JP4543975B2 - Connection structure of electronic control equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection structure for electronic control equipment that constitutes a control system for industrial equipment by connecting an extension unit to a main unit.

  Conventionally, electronic control devices used in industrial equipment control systems consist of a main unit with a CPU and various expansion units such as an I / O unit. By connecting to the main unit, a control system for industrial equipment can be configured.

  The main unit having a CPU is composed of, for example, a programmable logic controller (PLC), and can create and modify a program by itself, but by connecting a personal computer (personal computer), Work such as creation and data transfer can be performed more efficiently. Especially in the case of a main unit equipped with display means such as a liquid crystal display, program changes and corrections and data entry can be performed while viewing the display means. Since the output can be performed, these operations are further facilitated.

  The main unit and the expansion unit both have a box-shaped case with almost the same shape, so that even when a plurality of expansion units are connected to the main unit in sequence, there is no sense of incongruity. Are provided with male and female connectors for electrically connecting the units, and guide pins and pin holes for mechanically connecting the units.

  For example, a female connector and a plurality of pin holes are provided on one side of the main unit, and a male connector coupled to the female connector of the main unit is provided on one side of the expansion unit. A plurality of guide pins that are inserted into the pin holes are provided.

  On the other hand, the other side surface of the expansion unit is provided with a female connector for connecting a male connector of another expansion unit and a plurality of pin holes, and one or more expansion units are connected to the side surface of the main unit. Thus, a highly versatile electronic control device used for a control system of an industrial device can be obtained, and the main unit can be used alone.

  Further, as a unit connection structure in which a plurality of units are used by being connected to each other, for example, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

The unit connection structure described in Patent Document 1 has different connector connection portions for connecting units with different specifications in order to prevent connection of units with different specifications. Because the connector connecting parts of the specification units are the same, they can be connected, but the units with different specifications cannot be connected because the connector connecting parts are different, which makes it possible to erroneously connect units with different specifications. It can be avoided in advance.
JP 2002-231385 A

  However, in the unit connection structure described in Patent Document 1, when the main unit is used alone, a plurality of pins provided in the connection port of the female connector are exposed on the side surface of the main unit, and the main unit Even when the extension unit is connected to the plurality of pins, the plurality of pins provided on the female connector provided on the side surface of the case are exposed.

  In addition, if a tool such as a screwdriver touches a female connector pin accidentally while connecting the main unit and expansion unit or connecting a cable, etc., the pins will be shorted and the main unit or expansion unit will be damaged. It can also be a cause.

  For this reason, conventionally, the opening where the female connector is exposed is covered with a connector cover, and the connector cover is removed when the female connector is used. A hook-shaped claw is locked to the opening edge of the opening that is opened on the side surface to cover the opening of the connector, so it may fall off when vibration or impact is applied from the outside. There is a problem that cannot prevent accidents such as.

  In addition, because the female connector of the main unit or expansion unit is used, the connector cover is removed using a tool such as a screwdriver. However, the connector cover comes off at the same time that the locking claw of the connector cover is removed from the opening edge. As a result, there is a problem that a hand, a tool, or the like mistakenly contacts the exposed female connector pin to cause an electric shock or a short circuit.

  The present invention has been made to remedy such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connection structure for an electronic control device in which safety is improved by preventing a connector cover from being inadvertently dropped.

The electronic device control device connection structure of the present invention includes a main unit, an expansion unit connectable to the main unit, a male and female connector for electrically connecting the main unit and the expansion unit, and the main unit and the expansion unit. It is a connection structure of electronic control equipment provided with a plurality of guide pins and pin holes that mechanically connect each other, and an opening for exposing the female connector is provided in the case of the main unit and the expansion unit, respectively. A connector cover is detachably attached to the opening so as to close the opening, and a locking means that can be locked to the connector cover by a locking claw, and a locking means that can be fixed to the case by a fixing tool. It constitutes provided bets, a pin hole one guide pin is fitted, so as to be continuous to the opening through the guide groove is formed in the vicinity of the opening, and the pin An attachment hole for inserting the fixing tool is provided in the vicinity of the connector, and a guide protrusion guided by the guide groove is provided on the connector cover, and the fixing tool inserted from the attachment hole is screwed into the tip of the guide protrusion. A screw hole is formed .

