JP2009211903A - Screw-less terminal block for round terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a round terminal to be easily attached/detached to/from a terminal block while using the round terminal, and to surely electrically connect the round terminal to the terminal block in a state mounted to the terminal block to prevent the coming-off of the round terminal. <P>SOLUTION: In the inside of a case 2, a fixing plate part 12 preventing separation by entering in a central space of a ring-like part 3a of the round terminal 3 inserted from an insertion opening 5, stopping plate parts 13 contacting the upper surface of the ring-like part, and a conductive terminal surface 21 contacting the undersurface of the ring-like part are arranged. The fixing plate part and the stopping plate parts are made elastically deformable; when the round terminal is mounted, the fixing plate part enters in a central space of the ring-like part to prevent the separation of the round terminal; and the stopping plate parts contact the upper surface of the ring-like part to sandwich the ring-like part between the terminal surface and itself with predetermined pressure. When a release button 4 is depressed inward, the back side of the release button energizes the fixing plate part rearward to move the lower end of the fixing plate part upward to release fixation to the ring-like part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a screwless terminal block for round terminals.

  A terminal block is installed on the surface of a controller, a remote device, or the like that constitutes a network system in FA (Factory Automation). An end of an electric wire such as a communication line or a power line is detachably attached to this terminal block. A round terminal is generally used as an end portion to be attached to the terminal block. This round terminal has a shape with a protruding side that protrudes part of the outer periphery of the ring-shaped flat metal fitting, and one end of the cable lead wire is soldered or crimped (crimped) to this protruding side. It is fixed by.

  In Japan, in the electrical wiring of the power system, due to the requirement for reliability, the above round terminals are used heavily, and in controllers and controllers such as PLCs and FA network systems installed at production sites, When connecting electric wires such as communication lines and power lines to a terminal block that becomes electrical wiring, round terminals are used.

  When round terminals are used, they are fixed to the terminal block using screws. For this reason, it is necessary to secure a working space for tools such as a screwdriver and a torque wrench for fastening screws around the terminal block, and the degree of freedom in installation layout is reduced. Also, the work of rotating the screw forward and backward for attaching and detaching the round terminal is complicated.

  On the other hand, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, in Europe, a screwless system that does not use a screw is used when an end of an electric wire is detachably attached to a terminal block. This screwless system has a connection structure in which the bare wire with the wire end stripped is inserted into the terminal portion as it is, and the inserted bare wire is fixed by a frictional force using the elastic restoring force of the spring. Although this connection structure has the merit that it can be easily attached and detached, since a round terminal is not used, it is actually not popular in Japan.

Moreover, the technique disclosed by patent document 2 is proposed as a screwless type terminal block using terminals other than the front-end | tip of an electric wire itself, or a thin rod-shaped terminal. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 uses a bifurcated terminal (Y-type terminal) using a flat metal fitting whose tip is branched into a bifurcated shape. And the latching member takes the structure which suppresses detachment | leave by suppressing the predetermined position of the outer periphery of the Y-shaped terminal inserted in the terminal block.
JP-A 61-240582 JP 2005-63814 A

  The terminal block needs to easily attach and detach the round terminal having a shape adopted by the user, and in the mounted state, the terminal needs to be electrically connected. The terminal block disclosed in Patent Document 2 employs a complicated mechanism while a mechanism for fixing the terminal and a mechanism for conducting the terminal are formed of separate members.

