JPH088539Y2 - Multi-pole connector - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multipolar connector (hereinafter referred to as a connector) for connecting a multipolar contact provided on a card such as an IC memory card to a multipolar contact provided on a computer or the like. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, there is a strong tendency toward miniaturization of computers and related equipment which use the above types of cards. Therefore, a thin connector having a thickness of several mm has been required. Even in such a thin connector, an eject mechanism is often provided in order to improve operability when the card is pulled out.

Therefore, conventionally, a slide plate is incorporated in a connector, and a pair of claw pieces that engage with two left and right sides of a card front end face are provided at the tip of the slide plate, and a lever as an actuator is attached to the slide plate. The eject mechanism was constituted by connecting them.

According to such a conventional connector, when a lever as an actuator is operated to retract the slide plate, a pair of claw pieces are provided at two positions on the left and right of the card front end face set in the card setting space of the connector. And push it evenly backwards to eject the card from the connector.

However, the conventional connector has a problem that the thickness and length of the connector are increased depending on the thickness and width of the slide plate having the pair of claw pieces, and the downsizing of the connector is restricted by the slide plate. It was

[0006]

By the way, in a connector with an eject mechanism of a type in which a card is inserted or removed, the basic structure thereof is as follows.
A guide is provided which is in sliding contact with the end face in the width direction of the card when the card is inserted or removed and which regulates the moving path of the card. When thinning such a connector, it is effective not to use a member such as a slide plate that hinders the thinning and downsizing of the connector as an eject mechanism.
Moreover, it is effective to make the guide as thin as possible. Further, in order to provide the eject mechanism to the connector without obstructing the thinning of the connector, it is effective to provide the eject mechanism on the outer side of the guide, and at that time, make the lateral width of the connector as short as possible. In order to achieve miniaturization, it is desirable to make the lateral width of the guide as small as possible to avoid the lateral width dimension of the connector being increased by the guide. However, to further reduce the width of the guide that has been made thinner in order to make the connector thinner, it means that the bending rigidity of the guide is reduced accordingly, and when inserting or removing the card. When the card is pushed to one side, the guide may be deformed and the proper guide function may not be exhibited. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the guide is made as thin as possible to make the connector thin, and the lateral width of the guide is shortened to avoid an increase in the lateral width of the connector. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector with an eject mechanism in which a card is reliably guided by a guide even when the connector is downsized.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector main body in which a pin contact piece group is projected, and pins which are respectively projected from left and right end portions of the connector main body and which correspond to the pin contact piece group. Left and right guides that guide the card in the front-back direction by sliding contact with the left and right widthwise edges of the card that has an insertion hole on the front end surface, and are formed within the thickness range at either the left or right end of the connector body. Formed in a part of the cam and a cam pivotally connected to the end of the connector body in a state of being housed in a recess opening to the card setting space between the left and right guides. , For swinging the cam, which is formed on the card pressing portion that is pushed out and with respect to one end side portion in the width direction in the card setting space between the left and right guides by the swing of the cam and the other portion of the cam. The actuator of the And a frame that is provided between the front end portions of the left and right guides to prevent the guides from expanding, and the actuator is projected from the end portion on the recess forming side of the connector body. A lever provided so as to extend along the guide on the outside of the lever, and an intermediate portion of the lever is slidably fitted to a lever holding portion projecting outward from the guide along which the lever extends. The tip of the lever is connected to the mounting portion of the cam so that the cam can swing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the actuator is connected to the mounting portion of the cam by pin connection.

[0009]

According to the present invention, when the card is set in the card setting space and the card pressing portion of the cam is projected to one end side in the width direction of the space by swinging the cam, the card is set. One end of the end face of the card being pushed is pushed by the card pushing portion and the card is pushed out in the pulling-out direction. Further, when the card pressing portion of the cam is projected at one end side position in the width direction of the space, when the card is set in the space, one end portion of the end face of the card pushes the card pressing portion to swing the cam, The cam pressing portion is pushed out of the space. Then, since the cam for pushing out the card is formed in the thickness range at the end of the connector body and is housed in the recess opening to the card setting space between the left and right guides, The cam stays within the thickness range of the connector body, and the cam does not project from the connector body in the thickness direction. Furthermore, the guides are projected from the left and right ends of the connector main body of the group of pin contact pieces, respectively, and the cards are guided in the front-rear direction by these guides. As a result, the guide can be thinned to a thickness close to that of the card, and the connector can be thinned. When the guide is thinned as described above to make the connector thinner, and the lateral width of the guide is further shortened to reduce the lateral width of the connector and the connector is downsized, the bending rigidity of the guide is reduced. However, in the present invention, a frame is provided between the front end portions of the left and right guides, and the frame prevents the guide from expanding. Even when the card is pushed one side at the time of inserting or removing the card and a force in the expansion direction is applied to the guide, there is no fear that the left and right guides will expand and the guide function cannot be properly exerted. In particular, in the case of the connector of the present invention, in which the components constituting the eject mechanism such as the cam and the actuator are arranged only on the outer side of the guide on one side in order to shorten the width dimension of the connector, the card can be removed when the card is pulled out. Since one end of the end face of the cam is partially pushed by the card pressing portion of the cam, it is useful to prevent the left and right guides from expanding in the frame described above. Further, in the connector of the present invention, as an actuator that is a component of the eject mechanism, a lever provided outside the guide projecting from the end of the connector body on the side where the recess is formed and extending along the guide. In addition, since the lever is connected to the mounting part of the cam pin-connected to the end of the connector body, the actuator swings around the connecting part with the cam to expand the lateral width of the connector. Even if the actuator is not provided with a special stopper for preventing disengagement, the actuator is prevented from being pulled out by the connection with the cam pin-connected to the connector body. In this way, the fact that the actuator does not swing helps shorten the width of the connector and promotes miniaturization, and the fact that there is no need to provide a special stopper to prevent disconnection promotes miniaturization of the connector. To help you.

