JP3275995B2 - Connector manufacturing method and manufacturing mold - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and a mold for manufacturing a connector, which is constructed by assembling a connector housing and a retainer, which are separate parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When manufacturing a connector comprising a connector housing having a cavity for inserting a terminal fitting, and a retainer which locks the terminal fitting by being assembled to the connector housing, the connector housing and the retainer are previously assembled. It is molded by an individual resin molding machine, and the molded connector housing and retainer are gathered in one place and assembled by an automatic machine equipped with a parts feeder or manually.

[0003]

As described above, when a connector is manufactured by a conventional method, in addition to a molding step, a transport step of transporting from a molding location to an assembly location, and an assembling after transport are performed. Steps are required, and especially when assembly is performed manually, another inspection step is required, and these steps are reflected in the product cost. In addition, it is necessary to separately manage the dies for the connector housing and the retainer, and the manufacturing process is troublesome.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a manufacturing method capable of manufacturing a connector at low cost and accurately.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a connector housing having a cavity for terminal fitting insertion opening in the front-rear direction and a retainer insertion hole communicating from the outer surface into the cavity. A method for manufacturing a connector, comprising: inserting a retainer into the retainer insertion hole and assembling the retainer so as to be engageable with the terminal fitting, wherein the mold is opened in the front-rear direction.
The surfaces parallel to the mold opening direction are aligned with the retainer insertion hole.
Cavity molding gold adhered to each other in the open area
Having a mold and a mold for molding the outer surface of the connector housing
The mold is used to mold the connector housing and the retainer in a positional relationship such that the retainer faces the retainer insertion hole from the side, and a mold between the connector housing and the retainer in a mold moving step. While moving back and forth in the front-rear direction, the cavity molding die and the
The mold for forming the outer surface of the connector housing is
Is opened the retainer insertion hole by opening, by relatively moving laterally while maintaining said said connector housing retainer, with respect to the retainer insertion hole of the connector housing, the cavity mold
And how to open the mold for molding the outer surface of the connector housing
The present invention is characterized in that the retainer is assembled so as to be fitted in a direction perpendicular to the direction .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an end opening in the front-back direction is provided.
Insert cavity into the cavity from the outside surface
Connector housing having a communicating retainer insertion hole
The retainer is inserted into the retainer insertion hole from the side.
And assembled so as to engage with the terminal fittings.
A mold that can form a connector to be formed,
And how to open it
The surfaces parallel to the direction are aligned with the opening area of the retainer insertion hole.
Mold and connector for cavity molding
A mold for molding the outer surface of the housing, wherein the retainer
A position facing the retainer insertion hole from the side.
The connector housing and the retainer
Shapeable molding structure and pre-molded connector housing
The die between the retainer and the retainer is
While the cavity molding die and the connector
Opening the mold for forming the outer surface of the jing in the front-rear direction
A mold moving structure for opening the retainer insertion hole by
While holding the connector housing and the retainer
By moving the connector housing sideways, the connector housing
Cavity retainer insertion hole, the cavity molding die
And how to open the mold for molding the outer surface of the connector housing
The retainer in a direction perpendicular to the direction
And an assembling operation structure .

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the invention, first, the connector housing and the retainer are simultaneously formed in the forming step. Next, in the mold moving step, the mold for molding the connector housing moves in the front-rear direction in accordance with the opening direction of the cavity. When the mold between the connector housing and the retainer retreats, a space is opened between the connector housing and the retainer, and the retainer faces the retainer insertion hole. In this state, the connector housing and the retainer are relatively moved while being held, whereby the retainer is fitted into the retainer fitting hole, and the connector is obtained.

In addition, the resin is not filled in a portion where the cavity molding die and the connector housing outer surface molding die are in contact with each other. Of the connector housing is opened on the side surface of the connector housing, and this becomes a retainer insertion hole.

