JP3591650B2 - Connector for sheet-shaped conductive path - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sheet-like conductive path connector to which a sheet-like conductive path is attached.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a connector for a sheet-like conductive path, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-142130 is known. As shown in FIG. 12, a connector housing 1 is provided with a receiving portion 2, a plurality of terminals 3 are arranged along the receiving portion 2, and a holding member 4 is provided on a support shaft 4 above the receiving portion 2. 5 is rotatably supported.
When attaching the sheet-shaped conductive path 6, first, the lever 7 of the holding member 5 is lifted to widen the space between the holding member 5 and the receiving portion 2, and in this state, the sheet-shaped conductive path 6 is The sheet-like conductive path 6 is sandwiched between the holding member 5 and the receiving part 2 by inserting the lever 7 onto the sheet-like conductive path 6 and thereafter by tilting the lever 7 onto the sheet-like conductive path 6. Are kept in contact with the terminal 3.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the prior art, when the sheet-shaped conductive path 6 is held by the connector housing 1, the lever 7 is positioned so as to cover the upper surface of the sheet-shaped conductive path 6. When the lever 7 is pulled to bend upward, there is a possibility that the lever 7 is pushed and turned to the release position side, and the holding state is released.
The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to hold a sheet-like conductive path with high reliability.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As means for achieving the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a connector housing having a terminal, and a holding member provided on the connector housing so as to be rotatable between a holding position and a release position. A sheet-like conductive path attached so as to be inserted between a receiving portion provided in the connector housing and the holding member, wherein the sheet-like conductive path is provided when the holding member is at the holding position. Between the holding member and the receiving portion, when the holding member is at the release position, inserting and removing the sheet-like conductive path between the holding member and the receiving portion. In the connector for a sheet-like conductive path, the lever is integrally provided on the holding member so as to extend radially outward from the center of rotation. Is, the lever holding member is accompanied to pivot into the holding position from the release position said across the rotation center to the extending direction of the sheet-shaped path is configured to fall down to the opposite side, and A suction surface is provided on an outer surface of the connector housing for sucking a suction device that holds the connector housing by vacuum pressure, and the lever is opened to expose the suction surface at the holding position. The feature is that the relief portion is provided .
[0005]
Function and effect of the present invention
<Invention of claim 1>
After inserting the sheet-like conductive path between the receiving portion and the holding member, the holding member is displaced from the release position to the holding position by tilting the lever to the side opposite to the side on which the sheet-like conductive path extends, The sheet-like conductive path is brought into a holding state. In this holding state, since there is no lever near the sheet-like conductive path, even if the sheet-like conductive path is moved so as to bend in a direction intersecting with the insertion direction, the lever is pushed toward the release position by the sheet-like conductive path. Therefore, the reliability of the function of holding the sheet-shaped conductive path is high.
Even when the lever is placed on the outer surface of the connector housing with the holding member as the holding position, the suction surface is exposed by the relief portion provided on the lever, so that the sucker device is used to hold or transfer the connector housing. It is possible to do.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
<First embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The connector according to the present embodiment includes a connector housing 10, a plurality of terminals 20 attached to the connector housing 10, and a holding member 30 rotatably attached to the connector housing 10. Further, the sheet-like conductive path 40 of the present embodiment is a ribbon cable made of FPC, and a plurality of conductive paths are provided on the lower surface of a flexible sheet-like base material by a printed wiring means. The contact portion 24A, which will be described later, of the terminal 20 comes into contact with the tip of each conductive path.
[0007]
As shown in FIG. 7, the connector housing 10 includes a yokan-shaped main body 11 that is long in the left-right direction, a receiving portion 12 that extends in a plate shape from a lower edge of the front end of the main body 11, and a front end of the main body 11. A shaft portion 14 provided at the tip of a support portion 13 extending in a plate shape from the edge in parallel with the receiving portion 12, and a pair of left and right side plates rising so as to sandwich the front space of the main body portion 11 and the upper space of the receiving portion 12. And a unit 15. A plurality of slit-shaped cavities 16 (six chambers in this embodiment) are formed in the main body 11 in parallel, and the lower edge of the front end of each cavity 16 is continuous with the slit 12A of the receiving portion 12, and the front end is formed. The upper edge part is continuous with the slit part 13A between the support parts 13 and the slit part 14A between the shaft parts 14. Each of the cavities 16 accommodates a terminal 20.
