JPH10223344A - Flexible coupling connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent disconnection of a cord due to twisting, bending, rotation or the like when connecting the cord. SOLUTION: A pair of retention drums 12 and 13 are rotatably connected to each other through a free rotation mechanism part 11 in the medial portion of the connector 10. Terminal stands 25 and 26 having terminals 29 and 30 to which respective cords are connected are supported in the retention drums 12 and 13 so as to be moved in two directions through gimbal mechanism parts 19 and 20. A slip ring 16 as electrical conduction means is provided closer to one retention drum 12, and a contact member 17 slidingly contacted with the slip ring 16 is provided closer to the other retention drum 13. A connection wire 31 makes an electrical connection between the slip ring 16 and the terminal 29, and also a connection wire 32 makes an electrical connection between the contact member 17 and the terminal 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a twisting, bending, and rotating connection which is connected to the middle of a wiring cord when power is supplied to a rotary arm of a robot or the like and an angle signal is taken out, and which is applied to the cord from the periphery. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a flexible coupling connector for maintaining electrical continuity and preventing disconnection of a cord by freely responding to such forces.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional connector. The connector 1 comprises a set of a plug 4 and a jack 5 attached to the ends of the cords 2 and 3, respectively. Although not shown in the drawing, the cord 4 is connected to the plug 4 in a front shell 4a. Correspondingly, a socket contact connected to the cord 3 is provided in the shell 5a of the jack 5.

A fastening nut 6 is attached to the outer periphery of a front shell 4 a of the plug 4, while a screw groove 7 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shell 5 a of the jack 5.
Further, a split back shell 4c is fixed to a rear portion of the back shell 4b of the plug 4 by a fixing screw 8.

When connecting the plug 4 to the jack 5, the pin contact of the plug 4 is inserted into the socket contact of the jack 5, and in this state, the fastening nut 6 of the plug 4 is screwed into the thread groove 7 of the jack 5. Thus, the plug 4 and the jack 5 are fastened and fixed.

A rubber bushing 2a is provided at the base of the cords 2 and 3 respectively derived from the plug 4 and the jack 5.
And 3a are attached, thereby securing the flexibility of the cords 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 shows an L-shaped plug.
That is, the plug 4 has a split back shell 4c bent in an L-shape to make the direction of the cord bend at 90 °, and the fixing screw 8 is loosened to split the back shell 4c.
By rotating the, the direction of the cord can be changed.

[0007]

However, in the conventional connector as described above, since the plug and the jack are fastened and fixed by the fastening nut, when an external force such as twist is applied to the cord, the cord is twisted and disconnected. There were problems such as doing. In addition, there has been a problem that the cord is fatigued and disconnected due to external force such as bending, rotation and vibration applied to the connector for a long period of time. The present invention
The purpose is to improve such a problem.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a pair of holding members rotatably connected to each other, a slip ring provided on one of the holding members,
A contact member provided on the other side of the holding body and in sliding contact with the slip ring, a rocking body rotatably attached to each of the pair of holding bodies, and each of the rocking bodies being orthogonal to the rotation direction of the rocking body. A terminal block having an external connection terminal to which the cord is connected so as to be rotatable in the direction, and a connection line respectively connecting the slip ring to one terminal, and the contact member to the other terminal. It is intended to provide a flexible coupling connector constituted by:

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 3 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 shows the flexible coupling connector according to the present invention as a whole,
The flexible coupling connector 10 has a rotatable mechanism 11 that can rotate 360 ° or more at the center, and gimbal mechanisms 19 and 20 that can move in two directions at both left and right ends. I have.

First, the rotatable mechanism 11 will be described. In the flexible coupling connector 10 of this embodiment, reference numerals 12 and 13 denote holding drums as a pair of holding members disposed at a central portion, and the holding drums 12 and 13 rotate. It is connected so as to be able to rotate through 360 ° via the free mechanism 11. That is, the connecting shaft 14 is provided at the center of the holding drums 12 and 13.
And a locking ring 1 at both ends for retaining
5a and 15b are fitted, and the holding drums 12 and 13 are rotatably connected to each other about the connection shaft 14.

The rotatable mechanism 11 is provided with a slip ring 16 and a contact member 17 slidably contacting the slip ring 16 as an electrical conduction means.

In this embodiment, the sliding contact structure between the slip ring 16 and the contact member 17 in the rotatable mechanism 11 is of a planar contact type. That is, a slip ring 16 for a plurality of poles (three poles in this example) is provided concentrically around the connection shaft 14 on one of the holding drums 12 side in the facing surface portion of the holding drums 12 and 13. On the other holding drum 13 side, a contact member 17 that comes into sliding contact with each slip ring 16 in a plane is fixed. Needless to say, the slip ring 16 and the contact member 17 are both made of a conductive material (metal). In the drawing, one contact member 17 is disposed on one side (upper side), and two contact members are disposed on the opposite side (lower side). The rotational balance between the two is maintained.

