JPH06267630A - Connector inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a connector inspection device which can inspect without engaging the terminal metal fitting of a connector to be inspected and a detector, and can inspect efficiently by connecting and disconnecting to the connector inspected in a single operation. CONSTITUTION:A connector H to be inspected is inserted in an inserting recess 3, and set at a specific setting position. In the setting position, only a terminal metal fitting T1 installed correctly can be abutted to a detector 4. The angular engaging part 61 of a holding member 6 is engaged to the step H2 of the connector H to be inspected, so as to hold the connector H at the setting position. When the connector H to be inspected is inserted or removed, the slopes 61a and 61b of the angular engaging part 61 is slided with the step H2, and the holding member 6 is to be retreated automatically.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector inspection apparatus for inspecting connectors used for interconnection of wire harnesses used in automobiles, connections between electric devices, etc. The present invention relates to a connector inspection device for inspecting the mounting state of a plurality of terminal fittings.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a wire harness used for wiring an electric component in an automobile, a connector is used for connecting the wire harnesses to each other and for connecting the wire harness and the electric component. This connector generally has a housing made of a synthetic resin material and a terminal fitting attached to the housing. The housing has a female housing and a male housing that can be combined with each other, and the terminal fitting also has a female terminal fitting and a male terminal fitting that can be connected to each other. Then, for example, a male connector is attached to the female housing and is called a female connector, and a female terminal is attached to the male housing and is called a male connector. When the female connector and the male connector are connected to each other, the male and female housings are fitted together, and the male and female terminal fittings to be interconnected are coupled to each other to achieve the electrical connection.

By the way, if the terminal fitting is forgotten to be attached to the housing or the terminal fitting is not inserted to the correct mounting position, the electrical components of the vehicle will malfunction. Therefore, at the final stage of the production of the wire harness, it is necessary to fully consider whether or not the terminal fitting is accurately and surely attached to the housing.

Conventionally, when inspecting a connector, the most general method has been to actually fit male and female connectors to conduct a continuity test. For example, if the connector to be inspected is a female connector, the connector inspection apparatus uses a male connector that fits with the female connector, and actually fits the female and male connectors.

However, in the case of inspecting the connector in this way, there is a drawback that it takes force to disassemble the male and female connectors after fitting and inspecting the male and female connectors. Normally, when the male and female connectors are connected to each other, the connected state is automatically locked.If the lock is not released by elastically deforming a part of the connected part, the connection is released. As a result of the impossible structure,
It takes a lot of time to attach / detach to / from the connector inspection device, and there is a drawback that the efficiency of inspection deteriorates. In addition, every inspection
Since the connector terminal on the inspection device side is fitted to the terminal of the connector to be inspected, there is a drawback that the connector terminal on the inspection device side is worn or deformed as the number of inspections increases. In addition, since the terminal fitting of the connector on the inspection device side is fitted to the terminal fitting attached to the connector to be inspected,
There is also a problem that the fitting spring force of the terminal metal fitting of the connector to be inspected is reduced, and moreover, even if the terminal metal fitting of the connector to be inspected is not correctly installed, electrical continuity is obtained and the so-called terminal disconnection is obtained. There was a drawback that it could not be found.

Therefore, a conventional connector inspection apparatus which is of interest to the present invention is described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-8221. In the connector inspection device (connector terminal detection tool) described in this publication, a plurality of pins are provided side by side with the detector main body so that each tip is projected from the spring, and at the time of inspection, the pins retracted against the spring. At this time, the circuit is made conductive inside the detector.

More specifically, the inspection section is provided with a plurality of detection pins, and each pin is biased by a spring in the protruding direction. And at the continuity check,
Each pin abuts the terminal fitting of the corresponding connector. The thickness of each pin is made larger than the inner diameter of the male terminal fitting of the connector, and the pin only comes into contact with the end surface of the terminal fitting during the continuity test and is not inserted into the terminal fitting. When the terminal fitting is correctly attached to the connector at the time of inspection, the detection pin is retracted from the tip of the terminal fitting against the spring, and electrical continuity is obtained.