  With the above configuration, an electronic control device that controls industrial equipment or the like can be easily configured by simply connecting an arbitrary number of expansion units to the main unit, and the opening of the female connector that is not used is closed by the connector cover. Therefore, there is no risk of electric shock due to inadvertent hand touching the female connector pins, or shorting due to a tool such as a screwdriver touching the female connector pins. Improves.

  In addition, the connector cover is fixed to the case at two locations, the locking claw and the fastener, so that even if vibration or impact is applied during use of the electronic control device, the connector cover will not fall off, and the connector cover When removing, the two steps of removing the fixing tool and prying open the connector cover are required, so double safety can be secured, so that the connector cover does not fall off accidentally during the connector cover removal work. Therefore, there is no worry that the hand touches the pin of the female connector by mistake or the tool touches the pin of the female connector.

Further , since the guide protrusion is guided by the guide groove and the mounting hole and the screw hole are positioned by the above configuration, the fixing tool inserted from the mounting hole can be easily screwed into the screw hole. Can be installed in a short time.

  In the electronic control device connecting structure according to the present invention, the pin hole in the vicinity of the opening is formed in a substantially triangular shape, and the guide pin to be inserted into the pin hole is formed in a substantially triangular column shape. The pins are formed slightly longer than other guide pins.

  With the above configuration, since a guide pin formed slightly longer than the other guide pins is inserted into the pin hole first, and the remaining pins can be inserted into the pin hole, a plurality of pins are simultaneously inserted into the pin hole. The guide pin can be easily inserted compared to the conventional one, and the extension unit is positioned with respect to the main unit by inserting the guide pin having a substantially triangular cross section first. The operation of inserting the guide pin into the pin hole is further facilitated.

  According to the connection structure of the electronic control device of the present invention, the connector cover is fixed to the case at the two positions of the locking claw and the fixing tool. Therefore, even if vibration or impact is applied during use of the electronic control device, the connector cover The cover never falls off, and when removing the connector cover, two steps of operations are required to remove the fixing tool and pry open the connector cover, so double safety can be ensured. Since the connector cover is inadvertently dropped during the detaching operation, there is no fear that a hand accidentally touches the pin of the female connector or a tool or the like touches the pin of the female connector, thereby improving safety.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a perspective view of the main unit with the connector cover removed, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the expansion unit, FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state immediately before the expansion unit is connected to the main unit, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of the main unit on the expansion unit connection side, FIG. 6 is a side view of the expansion unit on the male connector side, and FIG. 7 is a side view of the expansion unit on the female connector side. 8 is a perspective view of the front surface side of the connector cover, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the rear surface side thereof, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of the action when the connector cover is removed.

  The main unit 1 constituting the electronic control device has a box-shaped case 1a as shown in FIG. 1, and the case 1a accommodates an electronic device, such as a PLC, composed of a functional component such as a CPU or electronic component. The front side of the case 1a is provided with an operation button group 3 for creating and correcting programs and inputting data, and a display means 3a composed of a liquid crystal display. A connector 3b for connecting a personal computer not to be used is provided. There are some that do not have the display means 3a.

  In the upper part of the case 1a, a power supply terminal 4a for supplying power to the main unit 1 and a terminal group 4 consisting of the input terminals 4b and the like are arranged in a straight line in the width direction. A terminal group 4 composed of 4c is arranged in a straight line in the width direction, and a bracket 1c for mounting the main unit 1 on a DIN rail or the like (not shown) projects from the back surface of the case 1a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a female connector 6 for electrically connecting the expansion unit 2 is provided in the opening 1 b on one side surface of the main unit 1. Is located slightly behind the side surface of the case 1a.

