JP2016046173A - Chain terminal, manufacturing device for chain terminal and manufacturing method for chain terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chain terminal that has plural integrally-formed crimp terminals extending from a carrier and enables electrical wires to be inserted into individual crimp terminals at a predetermined position while sequentially feeding the crimp terminals.SOLUTION: A chain terminal has a first terminal group 82 having plural integrally-formed crimp terminals ST extending from a first carrier C1-1 for feeding the crimp terminals ST in a predetermined feeding direction, and a second terminal group 82 having plural integrally-formed crimp terminals ST extending from a second carrier C1-2 for feeding the crimp terminals ST in the feeding direction. A butting interface 7a at which the end portion 71 of the first carrier C1-1 and the end portion 72 of the second carrier C1-2 are butted to each other is welded by laser.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a chain terminal in which a plurality of crimp terminals are connected by extending from a carrier, a chain terminal manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the chain terminal, and a chain terminal manufacturing method.

  A large number of wire harnesses are used for in-car wiring of automobiles. The wire harness is a collective part of a plurality of covered electric wires according to the specifications of in-vehicle wiring. A connection terminal (hereinafter referred to as a “crimp terminal”) having a crimpable crimp portion is attached to the end of each covered electric wire. When connecting a crimp terminal to the end of a covered wire of a wire harness, the insulation coating layer of the end of the covered wire is peeled to expose the core wire (conductor), and the core wire barrel of the crimp terminal is crimped and crimped to the exposed portion of the core wire. Thus, a connection portion in which the end of the covered electric wire and the crimp terminal are electrically connected is formed. Then, in order to prevent corrosion of the core wire due to moisture intrusion into the connection portion, the connection portion between the crimp terminal and the electric wire terminal is covered with a resin to be resin-sealed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). ).

  Also, such crimp terminals are supplied by a conveying device from a state of being wound in a roll shape, for example, punching or bending using a press machine on a strip-shaped plate material, such as a copper strip, etc. Press molding is performed. In this press molding, a chain-like chain terminal connected by a carrier held by a transport mechanism for transporting a copper strip in a press machine is formed. Then, the chain terminal is wound up again in a roll shape, and then, in the resin sealing device, the electrical connection portion between the crimp terminal formed in the terminal shape and the end of the covered wire is generally resin-sealed. Is.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-167821 JP2012-0669449

  In the chain terminal described above, for example, several thousand terminals are connected by a carrier in a state of being wound in a roll shape, that is, per reel. For this reason, when a defective terminal is generated for some reason such as processing failure or impact, all the terminals that have already been wound before the generation of the defective terminal may be defective. Therefore, it is required to remove only defective terminals from the chain terminal.

  As an example for satisfying the above requirements, a method is considered in which a carrier connected to a defective terminal is left and only the defective terminal is cut off and then wound into a roll. However, when this method is adopted, if the location of the carrier where the defective terminal is missing is not managed accurately, the crimp terminal wound in a roll shape is continuously fed out and the electric wire is inserted at a predetermined position. I can't.

  As described above, due to the presence of poorly processed crimp terminals that can occur in the chain terminals, there is a problem that the system for inserting the electric wires into the crimp terminals becomes complicated and leads to an increase in cost.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a chain terminal capable of continuously feeding out individual crimp terminals and inserting electric wires at predetermined positions with respect to a chain terminal in which a plurality of crimp terminals are integrally formed by extending from a carrier. Another object is to provide a chain terminal manufacturing apparatus and a chain terminal manufacturing method for manufacturing the chain terminal.

  In order to achieve the above object, the gist of the present invention is as follows.

  (1) From a first terminal group in which a plurality of crimp terminals are integrally formed by extending a crimp terminal from a first carrier that transports the crimp terminal in a predetermined feed direction, and from a second carrier that transports the crimp terminals in the feed direction The second terminal group in which a plurality of crimp terminals are integrally formed by stretching and the butt interface where the end portion of the first carrier and the end portion of the second carrier are butted in the feeding direction are laser-welded. Chained terminal.

  According to the chain terminal according to the above (1), the first terminal group and the second terminal group are connected via the laser-welded butt interface. For this reason, without requiring a complicated process for the applicator, the individual crimp terminals connected as the chain terminals can be continuously and accurately positioned at predetermined positions, and the electric wires can be inserted into the crimp terminals.

