WO2016104129A1

WO2016104129A1 - Joint connector manufacturing method

Info

Publication number: WO2016104129A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/084320
Authority: WO
Inventors: 元松井; 康雄大森
Original assignee: 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所; 住友電装株式会社; 住友電気工業株式会社
Priority date: 2014-12-25
Filing date: 2015-12-07
Publication date: 2016-06-30
Also published as: JP2016122588A; JP6241754B2

Abstract

In order to increase manufacturing efficiency of a joint connector while reducing the pitch between cavities, in a process for inserting a joint terminal (5) into a first terminal receiving unit (16) of a housing (15), a tab terminal (6) of the joint terminal (5) advances along a tab entrance path (26) formed in the housing (15). In the tab entrance path (26), a cam unit (27) is formed in a helical shape about the axis, and as the tab terminal (6) advances down the tab entrance path (26), a follower part (8) formed partway along the tab terminal (6) is guided the cam unit (27) so as to apply a twisting about the axis to the tab terminal (6). By this means, the connection can be made with an elastic contact piece (14) of a female terminal (9A, 9B) facing the plate surface direction of the tab terminal (6).

Description

Manufacturing method of joint connector

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a joint connector.

Conventionally, an automobile has a vehicle-mounted network called CAN, and a plurality of nodes (electronic control units) communicate with each other through a wire harness constituting a communication transmission path. The following patent document 1 can be mentioned as what discloses such a technique.

Here, a type in which a plurality of communication wires of a wire harness are connected via a joint connector is disclosed. In the connector, joint terminals from which a plurality of tab terminals protrude are attached in two stages, upper and lower, and the branch points of the main line are connected via female terminals, or the branch lines branching from the main line are connected to the female terminals. To connect through. As a communication line, a twisted pair line is used to make it less susceptible to noise. Among these, one communication line is connected to the joint terminal of one stage, and the other corresponding communication line is connected to the joint terminal of the other stage.

JP 2009-176688 A

By the way, in the above-described joint connector, it is preferable that the distance between the cavities accommodating the respective terminals connected to the paired communication lines in the twisted pair lines is as close as possible. This is because the effect of noise reduction is impaired when the interval is wide. As a countermeasure, the arrangement of the lances is changed so that the bending direction (X direction) of the lances formed in both cavities corresponding to the twisted pair wires is perpendicular to the arrangement direction of both cavities (Y direction). It is possible. If the direction is the same, the cavity will be stacked with the bending space of the lance at the height of the terminal accommodating space, and the pitch between the cavities will increase accordingly. An elastic contact piece for connection with the corresponding tab terminal is formed inside each female terminal, and the bending direction thereof is the X direction, which is the same direction as the bending direction of the lance.

In the above countermeasure structure, the tab terminals of the joint terminals are arranged in the X direction, so that the tabs come into contact with the corresponding elastic contact pieces in the arrangement direction. That is, each tab terminal comes into contact with the elastic contact piece so that the fracture surface when cut out from the base material faces.

However, in this case, when the terminals are connected (slidably contacted), the elastic contact piece may be damaged and the plating may be peeled off. As a countermeasure, it is conceivable that each tab terminal of the joint terminal is twisted by 90 degrees so that the plate surface is opposed to the elastic contact piece instead of the fracture surface. However, since such measures require further processing of the joint terminals, an increase in the process leads to a decrease in manufacturing efficiency.
This invention is completed based on the above situations, Comprising: It aims at providing the manufacturing method of the joint connector which can improve manufacturing efficiency, filling up the pitch between cavities.

The joint connector manufacturing method of the present invention includes a joint terminal formed with a connecting piece and a plurality of tab terminals protruding in parallel from the connecting piece, and each tab terminal can be inserted therein, and the tab terminal is elastic with the tab terminal. A plurality of female terminal fittings having terminal connecting portions formed with flexible contact pieces that can be bent to contact with each other, and a plurality of tab entry paths into which joint terminals can be incorporated and each tab terminal is inserted. One terminal accommodating portion and each tab entry path are concentrically opposed to each other, and a female terminal fitting can be inserted therein. A plurality of cavities each having a flexible lance that is elastically locked to each female terminal fitting are formed therein. And a housing formed with a second terminal accommodating portion, and a method for manufacturing a joint connector in which the elastic contact piece is bent in the same direction as the tab terminal arrangement direction. In the process of assembling the child into the first terminal accommodating portion, the follower portion protruding from each tab terminal is displaced along the cam portion spirally formed around the axis of the tab entry passage in the tab entry passage. Then, each tab terminal is twisted and deformed around the axis of each tab terminal with respect to the connecting piece, and when the joint terminal and the female terminal corresponding to this joint terminal are connected, each tab terminal is moved in the direction of the plate surface. It is possible to contact an elastic contact piece.

