JPH0765923A - Connector and its inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a connector inspection device which can certainly sense poor performance of mounting of a terminal piece. CONSTITUTION:Inspecting holes 36 are provided in the opposing side faces of a connector housing 31 in such a way as penetrating through. The inspecting holes 36 are penetraing right through the housing 31 linearly while intersecting the inserting direction of terminal pieces 33 without interference with a stabilizer when the terminal pieces 33 are in the normal positions, and assume an uncontinuous condition due to interference with the stabilizer when the pieces 33 are in irregular positions. The inspection device 10 is furnished upright with a sensing body 16 which intrudes into the inspecting holes 36.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector inspection device for detecting a mounting failure of a terminal fitting inserted in a connector housing and a connector suitable for the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A connector is generally constructed by mounting a terminal fitting fixed to the tip of an electric wire in a plastic connector housing, and the terminal fitting is a lance (locking claw) provided in the terminal fitting or the connector housing. It is locked by the stopper. In this type of connector, if the terminal metal fittings are not installed in the proper positions that engage the lances of the connector housing, the terminal metal fittings may come off during use. Need to check and fix. Therefore, various connector inspection devices have been conventionally developed for detecting a mounting failure of terminal fittings, and as an example thereof, for example, Jitsuko Sho 53-18545.
There is one described in the publication. In principle, this has a configuration as shown in FIG. 11, and an inspection unit 4 having a push-out pin 3 facing each terminal fitting 1 facing the connector housing 2 having the terminal fitting 1 mounted thereon is provided. And the inspection unit 4 is moved in a direction in which the inspection units 4 approach each other.

Since the terminal fitting 1 shown on the upper side of FIG. 1A is fully inserted from the left side of the figure to the proper position, its lance 1a engages with the locking portion 2a of the connector housing 2 and comes off. It is in a stopped state. However, since the lower terminal fitting 1 is insufficiently inserted, the lance 1a is not engaged with the locking portion 2a of the connector housing 2 and is in a poorly mounted state. Therefore, if the inspection unit 4 is moved from the state of FIG. 11 (A) to the connector housing 2 side,
Since the upper terminal fitting 1 is in the retaining state, the push-out pin 3 corresponding to this is retracted into the inspection unit 4 by the compression of the spring 3a (see FIG. 11 (B)). On the other hand, since the lower terminal fitting 1 is not in the retaining state, it is easily moved by the push-out pin 3, and the terminal fitting 1 is pushed back from the connector housing 2 while bending the electric wire 5. As a result, a mounting failure is detected, and the worker mounts the terminal fitting 1 on the connector housing 2
It is possible to perform a correction work such as completely inserting it in a predetermined position.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
Is fixed to the electric wire 5, the actual condition of the electric wire 5 has a great influence on whether or not the improperly mounted terminal fitting 1 is reliably pushed back. For example, when the electric wire 5 is thick and has high rigidity, or when a plurality of electric wires 5 are taped in a bundled state, the electric wire 5 is less likely to be deformed. Even if it is pushed by the push-out pin 3, it will not move in the direction of coming out of the connector housing 2. This means that even if there is a mounting failure, it cannot be detected, and the reliability of the inspection becomes low. Therefore, improvement in this respect has been conventionally demanded. In order to avoid this, it is conceivable to increase the spring force of the spring 3a. However, since a large force acts on the terminal fitting 1 during the inspection, the terminal fitting 1 is likely to be deformed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable connector inspection device capable of reliably detecting a mounting failure of a terminal fitting and a connector suitable for this. And

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a connector according to the present invention is a connector in which a terminal fitting inserted in a predetermined position of a connector housing is retained in the connector housing by a lance. The inspection hole is formed in the housing in the direction that intersects with the insertion direction of the terminal fitting, and the inspection hole is set to be continuous when the terminal fitting is in the regular position where the lance prevents the terminal fitting from coming off. (The invention of claim 4).

Further, the connector inspection apparatus according to the present invention is
The connector is inspected, and is characterized in that it has a detector inserted into an inspection hole of the connector housing (the invention of claim 1).

In this inspection apparatus, the detection body is movable along the extension direction and is biased to the front side by the elastic body. In addition, the detection body is opposite to the insertion direction into the inspection hole of the connector. You may make it provide the switch which detects that it was displaced to the side (the invention of Claim 2).

