JP3344301B2 - Connector holder - 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 holder, and more particularly, to incorrect insertion of a terminal fitting into a cavity formed in a connector for which a terminal fitting is not planned (hereinafter referred to as an "empty cavity"). The present invention relates to a connector holder for preventing the occurrence of a connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to smoothly produce a large number of products (product numbers) in small quantities, the electric wires connected to connectors of the same product number have been changed. In such a construction method, depending on the specifications of the product to be manufactured, since the electric wire connected to the same connector is changed, there may be cases where a specific electric device is not connected, In such a case, care must be taken so that the terminal fitting is not inserted into the empty cavity.

Accordingly, the present applicant has previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 7-86.
No. 151 (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-255654) proposes a jig for preventing incorrect insertion of terminals. This outline is
A connector holder for holding the connector in a predetermined posture and an erroneous insertion prevention piece configured to be relatively displaceable with respect to the connector holder are provided so that an empty cavity of the mounted connector is closed by the erroneous insertion prevention piece. I was

In performing the closing operation, in the prior art, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing, a lever-shaped housing contact portion facing the bottom of the connector holder is provided integrally with the erroneous insertion preventing piece. By pushing the housing contact portion into the bottom of the connector holder mounted on the connector holder, the erroneous insertion preventing piece can be integrally rotated to close the empty cavity of the mounted connector. It is configured as follows.

[0005]

In the above-described prior art, the connector is attached to and detached from the connector holder to rotate the erroneous insertion prevention piece. Must be evenly approached / separated from the bottom of the connector holder so as to uniformly push and separate the housing contact part.

For this reason, the erroneous insertion preventing piece often returns to the position for closing the empty cavity in the process of extracting or inserting the connector, and there has been a problem that the connector abuts on the connector. In the above-described connector holding tool, skill is required to attach and detach the connector holder. In particular, a connector for providing versatility has a tendency that such a one-sided contact is likely to occur because the dimension ratio between the long side and the short side of the surface on which the cavity is formed is large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a connector holder having good operability.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a connector holder for detachably holding a connector defining a cavity in a position where terminals can be inserted into the cavity. Of the connector that is provided, corresponding to an empty cavity in which the terminal fitting is not scheduled to be inserted, and a release position that closes the empty cavity and a release that releases the empty cavity and allows the connector to be inserted into and removed from the connector holder. An erroneous insertion prevention part that can be relatively displaced with respect to the connector holder between the position and the erroneous insertion prevention part is provided for simultaneously opening and closing each erroneous insertion prevention part. A connector holder comprising: an operation unit capable of displacing an erroneous insertion prevention unit.

In the invention including this specific matter, by operating the erroneous insertion preventing portion with the operation portion, the erroneous insertion preventing portion can be simultaneously opened and closed between the closed position and the released position. With this, when the connector is inserted into and removed from the connector holder, the erroneous insertion preventing portion can be displaced to the release position by one operation of the operating portion, and at the time of shielding the empty cavity of the mounted connector. Can return the erroneous insertion prevention unit to the closed position by a single operation of the operation unit.

Here, since the operating section can operate the erroneous insertion preventing section independently of the connector attaching / detaching operation, the operating section has a cavity on a surface having a large dimensional ratio between the long side and the short side. Even when the connector is inserted into or removed from the connector holder, the erroneous insertion preventing portion does not open and close carelessly (particularly returning from the release position to the closed position) until the insertion and removal are completed.

[0011] In a preferred aspect, the operation section includes a handle capable of changing the mounting position to the connector holder symmetrically. In the invention including this specific matter, when the handle is adopted as a specific mode of the operation unit, the handle can be changed to a position where the operator can easily operate the handle.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a connector holder 10 in which an erroneous insertion preventing portion is displaced to a release position according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the connector holder 10 in which an erroneous insertion preventing portion is displaced. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the connector holder 10 according to the embodiment of FIG.

Referring to these drawings, a connector holder 10 according to the illustrated embodiment holds a substantially rectangular parallelepiped connector C in a state in which a cavity C1 of the connector C is opened upward. A terminal fitting (not shown) can be inserted into the connector C. First, the connector holder 10 includes a connector holder 11 having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. In the illustrated example, a pair of support rods 12 are fixed to the lower part of the connector holder 11, and the lower part of the support rod 12 is erected on a work table (not shown), thereby fixing the connector holder 11 in a fixed position. . The connector holder 11 is formed in a U-shaped channel shape whose cross section opens upward corresponding to the outer shell shape of the connector C to be held, and accommodates the connector C by its rectangular inner surface. 11A for accommodating. The housing recess 11A is shielded by a pair of side plate pieces 11B and 11C fixed to both ends of the connector holder 11. Each of the side plate pieces 11B and 11C has an accommodation recess 1 of the connector holder 11.
A known spring plunger 1 which slightly enters into 1A
1D is mounted, and this spring plunger 11
D allows the connector C housed in the housing recess 11A to be elastically pressed down and held. Also, the upper end portion 11 of each side plate piece 11B, 11C.
E and 11F project above the connector holder 11, and the lower surface of a shutter described later is
E and 11F are available.

