JPH0639739Y2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an electric connector, and more particularly to an electric connector connected to an external terminal of a passing ball detecting device capable of detecting passage of a pachinko ball.

<Prior Art> In the Japanese Patent Application No. 59-90143, the present applicant has proposed a passing ball detection device having a built-in detection switch. This device houses a detection switch inside a case body with a ball passage that can detect the passage of a pachinko ball at one end, exposes the detection switch external terminal from the end of the case body, and the end of the lead wire to this external terminal. Was soldered and connected.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, it is necessary to attach a plurality of passing ball detection devices to one pachinko machine, and it is troublesome to solder a lead wire to each external terminal of the detection switch. The assembly workability was extremely poor. In addition, since the lead wire is pulled during wiring of the lead wire, contact failure may occur in the soldered portion, or disconnection may occur. Also, once soldering is performed, even if it is necessary to replace the detection switch due to a defect or failure of the detection switch, it is necessary to melt the soldered part and remove the lead wire. Is extremely troublesome.

<Means for Solving Problems> Therefore, the present invention is an electrical connector connectable to a passing ball detecting device, wherein the electrical connector is an outer case having an insertion port into which an external terminal of a detection switch can be inserted. The open end of the electric contact piece capable of elastically sandwiching the external terminal is accommodated in the insertion opening, the end of the lead wire is connected to the electric contact piece, and It is characterized in that the other end is led out of the outer case.

<Operation> Therefore, according to the present invention, the electric connector can be connected to the passing ball detecting device with one touch by simply inserting the electric connector into the external terminal of the detection switch protruding from the outer case of the passing ball detecting device. can do.

That is, when the insertion port of the electrical connector is inserted into the external terminal of the detection switch, the external terminal engages with the electrical contact piece inside the insulating case, and the open end of the electrical contact piece is expanded and inserted inside. Then, the external terminal of the detection switch is elastically sandwiched in the electric contact piece and is electrically connected to the lead wire connected to the end portion of the electric contact piece.

Further, to disconnect the connected electrical connector, the electrical connector may be pulled out from the external terminal of the detection switch. When the electric connector is pulled, the external terminal comes off while expanding the electric contact piece, and the connection between the two is cut off.

<Embodiment> The present invention will be described below based on the embodiment shown in the drawings. 1 is a detection switch 4 for detecting passage of a pachinko ball in a case body 3 having a ball passage 2 through which a pachinko ball can pass. Showing a passing ball detection device having a built-in
The external terminal 5 is projected from the rear end opening 6 of the case body 3, and the electrical connector 7 is detachably connected to the projected external terminal 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the case body 3 of the passing ball detecting device 1 is formed by combining two substantially symmetrical left and right half halves 8 and 8'in a superposed manner, and each half half 8 is made of plastic. Mold integrally.

One half half portion 8 has a frame-shaped body portion 10 having a large recessed storage portion 9 into which one half of the detection switch 4 is fitted, and a substantially L-shaped portion extending from one side of the front end of the body portion 10 to form the ball passage 2 And a projecting piece (11) that constitutes one half. The housing 9 has a rear end opened to the rear surface 3a of the case body 3 and extends from the protruding rear portion 4a and the protruding rear portion 4a of the detection switch 4 through the rear end opening 6 of the case body 3 in a state where the detecting switch 4 is housed. External terminal 5
Is configured to sufficiently project from the rear surface 3a of the case body 3. Further, the detection switch 4 is provided on the upper inside of the storage section 9.
Is formed with an upward vertical groove 12 into which the operating protrusion 4b of FIG. 4 is fitted, and a shallow operating notch 13 which is open to the ball passage 2 around the vertical groove 12 is formed.
To form. An actuating piece 14 for actuating the actuating projection 4b of the detection switch 4 is fitted into the actuating notch 13, and a shaft groove 16 into which the shaft 15 of the actuating piece 14 is fitted is formed at the end of the actuating notch 13.

