JP2011040257A - Connector producing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector producing method in which positions of a terminal fitting have hardly variations. <P>SOLUTION: A female connector is manufactured by setting a terminal fitting 20 in a molding die in which a first die 60 and a second die 70 are combined, then, the terminal fitting 20 is insert molded in a connector housing 40 by ejecting resin, and by injecting a potting material 49 in a recessed portion 45 formed in the connector housing 40. A tab insertion hole 62 to fix the terminal fitting 20 is formed in the first die 60 and a gate 72 to eject resin is formed in the second die 70. A cavity 81 is formed by covering the second die 70 over the first die 60, and the terminal fitting 20 is fixed by a fitting pressing part which pinches a projection portion 26 formed in the terminal fitting 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a connector.

  For example, a connector described in Patent Document 1 is known as a connector that is attached to a vehicle body and grounds a part of a wire harness circuit to the vehicle body.

  As shown in FIG. 9, this type of connector is composed of a connector housing 140 in which a terminal fitting 120 is insert-molded into a connector housing, and the first and second L-shaped bent portions 121 of the terminal fitting 120 are provided. , 122 form a crank-like structure in the resin of the connector housing 140, and the tab portion 123, which is the end portion close to the first L-shaped bent portion 121, is connected to the terminal fitting of the mating connector (not shown). The installation portion 124, which is the end portion close to the second L-shaped bent portion 122, is fixed to an attachment site (not shown).

JP 2006-114245 A

  In this type of connector, the fitting force when inserting / removing the mating connector is concentrated on the second L-shaped bent portion 122 close to the attachment portion of the terminal fitting 120, and the second L-shaped bent portion 122 is greatly bent. There is. However, in the structure used conventionally, since the resin part 141 includes the second L-shaped bent part 122, there is a concern that the resin part 141 may crack.

  Further, in order to mold the connector housing 140 of the connector, the terminal fitting 120 is set on the lower mold 150 with the opening edge arranged upward, and the upper mold 160 with the opening edge downward is covered from above. Configure the mold and insert mold.

  Due to the structure of the connector housing 140, in order to set the terminal fitting 120 in the molding die, the tab portion 123 of the terminal fitting 120 is inserted into the tab portion insertion hole 151 formed in the lower die 150 and protrudes upward. While the installation part 124 of the terminal fitting 120 is inserted into the installation part insertion hole 161 of the upper mold 160, the upper mold 160 is installed from above, but the terminal fitting 120 is inserted into the respective insertion holes 151, 161. The insertion hole needs to have a slight clearance. Therefore, the terminal fitting 120 in the connector housing 140 molded using the mold shown above becomes an indeterminate state that can move slightly in the insertion hole when the resin is injected into the mold. There arises a problem that the position of the terminal fitting 120 varies in the completed connector housing 140.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and provides a method for manufacturing a connector that prevents damage to the resin portion covering the terminal metal fitting and is less likely to cause variations in the position of the terminal metal fitting. Objective.

  As a means for achieving the above object, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a connector in which a connector housing is integrated with a terminal fitting by setting the terminal fitting in a molding die and insert molding, A fixing piece for fixing the connector to the attachment site, a tab extending along the fitting direction of the mating connector, the fixing piece through the first and second L-shaped bent portions, and the In the crank-shaped thing provided with the connection part which connects so that a tab part may become parallel in a step, the first and second which open the mold along the extension direction of the tab part A cavity for molding the connector housing is formed between the first and second molds, and the tab portion is inserted into the first mold. for Forming a bracket insertion hole, and on the mating surfaces of the first and second molds, forming a metal fitting pressing portion that sandwiches and fixes the connecting portion of the terminal metal fitting when clamping, and close to the tab portion The L-shaped bent portion is positioned in the cavity, the L-shaped bent portion close to the fixed piece portion is positioned outside the cavity, and the second mold has the inside of the cavity. The insert molding is performed by arranging a gate for injecting resin in a direction in which the tab portion is pushed into the tab insertion hole.