Next, a pair of guide members 14 and 15 are fixed below the connector holder 11. Each guide member 14, 15 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view,
Each of the connector holders 11 is arranged so that a long side thereof extends in the width direction thereof, is opposed to each other in parallel at a predetermined interval, and is fixed by bolts 16 (see FIG. 3). Rectangular guide grooves 14A and 15A are provided on opposing surfaces of the guide members 14 and 15, respectively. The pair of guide members 14 and 15 guide the sliders 20 and 21 that can reciprocate in the width direction of the connector holder 11 by fitting into the guide grooves 14A and the guide grooves 15A.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the sliders 20, 21
Is a sliding portion 20 that fits into both guide grooves 14A and 15A.
A, 21A, holder portions 20B, 21B extending below the sliding portions 20A, 21A, and the sliding portions 20A,
It is a metal member integrally provided with supporting portions 20C and 21C standing upright on 21A. The sliding parts 20A, 21
A is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped as a whole, and can be displaced in the width direction of the connector holder 11 by being fitted into both the guide grooves 14A, 15A with its long side extending along the guide grooves 14A, 15A. It has become.

Each of the holder portions 20B and 21B has a slightly smaller width dimension than the sliding portions 20A and 21A.
When the sliding portions 20A, 21A fit into the guide grooves 14A, 15A, interference with the guide members 14, 15 can be avoided, and the front end side (facing the connector holder 11). Side) has a slit 20
D and 21D are formed, and the slits 20D and 21D are formed.
A roller 22 is provided in 1D. The roller 22 has a sliding portion 2
It is rollably held by bolts 23 fitted from the upper portions of 0A and 21A. In the illustrated embodiment, a tension coil spring 24 is attached to an end of the bolt 23.
Thereby, the two sliders 20 and 21 are connected so as to be close to each other in the direction of sandwiching the connector holder 11 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

Next, the support portions 20C and 21C are rectangular members which are erected on the rear end side (opposite to the connector holder 11) of the sliding portions 20A and 21A. Each carrier 20
Neck portions 20G and 21G for avoiding interference with the guide members 14 and 15 are formed at the bases of C and 21C.
The screw holes 20F,
21F are formed, and the shutter 3 is screwed into the screw holes 20F and 21F, respectively.
0 and 31 are carried.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the shutters 30, 31 has a cover 30A, which is disposed horizontally.
This is a sheet metal member integrally having 31A and bent portions 30B and 31B bent downward at right angles along the longitudinal direction of the cover portions 30A and 31A. As shown in the figure, each of the shutters 30 and 31 is fixed by the set screw 25 so that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the longitudinal direction of the connector holder 11, and the edges (along the longitudinal direction of the cover portions 30 </ b> A and 31 </ b> A). Edges opposite to the bent portions 30B and 31B) are opposed to each other. And, by making the shape of these edges into the undulating shape corresponding to the empty cavity CV in the connector C, the empty cavity CV in which the terminal fitting is not scheduled to be inserted among the cavities C1 of the mounted connector C can be shielded. Erroneous insertion prevention part 32 is formed.

Further, as the above-mentioned sliders 20 and 21 reciprocate in the width direction of the connector holder 11, each erroneous insertion preventing portion 32 is moved outwardly in the width direction of the connector holder 11, as shown in FIG. 2, and the erroneous insertion preventing portions 32 are close to each other in the width direction of the connector holder 11 as shown in FIG. 2, and the corresponding empty cavity CV ( (See Fig. 4)
Can be displaced to a closing position for closing the opening.

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial plan view of the connector holder 10 according to the embodiment of FIG. As shown in the figure, the cavity C1 formed in the connector C is partially set to have different dimensions corresponding to the outer dimensions of the terminals to be inserted therein. It is provided corresponding to the shape and location of the empty cavity CV. Next, an operation unit for driving the erroneous insertion prevention unit 32 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic bottom views of the connector holder 10 according to the embodiment of FIG.