According to the second aspect of the present invention , in the molding step, the connector housing and the retainer are molded simultaneously in one mold. In the mold opening step, the mold for molding the connector housing moves in the front-back direction in accordance with the opening direction of the cavity. When the mold is retracted, a space is opened between the connector housing and the retainer, and the retainer faces the retainer insertion hole. Then, the retainer is inserted into the retainer insertion hole by relatively moving the connector housing and the retainer sideways while holding the connector housing, and a connector in which the connector housing and the retainer are integrated is obtained.

In addition, the resin is not filled in a portion where the mold for cavity molding and the mold for molding the outer surface of the connector housing are in contact with each other. Of the connector housing is opened on the side surface of the connector housing, and this becomes a retainer insertion hole.

[0013]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention,
Since the resin molding process and the assembling process of the connector housing and the retainer can be performed by one machine, the transporting process from the molding location to the assembling location becomes unnecessary, and the assembling process is performed separately from the molding process after transporting. You do not need to do this.

[0014] Therefore, as compared with the case of assembling by an automatic machine, the assembling time can be shortened by the amount that the component feeder does not need to be supplied, and separate automatic machines for molding and assembling are installed. Since there is no need, space can be saved. Further, as compared with the case where the assembling is performed manually, the time can be greatly reduced by automation, and the inspection process is not required. By combining these advantages, the manufacturing cost of the connector can be reduced.

Further, the mold retracted from between the connector housing and the retainer moves in the front-rear direction similarly to the mold for molding the connector housing.
The manufacturing efficiency can be improved by moving the two dies together.

Also, since the mold for forming the retainer insertion hole is opened by moving in the front-rear direction, the die for forming the retainer insertion hole is removed from the retainer. The manufacturing process is simplified and the manufacturing efficiency is improved, as compared with a method in which the manufacturing method is performed by moving to the side.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a connector 10 formed and assembled by a manufacturing method and a manufacturing die according to the present embodiment.
It is. In the present embodiment, the description of the detailed shape of the connector 10 will be omitted.

The connector 10 includes a connector housing 11
And a retainer 15. The connector housing 11 is provided with a plurality of cavities 12 which are opened on both front and rear end surfaces and into which terminal fittings 16 are inserted, three chambers each in two upper and lower tiers, and two upper tiers which are opened on both left and right side surfaces. Two upper and lower retainer insertion holes 13 communicating with the cavity 12 and the two lower cavities 12 respectively are provided. The retainer insertion hole 13 is elongated in the front-rear direction, and a retainer 15 described later is inserted into two retainer insertion holes 13 opened on the left side surface of the connector housing 11.

Left and right outer surfaces 1 of connector housing 11
An overhang 11B is formed in 1A, and a front edge of the retainer insertion hole 13 is opened at a front end surface of the overhang 11B. As a result, the retainer fitting hole 13 that opens to the side surface can be formed by the movable mold 22 that opens in the front-rear direction, as described later.

The retainer 15 has two upper and lower fitting plates 15A, 15A which are parallel to each other, and both fitting plates 15A, 15A.
A is composed of a connecting portion 15B that connects the left end edges of A, and has a U-shape as a whole. The connecting portion 15B is formed with a pair of front and rear recesses 15D, 15D in which the front and rear edges of the outer surface are cut off. The concave portions 15D correspond to the convex portions 28B, 28B of the push pins 28 described later, and the retainer 15 is held by the push pins 28 by fitting the concave portions 15D and the convex portions 28B in a molded state. I have.

The retainer 15 is assembled at the temporary locking position of the connector housing 11 by inserting the insertion plate portion 15A into the cavity 12 through the retainer insertion hole 13. The retainer 15 at this temporary locking position
The movement in the pulling-out direction is restricted by engaging means (not shown), but the movement to the final locking position is possible by the action of a relatively small force.