  According to such a structure, a terminal metal fitting can be fixed in two places, a tab insertion hole and a metal fitting pressing part, in a molding die. Moreover, since the metal fitting holding part clamps and fixes the terminal fitting when the mold is clamped, unlike the fixing method in which the terminal fitting is inserted into the hole, the terminal fitting can be securely fixed to the molding die without rattling. This increases the position accuracy of the terminal fitting. Furthermore, since the gate for injecting the resin in the direction in which the terminal metal fitting is pushed into the tab insertion hole is arranged in the second mold, the terminal metal fitting is strongly pressed against the first metal mold when the resin is injected. The terminal fitting is also fixed from the surface, and the positional accuracy is increased.

  Also, since the connector has an L-shaped bent portion close to the fixed piece portion formed outside the connector housing, when the mating connector is inserted and removed by a large fitting force, the bending degree changes in the L-shaped bent portion. Even if it is elastically deformed, the influence does not reach the resin part, so that damage to the resin part can be prevented as much as possible.

  The following configuration is desirable as an embodiment of the present invention.

  The tab portion of the terminal fitting is formed with an inclined surface that gradually increases in thickness from the position slightly closer to the L-shaped bent portion than the center portion toward the L-shaped bent portion. It is desirable that a tapered surface that receives the inclined surface of the terminal fitting inserted into the tab insertion hole and fixes the terminal fitting is formed.

  According to such a structure, the force which acts on a terminal metal fitting at the time of injection | pouring of resin is received when the inclined part of a terminal metal fitting is pressed on the taper surface of a 1st metal mold | die. As a result, the tip of the tab portion is not pressed against the back end of the tab insertion hole, and the tip is not deformed, and the terminal fitting is pressed sideways by pressing the inclined surfaces to the side wall of the tab insertion hole. Because of the close contact, the positional accuracy of the terminal fitting is further increased.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the connector by which the terminal metal fitting was insert-molded with the shaping | molding die which prevents the damage of the resin part which coat | covers a terminal metal fitting, and the position of a terminal metal fitting does not produce easily can be manufactured.

The front view of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention AA line sectional view of FIG. Top view of terminal fitting Side view of terminal fitting Front view of terminal fitting Sectional view with terminal fittings set in the first and second molds Sectional view of the first and second molds opened after insert molding Sectional view of the injection nozzle set in the connector housing after insert molding Cross-sectional view of a conventional connector Sectional drawing which shows the manufacturing method of the conventional connector Sectional view of mold open state in conventional manufacturing method

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the connector manufactured according to this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the male connector of the present embodiment has a structure in which the connector housing 40 is integrated with the terminal fitting 20 by insert molding.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the terminal fitting 20 includes a tab portion 21 which is a long and thin plate-like metal piece, a plate-like fixed piece portion 22 in which the width of the metal piece of the tab portion 21 is increased about three times on both sides, and its The connecting portion 23 is located at the center of the both and further has a switching position of the width of the metal piece of the both at the center.

  The tab portion 21 is formed with a tapered detail 21A having four tapered sides. The fixing piece portion 22 has a bolt hole 22A through which the fixing bolt 51 is passed slightly from the center and a bolt hole at its four corners. A through hole 22B smaller than 22A is formed.

  The tab portion 21 and the fixed piece portion 22 are in a parallel state, and the tab portion 21 and the connecting portion 23 are connected to the first L-shaped bent portion 24 corresponding to the first L-shaped bent portion, the fixed piece portion 22 and the connecting portion. 23 is connected by a second L-shaped bent portion 25 corresponding to the second L-shaped bent portion, so that the entire appearance of the terminal fitting has a crank shape.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector housing 40 has a bottomed cylindrical shape having a back wall portion 41 at the end of a cylindrical portion 42 having a substantially cylindrical shape, and the outer shape of the back wall portion 41 is rectangular in front view. Make a shape.

  A hood portion 44 that accommodates the female connector at the time of fitting is formed in the front portion from the central position of the cylindrical portion 42. An engaging piece guide groove 42A extending in the front-rear direction is formed above the hood portion 44 so that the engaging piece provided on the female connector can enter when fitted to a female connector (not shown). Yes. When both connectors reach the proper fitting position, the engaging piece engages with the engaging claw 43B of the ceiling wall 43A located above the accommodating portion 43, which is the rear portion of the engaging piece guide groove 42A. By doing so, the fitting state of both connectors is maintained.

