JPH0817546A - Connector assembling method for flat cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance working capability and prevent insertion failure and forgotten insertion of a terminal by superposing carrier portions of a plurality of chain-like terminal materials and conforming terminal intervals with the arranging pitch of terminal housing holes of a connector housing. CONSTITUTION:A first and third chain-like terminal materials are superposed to the upper side and the lower side of a second chain-like terminal material in the lengthy direction and in the perpendicular direction of a carrier. Projections 3a, 3b of the second chain-like terminal material are fit to conveying holes 4 of the carries 1 of the first and third chain-like terminal materials respectively, the tips of the projections 3a, 3b are bent and the first and third chain-like terminal materials are fixed to the second chain-like terminal material. Each carrier 1 of each chain-like terminal material is fixed each other, the arranging pitch B of each pressure welding terminal 2 is conformed to a terminal housing hole of a connector housing. Since the connecting part of the first and third chain-like terminal materials with the carrier is previously bent, the terminal 2 of each chain-like terminal material exists on the same surface.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of assembling a flat cable connector used for a wire harness of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, wire harnesses for automobiles have been
A bundle of a plurality of independent covered electric wires (electric wires for automobiles) is used. In recent years, there has been a demand for reducing the weight of automobiles, and the use of flat cables as wire harnesses has been considered. In order to use the flat cable as a wire harness, it is necessary to attach a connector to the end of the cable so that the cables can be detachably connected to each other or between the cable and various devices.

10 to 12 are schematic views showing a method of assembling a conventional flat cable connector. First, as shown in FIG. 10, the conductor portions 10b at the ends of the flat cable 10 are separated from each other, and the separated portions (hereinafter, referred to as the wire 1
0a) is stripped off the coating layer at the tip portion to expose the conductor portion 10b.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, a crimp terminal 21 is crimped to the conductor portion 10b of each element wire 10a by a terminal crimping device. In this case, the crimp terminal 21 is, for example, a rectangular tube-shaped connecting portion 21c that engages with a mating terminal to obtain an electrical connection portion, and a U-shaped conductor portion 10 of the wire 10a.
b and crimping portions 21a and 21b for crimping the coating layer end portions, respectively.
And the end portions on the side of the crimping portions 21a and 21b are connected to a belt-shaped carrier 22, and the terminal 22 is a terminal crimping device in the state of a so-called chained terminal material arranged at a constant pitch in the longitudinal direction of the carrier 22 Will be sent to. On the other hand, the terminal crimping device has an anvil 27 that supports the crimping portions 21a and 21b of the crimping terminal 21 from below, and a crimper 26 that is arranged above the anvil 27 and is movable toward the anvil 27. The crimper 26 has an m-shaped groove, and when the crimper 26 descends toward the anvil 27,
The crimping portions 21a, 21b are deformed along the groove wall of the crimper 26, and further pressure is applied to the crimping portions 21a, 21b.
21b are crimped to the cable conductor portion and the coating layer end portion, respectively.

Then, as shown in FIG.
The terminal 21 crimped to is inserted into the connector housing 28. It should be noted that the housing 28 is provided with terminal accommodating holes 28 a for accommodating the crimp terminals 21 individually and arranged in one direction. In addition, these terminal storage holes 2
A fixing means (not shown) that engages with and fixes the terminal 21 is provided in the 8a. When the terminal 21 is inserted deeply into the connector housing 28, the terminal 21 is fixed in the connector housing 28 by the fixing means. In this way, the assembly of the flat cable connector is completed.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional method for assembling the flat cable connector, it is necessary to crimp the wires 10a to the crimp terminals 21 one by one in the step shown in FIG. In the process shown in FIG. 12, when the crimp terminals 21 are inserted into the connector housing 28, it is necessary to insert them one by one.
It is complicated. In particular, when the terminal is inserted, the cable crimped to the terminal 21 becomes an obstacle, and workability is significantly impaired. Therefore, in the conventional method for assembling the flat cable connector, there are problems that these operations take time and it is difficult to automate these operations. Further, conventionally, since it is difficult to automate the insertion work of the terminals, an operator inserts the terminals into the housing one by one. However, the insertion may be incomplete and the terminals may come off from the housing. Sometimes, forgetting to insert the terminal may occur. Furthermore, in the conventional crimp connector, it is necessary that the length of each strand 10a is relatively long in order to facilitate the work in the crimping step and the step of inserting the terminal into the housing. In the rear connector, as shown in FIG.
The length of the wire 10a derived from the wire 10a is long, and the wire 10a can be handled during handling of the connector after assembly and during transportation.
Another connector or the like is easily caught in the gap between them, and in an extreme case, there is a possibility that the wire 10a may be cut.

