JPH0545947U - FPC / FFC connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] When connecting an FPC / FFC to a connector, the FPC / FFC is composed of a combination of the FPC / FFC guide and the connector for surely guiding with a simple structure
To provide a connector device for use. [Structure] Attach the guide member to the FPC / FFC. The guide member has a guide member main body and a guide post. The guide post is inserted into the guide hole or guide groove of the connector. A guide portion is provided at the tip of the guide post to facilitate the guide. The guide post may be formed on the connector side instead of the guide member. Further, in order to facilitate the automatic assembly of the guide member attached to the support with respect to the connector, attachment means for attaching the guide member to the support is provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an FPC / FFC connector device, particularly when connecting a flexible cable such as FPC (flexible printed circuit) or EFC (flexible flat cable) to a connector mounted on a printed circuit board, for example. The present invention relates to an FPC / FFC connector device comprising a combination of an FPC / FFC guide member and the connector.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 For example, when inserting the terminal portion (conductor portion) of the FPC or FFC into an FPC / FFC connector (hereinafter simply referred to as a connector) mounted on a printed circuit board and electrically connecting them, Since the FFC is thin, flexible, and has a smooth surface, it has been conventionally proposed to attach a reinforcing material to the main body of the FPC / FFC to give rigidity and insert it into the connector by a worker's hand. (E.g., Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 56-156292, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-9783, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-92086, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-172283). It has also been proposed to provide a cover surrounding the terminal of the FPC (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-137478).

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, all of the above-mentioned conventional examples merely provide rigidity to the FPC / FFC, or have some guide functions for the connector. On the other hand, it was not a reliable and easy guide with a relatively simple structure. Further, there is a demand for connecting the FPC / FFC to the connector by automatic assembly by robot operation instead of manual work, but in the conventional example, this point was not taken into consideration at all.

Further, since the connector is generally attached to the printed circuit board in an upright direction, the FPC / FFC connected to the connector is in an upright direction with respect to the printed circuit board, but the FPC / FFC is almost with respect to the printed circuit board. In many cases, they are maintained in parallel, and in the case of the conventional example, they are simply bent due to the flexibility of the FPC / FFC itself and then placed as they are. The reinforcing material itself also bends and holds the FPC / FFC. Didn't.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an FPC / FFC connector device having an FPC / FFC guide member that bends and holds the FPC / FFC main body and the terminal portion at substantially right angles.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an FPC / FFC connector device of the above-mentioned type which guides the FPC / FFC to the connector reliably and easily with a relatively simple structure. An object of the present invention is to provide an FPC / FFC connector device including a guide member and a connector.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an FPC / FFC connector device of the above-mentioned type in which it is easy to automate the connection between the FPC / FFC and the connector by, for example, robot operation. To do.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention comprises an FPC / FFC guide member having a reinforcing member main body for receiving the FPC / FFC and supporting the terminal portion thereof, and a connector connected to the guide member. An FPC / FFC connector device is adopted, in which the main body of the reinforcing member supports the FPC / FFC so that the main portion and the terminal portion thereof are substantially perpendicular to each other. ..

In the FPC / FFC connector device of the above-mentioned type, the FPC / FFC guide member has guide means arranged at both end regions of the terminal portion of the reinforcing material body, and the connector is fitted to the guide means. It is preferable to have matching guide means.

In the FPC / FFC connector device of the above-mentioned type, the guide means of the FPC / FFC guide member is a guide post, and the guide means of the connector is a guide hole or a guide groove. The guide means of the guide member preferably comprises the inner wall of the box-shaped body, and the guide means of the connector preferably comprises a guide post.

Furthermore, in the FPC / FFC connector device of the above-mentioned type, the main body is supported by the supporting body by the mounting means, and the mounting means enables the main body to move within a predetermined range with respect to the supporting body. It is preferable that

[0012]

