JP3278039B2 - Connector, method for manufacturing the same, and mold for manufacturing the same - 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 having a retainer mounted from the side of a connector housing, a method of manufacturing the same, and a manufacturing die.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a connector in which a retainer is mounted from the side of a connector housing to perform double locking of terminal fittings (see FIGS. 8 and 9). In this connector, a cavity 3 that allows the terminal fitting 2 to be inserted from the rear is formed inside the connector housing 1, and a flexible lance 4 that engages with the terminal fitting 2 is provided on the bottom surface thereof.

On the other hand, from the upper surface of the connector housing 1,
A retainer 5 for retaining the terminal fitting 2 is attached. Therefore, the connector housing 1
A retainer insertion hole 6 is formed in the upper surface of the first hole so as to intersect with the cavity 3. The retainer 5 is formed with a window hole 7 that can communicate with each cavity 3. The lower window 7 is open at the lower surface. A locking portion 9 that can be locked to the jaw portion 8 of the terminal fitting 2 protrudes from a ceiling portion on the front side of each window hole 7. 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, when the retainer 5 is held at the temporary locking position shown in FIG. 8, 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. 9, 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.

[0006]

As described above, in the prior art, the molding of the housing and the retainer and the assembly thereof are performed separately, and the connector of the temporary assembly is completed through the steps of molding, transporting and assembling. Is done. 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. In addition, since it is necessary to manage the mold for each housing and each retainer, the management cost is further increased. The present invention has been completed on the basis of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector which can be manufactured at low cost, a method of manufacturing the same, and a manufacturing die.

[0007]

As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a cavity in which a terminal fitting can be inserted and provided on two corresponding side surfaces.
Cross the cavity so that the retainer insertion hole
And a connector housing formed through the connector housing.
Between the temporary lock position and the final lock position.
Between the cavities.
When in the temporary locking position having a window hole, the window hole and the
The cavity is in communication with the terminal
When it is in the final locking position,
The stopper locks to the jaw of the terminal fitting and the terminal fitting comes off.
A retainer to be in a stopped state, wherein the retainer is
If it can be inserted into the retainer insertion hole with almost no gap
In both cases, when the retainer is in the final locking position,
Insert the retainer at both ends in the insertion direction of the
It is characterized in that the corresponding opening surfaces of the holes are closed flush with each other.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cavity in which a terminal fitting can be inserted, and a center of two corresponding side surfaces.
Insert the retainer so that it intersects the cavity
A connector housing having an inlet formed therethrough;
Temporary locking position and final locking position after being inserted from retainer insertion hole
And can be displaced between
When it is in the temporary locking position with a window hole for
Communicates with the cavity to insert and remove terminal fittings
Is in the window hole when it is in the final locking position.
The locking part is locked to the jaw part of the terminal fitting to fix the terminal fitting.
A retainer for preventing the retainer from falling off.
Can be inserted into the retainer insertion hole with almost no gap.
And when the retainer is in the final locking position.
Is the retainer at both ends of the retainer in the insertion direction.
The corresponding opening surfaces of the insertion holes are closed flush with each other.
A method of manufacturing a connector, wherein one of the dies can be moved forward and backward in a direction intersecting the approaching / separating direction of the two dies, between a pair of dies which can be relatively moved and separated in one direction. and closing the mold while interposing the sliding type that is assembled to comprise the retainer insertion hole to be formed in the slide-type
In the forward position of the housing and its slide
A retainer molding respectively, retracts the slide type After mold opening to the rear of the retainer insertion hole of the housing, it is characterized in that assembled to the temporary locking position by inserting the retainer from the front.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cavity in which a terminal fitting can be inserted, and a center of two corresponding side surfaces.
Insert the retainer so that it intersects the cavity
A connector housing having an inlet formed therethrough;
Temporary locking position and final locking position after being inserted from retainer insertion hole
And can be displaced between
When it is in the temporary locking position with a window hole for
Communicates with the cavity to insert and remove terminal fittings
Is in the window hole when it is in the final locking position.
The locking part is locked to the jaw part of the terminal fitting to fix the terminal fitting.
A retainer for preventing the retainer from falling off.
Can be inserted into the retainer insertion hole with almost no gap.
And when the retainer is in the final locking position.
Is the retainer at both ends of the retainer in the insertion direction.
The corresponding opening surfaces of the insertion holes are closed flush with each other.
Connector A mold for manufacturing a being, a pair of molds capable relatively separable along one direction is provided, intersecting or in the die and contact and separation direction of the two dies direction A slide mold that can move forward and backward is assembled, and between the two dies, when the mold is closed in a state where the slide mold is advanced, a housing in which the retainer insertion hole is provided by the slide mold . A molding space capable of molding a retainer is formed at a position in front of the slide mold, and the retainer is inserted into a retainer insertion hole of the connector housing from the front to the temporary locking position.
An insertion drive unit that can be inserted to a maximum depth is provided.