Conventionally, a plurality of chain-shaped terminal materials are stacked and fixed to a jig so that the crimp terminals connected to each carrier are arranged at a predetermined pitch, and the electric wires are collectively attached to these terminals. It is proposed to crimp (Patent Fair 4-
18678). However, in this case, although the crimping process is simplified, it is necessary to use a jig as described above, which is complicated. In addition, in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 4-18678,
It is disclosed that when the terminal is crimped to the electric wire, the carrier and the terminal are separated, and then the electric wire crimped to the terminal is moved toward the connector housing to insert the terminal into the connector housing. ,
There is a possibility that the electric wire may bend and the terminal may not be completely inserted into the housing, and the reliability cannot be said to be sufficient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, has excellent workability, and can automate the step of inserting the terminal into the housing and the step of fixing the terminal to the conductor portion. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of assembling a connector for a flat cable, which can be reliably inserted into the inside of the flat cable, has high reliability, and can shorten the length of the wire separating portion at the tip of the flat cable.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A flat cable connector assembling method according to the present invention includes a connector housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating holes arranged in one direction, and a connector portion fixed to a conductor portion of the flat cable. In a method for assembling a flat cable connector composed of a plurality of terminals individually accommodated in the plurality of terminal accommodating holes, a strip-shaped carrier and a plurality of carriers arranged at a constant pitch in the longitudinal direction of the carrier are provided. A plurality of chain-shaped terminal materials configured by terminals are used, each carrier of each chain-shaped terminal material is overlaid, and each terminal is arranged in the array pitch of the terminal housing holes of the connector housing. A step of fixing the carriers to each other; a step of collectively fixing the conductor portions of the flat cable to the plurality of terminals; And having a step of inserting at once to the terminal accommodating hole Kuta housing, and cutting the coupling portion between each terminal and each carrier.

[0010]

In the present invention, a plurality of chain-shaped terminal materials in which a plurality of terminals are connected to the carrier are used, the carriers of the chain-shaped terminal materials are superposed, and the terminals are housed in the connector housing. The carriers of the chain-like terminal materials are fixed to each other while being arranged at the arrangement pitch of the holes. After that, the conductor portions of the flat cable are collectively fixed to these terminals, and then these terminals are collectively inserted into the connector housing. As described above, in the present invention, since the carriers of the plurality of chain-like terminal materials are superposed and fixed to shorten the interval between the terminals, the length of the portion of the end portion of the flat cable separated into the strands is short. In addition, the plurality of terminals and the plurality of conductor portions of the flat cable can be collectively fixed. Further, when the terminals are inserted into the connector housing, the carriers of the chain-like terminal materials are fixed to each other, so that the terminal insertion work is completed once and the terminals are securely inserted into the connector housing. can do. As described above, in the present invention, the conductor portions of the flat cable are collectively fixed to the plurality of terminals, and the terminals after the fixation are collectively inserted into the connector housing, so that workability is improved and work is improved. It is possible to shorten the time and easily automate these operations. In addition, it is possible to prevent defective insertion and forgetting to insert the terminal.

As a method of fixing the conductor portion of the flat cable and the terminal, there are a method by pressure bonding, a method by resistance spot welding, a method by ultrasonic welding, a method by soldering and the like.

Further, when the connecting portions between the terminals and the carriers are bent so that the terminals are arranged on a plane when the carrier portions of the chain-like terminal materials are superposed, the terminals and the cable conductor portions are It is possible to reliably carry out the fixing work of and the insertion work of the terminal into the connector housing.

Further, when the carriers of the chain-like terminal materials are superposed on each other, projections are provided on the carrier of at least one chain-like terminal material at a predetermined pitch, and these projections are formed on the carriers of other chain-like terminal materials. When the provided carrier transport holes (feed holes) are fitted and fixed, each carrier can be easily positioned and terminals can be easily arranged.