  A guide rib 42 </ b> B extending from the opening edge to the back wall portion 41 is formed obliquely below the outer peripheral wall of the cylindrical portion 42. When fitting into a female connector (not shown) that accommodates the cylindrical portion 42 of the connector housing 40, the guide rib 42B is fitted into the corresponding rib groove and slid to cause the male connector to become a female connector. To a predetermined position.

  The hood portion 44 of the cylindrical portion 42 is formed with a concave portion 45 that is recessed to the back wall portion 41 at substantially the center of the back wall. The recess 45 is formed in a mortar shape that is narrowed from the rectangular opening edge toward the bottom surface.

  The recessed portion 45 is provided with a two-stepped portion 47 formed from the opening edge portion toward the bottom surface portion and a raised portion 48 that protrudes toward the center at the bottom surface portion. 20 tab portions 21 protrude and extend in the fitting direction to the center portion of the hood portion 44.

  The recessed portion 45 is waterproofed by filling a potting material 49 that is in close contact with the tab portion 21 and the inner wall surface 45A of the recessed portion 45 up to a stepped portion 47 that serves as a guide for the amount of resin material injected.

  The connector housing 40 is embedded in the resin from the boundary between the concave portion 45 located slightly rearward from the center of the tab portion 21 and the connector housing 40 to the second L-shaped bent portion side from the center of the connecting portion 23. The two L-shaped bent portions 25 are disposed outside the connector housing 40.

  The fixing piece portion 22 extending rearward from the second L-shaped bent portion 25 is fixed by passing a fixing bolt 51 through the bolt hole 22A and screwing it into the attachment portion 50.

  The connecting portion 23 of the terminal fitting 20 is provided with a protruding portion 26 that supports the connector housing 40 apart from the attachment portion 50 and protrudes from the connector housing 40 toward the attachment portion 50. Is formed in an inclined portion 27 which is located in the recess 45 and gradually increases in thickness toward the first L-shaped bent portion 24.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the male connector which is this embodiment is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, first, terminal fittings are formed in a molding die in which a first die 60 corresponding to a first die and a second die 70 corresponding to a second die are combined. After setting 20, resin is injected and insert-molded, and these molds are opened along the fitting direction to mold the connector housing 40 in which the terminal fitting 20 is embedded in the resin.

  The first mold 60 for molding the region of the front portion of the connector housing 40 is arranged with the opening edge upward. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the tab 21 of the terminal fitting 20 is located at the center of the first mold 60 and slightly tapered from the opening edge so as to correspond to the inclined portion 27 of the tab 21. Is inserted into the tab insertion hole 62 having Then, in the process of inserting the tab portion 21, the inclined portion 27 of the tab portion 21 contacts the tapered surface 61 of the tab insertion hole 62, and the force in the insertion direction is pressed against the tapered surface 61 to receive the terminal fitting 20. The terminal fitting 20 is pressed sideways and fixed.

  When the inclined portion 27 comes into contact with the taper surface 61, the protruding portion 26 of the terminal fitting 20 and the second L-shaped bent portion 25 are set to the first fitting pressing portion 63 in contact.

  After the terminal fitting 20 is set, the second metal mold 70 is clamped so that the opening edge of the second metal mold 70 faces downward and the second metal mold 70 is covered with the first metal mold 60. At this time, the first metal piece holding part 63 of the first mold 60 and the second metal piece holding part 71 paired with the metal fitting holding part sandwiching the protruding part 26 of the terminal metal piece 20 are fixed.

  Next, a synthetic resin material is formed in the cavity 81 formed between the first mold 60 and the second mold 70 from above the first L-shaped bent portion 24 of the terminal fitting 20 formed in the second mold 70. The terminal fitting 20 is insert-molded by injecting a synthetic resin material from the injection gate 72.

