JP2797965B2 - Connector inspection method and connector inspection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector inspection apparatus for detecting a mounting failure of a terminal fitting inserted into a connector housing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A connector is generally constructed by mounting a terminal fitting crimped on the end of an electric wire in a connector housing made of synthetic resin, and the terminal fitting is provided with a lance (elastic locking claw) provided integrally with the connector housing. ) To keep it from falling off. When the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing, the lance bends toward the space for bending once,
When the terminal fitting is inserted to the “regular position”, the terminal fitting is elastically restored and comes into engagement with the terminal fitting, so that the terminal fitting is prevented from coming off. When this kind of retaining structure is adopted, when the terminal fitting is inserted to the point where the lance is bent, a certain amount of frictional force acts on the terminal fitting,
The terminal fittings are in a pseudo-retained state, and the worker who is inserting the terminal fittings may mistakenly think that the terminal fitting has been completely inserted and may stop the work halfway.

However, if the terminal fitting is not completely inserted to the "regular position" where it engages with the lance of the connector housing, the terminal fitting may come off during use. It needs to be checked and corrected in advance.

In view of the above, various connector inspection apparatuses have been developed to detect a mounting failure of terminal fittings.
An example is described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 62-47093. This has a configuration in which a connector holder for holding a connector in a predetermined position is provided, and lance check pins are provided in a protruding manner in opposition to a lance of the connector held by the connector holder. The terminal extends toward the space, and comes into contact with the distal end of the lance located in the bending space when the terminal fitting is in a mounting failure state. According to this configuration, when the connector is set in the connector holder, if the lance is located in the lance flexing space due to improper mounting of the terminal fitting, the lance check pin hits the tip of the lance and the connector Can no longer be set, so that the mounting failure can be found.

[0005]

However, in the above arrangement, when the connector is forcibly set in the connector holder in a state where the terminal fitting is not properly mounted, the tip of the lance check pin strongly contacts the lance, and the lance made of synthetic resin is used. Was deformed. Should such a deformation occur, not only will it not be possible to detect defective mounting of the terminal fittings, but also damage the lance and render the connector unusable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect defective mounting of terminal fittings, perform a highly reliable inspection, and prevent damage to the lance. It is an object to provide a connector inspection method and a connector inspection device.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector housing in which a lance bending space opened to the front side and a cavity capable of inserting a terminal fitting from behind are formed. The connector housing is provided so as to protrude toward the cavity, is bent toward the lance bending space side with the insertion of the terminal fitting, and engages with the terminal fitting when the terminal fitting reaches a regular position. For a connector comprising a lance returning to the cavity side and a stabilizer provided on the terminal fitting so as to be positioned on both sides of the lance, a check pin is provided from the front side of the connector housing to the lance bending space. A method for inspecting whether or not the terminal fitting is inserted in a proper position by inserting the check pin. At the tip, a check portion is provided which is capable of entering a region of the lance bending space deviated to the side of the lance, and which is capable of rotating and displacing toward the cavity. Is arranged at the rear end of the terminal so as to be located rearward of the stabilizer in a state where the terminal fitting is inserted to a regular position, and guides the check portion to the cavity side with the insertion operation of the check pin. A possible curved guide wall portion is formed, and when the terminal fitting is inserted to a regular position, the check portion passes through the stabilizer and is guided by the guide wall portion to the cavity side at a position rearward of the stabilizer. While being pivotally displaced, the check pin is inserted deeper into the lance bending space with the rotational displacement of the check portion, and When the stabilizer is at a position corresponding to the guide wall portion without the terminal fitting reaching the proper position, the rotation displacement to the cavity side is regulated by the check portion coming into contact with the stabilizer. Then, it is characterized in that whether or not the terminal fitting is inserted at a regular position is inspected based on the maximum insertion depth of the check pin.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector housing in which a lance bending space opened to the front side and a cavity for allowing a terminal fitting to be inserted from the rear are formed. It is provided so as to protrude to the cavity side, and is bent to the lance bending space side with the insertion of the terminal fitting, and when the terminal fitting reaches a regular position, it is moved to the cavity side to engage with the terminal fitting. A lance for returning displacement, a stabilizer provided on the terminal fitting so as to be positioned on both sides of the lance, and a stabilizer provided at a far end of the lance bending space, wherein the stabilizer is inserted in a state where the terminal fitting is inserted to a regular position. And a curved guide wall disposed so as to be located further rearward than the connector housing. A device for inspecting whether or not the terminal fitting is inserted in a proper position by inserting a check pin into the lance bending space from a side, wherein a tip of the check pin is provided in the lance bending space. It is possible to enter the area shifted to the side of the lance,
A check portion is provided which is pivotally displaced toward the cavity along the guide wall portion in accordance with the insertion operation of the check pin. When the terminal fitting is inserted to a regular position, the check portion is connected to the stabilizer. Through the guide wall portion, while being rotationally displaced toward the cavity at a position behind the stabilizer by the guide wall portion, while the check pin is further deeply inserted into the lance bending space with the rotational displacement of the check portion. When the stabilizer is located at a position corresponding to the guide wall without the terminal fitting having reached the proper position, the rotation displacement toward the cavity is restricted by the check portion abutting on the stabilizer. Whether the terminal fitting is inserted at a regular position based on the maximum insertion depth of the check pin. Characterized in was configured to inspect.

