JP4977768B2 - Manufacturing method of multiple types of terminal fittings - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a terminal fitting used for a wire harness.

  A wide variety of electronic devices are mounted on a vehicle as a moving body. In the automobile, a wire harness is routed to transmit electric power, a control signal, and the like to the electronic device. The wire harness includes a plurality of electric wires and a plurality of connectors. The electric wire is a so-called covered electric wire including a conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion that covers the core wire.

  The connector includes a pair of insulating connector housings that are fitted together, and conductive terminal fittings that are accommodated in these housings. The terminal fitting includes an electric wire connecting portion that is attached to one end of the electric wire and is electrically connected to the core wire, and an electric contact portion that contacts the other terminal fitting. The wire harness transmits a control signal and the like to the electronic device by connector-connecting the connector housings.

  In the manufacturing process of wire harnesses, terminal fittings with different shapes of wire connection portions are used depending on the connection processing method and the type of wire, and as these terminal fittings, for example, the covering portion of the wire is peeled off. One having a crimp connection part for caulking the exposed core wire (hereinafter referred to as a crimp terminal and shown in Patent Document 1), one having a pressure connection part that cuts the sheath of the electric wire and makes contact with the core wire (hereinafter referred to as a pressure contact terminal) And a piercing connection portion that penetrates a flat wire and contacts the core wire (hereinafter referred to as a piercing terminal and shown in Patent Literature 3).

  In addition, the connection using a crimp terminal is suitable for the connection of a power supply line etc. in which high connection reliability is required, and the connection using a pressure contact terminal is suitable for automation of the manufacturing process. Moreover, the connection using a piercing terminal has the advantage that it is suitable for the connection of a flat-type electric wire and the wiring space can be reduced.

  Further, each of these terminal fittings has a male electrical contact portion (hereinafter referred to as a male contact portion and shown in Patent Document 4) and a female electrical contact portion (hereinafter referred to as a female contact portion). There are some which are shown in patent document 5. The male contact part of one terminal fitting is accommodated in the female contact part of the other terminal fitting, and both are electrically connected. In order to maintain compatibility in fitting, the male contact portion and the female contact portion are formed in the same shape even between the terminal fittings having different types of wire connection portions.

JP 2004-193073 A JP 2003-217698 A JP 2003-115340 A JP-A-8-162191 JP 2002-63961 A

  The above-described conventional terminal fitting is formed by bending a sheet metal obtained by punching a conductive metal plate with a die provided for each part number of the terminal fitting. The wire connection portion and the electrical contact portion were integrally formed. That is, since parts having the same shape are manufactured by different molds, there is a problem in that variations in performance occur due to tolerances generated for each part, and the molds of the parts having the same shape are wasted.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a plurality of types of terminal fittings that are inexpensive, uniform, and stable in performance.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention described in claim 1 includes an electric wire connecting portion to which an electric wire is connected and an electric contact portion to be electrically connected to a counterpart terminal fitting alone . A method of manufacturing a plurality of types of terminal fittings, the shapes of which are different from each other, the plurality of types of the wire connection portions that can be connected to the wire independently, and the shapes of the wire connection portions that are different from each other, The male contact and the female multiple types of electrical contact portions provided with connecting portions that can be attached to any of the portions are manufactured separately, depending on the use of the wire connection portion and the electrical contact portion. Then, one is selected from a plurality of types of the wire connection portions, one is selected from a plurality of types of the electrical contact portions, and both width direction end portions of the bottom wall of the selected wire connection portions are selected. The electrical contact portion in a pair of standing pieces The wire connection portion in a state where the end portion near the wire connection portion of the pair of side walls erected from both ends in the width direction of the bottom wall of the selected electrical contact portion A plurality of types of terminal metal fittings, wherein the plurality of types of terminal metal fittings are manufactured by changing the selection of the electric wire connection portion or the electric contact portion. It is a manufacturing method.

  The invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, wherein, as the wire connection portion, a crimp connection portion for crimping the wire, a press contact connection portion for pressing the wire, and a break through the wire. And a piercing connection portion for caulking the electric wire.