  The present invention can be easily attached to and detached from the terminal block while using the round terminal, and is reliably conducted when attached to the terminal block, and the round terminal is not accidentally pulled out. An object of the present invention is to provide a screwless terminal block for a round terminal capable of realizing a mechanism for attaching and detaching and a mechanism for conducting electricity with a simple configuration.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a screwless terminal block for a round terminal according to the present invention is (1) a screwless terminal block for a round terminal used in an apparatus or device constituting an industrial controller or other FA network. It is. Provide a round terminal insertion slot and a release button on the front of the case. Inside the case, there are a fixed plate part that enters the central space of the ring-shaped part of the round terminal inserted from the insertion port and prevents the separation, a holding plate part that contacts the upper surface of the ring-shaped part, and the ring-shaped part And a conductive terminal plate in contact with the lower surface of the part. The terminal plate can be electrically connected to an external circuit, and the fixing plate portion and the holding plate portion can be elastically deformed, and are disposed inside the case so as to be inclined from the upper side to the lower back side. The distance between the lower tip of the fixed plate portion and the terminal plate when the round terminal is not attached and the distance between the lower tip of the holding plate portion and the terminal plate are set shorter than the thickness of the ring-shaped portion. When the round terminal is installed, the fixed plate enters the central space of the ring-shaped part to prevent the round terminal from coming off, and the holding plate comes into contact with the upper surface of the ring-shaped part, It is configured so as to be sandwiched at a predetermined pressure between them. When the release button is pushed inward, the back side of the release button comes into contact with the fixed plate portion, and the fixed plate portion is urged rearward so that the distance between the lower end of the fixed plate portion and the terminal plate is the ring-shaped portion. It was configured to be longer than the wall thickness. A terminal board respond | corresponds to the 2nd metal fitting 20 (terminal part 21) in embodiment.

  Since the distance between the lower end of each of the fixed plate portion and the holding plate portion and the terminal plate is set to be shorter than the thickness of the ring-shaped portion of the round terminal (in the embodiment, contact is almost zero), When the mold terminal is inserted from the insertion port, the outer peripheral edge of the ring-shaped portion comes into contact with the fixed plate portion and the holding plate portion. At this time, since the fixing plate portion and the holding plate portion are inclined toward the rear (back side), when the round terminal is further pushed inward, the fixing plate portion and the holding plate portion are moved backward. The urging force is applied, the fixed plate portion and the like are elastically deformed, and the lower tip portion moves upward while being lowered rearward. Along with this, backward movement of the round terminal is allowed.

  When the lower tip of the fixed plate portion is located on the central space side inside the ring-shaped portion, the lower tip of the fixed plate portion is moved downward by the elastic restoring force, and the position is lower than the upper surface of the ring-shaped portion. Located on the side. From this state, when the round terminal is moved in the opposite direction, that is, moved in the direction of taking out from the case, the lower end of the fixed plate part comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the ring-like part, and further movement in the taking out direction is performed. To regulate. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the removal.

  Further, in a state where the lower end of the fixed plate portion is located in the central space of the ring-shaped portion, the holding plate portion contacts the upper surface of the ring-shaped portion. Then, since the holding plate portion biases the ring-shaped portion downward by the elastic restoring force, the ring-shaped portion is sandwiched between the holding plate portion and the terminal plate with a predetermined pressure. Therefore, since the ring-shaped portion is in surface contact with the terminal plate, conduction is achieved. In addition, the contact area can be increased and a large current can be accommodated.

  On the other hand, in order to remove the mounted round terminal, the release button is pressed, and the lower end portion of the fixed plate portion is positioned above the upper surface of the ring-shaped portion. Thereby, since a fixed state is cancelled | released, a round terminal can be pulled out.

  In the embodiment, the fixed plate portion and the holding plate portion are integrally formed from a metal plate, but both may be formed of separate members. Further, it is not always necessary to provide conductivity like metal, and resin or other materials may be used. However, the metal plate is preferable because it has good durability and can obtain an appropriate elastic force with a simple configuration.

  The terminal plate can be electrically connected to the external circuit. As in the embodiment, the integrally formed terminal pin portion may be protruded, or the case may be attached to the circuit board or the like so as to be connected to the external circuit side. The formed pins or the like may be inserted into the case so as to be directly or indirectly connected to the terminal board inside the case.

  In the embodiment, the release button is formed by integral molding of resin. This can be realized with a simple configuration, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the release button may be configured by connecting a plurality of members.

  (2) The fixed plate portion and the holding plate portion may be configured by bending a single metal plate. It is preferable to adopt such a configuration because the elastic force of the leaf spring can be exhibited with a simple configuration and the durability can be improved. Furthermore, since they are integrally formed, the number of parts is small and assembly is facilitated.

