JP2926206B2 - connector - 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 fitted to and connected to a mating connector such as an IC card or a memory card, and more particularly to a connector provided with an eject mechanism for detaching the mating connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of connector, there is one having a structure as shown in FIG. 11, for example. This connector has a hollow portion 20 and one side portion of the frame 1 in which receiving portions S _a and S _b are formed in upper and lower two-stage frames (a side portion with which the distal end portion of the mating connector 6 abuts). Is provided with a plurality of pin contacts 13 connected to contacts (not shown) of the mating connector 6 in an insulated state. That is, this connector has a structure in which two mating connectors 6 can be inserted.

For this reason, ejectors 85a and 85b that move forward and backward in the direction of insertion and removal of each mating connector 6 are provided on one side surface perpendicular to one side of the frame body 1 in a two-stage structure. One side of each of the two levers 87 is engaged with one end of each of the ejectors 85a and 85b.
Are rotatably provided. The other ends of these levers 87 form a hook-shaped push-out portion 87a, and each lever 87 is pivotally supported by a pin 86 provided on the frame 1 so as to be rotatable around the pin 86. I have.

[0004] These ejectors 85a, 85b, lever 87, and pin 86 are connected to the respective ejectors 85a, 85b.
Are formed into an ejecting mechanism for converting the linear motion of the lever 87 into the rotational motion of the lever 87, respectively. In this eject mechanism,
When the ejectors 85a and 85b are pushed in, the levers 87 rotate respectively, and the push-out portions 87a enter into the hollow portions 20 to push out the mating connectors 6 respectively.

The operation of the eject mechanism will be described in detail. First, when the mating connector 6 is inserted, if the upper ejector 85a and the lever 87 are initially in the state shown in FIG. When the mating connector 6 is inserted into the part, the lever 8
7 is pushed out, the lever 87 is pushed into the pin 86
Around the center. As a result, the ejector 85a is pulled out toward the insertion / extraction port on the near side and protrudes as shown in the state of the ejector 85b at the lower stage in FIG.
At this time, the pin contact 13 and the pin contact of the mating connector 6 are connected.

On the other hand, when the mating connector 6 is disconnected, when the ejector 85a at the projecting position is pushed in, the lever 8
7 rotates, and the push-out portion 87a enters the hollow portion 20 to move the mating connector 6. As a result, the mating connector 6 is pushed out of the frame 1 toward the front insertion / extraction opening, and the connection between the pin contact 13 and the pin contact of the mating connector 6 is released.

Although this connector has a structure capable of connecting two mating connectors 6, there is also a multi-stage connector capable of connecting three or more mating connectors. In such a multi-stage connector, The number of ejectors and levers is also provided according to the allowable number of mating connectors.

[0008]

In the case of the above-described connector with an eject mechanism having a multi-stage structure, the eject mechanism is provided in accordance with the number of connectable mating connectors, so that the number of parts of the eject mechanism is increased. However, there is a problem that the assembly is complicated, and as a result, the cost is easily increased in terms of manufacturing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and its technical problem is that it is easy to assemble and can connect a plurality of mating connectors. Is to provide a connector having a single eject mechanism capable of selectively disconnecting each of them.

[0010]

According to the present invention, a plurality of mating connectors for mating and unmating a plurality of mating connectors having mating contacts in a predetermined direction and contacts connected to the mating contacts are provided in multiple stages. In a connector including a frame and an eject mechanism for detaching the mating connector and releasing the connection state of the mating contact and the contact, the eject mechanism includes an operation ejector movably provided in the frame in a predetermined direction, A plurality of levers, one end of which is engageable with the mating connector in a predetermined direction and the other end of which is multistagely divided and pivotally supported by the frame so as to be engageable with the ejector,
By the switching operation of the ejector itself, a connector configured to arbitrarily select one of the multiple stages and engage with only one of the plurality of levers is obtained.

According to the present invention, in the above connector, the ejector is rotatable with respect to an axis extending in a predetermined direction, and by rotating the ejector with respect to the axis, a plurality of levers are provided. Is obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above connector, the other ends of the plurality of levers are adjacent to each other, and the ejector has a butting portion which engages with the other ends of the plurality of levers. A connector is obtained in which parts are partially cut away.

