JP6954874B2 - Connector and connector manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to, for example, a connector suitable for use as a relay connector for an automatic transmission of an automobile and a method for manufacturing a connector.

For example, there is a connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 as a connector formed by insert molding a primary molded product in which a pair of terminals are inserted.

As shown in FIG. 7, this connector 1 is subjected to a secondary molding step after insert molding a primary molding block 5 in which each intermediate portion of a pair of terminals 6 and 6 is integrated with a synthetic resin material in the primary molding step. In the above, the housing 2 is formed into a final shape by insert molding using a plurality of molding dies 7 and 8 with a synthetic resin material so as to include and integrate the primary molding block 5. NS.

In the secondary molding of the housing 2, the lower tubular portion 3 of the housing 2 fitted into the mounting hole 9a of the bracket 9 and the upper end side of the tubular portion 3 are bent and extended laterally. The lightening portion 2A is formed by the rod-shaped lightening piece 8a of the molding die 8 at the thick portion of the boundary with the hood portion 4 to which the mating end connector is fitted, and the meat at the time of molding the housing 2 is formed. It is designed to prevent sink marks due to resin shrinkage in thick parts.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-1006045

However, in the conventional connector 1, when the housing 2 is taken out from the molding die 8, there is nothing to support the frontage of the hood portion 4 of the housing 2, so that the frontage collapses. Further, when the frontage of the hood portion 4 collapses, a galling defect or the like occurs in the frontage, the lightening piece 8a does not come off smoothly, and the piece 8a breaks poorly. Further, since the lightening piece 8a is long, it cannot stay in the original position due to the resin pressure, and the piece 8a is broken, which causes a problem that the shape according to the design drawing cannot be manufactured.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is a connector capable of improving the molding accuracy of the frontage of the hood portion to which the mating connector is fitted and reducing molding defects. And a method of manufacturing a connector.

In the present invention, by primary molding each intermediate portion of at least a pair of bent and formed terminals, a primary molded product in which each intermediate portion is maintained in an insulated state by a resin portion and the primary molded product are secondary molded. As a result, one end side of the pair of terminals is accommodated on one end side, and a bottomed first tubular portion having a hood portion into which the mating side connector is fitted and the other end side of the pair of terminals are on the other end side. A connector comprising a second tubular portion that is housed and into which another mating connector is fitted, and a housing as a secondary molded product that integrally has the peripheral wall of the hood portion in the axial direction. It has a lightening portion, and the primary molded product is characterized by having a protruding portion at a position facing the lightening portion.

Further, in the present invention, by primary molding each intermediate portion of at least a pair of bent and formed terminals, a primary molded product in which each intermediate portion is maintained in an insulated state by a resin portion is formed, and the primary molded product is produced. By secondary molding, one end side of the pair of terminals is accommodated on one end side, and a bottomed first tubular portion having a hood portion into which the mating connector is fitted, and the pair of terminals on the other end side. A method for manufacturing a connector in which a housing as a secondary molded product is integrally provided with a second tubular portion into which the other end side is accommodated and another mating side connector is fitted. The primary molding step of covering each intermediate portion with the resin portion and molding the primary molded product having a protruding portion protruding in the axial direction, and the first molding step so as to cover the primary molded product molded in the primary molding step. A secondary molding step of integrally molding a tubular portion and the second tubular portion is provided, and in the secondary molding step, the peripheral wall of the hood portion faces the protruding portion of the primary molded product. It is characterized in that a lightening portion extending in the axial direction is formed so as to be formed.

According to the present invention, the peripheral wall of the hood portion to which the mating connector is fitted has a lightening portion in the axial direction, and the primary molded product has a protruding portion at a position facing the lightening portion. It is possible to improve the molding accuracy of the frontage and reduce molding defects.

