JP2017193083A - Method of manufacturing connector terminal, and metal molding for insert molding used for the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of manufacturing connector terminals which not only can suppress usage of an expensive metal for a hoop material, decrease cost, and produce efficiently, but also does not harm a degree of freedom of a connector variety in a production of diversified connector terminals.SOLUTION: An insert molding method uses a plurality of first metal molds cyclically moving on a plurality of stages including an injection stage to which a resin injected, and second metal molds clamped to the first metal molds together with embedding connector terminals encapsulated inside on the injection stage. Not less than two sets of insert molded articles are produced by the first metal molds, and the second metal mold clamped to the first metal molds. The embedding connector terminals are arranged at predetermined positions in the first metal molds or the second metal molds before the injection stage as terminal materials for insert molding connected by not less than two at positions having a predetermined distance therebetween along a longitudinal direction of a carry band material.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a connector used for circuit connection of an electronic device, for example. In particular, the invention can not only suppress the use of expensive hoop material metal, reduce cost, and produce efficiently, but also variously. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing connector terminals and a mold for insert molding that do not hinder the degree of freedom in manufacturing connector terminals to be manufactured.

  Terminal contact portions such as connectors are required to have high electrical conductivity and high wear resistance and corrosion resistance. For this reason, expensive rare metals or their alloys, such as gold, having high electrical conductivity and high wear resistance and corrosion resistance, are used as connector terminals themselves or connector terminal plating.

  As a result, when the hoop material as the carrier is made of the same material as the terminal, the entire hoop material is made of an expensive metal having high electrical conductivity and high wear resistance and corrosion resistance. Therefore, even if it is an expensive material, unnecessary terminal portions and carrier portions after insert molding other than contacts have to be treated as waste materials.

  For this reason, the applicant of the present invention uses only a small terminal row connection piece, and uses an inexpensive thin metal strip for the carrier, where the expensive metal having high electrical conductivity and high wear resistance and corrosion resistance is used. A structure using a material coil and partially including a connector terminal array and a method for forming the structure have been proposed (Patent Document 1).

  Specifically, a terminal row is extended to one side of an expensive strip-shaped substrate to form a terminal strip, and the strip-shaped substrate of the terminal strip is cut into a predetermined length of a row of terminal rows by a cutter or the like. The terminal row continuous piece formed by cutting the terminal band is fixed by crimping to an inexpensive band member at a predetermined interval. The band material serves as a carrier to convey the terminal row continuous piece, and the terminal row of the terminal row continuous piece is guided to a predetermined position in the injection mold cavity.

  When the terminal row is accurately positioned on the mold by an inexpensive band carrier, the mold is closed and the structure is injection molded. The terminal row is insert-molded into the structure while being integrated with the belt-like substrate, and when the die is opened, the inexpensive carrier of the strip material moves, and the structure body partially including the connector terminal row is carried out of the die. .

  Finally, since the terminal row connecting piece integrated with the structure can be easily removed from the carrier of the strip as described above, the structure is recovered while winding the strip around the coil, and the terminal row is connected. A piece of strip-shaped substrate is cut off.

Japanese Patent No. 3338667

  The proposal of a structure including a connector terminal row in a part thereof can be efficiently produced at a reduced cost by suppressing the use of an expensive metal for the hoop material. On the other hand, in recent years, connector terminals themselves have become smaller, and those having a larger number of terminals are becoming mainstream. Regarding such a structure including a connector terminal array in a part thereof and a method for forming the structure, a smaller connector is used. In addition, it has been desired to be applied to more complicated connectors.