In addition, according to the present invention, in any one of the above connectors, the frame body is provided with a lock member for locking the ejector, and the ejector is in the retracted state when the lock member is in the locked state of the ejector. Is obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above connector, the frame body is provided with an opening / closing member for opening and closing the insertion / extraction opening, and the opening / closing member can release the locked state of the lock member. A connector is provided on the body, provided with a switch member that is turned on and off in response to the opening and closing operations of the opening and closing member in conjunction with the opening and closing member.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The connector of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a basic configuration of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the main configuration of this connector.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the main part.

In this connector, a single eject mechanism for selectively detaching the two mating connectors 6 from the two mating connectors 6 is provided in the two-stage frame 1.

The eject mechanism includes an operation ejector 4 movably provided in the frame 1 in a predetermined direction (a direction of insertion / removal with respect to the mating connector 6 indicated by an arrow X), and one end of the ejector 4 is fixed to the mating connector 6 in a predetermined direction. Two levers 3a, 3b pivotally supported by the frame 1 in two upper and lower stages so as to be engageable and the other end can be engaged with the ejector 4, and two holding portions provided on the frame 1 One of the holding portions 40 of 40 and 41
And a lock member 5 which is provided in engagement with the ejector 4 and locks the ejector 4, and insertion / extraction openings 26 a and 2 for inserting / removing two mating connectors 6 at each stage in the frame 1.
6b, two opening / closing members 8a and 8b which respectively move into and out of the insertion / extraction openings 26a and 26b and engage with the lock member 5 so that the lock state of the lock member 5 with respect to the ejector 4 can be released. In.

Of these, the ejector 4 has a notch 4
6 has an axis in the main body portion 42, which is connected to the spring seat portion 47, and a small diameter portion extends from the spring seat portion 47. Each of the levers 3a, A partially cut abutting portion 43 that engages the other end of 3b extends. In the ejector 4, an intermediate portion of the main body 42 is held by the holding portion 40, and an end of the abutting portion 43 separated from the holding portion 40 is held by the holding portion 41. In this state, the end surface of the holding portion 41 and the end surface of the spring seat portion 47 lock both end portions of the coil spring 45 provided on the small diameter portion.

As will be described in detail later, each lever 3
a and 3b are rotatably attached to each step of the frame 1, and the ejector 4 is provided so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in a predetermined direction and to be able to advance and retreat in a predetermined direction. That is, in the eject mechanism, the ejector 4 is rotated about the axis so that the abutting portion 43 of the ejector 4 is arbitrarily set.
Selects one of the other ends of the levers 3a and 3b of each stage adjacent to each other and engages only with it.

On the other hand, the frame 1 includes a pair of guide frames 21 facing each other, a horizontal rail 22 extending between the upper ends of the guide frames 21, and a horizontal rail 22.
, And contact frames 23a and 23b provided between the other ends of the guide frames 21. Of these, each guide frame 21 and contact frames 23a and 23b have two upper and lower receiving portions S _a ,
Sb is formed, and the lower side of the horizontal rail 22 is provided with upper and lower two-stage insertion / extraction openings 26 a and 26 _b for the two mating connectors 6. Incidentally, each contact frame 23a, 23b
Are provided with a plurality of contacts 13 at a predetermined pitch.

Referring to FIG. 2, the upper surfaces of the contact frames 23a and 23b are respectively provided with levers 3a and 3b.
Rotation shafts 35a and 35b, which are the center of the rotation of b, are provided, and these rotation shafts 35a and 35b are inserted into shaft holes 37a and 37b formed in the center of each of the levers 3a and 3b. . Thus, each contact frame 23a,
The levers 3a and 3b are pivotally supported by the levers 23b, respectively, so that the levers 3a and 3b rotate on the contact frames 23a and 23b, respectively. By the way, when the mating connector 6 is inserted along the guide frame 21 in the insertion / extraction opening 26a, 26b, the plurality of contacts 13 provided on each of the contact frames 23a, 23b are provided. Are electrically connected to the respective contacts.