  According to the method for manufacturing a plurality of types of terminal fittings according to claims 1 and 2, since it is possible to share parts among terminal fittings of different product numbers, it is possible to minimize variation in performance due to tolerance generated for each part. And the cost of each component of the terminal fitting can be reduced due to the mass production effect. Furthermore, only the electric wire connection portion can be operated before the electric contact portion and the electric wire connection portion are assembled, and damage and deformation of the electric contact portion in the wire harness manufacturing process can be prevented.

Fig.1 (a) is a perspective view which shows the crimp terminal which has the male contact part concerning one Embodiment of this invention, FIG.1 (b) is a decomposition | disassembly of the crimp terminal shown by Fig.1 (a). It is a perspective view. 2A is a perspective view showing a press contact terminal having a male contact portion according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is an exploded view of the press contact terminal shown in FIG. 2A. It is a perspective view. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a piercing terminal having a male contact portion according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is an exploded view of the piercing terminal shown in FIG. It is a perspective view. Fig.4 (a) is a perspective view which shows the crimp terminal which has the female-type contact part concerning one Embodiment of this invention, FIG.4 (b) is a decomposition | disassembly of the crimp terminal shown by Fig.4 (a). It is a perspective view. FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing a press contact terminal having a female contact portion according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is an exploded view of the press contact terminal shown in FIG. It is a perspective view. 6A is a perspective view showing a piercing terminal having a female contact portion according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is an exploded view of the piercing terminal shown in FIG. 6A. It is a perspective view. It is a perspective view explaining the manufacturing method of the terminal metal fitting shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, a terminal metal fitting and a method of manufacturing the terminal metal fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The manufacturing method of the terminal fitting of this embodiment includes a crimp terminal 1A (shown in FIG. 1) having a male electrical contact portion (hereinafter referred to as a male contact portion) 10 and a pressure contact having the male contact portion 10. Crimping terminal 2A having terminal 1B (shown in FIG. 2), piercing terminal 1C having male contact portion 10 (shown in FIG. 3), and female electrical contact portion (hereinafter referred to as female contact portion) 20. (Shown in FIG. 4), a method of manufacturing a press contact terminal 2B (shown in FIG. 5) having a female contact portion 20 and a piercing terminal 2C (shown in FIG. 6) having a female contact portion 20.

  The terminal fittings 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C are accommodated in a connector housing (not shown) made of an insulating synthetic resin, a terminal fitting accommodated in the mating connector housing, an electric wire (not shown), Are used to electrically connect each other. In addition, the electric wire used in the present specification is a so-called covered electric wire having a round cross-sectional shape in which a core wire made of a conductive metal is covered with an insulating synthetic resin, or a well-known flexible flat cable (Flexible Flat Cable: A flat coated electric wire (flat circuit body) such as FFC) is shown.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the crimp terminal 1 </ b> A includes a crimp connection portion 30 as a wire connection portion to which an electric wire is electrically connected, and a male contact portion 10.

  The male contact portion 10 is made of a conductive metal or the like, and is manufactured separately from the crimp connection portion 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). An inserter 11 to be inserted into the mold contact portion and a main body portion 12 are provided.

  The main body 12 is provided with a bottom wall 13, side walls 15, 15 erected from both ends in the width direction of the bottom wall 13, and connected to the side walls 15, 15 and spaced apart from the bottom wall 13. It is formed in a hollow prism shape having four walls with the ceiling wall 16. The main body portion 12 has one end portion in the longitudinal direction connected to the inserter 11 and a connecting portion 14 provided on the bottom wall 13 at the other end portion. The main body portion 12 is connected to the connecting portion 14 of the crimp connecting portion 30 described later at the connecting portion 14.

  The inserter 11 is connected to the main body 12 and is formed in an elongated prismatic shape. The inserter 11 is formed thinner than the main body 12. The inserter 11 is inserted into the female contact portion of the mating terminal fitting, and is electrically connected to the mating terminal fitting.

The crimp connection portion 30 is made of a conductive metal or the like, and is erected from the bottom wall 31 and both ends in the width direction of the bottom wall 31 as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). A pair of crimping pieces (corresponding to the “standing piece ” in the claims) 32 and 32, and standing from both ends in the width direction of the bottom wall 31, and more male than the pair of crimping pieces 32 and 32. A pair of caulking pieces 33, 33 provided on the side away from the contact portion 10.