The contact member 17 is made of, for example, a plate-like or linear spring material as shown in FIG. 5, and is slidably contacted with the slip ring 16 at a contact 17a formed at the tip thereof. The contact member 17 may be a member having a hemispherical contact 17a fixed to the tip as shown in FIG. 5A, or a contact 17a formed by bending the tip into an arc shape as shown in FIG. 5B. 5A and 5B, two contact points 17a are provided.
Is shown, but the number of contacts 17a may be one. FIG. 5C shows an example of a contact member 17 having four contacts 17a. In the case of this contact member 17, contact with the slip ring 16 can be made more reliable. Of course, the number of the contacts 17a may be more than this, and the shape of the contacts 17a is not limited to the illustrated shape.

Next, the gimbal mechanisms 19 and 20 will be described. The gimbal mechanisms 19 and 20 include swing rings 21 and 22 as swing bodies rotatably mounted on the holding drums 12 and 13, respectively. This swing ring 21,
22, terminal blocks 25 and 26 mounted rotatably in directions perpendicular to the directions of rotation of the swing rings 21 and 22, respectively.
, And is constituted.

That is, support arms 12a and 12b and 13a and 13b are provided on the outer surfaces of the holding drums 12 and 13 at positions facing each other at an angle of 180 °.
Swing rings 21 and 22 are supported by the support arms 12a and 12b and 13a and 13b so as to be rotatable (swing) by support shafts 23 and 24, respectively. In addition, this swing ring 2
Terminal blocks 25 and 26 are provided on support shafts 23 and 24 by support shafts 27 and 28 arranged at positions 90 degrees apart from support shafts 23 and 24, respectively.
Are supported so as to be rotatable (swingable) in a direction orthogonal to the turning direction of the swing rings 21 and 22.

The number of poles (three poles in this example) corresponding to the slip ring 16 and the contact member 17 are respectively provided on the terminal blocks 25 and 26.
The external connection terminals 29 and 30 in the form of pins are provided. Inside the flexible coupling connector 10, each slip ring 16 is electrically connected to the terminal 29 of one terminal block 25 by a connection line 31, and each contact member 17 is connected to the other terminal block 26. Are electrically connected to each other by connection lines 32. The connecting wires 31 and 32 are connected so as to penetrate the holding drums 12 and 13, respectively, in the drawing. In addition, for example, the connecting shaft 14 is formed in a hollow pipe shape, and the connecting wires are connected therein. The structure through the wires 31 and 32 may be adopted.

The flexible coupling connector 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above is used by connecting a cord to terminals 29 and 30 protruding from the outer surfaces of the terminal blocks 25 and 26, respectively. When an external force such as twist, bending, rotation, or vibration is applied to the cord during this use, the flexible coupling connector 10 rotates at the center rotatable mechanism 11 and the gimbal mechanisms 19 at both ends.
By moving in two directions at 20, the electrical continuity is freely maintained in response to the external force, so that the cord does not break.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show a second embodiment of the flexible coupling connector according to the present invention. The flexible coupling connector 10 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the structure of the central rotatable mechanism 11 and the structures of the gimbal mechanisms 19 and 20 at both ends are the same as those of the first embodiment. Same as the example. Therefore, only the portions of the rotatable mechanism 11 different from those of the first embodiment will be described.

In this example, the sliding contact structure between the slip ring 16 and the contact member 17 in the rotatable mechanism 11 is of a peripheral contact type. That is, in the flexible coupling connector 10 of this embodiment, the small-diameter drum portion 12c of one holding drum 12 is replaced by the cylindrical portion 13 of the other holding drum 13.
c, the holding drums 12 and 13 are connected to the connecting shaft 14.
And a small-diameter drum portion 1 of one of the holding drums 12.
Slip rings 16 are juxtaposed at a predetermined interval on the peripheral surface of the holding drum 2c.
A contact member 17 that slides on the peripheral surface of each slip ring 16 is fixed to 3c.

The contact member 17 is made of, for example, a plate-like or linear spring material as shown in FIG. 8, and a contact (in this case, a flat contact) 17a at its tip is slidably contacted with the peripheral surface of the slip ring 16. You. The contact member 17 is attached from the outside of the holding drum 13 through one or a plurality of holes 33 provided in the cylindrical portion 13c of the holding drum 13. In this case, the contact members 17 are mounted at regular intervals in the rotation direction in a normal structure, and the rotation balance between the holding drums 12 and 13 is maintained.

The contact member 17 has a hemispherical contact 17a fixed at the tip end as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9B, the tip may be bent in an arc shape to form the contact 17a. 8 and 9A and 9B described above.
Although the contact member 17 having two contacts 17a is shown in FIG. 1, one contact 17a may be provided. FIG. 9C shows an example of a contact member 17 having four contacts 17a. In the case of this contact member 17, the contact with the slip ring 16 can be made more reliable. Of course, the number of the contacts 17a may be more than this, and the shape of the contacts 17a is not limited to the illustrated shape.