Before the terminal fittings 16 are mounted on the connector housing 11, the retainer 15 is assembled at the temporarily locked position (see FIG. 4). In this temporarily locked state, the retainer 15 is formed on the lower surface of the fitting plate portion 15A. Since the escape groove 15C is located so as to correspond to the locking projection 16A of the terminal fitting 16,
Insertion of the terminal fitting 16 into the cavity 12 is allowed. With the retainer 15 moved to the final locking position,
Since the relief groove 15C is displaced from the position corresponding to the locking projection 16A, the locking projection 16A engages with the front end edge of the fitting plate 16A in a restricted state, and the terminal fitting 16 is double-locked. Is done.

Next, a mold for manufacturing the above connector will be described. In the description of the mold, the detailed shape is omitted as in the case of the connector 10.

The mold is composed of a fixed mold (not shown) located on the front side of the paper in FIGS. 2 to 4 and a movable mold 22 shown on the paper of the same figure.

The movable mold 22 is connected to the connector housing 11.
Bottom mold 23 for forming the bottom surface of the bottom mold 2
3 and a right side mold 24 for forming the right side surface of the connector housing 11 and the connector housing 11.
Mold 25, bottom mold 2 for forming left side surface of
The front mold 26 and the connector housing 1 are movable on the left and right sides along the left and right side molds 24 and 25 and form the front end of the connector housing 11.
A rear mold 27 for forming the rear end 1, an extrusion pin 28 for moving the molded retainer 15 to the connector housing 11 side, and a protrusion for ejecting the molded and assembled connector 10 out of the mold. Projecting pin 29.

On the bottom mold 23, the right mold 24
The connector housing 11 is molded in the region 23A adjacent to the left side mold, and the retainer 15 is molded in the region 23B adjacent to the left mold 25. Area 23 for retainer molding
B is higher than the connector housing forming area 23A, and the fitting plate 15A of the retainer 15 is positioned at the same height as the retainer fitting hole 13 in a molded state (see FIG. 5). ).

The right side mold (a mold for forming the outer surface of the connector housing, which is a component of the present invention) 24 has a concave portion 24A corresponding to the projecting portion 11B at the rear of the right outer surface of the connector housing 11. The surface on the front side of 24A is a connector housing outer surface forming surface 24B for forming the right retainer insertion hole 13 from the outside and simultaneously forming the right outer surface 11A of the connector housing 11 including the area where the retainer insertion hole 13 is formed. It has become.

On the other hand, the left mold 25 has a concave portion 25A corresponding to the connecting portion 15B of the retainer 15,
The tip of the push pin 28 faces inside 5A. The push-out pin 28 is guided in the left side mold 25 so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and is capable of moving out of the left side mold 25 and retracting into the same mold 25. The tip of the push pin 28 is a molding surface 28A of the retainer 15 and the connecting portion 15B, and a pair of protrusions 28B for forming the recesses 15D, 15D of the connecting portion 15B described above. , 28B are provided. The projections 28B, 28B hold the retainer 15 by fitting into the recesses 15D, and this holding is released when the tensile force in the operation direction exceeds a certain value.

The front mold 26 (the mold for forming the outer surface of the connector housing, which is a component of the present invention) is provided with the cavity 1.
2, a cavity forming portion 26A for molding the front end portion, a connector housing front end surface molding surface 26B for molding the front end surface of the connector housing, and a retainer fitting hole opening on the same surface 11A as the left outer surface 11A of the connector housing 11. 13 of the connector housing.

The rear mold (cavity molding mold, which is a component of the present invention) 27 includes a cavity molding section 27A for molding the central portion and the rear end portion of the cavity 12, and a connector housing for molding the left overhang portion 11B. It has an outer surface front molding surface 27B, a connector housing rear end molding surface 27C for molding the rear end surface of the connector housing 11, and cavity inner surface molding surfaces 27D, 27D for molding the retainer insertion holes 13 on both left and right sides from inside. .