Preferably, both the check pin and the check portion are made of synthetic resin, and both are integrally formed via a self-hinge portion.

[0010]

In order to check the mounting failure of the terminal fitting, a check pin is inserted into the lance bending space from the front side of the connector housing. Along with the insertion, the check portion of the check pin comes into contact with the deep portion of the lance bending space and tends to be displaced toward the terminal fitting. At this time, if the terminal fitting is in the proper position, the check portion passes through the stabilizer and reaches the back, so that the displacement is allowed without touching the stabilizer. On the other hand, if the terminal fitting has not been inserted to the proper position, the check portion comes into contact with the stabilizer, and this is detected by interrupting further insertion of the check pin. In addition,
Since the stabilizers are located on both sides of the lance, the check part of the check pin and the lance will be in a non-contact state regardless of whether the terminal fitting is in the correct position, and the movement of the check part will not be affected. Absent.

[0011]

As described above, according to the connector inspection method and the connector inspection apparatus of the present invention, when the terminal fitting is not at the proper position, it is detected based on the contact of the check portion with the stabilizer. Therefore, an excellent effect is achieved in that it is possible to surely detect the improper mounting of the terminal fitting and to prevent the lance from being damaged. Further, if the check pin and the check portion are integrally formed via a self-hinge, the structure can be manufactured at low cost and high accuracy even if they are miniaturized. It becomes possible.

[0012]

【Example】

<First Embodiment> A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a hand-held inspection jig will be described below with reference to FIGS.

First, the structure of the connector 10 inspected using the inspection jig 30 of the present embodiment will be described.

The connector housing 11 is made of synthetic resin.
As shown in FIG. 1, it is molded so as to form a flat cylindrical shape as a whole, and two cavities 12 arranged in two rows on the left and right are formed inside. Each of the cavities 12 is opened forward and backward, and a waterproof tubular portion 14 for inserting a waterproof plug 13 made of rubber (see FIG. 5) is integrally extended at the rear end side. 15 is inserted from the rear side (right side in FIG. 2), and a lance 16 is provided integrally with the connector housing 11 to fix the terminal fitting 15 in a retaining state.

The lance 16 is in the form of an elastically deformable projection having a locking portion 16a near the tip, and a lance bending space 17 is formed in the cavity 12 to allow the lance 16 to elastically deform downward. Have been. Also, the terminal fitting 15
In this embodiment, an insulation barrel portion 19 for crimping the covering portion of the electric wire 25 together with the rubber waterproof plug 13 is formed as a female paired with a male terminal fitting of a mating connector (not shown), This is a well-known structure including a wire barrel portion 20 for crimping 25 conductor portions and two stabilizers 21 positioned so as to sandwich the lance 16 from both left and right sides. When the terminal fitting 15 is inserted into the cavity 12, the tip of the terminal fitting 15 contacts the lance 16 and elastically deforms the lance 16 toward the lance bending space 17.
When the front end 5 of the cavity 12 is inserted, the lance 16 elastically deformed during the insertion encounters an engaging hole (not shown) of the terminal fitting 15 and is restored to the original position. , The terminal fitting 15 is prevented from coming off, and the stabilizer 2 of the terminal fitting 15
1 are located on the left and right sides of the lance 16. Hereinafter, the position where the terminal fitting 15 engages with the lance 16 in this manner is referred to as a “regular position”. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the terminal fitting 15 has been inserted to the “regular position” and is completely engaged with the lance 16 in order to represent the state of engagement of the lance 16 described above.
The terminal fitting 15 does not reach the "regular position"
6 shows a state in which the lance 6 has been inserted up to the place where it has been elastically deformed toward the lance bending space 17 side. In addition, the lance bending space 1
At the innermost part of 7, a curved guide wall portion 18 is formed in which the bottom surface of the space 17 rises in a smooth arc shape.