Further, an inclined surface portion for moving the terminal fitting in the non-regular position to the regular position may be formed at the tip of the detector (the invention of claim 3).

[0010]

According to the connector of the present invention, if the terminal fitting is attached to the connector housing at the proper position, the inspection holes are continuous, and if not, the inspection hole is partially formed. It becomes discontinuous. Therefore, it is possible to know whether or not the terminal fitting is in the proper position only by inspecting whether or not the inspection holes are continuous, and it is not affected by the state of the wire side fixed to the terminal fitting. Various means such as mechanical or optical can be applied to inspect the continuity of the inspection holes.

The connector inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is such that the continuity of the inspection holes of the connector can be mechanically inspected. According to the inspection apparatus of claim 1, when the detector can be inserted into the entire inspection hole, the terminal fittings (all the terminal fittings when a plurality of terminal fittings are provided) are locked by the lance. When it can be confirmed that the terminal is in the position and the detector cannot be inserted into the entire inspection hole, it can be seen that at least a part of the terminal fittings is in the non-regular position. According to the connector inspection device of the second aspect, if the switch is provided so that the detector can be moved and the displacement thereof is provided, the detector is displaced and the switch operates when the terminal fitting is in the irregular position. Therefore, it can be electrically detected, and it can be notified by using a lamp, a buzzer, a voice, or the like.
Further, as in the connector inspection apparatus according to claim 3, if the inclined surface portion for moving the terminal fitting at the non-regular position to the regular position is formed at the tip of the detection body, the detection body can be inserted into the inspection hole. It will be possible to modify the terminal fittings to reach the proper position.

[0012]

As described above, according to the connector inspection device of the first to third aspects, the mounting failure is not detected by pushing out the terminal fitting, but the detection body is installed in the inspection hole of the connector housing. Since the mounting failure is inspected by inserting into the terminal, accurate inspection can be performed without being affected by the electric wire fixed to the terminal fitting, and there is an effect that the terminal fitting is not likely to be deformed. Further, particularly in the apparatus according to the second aspect, the mounting failure of the terminal fitting can be electrically detected, so that the operator can be surely notified by a notification means such as a lamp. Further, in the inspection apparatus according to the third aspect, not only the inspection of the mounting failure of the terminal metal fittings but also the correction of the defective terminal metal fittings can be performed, so that the work efficiency of the inspection / correction is improved. Further, according to the invention of claim 1, it is possible to provide a connector capable of accurately and promptly inspecting the mounting state of the terminal metal fitting, and it is effective in inspecting with each of the above-mentioned inspection devices.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <First Embodiment> A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The structure of the connector 30 to be inspected by using the inspection apparatus 10 of this embodiment is shown in detail in FIG. 2, which will be described first. The connector housing 31 is made of plastic and is molded to have a rectangular shape as a whole, and a plurality of cavities 32 are formed inside in two stages. Each cavity 3
2 is a shape penetrating in the front-rear direction, in which the terminal fitting 33 is inserted from the rear side (left side in FIG. 2), and the lance 34 is integrally formed with the connector housing 31 in order to fix the terminal fitting 33 in the retaining state. It is provided.

On the other hand, the terminal fitting 33 has a female shape which makes a pair with a male terminal fitting of a mating connector (not shown) in this embodiment, and a box portion 33a into which the tip of the male fitting is inserted. It is configured as a well-known structure including a stabilizer 33b protruding from the back surface of the box portion 33a and a barrel portion 33c connected to the box portion 33a and fixing the electric wire 35 thereto. This terminal fitting 33 is at a predetermined position, that is, the cavity 32 of the connector housing 31.
When it is inserted into the innermost part, the lance 34 that has been elastically deformed during insertion is restored when the box portion 33a passes and engages with the edge portion of the box portion 33a as shown in FIG. The terminal fitting 33 is in a retaining state. When the terminal fitting 33 is inserted to the regular position where the lance 34 prevents the terminal fitting 33 from coming off, as shown in FIG.
The stabilizer 33b of the terminal fitting 33 is also in a state of being extended to the inner part of the cavity 32.