  When the synthetic resin material is injected from the gate 72, a force is applied to the terminal fitting 20 in a direction to be pushed into the tab insertion hole 62, and the inclined portion 27 of the terminal fitting 20 is pressed against the tapered surface 61 of the tab insertion hole 62. As a result, the terminal fitting 20 is pressed sideways and brought into close contact with the side wall of the tab insertion hole 62, and the terminal fitting 20 is further fixed.

  After the synthetic resin material injected into the cavity 81 is solidified, the connector housing 40 is taken out by opening the respective molds along the fitting direction as shown in FIG.

  Finally, the potting material 49, which is a synthetic resin material for waterproofing, which is in close contact with the inner wall surface 45A of the concave portion 45 of the connector housing 40 and the tab portion 21 of the terminal fitting 20, is recessed by the injection nozzle 52 previously completed. The male connector is completed by injecting into 45 and hardening the potting material 49.

  According to the embodiment described above, when the synthetic resin material is injected into the cavity 81, the terminal fitting 20 can be fixed by the two places of the fitting pressing portion and the tapered surface 61, and the terminal fitting 20 is sandwiched. By fixing, it can be fixed in the mold without rattling compared to the conventional case. Furthermore, by arranging the gate 72 at a position where the terminal fitting 20 is pressed against the first mold 60, a connector with high positional accuracy of the terminal fitting 20 can be manufactured.

  Further, since the L-shaped bent portion where the fitting force is concentrated is arranged outside the connector housing 40, even if the L-shaped bent portion is deformed, the influence does not reach the resin portion. It is possible to prevent damage to the resin part due to insertion / extraction as much as possible.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the tab portion 21 of the terminal fitting 20 is formed with the inclined portion 27 that gradually increases toward the first L-shaped bent portion 24, and the tapered surface 61 that receives the inclined portion 27 is formed. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and the inclined portion 27 and the tapered surface 61 may be configured by a surface orthogonal to the fitting surface.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the concave portion 45 and the stepped portion 47 are formed in the back wall of the hood portion 44 of the connector housing 40, but the present invention is not limited to such an aspect. There is no need to form a recess and a step.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the hood portion 44 has a cylindrical configuration, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The hood portion formed in the present invention may be formed in a rectangular tube shape, for example.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the terminal fitting has a single plate-like configuration, but the present invention is not limited to such a mode. The terminal metal fitting comprised by this invention may be comprised by the some rod shape, for example.

20 ... Terminal fitting 21 ... Tab part 22 ... Fixing piece part 23 ... Connecting part 40 ... Connector housing 42 ... Cylindrical part 44 ... Hood part 45 ... Recessed part 49. ..Potting material 60 ... first die 61 ... tapered surface 62 ... tab insertion hole 70 ... second die 72 ... gate 81 ... cavity

Claims (2)

  A method of manufacturing a connector in which a connector housing is integrated with a terminal fitting by setting the terminal fitting in a molding die and insert molding, wherein the terminal fitting is fixed to fix the connector to an attachment site. Connected so that the fixed piece and the tab are parallel to each other via a piece, a tab extending along the mating direction of the mating connector, and the first and second L-shaped bent parts In the crank-shaped thing provided with the connecting part to perform, while forming the above-mentioned molding metallic mold from the 1st and 2nd metallic mold which opens the mold along the extension direction of the above-mentioned tab part, those 1st and 1st A cavity for molding the connector housing is formed between two molds, a tab insertion hole for inserting the tab portion is formed in the first mold, and the first and Of the second mold The mating surface is formed with a metal holding part that sandwiches and fixes the connecting part of the terminal metal when clamping, and the L-shaped bent part close to the tab part is located in the cavity, The close L-shaped bent portion is positioned outside the cavity, and the second mold is injected with resin in a direction in which the tab portion in the cavity is pushed into the tab insertion hole. A method for manufacturing a connector, wherein a gate is disposed and the insert molding is performed.   The tab portion of the terminal fitting is formed with an inclined surface that gradually increases in thickness from the position slightly closer to the L-shaped bent portion than the center portion toward the L-shaped bent portion. The method of manufacturing a connector according to claim 1, wherein a tapered surface that receives the inclined surface of the terminal fitting inserted into the tab insertion hole is formed.

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