[0008]
A positioning recess 17 </ b> A is formed in the connecting portion 17 connecting the partition walls separating the adjacent cavities 16. Above the connecting portion 17, a plate-shaped suction portion (a suction surface which is a constituent feature of the present invention) 18 is provided so as to connect the partitions between the cavities 16 along the upper surface of the main body 11. I have. A suction cup of a suction cup device (not shown) for holding the connector housing 10 is suctioned to the upper surface of the suction section 18 by the action of vacuum pressure. A gap is provided between the left and right side edges of the suction portion 18 and the side plate portion 15, and a lever 32 of the holding member 30, which will be described later, enters the gap. A lock projection 19 is formed on the inner side surface of the side plate portion 15 at a position almost directly below the shaft portion 14. The lock projection 19 engages with a lock surface 35 of the holding member 30 described later.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal 20 has a support portion 21 having a shaft portion 22 formed at a front end thereof, and a circuit board mounting portion 23 of a circuit board (not shown) projecting downward from a rear end of the support portion 21. And an elastic contact portion 24 extending downward from the support portion 21 in an L-shape, and a positioning portion 25 protruding downward from the support portion 21. The positioning portion 25 is inserted into the cavity 16 from behind and attached thereto.
In the mounted state, the positioning portion 25 is sandwiched between the connecting portion 17 and the suction portion 18, and the positioning protrusion 25A is fitted into the positioning concave portion 17A of the connecting portion 17, so that the terminal 20 cannot move freely in the cavity 16. Is held in. The support portion 21 is located along the upper surface of the connector housing 10, and the shaft portion 22 at the tip thereof is located coaxially with the shaft portion 14 of the connector housing 10. The board mounting portion 23 is located along the rear end surface of the connector housing 10 and has a lower end protruding rearward. The elastic contact portion 24 is positioned so as to be able to move up and down in the slit portion 12A of the receiving portion 12, and a contact portion 24A at the tip of the elastic contact portion 24 projects from the upper end of the receiving portion 12.
[0010]
The holding member 30 is made of an insulating material, and is an arc-shaped portion fitted to the shaft portion 14 so as to be reciprocally rotatable between a holding position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 and a release position shown in FIG. 31 and a plate-like lever 32 extending tangentially from the leading edge of the arc-shaped portion 31 in the counterclockwise direction in the figure. When the holding member 30 is at the holding position, the lever 32 overlaps the upper surface of the connector housing 10. In this state, the leading edge 32A of the lever 32 projects rearward from the trailing edge on the upper surface of the connector housing 10, and the operation of causing the lever 32 to move upward by hooking a finger on the projected leading edge 32A is performed. It can be easily done. When the holding member 30 is rotated clockwise in the drawing from the holding position, the holding member 30 is in the release position, and the lever 32 is in a state of floating upward from the connector housing 10. The lever 32 is provided with a relief hole (release part, which is a component of the present invention) 33 corresponding to the suction part 18 of the connector housing 10. The suction part 18 fits into the release hole 33 at the holding position. By doing so, the lever 32 can be brought into close contact with the upper surface of the connector housing 10.
[0011]
Concentric arc-shaped escape grooves 34 are formed on both left and right end surfaces of the arc-shaped portion 31, and the lock projections 19 of the connector housing 10 are engaged with the escape grooves 34. A clockwise front end face of the holding member 30 in the drawing is a lock face 35. The lock surface 35 engages with the lock projection 19 when the holding member 30 is at the holding position, so that the holding member 30 is held at the holding position.
[0012]
At the front end in the clockwise direction of the arc-shaped portion 31, an engagement portion 36 protruding to the outer peripheral side along the lock surface 35 is formed. When the holding member 30 is at the holding position, the engaging portion 36 projects substantially directly below, and the distance between the tip of the engaging portion 36 and the receiving portion 12 becomes smaller than the thickness of a sheet-like conductive path 40 described later. . When the sheet-like conductive path 40 is inserted between the receiving part 12 and the arc-shaped part 31, the engaging portion 36 is clockwise in the drawing at the leading edge of the sheet-like conductive path 40, that is, on the release position side. To be pushed.
Further, at a position in the arc-shaped portion 31 that is counterclockwise with respect to the engaging portion 36, an angled projection 37 that is sharp at an obtuse angle is formed so as to protrude toward the outer periphery. As will be described later, after the sheet-like conductive path 40 is inserted while pressing the engaging portion 36, and the insertion proceeds and the leading edge of the sheet-like conductive path 40 comes off the engaging portion 36 (see FIG. 5), the above-mentioned chevron 37 is engaged. The distance between the chevron 37 and the receiving part 12 in the height direction (the direction orthogonal to the upper surface of the receiving part 12) is closest to the receiving part 12, and the distance between the chevron 37 and the receiving part 12 when the approaching is made is the sheet-like conductive. It becomes smaller than the thickness of the passage 40.