  (3) The lower end of the holding plate portion may be formed in a curved portion that is folded back toward the upper rear side. In this way, when the round terminal is moved in the front-rear direction with the curved part in contact with the upper surface of the ring-shaped part of the round terminal, the movement is allowed between the terminal board and the terminal board. The ring-shaped part can be sandwiched with.

  (4) The terminal plate may be configured to be electrically connected to a terminal pin protruding outside the case. The terminal plate and the terminal pin may be configured as separate members so that they are connected directly or indirectly, or may be integrally formed as in the embodiment.

  (5) The holding plate portion may be arranged on both sides of the fixed plate portion. This is preferable because the ring-shaped portion can be suppressed in a well-balanced manner.

  In the present invention, the round terminal can be easily attached to the terminal block simply by pushing the round terminal inward from the insertion slot, and the fixed plate portion is ring-shaped while being securely connected to the terminal block. Omission can be prevented by entering the central space of the part. Further, since the fixed terminal plate is detached from the central space of the ring-shaped portion by pressing the release button, the round terminal can be easily pulled out and detached from the terminal block. Therefore, the round terminal can be easily attached to and detached from the terminal block by a screwless method. And the mechanism to attach and detach and the mechanism for conducting can be realized with a simple configuration.

  Hereinafter, based on drawing, suitable one Embodiment of the screwless terminal block for round terminals which concerns on this invention is described. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the terminal block 1 is fixed by inserting the round terminal 3 into the belt-like insertion port 5 formed in the front of the case 2, thereby fixing the round terminal 3. By depressing the release button 4 arranged on the upper side of the mouth 5, the fixing mechanism for the round terminal 3 is opened and can be removed. The round terminal 3 has a shape including a flat ring-shaped portion 3a and a projecting side portion 3b in which a part of the outer periphery of the ring-shaped portion 3a protrudes outward. The tip of the electric wire 7 is crimped and integrated with the protruding side 3b.

  In the internal space of the case 2, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first metal fitting 10 is arranged on the upper side and the second metal fitting 20 is arranged on the lower side. The first metal fitting 10 is sandwiched between the top surface 2a of the case 2 and a support portion 2b disposed at a predetermined distance below the top surface 2a and supported by hanging. The second metal fitting 20 is installed on the bottom surface 2 c of the case 2.

  The first metal fitting 10 is formed by appropriately bending a metal plate. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the shape is a flat plate portion 11, a fixed plate portion 12 extending downward from one side of the flat plate portion 11, and a band plate shape disposed on both sides of the fixed plate portion 12. And a holding plate portion 13. The fixed plate portion 12 and the holding plate portion 13 are formed in the inclined wall portion 14 linked to one side of the flat plate portion 11 by a notch groove 14a extending in the vertical direction from the lower end upward. Furthermore, the lower end of the holding plate 13 is a curved portion 13a that is folded back toward the upper rear side.

  Further, the angle formed by the flat plate portion 11 and the inclined wall portion 14 (the fixed plate portion 12 and the holding plate portion 13) is set to an acute angle. The flat plate portion 11 is inserted and supported between the top surface 2a and the support portion 2b. Furthermore, since the first metal fitting 10 is formed by bending a metal plate, it constitutes a leaf spring.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the second metal fitting 20 includes a flat terminal surface 21, edge portions 22 and 23 formed by bending both ends of the terminal surface 21 in the longitudinal direction downward, And a thin pin-like terminal pin portion 24 extending downward from the central portion of the edge portion 23 of the edge portion 23. Since the second metal fitting 20 is formed by bending a metal plate, the entire terminal surface 21 constituting the terminal plate has conductivity. Therefore, the terminal surface 21 and the terminal pin portion 24 are electrically connected.

  A concave groove 2d is formed on the case inner surface front side of the bottom surface 2c of the case 2, and a slit (through hole) 2e is formed on the case inner surface rear surface side of the bottom surface 2c of the case 2. And in the state which installed the 2nd metal fitting 20 on the bottom face 2c, the edge part 22 is inserted in the ditch | groove 2d, and the edge part 23 is inserted in the slit 2e, and the position is controlled (horizontal). Direction movement is suppressed). Further, the terminal pin portion 24 penetrates through the slit 2 e and protrudes outside the case 2. The terminal surface 21 is electrically connected to an external circuit through the terminal pin portion 24.