  (2) The terminal manufacturing apparatus according to (1), wherein the butt interface is laser-welded with a bead width of 100 to 400 μm.

  According to the chain terminal according to the above (2), by setting the bead width to a range of 100 to 400 μm, the terminal is transported to the applicator, and the carrier welded portion (butting interface) is broken when winding the chain terminal. It is possible to prevent breakage and elongation of the carrier welding spot (butt interface).

  (3) A first inspection that inspects a chain terminal in which a plurality of crimp terminals are connected by extending from a carrier that conveys the crimp terminal in a predetermined feeding direction, and inspects a poorly processed crimp terminal based on the inspection result. And removing the defective terminal connecting portion connected to the defectively processed crimp terminal from among the carriers that transport the crimp terminal connected to the chain terminal to the first terminal and the second carrier. An apparatus for manufacturing a chain terminal, comprising: a carrier separation part; and a laser welding part that laser-welds a butt interface obtained by abutting an end part of the first carrier and an end part of the second carrier in the feeding direction.

  According to the chain terminal manufacturing apparatus according to (3) above, the defective terminal connecting portion is removed, the separated ends of the first and second carriers are butted in the feed direction, and the butted interface is laser welded. Thereby, each crimp terminal connected as a chain terminal can be positioned continuously and accurately at a predetermined position, and an electric wire can be inserted into the crimp terminal.

  (4) The carrier separating portion has a punching cutter having two blades, the two blades are brought into contact with one end and the other end of the defective terminal connecting portion, respectively, and the defective terminal connecting portion is The chain terminal manufacturing apparatus according to (3), wherein the device is separated into the first carrier and the second carrier by punching.

  According to the chain terminal manufacturing apparatus according to the above (4), the punched cutter is used to position both ends of the defective terminal connecting portion, and the defective terminal connecting portion is punched out so that the defective terminal can be quickly and accurately detected. Can be removed in position.

  (5) The carrier separation portion is removed by fusing the defective terminal connecting portion by laser processing using a laser processing machine, and the laser welding portion has the butt interface at the same laser as the carrier separation portion. The chain terminal manufacturing apparatus according to (3), wherein the butt interface is laser-welded by laser processing using a processing machine.

  According to the chain terminal manufacturing apparatus according to (5) above, the step of separating the carrier of the connecting terminal into the first and second carriers using one laser processing machine, and the ends of the first and second carriers By performing the process of laser welding the butt interface of the part, the apparatus configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  (6) Any one of the above (3) to (5), further including a second inspection unit that inspects the weldability of the laser-welded butt interface and the interval between the crimp terminals adjacent to each other with the butt interface interposed therebetween. The chain terminal manufacturing apparatus according to 1.

  According to the chain terminal manufacturing apparatus according to (6) above, it is possible to provide an administrator or the like with an inspection result obtained by inspecting the weldability of the butt interface subjected to laser welding and the terminal interval. In addition, the inspection results are provided to the manager, etc., so that the chain terminals are separated again at the butt interface due to poor welding, or the terminal interval is too short or too long so that the crimp terminals are accurately It is possible to prevent a situation in which the positioning cannot be performed and the electric wire cannot be inserted. Therefore, the reliability at the time of inserting the electric wire of each crimp terminal can be improved, and the yield can be improved.

(7) Inspecting a chain terminal in which a plurality of crimp terminals are connected by extending from a carrier that transports the crimp terminals in a predetermined feeding direction, and inspecting defective crimp terminals based on the inspection results;
Step of separating the first carrier and the second carrier by removing the defective terminal connecting portion to which the defectively processed crimp terminal is connected among the carriers that transport the crimp terminal connected to the chain terminal;
Laser welding a butt interface where the end of the first carrier and the end of the second carrier are butted in the feed direction;
The manufacturing method of the chain terminal provided with.

  According to the method for manufacturing a chain terminal according to (7) above, the end portion of the first carrier and the end portion of the second carrier are connected via the laser-welded butt interface. For this reason, without requiring a complicated process for the applicator, the individual crimp terminals connected as the chain terminals can be continuously and accurately positioned at predetermined positions, and the electric wires can be inserted into the crimp terminals.