[0010]

[Action]

<Invention of Claim 1> Since the retainer insertion hole has a shape penetrating through the connector housing, at the time of manufacturing the connector, for example, the retainer insertion hole is interposed in the mold by interposing the intermediate core. In addition to molding the housing provided in a penetrating shape, a retainer is also molded in front of the intermediate core, and in the mold, the retainer is inserted into the retainer insertion hole while retracting the intermediate core to the temporary locking position. Manufacturing means such as being integrally incorporated is realized.

<Invention of Claim 2> With the pair of dies closed, the housing is formed into a shape having a penetrating retainer insertion hole by the interposition of a slide die, and the retainer is formed together at the front thereof. You. After the mold is opened, the slide mold retreats from the retainer insertion hole, and the retainer is inserted into the retainer insertion hole from the front,
The retainer and the housing are integrally assembled in a predetermined state.

<Invention of Claim 3> With the pair of dies closed, the housing is formed into a shape having a penetrating retainer insertion hole by the interposition of a slide die, and the retainer is formed together at the front thereof. You. After the mold is opened, the slide mold retreats from the retainer insertion hole, and the retainer is inserted into the retainer insertion hole from the front by the insertion driving unit, and the retainer and the housing are integrally assembled in a predetermined state.

[0013]

According to the present invention, when manufacturing a connector, the housing and the retainer can be formed and assembled together in a mold, so that an inexpensive retainer-integrated connector can be obtained by shortening the process. Can be obtained.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
7 will be described with reference to FIG. The connector manufactured according to the present embodiment is a side retainer type connector as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the basic structure and function are the same as those described with reference to FIGS. It is the same, except that the retainer insertion hole 16 provided in the connector housing 11 penetrates from the upper surface of the housing 11 to the lower surface side. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the retainer 15 has a height equal to the height of the housing 11, and has the same window hole 7 as described above.
Are formed, and each window hole 7 is provided with a locking portion 9.

Then, the retainer 15 is first installed in a shallow temporary holding position as shown in FIG. 1 in the penetrating retainer insertion hole 16, and the terminal fitting 2 is inserted in that state. Subsequently, the terminal fitting 2 is double-locked by pushing the retainer 15 into the final locking position as shown in FIG. The same components as those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

A mold for manufacturing the connector is incorporated in an injection molding system, and the main part thereof is described below.
In the drawings shown in FIG. 1, both the mold and the connector are simplified for convenience of explanation.

The mold according to the present embodiment includes a fixed mold 21 and a movable mold 22 which form a pair. Fixed mold 21
A housing forming recess 23 forming the front side of the connector housing 11 is formed on a forming surface of the connector housing 11, and a core portion 24 for forming a lower surface of a retainer 15 described later protrudes above the drawing. I have.

