JP3147754B2 - Connector manufacturing die and manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a manufacturing method and a manufacturing method of a connector, and more particularly to a manufacturing method and a manufacturing method of a connector having a retainer mounted from a side of a connector housing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a connector in which a retainer is mounted from a side surface of a connector housing to perform double locking of terminal fittings (see FIGS. 7 to 9). This connector has a terminal fitting 2 inside a connector housing 1.
A cavity 3 is formed on the bottom surface of the lance 4 so that the lance 4 can be inserted from behind.
Is provided. On the other hand, from the upper surface of the connector housing 1, a retainer 5 for retaining the terminal fitting 2 is mounted. Therefore, a retainer insertion hole 6 is formed on the upper surface of the connector housing 1 so as to cross each cavity 3. The retainer 5
As shown also in FIG. 9, a locking portion 9 having a projecting piece 5 a inserted between the cavities 3 and projecting inside the cavity 3 and locking to the jaw 8 of the terminal fitting 2 is projected. Has been established. Although not shown in detail, the retainer 5 can be held at two positions, a temporary locking position where the insertion depth is small with respect to the housing 1 and a full locking position deeper than this.

That is, in a state where the retainer 5 is held at the temporary locking position shown in FIG. 7, each locking portion 9 of the retainer 5 is retracted upward so that the terminal fitting 2 can be inserted and removed. When the terminal fitting 2 is inserted to the proper position in step (1), the terminal fitting 2 is primarily locked by the lance 4. Subsequently, when the retainer 5 is pushed into the final locking position as shown in FIG. 8, each locking portion 9 of the retainer 5 is fitted into the jaw 8 of the terminal fitting 2 and is secondarily locked. Thus, the terminal fitting 2 is double-locked. Then, such a connector is temporarily assembled in a state where the retainer 5 is held at the temporary locking position, and then transported to the terminal insertion site.

That is, conventionally, the housing 1 and the retainer 5
Prior to the temporary assembling, the housing 1 and the retainer 5 were separately molded, that is, molded by separate molding machines, and then brought to the temporary assembling site and assembled. Such assembling has been performed by an automatic machine equipped with a parts feeder or manually by an operator.

[0005]

As described above, in the prior art, the molding of the housing 1 and the retainer 5 and the assembly thereof are performed separately, and the connector is temporarily assembled through the steps of molding, transporting, and assembling. Is completed. Further, when the assembly is performed manually by an operator, another inspection process is required. In this case, a large number of processes until completion leads to an increase in product cost. Also,
Since the management of the mold is required for each of the housing 1 and the retainer 5, the management cost is further increased.

[0006] The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing die and a manufacturing method capable of manufacturing a connector at low cost. It is.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a cavity in which a terminal fitting can be inserted is formed inside a connector housing, and the cavity is mounted from the side of the connector housing. A connector manufacturing die provided with a retainer that is capable of engaging with a terminal fitting at the time of installation and locking the retainer in a detachable state, and a pair of molds that can be relatively connected and separated along one direction. Is provided, one of the molds is assembled with a slide mold that can advance and retreat along an advancing and retreating path provided in a direction intersecting with the approaching and separating directions of the two molds, and between the two molds. When the mold is closed with the slide mold advanced, the housing provided with the retainer insertion hole via the slide mold, and the retainer located rearward in the reciprocation direction of the slide mold, respectively. A retractable means for retracting the slide die to the side of the advance / retract passage after retreating, and a retainer molded in the retainer molding space are formed along the advance / retreat passage while the slide mold is retracted. Insertion means for allowing the retainer to be inserted into the retainer insertion hole of the housing by inserting the retainer into the retainer insertion hole while supporting the retainer over the entire width direction. It has features. Further, according to the invention according to claim 2, a cavity in which a terminal fitting can be inserted is formed inside the connector housing, and can be mounted from the side of the connector housing, and can be detached by engaging with the terminal fitting at the time of mounting. What is claimed is: 1. A method of manufacturing a connector having a retainer that locks in a stop state, comprising: connecting a pair of molds to one of two molds that can be relatively moved in and out along one direction. The mold is closed with a slide mold assembled so as to be able to advance and retreat in a direction intersecting with the separating direction, and a housing provided with a retainer insertion hole via the slide mold, and a rear part of the slide mold in the retreat direction. After the slide die is retracted and pulled out from the retainer insertion hole, the slide die is moved to the side of the advance / retreat passage by opening the die or by a drive mechanism. By removing, from the open passage supporting the retainer over its entire width direction and inserted into the retainer insertion hole characterized in was constructed assembled in a predetermined state.