  Further, the release button 4 provided on the front surface of the case 2 comes into contact with the fixed plate portion 12 at the back end. In the normal state, the front end of the release button 4 protrudes outward from the front of the case 2, and the release button 4 urges the fixing plate portion 12 backward by pushing in the protruding portion. As a result, the fixed plate portion 12 is elastically deformed, and the lower end of the fixed plate portion 12 moves rearward and upward. When the pushing of the release button 4 is released, the fixing plate portion 12 moves forward by the elastic restoring force and returns to the original position. Therefore, the release button 4 is also pushed back, and the front end of the release button 4 is the case 2. Projects outward from the front. In addition, the protrusion 4a in which the outer periphery protrudes outside is formed in the rear side front end of the release button 4. Since the dimension shape of the outer peripheral edge of the protrusion 4 a is larger than the dimension shape of the inner peripheral edge of the insertion hole 6 of the release button 4 provided in the case 2, the release button 4 is detached from the case 2. Is suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, when the round terminal 3 is not inserted, the lower ends of the fixed plate portion 12 and the holding plate portion 13 are in contact with or close to the terminal surface 21 of the second metal fitting 20. Yes. In this state, when the round terminal 3 is inserted into the case from the insertion port 5 on the front surface of the case 2, the tip of the round terminal 3, that is, the outer peripheral edge of the ring-shaped part 3 a contacts the fixed plate part 12 and the holding plate part 13. To do. If the round terminal 3 is further pushed inward from this state, the fixed plate portion 12 and the holding plate portion 13 are elastically deformed and the lower end thereof rises and escapes, so that the round terminal 3 is further moved inward. Is acceptable.

  And in the state which pushed the round terminal 3 in completely inside, as shown also in FIG. 5, since the fixing plate part 12 is located in the center space site | part of the ring-shaped part 3a, it is expanding and shown in FIG. In addition, the fixed plate portion 12 is moved to the original state, that is, the lower tip is lowered by the elastic restoring force. Therefore, the lower end of the fixed plate portion 12 enters the ring-shaped portion 3 a of the round terminal 3 and contacts or approaches the terminal surface 21 of the second metal fitting 20. Since the fixed plate portion 12 is inclined toward the back side of the case 2, when the round terminal 3 is inserted, the fixing plate portion 12 is smoothly elastically deformed with the entry of the ring-shaped portion 3 a and allowed to enter. However, when the round terminal 3 is moved in the removing direction, the fixed plate portion 12 does not elastically deform so that the lower end of the fixed plate portion 12 moves upward, and the fixed plate portion 12 is brought to the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped portion 3a. Touching and further disengagement is prevented. Thus, since it can be easily inserted and the structure for preventing slipping is constructed by a mechanical mechanism, the slipping preventing force of the present embodiment is higher than the slipping preventing strength due to the frictional force shown in Patent Document 1 and the like. It will be much better.

  On the other hand, in a state in which the round terminal 3 is completely pushed into the inside, as shown in FIG. 5, the holding plate portion 13 is located in the annular portion around the ring-shaped portion 3a, so that it is shown enlarged in FIG. As described above, the holding plate 13 holds the state in contact with the ring-shaped portion 3a. Moreover, since the holding plate portion 13 is biased in the original state by the elastic restoring force, that is, in the direction in which the lower tip moves downward, the holding plate portion 13 biases the ring-shaped portion 3a downward. Therefore, the round terminal 3 (ring-shaped portion 3a) is sandwiched between the first and second metal fittings 10 and 20 with a predetermined pressure and firmly contacted, so that conduction is reliably achieved. Moreover, since the ring-shaped portion 3a of the round terminal 3 is brought into surface contact with the terminal surface 21 of the second metal fitting 20, a large contact area can be taken. Therefore, it is possible to flow a large current.