In the manufacturing method of the present invention, when the joint terminal is assembled to the first terminal accommodating portion of the housing, each tab terminal enters along the tab entry path. During this time, since the follower portion of the joint terminal is displaced along the cam portion formed in a spiral shape in the tab approach path, the tab terminal is twisted around its axis in the course of entry. When the joint terminal is inserted to the normal position with respect to the first terminal accommodating portion, each tab terminal is twisted to a predetermined angle around the axis. On the other hand, when the female terminal is properly inserted into the second terminal accommodating portion, the female terminal is locked by the lance to be prevented from coming off. At this time, the elastic contact piece in the terminal connection portion of the female terminal is elastic with the surface opposed to the tab terminal in the plate surface direction instead of the fracture surface because each tab terminal is twisted with respect to the coupling piece. In contact with each other and electrically connected. As a result, the elastic contact piece is protected from damage from the fracture surface of the tab terminal.

As described above, according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the twisting of the tab terminal is performed in conjunction with the operation of assembling the joint terminal into the housing. For this reason, a joint connector can be manufactured efficiently.

Diagram showing part of the in-vehicle network Top view of joint terminal The perspective view which shows the connection condition of the joint terminal and female terminal after being twisted Sectional view of the joint connector with the joint terminal and female terminal connected Bottom view of housing Same right side view Same left side view Flat section of housing Front sectional view showing a state in which the joint terminal is inserted shallowly in the first terminal accommodating portion of the housing AA line sectional view of FIG. Front sectional view showing a state in which the joint terminal is inserted to the intermediate position in the first terminal accommodating portion of the housing. BB sectional view of FIG. Front sectional view showing a state where the joint terminal is inserted to the normal depth in the first terminal accommodating portion of the housing. CC sectional view of FIG. The perspective view which shows a tab approach path and a cam part typically Same front view

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the joint connector manufacturing method of the present invention, when the joint terminal is properly accommodated in the first terminal accommodating portion, the surface of the follower portion opposite to the twisting direction is brought into contact with the inner surface of the cam portion. It is preferable to restrict the tab terminal from returning in the direction opposite to the twisting direction.
According to such a configuration, since the spring back does not occur after the tab terminal is twisted, variation in the twist angle due to the spring back can be effectively avoided.
Further, in the housing in which the first terminal accommodating portion and the second terminal accommodating portion corresponding to the first terminal accommodating portion are arranged in a plurality of rows in a direction orthogonal to the bending direction of the lance, the bending direction of the lance The female terminals connected to each of the twisted pair wires may be inserted into the cavities adjacent in the direction orthogonal to each other.
According to such a configuration, the pitch between the cavities adjacent in the direction perpendicular to the lance bending direction is smaller than the pitch between the cavities adjacent in the lance bending direction because there is no lance bending space. . Therefore, each female terminal connected to the twisted pair wire can be inserted into the adjacent cavity in a direction perpendicular to the bending direction of the lance with a small pitch between the cavities. Can be held high.

<Example>
Next, an embodiment embodying the joint connector manufacturing method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Outline of in-vehicle network)
FIG. 1 shows a part of an in-vehicle network called CAN (Control Area Network), and a plurality of electronic control units U can communicate with each other via a wire harness WH.

The wire harness WH includes a main line 1 and branch lines 2 that branch from the main line 1 at a plurality of branch points 3 and are connected to the electronic control units U at the respective branch destinations. Moreover, the trunk line 1 and each branch line 2 are comprised by the twisted pair wire which twisted the two electric wires W in a pair.

In the trunk line 1, a detour path 4 is formed at each branch point 3 toward the joint connector CO. The forward path 4A and the return path 4B in each detour path 4 are relayed in the joint connector CO and branched to each electronic control unit U.