The above-described operating piece 14 is made of a metal plate bent in a substantially H-shape, and has a cylindrical bearing portion 14a through which the shaft 15 passes at one end and a ball contact portion 14b that extends obliquely downward at the other end. .

The other half half 8'is also symmetrical in structure with the half half 8 described above, and the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

Further, both half halves 8 and 8'have connecting means for engaging each other when they are superposed from the left and right, and in the embodiment, one half halves 8'protrudes laterally. The other half 17 is formed with a locking groove 18 with which the tip of the claw 17 is hooked.

In order to assemble the above-mentioned both half halves 8 and 8'with the detection switch 4, the detection switch 4 is placed in the housing 9 of one half half 8.
While fitting the one side half part of, the bearing portion 14a of the operating piece 14 is passed through the shaft 15, the end of this shaft 15 is fitted into the shaft groove 16,
The ball contact portion 14b of the operating piece 14 is projected into the ball passage 2. Next, the other half of the detection switch 4 is replaced with the other half 8 '.
Then, the half pieces 8 and 8'are overlapped with each other and the claw piece 17 is locked in the locking groove 18.

Therefore, the detection switch 4 is housed inside the case body 3 in which the two half portions 8 and 8'are fitted to each other, and the protruding rear portion 4a of the detection switch 4 and the external terminal 5 are attached to the rear surface 3a of the case body 3.
From the outside.

Next, the electrical connector 7 connected to the external terminal 5 of the detection switch 4 protruding from the rear surface 3a of the case body 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The electric connector 7 is formed by accommodating a metallic electric contact piece 19 that is electrically connected to the external terminal 5 of the detection switch 4 in a box-shaped outer case 20, and the outer case 20 is integrally formed of, for example, plastic as an insulating material.

The electric contact piece 19 is formed by bending a thin conductive metal plate from the center into a substantially triangular cross section to form the holding pieces 21, 21 whose free ends are elastically opposed to each other, and at the end of the holding piece 21. Guide portions (22, 22) that are outwardly extended and open in a V-shape are formed, and hemispherical locking protrusions (23, 23) that project inward are provided on the inner surface of the holding piece (21). Further, a part of the outer surface of the base end portion of the electrical contact piece 19 is cut out in a U shape, and a portion surrounded by the notch is bent outward to form a locking claw 24 standing upright from the outer surface of the base end portion. . On the other hand, one end of the lead wire 25 that is electrically connected to the electric contact piece 19 is connected to the end of the electric contact piece 19, and in the embodiment, the connection piece 26 is extended from one end of the electric contact piece 19, and this connection piece is connected. Strip the outer sheath of the lead wire 25 on 26 and wrap it around the exposed copper wire part, and crimp it and stop.

Incidentally, in the embodiment, another known connector 27 is connected to the other end of the lead wire 25, and the connector 27 can be used for one-touch connection to a wiring terminal or the like in the pachinko machine.

The outer case 20 described above is provided with a housing portion 28 for individually housing the electrical contact pieces 19, and an insertion port 29 for inserting the external terminal 5 which is opened in each housing portion 28. In the embodiment, since the detection switch 4 has the two external terminals 5, the inside of the outer case 20 has one end open to one side surface of the outer case 20. Tubular housing 2
8 and 28 are formed, and horizontally long rectangular insertion ports 29, 29 that are orthogonal to the length direction of the housing portion 28 are opened in two steps from the front surface of the outer case 20. And from the back of the outer case 20, each accommodation part
The locking holes 30, 30 penetrating through 28 are opened so that the locking claws 24 of the electrical contact piece 19 are engaged with the hole edges of the locking holes 30.

On the other hand, on the front surface of the outer case 20, a pair of support legs 31a and 31b having different lengths are provided so as to project from the left and right ends with the insertion port 29 interposed therebetween.
One of the support legs 31a and 31b is long, the other is short, and the support legs 31a and 31b are provided close to the insertion port 29.