In this conventional connector inspection apparatus, since the terminal fitting detection pins mounted on the connector to be inspected do not fit at the time of testing, there is no deformation or wear of the detection pins and the terminal fitting due to fitting, and moreover, The feature is that no force is required to separate the detection pin and the terminal fitting after the inspection.

[0009]

However, in the connector inspection device of the above publication, it is necessary to operate the lever when holding and releasing the connector to be inspected in the connector inspection device. For this reason, attachment and detachment to and from the connector inspection device takes time and labor, and the problem of inefficient inspection remains.

Therefore, the present invention has been made on the basis of such a technical background, and at the time of inspection, the terminal fittings attached to the connector to be inspected and the detector provided in the inspection section are fitted together. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector inspection device which enables efficient inspection by one-touch attachment / detachment of a connector to be inspected, while inheriting the feature of the above-mentioned conventional connector detection device that can perform inspection without performing the inspection.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, in the connector inspection device according to the first aspect, the outer shape of a connector housing having a plurality of terminal fittings is orthogonal to the connecting direction to another connector. In a connector inspection device for inspecting a connector to be inspected having a step portion that undulates in a direction, an inspection device main body, provided on the inspection device main body,
An insertion recess for inserting and removing the connector to be inspected, and a plurality of insertion recesses are provided in correspondence with the plurality of terminal fittings of the connector to be inspected and project in parallel to the removing direction of the connector to be inspected. A plurality of displaceable detectors, a detector biasing means for biasing the plurality of detectors forward with respect to the protruding direction by a predetermined elastic force weaker than the fitting of the terminal fitting and the detector, in the insertion recess For advancing to hold the connector to be inspected at the set position by engaging with the stepped portion of the connector to be inspected inserted to the predetermined set position, and for allowing insertion and removal of the connector to be inspected into the insertion recess. The holding member includes a holding member that is displaceable to the retracted position, and a holding member urging unit that urges the holding member to the advanced position.
A chevron engaging portion for moving the holding member to the retracted position against the holding member urging means is interlocked with the pushing operation of the connector to be inspected into the insertion recess and the withdrawal operation of the connector to be inspected from the insertion recess. It is characterized by being out.

A connector inspection apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the connector inspection apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising set state detecting means for detecting that the connector to be inspected is inserted to the set position in the insertion recess. It is what

[0013]

According to the structure of the invention according to claim 1, when the connector to be inspected is pushed into the insertion recess, the chevron engaging portion of the holding member slides on the step portion of the connector to be inspected in conjunction with the pushing operation. As a result, the holding member moves to the retracted position against the holding member urging means, so that the connector to be inspected can be inserted into the insertion recess with one touch. Then, when the connector to be inspected is inserted to a predetermined setting position in the insertion recess, the holding member urged by the holding member urging means engages with the stepped portion of the connector to be inspected and the connector to be inspected is set to the setting position. Hold. At this time, the tip of the terminal fitting correctly attached to the connector to be inspected abuts the tip of the corresponding detector, and electrical continuity is obtained between the two, but the terminal fitting that is not correctly attached will detect the corresponding Since it does not come into contact with the child and electrical conduction between them cannot be obtained, it is possible to detect a mounting failure of the terminal fitting. When the connector to be inspected is pulled out from the insertion recess after the continuity inspection, the chevron-shaped engaging portion of the holding member slides in contact with the step portion of the connector to be inspected in association with the pulling operation, whereby the holding member is attached to the holding member. Since it moves to the retracted position against the biasing means, the connector to be inspected can be pulled out from the insertion recess with one touch.

According to the configuration of the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to detect that the connector to be inspected is inserted to the set position by the set state detecting means. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inspection device from making an erroneous determination due to a setting failure.