(Joint terminal: see Fig. 2)
A pair of joint terminals 5 shown in FIG. 2 is accommodated in the joint connector CO (only one joint terminal 5 is shown in FIG. 1). The joint terminal 5 is made of a conductive metal, and is formed of three tab terminals 6 arranged in parallel in the width direction and a flat plate-like connecting piece 7 that connects end portions of the tab terminals 6. The electric wires W paired with the twisted pair wires described above are connected to the tab terminals 6 that are paired between the joint terminals 5 via

female terminals

9A and 9B, respectively.

A substantially rectangular follower portion 8 is formed on one side edge in the length direction of each tab terminal 6 so as to protrude. A chamfered portion 8A having a curved surface is formed at the front edge portion of each follower portion 8. The chamfered portion 8A is for smooth entry into a cam portion 27 described later.

The joint terminal 5 is formed by stamping a flat base material with a press, and therefore, both side edges of the tab terminal 6 have broken surfaces. As shown in FIG. 2, when the tab terminal 6 is punched by a press, the plate surface (the front surface and the back surface shown in FIG. 2) and the plate surface of the connecting piece 7 are flush with each other. As shown in FIG. 3, the tab terminal 6 is twisted by 90 degrees around its axis, so that the plate surface of the connecting piece 7 and the tab terminal 6 are connected to each other. The plate surface is in a substantially perpendicular positional relationship. This will be described in detail later.

(Female terminal: see Fig. 3)
The same

female terminals

9A and 9B are used for the main line and the branch line. The

female terminals

9A and 9B are also formed by punching a conductive metal plate material with a press and bending it into a predetermined shape. The

female terminals

9A and 9B are composed of a rectangular tube-shaped terminal connecting portion 10 into which the tab terminal 6 can be inserted, and a wire connecting portion 11 arranged at the rear portion thereof. The electric wire connecting portion 11 further includes a wire barrel 11A for caulking the core wire exposed at the end of the electric wire (each electric wire constituting the twisted pair wire) and an insulation barrel 11B for caulking the covering portion of the electric wire W.

The terminal connection portion 10 is formed by being bent into a rectangular tube shape, and the ceiling surface is a double wall. The outer surface side of the ceiling surface of the terminal connecting portion 10 is cut out at the central portion in the longitudinal direction and has a single structure. On the outer surface side of the ceiling surface of the terminal connection portion 10, a pair of

protrusions

12A and 12B are formed so as to protrude with the notch portion interposed between the front and rear. Both

protrusions

12A and 12B have a function as a stabilizer, and the protrusion 12A on the front side also has a function of locking with a lance 13 described later.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, an elastic contact piece 14 is formed in the terminal connection portion 10 for electrical connection with each tab terminal 6 of the joint terminal 5. As shown in the figure, the elastic contact piece 14 is formed to extend rearward in a cantilevered manner, and can be bent in a direction opposite to the direction in which the

protrusions

12A and 12B protrude. In other words, the elastic contact piece 14 is bent along the bending direction of the lance 13 (X direction: see FIGS. 4 and 6).

(Connector housing: mainly refer to FIGS. 4 to 8)
The housing 15 is made of synthetic resin, and has a pair of first terminal accommodating portions 16 for accommodating the pair of joint terminals 5 (accommodating portions located on the left side in the housing in FIG. Only a first terminal accommodating portion 16 is shown), and a pair for accommodating a total of three female terminals (two pairs of female terminals for trunk line 9A and one pair of female terminals for branch line 9B). The second terminal accommodating portion 17 is formed (in FIG. 4, the accommodating portion is located on the right side in the housing, and only the second terminal accommodating portion 17 on one side is shown in FIG. 4). Each of the second terminal accommodating portions 17 includes a total of three cavities 18 each accommodating two female main terminals 9A and one branch female terminal 9B.

As shown in FIG. 6, the pair of female terminals (the main terminal female terminal 9 A and the branch line female terminal 9 B) connected to the two electric wires W constituting the twisted pair wire are paired with the respective second terminal accommodating portions 17. Are accommodated in cavities 18 arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction (Y direction in the figure). As shown in the figure, in the cavities 18 constituting each second terminal accommodating portion 17, the pitch in the Y direction is set to be narrower than the pitch in the X direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, an insertion hole 20 for penetrating the tab terminal 6 is opened in the boundary wall 19 between each second terminal accommodating portion 17 and the corresponding first terminal accommodating portion 16, and When the lance 13 is formed, a die-cutting hole 21 is formed for enabling die-cutting toward the first terminal accommodating portion 16 side.

