JP3412445B2 - Molding method and molding die for connector housing - 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 of molding a connector housing and a mold for molding the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a structure for holding a terminal fitting in a cavity of a connector housing in a retaining state, there is known a structure in which a lance capable of elastically engaging the terminal fitting is provided in the cavity. More specifically, this lance is formed on the bottom surface of the cavity in a cantilever shape along the insertion / extraction direction of the terminal fitting, and the inner surface has a locking projection that can be locked to the terminal fitting, while the tip is It can be flexed and deformed outward. Then, the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity while flexibly deforming the lance outwardly, and when inserted into a predetermined position, the locking projection is locked to the terminal fitting while the lance is restored to its original shape. It is to hold it in the retaining state.

[0003]

By the way, when molding the connector housing with a mold, particularly when the above-described lance is provided in the cavity, there are the following circumstances. That is, since the lance has a locking projection that projects into the cavity, a punching die that comes out before and after the cavity is required to form the locking projection. After the front die is removed, there will be a groove that opens on the mating surface that abuts against the mating connector housing.Usually, the groove is used to release the locking of the lance. It is used as an insertion groove. on the other hand,
If there is an opening other than the terminal insertion port on the mating surface of the housing,
Especially in the female housing, the male tab may erroneously enter the opening when it is mated with the mating male housing, and foreign matter may enter the opening in common with the male and female housings. In particular, there has been a growing demand for avoiding providing an extra opening on the fitting surface.

The present invention has been completed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and a method and a method for molding a connector housing in which an extra opening is not formed in the fitting surface even if the cavity is provided with a lance. The purpose is to provide a mold.

[0005]

As a means for achieving the above object, in the method of molding a connector according to the invention of claim 1, a housing is provided with a cavity for accommodating terminal fittings, and the cavity is formed. A lance for locking the terminal fitting is formed in a cantilever shape on the side surface of the terminal fitting along the insertion / removal direction of the terminal fitting, and this lance projects into the cavity on the inner surface side and can be locked to the terminal fitting. A method for molding a connector housing that includes a protrusion and is capable of flexural deformation outward, comprising a pair of molding dies that can be brought into and out of contact with each other, and both moldings are performed in a mold closed state. A housing is molded between the molds, the molded housing is held by one molding mold and the mold is opened, and the remaining housing is projected and taken out. During molding of Ujingu, with shaping the lance locking projection by undercut provided on the molding die on the side to hold the housing,
The outer surface side of the lance is molded by the lance molding portion, and when the mold is opened, the lance molding portion is retracted to secure a flexible deformation space of the lance, and when the housing is projected,
It is characterized in that the locking projection is removed from the undercut portion while the lance is flexibly deformed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a molding die for a connector housing, wherein the housing is provided with a cavity for accommodating the terminal fitting, and a side surface of the cavity has a locking lance for locking the terminal fitting. Is formed in a cantilever shape along the insertion / removal direction of the terminal fitting, and this lance has a locking projection that protrudes into the cavity on the inner surface side and can be locked by the terminal fitting, and is bent outward. A mold for molding a connector that is capable of forming a connector, and a set of molds that can be brought into contact with and separated from each other, and a set of molds provided corresponding to the joint surfaces of the molds. A part that enables molding of the housing over both molding parts in the mold closed state, and that can hold the molded housing in one molding part in the mold open state,
A protruding member that protrudes the held housing from a molding portion; an undercut portion that is provided on a molding die on a side that holds the molded housing and that forms a locking protrusion portion of the lance; It is characterized in that the outer surface side can be molded, and a lance molding portion that can retract from the outer surface of the lance when the mold is opened is provided.

The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 2, the lance molding part is formed by a molding die itself on the side opposite to the side holding the molded housing. Have. The invention of claim 4 is
The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the lance molding portion is formed by a slide mold provided in a molding die on a side that holds the molded housing.