The entire inspection jig 30 is manufactured by integral molding of a synthetic resin, and has the form shown in FIG. That is, an end plate 32 is provided at the tip of the handle 31 in a form orthogonal to the handle 31, and a total of two sets of check pins 33 are projected from the end plate 32 corresponding to the cavities 12 of the connector housing 11. The two check pins 33 correspond to the respective cavities 12. The check pins 33 have a forked shape with a divided tip, and can be inserted into the lance bending space 17 of the connector housing 11. Also, the outer dimension a of the two check pins 33, 33 in each set (see FIG. 1).
Is slightly smaller than the opposing dimensions of the left and right inner walls of the lance bending space 17 of the connector housing 11, and when the check pins 33, 33 are inserted into the lance bending space 17, they are guided by the left and right side walls to enter. The distance b between the two check pins 33 is set slightly larger than the lateral width of the lance 16 so that the lance 16 can be straddled in a non-contact manner. It has become.

At the tip of each check pin 33,
The check portion 34 is connected to be rotatable and displaceable via a self-hinge portion 35. The self-hinge part 35 is provided on the upper surface of the check pin 33 and can rotate upward as shown in FIG. 3, and the tip of the check part 34 is a curved guide located at the deepest part of the lance bending space 17. The shape conforms to the wall portion 18 and has a smooth arc shape. In addition,
As shown in FIG. 3, the thickness c of the check portion 34 is set smaller than the extension d (c <d), and the lower surface of the boundary between the check pin 33 and the check portion 34 has The angle α between the boundary surface and the upper surface of the check portion 34 is set to 90 ° or more.

Next, the operation of the inspection jig of this embodiment will be described. The terminal fitting 15 crimped to the end of the electric wire 25 in advance is carried into the inspection step in a state where it is inserted into the cavity 12 of the connector housing 11. In the inspection process,
The operator holds the connector housing 11 in one hand, and holds the handle 31 of the inspection jig 30 with the other hand, and inserts the check pin 33 into the lance bending space 17 of the connector housing 11 from the front side. Now, it is assumed that the terminal fitting 15 is inserted into the “regular position” in the cavity 12. Then, when the check pin 33 enters the lance flexure space 17 and the check portion 34 at the tip comes into contact with the guide wall portion 18 at the back of the flexure space 17, the check portion 34 is higher than the stabilizer 21 of the terminal fitting 15. It will be located at the back (see FIG. 5). For this reason, when the check pin 33 is further pushed in, the check portion 34 in contact with the guide wall portion 18 rotates so as to escape to the stabilizer 21 side along the curved surface of the guide wall portion 18 as shown in FIG. As a result, the check pin 33 is pushed further deeply, and as a result, as shown in FIG.
The check pin 33 enters until it comes into contact with the opening surface of the first. In this state, the angle α between the boundary surface of the check pin and the upper surface of the check portion 34 is set to 90 ° or more, so that the entire check portion 34 does not fall out of the lance bending space 17. Therefore, after this, the check pin 33
Is pulled out from the lance bending space 17, the check portion 34 can rotate so as to hit the stabilizer 21 and return to the original state naturally, without being caught by the upper edge of the guide wall portion 18.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the terminal fitting 15 is inserted into the cavity
Otherwise, the check portion 34 that reaches the innermost portion of the lance bending space 17 and attempts to rotate upward comes into contact with the stabilizer 21 of the terminal fitting 15. For this reason, further entry of the check pin 33 is prevented, and the check pin 33 cannot move until the end plate 32 comes into contact with the opening surface of the connector housing 11, and a gap remains between the end plate 32 and the connector housing 11. Becomes