It is a perspective view which shows the connector of one Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a perspective view of a primary molded product used for the connector, and (b) is a perspective view showing a main part of a secondary molded product obtained by secondary molding the same primary molded product in cross section. (A) is a cross-sectional view of the connector, and (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the primary molded product. (A) is a front view of the connector, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. (A). (A) is a partial cross-sectional view of the periphery of the hood portion of the connector, (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the portion of reference numeral B in FIG. Is. It is sectional drawing which shows the mounting state of the said connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the secondary molding process of the conventional connector.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a primary molded product used for the connector, and FIG. 2B is a secondary molded product obtained by secondary molding the primary molded product. A perspective view showing a main part of the molded product in cross section, FIG. 3 (a) is a cross-sectional view of the connector, FIG. 3 (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the primary molded product, and FIG. 4 (a) is a front view of the connector. 4 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 4 (a), FIG. 5 (a) is a partial cross-sectional view around the hood portion of the connector, and FIG. 5 (b) is FIG. 5 (a). An enlarged cross-sectional view of the middle reference numeral B portion, FIG. 5 (c) is a partial cross-sectional view of the periphery of the hood portion of the connector of the comparative example, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of the connector. In each figure, reference numeral Y indicates a vertical direction, reference numeral X indicates a left-right (horizontal) direction, and reference numeral Z indicates a front-back (axis) direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 (a), 2 (b), and 6, the connector 10 is a kind of relay connector, and is suitable for use as, for example, a relay connector for an automatic transmission of an automobile. , A primary molded product (pre-molded product) 21 in which each intermediate portion 20c of the pair of bent terminals 20 and 20 is primarily molded so that each intermediate portion 20c is maintained in an insulated state by a block-shaped resin portion 22. By secondary molding the primary molded product 21, each end 20a side of the pair of terminals 20 and 20 is accommodated on one end 12a side, and a bottomed portion 13 having a hood portion 13 to which a mating connector (not shown) is fitted. The first tubular portion 12 of the above and the second tubular portion 14 in which the other end 20b side of the pair of terminals 20 and 20 is accommodated on the other end 14b side and another mating connector (not shown) is fitted are L. The housing 11 is provided as a secondary molded product that is integrally held so as to form a shape, and the primary molded product 21 in which a pair of terminals 20 and 20 is inserted is insert-molded.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the center line L1 of the first cylindrical portion 12 of the housing (secondary molded product) 11 is offset by a predetermined amount from the center line L2 of the second cylindrical portion 14. The first cylindrical portion 12 and the second tubular portion 14 are integrally formed in a state of being offset by a predetermined amount. That is, the hood portion 13 of the first tubular portion 12 is formed in a vertically long elliptical cylinder shape, and the bottom portion 12b side of the first tubular portion 12 at the back of the hood portion 13 is formed in a vertically long elliptical cylinder shape. There is. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the first cylindrical portion 12 is integrally formed in an L shape so that one end 14a side of the cylindrical second tubular portion 14 intersects downward Y on the bottom 12b side. The primary molded product 21 is insert-molded in one end 14a side of the second cylindrical portion 14.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 (b) and 6, both corner portions on the lower side of the peripheral wall 13a of the hood portion 13 extend to the middle of the hood portion 13 in the front-rear direction (axial direction) Z. It has a pair of cylindrical lightening portions 13b.

As shown in FIG. 2B, on the one end 14a side of the second tubular portion 14, the flange portion 15 including the flange protrusion 23 described later of the primary molded product 21 is projected in the lateral direction X. It is integrally molded. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a), 4 (a) and 6, a sealing member is provided on the lower side of the mounting flange portion 16 below the flange portion 15 on the one end 14a side of the second cylindrical portion 14. The mounting groove 17 for assembling the O-ring 18 is formed in an annular concave shape. The O-ring 18 assembled in the annular concave mounting groove 17 seals the mounting hole 31 of the transmission housing 30 and the second cylindrical portion 14 of the housing 11. Further, the flange portion 15 projecting in the lateral direction X of the housing 11 in which the mounting flange portion 16 is installed on the housing 30 is fitted and pressed into a recess of a peripheral device (not shown) arranged on the housing 30. By being (fixed), the housing 11 is prevented from rotating. As shown in FIG. 6, a liquid 32 such as lubricating oil is contained in the housing 30, and the other end 14b side of the second cylindrical portion 14 of the housing 11 is infiltrated into the liquid 32. ..