[0008]

The function and effect of the present invention are as follows. The housing is molded by the molding portion in a state where both molding dies are closed, and at this time, the undercut portion molds the locking projection of the lance and the lance molding portion forms the outer surface of the lance. When the mold is opened, the molded housing is held by the molding part of one of the molding dies, and at the same time, the lance molding part is retracted from the outer surface of the lance, and the bending deformation space of the lance is secured. Subsequently, when the housing is projected by the projecting member, the locking projection is removed from the undercut portion while the lance is flexed and deformed outward, and the lance is taken out of the mold. As described above, the connector housing is manufactured in which the lance is provided in the cavity but the extra opening is not formed in the fitting surface.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the bending deformation space of the lance is ensured as the mold is opened. According to the invention of claim 4, when the mold is opened, the slide mold is retracted, so that the bending deformation space of the lance is secured.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, a press-contact type female connector is exemplified, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is composed of a housing 1 and a cover 2 mounted on the lower surface thereof. In the housing 1, the electric wire W can be pressure-welded with the female-side terminal fitting 4 assembled in the cavity 5. The female terminal fitting 4 assembled to the housing 1 is formed by bending a thin metal plate having conductivity, and is a box-shaped connection in which the tab of the mating male terminal fitting is inserted on the front side (front side in FIG. 1). A portion 8 is formed, and a pressure contact portion 9 for pressure-contacting the core wire of the electric wire W and a barrel 10 for caulking the coating of the electric wire W are sequentially formed behind the portion 8. As shown in FIG. 3, a lance hole 8A is formed on one surface of the female-side terminal fitting 4 (the lower surface when inserted into the cavity 5).

As will be described later in detail, the housing 1 is formed of a synthetic resin material by a molding die,
Inside, a plurality of cavities 5 are formed side by side in a row. The above-mentioned female terminal fitting 4 is inserted into each cavity 5 from the rear side (right side in FIG. 2) to be assembled. The rear half of the lower surface of the housing 1 is open, and a press-fitting jig (not shown) is inserted into each cavity 5 through this opening 6, so that the cavity 5
The electric wire W can be pressure-welded with the female terminal fitting 4 assembled therein. On the front surface of the cavity 5, a terminal insertion port 7 into which the tab of the mating male side terminal fitting is inserted is opened.

A lance 11 for holding the female-side terminal fitting 4 is formed on the bottom surface of each cavity 5. In detail, this lance 11 is formed at the rear end edge of the bottom plate portion where the cavity 5 remains, and as shown in FIG. 4, by inserting the slits 12 on both sides, the front end moves backward. It extends toward the outside and can be bent and deformed downward in FIG. On the upper surface of the lance 11 at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction, a locking projection 14 having a mountain-shaped cross-section having inclined surfaces on both left and right sides in FIG. Also, Lance 11
On the lower surface side of the tip of the above, there is formed a relief portion 15 into which a regulating portion 22 provided in the cover 2 described later enters.

That is, in FIG. 2, the female-side terminal fitting 4
When is inserted into the cavity 5 from the rear side, the tip of the connecting portion 8 hits the right inclined surface of the locking projection 14 of the lance 11, and the lance 11 is bent and deformed downward to reach the lower surface of the connecting portion 8. When the female-side terminal fitting 4 is pushed into a predetermined position while being pushed up, the locking lance 14 is restored and deformed while the locking projection 14 is in the lance hole 8A of the connecting portion 8.
And is locked by the inclined surface on the left side so that the female-side terminal fitting 4 is prevented from coming off. On the other hand, when the female-side terminal fitting 4 is pulled out with a predetermined force or more, the front edge of the lance hole 8A is pressed against the left inclined surface of the locking projection 14, and the lance 11 is lowered while being guided by the inclined surface. It is flexibly deformed to release the lock. Therefore, it has a semi-lock structure.

A lock arm 16 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 1 in a cantilevered manner. The lock arm 16 is provided with a lock projection 17 that can be engaged with a mating connector housing. Thus, a release operation section 18 for releasing the lock with the other party is formed. Also,
Protective walls 19 for preventing foreign matter from entering the lower side of the lock arms 16 are formed at the left and right edges of the upper surface, and the lock arms 16 are provided at the rear end of each protective wall 19.
A warp-back restricting portion 20 for restricting warp in a direction opposite to the normal bending direction is formed.