Engaging recesses 36a and 36b are formed on both side surfaces of the contact frames 23a and 23b, respectively. These engaging recesses 36a and 36b are provided on the end side of the guide frame 21 respectively. It is coupled with the convex part 24. Slits 40a, 41a are formed in the holding portions 40, 41 in the horizontal direction, respectively, and a circular portion 40 is formed in the center of each of the slits 40a, 41a.
b, 41b are formed. These circular portions 40b,
The ejector 4 is inserted into 41b.

Each of the levers 3a and 3b has an extruding portion 39 at one end thereof which is brought into pressure contact with the mating connector 6.
a, 39b are formed, and engaging portions 38a, 38b that are in contact with the abutting portion 43 of the ejector 4 are formed on the other end side. When the mating connector 6 is inserted into the frame 1, the pushing portions 39 a and 39 b are located outside the hollow portion 20. When the mating connector 6 is detached from the frame 1, the pushing portions 39 a and 39 b are connected to the ejector 4. Engage and hollow 2
0 and push out the mating connectors 6 respectively.

As is clear from FIGS. 3 and 4, the base 5a of the lock member 5 is fitted and held in a groove 40c formed in a vertical direction of the holding portion 40 on the side of the insertion / extraction ports 26a, 26b. . The lock member 5 is formed such that folded portions 5b and 5c extend from a base portion 5a, and a folded top portion 5d serving as a top of the folded portions 5b and 5c is formed by an ejector 4.
To the notch portion 46 of FIG. The folded portion 5c is wide, and a protrusion 5e is formed at the upper and lower ends.

The opening / closing members 8a and 8b are provided at one end of the main body, respectively, and advance and retreat with respect to the local portions of the insertion / extraction ports 26a and 26b, respectively.
Cover 80a, 80b that opens and closes, and arms 83a, 83b that extend to the other end of the main body and are bent outward, and are provided on the bottom plate surface of the cutout of the main body. The protrusions 86a and 86b for the driving shaft are inserted into the recesses 29b for the shaft holes provided in the guide frame 21, and are rotatably supported on the guide frame 21 so as to be rotatable.

Further, the opening / closing members 8a and 8b have engagement recesses 84a and 84b formed on the upper surface of the main body, respectively, which engage with engagement protrusions 29a provided on the guide frame 21, respectively. When the folded top 5d is engaged with the notch 46 of the ejector 4, the ejector 4 is locked as shown in FIG. In this state, the lids 80a and 80b are
6b, and the insertion / extraction ports 26a, 26b are closed.

On the other hand, when the lid 80a is operated from this state to rotate the opening / closing member 8a outward, the engaging projection 29a
And an engaging recess 8 formed on the upper surface of the main body of the opening / closing member 8a
1a is engaged, and the ejector 4 is unlocked as shown in FIG. At this time, since the arm portion 83a of the opening / closing member 8a is designed so as to pass through the frame 1 side (inside) of the projection 5e of the lock member 5, the lock member 5 is raised and turned back 5d and the notch portion. The engagement with 46 is released. As a result, the ejector 4 is unlocked, and the entire lock member 5 projects outward from the ejector 4 by the urging force of the coil spring 45 as shown in FIGS.

The abutting portion 43 of the ejector 4
2, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG.
As shown in (a) to (c), the semi-cylindrical portion 48 is partially cut away. This semi-cylindrical portion 48
By changing the rotation angle of the ejector 4 according to the usage state of the mating connector 6 insertion / removal, the levers 3a, 3
b is selectively brought into contact with or retracted from the engaging portions 38a and 38b.

More specifically, the locked state of the ejector 4 shown in FIG. 3 described above, that is, the insertion / extraction openings 26a, 26b
From receiving portion S _a, when the mating connector 6 both in S _b is not accommodated, FIG. 7 and FIG. 10 (a) ~
As shown in (c), the semi-cylindrical portion 48 is
a, 3b, avoiding the engaging portions 38a, 38b,
The engaging portions 38a and 38b are respectively in contact with the cut end surfaces 3.

