 contactable / separable with the housing support part 11. Further, the terminal bending unit 14 positions the terminal fitting 3 before being bent in the terminal insertion space 80 of the bending die 50 and rotates the bending die 50 around the cylindrical pin 74, whereby the housing support 11 The terminal metal fitting 3 attached to the connector housing 2 supported by is bent into a square shape. In this manner, the mold moving unit 46 of the terminal bending unit 14 moves the bending mold 50 so as to bend the terminal fitting 3.

  The control device 15 is a computer provided with a well-known ROM, RAM, and CPU. The control device 15 is connected to the switching unit 12 and the terminal bending unit 14 described above, and controls them to control the terminal bending device 1. It governs overall control.

  The ROM stores an operation program of the CPU, that is, the terminal bending apparatus 1. The RAM temporarily holds data necessary when the CPU executes the calculation. The CPU operates the terminal bending apparatus 1 in accordance with the operation program described in the ROM.

  The CPU, that is, the control device 15 controls the switching unit 12 and the terminal bending unit 14 described above, so that the terminal fitting 3 of the terminal row 7 positioned above the connector housing 2 supported by the housing support unit 11 is provided. The terminal fittings 3 of the terminal row 7 positioned below in order are bent in a square shape.

  The control device 15 controls the switching unit 12 and the terminal bending unit 14 as follows when the terminal fitting 3 of one terminal row 7 is bent. In the following description, a representative example of bending the terminal fitting 3 of the second terminal row 7 from the bottom in FIG. 1 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 8, the control device 15 extends the telescopic rod 31 of the switching cylinder 27 of the switching unit 12 to place the switching unit 12 in a restricted state, and the connector housing 2 supported by the housing support unit 11. Regulate the movement of

  Further, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 8, the control device 15 has the terminal bending unit 14 arranged with the bending die 50 above the terminal fitting 3 and provided with a positioning projection 79 near the housing support portion 11. The terminal insertion space 80 is bent so as to intersect the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 3 before being bent so that the front end portion is positioned below the rear end portion away from the positioning projection 79 on the side away from the housing support portion 11. The mold 50 is positioned. Then, the control device 15 lowers the bending die 50 to the terminal bending unit 14 so that the positions of the adjacent terminal fittings 3 from the connector housing 2 as much as possible are adjacent to each other as shown by the solid line in FIG. The positioning projection 79 is positioned between the portions of the terminal fitting 3 from the connector housing 2 as much as possible. Thus, the terminal fitting 3 is positioned between the positioning projections 79, and the terminal fitting 3 before being bent is positioned.

  Thereafter, the control device 15 bends the terminal bending unit 14 with the positioning projection 79 positioned between the terminal fittings 3 so that the bending die 50 changes from the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9 to the state indicated by the solid line. The bending die 50 is moved away from the connector housing 2 while gradually lowering the die 50. Thus, the control device 15 presses the cylindrical pin 74 against the terminal fitting 3 to position the terminal fitting 3 in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the tip of the terminal fitting 3 is located between the cylindrical pin 74 and the wall 77, the control device 15 indicates that the bending die 50 is indicated by a solid line from the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11. With the positioning protrusion 79 positioned between the terminal fittings 3 so as to be in the state, the terminal bending unit 14 is provided with the cylinder described above in the direction in which the rear end portion of the bending mold 50 away from the housing support portion 11 faces downward. The bending die 50 is rotated around the pin 74 so that the longitudinal direction of the terminal insertion space 80 is substantially horizontal, and the rear end portion of the bending die 50 is positioned slightly below the above-described front end portion. Thereafter, the control device 15 causes the terminal bending unit 14 to place the positioning projection 79 between the terminal fittings 3 so that the bending die 50 changes from the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The bending die 50 is moved toward the connector housing 2 supported by the housing support portion 11. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the tip of the terminal fitting 3 is caused to enter the terminal insertion space 80.

  After the tip of the terminal fitting 3 has entered the terminal insertion space 80, the control device 15 causes the terminal bending unit 14 to change the bending die 50 from the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 14 to the state shown by the solid line. The bending die 50 is rotated around the cylindrical pin 74 so that the terminal entry space is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 3 before bending. Thereafter, the control device 15 causes the terminal bending unit 14 to move the bending die 50 toward the housing support portion 11 so as to change from the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 15 to the state indicated by the solid line.

  Then, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 15 and a two-dot chain line in FIG. 16, the control device 15 is configured such that the tip of the bending die 50 near the housing support portion 11 is positioned at the bent portion of the terminal fitting 3. The bending die 50 is temporarily stopped by the bending unit 14. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the control device 15 contracts the telescopic rod 31 of the switching cylinder 27 of the switching unit 12 so that the switching unit 12 is allowed, and the connector housing 2 supported by the housing support unit 11. Is allowed to move.