An inspection hole 36 is formed in the connector housing 31 between opposing side surfaces thereof. As is clear from FIG. 1, the inspection hole 36 extends along a direction (arrow B direction in FIG. 1) intersecting with the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 33 (arrow A direction in FIG. 1), and the connector housing 31 is straightened. It is a form that penetrates. The formation position and size of the connector housing 31 are as shown in FIG.
Of the terminal metal fittings 33, and when the terminal fittings 33 are in the normal position as shown in the figure, they form a series of through holes without interfering with the stabilizer 33b. As shown in FIG. The inspection hole 36 is set to be in a discontinuous state by interfering with the stabilizer 33b when it is in a non-regular position where it does not engage with.

An inspection apparatus 10 for inspecting the connector 30 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and will be described next. On the board 11 of the inspection device 10, a connector holder 12 is fixedly provided near the end. The connector holder 12 is composed of a U-shaped support block 13 and a U-shaped back plate 14 which is also detachably attached to the U-shaped support block 13, and a connector fixing groove 15 whose upper side is open is formed between the two. In the connector fixing groove 15, the protrusion 3 protruding from the outer surface of the connector housing 31.
1a is fitted from above, thereby guiding both ridges 31a up and down to support the connector housing 31 in the support block 13
The connector housing 31 can be held in a positioning state sandwiched between the connector housing 31 and the connector housing 31 in the front-back direction (arrow A in FIG.
It becomes impossible to move in the direction).

A detector 16 which can enter the inspection hole 36 of the connector housing 31 is erected straightly at the center of the support block 13, and a slope portion 17 facing the front side of the connector 30 is provided at the tip thereof. Are formed.

Next to the connector holder 12,
A continuity inspection unit 20 is provided on the board 11 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. When a cam handle 21 that is provided on the board 11 so as to be turned is turned, the continuity check unit 20 is moved toward or away from the connector holder 12. It is like this. The continuity inspection unit 20 includes the connector 3
A plurality of continuity test detection bodies 22 are provided so as to project toward the connector 30 side at positions facing the respective terminal fittings 33 of No. 0. Although not shown in detail, these continuity test detectors 2
2 is axially movable, and a spring 24
Is always urged in the direction of advance. Further, a lead wire 23 is connected to each continuity inspection detection body 22, and this is connected to an input terminal of a continuity inspection device (not shown).

Next, the procedure for inspecting the connector in this embodiment will be described. A state in which the terminal fitting 33 fixed to the tip of each electric wire 35 is fully inserted into a predetermined cavity 32 of the connector housing 31 and a large number of electric wires 35 are bundled by taping or the like to be assembled as a wire harness. Then, the mounting failure inspection and the continuity inspection of the terminal fittings are performed as follows. Here, the wire harness to be inspected is placed on a predetermined inspection plate, and the connector 30 of the wire harness is set in the connector inspection device 10 provided near the inspection plate.

First, the connector housing 31 is picked up with a finger, the protrusion 31a is inserted into the connector fixing groove 15 of the connector holder 12, and the connector 30 is set in the connector holder 12 so as to be fitted from above. As a result, the detector 16 at the center of the connector holder 12 enters the inspection hole 36 of the connector housing 31. At this time, all the terminal fittings 33 of the connector 30
However, since the inspection hole 36 is a continuous through hole when it is in the normal position where it engages with the lance 34 of the connector housing 31, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 16 penetrates without interfering with the stabilizer 33b, and the connector 30 is inserted all the way to the innermost part of the connector holder 12. However, as shown in FIG. 7, when the terminal fitting 33 is in the non-regular position where it does not engage with the lance 34 as shown in FIG. 6, the inspection hole 36 interferes with the stabilizer 33b, resulting in a discontinuous state. Inspection hole 36
The tip of the detection body 16 that has entered the inside collides with the stabilizer 33b of the terminal fitting 33 located at an irregular position. As a result,
Since insertion resistance will act on the connector 30,
An operator who is trying to pick it up and set it on the connector holder 12 feels a change in the insertion resistance and finds that there is a terminal fitting 33 in a poorly mounted state. Therefore, if the work is immediately interrupted, the electric wire 35 extending from the rear of the connector housing 31 is picked, the terminal fitting 33 is strongly pushed into the cavity 32, and the terminal fitting 33 is attached to the regular position where the lance 34 is engaged. Good.