In this state, as shown in FIG.
a to rotate the opening / closing member 8a outward to release the lock of the ejector 4 and to insert the mating connector 6
Accommodated in the receiving portion S _a from 6a. At this time, the ejector 4 causes the insertion / extraction openings 26a, 2a by the urging force of the coil spring 45.
Move to the 6b side. In order to remove the mating connector 6 from the insertion opening 26a, as shown in FIG. 8, the ejector 4 is turned after rotating the ejector 4 by about 90 degrees in the arrow TL direction (counterclockwise direction). As a result, the distal end surface of the semi-cylindrical portion 48 comes into contact with the engaging portion 38a of the lever 3a and presses the engaging portion 38a, so that the pushing portion 39a of the lever 3a enters the hollow portion 20 and the pushing portion 39a. 39a
Pushes out the mating connector 6. At this time, the distal end surface of the semi-cylindrical portion 48 does not come into contact with the engaging portion 38b of the lower lever 3b.

[0032] Subsequently, the ejector even when unlocking the ejector 4 is rotated outwardly closing member 8b by operating the lid part 80b, accommodating the mating connector 6 from the insertion opening 26b to the receiving portion S _b 4 moves to the insertion / extraction ports 26a, 26b by the urging force of the coil spring 45. In order to remove the mating connector 6 from the insertion opening 26b, as shown in FIG. 9, the ejector 4 is rotated by about 180 degrees in the direction of the arrow TR (clockwise), and then the ejector 4 is pushed in. As a result, the distal end surface of the semi-cylindrical portion 48 comes into contact with the engaging portion 38b of the lever 3b and
b, the pushing portion 39b of the lever 3b enters the hollow portion 20, and the pushing portion 39b
Extrude. At this time, the distal end surface of the semi-cylindrical portion 48 does not come into contact with the engaging portion 38a of the upper lever 3a.

That is, in this ejection mechanism, the ejector 4 is engaged with only one of the levers 3a and 3b by its own switching rotation operation.

Incidentally, the ejector 4 in contact with the levers 3a, 3b is rotated in one of the rotation directions TL, TR as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the notch formed in the ejector 4 is formed. Since the portion 46 also rotates and is located at another position, the notch 46 is moved toward the insertion / extraction ports 26a and 26b by the urging force of the coil spring 45 without being engaged with the folded top 5d of the lock member 5. It has been pushed out.

Then, after each mating connector 6 is taken out from the receiving portion S _a , S _b , respectively, the insertion opening 26 a, 2
When the ejector 4 is locked in a state in which the ejector 4 is closed, the ejector 4 is rotated by 90 degrees in directions opposite to the rotational directions TL and TR shown in FIGS. After returning to the state shown in FIG.
Just push it in. As a result, the folded top 5d of the lock member 5 is engaged with the notch 46, and the ejector 4 is locked as shown in FIGS. That is, in this eject mechanism, when the lock member 5 is in the locked state of the ejector 4, the ejector 4 is in the housed state.

Thereafter, the lid 80 of the opening / closing members 8a, 8b
a, 80b are closed. At this time, each engagement protrusion 29
When the arm 83a and the engagement concave portions 84a and 84b are rotated so as to engage with each other, the arms 83a and 83b pass outside the protrusion 5e of the lock member 5 (the side opposite to the surface at the time of unlocking), and the lock is released. Only the opening / closing members 8a and 8b rotate, and the lids 80a and 80b
6b in a closed state, as shown in FIG.
8b is closed.

As described above, the structure in which the operation of the ejector 4 is made to correspond to the use state of insertion and removal according to the rotation angle is easily configured by applying a well-known technique such as a rotary mode switch of general-purpose electric equipment. it can.

Incidentally, the connector in this embodiment is:
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the guide frame 21 is provided with a switch mechanism that is connected to a power supply of a device in which the connector main body is incorporated, and is configured to be able to switch on and off the power supply to the connector. This switch mechanism
Guide frame 2 of frame 1 near opening / closing members 8a, 8b
The switch terminals 51a and 51b and the switch terminals 52a and 52b are assembled so as to be opposed to the concave portions 28 provided at a total of four positions in the upper and lower positions in FIG. When the opening / closing members 8a and 8b are in the closed state, the switch terminals 51a and 51b and the switch terminals 5
2a and 52b are not in conductive contact with each other and are in an off state.