  The present invention not only suppresses the use of expensive metal for the hoop material, reduces costs, and can efficiently produce, but also inhibits the degree of freedom of connector configuration in the manufacture of diversified connector terminals. It aims at obtaining the manufacturing method of connector terminals without insert, and the metal mold | die for insert molding.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a connector terminal comprising: a plurality of first molds that circulate through a plurality of stages including an injection stage into which resin is injected; An insert molding method using a second mold that is clamped to the first mold together with the embedded connector terminal that is formed,
The first mold and the second mold clamped to the first mold are manufactured as a set of two or more insert molded products,
The embedded connector terminals are inserted into the first mold or the second mold before the injection stage, as two or more insert molding terminal members that are coupled at a predetermined distance apart along the longitudinal direction of the carry belt member. It is arranged at a predetermined position.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a connector terminal according to the first aspect, wherein the insert molding terminal material is formed by cutting a belt-like substrate having terminal rows continuously provided at predetermined intervals. The embedded connector terminal obtained in this manner is fixed to the carry band material at a predetermined interval, and the carry is attached to a set of two or more embedded connector terminals arranged in the first mold or the second mold. The strip is cut off.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a connector terminal according to the first aspect of the present invention. Furthermore, it is characterized by providing.

The insert molding die used in the manufacturing method of the connector terminals according to the invention described in claim 4 is a first mold that is clamped and connected to each other used in the manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An insert molding mold comprising a mold and a second mold,
In the injection space formed inside when the molds are clamped and joined, a region for holding a predetermined length of insert molding terminal material to which two or more embedded connector terminals are fixed at a predetermined interval Is provided.

  The insert molding die used in the method for manufacturing the connector terminals according to the invention described in claim 5 holds the auxiliary molding material together with the insert molding terminal material in the injection space according to claim 4. It is further characterized by further comprising a region to be operated.

  The present invention not only suppresses the use of expensive hoop metal, reduces costs, and can efficiently produce, but also inhibits the degree of freedom of connector configuration in manufacturing diversified connector terminals. There is an effect that a manufacturing method and an insert molding die can be obtained with no connector terminals.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of one Example of the manufacturing apparatus of connector terminals. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the principal part shown with the broken line part of the manufacturing apparatus of the connector terminals of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the connector terminals for every manufacturing process of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the manufacturing apparatus of another connector terminals. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the principal part shown with the broken line part of the manufacturing apparatus of the connector terminals of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the connector terminals for every manufacturing process of FIG.

  In the present invention, a plurality of first molds that circulate and move through a plurality of stages including an injection stage through which resin is injected, and a buried connector terminal that is sealed inside the injection stage, are molded in the first mold. An insert molding method using a second mold to be clamped, wherein the first mold and the second mold clamped to the first mold are manufactured by a set of two or more insert molded products. The embedded connector terminals are inserted into the first mold before the injection stage as two or more insert molding terminal members that are coupled at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the carry strip. It arrange | positions in the predetermined position in a 2nd metal mold | die.

  As a result, it is possible not only to suppress the use of expensive hoop metal but also to reduce the cost and to produce efficiently, but also to prevent the freedom of connector configuration in manufacturing diversified connector terminals. .

  In other words, the connector terminals in the present invention are connector terminals composed of a resin injected into a mold at an injection stage and a metal connector terminal partially embedded in the resin. For example, a connector terminal or the like provided with a large number of terminal rows therein and resin pilot holes reaching the individual terminal rows can be used. At present, such connector terminals having a larger number of terminals and smaller terminal sizes are planned, and the diversifying connector terminals are not obstructed by the freedom of the connector configuration. Can be obtained.

  Specifically, in insert molding using a hoop, for example, there are one lower mold and one upper mold as the first and second molds, and insert molding is performed by sequentially entering and exiting the lower mold and the upper mold. Is done. On the other hand, in insert molding in which a plurality of stages are circulated and a part of a metal connector terminal is embedded in the resin injected into the mold at the injection stage, for example, the lower mold that is the first mold is used. After placing the embedded connector terminal at a predetermined position, in order to inject the resin after clamping with the upper mold as the second mold, in the first mold or the second mold together with the embedded connector terminal Since other sub-constituent materials can be arranged, various measures are possible, and there is an advantage that the degree of freedom of the connector configuration is not hindered.

  For example, in addition to the connector terminal, other sub-constituent materials are arranged in order in front of the injection stage in the plurality of first molds that circulate and move the plurality of stages together with the connector terminal, so that the carry band material that is a hoop is added. Since it becomes possible to arrange in the 1st metal mold | die easily without arrange | positioning this subcomponent, the freedom degree of a connector structure is not inhibited. In addition, examples of the sub-constituent material include a member that is difficult to be disposed on a carrier band material such as a terminal other than a connector terminal embedded by insert molding, a resin other than resin that is injection-molded, and a metal cover.