  The expansion unit 2 such as an I / O unit used by being connected to the main unit 1 is formed to have a case 2a that is formed to have a width that is approximately one half of the case 1a of the main unit 1 as shown in FIG. The case 2a has substantially the same shape as the case 1a of the main unit 1 except for the width so that no discomfort occurs when the expansion unit 2 is connected to the main unit 1. A group of terminals 5 consisting of input terminals 5a and the like are arranged in a straight line in the width direction, and a group of terminals 5 consisting of output terminals 5b are arranged in a straight line in the width direction at the bottom of the case 2a. A bracket 2c for mounting the extension unit 2 on a DIN rail or the like protrudes from the back surface.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a male connector 7 that can be connected to a female connector 6 provided on the side surface of the main unit 1 is provided on one side surface of the expansion unit 2. In the vicinity, one guide pin 8 having a substantially triangular cross-section is projected, and a pair of guide pins 9 having a substantially I-shaped cross section are spaced apart from each other on the side surface of the bracket 2c. The guide pins 8 that protrude and are provided in the vicinity of the male connector 7 are formed slightly longer than the other guide pins 9.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a substantially triangular pin hole 8a is formed on the side surface of the main body unit 1 to which the expansion unit 2 is connected, at a position matching the guide pins 8 and 9 protruding from the side surface of the expansion unit 2. In addition, a substantially square pin hole 9a is formed, and the guide pins 8 and 9 can be removably inserted into the pin holes 8a and 9a.

  On the other hand, an opening 2b having the same shape as the opening 1b opened on the side of the main unit 1 is formed on the side opposite to the side on which the male connector 7 of the expansion unit 2 is provided. A female connector 6 that fits the male connector 7 provided on the side surface of another expansion unit 2 is provided slightly behind the opening 2b.

  As shown in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9, a connector cover 10 is provided in the openings 1 b and 2 b opened in the side surfaces of the cases 1 a and 2 a provided with the female connectors 6 of the main unit 1 and the expansion unit 2. A recess 2d for mounting and a guide groove 2f are formed in a notch.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the recess 2d and the guide groove 2f are formed on the left and right sides of the openings 1b and 2b so as to be opposed to each other. One of the recesses 2d is a latch provided on the connector cover 10. The locking means is configured so that the claw 10a can be locked and disengaged.

  The other guide groove 2f is notched so as to communicate between the openings 1b and 2b and the top of the substantially triangular pin hole 8a, and the upper and lower edges of the guide groove 2f are parallel to each other. As shown in FIG. 5, a mounting hole 2g is formed in the vicinity of the bottom side of the pin hole 8a by drilling the side surfaces of the cases 1a and 2a.

  The connector cover 10 that closes the openings 1b and 2b provided with the female connector 6 is formed in a substantially square shape slightly larger than the openings 1b and 2b as shown in FIGS. A land portion 10b having substantially the same shape as the openings 1b and 2b fitted to 1b and 2b is projected, and is integrally formed of resin.

  Further, when the land portion 10b is fitted into the openings 1b and 2b, a hook-like locking claw 10a is projected at a position that matches the recess 2d of the openings 1b and 2b, and a position that matches the guide groove 2f. A guide projection 10c is formed on the top.

  The guide protrusion 10c protrudes from the back surface of the connector cover 10 at a height that does not interfere with the female connector 6 provided slightly behind the openings 1b and 2b. The other end of the cover 10 is connected to the rear surface of the cover 10 and protrudes outward from the outer peripheral edge of the connector cover 10.

  The width of the guide protrusion 10c is slightly narrower than the width of the guide groove 2f. When the guide protrusion 10c is inserted into the cases 1a and 2a from the guide groove 2f, the guide protrusion 10c is inserted by the guide groove 2f. The upper and lower surfaces are guided, and a screw hole 10d is formed at the tip of the guide projection 10c at a position matching the mounting hole 2g formed in the side surface of the case 1a, 2a. A fixing tool 12 such as a screw inserted from the hole 2g can be screwed to form a hand and fixing means.

  Next, the operation of the connection structure of the electronic control device configured as described above will be described.

  The electronic control device is used by connecting one or a plurality of extension units 2 to the main unit 1 having a CPU according to the specifications of the industrial equipment to be applied. However, the main control unit 1 may be used alone.