[0013]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
The connector housing 10 in which the terminal 20 and the holding member 30 are assembled is usually stored and transported with the holding member 30 in the holding position. At this time, the holding member 30 is held in a state in which the movement to the release position is restricted by the engagement between the lock projection 19 and the lock surface 35 as shown in FIG.
When attaching the sheet-like conductive path 40 to the connector housing 10, the leading end of the sheet-like conductive path 40 is placed between the receiving part 12 and the arc-shaped part 31 of the holding member 30 from the front (right side in the figure). So that Then, the leading edge of the sheet-like conductive path 40 abuts against the engaging portion 36 and pushes the engaging portion 36 in the clockwise direction in the drawing, whereby the locking surface 35 is disengaged from the locking projection 19 and the holding member 30 is released. It is turned to the side. During this time, the lock projection 19 moves in the escape groove 34.
[0014]
While the insertion of the sheet-like conductive path 40 proceeds, the leading edge of the sheet-like conductive path 40 comes off the engaging portion 36 on the way, but at this time, since the chevron 37 slightly bites into the upper surface of the sheet-like conductive path 40, With the insertion of the conductive path 40, the holding member 30 is subsequently rotated clockwise. Then, when the sheet-like conductive path 40 is inserted to the deepest position where it abuts on the front end face of the main body 11 of the connector housing 10, the holding member 30 is displaced to the release position as shown in FIG.
At this time, since the lever 32 is in a state of being raised in the oblique posture, the weight of the lever 32 causes the holding member 30 to return to the holding position side. However, since the chevron 37 is in contact with the upper surface of the sheet-like conductive path 40, the displacement of the holding member 30 to the holding position is regulated. Is held in the release position.
[0015]
Then, when the lever 32 is depressed from this state and the holding member 30 is rotated counterclockwise, as shown in FIG. 12, the sheet-like conductive path 40 is sandwiched between the connector housing 10 and the sheet-like conductive path 40. Thus, the mounting of the sheet-shaped conductive path 40 is completed. In this state, the elastic contact portion 24 of each terminal 20 slightly elastically bends downward, and its elastic restoring force causes the contact portion 24A to contact a conductive wire (not shown) on the lower surface of the sheet-like conductive path 40. I have.
When removing the sheet-shaped conductive path 40, the holding member 30 is displaced from the holding position to the release position by raising the lever 32. Along with this, after the sheet-shaped conductive path 40 slightly moves in the insertion direction due to the biting action of the engaging portion 36, the biting into the sheet-shaped conductive path 40 is released, and the sheet-shaped conductive path 40 can be removed.
[0016]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the holding member 30 is pushed and displaced from the holding position to the release position in accordance with the insertion operation of the sheet-shaped conductive path 40. It is not necessary to displace the holding member 30 to the release position in advance before the insertion operation of 40. Therefore, the number of operation steps can be reduced when mounting the sheet-like conductive path 40, and the workability is excellent.
Further, when the sheet-like conductive path 40 is attached to the connector housing 10, the lever 32 is not located so as to cover the upper surface of the sheet-like conductive path 40, and the connector on the opposite side to the sheet-like conductive path 40 is not provided. It is in a state of falling to the upper surface side of the housing 10. Therefore, even if the sheet-shaped conductive path 40 is pulled so as to bend upward, there is no fear that the sheet-shaped conductive path 40 comes into contact with the lever 32 and pushes the lever 32 to the release position side. The reliability of the function of holding in the mounted state is increased.
[0017]
Further, when the sheet-shaped conductive path 40 is pulled in the direction opposite to the insertion direction, a counterclockwise rotating force acts on the engaging portion 36 biting into the upper surface thereof. However, since the turning direction is the direction in which the lever 32 is pressed against the upper surface of the connector housing 10, the pressing action prevents the holding member 30 from turning. Therefore, the sheet-like conductive path 40 does not move in the detaching direction, and in this regard, the reliability of the function of holding the sheet-like conductive path 40 in the attached state is high.
Further, when the connector housing 10 is stored and transported without the sheet-shaped conductive path 40 being attached, the lever 32 is held in a state of being overlapped with the outer surface of the connector housing 10 by the engagement between the lock projection 19 and the lock surface 35. As a result, the connector housing 10 is made compact to save space and the breakage of the lever 32 is prevented.