  As an embedded connector terminal of the present invention, even if an expensive hoop metal is used, it is only possible to reduce the cost and to efficiently produce the connector terminal as a connector terminal disposed in the connector terminal. In addition, it is possible to obtain a method for manufacturing connector terminals that does not impede the degree of freedom of connector configuration in the manufacture of diversified connector terminals by insert molding.

  The number of first and second molds according to the present invention includes a plurality of first molds that circulate through a plurality of stages, and a second mold that is clamped to the first mold together with the embedded connector terminals at the injection stage. It consists of. The number of the second molds may be the same as the number of the first molds, or at least one of the first molds by being clamped with the first mold before the injection stage. A smaller number may be used.

  The carrier band material of the present invention may be any material as long as expensive buried connector terminals are coupled at predetermined intervals. For this reason, an inexpensive material is used for the embedded connector terminal. For example, an inexpensive metal such as a brass band material can be used. As materials other than metal, it is also possible to use a strip material made of a resin material having a low elasticity, a high durability and a flexible material, or a composite material containing a resin component. is there.

  The mold of the present invention holds two or more embedded connector terminals so that a set of two or more insert molded products is manufactured when the first mold and the second mold are clamped. The area | region to perform and the space where two or more resin is inject | emitted should just be formed, For example, the thing etc. which the about five embedding connector terminals continued continuously were mentioned.

  In particular, the embedded connector terminal of the present invention is introduced and arranged in a mold before an injection stage as an insert molding terminal material that is joined at two or more spaced apart positions along the longitudinal direction of the carry strip. . Thereby, in manufacture of connector terminals which are diversified, it can respond without inhibiting the freedom degree of a connector structure by devising the buried connector terminal to a carry belt material.

  In a preferred embodiment of the insert molding terminal material, an embedded connector terminal obtained by cutting a strip-like substrate having terminal rows continuously provided at a predetermined interval is fixed to the carry band member at a predetermined interval. The carry band member is cut into a set of two or more embedded connector terminals arranged in the first mold or the second mold.

  The insert molding die used in the method for manufacturing connector terminals according to the present invention is an insert molding die composed of a first die and a second die which are clamped and joined to each other. The injection space formed in the interior is provided with a region for holding a terminal material for insert molding having a predetermined length in which two or more embedded connector terminals are fixed at a predetermined interval. Yes. Thereby, the connector terminal which diversifies does not inhibit the freedom degree of a connector structure.

  Preferably, as the mold for insert molding, if the injection space is further provided with a region for holding other auxiliary components together with the terminal material for insert molding, further diversified connector terminals are provided. It does not hinder the freedom of connector configuration.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a connector terminal manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of a main part indicated by a broken line part of the connector terminal manufacturing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the structure of connector terminals for each manufacturing process of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connector terminal manufacturing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a carry belt material drum 11 that is carried out while a wound brass carry belt material 33 is unwound, and an expensive gold-plated belt shape. The connector terminal drum 12 that is carried out while the connector terminal band 30 in which the connector terminal row is formed in parallel on one side of the board is unwound is carried into the hoop material manufacturing means 13.

  In the hoop material manufacturing means 13, the connector terminal 31 cut from the connector terminal band 30 by the predetermined length L by the terminal cutting means 14 and the carry band material 33 to be carried out are connected. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the connector terminal band 30 is intermittently conveyed continuously by the pilot holes 32 that also serve as positioning holes formed at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction.

  A connector terminal at a predetermined position of the connector terminal band 30 is cut short, and the connector terminal band 30 is cut at a predetermined length L to form an embedded connector terminal 31. On the other hand, connector terminal support portions 34 are formed at equal intervals in the carry band member 33 continuously conveyed intermittently by the pilot holes 35 drilled at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction.