[0015]

Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments. 1 and 3 to 5 are schematic cross-sectional views of a connector inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Indicates a state where the connector to be inspected (the connector to be inspected) is set at a predetermined setting position of the connector inspection device,
3 to 5 show states before and after setting. This connector inspection device is used, for example, to inspect a connector attached to a wire harness. The wire harness is inspected by being placed on an inspection drawing board in which a connection mode of electric wires is shown in advance. The connector inspection device is fixedly arranged corresponding to each position where the connector of the wire harness placed on the inspection drawing board is located. In the present embodiment, a so-called female connector is used as the connector to be inspected.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 which is a perspective view of the connector inspection device and the connector to be inspected, the connector H to be inspected comprises a plurality of terminal fittings T and a connector housing H1 containing these terminal fittings T therein. A step portion H2 formed at an end portion of the connector housing H1 on the introduction side and projecting upward in FIG.
An elastic piece H3 (see FIG. 2) including an engaging groove H3a for engaging an elastic claw of a male connector (not shown) connected to the connector to be inspected, which is arranged on the extraction direction A2 side. It has an electric wire W1 connected to each terminal fitting T. The elastic piece H3 is elastically deformed by pressing the pressing portion H3b, and the elastic claw of the male connector and the engaging groove H3.
It has a known structure for releasing the engagement with a.

This connector inspection device comprises a base 1 made of a flat plate fixed to an inspection drawing board K, an inspection device main body 2 having an inclined surface 2a on one end side fixed to the base 1 by a screw 1a, and the inspection device main body. The connector H to be inspected, which is formed on the other end face of the connector 2, has an insertion direction A1 and an extraction direction A.
2, an insertion concave portion 3 to be inserted / removed along the insertion concave portion 3, a plurality of detectors 4 arranged in the insertion concave portion 3 and displaceable along insertion / removal directions A1 and A2 of the connector H to be inspected, and these detectors 4
And a compression coil spring 5 as a detector urging means for urging the connector in the extracting direction A2, and the connector H to be inspected are inserted inwardly of the insertion recess 3 in order to maintain the inserted state at a predetermined set position. The advance position for advance (see FIG. 1) and the retract position for permitting insertion and removal of the connector H to be inspected (see FIG. 4)
And a compression coil spring 7 as a holding member urging means for urging the holding member 6 to the advanced position. Further, a concave portion 8 is also formed on one end side of the device main body 2 to be inspected, and a plurality of electric wires W2 respectively connected to the plural detectors 4 project from the concave portion 8.

The inspection device main body 2 is obliquely attached to the base 1. This makes it easier to insert and remove the connector H to be inspected into and from the insertion recess 3 with the insertion recess 3 facing obliquely upward with respect to the inspection plate K in a state where the connector inspection device is attached to the inspection plate K. This is because. The insertion recess 3 is formed into an inner surface shape into which the connector housing H1 of the connector H to be inspected can be inserted. From the inner back surface of the insertion recessed portion 3, a push switch P as a set state detecting means for detecting that the plurality of detectors 4 and the connector H to be inspected are inserted to the set position.
The operation pin PS1 of S is projected. This operation pin P
S1 is biased in the protruding direction by the compression coil spring PS2.

A plurality of the detectors 4 are provided corresponding to the plurality of terminal fittings T of the connector H to be inspected, and the withdrawal direction A2.
Projecting parallel to. The compression coil spring 5 as the detector biasing means applies the detector 4 to the front side in the protruding direction (toward the extracting direction A2) with a predetermined elastic force weaker than the terminal metal fitting T and the detector 4 are fitted together. Energize. The holding member 6
Is arranged so as to be swingable about a shaft 9 in a long groove 2b formed in the upper surface of the inspection device main body 2 along the insertion / removal direction. A chevron-shaped engaging portion 61 that engages with the stepped portion H2 of the connector H to be inspected is formed at the end portion 6a of the holding member 6 on the extraction direction side. Further, between the insertion direction side end portion 6b of the holding member 6 and the inspection device body 2, as the holding member urging means for urging the holding member 6 to the advanced position (clockwise direction) shown in FIG. The compression coil spring 7 of FIG. When the connector H to be inspected is inserted, the chevron-shaped engaging portion 61 of the holding member 6 is in sliding contact with the end portion of the step H2 on the insertion direction A1 side, and the holding member 6
A guide slope 61a at the time of introduction for guiding itself to the retracted position,
When the connector H to be inspected is pulled out, it includes a pull-out guide inclined surface 61b for slidingly contacting the end of the step H2 on the side of the pull-out direction A2 and guiding the holding member 6 itself to the retracted position.