[0008]

The operation of the invention according to claims 1 and 2 configured as described above is as follows. With the pair of dies closed, the housing is formed into a shape having a retainer insertion hole on one side by the interposition of a slide die, and the retainer is formed together behind the slide die. After the slide mold retreats along the advance / retreat passage and is pulled out of the retainer insertion hole, the evacuation means retracts the slide mold to the side of the advance / retreat passage. After that, the retainer is inserted into the retainer insertion hole through the opened advance / retreat passage by the insertion means, and the retainer and the housing are integrally assembled in a predetermined state. By the way, if there is a portion that is not supported in the width direction when the retainer is inserted, the retainer tends to bend laterally due to a frictional force when the retainer is inserted. More specifically, the protruding piece 5a that is not supported by the insertion means may be further pushed in and damaged, because the locking portion 9 protruding laterally contacts the edge of the cavity 3 or the like. There is. However, in the present invention, in order to support the retainer over its entire width, the retainer does not bend to the side even if it abuts, but is pressed vertically and inserted.

[0009]

According to the present invention, since the housing and the retainer can be formed and assembled together in the mold, an inexpensive connector integrated with the retainer can be obtained by shortening the process. Further, even a wide retainer that is easily bent can be inserted straight to prevent breakage.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The object to be manufactured by the manufacturing die and manufacturing method of the present embodiment is the side retainer type connector described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. In addition, the mold of the present embodiment is incorporated in an injection molding system, and its main part is described below. However, the drawings shown in FIGS. And does not correspond directly to the connectors shown in FIGS.

The manufacturing mold of the present embodiment includes a fixed mold 11 and a movable mold 12 which are paired with each other. The movable mold 12 is connected to a driving mechanism (not shown), is driven forward and backward by a predetermined stroke in the left and right directions in the figure, and is movable toward and away from the fixed mold 11. It comprises a front mold 13 and a rear mold 14 that can be divided in the same direction. On the molding surface of the fixed mold 11, a housing molding concave portion 16 forming one end side of the connector housing 1 is formed. On the molding surface of the fixed mold 11, a slide mold 17 provided with a molding portion 18 for forming the retainer insertion hole 6 at the upper end below the molding recess 16 in the drawing is provided. Freely attached. The slide die 17 is formed with an oblique insertion hole 19 through which an angular pin 36 described later can be inserted with a clearance.
The lower end surface of the slide die 17 is formed on an inclined surface 20 at an angle steeper than the angle of the insertion hole 19 described above. The surface to which the slide die 17 is attached has an angular pin 36.
An escape hole 21 is formed to allow the tip of the hole to escape.

One movable mold 12 is composed of the front mold 13 and the rear mold 14 as described above, and the molding surface of the front mold 13 is provided on the other end of the connector housing 1. The housing molding concave portion 23 for forming the
It is provided corresponding to one housing forming recess 16. On the inner surface of the housing forming concave portion 23, a protruding pin 24 which is capable of moving forward and backward through the front and rear molds 13 and 14 is arranged. A vertical advance / retreat passage 25 is formed below the housing forming recess 23 in the figure. When the fixed mold 11 and the movable mold 12 are closed, the slide mold 17 described above is fitted into the advance / retreat passage 25, and the slide mold 17 can be slid vertically.
A retainer molding recess 28 is provided below the advance / retreat passage 25.
The auxiliary slide die 27 provided with is also slidably provided in the vertical direction. The auxiliary slide die 27 is driven by being connected to a drive pin 29 of a cylinder drive mechanism (not shown). The auxiliary slide die 27 supports the retainer 5 formed as shown in FIG. Has become.

The front mold 1 is located at an intermediate position of the reciprocating passage 25.
3 is formed with a fitting hole 31 that opens to the rear surface thereof and communicates at a right angle. On the front surface of the rear mold 14, the above-described insertion hole 31 is provided.
A core pin 32 that can be fitted into the projection is provided. An inclined receiving surface 33 is formed on the upper surface of the tip of the core pin 32 so as to be aligned with the inclined surface 20 of the slide die 17, and the retainer recess 28 of the auxiliary slide die 27 is formed on the lower surface of the tip. In addition, a retainer molding concave portion 34 that forms a retainer molding space is formed. Then, in a state where the molds 13 and 14 before and after the movable mold 12 are closed,
As shown in FIG. 1, the distal end of the core pin 32 projects through the insertion hole 31 into the advance / retreat passage 25, and holds the slide die 17 at the advance position with the receiving surface 33 receiving the inclined surface 20 of the slide die 17. When the slide die 17 is at the advanced position, the molded portion 18 projects from the lower surface side into the housing molded concave portion 23 by a certain dimension. When the auxiliary slide mold 27 is pressed against the lower surface of the distal end portion of the core pin 32, a molding space for the retainer 5 is formed by the retainer molding recesses 28 and 34, and the position of the auxiliary slide mold 27 at that time is set to the retreat position. Become. The auxiliary slide die 27 can be advanced to a position where the retainer 5 held therethrough through the advance / retreat passage 25 can be inserted into the retainer insertion hole 6 of the housing 1 as described later. 27 advance positions.