  When the expansion unit 2 is connected to the main unit 1 to form an electronic control device, the expansion unit 2 is connected to the side surface of the case 1a provided with the female connector 6 of the main unit 1. First, as shown in FIG. 3, the three guide pins 8 and 9 projecting from one side surface of the expansion unit 2 are substantially positioned in the pin holes 8a and 9a formed on the side surface of the main unit 1, In this state, the guide pin 8 formed longer than the other guide pins 9 is inserted into the pin hole 8a on the main unit 1 side.

  As a result, the guide pin 8 having a substantially triangular cross section is fitted into the pin hole 8a having the same shape, so that the expansion unit 2 is positioned with respect to the main body unit 1. The initial engagement of the mold connector 7 is performed smoothly, and the remaining two guide pins 9 can be easily inserted into the pin holes 9 a of the main unit 1.

  When the three guide pins 8 and 9 are inserted into the pin holes 8a and 9a on the main unit 1 side, respectively, the expansion unit 2 is pressed toward the main unit 1 so that the male connector 7 of the expansion unit 2 is connected to the main unit 1. The main unit 1 and the expansion unit 2 are electrically connected to each other via the male and female connectors 6 and 7, and at the same time, a plurality of guides fitted to each other. Since the main unit 1 and the expansion unit 2 are mechanically coupled by the pins 8 and 9 and the pin holes 8a and 9a, the expansion unit 2 can be reliably connected to the main unit 1.

  When a plurality of extension units 2 are sequentially connected to the main unit 1 to form an electronic control device, another extension unit 2 is connected to the extension unit 2 already connected to the main unit 1 by the same operation as described above. Thus, an electronic control device in which an arbitrary number of expansion units 2 are connected to the main unit 1 can be easily configured.

  On the other hand, when the main unit 1 is used alone or when the expansion unit 2 is connected to the main unit 1, the female connector 6 of the main unit 1 or the female connector 6 of the expansion unit 2 connected last is used. Since the connection port is exposed from the openings 1b and 2b, there is a risk of causing an electric shock or a short circuit if a hand, the tool 13 or the like touches the pin of the connection port by mistake.

  In order to prevent this, the female connector 6 that is not used has a connector cover 10 attached to the openings 1b and 2b, and covers the connection port of the female connector 6 with the connector cover 10.

  In attaching the connector cover 10 to the opening 1b of the main unit 1 and the opening 2b of the expansion unit 2, first, the distal end side of the guide protrusion 10c protruding from the connector cover 10 is connected to the case 1a from the openings 1b and 2b. 2a, the top and bottom surfaces of the guide protrusion 10c are guided in the guide groove 2f, and the screw hole 10d at the tip is moved to the mounting hole 2g side, and the land portion 10b protruding from the back surface of the connector cover 10 is inserted. Is fitted into the openings 1b and 2b.

At this time, since the tip of the locking claw 10a comes into contact with the recess 2d of the openings 1b and 2b, the locking claw 10d is elastically deformed by strongly pressing the connector cover 10 in this state, and the tip of the locking claw 10d is moved. opening 1b, when engaged into the recess 2d of 2b, at the same time the guide butt section 10c connector cover 10 in contact with the upper and lower edge of the guide groove 2f is positioned, formed at the distal end of the guide projection 10c screws Since the hole 10d is positioned in the mounting hole 2g formed in the vicinity of the pin hole 8a, the fixing tool 12 inserted from the mounting hole 2g in this state is screwed into the screw hole and tightened, whereby the openings 1b and 2b are formed. On the other hand, the connector cover 10 is fixed at two places, that is, the locking claw 10 a and the fixing tool 12.

  As a result, accidents such as an electric shock due to carelessly touching the pins of the female connector 6 or a short circuit due to the tool 13 or the like touching the pins of the female connector 6 may damage the electronic control device. The connector cover 10 can be prevented from falling off even if vibration or impact is applied during use of the electronic control device due to the duplication of the locking means by the locking claw 10d and the fixing means by the fixing tool. Absent.