Next, the operation of each part at the time of inspection will be described. First, FIG. 3 shows an initial state in which the connector H to be inspected is inserted into the insertion recess 3 before the inspection. In FIG.
The terminal metal fitting T1 shows an example of a correctly mounted terminal metal fitting,
The terminal metal fitting T2 shows an example of a terminal metal fitting that is not properly mounted and has a so-called terminal omission. As described above, the terminal metal fitting T2 in which the so-called terminal omission occurs is in a state in which the insertion is insufficient and the tip thereof is retracted more than the correctly mounted terminal metal fitting T1 as compared with the correctly mounted terminal metal fitting T1. .

Referring to FIG. 3, when the connector H to be inspected is to be inserted into the insertion recessed portion 3, first, the end portion of the step portion H2 on the insertion direction A1 side is when the chevron engaging portion 61 of the holding member 6 is introduced. It abuts on the guide inclined surface 61a. When the connector H to be inspected is further inserted in this state, the holding member 6 rotates counterclockwise in the drawing while the end portion of the step H2 on the insertion direction A1 side slides in contact with the introduction guide inclined surface 61a. As shown in FIG. 4, the top of the chevron-shaped engaging portion 61 of the holding member 6 rides on the stepped portion H2, and the holding member 6 is at the retracted position that allows the connector 6 to be inspected to be inserted and removed.

Next, when the connector H to be inspected is further inserted from the state shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 5, the end portion of the stepped portion H2 in the insertion direction A1 and the guide engaging slope surface at the time of removal of the chevron engaging portion 61 are pulled out. 61b is slidably contacted, and the properly mounted terminal fitting T1 is brought into contact with the corresponding detector element 4. Then, when the connector H to be inspected is further inserted from the state shown in FIG. 5, the correctly mounted terminal fitting T1 contracts the detector 4 that comes into contact with the terminal fitting T1. This is because the elastic force of the compression coil spring 5 that biases the detector 4 is set to a predetermined elastic force that is weaker than the fitting of the terminal fitting and the detector. In addition, as the set state shown in FIG. 1 is entered, the operation pin PS1 of the push switch PS
Comes into contact with the end surface of the terminal fitting holding frame H4 of the inspected connector H to be turned on, and it is detected that the inspected connector H is in the set state. On the other hand, even if the set state shown in FIG.
Cannot contact the corresponding detector 4. Therefore, by conducting the continuity test in the set state shown in FIG.
Can be inspected for wearing condition. Further, in the set state shown in FIG. 1, the elastic repulsive force of the compression coil spring 7 sets the connector H to be inspected via the guide inclined surface 61b at the time of extraction of the chevron engaging portion 61 of the holding member 6 and the step portion H2. Acts as a holding force to hold in position.

After the inspection, if the connector H to be inspected is to be pulled out from the set position shown in FIG. 1 toward the pulling out direction A2, as shown in FIG. The mating portion 61 is slidably contacted with the guide inclined surface 61b during the withdrawal, whereby the holding member 6 is automatically moved to the retracted position shown in FIG. 4, and the connector H to be inspected can be smoothly withdrawn.

According to this embodiment, when the connector H to be inspected is inserted into or removed from the insertion recess 3, the connector H to be inspected is simply pushed in or pulled out without performing a lever operation or the like, and is inserted and removed with one touch. Moreover, since the terminal fitting T can be inspected without substantially fitting the terminal fitting T to the detector 4, the contact and separation of the terminal fitting T and the detector 4 before and after the inspection can be smoothly performed. Therefore, the inspection can be performed very efficiently.