  According to the present invention, with respect to a chain terminal in which a plurality of crimp terminals are integrally formed by extending from a carrier, the chain terminal capable of continuously feeding out individual crimp terminals and inserting an electric wire at a predetermined position, A chain terminal manufacturing apparatus and a method of manufacturing the chain terminal can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a terminal manufacturing apparatus incorporating a chain terminal manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. FIGS. 2A to 2D are views for explaining a series of steps when a crimp terminal is manufactured using the terminal manufacturing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a crimp terminal manufactured by the terminal manufacturing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the chain terminal processing apparatus. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the carrier separation unit. FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the operation of removing the defective terminal connecting portion by the punching cutter. It is a figure which shows the chain terminal isolate | separated into the 1st and 2nd carrier by the carrier separation part. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the laser welding part which laser-welds a butt | matching interface. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the 2nd test | inspection part which test | inspects the weldability of a butt | matching interface. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure and operation | movement of the chain terminal processing apparatus which concerns on a modification.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a terminal manufacturing apparatus in which the chain terminal manufacturing apparatus is incorporated will be described prior to a specific configuration of the chain terminal manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

(1) Terminal Manufacturing Device FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a terminal manufacturing device 1. The illustrated terminal manufacturing apparatus 1 includes an unwinding roll 10, a press machine 20, a laser welding machine 30, a chain terminal processing apparatus 40, and a winding roll 50 from the upstream side in the feed direction on the left side in the drawing. .

  The unwinding roll 10 is a mechanism for unwinding and supplying a copper strip CS, which is a strip-shaped plate material wound in a roll shape, at a predetermined speed. The unwinding roll 10 continuously feeds the copper strip CS from the roll at a speed mainly considering the press processing timing in the press machine 20. In addition, the unwinding roll 10 should just be the structure which sends out strip | belt-shaped copper strip CS continuously, and is not limited only to a roll shape.

  Moreover, the board | plate material by a copper alloy is used as the copper strip CS. Of course, the material of the copper strip CS is not limited to a copper alloy, and for example, an aluminum-based material may be used as a processed plate material. Examples of the plate thickness of the processed plate material include 0.25 mm and 0.32 mm, but the plate thickness is not limited.

  As will be described later, in the press machine 20, the copper strip CS is intermittently conveyed in accordance with the timing of the press work. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, between the unwinding roll 10 and the press machine 20, a certain slack is given to the copper strip CS so as to absorb the difference in the conveyance timing between the intermittent conveyance and the continuous conveyance. ing.

  The press machine 20 is continuously supplied from the unwinding roll 10, and the copper strip CS, which is a strip-shaped plate material, is intermittently conveyed by a feed mechanism (not shown), and punching and two edges are close to each other. A plurality of crimping terminals ST each having a crimping portion Ta for receiving the tip portion including the exposed conductor portion of the coated conductor are sequentially formed by sequentially performing press working such as bending to be bent into a hollow shape. Is a device for forming chained terminals T3 connected at intervals of.

  Specifically, the copper strip CS unrolled from the unwinding roll 10 (FIG. 2 (a)) is punched out as a primary press by the press machine 20 to obtain FIG. 2 (b). The punching plate material T1 shown in FIG. Carriers C1 and C2 for conveying the punched plate material T1 in the feeding direction in the press machine 20 are formed at both width ends of the punched plate material T1. The carriers C1 and C2 have a plurality of pilot pins, ie, positioning holes H1, into which pins (not shown) are inserted in order to perform positioning at the time of conveyance at a predetermined pitch L (in FIG. When the terminal ST is manufactured, each of the punched plate materials T1 is provided at one of the carriers C1 and C2 corresponding to the plate material portion corresponding to each crimp terminal ST. Further, a terminal feed hole H2 for feeding the crimp terminal ST is also provided. These two types of holes, that is, the positioning hole H1 and the terminal feed hole H2, are not only the manufacturing process of the terminal described in FIG. 1, but also the subsequent process of the manufacturing process, that is, the process of crimping and connecting the crimp terminal ST and the electric wire. Used. Between the carriers C1 and C2, a box-shaped connector portion Tb serving as a connection portion between the plate portion Ta-1 for constituting the cylindrical crimp portion Ta of each crimp terminal ST and other terminals in a subsequent process. A plate member portion Tb-1 for forming the structure is formed.