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) and 4 (a) and 4 (b), the pair of terminals 20 and 20 are the first cylindrical portion 12 and the second tubular portion 14 of the housing 11. Each intermediate portion 20c is bent so as to bend at a right angle and in the lateral direction X along the above. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, each intermediate portion 20c of the pair of terminals 20 and 20 is insert-molded on one side of the resin portion 22, and each end 20a of the pair of terminals 20 and 20 is formed. The side is arranged on the upper surface 22a of the resin portion 22 at a predetermined distance in the vertical direction Y, and the other end 20b side of each of the pair of terminals 20 and 20 is arranged on the lower surface 22b of the resin portion 22 at a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction Z. Has been done. Each terminal 20 is a male relay terminal in which one end 20a and the other end 20b are formed in a tab shape.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIGS. 3A and 3B, the primary molded product 21 is formed by insert molding each intermediate portion 20c of the pair of terminals 20 and 20. A rectangular columnar flange projecting portion 23 projecting in the lateral direction X is integrally formed on the block-shaped resin portion 22 that holds each of the intermediate portions 20c in an insulated state.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIGS. 3A and 3B, the front surface 22c of the block-shaped resin portion 22 has a pair of lightening portions 13b and 13b of the hood portion 13. It has a pair of projecting portions 24, 24 at positions facing the above. Each of the protruding portions 24 is formed in a columnar shape slightly larger than the cylindrical lightening portion 13b, and a conical concave portion 24a for a punching die is formed at the tip of the cylindrical protruding portion 24. It is formed. That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 5 (a) and 5 (b), during the secondary molding, the resin portion 22 is molded into the conical concave portion 24a at the tip of each columnar protruding portion 24. The conical convex portion 51a at the tip of the lightening piece 51 of the mold 50 is held so that the runout of the tip of the piece 51 can be suppressed.

Next, a method of manufacturing the connector 10 in the secondary molding will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2A, each intermediate portion 20c of the pair of terminals 20 and 20 is insert-molded into the resin portion 22 to cover the resin portion 22, and the primary molding has a pair of projecting portions 24 and 24 protruding in the front-rear direction Z. The product 21 is injection-molded using a molding die (not shown) (primary molding step).

Next, as shown in FIG. 5A, a secondary molded product in which the first tubular portion 12 and the second tubular portion 14 are integrally formed so as to cover the primary molded product 21 formed in the primary molding step. The housing 11 is injection-molded using a molding die 50 (secondary molding step). In this secondary molding step, a pair of lightening portions 13b, 13b extending in the axial direction Z so as to face each other with the pair of protruding portions 24, 24 of the primary molded product 21 are formed on the hood portion 13 of the first tubular portion 12. It is formed on the peripheral wall 13a.

At the time of secondary molding in which the primary molded product 21 is insert-molded to form the housing 11 as the secondary molded product, the peripheral wall 13a of the hood portion 13 is formed as in the connector 10'of the comparative example shown in FIG. 5 (c). When the lightening portion 13b'is long to the bottom 12b side of the first tubular portion 12 and is lightened by the lightening piece 51 of the molding die 50, the cylindrical piece is formed by the pressure of the resin (injection pressure of the molten resin). 51 swings, and molding defects such as holes in the frontage of the hood portion 13 and the peripheral wall 13a occur. However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the primary molded product The conical convex portion 51a at the tip of the lightening piece 51 of the molding die 50 is held in the conical concave portion 24a at the tip of the cylindrical protruding portion 24 of the resin portion 22 of the 21. It is possible to suppress the runout of the tip side of the 51 and reduce the load on the piece 51, and it is possible to prevent molding defects such as holes in the frontage of the hood portion 13 and the peripheral wall 13a from occurring.