Further, a lance 13 that extends in a cantilevered manner toward the front is disposed inside each cavity 18 and in the front portion (a portion near the first terminal housing portion 16). Each lance 13 is formed to be deflectable along the X direction in FIG. The lance 13 prevents the

female terminals

9A and 9B from coming off by elastically locking with the protrusion 12A on the front side of the

female terminals

9A and 9B.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, a retainer mounting hole 22 is opened on one side surface of the housing 15. The retainer mounting hole 22 is formed so as to communicate with all the cavities 18. On the other hand, the retainer 23 mounted in the retainer mounting hole 22 has locking projections 24 that can be locked at the rear ends of the terminal connecting portions 10 of the

female terminals

9A and 9B. Although not shown in detail, the retainer 23 is held on the housing 15 at two positions, a temporary locking position and a main locking position. At the temporary locking position, each locking projection 24 stands by outside the entry path of the

female terminals

9A, 9B, so that each

female terminal

9A, 9B can be inserted into and removed from the cavity 18. In the locking position, each locking projection 24 can be locked into the rear end of the terminal connecting portion 10 by entering the entry path of the

female terminals

9A and 9B.

Next, the first terminal accommodating portion 16 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the first terminal accommodating portion 16 has a two-stage arrangement along the Y direction. As shown in FIG. 13 and the like, a connection piece accommodating portion 25 for accommodating the connection pieces 7 of both joint terminals 5 is formed at the inlet portions of both the first terminal accommodation portions 16. The opening width of the connecting piece housing portion 25 is formed slightly narrower than the width of the connecting piece 7 of the corresponding joint terminal 5. Therefore, in a state where the joint terminal 5 is accommodated in the first terminal accommodating portion 16, the connecting piece 7 is abutted against the inner wall of the first terminal accommodating portion 16 at the front end edge and is pressed into the connecting piece accommodating portion 25. The whole is prevented from being pulled out.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 9, and 10, in each of the first terminal accommodating portions 16, three tab entry paths 26 are formed in parallel along the X direction. Each tab terminal 6 can be inserted. Each tab entry path 26 is formed straight along the front-rear direction and is substantially coaxial with the corresponding cavity 18. The entrance portion of each tab entry path 26 is formed in a state communicating with the connecting piece housing portion 25. The front end of each tab entry path 26 opens to the boundary wall 19 as the insertion hole 20 described above. The tab approach path 26 is formed in a substantially circular hole shape having a hole diameter larger than the outer diameter of the tab terminal 6 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 15 to FIG. 16, a cam portion 27 is formed in communication with each tab entry path 26 over its entire length. The cam portion 27 is formed with a thickness substantially equal to or slightly larger than the plate thickness of the follower portion 8, and can allow the follower portion 8 to enter. As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the cam portion 27 is a straight portion 28 that is straight along the front-rear direction until reaching the position slightly inward from the entrance (the rear end of the housing 15) of the first terminal accommodating portion 16. It has become. A spiral portion 29 is formed in the length range on the front side of the straight portion 28. The spiral portion 29 is formed so as to rotate spirally around the axis of the tab entry path 26. In the case of this embodiment, the turning angle from the start end to the end of the spiral is approximately 90 degrees. The cam portion 27 is formed so as to reach the front end from the end of the spiral while maintaining the cross-sectional shape at the end of the spiral.

However, between the first terminal accommodating portions 16 that make a pair in the Y direction, the turning direction in which the spiral is drawn is opposite. For example, in FIGS. 10, 12, and 14, in the first terminal housing portion 16 positioned on the upper side in the Y direction, the turning direction is clockwise, whereas the first terminal housing portion 16 positioned on the lower side. Then, it is counterclockwise.

Thus, in the process in which the joint terminal 5 is inserted into the first terminal accommodating portion 16, the follower portion 8 of each tab terminal 6 initially advances along the straight portion 28 of the cam portion 27. Does not occur. However, as shown in FIG. 11, when the follower portion 8 enters the spiral portion 29 of the cam portion 27, the front end portion of the connecting piece 7 of the joint terminal 5 enters the connecting piece housing portion 25 and is in the thickness direction. After that, each tab terminal 6 is twisted and deformed around each axis along with the movement of the follower portion 8 along the spiral path of the spiral portion 29. As a result, the follower portion 8 has a relationship that is approximately 90 degrees out of phase with the connecting piece 7. In other words, at the time when the joint terminal 5 is initially inserted into the first terminal accommodating portion 16, the plate surface direction of the tab terminal 6 is the direction along the Y direction, but the joint terminal 5 is the first terminal accommodating portion 16. When the insertion into is completed, the plate surface direction of the tab terminal 6 is converted to the X direction.

