JPH0692918B2 - Connector terminal inspection device and inspection method - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a connector terminal inspection device and inspection method, and more particularly, to a connection portion of a plurality of female terminal fittings after assembly of a connector ( The contact pressure state of the part that holds the male terminal fitting)
The present invention relates to a terminal inspection device and inspection method for a connector that can be inspected simultaneously and easily.

(Prior Art) The connecting portion of the female terminal fitting housed in the connector housing is at a predetermined pressure in order to ensure electrical connection with the male terminal fitting housed in the other connector housing. It is configured to clamp the tip portion of the male terminal fitting.

In order to inspect the contact pressure state of such a connection portion of the female terminal fitting, the insertion / removal force with respect to the male terminal fitting may be examined. That is, when the contact pressure is insufficient due to deformation or the like of the connection portion, the insertion / removal force with respect to the male terminal fitting becomes very small. Therefore, it is possible to know the insufficient contact pressure by examining this insertion / removal force.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, it is very difficult to inspect the contact pressure state of the connection part of the female terminal fitting by the insertion / removal force with the male terminal fitting after the female terminal fitting is assembled in the connector housing. Is.

Therefore, in practice, the deformation of the connection part of the female terminal fitting is checked before it is installed in the connector housing.
By using the inspection device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-8221, whether the female terminal fittings are securely fixed in the female connector housing or not, and the electrical continuity of the female terminal fittings are performed well. It was only inspected whether or not it was.

Therefore, among the connectors that have passed the inspection after assembly, there are those that accommodate female terminal fittings with insufficient contact pressure due to deformation or the like, which may cause problems such as contact failure during use.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to simultaneously and simply change the contact pressure states of the connecting portions of a plurality of female terminal fittings after the connector is assembled. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector inspection device and inspection method capable of inspecting.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the connector inspection device of the present invention is movable only in one direction and is a female terminal fitting of a connector which is an object to be inspected. A terminal having a pole number corresponding to the number of poles, an elastic member connected to each of these terminals and compressed when the terminals move in one direction, and a moving amount of the terminal Δ
It is characterized by comprising a measuring means for measuring 1 and a display means for judging and displaying the measurement result of this measuring means.

Further, the connector inspection method of the present invention is capable of moving only in one direction, and has terminals having a number of poles corresponding to the number of poles of the female terminal fittings of the connector which is the object to be inspected, and these terminals are connected to these terminals. An inspection device is provided which includes an elastic member that is compressed when each terminal moves in one direction, a measuring unit that measures the moving amount Δl of the terminal, and a display unit that determines and displays the measurement result of the measuring unit. The terminal is inserted into the connection portion of the female terminal fitting of the object to be inspected, which accommodates the female terminal fitting in the connector housing, and then the connector housing is moved from this state in the pulling direction, and the elastic member at this time. The amount of movement of the terminal that moves against the elastic force of
l is measured by the measuring means, and the measurement result is judged from the display means.

(Operation) According to the connector inspection device and the inspection method of the present invention, the terminal of the inspection device is inserted into the connection portion of the female terminal metal fitting of the object to be inspected in which the female terminal metal fitting is housed in the connector housing, and then this When the connector housing is moved in the pulling direction from the state, the terminal moves against the elastic force of the elastic member. In this case, when the moving amount Δl of the terminal immediately before the terminal comes out of the connecting portion by the elastic force of the elastic member is measured by the measuring means, the contact pressure state of the connecting portion of the female terminal fitting can be known from the moving amount Δl. . That is, in a state where the contact pressure is insufficient, the elastic force of the elastic member causes the terminal to immediately come out of the connecting portion, so that the movement amount Δl is small, but the contact pressure is sufficiently secured. In this state, the terminal movement amount Δl reaches a predetermined value.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a principle explanatory view for explaining the principle of a connector terminal inspection device and inspection method of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the entire terminal inspection device, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of the inspection housing portion of FIG. 2 by cutting, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the same.

First, the overall structure of the connector terminal inspection device of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the terminal inspecting apparatus of the present invention is movable only in one direction, and has a number of poles corresponding to the number of poles of the female terminal fitting 70 of the connector 80, which is the object to be inspected. The terminals 20 (hereinafter referred to as “male tabs 20”), the elastic members 30 connected to the male tabs 20 and compressed when the male tabs 20 move in one direction, and the male tabs.
Measuring means 40 for measuring the movement amount Δl of 20 and this measuring means
It is composed of display means 50 (hereinafter referred to as a judgment display device 50) for judging and displaying the measurement result of 40, and the male tab 20 is housed in the inspection housing 10.

When performing inspection using the above-mentioned terminal inspection device, as shown in FIG. 1, a connector housing (not shown) in which a plurality of female terminal fittings 70 are accommodated in the inspection housing 10
And connect each male tab 20 to the inside of the connecting portion 71 of each female terminal fitting 70.
The distal end portion 21 of is inserted, and in this state, the connector housing is moved in the removing direction (rightward in FIG. 1). Then, the male tab 20 moves in the same direction, the elastic member 30 provided between the rear end portion 22 and the inspection housing 10 is compressed, and when the male tab 20 moves to some extent, the elastic force of the elastic member 30 is increased. As a result, the tip portion 21 of the male tab 20 comes out of the connecting portion 71.
When the moving amount Δl of the male tab 20 at this time is measured by the measuring means 40, the moving amount Δl and the detaching force f of the female terminal fitting 70 (the holding force for holding the tip portion 21 of the male tab 20) are calculated as follows. There is a relationship of f = Δl × k (where k is the spring constant of the elastic member 30), the separating force f is known from the moving amount Δl, and the contact pressure of the connecting portion 70 is calculated from this separating force f. I know the condition.