To assemble the above-mentioned electric connector 7, each electric contact piece 1
It suffices to insert 9 and 19 through the openings 32 of the accommodating portions 28 and 28 of the outer case 20 as they are. When the electric contact piece 19 is inserted, the locking claw 24 of the electric contact piece 19 engages with the hole edge of the opening 32 of the housing portion 28,
When the free bridge of the locking claw 24 bends inward and is housed in the housing portion 28, the locking claw 24 faces the locking hole 30, and the locking claw 24 is restored outward by the elastic force. The free end hooks the hole edge of the locking hole 30, and the electric contact piece 19 is constrained in the housing portion 28 so that it cannot be pulled out backward. In this state, the opening end 33 of the electric contact piece 19 faces the insertion port 29 of the outer case 20, and the lead wire 25 connected to the end of the electric contact piece 19 is exposed to the outside through the opening 32 of the housing portion 28. Derived.

To take out the electrical contact piece 19 from the outer case 20, insert the tip of a screwdriver or the like into the locking hole 30 of the outer case 20 and push the locking claw 24 inward. When inserted, the free end of the locking claw 24 disengages from the hole edge of the locking hole 30, and the lead wire
With 25, the electrical contact piece 19 can be pulled out from the opening 32 of the housing portion 28.

In order to wire the passing ball detecting device 1 using the electric connector 7 described above, the passing ball detecting device 1 is assembled in advance in a pachinko machine, and then the electric connector 7 is connected to perform wiring.

For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a notch 36 is formed in a part of both left and right side walls 35, 35 forming the flow path 34 of the ball collecting gutter provided on the back surface of the game board, and this notch 36 The sphere passage 2 of the passing sphere detection device 1 is fitted in and protruded into the flow passage 34, and the sphere passage 2 and the flow passage 34 of the sphere collecting gutter are connected to each other.

Next, the above-mentioned electric connector 7 is connected to the external terminal 5 of the detection switch 4. When the insertion port 29 of the outer case 20 is inserted in alignment with the external terminal 5 of the detection switch 4, the external terminal 5 passes through the insertion port 29 and both sandwiching pieces 21 facing the opening end 33 of the electrical contact piece 19 are opposed. It is inserted between the two clamping pieces 21 and 21, and the clamping pieces 21 and 21 are expanded vertically to enter the inside, and are elastically clamped by the clamping pieces 21 and 21 from the upper and lower sides. At this time, the locking protrusion 23 of the holding piece 21
Since it snaps into the positioning small hole 37 of the external terminal 5, it is easy to check the connection state and the connection does not easily come off, and the external terminal 5 is connected to the lead wire 25 via the electrical contact piece 19. Conduct.

Incidentally, in the embodiment, the insertion ports 29, 2 of the electric connector 7
Since 9 is opened symmetrically in the vertical direction, either the upper or lower insertion port 29 may be inserted into either external terminal 5. By changing the insertion direction in this way, the protruding direction of the lead wire 25 from the outer case 20 can be distributed to the left and right,
It is extremely easy to handle the lead wire 25 when wiring.

In the support legs 31a and 31b protruding from the outer case 20, the ends of the short support legs 31a are on the rear end surface 4a ′ of the protruding rear portion 4a of the detection switch 4, and the ends of the long support legs 31b are on the rear surface of the case body 3. 3
Each of them abuts on a and regulates the insertion limit position of the electric connector 7, and prevents the electric connector 7 from being loose. That is, when an external force is applied to the outer case 20, for example, the lead wire 25 is pulled in the left-right direction at the time of wiring, the outer case 20 swings around the connection portion with the detection switch 4, and the swing causes the electrical connector 7 to fall off. It may end up. For this reason, in the embodiment, one supporting leg 31a is short and protrudes close to the insertion port 29. Therefore, when an external force is applied in the direction A of FIG. The leg 31a contacts the rear end surface 4a 'of the detection switch 4 to prevent the outer case 20 from swinging. In addition, since the other support leg 31b is longer than the one support leg 31a and is projected away from the insertion port 29,
When an external force is applied in the B direction in the figure, the long support leg 31b
Contacts the rear surface 3a of the case body 3 to prevent the outer case 20 from swinging. Therefore, as described above, both support legs 31a, 31
Since b has a laterally asymmetrical shape, the outer case 20 is prevented from swinging in both left and right directions, and the electrical connector 7 does not come off even if the lead wire 25 is roughly handled during wiring.
High reliability after connection.