The front mold 26 has a retainer forming portion 26D which is located between the upper and lower fitting plate portions 15A, 15A of the retainer 15. The retainer forming portion 26D includes a ridge 26E for forming a relief groove 15C on the lower surface of the fitting plate portion 15A. On the other hand, the rear mold 27 has a retainer forming surface 27E for forming the rear end surface of the fitting plate 15A.

Further, the front mold 26 is located between the connector housing 11 and the retainer 15 in the molding step, but is retracted forward from between the connector housing 11 and the retainer 15 in the mold moving step to move the connector housing 11 forward. 1
Evacuation part 26 capable of forming a space between the first and the retainer 15
G is provided.

Next, a method of manufacturing the connector 10 having the above configuration using the mold having the above configuration will be described.

At the beginning of the manufacturing process, as shown in FIG. 2, the movable mold 22 has a front mold 26 and a rear mold 27 approaching each other so that their tip surfaces are in close contact with each other. It is close to and in close contact with the fixed mold, which forms a molding space for the connector housing 11 and the retainer 15.

In this state, the molding surface 24B on the outer surface of the connector housing of the right die 24 and the front molding die 27D on the inner cavity surface on the right side of the rear die 27 are located in the opening area of the right retainer insertion hole 13. At the same time, the central molding surface 26C of the outer surface of the connector housing of the front die 26 and the front molding die 27D of the left cavity inner surface molding surface are in close contact with each other in the opening region of the left retainer insertion hole 13. The thus formed molding space is filled with a molten resin through an injection path (not shown) provided in the mold, and when the molten resin is solidified, the mold is opened.

In the mold moving step, the entire movable mold 22 moves so as to be separated from the fixed mold, and the front mold 26 and the rear mold 27 move in the front-rear direction so as to be separated from each other. At this time, the connector housing 11 is held at the same position as at the time of molding by fitting the overhang 11B into the recess 24A. Meanwhile, retainer 1
5 is also held at the same position as at the time of molding by fitting the connecting portion 15B to the push pin 28. As a result, the front mold 26 and the rear mold 27 are separated from the connector housing 11 and the retainer 15.

The front mold 26 and the rear mold 27
The retreating portion 26G retreats forward along with the movement, and a space is formed between the connector housing 11 and the retainer 15, and the tip of the insertion plate portion 15A of the retainer 15 faces the retainer insertion hole 13 from the side. (See FIGS. 3 and 5).

At this time, since the moving direction of the retracting portion 26G is not the left-right direction but the forward direction, the presence of the connector housing 11 and the retainer 15 does not hinder the movement of the retracting portion 26G.

Thereafter, when the push pin 28 advances,
The retainer 15 held by the push pin 28 by the fitting of the concave portion 15D and the convex portion 28B makes the bottom die 23
Is moved toward the connector housing 11 so as to slide on the area 23B. And retainer 1
5 are inserted into the retainer insertion holes 13, 1A.
3 and the retainer 15 is connected to the connector housing 11.
And the connector 10 as a connector is obtained. In this state, since the tip of the fitting plate portion 15A is located inside the right outer side surface of the connector housing 1, it does not hit the right side mold 24.

When the assembly is completed, the push-out pin 28 moves backward and is detached from the retainer 15. At this time,
A tensile force is applied to the retainer 15 due to the friction between the concave portion 15D and the convex portion 28B. However, since the retainer 15 cannot move in the direction away from the temporary locking position of the connector housing 11, the push pin 28 Is separated from the retainer 15 and returns to the inside of the left mold 25. Then, the protruding pin 29 provided so as to face the molding area 23A of the connector housing 11 of the bottom mold 23 advances, and the assembled connector 10 is protruded out of the mold.

As described above, the connector housing 11 and the retainer 15 are simultaneously formed in a single mold by the front mold 26 and the rear mold 27 slidable in the front-rear direction. A space is provided between the housing 11 and the retainer 15 for relatively moving the two in the mounting direction.
While the retainer 15 is held by the concave portion 24A and the push pin 28, the two are assembled.