【Example】

 Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an FPC / FFC guide member of the FPC / FFC connector device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an FPC / FFC guide member of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the guide post, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector of the FPC / FFC connector device of the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the FPC / FFC guide member of the second embodiment. 5 is a bottom view of the second embodiment, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a connector of the FPC / FFC connector device of the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a third embodiment. 8 is a perspective view of the FPC / FFC guide member of FIG. 8, and FIG. 8 is a side view showing the FPC / FFC guide member of the third embodiment together with its support and a connector used together with the FPC / FFC guide member. Yes, Fig. 9 is for FPC / FFC FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an attaching means for attaching an id member to a support, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an FPC / FFC guide member of a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a connector of a fourth embodiment. 12 is a perspective view of the FPC / FFC guide of FIG. 10 seen from another direction, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 11 seen from another direction.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 1 shows an FPC / FFC guide member 12 (hereinafter simply referred to as a guide member) of an FPC / FFC connector device of the present invention. The guide member 12 has a main body 14 which receives the main body 10b of the FPC / FFC 10 from a side portion, bends the main body 10b at a substantially right angle, and projects and holds the terminal portion 10a (downward in the drawing). Thus, the main body 14 has a structure in which the FPC / FFC main body is projected in the horizontal direction, but the projecting direction may be any direction, for example, the vertical direction as in the conventional example. However, as shown in a third embodiment which will be described later, in order to adopt a structure suitable for automated assembly, it is preferable to project it in the horizontal direction.

Guide posts 16 are fixed to both ends of the main body 14, and the guide posts 16 are, for example, square pillars (posts) each having a square cross section, and a guide portion 16 a having a quadrangular pyramid shape is provided at the tip thereof. ing. The guide post 16 is made so that the left and right dimensions are different from each other, so that it has directionality. Further, the shape of the guide post 16 is not limited to the quadrangular prism, but may be any shape, for example, a cylindrical shape. When the guide post is a cylinder, the guide portion at the tip of the guide post is formed in a conical shape.

As shown in FIG. 2, a guide groove 16 is formed inside the guide post 16, and a side portion of the FPC / FFC is inserted and fixed in the guide groove 16 a. For this reason, the FPC / FFC is given more rigidity, and the connection with the connector is secured.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a connector 20 of the FPC / FFC connector device, that is, a connector 20 used together with the guide member 12. The connector 20 has a main body 22, and guide holes 24 for inserting the guide posts 16 of the guide member 12 are provided at both ends of the main body 22, and an FPC / FFC terminal portion 10a is inserted in the center thereof. Slot 25 is formed. With this configuration, the guide post 16 can be easily inserted into the guide hole by being guided by the guide portion 16a at the tip thereof, and the guide member 12 can be positioned with respect to the connector 20 in the inserted state. Become. An extended portion of the terminal 26 is arranged inside the connector 20 and is electrically connected to the terminal portion 10a of the FPC / FFC.

Next, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 showing the second embodiment, in the second embodiment, the guide member 30 has a box-shaped main body 32 as compared with the first embodiment. This is different from the point that the guide posts 34 are provided at the ends (lower part in the drawing) of both ends of the box-shaped body 32. The guide post 34 is formed with a guide portion 34 similar to the guide portion 16a of the first embodiment. Further, the box-shaped main body 32 is formed by four side walls 36 as shown in the bottom view of FIG. In this embodiment, the terminal portion 10a of the FPC / FFC is not fixed to the guide post or the side wall of the box-shaped body, but since the side wall is provided, the terminal portion is protected by these side walls. Become here.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a connector 40 for use with the guide member 30 is shown. The connector 40 has a main body 42, and guide grooves 46 for inserting the guide posts 34 of the guide member 30 are provided at both ends of the main body 42, and FPC / FFC terminal portions 10a are inserted in the center thereof. Guide slots 44 are formed. With such a configuration, the guide post 34 is guided by the guide portion 34a at the tip thereof and easily inserted into the guide groove, and the main body 32 of the guide member 30 covers the connector 20 in the inserted state. The guide member 30 is positioned with respect to the connector 20. Since the function of the guide post 34 is the same as that of the first embodiment, its explanation is omitted.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. The guide member 50 of the third embodiment has a box-shaped main body 52 similar to that of the second embodiment, guide posts 56 are formed at both ends of the main body 52, and guide portions 56a are formed at the tips thereof. In addition to the above, flanges 54 are provided at both ends of the main body 52, and the flanges 54 are provided with attachment means 55 for attaching the guide member to a support such as a printed circuit board. The flange and the attachment means may be provided in the main body of the first embodiment.