As described above, according to the inspection jig 30 of the present embodiment, the terminal is merely inserted by simply inserting the check pin 33 into the lance bending space 17 and determining the maximum insertion depth. It is possible to accurately inspect whether the metal fitting 15 is at the “regular position”. In addition, since the check pins 33 and the check portions 34 do not damage the lance 16 during the inspection process, it is possible to reliably prevent the connector from being unusable. Further, in this embodiment, the inspection jig 30 is made of synthetic resin, and the check portion 34 is formed integrally with the check pin 33 via the self-hinge portion 35. Can be manufactured at low cost and with high accuracy, and high-precision inspection can be performed even with a small connector.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 9 shows a schematic configuration of a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a stationary inspection apparatus.
The same parts as those of the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted. The connector 10 is detachably held by the connector holder 40, and the check pin 33 is attached to the check pin holder 41. The connector holder 40 and the check pin holder 41 are relatively moved by a predetermined distance so as to approach each other by operating a handle (not shown). It is fixed, and the check pin holder 41 slides on the substrate). In the check pin holder 41, there is provided a compression spring 42 which constantly urges the check pin 33 toward the connector holder 40. When the check pin 33 is pressed, the check spring 33 moves in the direction of the arrow and the compression spring 42 is compressed. The switch 43 is closed.

In this configuration, when the connector housing 11 of the connector 10 to be inspected is set in the connector holder 40 and the handle of the inspection device is operated, the check pin holder 41 moves to the connector 10 side, and the check pin 33
Enters the lance deflection space 17 of the connector housing 11. At this time, if the terminal fitting 15 is in the "regular position", the check pin 33 is inserted deeper as in the first embodiment, and if not, the check pin 33 is blocked at a shallower position. Here, if the amount of movement of the check pin holder 41 is set to be equal to the amount of check pin 33 entering when the terminal fitting 15 is at the “regular position”, the compression is performed when the terminal fitting 15 is at the “regular position”. Spring 42 is not compressed. Conversely, terminal fitting 15
Is not at the “regular position”, the check pin 33 moves in the direction of the arrow while the compression spring 42 is compressed by moving the check pin holder 41 even when the check pin 33 is prevented from entering at a shallow position. Switch 43 is closed. With this, terminal fitting 15
Can be determined based on the electric signal from the switch 43 as to whether or not is at the “regular position”.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 10 shows a schematic configuration of a third embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a stationary inspection apparatus.
The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted. In this embodiment, as in the second embodiment,
The connector 10 is detachably held by the connector holder 50, and the check pin 33 is attached to the check pin holder 51. When a handle (not shown) is operated, the check pin holder 51 moves so as to approach the connector holder 50 fixed on the board, and the check pin 3 is moved.
3 enters the lance deflection space 17 of the connector housing 11. In the check pin holder 51, a compression spring (not shown) for constantly urging the check pin 33 toward the connector holder 50 is provided, and a probe 53 that can contact the terminal fitting 15 in the cavity 12 has a check pin. It is provided so as to line up with 33.

In this configuration, when the connector housing 11 of the connector 10 to be inspected is set in the connector holder 50 and the handle of the inspection device is operated, the check pin holder 51 moves to the connector 10 side, and the check pin 33 is moved.
Enters the lance flexure space 17 of the connector housing 11, if the terminal fitting 15 is at the "regular position", the check pin 33 is inserted deeper as in the first embodiment, and if not, the terminal pin 15 is not at the "regular position". The check pin 33 is prevented from entering at a shallower position. Here, if the amount of movement of the check pin holder 41 is set to be equal to the amount of the check pin 33 entering when the terminal fitting 15 is at the “regular position”, the check is performed when the terminal fitting 15 is at the “regular position”. Since the pin 33 penetrates deeper, the probe 53 comes into contact with the terminal fitting 15 as shown in FIG. Conversely, when the terminal fitting 15 is not at the “regular position”, the entry of the check pin 33 is prevented at a shallow position, so that the probe 53 does not contact the terminal fitting 15 as shown in FIG.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, it is possible to determine whether or not the terminal fittings 15 are in the "regular position" based on the electric signal from the switch 43. This has the advantage that the connection test of the wire harness for checking whether or not the wire harness is mounted in the correct cavity 12 of the housing 11 can be performed at the same time.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described with reference to the above description and drawings, but can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inspection jig and a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a tip of a check pin.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the same.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of inspection when the terminal fitting is at a regular position.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of inspection when the terminal fitting is at a regular position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of inspection when the terminal fitting is at a regular position.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of inspection when the terminal fitting has not reached a proper position.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state when the terminal fitting is at a proper position in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the terminal fitting has not reached a proper position in the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Connector housing 12 ... Cavity 15 ... Terminal fitting 16 ... Lance 17 ... Lance deflection space 18 ... Guide wall part 25 ... Electric wire 33 ... Check pin 34 ... Check part 35 ... Self hinge part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01R 43/00 H01R 13/42 H01R 13/64 G01R 31/04