Referring to these drawings, in the illustrated embodiment, a handle 40 is employed as an operation unit for simultaneously opening and closing the erroneous insertion preventing unit 32. The handle 40 is a substantially rectangular sheet metal member, and has a bent portion 41 forming a handle at one end in the longitudinal direction. At the other end of the handle 40, a cam portion 42 for rollingly contacting the respective rollers 22 of the respective sliders 20, 21 is formed. The cam portion 42 is formed in a substantially tapered shape in which the distal end side is thinned. As shown in FIG. 5, when the base end portion of the cam portion 42 is in contact with each roller 22, , 21 are driven in directions away from each other to displace each of the erroneous insertion preventing portions 32 to the release position, and as shown in FIG. In the state in which each slider 20 is
21 are driven in the directions approaching each other by the urging force of the extension coil spring 24, so that each erroneous insertion preventing portion 32 can be displaced to the closed position.

The handle 40 is connected to the roller 22 as described above.
In order to mount the pair of guide members 1
Slits 14C and 15C communicating with the connector holder 11 along the longitudinal direction of the connector holder 11 are formed in the connector holders 4 and 15, and the handle 40 is slidably fitted to the slits 14C and 15C. 11 are attached so as to be able to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, one guide member 14
Is provided with a cover plate 43 that conforms to the bottom surface shape. The cover plate 43 is fixed by a pair of screws 44 provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cover plate 43 so that the handle 40 is connected to the guide member 14. It is held so as to be able to reciprocate in cooperation with. Furthermore, the cover plate 43
A regulating bolt 45 penetrates the center of the guide member 1.
4 is screwed into a screw hole 45A formed in the central portion.
The restricting bolt 45 is inserted through a long hole 40A formed along the longitudinal direction of the handle 40, and the displacement of the handle 40 is defined by the dimension setting of the long hole 40A.

In the illustrated example, the above-described support rod 12 is used.
To avoid interference with the handle 40
The handle 40 has one of the support rods 12 inserted through the elongated hole 40B. Here, in the illustrated embodiment, by providing the above-described guide members 14 and 15 symmetrically, the handle 40 can be attached to the other guide member 15 as well.

In the configuration described above, the erroneous insertion preventing section 32 is operated by the handle 40 as an operating section,
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the erroneous insertion preventing portion 32 can be simultaneously opened and closed between a closed position and a released position. Thereby, when the connector C is inserted into and removed from the connector holder 11, the operation-inhibiting portion 32 can be displaced to the release position by a single operation of the operation portion, and
When shielding the empty cavity of the mounted connector C, the erroneous insertion preventing unit 32 can be returned to the closed position by a single operation of the operation unit.

The handle 40 is connected to the connector C
Since the erroneous insertion preventing portion 32 can be operated independently of the attaching / detaching operation of the connector C, the connector C having the cavities C1 and CV on the surface having a large dimensional ratio between the long side and the short side is inserted into and removed from the connector holder 11. Also, the erroneous insertion preventing unit 32 does not inadvertently return from the release position to the closed position until the insertion / extraction is completed. Therefore, in the illustrated example, the cavities C1,
Even when the connector C having the CV is attached / detached, a remarkable effect that the attaching / detaching operation can be easily performed is achieved.

In particular, the handle 4 is replaceable with the above-mentioned symmetric guide members 14 and 15 as an operation unit.
When 0 is adopted, the handle 40 can be changed to a position where the operator can easily operate it, and the workability is further improved. The above-described embodiment is merely an example of a preferred specific example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. It goes without saying that various design changes are possible within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a connector is inserted into or removed from the connector holder, the erroneous insertion preventing portion is inadvertently returned from the release position to the closed position until the insertion and extraction are completed. Therefore, there is a remarkable effect that operability is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a connector holder in which an erroneous insertion preventing portion is displaced to a release position in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a connector holder in which the erroneous insertion preventing portion is displaced to a closed position in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a main part of the connector holder according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the connector holder according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial bottom view of the connector holder according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic partial bottom view of the connector holder according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector holder 11 Connector holder 32 Mis-insertion prevention part 40 Handle C connector C1 Cavity CV Empty cavity

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connector holder for detachably holding a connector defining a cavity in a position in which a terminal can be inserted into the cavity, and a terminal fitting is scheduled to be inserted in a cavity of the mounted connector. An error that can be relatively displaced relative to the connector holder between a closed position that closes the empty cavity and a release position that releases the empty cavity and allows the connector to be inserted into and removed from the connector holder. It is provided to simultaneously open and close the insertion prevention section and each erroneous insertion prevention section,
A connector holder, comprising: an operation part capable of displacing an erroneous insertion prevention part independently of an insertion / removal operation of the connector to / from a connector holder. 2. The connector holder according to claim 1, wherein the operation section includes a handle capable of changing a mounting position relative to the connector holder in a symmetrical manner.