  On the other hand, when the expansion unit 2 is newly connected to the main body unit 1 used alone, or when the expansion unit 2 is further connected to the expansion unit 2 connected to the main body unit 1, the connector cover 10 is first fixed. In this state, the locking claw 10a is locked to the recess 2d of the openings 1b and 2b, and the connector cover 10 is still in a supported state. It will not fall off easily.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, a tool 13 such as a screwdriver is inserted into the gap on the side of the locking claw 10a of the connector cover 10 and the connector cover 10 is pry open, so that the locking claw is opened from the recess 2d of the openings 1b and 2b. The connector cover 10 is removed by removing the connector 10a. Since the operation of removing the fixing tool 12 and the operation of prying open the connector cover 10 are necessary, double safety can be ensured, which is inadvertent. Since the connector cover 10 has been removed, the hand touches the pins of the female connector 8, or the tool 13 or the like touches the pins of the female connector 8, causing a short circuit and damaging the electronic control device. Accidents can be prevented in advance.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where an expansion unit such as an I / O unit is connected to the main unit 1 made of PLC has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a connection structure that connects power supply units.

  In the connection structure of the electronic control device according to the present invention, since the connector cover is fixed to the case at two positions of the locking claw and the fixing tool, the connector cover can be mounted even if vibration or impact is applied during use of the electronic control device. When removing the connector cover, there is no need to drop the connector cover, and it is necessary to operate in two steps: removing the fixing tool and prying open the connector cover, so double safety can be secured and the expansion unit is connected to the main unit. By doing so, it is most suitable for the connection structure of the electronic control equipment constituting the control system of the industrial equipment.

It is a perspective view of the state where the connector cover of the main unit which adopted the connection structure of the electronic control equipment which becomes an embodiment of the invention was removed. It is a perspective view of the expansion unit which employ | adopted the connection structure of the electronic control apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the state just before connecting an expansion unit to the main body unit which employ | adopted the connection structure of the electronic control apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the state which connected the expansion unit to the main body unit which employ | adopted the connection structure of the electronic control apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a side view by the side of the expansion unit connection of the main body unit which employ | adopted the connection structure of the electronic control apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a side view by the side of the male connector of the expansion unit which employ | adopted the connection structure of the electronic control apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a side view by the side of the female connector of the expansion unit which employ | adopted the connection structure of the electronic control apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the surface side of the connector cover employ | adopted as the connection structure of the electronic control apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the back surface side of the connector cover employ | adopted as the connection structure of the electronic control apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is effect | action explanatory drawing at the time of removing the connector cover employ | adopted as the connection structure of the electronic control apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body unit 1a Case 1b Opening part 2 Expansion unit 2a Case 2b Opening part 2f Guide groove 2g Mounting hole 6 Female connector 7 Male connector 8 Guide pin 8a Pin hole 9 Guide pin 9a Pin hole 10 Connector cover 10a Locking claw 10c Guide projection 10d Screw hole 12 Fixing tool

Claims (2)

A main unit, an expansion unit connectable to the main unit, a male and female connector for electrically connecting the main unit and the expansion unit, and mechanical connection between the main unit and the expansion unit An electronic control device connection structure comprising a plurality of guide pins and pin holes, each having an opening for exposing the female connector to the case of the main body unit and the extension unit. The connector cover is detachably attached so as to close the opening, and the locking means that can be locked to the opening by a locking claw on the connector cover; It constitutes provided bets, the said pin holes one guide pin is fitted, of the opening so as to continue to the opening through the guide groove near And a mounting hole for inserting the fixing tool is provided in the vicinity of the pin hole, and a guide protrusion guided by the guide groove is provided on the connector cover to project the tip of the guide protrusion. Further, a screw hole for screwing the fixing tool inserted from the mounting hole is formed . The pin hole in the vicinity of the opening is formed in a substantially triangular shape, the guide pin that is inserted into the pin hole is formed in a substantially triangular column shape, and the triangular column-shaped guide pin is slightly more than the other guide pins. The connection structure of the electronic control device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection structure is formed long.

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