One movable mold 22 is connected to a drive 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 21. The connector housing 1 is provided on the molding surface of the movable mold 22.
A housing forming recess 25 that forms the rear side of 1 is provided corresponding to the housing forming recess 23 of the fixed mold 21. An insertion hole 27 through which the protruding pin 26 is inserted so as to be able to advance and retreat is formed on the inner surface of the housing molding concave portion 25.

A vertical guide groove 28 is cut in the front side of the housing forming concave portion 25, and a slide die 29 for forming the retainer insertion hole 16 is moved in the guide groove 28 in the vertical direction. Freely provided. The slide mold 29 is connected to and driven by a drive pin 30 of a cylinder drive mechanism. The slide mold 29 advances to a position penetrating the front side of the housing forming recess 25 at the time of molding, and at the time of assembling the retainer 15 described later. , Can be retracted below the housing forming recess 25.

Above the slide mold 29, a retainer molding concave portion 31 for forming the retainer 15 together with the core portion 24 of the fixed mold 21 is formed. The above-described guide groove 28 is provided so as to communicate with the lower surface of the retainer molding concave portion 31. In addition, an insertion pin 32 is provided on the upper surface of the retainer molding concave portion 31 so as to freely advance and retreat by a cylinder driving mechanism.

Next, the procedure of molding the housing 11 and the retainer 15 and assembling the same using the manufacturing die configured as described above will be described. In a state where the slide mold 29 has advanced to the front side of the housing forming concave portion 25, the movable mold 22 moves forward, and as shown in FIG.
1, 22 are closed. At this time, the core portion 24 of the fixed die 21 crosses the guide groove 28 and fits between the slide die 29 and the retainer molding concave portion 31. In this state, the respective molding spaces of the housing 11 and the retainer 15 are filled with the molten resin. Accordingly, the housing 11 having the penetrating retainer insertion hole 16 due to the presence of the slide mold 29 is provided.
, And the retainer 15 located thereabove are formed.

When the resin has solidified for a predetermined time, the movable mold 22 is retracted to open the mold as shown in FIG. At this time, the housing 11 and the retainer 15 are held by the movable mold 22.

Next, the slide mold 29 retreats downward along the guide groove 28, and the insertion pin 32 provided in the retainer molding recess 31 advances. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the slide mold 29 escapes downward from the retainer insertion hole 16 of the housing 11 and retreats.
The retainer 15 is inserted from the upper end side of the retainer insertion hole 16, whereby the retainer 15 is assembled at the temporary locking position.

When this is completed, as shown in FIG. 7, the insertion pin 32 retreats to the original position, and the protruding pin 26 protrudes, so that the retainer 1
The product to which 5 has been temporarily locked is projected out of the movable mold 22 and taken out.

As described above, according to the connector of the present embodiment, the retainer insertion hole 16 is formed so as to penetrate the connector housing 11, so that the
The retainer insertion hole 16 is formed by interposing the slide mold 29.
To form a housing 11 having
A manufacturing means is realized in which the retainer 15 is also formed in front of the slide mold 29, and the retainer 15 is inserted into the retainer insertion hole 16 from the front while retracting the slide mold 29, and is integrated into the temporary locking position. You.

That is, the housing 11 is provided in one mold.
In addition, since the molding of the retainer 15 and the provisional assembly thereof can be performed, the conventional transport assembling becomes unnecessary, and the lead time for completing the product is shortened by shortening the process, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since different types of molded products such as the housing 11 and the retainer 15 can be molded in one mold, it is advantageous from the viewpoint of mold management.