Then, another connector 27 connected to the other end of the lead wire 25
Is connected to the wiring terminal, and is connected to the control circuit in the pachinko machine via this wiring terminal.

Explaining the operation of the passing ball detecting device 1 connected as described above, the hit ball guided from the front surface to the back surface of the game board and flowing down in the flow path 34 of the ball collecting gutter is in the flow path 34 during the flow.
It flows in from the open upper end 2a of the ball passage 2 protruding inward, contacts the ball contact portion 14b of the operating piece 14 inside the ball passage 2, and the operating piece 1
The 4 tilts downward about the shaft 15 and flows out from the open lower end 2b of the ball passage 2. Therefore, when the operating piece 14 tilts, the operating protrusion 4b of the detection switch 4 is pressed, so that the detection switch 4 is turned ON, the occurrence of a winning ball is detected, and a prize ball discharging device (not shown) is activated. It drives and discharges a predetermined prize ball to the player.

On the other hand, the passing ball detection device 1 is actually installed in the ball gathering gutter 38,
An embodiment in which the electric connector 7 is used for wiring will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 8, the pachinko machine 39 forms a game section 42 surrounded by a guide rail 41 on the front of the game board 40, and innumerable obstacle nails (not shown) are planted in the game section 42. In addition to setting up, the variable winning device 43 and a plurality of other winning parts 44 in the center.
... is set. In the example of the variable winning portion 43,
The winning state of the hit ball can be changed by opening and closing both wings 46, 46 of the zero-matching type decoration part 45. Below the decoration part 45, there are a first specific winning opening 47 in the center with different prize values, and it is located on the left and right sides of it. Open the second specific winning opening 48,48.

Then, on the back surface of the game board 40, a ball gathering gutter 38 is mounted in which a hit ball guided from the front surface to the back surface of the game board 40 flows down. As shown in FIG. 9, the ball collecting trough 38 is provided with a plurality of partition plates 51 ... Standing on a substrate 50 having a mounting opening 49 for fitting the rear portion of the variable winning device 43 at substantially the center. A plurality of flow paths 52 are formed. In the embodiment, the flow path 52 is a first flow path 52a which communicates with the first specific winning opening 47 in the center of the variable winning device 43.
And the left and right second flow paths 52b, 52 communicating with the second specific winning opening 48
b, and joins the first flow path 52a below to one of the second flow paths 52b. Also, on the top of the board 50 is a pachinko machine.
Wiring terminal connected to 39 control circuits (not shown)
The mounting portion 54 of 53 is formed.

On the other hand, a plurality of wiring retainers 55 for the lead wires of the electrical connector 7 are formed on the substrate 50 at positions that do not interfere with each flow path. As shown in FIG. 11, the wiring retainer 55 is provided on the substrate 50.
A square hole 56 is opened in the hole 56, and an elastic locking piece 57 having a substantially L-shaped cross section is projected from one side of the hole edge of the hole 56 toward the back surface of the substrate 50, and the tip of the locking piece 57 is formed. Bend into a hook shape. Therefore, by inserting the lead wire 25 from the side in the facing interval between the inner surface of the locking piece 57 of the wiring retainer 55 and the back surface of the substrate 50,
The lead wire 25 is partially pushed into the hole 56 of the substrate 50 by the elastic force of the locking piece 57 and is elastically held.

In order to wire the passing ball detecting device 1 using the above-mentioned ball collecting trough 38, first, the ball collecting trough 38 is assembled to the back surface of the game board 40, and then the passing ball detecting device is provided in each of the flow paths 52a and 52b. The ball passage 2 of No. 1 is attached so as to face it, and the electric connector 7 is connected to each external terminal 5 of the detection switch 4. Then, the lead wire 25 of the electric connector 7 is laid on the back surface of the substrate 50 and passed through the wiring retainer 55, and then the other end of the lead wire 25 is connected to the wiring terminal 53 attached to the attachment portion 54 of the substrate 50. The connector 27 may be connected.