As described above, the peripheral wall 13a of the hood portion 13 of the housing 11 has a cylindrical lightening portion 13b in the front-rear direction Z, and the primary molded product 21 has a cylindrical protruding portion at a position facing the lightening portion 13b. Since the number 24 is provided, the molding accuracy of the frontage of the hood portion 13 of the housing 11 can be improved, and molding defects can be reduced.

Further, in the case of the secondary molding of the connector 10'of the comparative example shown in FIG. 5 (c), when the housing 11 which is a secondary molded product is taken out from the molding die 50, the frontage of the hood portion 13 of the housing 11 is taken out. Since there is nothing to support, the frontage collapses, and the frontage collapse of the hood portion 13 causes galling defects in the frontage and the lightening piece 51 does not come off smoothly, and the piece 51 breaks. Although defects occur, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the columnar protruding portion 24 of the resin portion 22 formed of the primary molded product 21 is the hood portion 13. In order to support the peripheral wall 13a, when the housing 11 is taken out from the molding die 50, it is possible to prevent the frontage of the hood portion 13 from collapsing and galling defects in the frontage, and the piece 51 is defectively broken. Can be prevented. Further, the columnar protruding portion 24 of the resin portion 22 of the primary molded product 21 can shorten the length of the lightening portion 13b formed in the front-rear direction Z on the peripheral wall 13a of the hood portion 13 as much as possible. ..

Further, since the length of each piece 51 for lightening can be shortened by the length of the columnar protruding portion 24 of the resin portion 22 formed of the primary molded product 21, the mold cost can be reduced. Further, each piece 51 for lightening does not swing or break due to the pressure of the resin, and the housing 11 can be manufactured with high accuracy in the shape according to the design drawing.

According to the above embodiment, the primary molded product is formed by primary molding a pair of terminals, but the primary molded product may be formed by primary molding two or more terminals. ..

10 Connector 11 Housing (secondary molded product)
12 1st tubular part 12a One end 13 Hood part 13a Peripheral wall 13b Lightening part 14 2nd tubular part 14b Other end 20, 20 Pair of terminals 20a One end 20b Other end 20c Intermediate part 21 Primary molded product 22 Resin part 24 Protruding part 24a Conical concave portion 51 Piece for lightening the molding die (cutting die)
Z Front-back direction (axial direction)

Claims (3)

A primary molded product in which each intermediate portion of at least a pair of bent terminals is primarily molded so that each intermediate portion is maintained in an insulated state by a resin portion.
By secondary molding the primary molded product, a bottomed first tubular portion having a hood portion in which one end side of each of the pair of terminals is accommodated on one end side and a mating connector is fitted, and the other end. A connector including a second tubular portion in which the other end side of each of the pair of terminals is housed on the side and into which another mating connector is fitted, and a housing as a secondary molded product integrally having the other connector. ,
The peripheral wall of the hood portion has a lightening portion in the axial direction and has a lightening portion.
The primary molded product is a connector having a protruding portion at a position facing the lightening portion. The connector according to claim 1.
The protrusion is formed into a columnar shape, and the protrusion is formed into a columnar shape.
A connector characterized in that a conical concave portion for a punching die is formed at the tip of the columnar protruding portion. By primary molding each intermediate portion of at least a pair of bent terminals, a primary molded product in which each intermediate portion is maintained in an insulated state by a resin portion is formed.
By secondary molding the primary molded product, a bottomed first tubular portion having a hood portion in which each one end side of the pair of terminals is accommodated on one end side and a mating connector is fitted, and the other end. A method for manufacturing a connector in which a housing as a secondary molded product is formed by accommodating each other end side of the pair of terminals on the side and integrally having a second tubular portion into which another mating connector is fitted. hand,
A primary molding step of covering each intermediate portion of the pair of terminals with the resin portion and molding the primary molded product having a protruding portion protruding in the axial direction.
A secondary molding step of integrally molding the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion so as to cover the primary molded product formed in the primary molding step is provided.
In the secondary molding step
A method for manufacturing a connector, characterized in that a lightening portion extending in the axial direction is formed on the peripheral wall of the hood portion so as to face the protruding portion of the primary molded product.

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