  The punched plate material T1 is then subjected to a bending process as a secondary press by the press machine 20, so that a plurality of crimp terminals ST-1 before welding are spaced at a constant interval as shown in FIG. 2 (c). A chained terminal T2 is formed which is connected to each other. At this chain terminal T2, one carrier C2 has already been removed, and only the other carrier C1 is present. That is, a plurality of crimp terminals ST-1 are integrally formed by extending from the carrier C1. Further, the plate material portion Ta-1 constituting the crimping portion Ta and the plate material portion Tb-1 constituting the connector portion Tb are respectively bent by a cylindrical crimping portion Ta-2 before welding and a box-like shape. The connector portion Tb is formed. In this state, the butt interface Tc is formed between the two edges by bending the crimped section Ta-2 before welding into a hollow shape so that the two edges are close to each other. . Note that the outer shape of the pressure-bonding portion Ta-2 before welding may be formed into a cylindrical shape having a step on the surface of the pressure-bonding portion Ta-2 before welding by overlapping two edges in the radial direction. That is, you may form crimping | compression-bonding part Ta-2 before welding in a level | step difference pipe structure.

  The laser welding machine 30 welds at least two edges, which are the butt interface Tc of the crimping part Ta-2 of each crimping terminal ST-1 constituting the chain terminal T2 before welding, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the welding part Te is formed in the crimping part Ta, and thereby the crimping part Ta of the crimping terminal ST is formed. Specifically, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3, the butt interface Tc formed in the axial direction is laser-welded at the upper end portion of the crimped portion Ta that is bent into a cylindrical shape in the terminal ST. To do. Further, in the crimp terminal shown in FIG. 3, resin sealing is used for moisture intrusion into an electrical connection portion (not shown) constituted by the end portion (not shown) of the covered electric wire and the crimp terminal ST. In order to prevent this, the connecting portion of the crimping portion Ta with the connector portion Tb is crushed to form an overlapping portion in which one end of a plate material bent into a cylindrical shape is overlapped in a planar shape. It is preferable to form the sealing portion Td by welding, particularly laser welding. 2D and 3, the butt interface Tc when the crimp terminal ST-1 before welding is bent is welded, but not limited to this, the two edges overlap in the radial direction. In this state, laser welding can be performed.

  Fiber laser welding is used for laser welding of the laser welding machine 30. Since the fiber laser has excellent beam quality and high condensing performance, it is possible to realize laser welding having a higher energy density in the processing region than a conventional laser. For this reason, it is possible to process the material at high speed, and there is little heat influence, and deep penetration welding with a high aspect ratio is possible. A certain butt interface Tc can be appropriately joined. The fiber laser may be irradiated by continuous oscillation, pulse oscillation, QCW oscillation, or pulse-controlled continuous oscillation. The fiber laser may be a single mode or multimode fiber laser.

  In place of the fiber laser welding, a laser beam such as a YAG laser, a semiconductor laser, or a disk laser, or an electron beam may be used.

  The chain terminal processing apparatus 40 is an aspect of the chain terminal manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, and removes the defectively processed crimp terminal ST and the portion of the carrier C1 to which the crimp terminal ST is connected from the chain terminal T3. Thus, the separated carrier C1 is processed into a reconnected chain terminal. A specific configuration of the chain terminal processing device 40 will be described later.

  In addition, the chain terminal T2 before welding located between the press machine 20 and the laser welding machine 30 is conveyed with slack. Similarly, the chain terminal T3 located between the laser welding machine 30 and the chain terminal processing apparatus 40 is also conveyed with slack. This is because the processing timings of the press machine 20 and the laser welding machine 30, or the laser welding machine 30 and the chain terminal processing apparatus 40 are shifted, and this is caused by the chain terminals T2 and T3 located between the processes. It is for absorbing by slack.

  The winding roll 50 is a mechanism for winding the chain terminal T3 at the same speed as the unwinding roll 10. In the winding roll 50 as well as the unwinding roll 10, the chain terminal T3 is conveyed at a predetermined timing from the chain terminal processing apparatus 40 in the previous step. Between the terminal 50 and the chain terminal processing apparatus 40, the chain terminal T3 is given a certain slack to absorb the difference in transport timing.

  The chain terminal T3 wound around the take-up roll 50 is continuously fed out with the individual crimp terminals ST constituting the chain terminal T3, positioned at a predetermined position, and an electric wire is inserted into the crimp part Ta. .