Accordingly, unlike the case where the molding step and the assembling step are performed by separate places and devices, the transporting step from the molding place to the assembling place becomes unnecessary, and the assembling is performed separately from the molding step after the transportation. No need to perform any process
Excellent manufacturing efficiency and reduction in manufacturing cost can be achieved.

In the present embodiment, the retainer fitting hole 1
Since the formation of 3 is performed not by the side but by using a mold that is moved and opened in the front-rear direction, the retainer 15 can be formed at a position facing the retainer insertion hole 13. For this reason, the retainer 15 is connected to the connector housing 1.
There is no need for a means for moving the retainer to a position facing the retainer insertion hole as in the case where the mold is formed at a position other than the side of 1, and the mold structure is simplified.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings, and 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 showing a separated state of a connector manufactured by a manufacturing die according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a movable mold is closed in a manufacturing process.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a movable mold opening state in a manufacturing process.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a state in which a retainer is assembled to a connector housing in a manufacturing process.

5 is a sectional view taken along the line ZZ in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Connector 11 ... Connector housing 12 ... Cavity 13 ... Retainer fitting hole 15 ... Retainer 16 ... Terminal fitting 24 ... Right mold (mold for molding the outer surface of the connector housing) 26 ... Front mold (mold for the outer surface of the connector housing) 27) Rear mold (cavity molding mold)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI H01R 13/42 H01R 13/42 E 43/00 43/00 B // B29L 31:34 B29L 31:34 (72) Inventor Tsutsui Shinsuke 1-14 Nishisuehiro-cho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-61-44615 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application 6-79075 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 43/24 H01R 13/42 H01R 43/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connector housing having a cavity for terminal fitting insertion opening in the front-rear direction and a retainer insertion hole communicating from the outer surface into the cavity, a retainer is inserted into the retainer insertion hole from the side thereof, and A method for manufacturing a connector constituted by assembling with a terminal fitting so that the mold is opened in the front-rear direction.
The surfaces parallel to the mold opening direction are aligned with the opening of the retainer insertion hole.
Cavity molds that are in close contact with each other in the area
Mold with a mold for molding the outer surface of the connector housing
More, the retainer is molded with the retainer and the connector housing in a positional relation as to face from the side to the retainer insertion hole, and the connector housing in the mold movement process of the mold between the retainer while retracting movement in the longitudinal direction, the cavity
Tee mold and for molding the outer surface of the connector housing
The retainer is opened by opening the mold in the front-rear direction.
By opening the fitting hole and moving the connector housing and the retainer sideways relative to each other while holding the connector housing and the retainer, the cavity forming metal is inserted into the retainer fitting hole of the connector housing.
Opening of the mold and the mold for molding the outer surface of the connector housing
A method for manufacturing a connector , comprising: assembling a retainer so as to fit in a direction perpendicular to the direction . 2. A key for inserting a terminal fitting which is open in the front-rear direction.
Retainer communicating with cavity from outside surface into cavity
From the side of the connector housing with a fitting hole
A retainer is inserted into the retainer insertion hole, and the terminal fitting is inserted.
Connector configured by assembling so as to engage with
Mold that can be formed in the front-rear direction.
The surfaces parallel to the mold opening direction are aligned with the opening of the retainer insertion hole.
Cavity molds that are in close contact with each other in the area
A mold for molding the outer surface of the connector housing.
The tener faces the retainer insertion hole from the side
The connector housing and the retainer in such a positional relationship.
And a molding structure capable of molding the retainer, and the molded connector housing and the retainer.
While moving the mold between the back and forth ,
Molding mold and mold for molding the outer surface of the connector housing
The retainer fits by opening the mold in the front-rear direction.
A mold moving structure for opening an inlet, and holding the connector housing and the retainer.
By moving the connector housing sideways, the connector housing
Cavity retainer insertion hole, the cavity molding die
And how to open the mold for molding the outer surface of the connector housing
The retainer in a direction perpendicular to the direction
And an assembly operation structure .