KR100858725B1 - Apparatus and method for measuring insertion force of connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for measuring insertion force of connectors are provided to stop a coupling operation of connectors and calculate insertion force in response to a coupling check signal from a signal output unit installed on the inner bottom surface of a male connector, thereby improving accuracy of measure. An apparatus for measuring insertion force of connectors comprises a measurement module, a signal output unit(32) and a controller. The measurement module measures a load value for force required for coupling a first connector(10) with a second connector(20). The signal output unit outputs a coupling check signal as the first and second connectors are completely coupled with each other. The controller transfers the second connector in the coupling direction so that the first and second connectors are coupled with each other. If the coupling check signal is output from the signal output unit, the controller stops transfer of the second connector to calculate insertion force using the measured load value. The signal output unit includes a switching device(32a) and two hook terminals(32c,32d).

Description

Apparatus and method for measuring connector insertion force {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING INSERTION FORCE OF CONNECTORS}

1 is a block diagram of a connector insertion force measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,

2 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the male and female connectors shown in FIG. 1;

3 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection state of the male and female connectors shown in FIG. 2;

Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a step-by-step method of measuring the connector insertion force in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

`` Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawings ''

10: male connector 11, 12, 13: tab

20: Female connector 21, 22, 23: Receptacle

30: connector insertion force measuring device 31: the first jig

32: signal output section 32a: switching element

32b: pressing plate 32c, 32d: hook terminal

33: second jig 34: load cell

35 control unit 36 display unit

37: communication module

The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a connector insertion force measuring apparatus and method for accurately measuring the insertion force of the male and female connectors.

A connector is a connection mechanism which connects an electric appliance and a cord, or a cord and a cord, and comprises an electric circuit. If the connector is not connected, the electric circuit cannot operate normally. Therefore, inspect the defects after manufacturing the connector. At this time, the key in the connector inspection process is whether the insertion force required to connect the male and female connectors is in an appropriate range. The insertion force refers to the force required when the tab of the male connector and the receptacle of the female connector are fitted to each other. Too much or too little of the insertion force determines the life or contact state of the part. The magnitude of the insertion force is determined by the bent state of the tab and the inner surface of the receptacle and the appropriate degree of thickness thereof.

The connector insertion force measurement method using a universal testing machine, if any one of the male and female connectors, for example, the male connector is fixed, and the female connector is applied for a predetermined time in the male connector direction, the load value for the force This occurs, and the load value is measured and calculated. The connector insertion force measuring device to determine whether the male and female connectors are fully coupled to the naked eye to stop the measurement module to end the insertion force measurement. Therefore, the conventional connector insertion force measuring device is not able to accurately determine whether the male and female connectors are fully engaged, and the force is continuously applied even after being fully coupled. As a result, a problem arises in that the precision is poor when the insertion force is measured.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector insertion force measuring apparatus and a method for improving the accuracy when measuring the insertion force by detecting the fully engaged time of the male and female connectors.

According to a feature of the present invention for achieving the object as described above, the present invention includes a measurement module for measuring the load value for the force required for coupling the first connector and the second connector; A signal output unit configured to output a coupling confirmation signal as the first and second connectors are completely coupled; The second connector is controlled to be transferred in the connecting direction so that the first and second connectors are connected. When the coupling confirmation signal is output, the transfer of the second connector is stopped, and the insertion force is measured using the measured load value. It is configured to include a control unit, is installed on the inner bottom surface of the first connector housing is turned on by the bottom surface of the second connector housing when the second connector reaches the fully engaged position to confirm the coupling It includes a switching element for outputting a signal, and two hook terminals configured at both ends of the switching element and connected to two neighboring tap terminals of the first connector.

The signal output unit may further include a pressing plate that is pressed by the bottom surface of the second connector housing to turn on the switching element when the second connector reaches the fully engaged position.

Preferably, the switching element is a plate switch that turns on the hook terminals as the second connector is transferred.

The switching element is preferably a push switch that is turned on by a pressing plate pressed as the second connector reaches the engagement position.