On the other hand, when the opening / closing members 8a and 8b are in the open state, the arm 83a moves the switch terminal 51a to the switch terminal 51b, and the arm 83b moves to the switch terminal 52a.
Is forcibly moved to the switch terminal 52b side, and the switch terminals 51a and 51b and the switch terminals 52a and 52b are brought into conductive contact with each other, so that they are turned on. Incidentally, this switch mechanism is provided as needed.

In this embodiment, a structure in which two mating connectors 6 can be connected has been described. However, a multi-stage connector to which three or more mating connectors 6 can be connected is used. It is also possible to selectively disconnect the mating connector 6 with a single eject mechanism.
However, in this case, the number of levers is provided in accordance with the allowable number of insertions of the mating connector 6 and the shape of the tip of the abutting portion 43 of the ejector 4 is improved so that the cross-sectional shape of the ejector 4 has a central angle of 180 degrees or less. What is necessary is just to adjust the rotation angle of the ejector 4 to the predetermined angle as a fan shape of a predetermined angle.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a connector having a single eject mechanism for selectively disconnecting a plurality of mating connectors. This connector has a smaller number of components in the eject mechanism than the conventional one, and can be easily assembled. As a result, the connector can be manufactured at low cost. In addition, in the case of this eject mechanism, since the lock member for locking the ejector is provided on the frame, it is possible to prevent the ejector from being accidentally erroneously operated. Further, in this eject mechanism, a plurality of opening / closing members for releasing the locked state by the lock member and opening / closing the insertion / ejection opening are provided in the frame body, and when the desired mating connector is inserted / extracted, the opening / closing member for the corresponding insertion / extraction opening is opened / closed. Because we are going to perform the operation,
Insertion and removal of the mating connector can be reliably performed without erroneous operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a basic configuration of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the connector shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a main part of the connector shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing one operation state of the main part of the connector shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing one operation state of the connector shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view partially showing one operation state of the main part of the connector shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view partially showing another operation state of the main part of the connector shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view partially showing another operation state of the main part of the connector shown in FIG. 1;

10A and 10B are configuration diagrams for explaining one operation state of the connector shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 10A is a front view, FIG. 10B is a plan view, and FIG. 10C is a partially enlarged side view.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a basic configuration of a conventional connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Frame body 3a, 3b Lever 4 Ejector 5 Lock member 6 Mating connector 8a, 8b Opening / closing member 20 Hollow part 21 Guide frame 22 Horizontal beam part 23a, 23b Contact frame 26a, 26b Insertion opening 38a, 38b Engaging part 39a, 39b extrusion 40, 41 holding portion 43 abutting section 48 semi-cylindrical portion 51a, 51b, 52a, 52b switch terminals 80a, 80b lid 83a, 83 b arm portion S _a, S _b receptacle

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01R 13/62-13/633 H01R 23/00 G06K 17/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A frame body having multiple stages of insertion / removal openings for inserting / removing a plurality of mating connectors having mating contacts in a predetermined direction and contacts connected to the mating contacts, and detaching the mating connector. And an eject mechanism for releasing the mating contact and the connection state of the contact, the eject mechanism includes:
An operation ejector movably provided on the frame body in the predetermined direction, and a multi-stage so that one end can be engaged with the mating connector in the predetermined direction and the other end can be engaged with the ejector. A plurality of levers pivotally supported by the frame body, wherein the ejector arbitrarily selects one of the multiple stages by its own switching operation and engages with only one of the plurality of levers A connector characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said ejector is rotatable about an axis extending in said predetermined direction, and said ejector is rotated about said axis so that said plurality of levers can be rotated. A connector configured to engage with any one of them. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the other ends of the plurality of levers are adjacent to each other, and the ejector has an abutting portion that engages with the other ends of the plurality of levers. The connector, wherein the abutting portion is partially cut away. 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes a lock member for locking the ejector, and the ejector is stored when the lock member is in a locked state of the ejector. A connector characterized by being in a state. 5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the frame is provided with an opening / closing member for opening and closing the insertion / extraction opening, and the opening / closing member is capable of releasing a locked state of the lock member. Connector to be. 6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the frame is provided with a switch member that turns on and off in response to an opening and closing operation of the opening and closing member in conjunction with the opening and closing member. Connector to be.