  The cut connector terminal 31 is connected to the support portion 34. These couplings use the pilot hole of the connector terminal 31 as the positioning hole 32 and align with the small protrusion 36 formed in the support portion 34, and the combined carry band material is intermittently conveyed to the hoop material manufacturing means 13, and this hoop material This is achieved by caulking the small protrusions 36 by pressing means that moves up and down of the manufacturing means 13.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the carry band material 33 to which the connector terminals 31 cut by the hoop material manufacturing means 13 are connected is an insert molding terminal material on which two connector terminals 31 are mounted by the terminal material manufacturing means 15 in the next step. Are cut into carry strip pieces 37. Specifically, the carry band material 33 intermittently conveyed by the pilot hole 35 is cut into carry band material pieces 37 on which the two connector terminals 31 are mounted by pressing means that moves up and down as shown in FIGS.

  Carry strip pieces 37 cut by the terminal material production means 15 are transferred to a delivery position 16 by a mold supply means (not shown) by a transfer device (not shown) in a lower mold 24 which is a first mold. It is arranged at a predetermined position. The lower mold 24 in which the carry strip piece 37 is arranged at a predetermined position is slid by the slide means 17 from the delivery position 16 to the lower mold transfer position 18.

  The lower mold 24 moved to the lower mold transfer position 18 is further transferred by the lower mold transfer means 19 to the standby position 21 of the turntable 20 of the injection molding means 23. The lower mold 24 transferred to the turntable standby position 21 is rotationally moved to the injection stage position 22, and the mold is clamped with the upper mold 25, which is the second mold held upward at the injection stage position 22. Resin is injected from above and below the mold. After the injection, when the upper mold 25 moves upward, as shown in FIG. 3, the carry strip piece 37 on which the individual insert-molded product 38 is formed is taken out by a take-out means (not shown).

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the lower metal fitting is pivotally moved by the turntable 20 with two cans at the standby position 21 and the injection stage position 22. The turntable is rotated by 1/3 rotation or 1/4 rotation between the position where the carry band piece 37 is placed in the lower mold and the subsequent position, thereby circulating the mold. You may go.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of another connector terminal manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of a main part indicated by a broken line part of the manufacturing apparatus for connector terminals of FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the structure of connector terminals for each manufacturing process of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the difference from the first embodiment is that the lower mold 54, which is the first mold, is loaded with the carrier band piece 67 and another sub-constituent material 69 in the lower mold 54 before reaching the injection stage. Is to place. That is, the connector terminal manufacturing apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment has a carry band drum 41 that is unwound while the wound brass carry band 63 is unwound and one side of an expensive gold-plated band substrate. The connector terminal drum 42 which is carried out while the connector terminal band 60 in which the connector terminal rows are formed in advance in parallel is unwound is carried into the hoop material manufacturing means 43.

  In the hoop material manufacturing means 43, the connector terminal 61 cut by the terminal cutting means 44 from the connector terminal band 60 with a predetermined length L is connected to the carry band material 63 to be conveyed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the connector terminal band 60 is intermittently conveyed continuously by the pilot holes 62 that also serve as positioning holes formed at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction.

  A connector terminal at a predetermined position of the connector terminal band 60 is cut short, and the connector terminal band 60 is cut at a predetermined length L to form an embedded connector terminal 61. On the other hand, connector terminal support portions 64 are formed at equal intervals on the carry band material 63 that is continuously intermittently conveyed by the pilot holes 65 that are formed at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction.

  The cut connector terminal 61 is connected to the support portion 64. These connections are made by using pilot holes of the connector terminals 61 as positioning holes 62 and aligning with the small protrusions 66 formed on the support portion 64, and the combined carry belt material is intermittently conveyed to the hoop material manufacturing means 43. This is achieved by caulking the small protrusion 66 with a pressing means that moves up and down of the material manufacturing means 43.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the carry band material 63 to which the connector terminal 61 cut by the hoop material production means 43 is connected is mounted with the two carrier terminals 61 by the terminal material production means 45 in the next process. It is cut into a carrier band piece 67 as a terminal material for insert molding. Specifically, the carry band material 63 intermittently conveyed by the pilot hole 65 is cut into a carry band material piece 67 on which two connector terminals 61 are mounted, as shown in FIGS.