In this embodiment, since the inclined surface portion 17 is formed at the tip of the detector 16, some of the terminal fittings 33
Is in a non-regular position, but is in the immediate vicinity of the regular position, the connector 30 is attached to the connector holder 12
When the terminal fitting 33 is set to
May be pushed into the normal position by. In this case, even if the detection body 16 is temporarily caught, the connector 30 is set in the connector holder 12 while pushing the terminal fitting 33 to the regular position, so that it is not necessary to interrupt the work.

Then, the connector 30 is attached to the connector holder 1
After setting to 2, the cam handle 21 of the inspection device 10
Is operated to advance the continuity inspection detection body 22. Then,
Since each continuity inspection detection body 22 of the continuity inspection unit 20 comes into contact with each terminal metal fitting 33 of the connector 30, whether or not each terminal metal fitting 33 is mounted in the predetermined cavity 32 by the continuity inspection device. Can be inspected.

As described above, in this embodiment, the detector 16 can be inserted into the inspection hole 36 of the connector housing 31 only by setting the connector 30 in the connector holder 12, so that the mounting failure of the terminal fitting 33 can be simplified. Can be found at In this case, since the detector 16 is configured to laterally abut the stabilizer 33b of the terminal fitting 33 located at the non-regular position to detect the improper mounting, the flexibility of the electric wire 35 fixed to the terminal fitting 33, etc. There is no influence at all, and the mounting failure can be reliably detected.
Further, as in this embodiment, the inspection hole 36 is provided substantially at the center of the connector housing 31 so as to be able to interfere with all the terminal fittings 33. It can be inspected whether it is in the position or not, and the configuration is much simpler than that of the conventional inspection apparatus of FIG. 11 in which the push-out pin 3 has to be provided for each terminal fitting 1.

Further, in this embodiment, the continuity inspection unit 20 is provided together with the connector holder 12 so that the continuity inspection of each terminal fitting 33 can be performed. For this reason, the setting operation to the connector holder 12 for the inspection of the mounting position of the terminal fitting 33 also serves as the setting operation of the connector 30 for the continuity inspection of the terminal fitting 33, and the two types of inspection can be efficiently performed. It is extremely rational to be able to proceed.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 8 shows only a characteristic portion of the second embodiment of the present invention which is different from the first embodiment. The difference is that the detection body 16 is supported on the support block 13 so as to be movable up and down, and is constantly biased upward by a compression spring 18 corresponding to an elastic body. Further, the support block 13 has a detector 16
Is provided with a switch 19 which operates in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the connector 30 into the inspection hole 36, that is, based on downward displacement, and receives a signal from the switch 19 to turn on a lamp (not shown). I am trying to let you. The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the duplicate description is omitted.

According to the second embodiment, when the connector 30 is set in the connector holder 12 and the detecting body 16 comes into the inspection hole 36 of the connector housing 31, a part of the terminal metal fitting 33 is temporarily assumed. If there is an improper mounting on the terminal 3,
The compression spring 18 is compressed by coming into contact with 3b, and the detection body 16 sinks downward. Then, since the switch 19 is activated and the lamp is turned on, the operator can easily confirm that there is a mounting failure by seeing this, and can perceive the change in the insertion resistance of the connector 30 by hand. Compared with the necessary first embodiment, the work can be standardized and is more efficient. Further, even in the configuration in which the compression spring 18 is provided as in this embodiment, since the inspection is performed simply by bringing the detection body 16 into contact with the side of the terminal fitting 33, the spring force of the spring 18 is excessively increased. There is no need, and unlike the conventional example of FIG. 11 in which the inspection tends to be inaccurate without increasing the spring force, there is no risk of deforming the terminal fitting 33.

<Third Embodiment> FIGS. 9 and 10 show a third embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the first embodiment, the connector 40 has a structure in which the terminal fittings 43 are arranged in parallel in the cavity 42 of the connector housing 41 in two stages. Fixed. However, in the first embodiment, the inspection hole 36 is formed at a position where it can interfere with the terminal fitting 33, whereas in the third embodiment, the inspection hole 46 is formed at a position where it can interfere with each lance 44. . Of course, the inspection hole 36 is formed so as to penetrate the connector housing 41 from the side along the direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 43, and the lance 44 is formed in two steps. Then, the inspection holes 46 are formed at two places.