(2) Chain terminal processing apparatus 40
Next, the configuration of the chain terminal processing apparatus 40 and the operation of each unit will be specifically described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a chain terminal processing device 40 and a chain terminal T3 to be processed. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the chain terminal processing apparatus 40 includes a first inspection unit 41, a carrier separation unit 42, a laser welding unit 43, and a second inspection unit 44. Note that the configuration of the second inspection unit 42 may be realized by the first inspection unit 44, for example, without being limited to the above configuration. Further, the laser welded portion 43 may be disposed in the preceding stage in the feed direction of the first inspection portion 41. Further, the carrier separation part 42 and the laser welding part 43 may be arranged on the same axis.

  The first inspection unit 41 is an aspect of the first inspection unit according to the present invention, and includes a chain terminal T3 extending from the carrier C1 and integrally formed with a plurality of crimp terminals ST as shown in FIG. Inspect and detect crimp terminals with poor processing based on inspection results.

  Here, the poorly processed crimp terminal is a defective product that does not satisfy water-stopping property or pressure-resistant adhesion due to some reason such as processing failure or impact, and is also simply referred to as a defective terminal below for convenience. The 1st test | inspection part 41 detects the welding failure by the laser welding machine 30 as an example of the failure factor of a defective terminal as follows. That is, the first inspection unit 41 determines whether or not the bead width is within an allowable range by an imaging unit such as a CCD camera with respect to the welding state of the sealing portion Td and the welded portion Te that are laser-welded at the crimp terminal ST. If it is judged that it is not within the allowable range, it is detected as a defective terminal ST-B as shown in FIG.

  The carrier separation unit 42 is an aspect of the carrier separation unit according to the present invention, and, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, of the carrier C <b> 1, the defective terminal connection unit C <b> 1 to which the defective terminal ST-B is connected. In order to separate the first carrier C1-1 and the second carrier C1-2 by removing B, a punching cutter 421 including two blades 421A and 421B is provided.

  Specifically, when the first inspection unit 41 detects the defective terminal ST-B, the carrier separation unit 42 positions the defective terminal connection unit C1-B at the separation processing position 420 as shown in FIG. That is, positioning is performed at a position where the front end portion C1-B1 of the defective terminal connecting portion C1-B contacts the blade 421A and a position where the rear end portion C1-B2 of the defective terminal connecting portion C1-B contacts the blade 421B. With the defective terminal connection portion C1-B positioned at such a position, the carrier separation unit 42 moves the blades 421A and 421B from the upper side to the lower side as shown in FIG. -B can be punched out.

  As described above, the carrier separation part 42 uses the punching cutter 421 to position both ends C1-B1 and C1-B2 of the defective terminal connection part C1-B, and punches out the defective terminal connection part C1-B. The defective terminal B can be removed at a high speed and accurately, and can be separated into the first carrier C1-1 and the second carrier C1-2.

  The laser welding portion 43 has an abutting interface 7a in which the end 71 of the first carrier C1-1 and the end 72 of the second carrier C1-2 as shown in FIG. 7 are abutted in the feed direction as shown in FIG. Laser welding.

  Specifically, first, when the end portion 71 of the first carrier C1-1 and the end portion 72 of the second carrier C1-2 are abutted with each other, a positioning mechanism (not shown) is used, or the pitch interval of the positioning holes of each carrier, or the terminal It is determined that the pitch interval of the feed holes is kept constant. Specifically, the pitch interval of the positioning holes or the pitch interval of the terminal feed holes is kept constant by inspecting that the gaps in the end faces 71 and 72 that are abutted before welding are within an allowable value. It can be judged. That is, it is possible to prevent the gap between the adjacent crimp terminals in the carrier after welding.

  Subsequently, the laser welding unit 43 performs laser welding using a laser processing machine 431 in which a monitor is connected on the same axis of the laser processing head. That is, the laser processing machine 431 confirms that there is no gap in the butt interface 7a where the end portions 71 and 72 are butted based on the captured image from the monitor connected on the same axis of the laser processing head. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the laser welding portion 43 laser welds the butt interface 7a by sweeping the laser beam output from the laser processing machine 431 so that the laser irradiation axis A is along the butt interface 7a.