  The carrier strip 67 cut by the terminal material manufacturing means 45 is arranged at a predetermined position in the lower mold 54 that is sequentially supplied to the delivery position 46 by a mold supply means (not shown) by a transfer device (not shown). The The lower mold 54 in which the carry strip piece 67 is arranged at a predetermined position is slid by the slide means 47 from the delivery position 46 to the lower mold transfer position 48.

  In the lower mold 54 moved to the lower mold transfer position 48, the sub component material 69 is arranged at a predetermined position of the lower mold 54 moved to the lower mold transfer position 48 by the sub component material supplying means 56. The The lower mold 54 on which the sub-constituent material 69 is arranged is further transferred to the standby position 51 of the turntable 50 of the injection molding means 53 by the lower mold transfer means 49.

  The lower mold 54 transferred to the turntable standby position 51 is rotationally moved to the injection stage position 52, and after the mold is clamped with the upper mold 55, which is the second mold held upward at the injection stage position 52. Resin is injected inside. After the injection, when the upper mold 55 moves upward, as shown in FIG. 6, the carry strip pieces 67 on which the individual insert molded products 68 are formed are taken out by a take-out means (not shown).

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the lower mold is rotationally driven between the standby position 51 and the injection stage position 52 by the turntable 50 has been shown. However, the turntable 50 is cut by the terminal material manufacturing means 45 as a large-diameter turntable. Circulation of the lower mold is performed by intermittently rotating the turntable by 1/3 rotation or 1/4 rotation between the position where the carried strip piece 67 is arranged in the lower mold and the subsequent positions. You may move.

  According to the present invention, even an expensive terminal group can be efficiently produced at a reduced cost, and even a minute terminal group can be efficiently insert-molded.

10, 40 ... Manufacturing apparatus for connector terminals,
11, 41 ... Carry belt drum,
12, 42 ... Connector terminal drum,
13, 43 ... Hoop material manufacturing means,
14, 44 ... terminal cutting means,
15, 45 ... Terminal material manufacturing means,
16, 46 ... delivery position,
17, 47 ... slide means,
18, 48 ... Lower mold transfer position,
19, 49 ... Lower mold transfer means,
20, 50 ... turntable,
21, 51 ... turntable standby position,
22, 52 ... injection stage position,
23, 53 ... injection molding means,
24, 54 ... lower mold,
25, 55 ... Upper mold,
56 ... Sub-component supply means
30, 60 ... Connector terminal band,
31, 61 ... Connector terminals,
32, 62 ... pilot holes (positioning holes),
33, 63 ... carry belt,
34, 64 ... connector terminal support,
35, 65 ... pilot holes,
36, 66 ... small protrusions,
37, 67 ... Carry strip piece (terminal material for insert molding),
38, 68 ... insert molded product,
69 ... sub-components,

Claims (5)

A plurality of first molds that circulate and move through a plurality of stages including an injection stage through which resin is injected, and a second mold that is clamped to the first mold together with embedded connector terminals that are sealed inside the injection stage. An insert molding method using a mold,
The first mold and the second mold clamped to the first mold are manufactured as a set of two or more insert molded products,
The embedded connector terminals are inserted into the first mold or the second mold before the injection stage, as two or more insert molding terminal members that are coupled at a predetermined distance apart along the longitudinal direction of the carry belt member. A method for manufacturing connector terminals, wherein the connector terminals are arranged at predetermined positions.   The insert molding terminal material is fixed to the carry band material at a predetermined interval with an embedded connector terminal obtained by cutting a belt-like substrate having terminal rows continuously provided at a predetermined interval, 2. The method of manufacturing connector terminals according to claim 1, wherein the carry strip is cut into a set of two or more embedded connector terminals arranged in the first mold or the second mold. 3. .   3. The method of manufacturing a connector terminal according to claim 1, further comprising another sub-constituent material disposed in the first mold or the second mold together with the insert molding terminal material. An insert molding die comprising a first die and a second die that are clamp-bonded to each other used in the production method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
In the injection space formed inside when the molds are clamped and joined, a region for holding a predetermined length of insert molding terminal material to which two or more embedded connector terminals are fixed at a predetermined interval The mold for insert molding characterized by being provided with.   In the injection space, an insert molding die is further provided with a region for holding another terminal component together with the insert molding terminal material.

Images