Preferably, the signal output unit has a height equal to or less than a clearance between the first and second connectors.

Preferably, the first connector is a male connector, and the second connector is a female connector.

In addition, according to another feature of the invention, the present invention comprises the steps of transporting the second connector in the connection direction with the fixed first connector; Measuring a load value for the force required to connect the first and second connectors; Outputting a coupling confirmation signal as the first and second connectors are fully coupled; Stopping the transfer of the second connector according to the engagement confirmation signal, and calculating an insertion force using the rod value measured up to that time, wherein the engagement confirmation signal is configured to include a housing of the second connector. It is output from the switching element turned on by the bottom surface, and is transmitted to the controller through a lead wire connected to two tab terminals of the first connector.

Preferably, the coupling confirmation signal is output from a signal detection unit provided on an inner bottom surface of the first connector housing.

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The present invention preferably further includes displaying the calculated insertion force on the display unit.

The present invention preferably further comprises the step of transmitting the calculated insertion force to another device or a control computer.

According to the present invention having the configuration as described above, the insertion force of the connector is accurately measured by detecting the complete coupling time of the male and female connectors and stopping the measuring operation of the measuring module.

Hereinafter, a connector insertion force measuring apparatus and method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In this embodiment, the male connector is fixed by the first jig fixed to measure the insertion force of the connector, and the female connector will be described using a structure fixed to the second jig conveyed in the connecting direction.

1 is a block diagram of a connector insertion force measuring apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the male and female connectors shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a coupling of the male and female connectors shown in Figure 2 It is sectional drawing which shows a state.

1 and 2, the connector insertion force measuring device 30 according to the present invention is a device for measuring the force, that is, the insertion force required when connecting the male connector 10 and the female connector 20. . The housing 10 ′ of the male connector 10 is fixed by the first jig 31, and the housing 20 ′ of the female connector 20 is fixed by the second jig 33. The second jig 33 is moved in a connecting direction (downward in the drawing) to be connected to the male connector 10 by a transfer module (not shown) driven under the control of the controller 35 to be described later.

The inner bottom surface 14 of the male connector 10 is provided with a signal output unit 32 for outputting a coupling confirmation signal when the male connector 10 and the female connector 20 are fully coupled. The signal output unit 32 is turned on by being pressed by the bottom surface 24 of the female connector housing 20 'to output the coupling confirmation signal to the control unit 35. It consists of a switching element 32a and hook terminals 32c and 32d respectively connected to two adjacent tabs 11 and 12 of the male connector 10.

In FIG. 3, the switching element 32 is turned on by the pressing plate 32b which is pressed as the female connector 20 is moved to the fully engaged position. To this end, the switching element 32a has a clearance L or less between the inner bottom surface 14 of the male connector housing 10 'and the bottom surface 24 of the female connector housing 20'. It is desirable to have. On the other hand, when manufacturing a test connector, the switching element 32a may be configured to be buried in the inner bottom surface 14 of the male connector housing 10 '.

The switching element 32a may use various types of push switches such as a small switch or a plate switch having a height within several mm, such as a micro switch and a limit switch. It should be noted that

1 and 2 again, a measurement module 34 for measuring the force required to couple the male and female connectors 20 is provided at the upper end of the second jig 33. The measurement module 34 preferably uses a load cell that senses the magnitude of the load or force by the amount of electrical change. Since the load cell 34 is already known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

 The control unit 35 is a central processing unit for controlling the entire connector insertion force measuring device 30. The male and female connectors 10 and 20 according to the coupling confirmation signal from the signal output unit 32. ) To control the driving of the transfer module.

In addition, the connector insertion force measuring device 30 is preferably provided with a display unit 36 for displaying the results of the insertion force of the male and female connectors 10 and 20, various menus and operating states. In addition, a communication module 37 for transmitting the measured insertion force to another device or a control computer may be provided.

Next, a method of measuring a connector insertion force according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. This is performed by the controller 35 shown in FIG.