  The connection terminal T3 from which the defective terminal B has been removed by the above laser welding includes the first terminal group 81 in which the crimp terminal ST is connected to the first carrier C1-1 ahead of the defective terminal B in the feed direction, and the defective terminal. The second terminal group 82 in which the crimp terminal ST is connected to the second carrier C1-2 behind the feed direction from B is connected again via the butt interface 7a. That is, in the connection terminal T3 from which the defective terminal B is removed, the first terminal group 81 and the second terminal group 82 are connected again via, for example, the butt interface 7a. For this reason, the connection between the first carrier C1-1 and the second carrier C1-2, that is, the position of the butt interface 7a, etc., is individually connected as the chain terminal T3 without requiring a complicated process such as visual inspection by the administrator. The crimp terminal ST can be positioned continuously and accurately at a predetermined position, and an electric wire can be inserted into the crimp terminal ST.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the laser welding part 43 adjusts the laser output and sweep speed of the laser processing machine 431, and laser-welds the butt | matching interface 7a so that the bead width after welding may be 100-400 micrometers. By setting the bead width in the range of 100 to 400 μm in this way, the carrier welded portion (butting interface 7a) when winding the chain terminal is broken, and the carrier welded portion (butting) when the crimp terminal ST is conveyed to the applicator. Breakage and elongation of the interface 7a) can be prevented.

  The second inspection section 44 is an aspect of the second inspection section according to the present invention, and the weldability of the butt interface 7a laser welded by the laser welding section 43 and the crimp terminal ST adjacent to the butt interface 7a. Check the terminal spacing.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, with respect to the welding condition at the laser-welded butt interface 7a, it is determined whether or not the bead width is within an allowable range by an imaging unit such as a CCD camera. If it is within, it is judged that the weldability of the butt interface 7a is good.

  Further, it is determined by an imaging means such as a CCD camera whether or not the terminal interval 9 between the crimp terminals ST adjacent to each other with the butting interface 7a (for example, the crimp terminals ST91 and ST92 in FIG. 9) is within a predetermined range. If it is within the predetermined range, it is determined that the crimp terminal can be continuously sent out and positioned at a predetermined position in the subsequent wire insertion step. Specifically, the terminal interval 9 can be calculated using the measurement result of the pitch interval of the hole of the carrier C2, that is, the positioning hole or the terminal feed hole.

  Thus, the 2nd test | inspection part 44 can provide the inspection result etc. which test | inspected the weldability of the butt | matching interface 7a and the terminal space | interval 9 which were laser-welded. Further, the inspection result is provided to the manager or the like, so that the chain terminal T3 is separated again at the butt interface 7a due to poor welding, or the terminal interval 9 is too short or too long so that the butt interface from the crimp terminal ST91. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the crimp terminal 92 that follows in the feeding direction via 7a cannot be accurately positioned and the electric wire cannot be inserted. Therefore, the reliability at the time of inserting the electric wire of each crimp terminal ST can be improved, and the yield can be improved.

  In the chain terminal processing apparatus 40 configured as described above, the defective terminal connecting portion C1-B is removed, and the separated end portions 71 and 72 of the first and second carriers C1-1 and C1-2 are moved in the feed direction. The butt interface 7a is laser welded. As a result, the connection between the first carrier C1-1 and the second carrier C1-2, that is, the position of the butt interface 7a, etc., can be individually connected as the chain terminal T3 without requiring a complicated process such as visual inspection by the administrator. The crimp terminal ST can be positioned continuously and accurately at a predetermined position, and an electric wire can be inserted into the crimp terminal ST.

  Next, the structure of the chain terminal processing apparatus 40a which concerns on a modification is demonstrated using FIG. In the chain terminal processing device 40a according to the modified example, the carrier separation unit 42 uses a laser processing machine 431 as shown in FIG. C1-B is removed by fusing.

  Specifically, the carrier separation unit 42 moves the laser irradiation axis A forward in the feed direction as shown in FIG. 10A based on the captured image of the monitor connected on the same axis of the laser processing head of the laser processing machine 431. Is positioned at the end C1-B1, and laser is cut by the laser beam machine 431. Here, the laser processing machine 431 can efficiently remove the dross generated at the time of laser fusing by injecting the assist gas from the coaxial axis of the laser processing head. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10B, the carrier separation unit 42 positions the laser irradiation axis A at the end C1-B2 at the rear in the feed direction based on the captured image of the monitor 432 of the laser processing machine 431, Laser cutting is performed by laser irradiation with the laser processing machine 431. By fusing the two end portions C1-B1 and C1B-2 in this way, the defective terminal ST-B and the defective terminal connection portion C1-B to which the defective terminal ST-B is connected from the chain terminal T3. Can be removed.