[0010]

1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the invention of claims 1 and 2, FIG. 2 is an external view of the connector, and FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view of the connector.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a connector body made of an insulating synthetic resin, the end face of which is substantially rectangular. Connector body 1
A large number of pin contact pieces 21 and 31 are projected forward at equal pitches in two rows above and below. Terminals 22 and 32, which extend through the connector body 1 and are led out to the rear of the connector body 1, extend to the pin contact pieces 21 and 31, respectively. A large number of pin contact pieces 21 in the upper row and a large number of pin contact pieces 31 in the lower row form pin contact piece groups 2A and 3A, respectively, and terminals derived from the large number of pin contact pieces 21 in the upper row. Two
2 and a terminal 3 derived from a large number of pin contact pieces 31 ...
2 form terminal groups 2B and 3B, respectively.

A groove-shaped guide 4 projects from the left end of the connector body 1. A groove-shaped guide 5 also projects from the right end of the connector body 1. These guides 4, 5
The mutual spacing of the groove bottoms is approximately the same as the width dimension of the card C. The guides 4 and 5 are slightly shorter than the total length of the card C. Therefore, when the edges C1 and C2 in the width direction of the card C are fitted in the guides 4 and 5, the edges C1 and C2 are in sliding contact with the left and right guides 4 and 5, and the card C is surely attached. Guided in the front-back direction.

A recess 6 is formed at the right end of the connector body 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the recess 6 is open to the card setting space S between the left and right guides 4, 5. A cam 7 made of synthetic resin is housed in the recess 6, and the cam 7 is pin-coupled to the connector body 1 by a pin 71 such as a rivet. Like this, cam 7
However, if the cam 7 is housed in the recess 6 formed in the end portion of the connector body 1 within the thickness range, the cam 7 fits within the thickness range of the connector body 1. Does not stick out in the thickness direction. A card pressing portion 72 is formed on the cam 7 in a protruding state, and
An attachment portion 73 for connecting the lever 8 as an actuator is formed on the opposite side of the card pressing portion 72.

The cam 7 described above can swing about the pin 71. Then, when the cam 7 swings, the card pressing portion 72 projects to one end side portion (right side portion) in the width direction of the space S as shown by the phantom line in FIG. Card pressing part 7
2 retreats from one end side portion of the space S in the width direction.

The tip of the lever 8 is pin-connected to the mounting portion 73 of the cam 7 by a pin 81 such as a rivet. Further, the right guide 5 is integrally formed with a rectangular tube-shaped lever holding portion 51 and a bifurcated lever holding portion 52 in a state of protruding to the outside thereof. And lever 8
Shows the lever holders 5 along the guide 5 on the right side.
1, 52 are slidably fitted. Also, lever 8
The operation portion 82 provided on the card is disposed on a side portion immediately adjacent to the card insertion slot 53 formed between the left guide 4 and the right guide 5.

Reference numeral 9 is a frame. This frame 9
A ground terminal 91 is provided on each of the left and right ends, and hooking claw pieces 92, 92 are provided on both sides of the ground terminal 91. The frame 9 has a narrow groove 44 in which the left and right claw pieces 92, 92 and the left and right ground terminals 91 are formed in the left and right guides 4, 5 (the narrow groove of the right guide 5 is not shown in the figure. The same applies hereinafter. ), The ground terminal 91 is inserted through the narrow groove 44, and the guides 4, 5
, The claw pieces 92, 92 bend and are locked to the guides 4, 5. A plurality of ribs 93 ... Are formed on the frame 9, and the bending rigidity of the frame is enhanced by these ribs 93.

The card C has a pin insertion hole (not shown) in its front end face, and inside the pin insertion hole, a contact piece group corresponding to the pin contact piece groups 2A and 3A is provided.

With the above structure, the left and right edges C of the card C
While guiding 1 and C2 by the left and right guides 4 and 5, insert the card C into the card setting space S as indicated by arrow F in FIG. 3, and insert the pin insertion holes of the card C into the pin contact piece groups 2A and 3A. Then, the card C is set at an appropriate position in the space S. At this time, the card pressing portion 72 of the cam 7 is retracted from the space S.