The cover 2 is also made of a synthetic resin material and is sized to close the opening 6 of the housing 1. At the tip edge of the bottom plate portion of the cover 2, there is provided a restriction portion 22 that can project into the escape portion 15 of the lance 11 in the housing 1 described above. It should be noted that the cover 2 is provided with a plurality of ribs 23 oriented in the front-rear direction, and when the cover 2 is mounted at a position that closes the opening 6 of the housing 1,
Each rib 23 presses and holds the electric wire W pressed against each female terminal fitting 4 assembled in the housing 1. In addition, on both sides of the rib 23, terminal retainers 24 that can be engaged with the rear edge of the connecting portion 8 called a jaw portion 8B are formed.

Regarding the lock mechanism between the housing 1 and the cover 2, a housing portion 25 for housing the rear end portions of both left and right side walls of the housing 1 is formed at the left and right ends of the upper rear end portion of the cover 2. In addition, a locking hole 26 is formed in the outer wall of the housing portion 25, and when the cover 2 is attached to the position where the opening 6 of the housing 1 is closed, the locking protrusions formed on the left and right side surfaces of the housing 1 are attached. The part 27 is adapted to fit therein.

When assembling the connector configured as described above, first, the female terminal fitting 4 is inserted into the cavity 5 of the housing 1. When the female-side terminal fitting 4 is inserted, the tip of the connecting portion 8 is fixed to the locking projection 14 of the lance 11.
When the lance 11 is pushed toward a predetermined position by hitting an inclined surface on the right side of the lance 11 and flexed and deformed toward the outside and riding on the connection portion 8, and is pushed to a predetermined position, the female side terminal fitting 4 is restored and deformed to its original shape. The left side inclined surface is engaged with the front edge of the lance hole 8A so that the female-side terminal fitting 4 is held in the retaining state. In this state, the wire W is pressed against each female terminal fitting 4 while the pressing jig is inserted from the opening 6 of the cavity 5. The electric wire W pressed against the female terminal fitting 4 is the housing 1
Pulled out from the rear side.

Subsequently, the cover 2 is provided in the opening 6 of the housing 1.
Is mounted, and the locking projection 27 is fitted into the locking hole 26 to be locked, and the connector assembling work is completed as shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in the figure, the restricting portion 22 provided on the cover 2 enters the escape portion 15 of the lance 11 of the housing 1 and the bending deformation of the lance 11 is restricted, so that the female terminal fitting 4 is firmly fixed. It is held in the retaining state. Further, the terminal retainer 24 is locked to the jaw portion 8B and double-locked.

On the other hand, when disassembling the connector assembled as described above due to the necessity of repair, etc., the locking projection 27 is removed from the locking hole 26 while opening the outer wall of the housing portion 25 of the cover 2. , Remove the cover 2 from the housing 1. As a result, the regulating portion 22 that has entered the escape portion 15 of the lance 11 is separated, so that each lance 1 of the housing 1
1 is in a state in which the restriction of flexural deformation is released, and the terminal retainer 24 also comes off from the jaw portion 8B. When the electric wire W is pulled rearward in that state, the front edge of the corresponding lance hole 8A of the female terminal fitting 4 is pressed against the left inclined surface of the locking projection 14 of the lance 11 to move the lance 11 outward. The locking projection 14 can be flexed and deformed to come out of the lance hole 8A, and subsequently the female-side terminal fitting 4 can be pulled out from the cavity 5.

As described above, the characteristic feature of the connector of the present embodiment is that the lance 11 has a semi-lock structure, and the female terminal fitting 4 is removed from the cavity 5 without using a jig for releasing the lance 11. Further, in addition to that, an extra opening such as a jig insertion opening is provided on the fitting surface 1A of the housing 1 in addition to the terminal insertion opening 7 into which the mating male side terminal fitting is inserted. That is not formed.