[0018]
In the present embodiment, since the engagement between the lock projection 19 and the lock surface 35 is performed at a position close to the shaft portion 14 that is the center of rotation of the holding member 30, the engagement between the lock projection 19 and the lock surface 35 is performed. The torque required to release is small. Therefore, even if the sheet-shaped conductive path 40 has a characteristic that it is relatively easily bent, the lock can be reliably released without buckling of the sheet-shaped conductive path 40 when the engaging portion 36 is pressed.
Even when the lever 32 is overlaid on the outer surface of the connector housing 10 with the holding member 30 as the holding position, the escape hole 33 is formed in the lever 32 to expose the suction portion 18. 10 can be held or transported.
In the present embodiment, when the holding member 30 is in the holding position and the lever 32 is overlaid on the upper surface of the connector housing 10, the leading edge 32A of the lever 32 projects from the rear edge of the connector housing 10. Therefore, when the holding member 30 is displaced from the holding position to the release position without depending on the insertion operation of the sheet-like conductive path 40, the operation can be easily performed.
[0019]
<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the configuration of the shaft portion and a part of the configuration of the holding member are different. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.
The shaft of the first embodiment is configured by alternately arranging the shafts 14 of the connector housing 10 and the shafts 22 of the terminals 20. On the other hand, the shaft of the second embodiment is a shaft provided on the connector housing 10. 50 only. That is, the shaft portion 50 is integrally formed between the left and right side plate portions 15 in a bridging manner. Therefore, the connector housing 10 of the second embodiment is not provided with a component corresponding to the support portion 13 of the first embodiment, and the terminal 20 is not provided with a component corresponding to the shaft portion 22 of the first embodiment. .
[0020]
On the other hand, the holding member 60 is composed of an arc-shaped portion 61 extending over a range substantially close to the entire circumference, and a plate-shaped lever 62 integrated with the arc-shaped portion 61. It extends so as to bend backward from the front edge in the clockwise direction in FIG. Further, the arc-shaped portion 61 is formed with a lock groove (a lock portion which is a constituent feature of the present invention) which engages with the lock projection 19 of the connector housing 10 when the holding member 60 is at the holding position. . Therefore, a component corresponding to the lock surface 35 of the first embodiment is not provided. In addition, similarly to the first embodiment, the arc-shaped portion 61 is provided with a relief groove 64, an engagement portion 66, and a chevron projection 67, and the lever 62 is provided with a relief hole 63.
Note that the operation and effects of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof will be omitted.
[0021]
<Embodiment 3>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a part of the structure of attaching the holding member to the connector housing and a part of the structure of the terminal and the connector housing are different.
The connector housing 70 of the third embodiment has a connection portion having a main body 71, a receiving portion 72, a support portion 73, a shaft portion 74, a side plate portion 75, a cavity 76, and a positioning recess 77A, similarly to the connector housing 10 of the first embodiment. 77, a suction portion 78, and a lock projection 79. A closed portion 70A is formed to close the lower surface of each slit 72A of the receiving portion 72 and the lower surface of each cavity 76 subsequent thereto, and the board mounting portion 83 of the terminal 80 abuts against the rear end surface of the closed portion 70A. It is supposed to be. Further, a support hole 75A coaxial with the shaft portion 82 of the terminal 80 and the shaft portion 74 of the connector housing 70 is formed in both side plate portions 75, and the inner surface of the side plate portion 75 communicates with the support hole 75A. A guide groove 75B is formed. Further, a concave portion 78A into which the projection 81A of the terminal 80 is fitted is formed on the rear edge of the suction portion 78, and the projection 81A is brought into contact with the inner end surface of the concave portion 78A.
[0022]
The terminal 80 has a support portion 81, a shaft portion 82, a substrate mounting portion 83, an elastic contact portion 84, and a positioning portion 85, similarly to the terminal 20 of the first embodiment. On the upper surface of the support portion 81, a projection 81A that can be fitted into the recess 78A is formed.
The holding member 90 has an arc-shaped portion 91, a lever 92, an escape hole 93, an escape groove 94, a lock surface 95, an engagement portion 96, and a chevron 97, similarly to the holding member 30 of the first embodiment. A support shaft 91A that fits into the support hole 75A is formed in the arc-shaped portion 91. Further, a tip edge portion 92A of the lever 92 projects rearward in a state of being overlapped with the upper surface of the connector housing 70.
