JP3840352B2 - Terminal block - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a terminal block used for connecting a signal line to a field device in an industrial control device or the like, and relates to a terminal block that achieves space saving as well as uniformization of terminals.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a control device, a terminal is usually used for an interface for connecting a signal cable from a field device.
[0003]
FIG. 3 shows an example of terminals of an I / O module in a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) 20 (front view). In this example, a screw terminal 21 is mounted on the front surface, and a field cable (not shown) is provided there. Are connected.
[0004]
FIG. 4 shows an example of an I / O unit that employs clamp terminals for process control equipment. In this example, the terminal unit 22 and the input / output module are in a state of 1: 1 correspondence.
[0005]
The process control equipment handles a large number of input / output signals, but since the signal cable is connected, it has a dedicated screw terminal (not shown) and can be handled by an I / O unit that allows the circuit part to be maintained independently. A dedicated terminal block and a panel for storing the terminal block may be installed for cable connection.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in a small device such as a PLC, when a screw terminal is attached to the front of the module, the number of points that can be connected is small because the installation space is limited. Further, the connector between the module and the terminal is unique to the terminal manufacturer, and is incompatible with the terminals of other companies, and it is difficult to add functions between them.
[0007]
In process control equipment, a housing is provided to accommodate an I / O module with a dedicated screw terminal or to store a dedicated terminal block connected to the I / O module with a multi-core cable. There is a problem that the installation space increases because it is necessary.
[0008]
It is an object of the present invention to realize a terminal block that can directly connect many signal cables and achieves space saving as well as uniform terminal.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, in the present invention, in claim 1, a clamping terminal, a first reinforcing plate fixed to the back side of the clamping terminal, a second reinforcing plate to which a connector is fixed, A flexible printed board having at least one of the clamp terminal and at least one of the legs of the connector electrically connected, one end fixed to the first reinforcing plate and the other end fixed to the second reinforcing plate; The plate and the second reinforcing plate are fixed together with the flexible printed board bent in a U shape via a spacer.
[0010]
In claim 2, in the terminal block according to claim 1,
The connection part with the outside is opened and stored in a transparent case.
[0011]
In claim 3, in the terminal block according to claim 1,
The spacer is an insulator and is formed to have the same length as the first reinforcing plate and the second reinforcing plate, and an isothermal plate is disposed in the spacer.
In claim 4, in the terminal block according to claim 1,
The clamp terminal is characterized in that the terminal portion is divided when viewed from the front.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an embodiment according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a clamp terminal, and in this example, two are provided for the first reinforcing plate 2. The clamp terminal has 18 screws 1a and the same number of holes 1b formed corresponding to the 18 screws 1a, and the end of the wiring is inserted into the hole 1b and fixed with the screws 1a. Such a clamp terminal 1 is commercially available, and a large number of wirings are possible in a narrow area as compared with a conventionally used screw terminal.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing details of the back surface of the clamp terminal 1. As shown in the drawing, a hole 1d is formed at one end of the first reinforcing plate 2 and the flexible printed board 3 in a portion corresponding to the leg 1c of the clamp terminal 1, and the leg 1c is inserted into the hole 1d and the flexible printing is performed by soldering. It is connected to the wiring 3 a formed on the plate 3.
The reinforcing plate 2 and the flexible printed board are fixed with an adhesive or the like.
[0014]
Returning to FIG. 1, the other end of the flexible printed board 3 is bonded to a second reinforcing plate 4 provided with a connector 5 indicated by a dotted line by the same method as described above. 4a is an electronic component such as a resistor, a capacitor, or a noise countermeasure component attached to the second reinforcing plate. Reference numeral 5 a denotes a connector fixed to the I / O module 6 and connected to the connector 5.
[0015]
The signal from the field cable connected to the clamp terminal 1 is connected to the connector 5a side on the I / O module side by wiring of the flexible printed board. Which signal is connected to which leg of the connector 5a? It is optional depending on the wiring of the flexible printed board.
[0016]
Reference numeral 7 denotes a spacer, which has a convex portion 7a having a predetermined height on the side portion and a pin 7b having the same height as the central portion. The spacer 7 is inserted into a space formed by bending the flexible printed board 3 connecting the first and second reinforcing plates 2 and 4 into a substantially U shape, and keeps the reinforcing plates 2 and 4 substantially parallel. Fixed in state.