Furthermore, if a notch is provided in the connecting portion between the terminal and the carrier portion, the carrier and the terminal can be separated by inserting the terminal into the housing and then bending at the notched portion. It can be easily separated. For this reason, it is preferable to provide a notch at the connecting portion between the terminal and the carrier.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 9 are views showing a method of assembling a flat cable connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, as shown in a top view and a plan view in FIGS. 1A and 1B, respectively, a plurality of crimp terminals 2 are formed in a conventional manner.
To form a chain-shaped terminal material in a state of being connected to the belt-shaped carrier 1. The crimp terminal 2 has, for example, a rectangular tube-shaped connection portion 2a and a U-shaped curved crimp portion 2b. In this case, the arrangement pitch A of the crimp terminals 2 is set to three times the arrangement pitch of the terminal housing holes of the connector housing.
Further, a carrier carrying hole 4 is provided at a position of the carrier 1 which is aligned with the crimp terminal 2.

Next, this chain-like terminal material is processed to obtain the structure shown in FIG.
3 to 4 obtain first to third chain-like terminal materials respectively. The first chain-like terminal material is such that the lower surface of the crimp terminal 2 is located slightly below the lower surface of the carrier 1, as shown in the top view and side view of FIGS. The connecting portion between the crimp terminal 2 and the carrier 1 is bent and formed, and the notch 6 is further provided at the connecting portion between the crimp terminal 2 and the carrier 1.

The second chain-like terminal material is shown in FIG.
As shown in the top view, side view, and plan view of (b) and (c) respectively, notch 6 is provided in the connecting portion between crimp terminal 2 and carrier 1, and positions of terminals of carrier 1 are equally spaced. The projections 3a projecting upward and the projections 3b projecting downward are provided in each. These protrusions 3a, 3b
Is formed by forming a V-shaped cutout on the carrier 1 and bending the cutout upward or downward.

The third chain-like terminal material is shown in FIG.
As shown in the top view and the side view in (b) respectively, the connecting portion between the terminal 2 and the carrier 1 is bent so that the lower surface of the terminal 2 is located slightly above the lower surface of the carrier 1, and the terminal is further bent. A notch 6 is provided at the connecting portion between 2 and the carrier 1.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b) and 5 (c), respectively, a top view and a cross-sectional view of the carrier in the longitudinal and orthogonal directions, the upper side of the second chain-like terminal material and The first and third chain-shaped terminal materials are superposed on the lower side, respectively, and the projections 3a and 3b of the second chain-shaped terminal material are respectively provided with the carrier holes 4 for the carrier 1 of the first and third chain-shaped terminal materials. After that, the tip portions of the protrusions 3a and 3b are bent to fix the first and third chain-shaped terminal materials to the second chain-shaped terminal material.
In this way, the carriers 1 of the chained terminal materials are fixed to each other, and the arrangement pitch B of the crimp terminals 2 is made to match the arrangement pitch of the terminal housing holes of the connector housing. In this case, since the connecting portions of the terminals of the first and third chain-shaped terminal materials and the carrier are bent in advance, the terminals 2 of each chain-shaped terminal material are arranged on the same plane.

Next, as shown in the top view of FIG. 6, the tip portion of the flat cable 10 is separated into a plurality of strands 10a, the coating layer at the tip of each strand 10a is stripped off, and the conductor portion 10b is formed. Is exposed and the conductor portion 10b of each wire 10a is aligned with the crimp portion 2b of each crimp terminal 2, and then the crimp portion 2b of each crimp terminal 2 is collectively attached to each conductor portion 10b of the flat cable 10. Crimp. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the anvil 7 and the crimper 8 of the terminal crimping device. On the upper part of the anvil 7, a plurality of terminal support portions 7a are provided at the arrangement pitch of the terminals 2 (that is, the arrangement pitch of the terminal housing holes of the connector housing). U-shaped recesses are provided at the upper ends of these terminal support portions 7a, and the recesses support the crimp portion 2b of the terminal 2 from below. In addition, the crimper 8 has each terminal support portion 7
An m-shaped recess 8a is provided corresponding to a. The crimping portion 2b of the crimping terminal 2 is supported from below by the anvil 7 and the crimper 8 is lowered, whereby the crimping portion 2b is deformed so as to be wound from both sides along the wall surface of the recess 8a of the crimper 8, As shown in, the crimping portion 2b of each crimping terminal 2 can be collectively crimped to each conductor portion 10b of the flat cable 10.

Next, as shown in the top view and sectional view of FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), respectively, a plurality of crimp terminals 2 are attached to the connector housing in a state where the carriers 1 of the chain terminals are superposed. It inserts in 11 at a time. The connector housing 11 is provided with a plurality of terminal housing holes 11c arranged in one direction, and the crimp terminals 2 are individually housed in the terminal housing holes 11c. In addition, on the upper portion of the connector housing 11, a leaf spring-like engaging piece 11 for engaging with a mating connector and fixing the connectors to each other is provided.
a is formed integrally with the connector housing 11.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the carrier 1 portion is pressed downward to separate the carrier 1 and the crimp terminal 2 at the notch 6 portion. This completes the assembly of the flat cable connector.