[0023]
When assembling the connector of the third embodiment having the above-described configuration, the terminal 80 is attached to the connector housing 70 from behind by press fitting. At this time, the support portion 81 and the shaft portion 82 are fitted between the connecting portion 77 and the suction portion 78. When the terminal 80 is fitted in the normal state, the lower end of the board mounting portion 83 abuts on the rear end surface of the closing portion 70A, and at the same time, the projection 81A abuts on the back end surface of the concave portion 78A. This prevents the terminal 80 from being excessively pushed forward beyond the regular mounting position.
Next, the holding member 90 is attached to the connector housing 70. At this time, the support shaft 91A is fitted into the guide groove 75B while slightly expanding the side plate portions 75 outward, and the holding member 90 is pushed backward while being guided by the guide groove 75B. Then, the support shaft 91A is fitted into the support hole 75A, and the assembly of the holding member 90 to the connector housing 70 is completed. In this state, since the support shaft 91A is fitted in the support hole 75A, the holding member 90 does not come off the connector housing 70 in any posture.
[0024]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Can be implemented with various modifications.
(1) A highly rigid auxiliary plate may be attached to a region from the leading edge of the sheet-shaped conductive path to a position where the sheet is picked up by hand. In this case, when the sheet-like conductive path is inserted and the holding member is pushed to the release position, buckling of the sheet-like conductive path hardly occurs, and operability is improved.
(2) The lock portion on the holding member side may be provided on the lever.
(3) The lock portion on the connector housing side may be provided in the terminal.
(4) The configuration of the lock portion is not limited to that of the embodiment. For example, a configuration may be employed in which claws are engaged with each other, and a configuration in which an elastic locking piece is engaged with a groove or a hole.
[0025]
(5) When the connector housing is not sucked and held by the suction cup device, there is no need to provide a relief portion on the lever.
(6) According to the present invention, a configuration may be adopted in which a lock portion for holding the holding member at the holding position is not provided.
(7) In the above embodiment, the terminal is provided along the receiving portion on the opposite side of the holding member. However, the present invention can be applied to a terminal provided on the same side as the holding member. When the terminal is provided on the same side as the holding member, the holding member is made insulative, and with respect to the sheet-like conductive path, the tip is folded upward to expose the contact to the upper surface side, or the sheet-like conductive path is formed. The contact may be turned upside down so that the contact points upward.
(8) In the above embodiment, the lever overlaps the upper surface of the connector housing when the holding member is at the holding position. However, according to the present invention, the lever may not overlap the connector housing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector of a first embodiment viewed from an insertion side of a sheet-shaped conductive path. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connector of the first embodiment viewed from a side opposite to the insertion side of a sheet-shaped conductive path. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a state in which a sheet-like conductive path is inserted and a holding member is displaced to a release position in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a state before the sheet-like conductive path is inserted in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a sheet-like conductive path is inserted and a holding member is displaced to a release position in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in which the holding member is displaced to a holding position in the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a conductive path is held. FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a connector housing of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a terminal of the first embodiment. Before the conductive path is inserted FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a holding member is separated from a connector housing in a third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a state before a sheet-like conductive path is inserted in the third embodiment. Cross section of conventional example [Explanation of reference numerals]
10 connector housing 12 receiving part 18 suction part (suction surface)
20 Terminal 30 Holding member 32 Lever 33 Escape hole (Escape part)
36 ... engaging portion 40 ... sheet-shaped conductive paths 60 and 90 ... holding members 62 and 92 ... levers 63 and 93 ... escape holes (escape portions)
66, 96 ... engaging part 70 ... connector housing 72 ... receiving part 78 ... suction part 80 ... terminal

Claims (1)

A connector housing having a terminal, a holding member provided on the connector housing so as to be rotatable between a holding position and a release position, and inserted between a receiving portion provided on the connector housing and the holding member; A sheet-like conductive path that is attached so that the sheet-like conductive path is sandwiched between the holding member and the receiving portion when the holding member is at the holding position, and is in contact with the terminal. When the holding member is at the release position, the sheet-like conductive path connector is configured to allow the insertion and removal of the sheet-like conductive path between the holding member and the receiving portion,
A lever extending radially outward from the center of rotation of the holding member is provided integrally with the holding member. As the holding member rotates from the release position to the holding position, the lever moves around the center of rotation. The sheet-like conductive path is configured to fall on the opposite side to the direction in which the sheet-like conductive path extends ,
In addition, on the outer surface of the connector housing, a suction surface for sucking a suction device that holds the connector housing by vacuum pressure is provided, and the lever is opened so as to expose the suction surface at the holding position. A sheet-like connector for a conductive path, wherein a relief portion is provided .

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