By the way, when the housing 1 is molded by a mold, if the lance 11 having the above-described shape is to be molded only by a punch mold to mold the cavity 5,
Since the locking projection 14 is formed on the lance 11 so as to project into the cavity 5, the portion forming the locking projection 14 has an undercut shape, and the die cannot be removed as it is. . Therefore, conventionally, in order to avoid the undercut shape, the locking protrusion 14 of the lance 11
It was equipped with another die for molding the inclined surface on the left side in FIG. Then, the terminal insertion opening 7 is formed on the fitting surface 1A of the housing 1 in association with the removal of another die.
Other openings will be formed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the structure of the molding die is devised so that the lance 11 can be molded without providing an extra opening in the fitting surface 1A of the housing 1 as described above. About that, FIG. 6 to FIG.
Will be described with reference to. 6 to 10, the shape of the housing 1 is drawn in a simplified manner in order to clarify the main part, and the structure of the molding die is also shown in a simplified manner.

The molding die of this embodiment comprises a set of a fixed die 31 and a movable die 32.
Is fixed at a fixed position, while the movable mold 32 is movable via a drive mechanism (not shown) in a direction toward and away from the fixed mold 31, as shown by an arrow in FIG. ing. A front molding part 33 for molding the front end side of the fixed mold 31 with the tip of the lance 11 in the housing 1 as a boundary is formed on the joint surface of the fixed mold 31, and the movable mold 3 is also formed.
A rear molding portion 34 for molding the rear end side of the housing 1 is formed on the joint surface of 2 in correspondence with the front molding portion 33. Therefore, the outer surface of the lance 11 is formed on the bottom surface of the front molding portion 33. Also,
From the inner surface of the front molding portion 33, an insertion opening molding portion 35 for molding the terminal insertion opening 7 provided on the front surface of the cavity 5 is provided so as to project.

A cavity molding portion 36 for molding the cavity 5 is formed so as to project in front of the joining surface from the inner surface of the bottom portion of the rear molding portion 34 of the movable mold 32. As shown in FIG. 10, the cavity forming portion 36 is provided with slit forming portions 37 for forming the slits 12 provided on both sides of the lance 11. Further, the cavity molding portion 36 is formed with an undercut portion 39 for molding the locking projection 14 of the lance 11. The movable mold 32 is provided with a projecting pin 40 capable of projecting from the inner surface of the rear molding portion 34.

Next, a process of molding the housing 1 using the above molding die will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 6, in a state where both molds 31 and 32 are closed, a molten resin is filled from a gate (not shown) to both molding portions 33 and 34, whereby the housing 1 is molded. At that time, the outer surface of the lance 11 is molded by the existence of the bottom surface of the front molding portion 33, and the slit 12 is formed by the existence of the slit molding portion 37 of the cavity molding portion 36.
Due to the presence of the undercut portion 39 of the cavity molding portion 36, the locking projection 14 of the lance 11 is molded.

When the resin cools after the lapse of a predetermined time, the movable mold 32 moves in the direction away from the fixed mold 31 and the mold is opened, as shown in FIG. At this time, Lance 1
Since the locking projection 14 of No. 1 is hooked on the undercut portion 39 of the cavity molding portion 36, the molded housing 1 is held on the rear molding portion 34 side of the movable mold 32. Further, since the fixed mold 31 is relatively separated from the lower surface of the lance 11 as the mold is opened, the lower surface side of the lance 11 is opened and the flexural deformation space S is secured below the lance 11.

Next, when the protruding pin 40 is projected, the housing 1 is projected from the rear molding portion 34 while pulling out the cavity molding portion 36 relatively rearward. At this time, the locking projection 14 of the lance 11 is locked by the undercut portion 39.
However, the flexible deformation space S is provided below the lance 11.
, The lance 11 is secured as shown in FIG.
Is bent and deformed downward, and the locking projection 14 comes out of the undercut portion 39. As a result, the locking with respect to the housing 1 is released, and the housing 1 is taken out of the mold as shown in FIG. As described above, the lance 11 is placed in the cavity 5.
The housing 1 is formed so that the fitting surface 1A does not have an extra opening even if the housing 1 is provided.