In the flexible coupling connector 10 of this embodiment, parts other than the rotatable mechanism 11 described above are configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment. And the flexible coupling connector 1 of this example
At 0, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a third embodiment of the flexible coupling connector according to the present invention. The flexible coupling connector 10 of the third embodiment
Also, the structure of the center rotatable mechanism 11 is different from that of the first and second embodiments, and the structures of the gimbal mechanism 19 and 20 at both ends are the same as those of the first and second embodiments. . Therefore, only the portions of the rotatable mechanism 11 that are different from the first and second embodiments will be described.

In the present embodiment, the rotating structure of the rotatable mechanism 11 is bent. That is, in the flexible coupling connector 10 of the present embodiment, the holding drums 12, 13
Projecting portions 12d, 13d are formed on the inner side surfaces of the protruding portions 12d, 13d so as to protrude. It is. Locking rings 15a and 15b for retaining are fitted to both ends of the connecting shaft 14, and the holding drums 12 and 1
3 is rotatably connected so as to be bent in less than one rotation.

The protruding plate 1 in the rotatable mechanism 11
On the opposing surfaces of 2d and 13d, a slip ring 16 is provided concentrically around the connecting shaft 14 on one holding drum 12 side, and each slip ring 16 is provided on the other holding drum 13 side correspondingly. A contact member 17 that comes into sliding contact with the surface 16 is fixed. In this case, the contact member 17
Are installed at regular intervals in the rotation direction in the normal structure,
The rotational balance between the holding drums 12 and 13 is maintained. Further, as the contact member 17, various shapes as shown in FIG. 5 can be used as in the first embodiment.

In the flexible coupling connector 10 of this embodiment, parts other than the rotatable mechanism 11 described above are configured in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments. In the flexible coupling connector 10 of the present embodiment, substantially the same functions and effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained even though the rotating structure of the rotatable mechanism 11 is bent.

FIGS. 12 to 14 show the first to third embodiments as described above.
In each of the examples of the flexible coupling connector 10 of the present embodiment, the periphery thereof is covered by a telescopic cover 40. The cover 40 is made of, for example, rubber
It is formed in a bellows cylindrical shape by an elastic material such as a reinforcing fiber, and its both ends are bonded and fixed to the outer peripheral surfaces of the terminal blocks 25 and 26, respectively.

With the structure in which the periphery of the flexible coupling connector 10 is covered with the cover 40 in this manner, dust and water droplets are prevented from entering the flexible coupling connector 10 from the outside, and the stability of electrical conduction is ensured. Can be secured. Since the cover 40 is extendable and retractable, the flexible coupling connector 1
It does not prevent the movement of zero.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, although the number of poles of electrical conduction is three in each embodiment, it is needless to say that the number of poles may be two or less or four or more. Further, as the slip ring 16 and the contact member 17 in the rotatable mechanism 11, various types can be used without being limited to the shapes shown in the embodiment. For example, the slip ring 16 may be formed in a groove shape, and the linear contact member 17 may slide in the groove. The shape of the terminals 29 and 30 to which the cords are connected is not limited to the pin shape, but may be various shapes such as a turret shape, a lug shape, and a socket shape.

[0030]

As described above, according to the flexible coupling connector of the present invention, electrical continuity is maintained in response to external forces such as torsion, bending, rotation, and vibration applied to the cord from the surroundings. In addition, disconnection of the cord can be prevented. Also, by covering the periphery of the flexible coupling connector with a telescopic cover,
Dust and water droplets can be prevented from entering, and the stability of electrical conduction can be ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a conventional connector.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the same L-shaped plug.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the flexible coupling connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a three-view drawing (left side view, vertical sectional front view, right side view).

FIG. 5 is an example of the shape of the contact member.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the flexible coupling connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional front view of the same.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the same.

FIG. 9 is an example of the shape of the contact member.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the flexible coupling connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional front view of the same.

FIG. 12 is an example in which the periphery is covered with a cover in the flexible coupling connector of the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an example in which the periphery is covered with a cover in the flexible coupling connector according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an example in which the periphery is covered with a cover in the flexible coupling connector of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Flexible coupling connector 11 Rotatable mechanism part 12, 13 Holding drum (holding body) 14 Connecting shaft 16 Slip ring 17 Contact member 19, 20 Gimbal mechanism part 21, 22 Oscillating ring (oscillating body) 25, 26 Terminal block 29 , 30 terminals 31, 32 connection wires 40 cover

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pair of holding members rotatably connected to each other, a slip ring provided on one holding member, and a contact member provided on the other holding member and in sliding contact with the slip ring. An oscillating member rotatably attached to the pair of holding members, and an external connection to which a cord is attached to the oscillating member so as to be rotatable in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the oscillating member. A flexible coupling connector comprising: a terminal block having terminals; and a connection line that connects the slip ring to one terminal and the contact member to the other terminal. 2. The flexible coupling connector according to claim 1, wherein the flexible coupling connector has a structure in which the periphery is covered with a telescopic cover.