  Thereafter, the control device 15 is arranged so that the rear end portion on the side away from the housing support portion 11 is directed upward with the rotation pin 69, that is, the cylindrical pin 74 described above, at the rotation portion 49 of the terminal bending unit 14. As shown in FIG. 16, the bending die 50 is rotated 90 degrees or more. Then, as the terminal fitting 3 is bent, the connector housing 2 supported by the housing support 11, that is, the slide moving portion 18 gradually moves toward the bending die 50 by being pulled by the bent terminal fitting 3. . In this way, the control device 15 positions the switching unit 12 in an allowable state when the terminal bending unit 14 bends the terminal fitting 3.

  After once bending the terminal fitting 3 by 90 degrees or more, the control device 15 causes the bending die 50 so that the terminal insertion space 80, that is, the other end of the terminal fitting 3 is substantially parallel to the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. Is rotated in the opposite direction around the cylindrical pin 74. In this way, the terminal fitting 3 is bent along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical pin 74 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 19, the control device 15 raises the bending die 50 along the vertical direction in the terminal bending unit 14 after the terminal insertion space 80, that is, the other end of the terminal fitting 3 is parallel to the vertical direction. . In this way, the terminal bending apparatus 1 bends the terminal fitting 3 in order from the upper terminal row 7 toward the lower terminal row 7. As described above, the control device 15 positions the positioning projection 79 between the portions of the terminal fitting 3 near the connector housing 2, and then moves the bending die 50 in a direction away from the connector housing 2, thereby positioning the terminal fitting 3. The terminal bending unit 14 is controlled so that the terminal fitting 3 with the projection 79 positioned is inserted into the terminal insertion space 80 and the terminal fitting 3 is bent.

  According to this embodiment, since the positioning projection 79 for positioning the terminal fitting 3 is provided on the bending die 50, the bending die 50 is provided even if the connector housing 2 is provided with the hood portion 8 that covers the terminal fitting 3. The terminal fitting 3 can be positioned using the positioning protrusion 79 thus formed. For this reason, the terminal metal fitting 3 can be bent in a desired direction at a desired location. Therefore, the terminal fitting 3 attached to the connector housing 2 to which the hood portion 8 covering the terminal fitting 3 is attached can be reliably bent with a desired accuracy.

  Further, since the positioning projection 79 is inserted between the portions of the terminal fitting 3 close to the connector housing 2 to position the terminal fitting 3, the positioning projection 79 can be more reliably inserted between the terminal fittings 3. 3 can be positioned reliably. Therefore, the terminal bending unit 14 can bend the terminal fitting 3 more reliably.

  Further, since the bending die 50 in which the positioning protrusions 79 are positioned between the terminal fittings 3 is gradually moved away from the housing support portion 11, that is, the connector housing 2, the terminal fittings 3 are separated from the connector housing 2 from locations close to the connector housing 2. Positioning will be performed in order. Therefore, the terminal fitting 3 can be positioned more reliably, and the terminal bending unit 14 can bend the terminal fitting 3 more reliably.

  Since the arc-shaped arc-shaped surface is formed at the distal end portion of the folding die 50 near the housing support portion 11, the terminal fitting 3 is guided by the arc-shaped surface when the folding die 50 bends the terminal fitting 3. . Therefore, since the terminal fitting 3 is bent along the arcuate surface, the terminal fitting 3 can be bent without breaking.

  Since the circular arc surface is formed by providing the cylindrical pin 81, the circular arc surface can be easily formed into a circular arc shape in cross section. Therefore, the cost of the bending die 50 can be reduced.

  Moreover, since the opening 82 is provided in the bending die 50 and the terminal insertion space 80 is opened by the opening 82, the bending die 50 can be prevented from rubbing against the terminal fitting 3, and the terminal Degradation of the quality of the metal fitting 3 can be prevented, and shavings of the terminal metal fitting 3 etc. can be prevented from clogging the terminal insertion space 80.

  When the terminal bending unit 14 bends the terminal fitting 3, the housing support 11, that is, the connector housing 2 to which the terminal fitting 3 is attached becomes movable, so that the terminal fitting that is bent in conjunction with the operation of bending the terminal fitting 3 is performed. 3, the connector housing 2 supported by the housing support 11 moves in a direction approaching the terminal bending unit 14. Therefore, the reaction force acting on the bending die 50 for bending the terminal fitting 3 of the terminal bending unit 14 when the terminal fitting 3 is bent can be reduced.