That is, when the connecting portion 71 has insufficient contact pressure, the force for holding the tip end portion 21 of the male tab 20 is weak, and the male tab 20 is slightly moved to be pulled out from the connecting portion 71 by the elastic member 30.
Further, when the contact pressure of the connecting portion 71 is sufficiently secured, in order to firmly clamp the tip portion 21 of the male tab 20,
The male tab 21 will move to a predetermined amount. Therefore, by checking whether or not each male tab 20 moves by a predetermined amount, it is possible to easily and simultaneously inspect the contact pressure state of the connecting portions 71 of the plurality of female terminal fittings 70 accommodated in the connector housing. You can do it.

Next, an example of the connector terminal inspection apparatus of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an inspection housing, which is formed so that a connector 80, which is an object to be inspected and which accommodates a plurality of female terminal fittings 70 (see FIG. 1) in a connector housing 60, can be fitted into the connector housing 60. On the inner surface of the upper wall of the portion 11, there is provided a locking projection 12 for releasably locking the locking portion 61a of the lock arm 61 provided on the connector housing 60, and on the rear wall 13 of each female terminal fitting 70. In a corresponding manner, multiple male tabs 20
(12 male tabs 20 in the drawing) are unidirectional (front end opening 11
Side) is equipped so that it can be moved only.

Each of the male tabs 20 has a tip portion 21 at the inspection housing 10.
Projected inward and its rear end portion 22 is the inspection housing 10
A flange portion 23 is provided which projects outwardly from and is locked to the rear wall 13 at an intermediate portion to prevent movement in the other direction. A round nut 24 is screwed onto the end of the rear end portion 22 of each of the male tabs 20, and an elastic member 30 made of a coil spring is interposed between the round nut 24 and the rear wall 13. ing.

Behind the inspection housing 10, a measuring means 40 is arranged so as to face the rear end portion 22 of each male tab 20. The measuring means 40 is composed of a sensor section 41 for measuring the movement amount Δl of the male tab 20 by a change in the attenuation amount of reflected light, and an amplifier section 42 for amplifying the output of the sensor section 41. .

The output amplified by the amplifier section 42 is sent to the determination indicator 50 in which the warning lamp 51 made of a light emitting diode is arranged for each amplifier section 42, that is, for each female terminal fitting 70. The determination indicator 50 is configured such that the warning lamp 51 is turned on when the movement amount Δl of the male tab 20 is smaller than a predetermined value. Instead of turning on the warning light 51, a buzzer may be provided and the buzzer may sound.

When actually inspecting the contact pressure state of the connection portion 71 of the connector 80 using the above-mentioned terminal inspection device, first, the connector 80 is held until the engagement portion 61a of the lock arm 61 engages with the engagement projection 12. It fits into the inspection housing 10 and the tip end portion 21 of each male tab 20 is inserted into the connection portion 71 of each female terminal fitting 70.

Next, when the connector 80 is pulled out from the inspection housing 10 with the locking portion 61a of the lock arm 61 removed from the locking protrusion 12, the male tab 20 moves as described above, and the moving amount Δ of this male tab 20 When 1 does not reach the predetermined amount, the warning light 51 of the determination display 50 is turned on.

Therefore, the operator, from the warning light 51 of the determination display 50,
It is possible to easily determine which of the female terminal fittings 70 has the contact portion 71 with insufficient contact pressure.

In the above embodiment, the case where the male tab 20 is provided with 12 poles is shown, but this number of poles is adapted to the number of poles of the connector 80 which is the object to be inspected. When inspecting, an inspection device provided with male tabs 20 matching the number of poles is used.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the connector terminal inspection apparatus and inspection method of the present invention, the connector terminal has a plurality of female terminal fittings housed in the connection portion of each female terminal fitting. On the other hand, when each terminal of the inspection device is inserted and then the connector housing is moved from this state in the removing direction, the moving amount Δl of each terminal that moves against the elastic force of the elastic member is measured by the measuring means. Since the measurement is performed and the measurement result is displayed by the display means, the contact pressure state of the connection portions of the plurality of female terminal fittings can be simultaneously and easily inspected even after the connector is assembled.

Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the problem of poor contact when the connector is used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle explanatory view for explaining the principle of a connector terminal inspection device and inspection method of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the entire terminal inspection device, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of the inspection housing portion of FIG. 2 by cutting, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the same. 20 …… Terminal (male tab) 30 …… Elastic member 40 …… Measuring means △ l …… Movement amount 50 …… Judging means (judgment indicator) 60 …… Connector housing 70 …… Female terminal metal fitting 71 …… Connecting part 80 …… Inspection object (connector)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A terminal which can be moved only in one direction and has a number of poles corresponding to the number of poles of a female terminal fitting of a connector which is an object to be inspected, and which is connected to each of these terminals and which is directed in one direction. A terminal inspection device for a connector, comprising: an elastic member that is compressed during movement of the terminal, measuring means for measuring the amount of movement Δl of the terminal, and display means for determining and displaying the measurement result of the measuring means. 2. A terminal which is movable only in one direction and has a number of poles corresponding to the number of poles of a female terminal fitting of a connector which is an object to be inspected, and which is connected to each of these terminals in one direction. Of the female terminal in the connector housing using an elastic member that is compressed when moving, a measuring means for measuring the amount of movement Δl of the terminal, and a display means for judging and displaying the measurement result of this measuring means. The terminal is inserted into the connection portion of the female terminal metal fitting of the object to be inspected containing the metal fitting, and then the connector housing is moved from this state in the pulling direction to resist the elastic force of the elastic member at this time. A method for inspecting a terminal of a connector, characterized in that the amount of movement Δl of the terminal which is moved by the measurement is measured by the measuring means, and the measurement result is judged from the display means.