<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 to the above, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) As a means for molding the lower surface of the lance, a slide mold having a molding surface for molding the lower surface of the lance is provided on the joint surface of the movable mold so as to be vertically movable, and the slide mold is molded in a raised state. It is also possible to adopt a structure in which the lower surface of the lance is molded and the slide mold is lowered and separated at the time of mold opening to secure the flexural deformation space of the lance. Further, the slide mold may be slidable in the left-right direction, and the lower surface of the lance may be molded in a state where the slide mold is advanced and retracted to the side to secure a flexible deformation space of the lance.

(2) The present invention can be similarly applied to the case of molding the male pressure contact connector. (3) Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case of molding a crimp type connector in which a terminal fitting crimped and crimped to an end of an electric wire is housed in a housing. (4) Further, it is applicable not only to the semi-lock structure but also to the case of molding a connector having a lance having a normal locking function. (5) In the above embodiment, the case where the cover is provided as a separate piece from the housing is illustrated, but it may be integrally provided via a hinge.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the female-side terminal fitting as seen from the lower surface side.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing a structure of a lance forming portion.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an assembled state of the connector.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a molding die in a mold closed state.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the mold is opened.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the protrusion of the housing has started.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the housing is taken out.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a molded portion of a lance in a mold.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Housing 1A ... Mating surface 4 ... Female terminal fitting 5 ... Cavity 7 ... Terminal insertion slot 11 ... Lance 12 ... Slit 14 ... Locking protrusion 31 ... Fixed mold 32 ... Movable mold 33 ... Front molding part 34 ... Rear molding part 36 ... Cavity molding section 39 ... Undercut part 40 ... protruding pin S ... Deflection space (of lance 11)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B29C 33/12 B29C 33/44 H01R 13/42 H01R 43/18

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A housing is provided with a cavity for accommodating a terminal fitting, and a lance for locking the terminal fitting is formed on a side surface of the cavity in a cantilever shape along the inserting and removing direction of the terminal fitting. In addition, this lance is a method for molding a connector housing that has a locking projection that projects into the cavity on the inner surface side and that can be locked by the terminal fitting, and that can be flexibly deformed outward. , A set of molding dies that can be contacted and separated from each other is provided, and a housing is molded between both molding dies in a mold closed state, and the mold is opened while holding the molded housing by one of the molding dies. After that, the remaining housing is projected and taken out, and at the time of molding the housing, the undercut portion provided on the molding die on the side holding the housing The locking protrusion of the lance is molded, the outer surface of the lance is molded by the lance molding part, and when the mold is opened, the lance molding part is retracted to secure a flexible deformation space of the lance and the housing is projected. In this case, the connector housing molding method is characterized in that the locking projection is removed from the undercut portion while the lance is flexibly deformed. 2. The housing is provided with a cavity for accommodating the terminal fitting, and a lance for locking the terminal fitting is formed on the side surface of the cavity in a cantilever shape along the inserting / removing direction of the terminal fitting. In addition, this lance is a metal mold for molding a connector housing that has a locking projection that projects into the cavity on the inner surface side and that can be locked to the terminal fitting, and that can be flexibly deformed outward. And a set of molding dies that can be brought into contact with and separated from each other, and a set of molding parts provided corresponding to the joint surfaces of the molding dies, and the housing covers the molding parts in a mold closed state. And capable of holding the molded housing in one molding portion in the mold open state, and a protruding member protruding the held housing from the molding portion, An undercut portion that is provided on a molding die that holds the housing and that forms a locking projection of the lance, and the outer surface side of the lance can be molded, and can be retracted from the outer surface of the lance when the mold is opened. A mold for molding a connector housing, comprising: a lance molding part. 3. The mold for molding a connector housing according to claim 2, wherein the lance molding portion is formed by a molding die itself on a side opposite to a side for holding the molded housing. 4. The molding die for a connector housing according to claim 2, wherein the lance molding portion is formed by a slide die provided in a molding die on a side that holds the molded housing. Type.