  For this reason, since the thickness of the bending die 50 can be reduced, by using this thinly formed bending die 50, after all the terminal fittings 3 are attached to the connector housing 2, the thinly formed bending die 50 is used. The terminal fitting 3 can be reliably bent without the mold 50 interfering with the terminal fitting 3. Therefore, since all the terminal fittings 3 can be bent after being attached to the connector housing 2, it is not necessary to repeat the attaching operation and the bending operation of the terminal fitting 3, and the time required for bending the terminal fitting 3 is shortened. be able to.

  In the above-described embodiment, the terminal row 7 is constituted by a plurality of terminal fittings 3. However, in the present invention, the terminal row 7 may be constituted by at least one terminal fitting 3. In the embodiment described above, a plurality of terminal rows 7 are provided. However, in the present invention, it is sufficient that at least one terminal row 7 is provided.

  In the embodiment described above, the terminal insertion space 80 provided in the bending mold 50 is opened by the opening 82. However, in the present invention, the opening 82 need not be provided. In the present invention, an arcuate surface may be formed without providing the cylindrical pin 74.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a side view which shows the structure of the terminal bending apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention in a partial cross section. It is the top view which looked at the bending unit of the terminal bending apparatus shown by FIG. 1 from upper direction. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a folding die of the folding unit shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a front view of the bending die shown in FIG. 3. It is sectional drawing which follows the VV line in FIG. It is a front view which expands and shows the VI section in FIG. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the VII part in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which positioned the positioning protrusion of the bending type of the terminal bending apparatus shown by FIG. 1 between terminal metal fittings. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which separated the bending type | mold shown by FIG. 8 from the connector housing. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the X section in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which rotated the bending type | mold from the state shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which moved the bending type | mold toward the connector housing from the state shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the XIII part in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which rotated the bending type | mold shown by FIG. 12 to the position where a terminal insertion space becomes horizontal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which moved the bending type | mold of the state shown by FIG. 14 toward the connector housing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which rotated the bending type | mold of the state shown by FIG. 15 90 degree | times or more. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which returned the bending type | mold of the state shown by FIG. 16 until it became substantially parallel to the perpendicular direction. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the XVIII part in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which raised the bending die of the state shown by FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal bending apparatus 2 Connector housing 3 Terminal metal fitting 11 Housing support part 12 Switching part 14 Terminal bending unit 15 Control apparatus (control means)
46 type moving part 50 folding type 74 cylindrical pin 77 wall part 79 positioning projection 80 terminal insertion space 82 opening part 83 part of outer peripheral surface (arc-shaped surface)

Claims (4)

In a terminal bending apparatus comprising: a housing support portion that supports a connector housing with a terminal fitting; and a terminal bending unit that bends a linear terminal fitting attached to the connector housing into a square shape.
The terminal bending unit is
A bending mold for bending the terminal fitting;
A mold moving part that moves the bending mold so as to bend the terminal fitting,
The bending mold is provided with a plurality of positioning projections for positioning the terminal fittings between the distal end portions near the housing support portion and positioning the terminal fittings, and the side farther from the housing support portion than the positioning projections And providing a terminal insertion space for accommodating the terminal fitting,
After positioning the positioning projection between the portions of the terminal fitting near the connector housing, the bending mold is moved away from the connector housing, and the terminal fitting is moved while the positioning projection is positioned between the terminal fittings. A terminal bending apparatus comprising control means for controlling the terminal bending unit to be inserted into the terminal insertion space and bend the terminal fitting. The bending mold is
An arcuate surface having a longitudinal cross-section in the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting, which is provided at the front end portion near the housing support portion and facing the housing support portion;
A wall portion that is arranged at a distance from the arcuate surface and that forms the terminal insertion space in which the terminal fitting is inserted between the arcuate surface;
The terminal bending apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   A cylindrical columnar pin whose longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting is attached to the distal end portion of the bending mold, and the arcuate surface is a part of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical pin, The terminal bending apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the bending mold is provided with an opening that opens above the terminal insertion space. The housing support portion supports the connector housing with the terminal metal fittings so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction of the terminal metal fittings before being bent,
An allowable state in which the connector support supported by the housing support is allowed to move along the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting, and the connector housing supported by the housing support is provided on the terminal support. A switching unit that can be switched to any one of the regulated states that regulate movement along the longitudinal direction;
4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is a control unit that positions the switching unit in the allowable state when the terminal bending unit bends the terminal fitting. 5. The terminal bending apparatus as described.

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