  The crimping connection part 30 is placed in a direction in which the end part is peeled on the bottom wall 31 and the electric wire having a round cross section is exposed, and then the core part of the electric wire is pressed toward the bottom wall 31. The crimping pieces 32 and 32 are bent, that is, the core portions of the electric wires are crimped by the crimping pieces 32 and 32 to be electrically connected to the electric wires. Similarly, the caulking pieces 33 and 33 are bent in a direction in which the covering portion of the electric wire is pressed toward the bottom wall 31, that is, the covering portion of the electric wire is caulked with the caulking pieces 33 and 33 to be fixed to the electric wire.

  The crimp connection portion 30 further includes a connecting portion 34. The connecting portion 34 is provided on the bottom wall 31 on the crimping piece 32 side, and extends from the bottom wall 31 in the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the crimp terminal 1 </ b> A is formed on the bottom wall 13 at the other end of the main body 12, that is, on the connecting portion 14, at the end of the crimp connection portion 30 on the side of the crimp pieces 32 and 32. The male contact portion 10 and the crimping connection portion 30 are connected to each other by overlapping the connecting portion 34 provided on the contact portion 34. As described above, the crimp terminal 1 </ b> A has the inserter 11, the main body portion 12, and the crimp connection portion 30 arranged in a line in order.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the press contact terminal 1 </ b> B includes a press contact connection portion 40 as a wire connection portion to which an electric wire is electrically connected, and a male contact portion 10. The male contact portion 10 is the same as the male contact portion 10 of the crimp terminal 1A described above. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component same as the crimp terminal 1A shown in FIG. 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the male contact portion 10, a connecting portion 14 provided at the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 12 is connected to a connecting portion 44 of a press contact connecting portion 40 described later.

The press-connecting portion 40 is made of a conductive metal or the like, and is erected from the bottom wall 41 and both ends of the bottom wall 41 in the width direction, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). A pair of pressure contact pieces (corresponding to “standing pieces ” in the claims) 42, 42, and both ends of the bottom wall 41 in the width direction, and male than the pair of pressure contact pieces 42, 42. A pair of caulking pieces 43, 43 provided on the side away from the contact portion 10. The pressure contact pieces 42, 42 include a plurality of pressure contact blades 42a. The press contact blade 42 a is cut and raised from the press contact piece 42 and arranged in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the press contact connection portion 40.

  In the press-connecting portion 40, the end portion of the electric wire having a round cross section is press-fitted between the press-contacting pieces 42, 42, and the press-contact blade 42a cuts the covering portion of the electric wire to contact the core wire and is electrically connected to the electric wire. . Further, the caulking pieces 43 and 43 are bent in a direction in which the electric wire is pressed toward the bottom wall 41, that is, the electric wires are caulked with the caulking pieces 43 and 43 to be fixed to the electric wire.

  The press-connecting portion 40 further includes a connecting portion 44. The connecting portion 44 is provided on the pressure contact piece 42 side of the bottom wall 41 and extends from the bottom wall 41 in the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the press contact terminal 1 </ b> B is disposed on the bottom wall 13 at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the main body 12, that is, on the connection portion 14, on the side of the press contact piece 42, 42 in the longitudinal direction of the press contact connection 40. The male contact portion 10 and the press contact connection portion 40 are connected by overlapping the connection portion 44 provided at the end of the contact portion. Thus, the press contact terminal 1B has the inserter 11, the main body portion 12, and the press contact connection portion 40 arranged in a line in order.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the piercing terminal 1 </ b> C includes a piercing connection portion 50 as a wire connection portion to which an electric wire is electrically connected, and a male contact portion 10. The male contact portion 10 is the same as the male contact portion 10 of the crimp terminal 1A described above. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component same as the crimp terminal 1A shown in FIG. 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the male contact portion 10, a connecting portion 14 provided at the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 12 is connected to a connecting portion 54 of a piercing connection portion 50 described later.