Next, the operation will be described. The hit ball that has won the first specific winning opening 47 of the variable winning device 43 is guided to the back surface of the game board 40 and flows down to the second flow path 52b through the first flow path 52a and flows down. After being detected by the first passing ball detection device 1a in the first flow path 52a on the way,
It is detected again by the second passing ball detection device 1b in the second flow path 52b. Therefore, in the first passing ball detection device 1a, the variable winning device
When the continuation condition of 43 is discriminated and the hit ball is won in the first specific winning opening 47, the continuation condition of the variable winning device 43 is achieved. When the second passing ball detecting device 1b detects the winning of the hit ball, a prize ball discharging device (not shown) is driven to discharge the required prize ball to the player.

On the other hand, the hit ball that has won the second specific winning opening 48, 48 of the variable winning device 43 flows down the second flow path 52b, and the second flow path 52b is in the middle of flowing down.
It is detected by the second passing ball detecting device 1b therein, and the required prize ball is discharged to the player.

Although the contact type micro switch is used as the detection switch 4 in the passing ball detecting device 1 in the above-described embodiment, the contact type micro switch is not limited to this, and for example, a non-contact type detection composed of a combination of a light emitting element and a light receiving element. You may use a switch.

Further, although the two electrical contact pieces 1 are accommodated in the electrical connector 4 and the two insertion ports 29 are opened, the invention is not limited to this, and the detection switch has three external terminals or the case body 3 In the case where a plurality of detection switches are built in, the number of electrical contact pieces and insertion ports may be increased accordingly. Furthermore,
The printed circuit board on which the external terminals 5 and 5 are printed may be protruded from the rear end portion of the case body 3 so that the electrical contact piece 19 corresponding to the external terminals 5 and 5 is housed in the outer case 20.

<Advantages of the Invention> According to the present invention described above, it is possible to provide an electric connector for a passing ball detection device of a pachinko machine that is easily attached and detached and has high reliability when attached.

In other words, it is not necessary to solder the lead wires to the external terminals of the detection switch as in the conventional case, and the connection is completed simply by inserting the electrical connector into the external terminal of the detection switch and then connecting. The external terminals are elastically clamped by the electrical contact pieces and are difficult to pull out. Further, in order to disconnect the electric connector, it suffices to pull out the electric connector strongly, and it is possible to quickly connect and disconnect as many times as necessary.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view in which a part of an electric connector is cut away, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a detection switch, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electric connector. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view and a partially enlarged view of the same, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a connected state, and FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view and a partially enlarged view of the same.
Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the same, Fig. 8 is a front view of a pachinko machine, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a ball collecting gutter, Fig. 10 is a plan view of the same as above in an assembled state, and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a wire retainer. is there. 1-Passing ball detection device, 2 ... Ball passage, 3 ... Case body, 4 ... Detection switch, 5 ... External terminal, 7 ... Electrical connector, 19 ... Electrical contact, 20 ... Outer case , 25 …… lead wire, 29 …… insertion port, 33 …… opening end.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-52-118352 (JP, A) JP-A-51-143444 (JP, A) Actually open 58-80282 (JP, U) Actual-open Sho-55- 81383 (JP, U) Actual open 59-33473 (JP, U) Actual open 58-84183 (JP, U) Actual public 54-14060 (JP, Y2) Actual public 56-37750 (JP, Y2)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A passing ball detecting device comprising a detection switch built in a case body provided with a ball passage capable of detecting passage of a pachinko ball, and external terminals of the detection switch projecting outward from an end of the case body. A connectable electric connector, wherein the electric connector has an opening end portion of an electric contact piece capable of elastically sandwiching the external terminal in an outer case having an opening through which an external terminal of the detection switch can be inserted. And an electric connector, wherein one end of a lead wire is connected to the electrical contact piece and the other end of the lead wire is led out to the outside of the outer case.