On the front surface of the rear mold 14, an angular pin 36 which is obliquely directed downward at the same angle as the insertion hole 19 of the slide mold 17 is projected, and the rear surface of the advance / retreat passage 25 is provided. On the side, a relief hole 37 opened to the rear surface of the front mold 13 is formed so as to communicate with it. When the front and rear molds 13 and 14 are closed, as shown in FIG.
The tip of the angular pin 36 is the escape hole 3 of the front mold 13.
7 through the oblique insertion hole 19 of the slide die 17 at the advanced position with a clearance, and
Project into the escape hole 21. Next, the procedure of molding the housing 1 and the retainer 5 and assembling the same using the molding die configured as described above will be described. FIG. 1 shows a molding state. In this state, the front and rear molds 13 and 14 of the movable mold 12 are closed, and the movable mold 12 and the fixed mold 11 are closed. The slide die 17 has advanced to the advanced position, the auxiliary slide die 27 has been retracted to the retracted position, and the core pin 32 is fitted between the slide dies 17 and 27. The angular pin 36 is inserted through the through hole 19 of the slide die 17 through the escape hole 37.

In this state, the respective molding spaces of the housing 1 and the retainer 5 are filled with a molten resin. Accordingly, the housing 1 is formed into a shape in which the retainer insertion hole 6 is opened on the upper surface (the lower surface in FIGS. 1 to 5) due to the presence of the molding portion 18 of the slide die 17, and the housing 1 is formed below the retainer insertion hole 6. The retainer 5 is formed at the position. And
When the resin has solidified after a predetermined period of time, only the rear mold 14 of the movable mold 12 retreats by a certain distance as shown in FIG. As the rear mold 14 retreats, the core pin 32 retreats from the advance / retreat passage 25, and the distal end of the angular pin 36 retreats, and the insertion hole 1 of the slide mold 17 is retracted.
By pressing the inclined lower surface of 9, the slide die 17 is driven downward along the advance / retreat passage 25 by a cam action.
At this time, since there is a gap between the angular pin 36 and the lower surface of the insertion hole 19, the core pin 32 starts to retreat first, and the slide mold 17 starts descending by engagement with the angular pin 36. Anyway, since the inclination angle of the receiving surface 33 of the core pin 32 is larger than the inclination angle of the angular pin 36 and the retreat amount is large, the slide mold 17 follows the core pin 32 without interfering therewith. As described above, the access passage 25 is lowered. Then, as shown in the figure, the retraction of the rear die 14 is stopped when the angular pin 36 is completely removed from the insertion hole 19, and at that time, the slide die 17 reaches the retreat position, and the molding portion 18 thereof is moved.
From the retainer insertion hole 6 of the housing 1.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable mold 12 as a whole is retracted to open the space between the movable mold 12 and the fixed mold 11, and accordingly, the slide mold 17 is moved together with the fixed mold 11 into the advance / retreat passage 25. It is relatively drawn forward, whereby the retreat passage 25 is opened. At this time, the housing 1 is held by the front mold 13 of the movable mold 12, and the retainer 5 is held by the auxiliary slide mold 27. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4, the drive pin 29 advances, the auxiliary slide mold 27 advances to the advanced position along the advance / retreat passage 25, and the retainer 5 held there is inserted into the lower surface of the retainer insertion hole 6 in the drawing. The retainer 5 is inserted from the side, whereby the retainer 5 is assembled in the temporary locking position.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the retainer 5 is supported by the auxiliary slide mold 27 over its entire width. Therefore, each protruding piece 5a is in contact with the auxiliary slide die 27 on the back side of the root, and the retainer insertion hole 6
Even if there is frictional resistance when it is inserted inside, it is pushed straight in without bending to the side.
As a result, it is possible to prevent breakage in the middle. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary slide die 27 supports the retainer 5 over the entire width, but it is sufficient that the auxiliary slide die 27 substantially supports the entire width of the retainer 5 where the protruding piece 5a is formed. In this sense,
The full width in the present invention refers to a width that can support the protruding pieces 5a on both sides from the back side. In addition, the retainer insertion hole 6 is a hole that opens on the side surface of the body of the connector housing 1, but is not necessarily limited to the body, and may be a part such as a concave part that is open on one side in contact with the end. Is also good. At least, any shape may be used as long as the retainer 5 is inserted into the hole-shaped concave portion from the side. The projecting piece 5a of the retainer 5 inserted into the retainer insertion hole 6 is not limited to the plate-shaped member as in the present embodiment, but may be any member that is likely to bend if pressed obliquely.