<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. For example, the reciprocating drive of the slide type or the retainer insertion pin may be performed by a cam mechanism.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a retainer of a connector according to an embodiment is in a temporary locking position.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a state where the retainer is at a final locking position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a retainer.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a molding state of the mold according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a mold opened state.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation of assembling the retainer.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a state in which a finished product is taken out.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a retainer of a conventional connector is at a temporary locking position.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the retainer is at a final locking position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Terminal fitting 3 ... Cavity 11 ... Connector housing 15 ... Retainer 16 ... Retainer insertion hole 21 ... Fixed mold 22 ... Movable mold 23 ... Housing molding recess 25 ... Housing molding recess 28 ... Guide groove 29 ... Slide mold 31 ... Retainer Molded recess 32: Insertion pin

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shinsuke Tsutsui 1-14 Nishisuehiro-cho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-1-197979 (JP, A) JP-A-61 -44615 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/42 H01R 43/00 H01R 43/24

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cavity in which a terminal fitting can be inserted is provided therein, and the cavity is formed on two corresponding side surfaces.
The retainer insertion hole was formed to penetrate
Insert the connector housing and the retainer
And can be displaced between the temporary locking position and the final locking position.
Both have window holes for each of the cavities and have a temporary locking position.
The window hole and the cavity communicate with each other
Terminal fittings can be inserted and removed, and
In some cases, the locking portion formed in the window hole is
Retained by locking to jaw to keep terminal fittings in place
And the retainer is substantially free from the retainer insertion hole.
Can be inserted and the retainer is in the final locking position.
Sometimes, at both ends of the retainer in the insertion direction
The corresponding opening surfaces of the retainer insertion holes are flush with each other
A connector which is closed in a state . 2. A cavity in which a terminal fitting can be inserted. The cavity is provided at the center of two corresponding side surfaces.
The retainer insertion hole penetrates the
Connector housing and the retainer insertion hole
From the temporary locking position and the final locking position
And has a window hole for each of the cavities.
When in the temporary locking position, the window hole and the cavity
Can be connected to and disconnected from the terminal fitting.
When in the stop position, the locking portion formed in the window hole is
Engage with the jaws of the slave fitting to secure the terminal fitting.
The retainer is substantially free from the retainer insertion hole.
Can be inserted and the retainer is in the final locking position.
Sometimes, at both ends of the retainer in the insertion direction
The corresponding opening surfaces of the retainer insertion holes are flush with each other
A method of manufacturing a connector that is closed in a state, wherein a pair of molds that can be relatively approached and separated along one direction,
The mold is closed with one of the molds interposed with a slide mold that is assembled so as to be able to advance and retreat in a direction intersecting with the approaching and separating directions of the two molds, and the mold formed by the slide mold is closed. /> a retainer molded respectively in housing and in front of the position of the slide die having a retainer insertion hole, the sliding mold After mold opening retracts behind the retainer insertion hole of the housing, inserting the retainer from the front And assembling the connector at the temporary locking position. 3. A cavity in which a terminal fitting can be inserted. The cavity is provided at the center of two corresponding side surfaces.
The retainer insertion hole penetrates the
Connector housing and the retainer insertion hole
From the temporary locking position and the final locking position
And has a window hole for each of the cavities.
When in the temporary locking position, the window hole and the cavity
Can be connected to and disconnected from the terminal fitting.
When in the stop position, the locking portion formed in the window hole is
Engage with the jaws of the slave fitting to secure the terminal fitting.
The retainer is substantially free from the retainer insertion hole.
Can be inserted and the retainer is in the final locking position.
Sometimes, at both ends of the retainer in the insertion direction
The corresponding opening surfaces of the retainer insertion holes are flush with each other
A mold for manufacturing a connector which is closed by the state, a pair of molds capable relatively separable along one direction is provided, contact and separation direction of the molds is in one of the mold A slide type that can move forward and backward in the direction that intersects with
Between the molds, when the closed type while being advanced to the slide type, and a housing in which the retainer insertion hole in its slide is provided, and a retainer in front of the position of the slide Formable molding spaces are respectively formed, and the retainer is inserted into a retainer insertion hole of the connector housing from the front.
A mold for manufacturing a connector, comprising: an insertion drive portion that can be inserted to a depth reaching the temporary locking position .