The piercing connection portion 50 is made of conductive metal or the like, and is erected from the bottom wall 51 and both ends of the bottom wall 51 in the width direction, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). And a plurality of piercing pieces (corresponding to “standing pieces ” in the claims) 52. The plurality of piercing pieces 52 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the piercing connection portion 50, and the plurality of piercing pieces 52 facing each other are arranged in a staggered manner.

  In the piercing connection portion 50, a plurality of piercing pieces 52 penetrates (breaks through) a flat electric wire such as FFC and comes into contact with a conductor, and is electrically connected to the flat electric wire. Furthermore, the front-end | tip part of the several piercing piece 52 penetrated is mutually bend | folded inward, and is mechanically connected with a flat type electric wire (caulking an electric wire).

  The piercing connection unit 50 further includes a coupling unit 54. The connecting portion 54 is provided at one end of the bottom wall 51 in the longitudinal direction, and extends from the bottom wall 51 in the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the piercing terminal 1 </ b> C has a connecting portion 54 provided on one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the piercing connecting portion 50 on the bottom wall 13 of the other end portion of the main body portion 12, that is, on the connecting portion 14. Are stacked to connect the male contact portion 10 and the piercing connection portion 50 together. As described above, the piercing terminal 1 </ b> C includes the inserter 11, the main body portion 12, and the piercing connection portion 50 arranged in a line in order.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the crimp terminal 2 </ b> A includes a crimp connection portion 30 as a wire connection portion to which an electric wire is electrically connected, and a female contact portion 20. The crimp connection part 30 is the same as the crimp connection part 30 of the above-described crimp terminal 1A. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component same as the crimp terminal 1A shown in FIG. 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The female contact portion 20 is made of a conductive metal or the like, and is manufactured separately from the crimp connection portion 30 as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). A cylindrical portion 21 for accommodating the child and a spring piece (not shown) are provided.

  The cylindrical portion 21 is provided with a bottom wall 22, side walls 23, 23 erected from both ends in the width direction of the bottom wall 22, continuous with the side walls 23, 23, and spaced apart from the bottom wall 22. It is formed in the shape of a hollow prism having four walls with the ceiling wall 25. The cylinder part 21 is provided with an opening part at one end part in the longitudinal direction, and an inserter of a mating terminal fitting is inserted through the opening part. And the said spring piece urges | biases this inserter toward the inner surface of the cylinder part 21, and the female-type contact part 20 and the other party metal fitting are electrically connected. The cylindrical portion 21 further has a connecting portion 24 on the bottom wall 22 at the other end in the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the crimp terminal 2 </ b> A has the above-described connecting portion 34 of the crimp connecting portion 30 overlaid on the bottom wall 22 at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 21, that is, the connecting portion 24. The female mold contact part 20 and the crimping connection part 30 are connected.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the press contact terminal 2 </ b> B includes a press contact connection portion 40 as a wire connection portion to which an electric wire is electrically connected, and a female contact portion 20. The female contact portion 20 is the same as the female contact portion 20 of the crimp terminal 2A described above, and the press contact connection portion 40 is the same as the press contact connection portion 40 of the press contact terminal 1B described above. Yes. The same components as those of the crimp terminal 2A shown in FIG. 4 and the press contact terminal 1B shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the pressure contact terminal 2 </ b> B has the above-described connection portion 44 of the pressure connection portion 40 superimposed on the bottom wall 22 of the other end in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 21, that is, the connection portion 24. The female mold contact portion 20 and the press contact connection portion 40 are connected.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the piercing terminal 2C includes a piercing connection portion 50 as a wire connection portion to which an electric wire is electrically connected, and a female contact portion 20. The female contact portion 20 is the same as the female contact portion 20 of the crimp terminal 2A described above, and the piercing connection portion 50 is the same as the piercing connection portion 50 of the piercing terminal 1C described above. Yes. The same components as those of the crimp terminal 2A shown in FIG. 4 and the piercing terminal 1C shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the piercing terminal 2 </ b> C has the above-described linking portion 54 of the piercing connection portion 50 overlapped on the bottom wall 22 of the other end in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 21, that is, the linking portion 24. The female contact part 20 and the piercing connection part 50 are connected.