In this embodiment, as described above, a plurality of cable conductor portions 10b are collectively crimped to a plurality of crimp terminals 2 in a state where the carrier portions of a plurality of chain-like terminal materials are superposed, Further, a plurality of crimp terminals 2 are provided in the housing.
Since the carrier and the crimp terminal are separated at the notch 6 part after inserting all at once, the number of crimps and the number of terminals to be inserted into the housing are only one, and workability is remarkably improved as compared with the conventional method. , The working time can be shortened. Moreover, since a plurality of crimp terminals are inserted into the connector housing at a time, the crimp terminals can be reliably inserted into the housing, and defective insertion of the crimp terminals and forgetting to insert them can be prevented.
Furthermore, these series of operations can be easily automated. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the length of the portion of the end portion of the flat cable separated into the strands may be short, there is almost no gap between the strands led out from the housing, and the connector after assembly is It is possible to avoid the possibility that another connector or the like may be caught in the gap during handling and transportation, and disconnection may occur, and the reliability is high.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the terminal and the cable conductor portion are fixed to each other by crimping has been described, but this limits the method of fixing the terminal and the cable of the connector of the present invention to crimping. As a method of fixing the terminal and the cable, a method such as resistance spot welding, ultrasonic fusion or soldering can be used.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the carrier portions of a plurality of chain-like terminal materials are overlapped with each other so that the distance between the terminals is matched with the arrangement pitch of the terminal housing holes of the connector housing. After fixing each carrier of the chain-shaped terminal material to each other, the conductor portion of the flat cable is collectively fixed to the terminal, and then the plurality of terminals are collectively inserted into the connector housing. Improve,
It is possible to surely prevent defective insertion of the terminal and forgetting to insert it, and it is possible to easily automate these operations. Also, since the length of the part of the flat cable that separates into the strands can be shortened, other connectors, etc. will be caught in the gaps between the strands during handling of the assembled connector or during transportation, causing wire breakage. It is highly reliable without the risk of damage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one step of an assembling method of a flat cable connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first chain-shaped terminal material.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second chain-shaped terminal material.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a third chain-shaped terminal material.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing a state in which first to third chain-like terminal materials are overlapped and fixed to each other.

FIG. 6 is a top view showing a flat cable crimped to a crimp terminal.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an anvil and a crimper of the terminal crimping device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a step of inserting a terminal into a connector housing.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a step of separating the terminal and the carrier portion.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a step in a conventional crimp connector assembling method.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing another step in the method of assembling the crimp connector.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing still another step in the method of assembling the crimp connector.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a conventional problem.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 22; Carrier 2, 21; Crimping terminals 2a, 21c; Connection parts 2b, 21a, 21b; Crimping parts 3a, 3b; Protrusion 4; Transport hole 6; Notch 10; Flat cable 10a; Wire 10b; Conductor part 11, 28; connector housing 11c, 28a; terminal housing hole

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A connector housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating holes arranged in one direction, and a plurality of terminals fixed to a conductor portion of a flat cable and individually accommodated in the plurality of terminal accommodating holes. In a method for assembling a flat cable connector constituted by, a plurality of chain-shaped terminal materials composed of a belt-shaped carrier and a plurality of terminals arranged at a constant pitch in the longitudinal direction of the carrier are used, A step of fixing the carriers to each other in a state in which the carriers of the chain-shaped terminal material are overlapped and the terminals are arranged at the arrangement pitch of the terminal housing holes of the connector housing; and the flat cable to the plurality of terminals. A step of collectively fixing the conductor portions of the above, a step of collectively inserting the plurality of terminals into the terminal housing holes of the connector housing, and a step of And a step of cutting a connecting portion with each carrier. 2. A connecting portion between the terminal of the chain-like terminal material and the carrier is bent, and when the carriers of the chain-like terminal material are superposed, the terminals are arranged on the same plane. The method for assembling the flat cable connector according to claim 1. 3. A carrier of at least one chain-shaped terminal material of the plurality of chain-shaped terminal materials is provided with a plurality of projections at a predetermined pitch, and these projections are provided with carrier-transporting holes of another chain-shaped terminal material. 3. The method for assembling a flat cable connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the chain-like terminal members is fixed to each other by fitting the above.