When removing the card C, the operating portion 82 of the lever 8 is pushed with a finger to push in the lever 8 and the cam 7 is swung about the pin 71. With this arrangement, the swinging of the cam 7 causes the card pressing portion 72 to project to one end side portion in the width direction of the space S as indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 3, and at that time, one end portion of the end surface of the card C is pressed. The part 72 pushes. As a result, the card C is guided by the left and right guides 4 and 5, and is moved in the removal direction as indicated by the arrow B by the width of the card pressing portion 72 with respect to the space S. Since the cam pressing portion 72 of the cam 7 only protrudes to one end side portion of the space S in the width direction, the cam pressing portion 72 is the pin contact piece group 2.
There is little concern about contact with the pin contact pieces 21 and 31 located at the ends of A and 3A, but even if they come into contact with each other, the cam 7 is made of synthetic resin, so that the cam 7 is short-circuited with the pin contact pieces 21 and 31. And, the situation that the pin contact pieces 21 and 31 are damaged does not occur.

The card pressing portion 72 protruding into the space S is pushed by the end surface of the card C and withdraws from the space S when the card C is set next time.

In this embodiment, the frame 9 serves to prevent the synthetic resin guides 4 and 5 from expanding.
Further, in the connector of this embodiment, the left and right guides 4, 5
Is a groove, but these guides may have the same thickness as that of the card C, and a wiring board or a thin housing may be placed horizontally between the left and right guides. But the cam 8 doesn't get in the way. And by doing so, the left and right guides are used only to prevent the left and right displacement when inserting and removing the card C,
Since the positional deviation of the card C in the thickness direction is prevented by the wiring board and the housing, the overall thickness of the connector becomes as thin as the thickness of the card C. In this way, the thickness of the guide (designated by reference numeral t in FIG. 1) is reduced to make the connector thinner, and the lateral width of the guide (designated by reference numeral W in FIG. 1) is further shortened. When the width of the connector is reduced and the connector is downsized,
It is feared that the bending rigidity of the guide becomes small and the guide function cannot be properly exerted. However, the frame 9 is provided between the front end portions of the left and right guides.
Since the guide prevents the guides from expanding, even if the card is pushed one side when inserting or removing the card and a force in the expansion direction is applied to the guides, the left and right guides expand and exhibit the proper guide action. There is no danger of losing money.

[0022]

According to the invention of claim 1, a cam is provided at the end of the connector body, and an actuator composed of a lever connected to the cam is slidably fitted on the lever holding portion along one guide. The eject mechanism can be added to the connector by a very simple structure of fitting, and the cam for pushing out the card is formed at the end portion of the connector body within the thickness range thereof, and Since the cam is housed in the recess that opens between the guides to the card setting space, the cam does not protrude from the connector body in the thickness direction when the cam is within the thickness range of the connector body. Moreover, while the card has one end of its front end face partially pushed by the card pushing portion of the cam, it is guided in the front-back direction by the left and right guides whose expansion is prevented by the frame, so the guide is made thinner. Even if the connector is made thinner and the width of the guide is shortened to make the connector smaller, the card can be pulled out straight and surely. Therefore, it is possible to provide a small-sized and inexpensive multi-pole connector having excellent card removal performance. Furthermore, guides are projected from the left and right ends of the connector main body of the pin contact piece group, respectively, and the cards are guided in the front-rear direction by these guides.
It is possible to reduce the thickness of the connector by making the guide thin so as to have a thickness close to that of the card. Further, since the cam can be swung by operating the lever, the degree of freedom in designing and manufacturing the connector to be incorporated in the equipment is increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Connector Main Body 2A Pin Contact Group 4 Guide 5 Guide 6 Recess 7 Cam 8 Lever 9 Frame 51 Lever Holding Part 52 Lever Holding Part 72 Card Pressing Part 73 Mounting Part 85 Operation Knob C Card C1 Card Edge C2 Card Edge Space for S-card set

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A connector main body in which a group of pin contact pieces is projected,
The card is guided in the front-rear direction by sliding contact with the left and right widthwise edges of the card having pin insertion holes protruding from the left and right ends of the connector body and corresponding to the above-mentioned pin contact piece group on the front end surface. The left and right guides, and the connector body in the state where it is formed within the thickness range at either the left or right end of the connector body and is accommodated in a recess opening between the left and right guides for the card set space. Is formed on a part of the cam and is swingably pin-connected to the end of the card, and the cam swings to project to one end side in the width direction in the card setting space between the left and right guides. The card pressing part to be retracted, the mounting part formed on the other part of the cam and connected to the actuator for swinging the cam, and the expansion part of the guides provided between the front end parts of the left and right guides. With a frame to prevent opening The actuator is a lever provided so as to extend along the guide outside the guide protruding from the end of the connector body on the side where the recess is formed, and the intermediate portion of the lever is the lever. Is slidably fitted to a lever holding portion projecting outward from the guide along which the tip of the lever is connected to the mounting portion of the cam so that the cam can be swung. Characteristic multi-pole connector. 2. The multipolar connector according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is connected to the mounting portion of the cam by pin connection.