  A method for manufacturing the terminal fittings 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, and 2C will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 7, the male contact portion 10, the female contact portion 20, the crimp connection portion 30, the press contact connection portion 40, and the piercing connection portion 50 are manufactured separately. These are manufactured by bending a sheet metal obtained by punching a conductive metal sheet with a mold.

  Next, one of the male contact portion 10 and the female contact portion 20, one of the crimp connection portion 30, the pressure contact connection portion 40, and the piercing connection portion 50 is selected according to the application, and the selected electrical contact portion. The connecting portions 14 and 24 of 10 and 20 and the connecting portions 34, 44 and 54 of the selected wire connecting portions 30, 40 and 50 are overlapped to connect them. As this connection method, for example, a method such as ultrasonic bonding or spot welding is used, and the electrical contact portions 10 and 20 are electrically connected to the wire connection portions 30, 40 and 50. Thus, the terminal fittings 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C of the present embodiment are manufactured.

  Moreover, you may perform the connection process of the electric contact parts 10 and 20 and the electric wire connection part 30,40,50 after connecting the electric wire connection part 30,40,50 with an electric wire, and before connecting with an electric wire. It may be performed at the same time as being connected to the electric wire. In addition, by performing this connection process after the electric wire connection part 30,40,50 is connected with the electric wire, the electric contact part 10,20 at the time of the connection of the electric wire and the electric wire connection part 30,40,50 in a wire harness manufacturing process. Can be prevented from being damaged or deformed.

  Thus, according to the terminal fittings 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C of the present embodiment and the manufacturing method of the terminal fittings 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, the terminal fittings 1A, Since the parts 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 constituting the terminal fittings 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C can be shared between 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, It is possible to minimize the variation in performance that has occurred in the terminal fittings, and it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the terminal fittings 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, and 2C due to the mass production effect.

  Furthermore, in the connection method of the above-described embodiment, the connection parts 14 and 24 of the electrical contact parts 10 and 20 and the connection parts 34, 44, and 54 of the wire connection parts 30, 40, and 50 are overlapped so that two parts are connected. In the terminal fittings 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, and 2C of the present invention, a protrusion is provided on one of the overlapping connecting portions, a hole is provided on the other, and the protrusion and the hole are fitted. You may connect together. That is, the electrical contact portions 10 and 20 and the wire connection portions 30, 40, and 50 may be coupled by a so-called interference fit or eyelet method.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1A, 2A crimp terminal (terminal fitting)
1B, 2B Pressure contact terminals (terminal fittings)
1C, 2C Piercing terminal (terminal fitting)
10 Male contact part (electric contact part)
20 Female contact part (electric contact part)
30 Crimp connection (wire connection)
40 Pressure connection (wire connection)
50 Piercing connection (wire connection)

Claims (2)

A method of manufacturing a plurality of types of terminal fittings, comprising: a wire connecting portion to which an electric wire is connected; and an electrical contact portion electrically connected to a counterpart terminal fitting alone ,
Provided with a plurality of types of wire connecting portions that are different in shape from each other and can be connected to the wire alone, and a connecting portion that is different in shape from each other and can be attached to any of the plurality of types of wire connecting portions. A plurality of kinds of male contact and female mold electrical contact portions manufactured separately,
According to the use of the electric wire connection part and the electric contact part, one is selected from among the plural kinds of the electric wire connection parts, and one is selected from the plural kinds of the electric contact parts, and is selected. A pair of standing pieces erected from both ends in the width direction of the bottom wall of the electric wire connecting portion, and an end portion near the electric contact portion and erected from both ends in the width direction of the bottom wall of the selected electric contact portion In a state where the ends of the pair of side walls near the wire connection portion are in contact with each other, the wire connection portion and the connection portion of the electrical contact portion are connected, and the wire connection portion or the electrical contact portion A method of manufacturing a plurality of types of terminal fittings, wherein a plurality of types of terminal fittings are manufactured by changing the selection. As the wire connection portion, a crimp connection portion for crimping the wire, a pressure connection portion for pressing the wire, and a piercing connection portion for breaking the wire and caulking the wire are provided. The manufacturing method of multiple types of terminal metal fittings of Claim 1 to do.

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