Further, since the terminal fitting T of the connector H to be inspected and the detector 4 are not fitted together, neither the terminal fitting T of the connector H to be inspected nor the detector 4 of the inspection device is easily worn or deformed. Further, since it is possible to detect by the push switch PS whether or not the connector H to be inspected is in the set state, it is possible to prevent the inspection apparatus from making an erroneous determination due to a setting failure.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Therefore, for example, in the above embodiment, the stepped portion H2 used is one protruding from the outer surface of the connector housing H1. H1
It is also possible to use a recess depressed from the outer surface of the. As the stepped portion H2, if a connector inspection device that can use the undulating shape originally present in the connector H to be inspected is manufactured, it is not necessary to make unnecessary design changes to the connector H to be inspected.

In the above embodiment, the compression coil spring 5 is used to individually bias each of the detectors 4, but one or more compressions for integrally biasing the plurality of detectors 4 are used. A coil spring can also be used. In addition, various design changes can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0028]

As described above, according to the connector inspection apparatus of the first aspect, when the connector to be inspected is inserted into or removed from the insertion recess, it can be inserted and removed with one touch without performing a lever operation and the like. Since the terminal fitting can be inspected without substantially fitting it to the detector, the contact and separation between the terminal fitting and the detector before and after the inspection can be smoothly performed. Therefore, the inspection can be performed very efficiently.

Further, since the terminal fitting of the connector to be inspected and the detector are not fitted together, both the terminal fitting of the connector to be inspected and the detector of the inspection device are less likely to be worn or deformed. Further, according to the connector inspection apparatus of the second aspect, it is possible to detect whether or not the connector to be inspected is in the set state, so that it is possible that the inspection apparatus makes an incorrect judgment due to a setting failure. It can be avoided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of a connector inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a connector to be inspected is set.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connector inspection device and a connector to be inspected.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view of the connector inspection device, showing an initial state in which a connector to be inspected is inserted before inspection.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the connector inspection device, showing a state in which the connector to be inspected is being inserted (removed) into an insertion recess.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the connector inspection device, showing a state immediately before completion of insertion of the connector to be inspected into an insertion recess (or an initial stage of extraction).

[Explanation of symbols]

 H Connector to be inspected H1 Connector housing H2 Stepped portion T, T1, T2 Terminal metal fitting A2 Extraction direction 2 Inspection device body 3 Insertion concave portion 4 Detector 5 Compression coil spring (detector biasing means) 6 Holding member 61 Mountain-shaped engaging portion 7 Compression coil spring (holding member biasing means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A connector inspecting apparatus for inspecting a connector to be inspected, which has an outer shape of a connector housing having a plurality of terminal fittings and a step portion which is undulated in a direction orthogonal to a connecting direction to another connector. The main body of the apparatus, the insertion recess provided in the main body of the inspection device for inserting and removing the connector to be inspected, and the plurality of terminal metal fittings of the connector to be inspected are provided in the insertion recess in the insertion direction of the connector to be inspected. A plurality of detectors that protrude in parallel and can be displaced forward and backward in the protruding direction, and these detectors are attached to the front side in the protruding direction by a predetermined elastic force that is weaker than when the terminal metal fitting and the detector are fitted. A detector biasing means for urging, and an advance position for engaging the stepped portion of the connector to be inspected inserted to a predetermined set position in the insertion recess to hold the connector to be inspected at the set position. The holding member includes a holding member that is displaceable to a retracted position for allowing the connector to be inspected to be inserted into and removed from the insertion recessed portion, and a holding member urging means that urges the holding member to the advanced position. A chevron engaging portion for moving the holding member to the retracted position against the holding member urging means is interlocked with the pushing operation of the connector to be inspected into the insertion recess and the withdrawal operation of the connector to be inspected from the insertion recess. A connector inspection device that is characterized by being exposed. 2. The connector inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the insertion recess is provided with a set state detecting means for detecting that the connector to be inspected is inserted up to the set position.