  After removing the defective terminal connection portion C1-B, the laser welding portion 43 may control the laser processing machine 431 and weld the butt interface 7a as described above. In addition, laser brazing may be performed by supplying a brazing material to the butt interface 7a.

  As described above, the chain terminal processing apparatus 40a according to the modified example uses the single laser processing machine 431 to separate the carrier C1 of the chain terminal T3 into the first and second carriers C1-1 and C1-2. And the step of laser welding the butt interface 7a of the end portions 71 and 72 of the first and second carriers C1-1 and C1-2, thereby simplifying the device configuration and reducing the cost of the chain terminal processing device 40a. Can be achieved.

  In addition, the chain terminal processing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the case where one laser processing machine as described above is used, and two laser processing machines may be used. That is, the process of separating the carrier C1 of the chain terminal T3 into the first and second carriers C1-1 and C1-2 is performed using one laser processing machine, and the first and second carriers C1-1 and C1-2 are used. You may make it perform the process of laser-welding the butt | matching interface 7a of the edge parts 71 and 72 of 2nd carrier C1-1, C1-2. Moreover, the chain terminal processing apparatus which concerns on this invention is applicable not only to corrosion prevention terminals, such as crimp terminal ST, but to the chain terminal which connected the terminal of the open barrel. Furthermore, the terminal which comprises the chain terminal which concerns on this invention can be connected to the electric wire of arbitrary wires, such as an aluminum electric wire and a copper electric wire.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal manufacturing apparatus C1, C2, C1-1, C1-2 Carrier ST Crimp terminal T3 Chain terminal 40 Chain terminal processing apparatus 41 First inspection part 42 Carrier separation part 421 Punching type cutter 421A, 421B Blade 43 Laser welding part 431 Laser Processing Machine 44 Second Inspection Unit 71, 72 End 7a Butt Interface 81 First Terminal Group 82 Second Terminal Group

Claims (7)

A first terminal group in which a plurality of crimp terminals are integrally formed by extending from a first carrier that transports the crimp terminals in a predetermined feeding direction;
A second terminal group in which a plurality of crimp terminals are integrally formed by extending a crimp terminal from a second carrier that conveys the crimp terminals in the feeding direction;
A chain terminal in which an abutting interface obtained by abutting the end portion of the first carrier and the end portion of the second carrier in the feeding direction is laser-welded.   The chain terminal according to claim 1, wherein the butt interface is laser-welded with a bead width of 100 to 400 μm. A first inspection unit that inspects a chain terminal in which a plurality of crimp terminals are connected by extending from a carrier that transports the crimp terminals in a predetermined feeding direction, and inspects a defective crimp terminal based on the inspection result;
A carrier separation part that separates the first carrier and the second carrier by removing the defective terminal connection part to which the defective crimp terminal is connected from among the carriers that carry the crimp terminal connected to the chain terminal. When,
A laser welded portion for laser welding a butt interface obtained by abutting the end portion of the first carrier and the end portion of the second carrier in the feed direction;
A chain terminal manufacturing apparatus comprising:   The carrier separating portion has a punching cutter having two blades, and the two blades are brought into contact with one and the other ends of the defective terminal connecting portions, respectively, and the defective terminal connecting portions are punched out. The chain terminal manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first carrier and the second carrier are separated. The carrier separation part is removed by fusing the defective terminal connecting part by laser processing using a laser processing machine,
The said laser welding part is a manufacturing apparatus of the chain terminal of Claim 3 which laser welds the said butt | matching interface by the laser processing using the same laser processing machine as the said carrier separation part.   The chain according to any one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising a second inspection unit that inspects the weldability of the laser-welded butt interface and the interval between the crimp terminals adjacent to each other with the butt interface interposed therebetween. Terminal manufacturing equipment. Inspecting a chain terminal in which a plurality of crimp terminals are connected by extending from a carrier that conveys the crimp terminal in a predetermined feed direction, and inspecting a defective crimp terminal based on the inspection result;
Step of separating the first carrier and the second carrier by removing the defective terminal connecting portion to which the defectively processed crimp terminal is connected among the carriers that transport the crimp terminal connected to the chain terminal;
Laser welding a butt interface where the end of the first carrier and the end of the second carrier are butted in the feed direction;
The manufacturing method of the chain terminal provided with.

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