In order to measure the insertion force of the male connector 10 and the female connector 20, a signal output portion 32 is provided on the inner bottom surface 14 of the male connector housing 10 ', and the female connector 20 The load cell 34 is connected to the second jig 33 to be fixed. At this time, the hook terminals 32c and 32d of the signal output unit 32 should be completely coupled to any two adjacent tabs 11 and 12 of the male connector 10. In addition, the switching element 32a of the signal output unit 32 is electrically turned off.

In the tenth step S10 of FIG. 4, the control unit 35 drives the transfer module to move the second jig 33 and the female connector 20 in the connection direction with the male connector 10 (downward in the drawing). Let's do it. Then, when the tabs 11 and 12 of the male connector 10 and the receptacles 21 and 22 of the female connector 20 start to be connected, the load cell 34 is required to connect the male and female connectors 10 and 20. Measure the load value for.

In the 16th step S16, the detection part 32 detects the time point at which the male connector 10 and the female connector 20 are fully engaged. That is, as the male connector 10 and the female connector 20 are fully coupled and the pressing plate 32b is pressed and the switching element 32a is turned on, the signal output unit 32 supplies the current supplied from the control unit 35. A loop is formed to output the coupling confirmation signal to the control unit 35. Accordingly, when the coupling confirmation signal is transmitted, the control unit 35 stops driving the transfer module and calculates an insertion force by using load values measured by the load cell 34 (S18). In addition, the controller 35 displays the calculated insertion force on the display unit 36 or transmits the calculated insertion force to another device or a control computer through the communication module 37.

Through the above process, it can be seen that the present invention has a basic technical idea that the configuration to be able to accurately detect the fully engaged time of the connector to be connected to improve the insertion force measurement accuracy of the connector.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, which are merely exemplary, and a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will be apparent that various modifications, changes, and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

As described above, the present invention stops the connector coupling operation of the measurement module by the coupling confirmation signal of the signal output unit installed on the inner bottom surface of the male connector, and calculates the insertion force. Accordingly, the present invention can accurately detect the time of perfect engagement of the male and female connectors, thereby improving the accuracy of the insertion force measurement.

Claims (11)

A measurement module for measuring a load value with respect to a force required for coupling the first connector and the second connector; A signal output unit configured to output a coupling confirmation signal as the first and second connectors are completely coupled; The second connector is controlled to be transferred in the connecting direction so that the first and second connectors are connected. When the coupling confirmation signal is output, the transfer of the second connector is stopped, and the insertion force is measured using the measured load value. It is configured to include a control unit for calculating, The signal output unit, A switching element installed on an inner bottom surface of the first connector housing and turned on by the bottom surface of the second connector housing when the second connector reaches a fully engaged position and outputting the coupling confirmation signal; And two hook terminals configured at both ends of the switching element and connected to two neighboring tab terminals of the first connector, respectively. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal output unit, And a pressing plate pressed by the bottom surface of the second connector housing to turn on the switching element when the second connector reaches a fully engaged position. The method of claim 1, wherein the switching device, And a plate switch for turning on the hook terminals as the second connector is transferred. The method of claim 1, wherein the switching device, And a push switch turned on by a pressing plate pressed as the second connector reaches the engaging position. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal output unit, And a height less than or equal to the gap between the first and second connectors. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, And the first connector is a male connector, and the second connector is a female connector. Conveying a second connector in a connection direction with a fixed first connector; Measuring a load value for the force required to connect the first and second connectors; Outputting a coupling confirmation signal as the first and second connectors are fully coupled; Stopping the transfer of the second connector according to the engagement confirmation signal, and calculating an insertion force using the load value measured up to that time; The coupling confirmation signal is, The connector insertion force measuring method, characterized in that the output from the switching element is turned on by the bottom surface of the housing of the second connector, and is transmitted to the control unit through a lead wire connected to the two tab terminals of the first connector. The method of claim 7, wherein the coupling confirmation signal, The connector insertion force measuring method, characterized in that output from the signal detection unit is installed on the inner bottom surface of the first connector housing. delete The method of claim 7, wherein And displaying the calculated insertion force on a display unit. The method of claim 7, wherein And transmitting the calculated insertion force to another device or a control computer.

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