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A lance bending space opened to the front side;
A connector housing having a cavity in which a terminal fitting can be inserted from the rear; and a connector housing provided in the connector housing so as to protrude toward the cavity, and the lance bending space side along with the insertion of the terminal fitting. And a lance which is displaced toward the cavity and returns to the cavity side to engage with the terminal when the terminal reaches a regular position; and a stabilizer provided on the terminal to be positioned on both sides of the lance. A method for inspecting whether or not the terminal fitting is inserted at a regular position, by inserting a check pin from the front side of the connector housing into the lance bending space for the connector comprising: At the tip of the check pin, it is possible to enter a region of the lance bending space deviated to the side of the lance And a check portion capable of rotating and displacing to the cavity side is provided. The rear end of the lance bending space is rearward of the stabilizer when the terminal fitting is inserted to a regular position. Is formed, and a curved guide wall portion capable of guiding the check portion to the cavity side with the insertion operation of the check pin is formed, and the terminal fitting is inserted to a regular position. Sometimes
While the check portion passes through the stabilizer and is rotationally displaced toward the cavity at a position behind the stabilizer by the guide wall portion, the check pin is moved into the lance bending space with the rotational displacement of the check portion. When the stabilizer is in a position corresponding to the guide wall portion without the terminal fittings having reached the proper position while the terminal fitting is being inserted further deeply, the check portion contacts the stabilizer to rotate to the cavity side. A connector inspection method, wherein the displacement is regulated, and whether or not the terminal fitting is inserted at a regular position is inspected based on a maximum insertion depth of the check pin. 2. A lance bending space opened to the front side,
A connector housing having a cavity in which a terminal fitting can be inserted from the rear; and a connector housing provided in the connector housing so as to protrude toward the cavity, and the lance bending space side along with the insertion of the terminal fitting. And a lance which is displaced toward the cavity and returns to the cavity side to engage with the terminal when the terminal reaches a regular position; and a stabilizer provided on the terminal to be positioned on both sides of the lance. A connector provided at a back end of the lance bending space and having a curved guide wall portion disposed rearward of the stabilizer when the terminal fitting is inserted to a regular position. By inserting a check pin from the front side of the connector housing into the lance bending space, the terminal A device for inspecting whether or not a metal fitting is inserted in a proper position, wherein a tip of the check pin is allowed to enter a region of the lance bending space which is laterally shifted from the lance, and A check portion is provided that is rotated and displaced to the cavity side along the guide wall portion with the insertion operation of the check pin, and when the terminal fitting is inserted to a regular position,
The check portion passes through the stabilizer and is rotationally displaced toward the cavity at a position behind the stabilizer by the guide wall portion, and the check pin is moved into the lance bending space with the rotational displacement of the check portion. When the stabilizer is at a position corresponding to the guide wall portion without the terminal fitting reaching the proper position, the check portion contacts the stabilizer, and the terminal portion is rotated toward the cavity side. A connector inspection device, wherein displacement is regulated, and it is configured to inspect whether or not the terminal fitting is inserted at a regular position based on a maximum insertion depth of the check pin. 3. The connector inspection device according to claim 2, wherein both the check pin and the check portion are made of synthetic resin, and both are integrally formed via a self-hinge portion.