When the retainer 5 is assembled at the temporary locking position, as shown in FIG. 5, the auxiliary slide mold 27 is retracted to the retracted position, and at the same time, the protruding pin 24 is projected, and the retainer 5 is temporarily attached to the housing 1. The locked product protrudes forward of the movable mold 12 and is taken out. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the molding of the housing 1 and the retainer 5 and the provisional assembly thereof can be simultaneously performed in one mold, so that the conventional transport assembling is not required, and the process is not required. The shortening shortens the lead time for product completion and reduces the manufacturing cost. Further, since different types of molded products such as the housing 1 and the retainer 5 can be molded in one mold, it is advantageous from the viewpoint of mold management. Further, even if the retainer 5 is wide, it is possible to prevent the end portion from bending and being caught and damaged.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) The driving of the auxiliary slide mold 27 may be performed by a cam mechanism. (2) As means for retracting the slide die 17 from the advance / retreat passage 25, the slide die 17 is used in the above embodiment.
Is provided on the fixed mold 11 side and retracted when the mold is opened, but the slide mold 17 may be provided on the movable mold 12 side and retracted to the side by another drive mechanism.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a mold according to an embodiment in a molding state.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state where only a rear mold of a movable mold is opened.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state where a mold is opened.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation of assembling the retainer.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which a finished product is taken out.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state where an auxiliary slide type supports a retainer.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which a retainer of a connector to be molded is at a temporary locking position.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the retainer is at a final locking position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a retainer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector housing 2 ... Terminal fitting 3 ... Cavity 5 ... Retainer 6 ... Retainer insertion hole 11 ... Fixed mold 12 ... Movable mold 13 ... Front mold 14 ... Back mold 17 ... Slide mold 18 ... Molded part 25 ... Reciprocating passage 27 ... Auxiliary slide type 36 ... Angular pin

(56) References JP-A-5-200772 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B29C 33/00-33/54 B29C 45/26-45 / 37

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cavity in which a terminal fitting can be inserted is formed inside a connector housing, and can be mounted from a side surface of the connector housing, and is engaged with the terminal fitting at the time of mounting to lock in a retaining state. A mold for manufacturing a connector having a retainer that is provided with a pair of molds that can be relatively moved in and out along one direction, and one of the molds has a direction in which the two molds come and go. A slide mold that can advance and retreat along an advancing and retreating path provided in a crossing direction is assembled, and between the two dies, when the mold is closed with the slide mold advanced, the slide mold is provided. A molding space is formed in which a housing in which a retainer insertion hole is provided via a through hole and a retainer located behind the slide die in the reciprocating direction are formed. Retraction means for retracting the mold to the side of the advance / retreat passage after retreating, and insertion means for allowing the retainer formed in the retainer molding space to advance along the advance / retreat passage so as to be inserted into the retainer insertion hole of the housing. Wherein the insertion means supports and inserts the retainer inserted into the retainer insertion hole over the entire width thereof. 2. A cavity into which a terminal fitting can be inserted is formed inside the connector housing, and can be mounted from a side surface of the connector housing, and is locked in a retaining state by engaging with the terminal fitting at the time of mounting. A method of manufacturing a connector provided with a retainer, wherein a pair of molds that can relatively approach and separate along one direction,
One of the molds is closed with a slide mold assembled so as to be able to advance and retreat in a direction intersecting the separation and separation direction of both molds, and a retainer insertion hole is provided through the slide mold. After forming the housing and the retainer located at the rear of the slide die in the retreating direction, the slide die is retracted and pulled out from the retainer insertion hole, and then the slide die is moved along with the mold opening or by a drive mechanism in the retreat passage. A method of manufacturing a connector, comprising retracting to the side, supporting the retainer from the opened passage in the entire width direction thereof, inserting the retainer into the retainer insertion hole, and assembling the connector in a predetermined state.