  Further, when removing the round terminal 3 attached to the terminal block 1 in this way, the release button 4 is pushed inward, the fixing plate portion 12 is urged rearward, and the lower end thereof is higher than the ring-shaped portion 3a. Move up to. Thereby, fixation with respect to the ring-shaped part 3a by the fixing plate part 12 is cancelled | released, and the removal to the front of the round terminal 3 is attained.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the round terminal 3 can be easily attached to and detached from the terminal block 1 with a single touch, and in the attached state, it can be reliably prevented from coming off and the round terminal 3 can be connected to the terminal. The electrical connection can be reliably performed. Therefore, the terminal block of the present embodiment is a screwless terminal block using a highly reliable round terminal that can reliably maintain electrical continuity and can maintain the state. Installation and removal of the round terminal 3 can be performed from the front side of the case 2 and can be handled by moving the case in the front-rear direction. There is no need to secure a work space for screwing or the like in the direction orthogonal to 3a (in this embodiment, upward).

  In the above-described embodiment, the first metal fitting 10 and the second metal fitting 20 are made of different metal plates, but may be formed integrally. Of course, the shape of the case 2 and the like can be appropriately changed according to the installation target.

It is a perspective view showing one suitable embodiment of a screwless terminal block for round terminals concerning the present invention. It is a front view which shows suitable one Embodiment of the screwless terminal block for round terminals which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows suitable one Embodiment of the screwless terminal block for round terminals which concerns on this invention. It is a side view showing one suitable embodiment of a screwless terminal block for round terminals concerning the present invention. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the 1st metal fitting. It is a figure which shows the 2nd metal fitting 20. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the 1st, 2nd metal fittings 10 and 20. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal block 2 Case 2a Top surface 2b Support part 2c Bottom face 2d Groove part 2e Slit 3 Round terminal 3a Ring-shaped part 3b Projection side part 4 Release button 5 Insert port 6 Insertion hole part 7 Electric wire 10 1st metal fitting 11 Flat plate part 12 Fixed plate portion 13 Holding plate portion 14 Inclined wall portion 14a Notch groove 20 Second metal fitting 21 Terminal surface 22 Edge portion 23 Edge portion 24 Terminal pin portion

Claims (5)

A screwless terminal block for round terminals used in industrial controllers and other devices and equipment that make up FA networks,
A round terminal insertion slot and a release button are provided on the front of the case.
Inside the case, a fixing plate portion that enters the central space of the ring-shaped portion of the round terminal inserted from the insertion port and prevents detachment, a holding plate portion that contacts the upper surface of the ring-shaped portion, and the ring A conductive terminal plate that contacts the lower surface of the shaped portion,
The terminal plate is capable of conducting to an external circuit,
The fixed plate portion and the holding plate portion are elastically deformable, and are arranged in the case so as to be inclined from the upper side toward the lower back side,
The distance between the lower end of the fixed plate portion and the terminal plate and the distance between the lower end of the holding plate portion and the terminal plate when the round terminal is not attached are larger than the thickness of the ring-shaped portion. Set it short,
When the round terminal is mounted, the fixed plate portion enters the central space of the ring-shaped portion to prevent the round terminal from being detached, and the holding plate portion contacts the upper surface of the ring-shaped portion. , Configured to be sandwiched with the terminal plate at a predetermined pressure,
When the release button is pushed inward, the back side of the release button comes into contact with the fixed plate portion, and the fixed plate portion is urged backward to distance the lower end portion of the fixed plate portion and the terminal plate. A screwless terminal block for a round terminal, characterized in that is configured to be longer than the wall thickness of the ring-shaped part.   The screwless terminal block for a round terminal according to claim 1, wherein the fixed plate portion and the holding plate portion are formed by bending a single metal plate.   3. The screwless terminal block for a round terminal according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the holding plate portion is formed in a curved portion that is folded back and upward.   The screw terminal block for a round terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the terminal plate is configured to be electrically connected to a terminal pin protruding to the outside of the case.   The screwless terminal block for a round terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holding plate portion is disposed on both sides of the fixed plate portion.

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