[0017]
8 is an isothermal plate having a hole 8a into which the three pins 7b formed in the spacer 7 are inserted, and is used when a thermocouple is connected to the terminal block. It functions to make the temperature of FIG. 2) uniform. This isothermal plate is formed in a U-shape and is formed so that both ends thereof are substantially the same height as the convex portion 7 a when arranged inside the convex portion of the spacer 7.
[0018]
Reference numeral 9 denotes a front case made of a plastic material, and the front surface is opened with the partition plate 9a interposed therebetween. The partition plate 9a is inserted into the gap 1e between the two clamping terminals 1 so that the screw 1a is exposed on the front surface, and the second reinforcing plate 4 reaches the vicinity of the edge 9b of the front case 9 and is covered. Become. Although it is divided into two by the partition plate 9a in the figure, it can be arbitrarily divided according to the number and arrangement of the clamp terminals 1.
[0019]
Reference numeral 10 denotes a rear case made of a plastic material. A portion corresponding to the connector 5 is opened so that it can be connected to the connector 5a. In addition, you may form both the front case 9 and the rear case 10, or any one as a transparent body.
[0020]
The spacer 7, the front case 9, and the rear case 10 sandwiched between the clamp terminal 1, the first and second reinforcing plates 2, 4 are fixed together by two screws 12, which are connected to the I / O by the screws 13. The module 6 is fixed to a screw hole 14 formed in the rear part.
[0021]
According to the above-described configuration, the use of the clamp terminal 1 makes it possible to provide a large number of terminals in a narrow region, and it is possible to save space as well as uniformizing the terminals.
Further, since the first reinforcing plate and the second reinforcing plate are integrally fixed together with the flexible printed board bent in a U shape via the spacer, the field cable is connected to the connection between the connectors 5 and 5a and the screw 1a. The strength at the time can be secured.
[0022]
Further, by changing the wiring variation of the flexible printed board, different types of wiring can be made with the same configuration.
Further, if both or either the front case 9 and the rear case 10 are made transparent, it is possible to observe the electronic components attached inside, and it is easy to confirm the object to be used.
[0023]
It should be noted that the above description of the present invention is merely a specific preferred embodiment for the purpose of explanation and illustration. Accordingly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be modified and modified in many ways without departing from the essence thereof.
[0024]
For example, the design of the shape of the spacer, the positions of the front and rear case screws, the shape of the clamping terminals, the number of attachments, and the like can be arbitrarily changed. The scope of the present invention defined by the description in the appended claims is intended to include modifications and variations within the scope.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the first reinforcing plate and the second reinforcing plate are integrally fixed together with the flexible printed board bent in a U shape via the spacer (Claim 1). Different types of terminal blocks can be produced with different configurations.
In addition, since the clamp terminal is housed in the transparent case (claim 2), the electronic component attached to the inside can be observed, and the object to be used can be easily confirmed.
If an isothermal plate having the same length is disposed in the spacer (Claim 3), the temperature of the thermocouple input terminal can be made constant.
In addition, since the clamp terminal is divided from the terminal portion as viewed from the front (claim 4), wiring is easy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an example of an embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing details of a back surface of a clamp terminal.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Clamp terminal 1a, 12, 13 Screw 1b, 8a Hole 1c Leg 2 1st reinforcement board 3 Flexible printed board 4 2nd reinforcement board 4a Electronic component 5, 5a Connector 6 I / O module 7 Spacer 7b Pin 8 Isothermal board 9 Front case 9a Partition plate 9b Edge 10 Rear case 14 Screw hole 20 PLC
21 Screw terminal 22 Terminal 23 Input / output module

Claims (4)

The clamp terminal, the first reinforcing plate fixed to the back side of the clamp terminal, the second reinforcing plate to which the connector is fixed, and at least one of the clamp terminal and the leg of the connector are electrically connected to each other. A flexible printed board having one end attached to a first reinforcing plate and the other end fixed to a second reinforcing plate, wherein the first reinforcing plate and the second reinforcing plate are bent in a U shape via a spacer. A terminal block that is fixed together with the printed board. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the terminal block is housed in a transparent case with an opening connected to the outside. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is an insulator and is formed to have the same length as the first reinforcing plate and the second reinforcing plate, and an isothermal plate is disposed in the spacer. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the clamp terminal is divided into terminal portions when viewed from the front.

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