In this embodiment, the terminal fitting 43 is the lance 4.
If the lance 44 is not in the normal position where it is prevented from coming off due to 4, the lance 44 is pushed down by the terminal metal fitting 43, and a part of the lance is positioned inside the inspection hole 46 to make the inspection hole 46 discontinuous. Therefore, the detection body 50, which is provided on the inspection device side so as to be able to enter the inspection holes 46 of the connector 40, cannot penetrate the inspection holes 46, whereby it can be detected that the terminal fitting 43 is not properly attached. . It goes without saying that even with this configuration, the mounting failure of the terminal fitting 43 can be accurately detected as in the above-described embodiments.

The present invention can also be implemented, for example, in the following configuration. (A) In each of the above-described embodiments, an example is shown in which the lance for preventing the terminal fitting from coming off is provided on the connector housing side. It may be a so-called metal lance.

(B) The position where the inspection hole is formed may be a position where it interferes with the box portion of the terminal fitting. In short, the inspection hole is formed in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal fitting, and the inspection hole is formed. Should be set so as to be continuously connected when the terminal fitting is in the proper position where the lance is in the proper retaining state.

(C) In the first embodiment, one detector is made to enter from one side of the connector housing, but the present invention is not limited to this, and when a plurality of inspection holes are provided, this is applicable. May be provided with a plurality of detectors, and
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the detection body enters the inspection hole of the book from both sides.

(D) In the second embodiment, the lamp is turned on when the displacement of the detector 16 is detected by the switch 19. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, a buzzer or a voice may be used. The operator may be notified.

(E) When making the detector movable in the extension direction, not only the whole detector can be moved as in the second embodiment, but the tip of the detector is moved forward and backward to the tip of the guide tube, for example. It is also possible to support only the tip portion so as to be movable in the extension direction as a configuration that is supported so that in this case, a switch for detecting the displacement of the tip of the detection body may be provided in the guide tube.

(F) The connector provided with the inspection hole according to the present invention is not limited to the inspection device for mechanically detecting the object to be inserted into the inspection hole described in each embodiment, but may be provided on one side of the inspection hole. It is possible to easily inspect the mounting failure of the terminal metal fittings even in an inspection device that includes a light emitting element and has a light receiving element that receives light from the light emitting element on the other side of the inspection hole and that performs optical detection.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or shown in the drawings. For example, the connector may have only one terminal fitting, may have a male shape, and the tip of the detecting body. May be made flat, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire connector inspection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the connector.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the connector inspection device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector showing a state where the detection body has entered the inspection hole when the terminal fitting is in the normal position.

5 is a schematic perspective view in the state of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the connector showing a state where the detection body has entered the inspection hole when the terminal fitting is in the irregular position.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view in the state of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an essential part showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a connector and a detection body showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the connector of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a conventional connector inspection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Connector inspection device 15 ... Connector fixing groove 16, 50 ... Detecting body 17 ... Slope portion 18 ... Compression spring 19 ... Switch 30, 40 ... Connector 31, 41 ... Connector housing 33, 43 ... Terminal fittings 34, 44 ... Lance 35 … Electric wires 36, 46… Inspection hole

Front page continued (72) Ken Kitagawa Ken 14-14 Nishisuehiro-cho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie Sumitomo Wiring Systems Co., Ltd. (72) Hideo Kobayashi 1-114 Nishisuehiro-cho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie Sumitomo Denso Co., Ltd. In the company

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A connector in which a terminal fitting inserted in a predetermined position of a connector housing is retained by a lance, and an inspection hole is formed in the connector housing in a direction intersecting with an inserting direction of the terminal fitting. The inspection hole is an inspection device for inspecting a connector which is set so as to be continuously connected when the terminal fitting is in a regular position where the terminal fitting is in a retaining state by the lance. Connector inspection device comprising a detector inserted into the connector. 2. The detection body is movable along the extension direction and is biased to the front side by an elastic body, and the detection body is displaced to the side opposite to the insertion direction of the connector into the inspection hole. The connector inspection device according to claim 1, further comprising a switch for detecting the fact. 3. The connector inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the detection body is formed with an inclined surface portion for moving the terminal fitting in the non-regular position to the regular position. 4. In a connector in which a terminal fitting inserted into a predetermined position of a connector housing is locked by a lance, an inspection hole is formed in the connector housing in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal fitting, and the inspection hole is formed. The connector is characterized in that the hole is set so as to be continuously connected when the terminal fitting is in a regular position in which the terminal fitting is in a retaining state by the lance.