The attachment means 55 is configured so that the guide member 50 can be attached to the support so as to be movable within a certain range, and is not limited to the embodiments described below, and any attachment is possible. It can be configured. The preferable attachment means 55 will be described below. A hole 59 is formed in the flange 54, and a ring 58 having a gap 58 and a flange at both ends is inserted into the hole 59. A bolt 51 is passed through the ring 58, a hole provided in a support 62 is passed through, and a nut 53 is fixed as shown in FIG. Since the guide member 50 is mounted with the gap 59, the guide member 50 can move horizontally with respect to the support 62 within a certain range.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the guide member 50 attached to the support is connected to the connector 60 attached to the printed circuit board 64, the support is grasped by a finger of a robot (not shown), for example. The guide member can be connected to the connector by moving it toward the connector 60. At this time, since the guide member 50 can be moved horizontally within a certain range, a slight initial positioning error can be absorbed and the connection can be easily performed.

Next, the FPC / FFC connector device of the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the fourth embodiment, the positions of the guide posts, the guide holes and the guide grooves for the guide member and the connector are opposite to those of the first to third embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the guide member 70 has a box-shaped main body 72. The box-shaped main body 72 receives the FPC / FFC from the side and arranges the terminal portion 10a therein. It supports FPC / FFC. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the connector 80 has a main body 82, and has guide posts 84 at both ends of the main body, and the tip of the guide post 84 has a quadrangular pyramid shape for facilitating the guide. Is formed on the surface (indicated by 84a).

Also in the guide member 70 of the fourth embodiment, a flange as shown in FIG. 7 may be formed and an attaching means may be provided.

[0025]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above in detail, according to the present invention, an FPC including a combination of an FPC / FFC guide member and the connector for reliably and easily guiding the FPC / F FC to the connector with a relatively simple structure. Thus, the FPC / FFC connector device can be obtained, and the FPC / FFC connector device can be easily automated by, for example, robot operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an FPC / FFC according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an FPC / FFC guide member of the connector device for use in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a guide post of an FPC / FFC guide member of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector of the FPC / FFC connector device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an FPC / FFC guide member according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a connector of the FPC / FFC connector device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an FPC / FFC guide member according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the FPC / FFC guide member of the third embodiment together with its support and a connector used together with this FPC / FFC guide member.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an attaching means for attaching the FPC / FFC guide member to the support body.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an FPC / FFC guide member of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the connector of the fourth embodiment.

12 is a perspective view of the FPC / FFC guide of FIG. 10 seen from another direction.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 11 viewed from another direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 FPC / FFC 10a Terminal part of FPC / FFC 12 Guide member 14 Body of guide member 16 Guide post 20 Connector 22 Body of connector 24 Guide hole of connector 30 Guide member 32 Body of guide member 40 Connector 42 Body of connector 50 Guide member 52 main body of guide member 54 flange 55 mounting means 70 guide member 80 connector

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Creator Naoto Takase 122, Kamagaya-cho, Hodogaya-ku, Kanagawa

Claims (8)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An FPC / FFC guide member having a reinforcing member main body for receiving the FPC / FFC and supporting a terminal portion thereof, and a connector connected to the guide member,
An FPC / FFC connector device, characterized in that the main body of the reinforcing member supports the main portion of the FPC / FFC and the terminal portion at a substantially right angle therein. 2. The FPC / FFC connector device according to claim 1, wherein the FPC / FFC guide member has guide means arranged at both end regions of the terminal portion of the reinforcement body, and the connector is the guide. An FPC / FFC connector device having a guide means for fitting with the means. 3. The FPC / FFC connector device according to claim 2, wherein the guide means of the FPC / FFC guide member is a guide post, and the guide means of the connector is a guide hole or a guide groove. FPC / FFC connector device characterized by: 4. The FPC / FFC connector device according to claim 2, wherein the guide means of the FPC / FFC guide member comprises an inner wall of a box-shaped body, and the guide means of the connector comprises a guide post. FPC / FFC connector device characterized by: 5. The FPC / FFC connector device according to claim 2, wherein the terminal portion is supported by a guide post. 6. The FPC / FFC connector device according to claim 2, wherein the guide post is configured as a part of a box-shaped main body. 7. The FPC / FFC connector device according to claim 1, wherein the main body of the FPC / FFC guide member is supported by a support body by an attachment means.
The mounting means allows the main body to move within a predetermined range with respect to the support body.
Connector device for C / FFC. 8. The FPC / FFC connector device according to claim 1, wherein one of the guide means comprises a guide post, and the other of the guide means comprises a guide hole, a guide groove or an inner wall of the main body. The FPC / FFC connector device is characterized in that the front end of the FPC / FFC is configured so as to facilitate positioning with respect to the other of the guide means.