In the state where the insertion operation of the joint terminal 5 has been completed, the follower portion 8 is located at the front end portion of the spiral portion 29 and is sandwiched from the plate thickness direction by the opposing inner wall surface of the spiral portion 29. It is regulated not to cause a return (springback) from the deformed state.

Next, an example of the manufacturing procedure of the joint connector CO will be described. First, an operation of accommodating both joint terminals 5 in the first terminal accommodating portion 16 is performed. In that case, each tab terminal 6 of both joint terminals 5 is inserted into the corresponding tab entry path 26, and at the same time, each follower portion 8 is inserted into the straight portion 28 of the corresponding cam portion 27 (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

When the joint terminal 5 is pushed in as it is, the front end portion of the connecting piece 7 enters the inlet portion of the connecting piece housing portion 25 as shown in FIG. It is clamped from the direction. On the other hand, since each follower portion 8 enters the entrance portion of the spiral portion 29, the follower portion 8 is predetermined from the inner surface (cam surface) of the spiral portion 29 around the axis of the tab terminal 6 as the joint terminal 5 is pushed. Receives twisting force in the direction.

Then, when the front end of the connecting piece 7 is abutted against the back wall of the first terminal accommodating portion 16, the insertion of the joint terminal 5 is completed. At this time, both side edges in the longitudinal direction of the connecting piece 7 are bitten into the opposing wall in the connecting piece containing portion 25 and are pressed into the opposite wall, so that the entire joint terminal 5 is housed in the first terminal housing portion 16 in a retaining state. Is done. On the other hand, at this time, each follower portion 8 reaches the front end portion of the spiral portion 29, and each tab terminal 6 is twisted by 90 degrees around its axis until the follower portion 8 reaches here. As a result, as described above, the plate surface of each tab terminal 6 was initially oriented in the Y direction, which is the same direction as the plate surface direction of the connecting piece 7, but was twisted 90 degrees when the joint terminal 5 was accommodated. It is converted in the X direction.

Next, the connection of the main female terminal 9A and the branch female terminal 9B to each tab of the joint terminal 5 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the trunk line 1 has a detour path 4 for each branch point 3 to each electronic control unit U. Each detour path 4 includes an outward path 4A toward the joint connector CO and a return path 4B that returns from the joint connector CO to the main line 1 again. The main female terminals 9A are respectively connected to the ends of the two electric wires W constituting the twisted pair wire serving as the forward path 4A and the ends of the two electric wires W constituting the twisted pair wire serving as the return path 4B. In addition, branch line female terminals 9B are respectively connected to the ends of the two electric wires W constituting the twisted pair wires that are branch lines connected to the respective electronic control units U.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pair of trunk female terminals 9A connected to each end of the twisted pair wire constituting the forward path 4A of the detour path 4 is the second pair that is paired in the Y direction in FIG. 1 is inserted into a cavity 18 at the left end of the terminal accommodating portion 17 (in FIG. 1, the cavity 18 is not shown) (in FIG. 1, only one main female terminal 9A and one joint terminal 5 are shown for convenience of drawing). It is shown). Similarly, the pair of trunk female terminals 9A connected to the return path 4B of the detour path 4 is respectively inserted into the cavities 18 in the center of the second terminal accommodating portions 17 that are paired in the Y direction. Further, the pair of branch line female terminals 9B is inserted into the cavity 18 at the right end of the second terminal accommodating portion 17 that is paired in the Y direction. As described above, when the

female terminals

9A and 9B are inserted into the cavity 18, the retainer 23 is held at the temporary locking position.

Thus, when the

female terminals

9A and 9B are inserted into the corresponding cavities 18, the primary locking by the lance 13 is performed. After that, when the retainer 23 is moved from the temporary locking to the final locking position, the locking protrusions 24 of the retainer 23 are locked to the rear ends of the corresponding terminal terminals 10 of the

female terminals

9A and 9B. The female terminals 9 A and 9 B are double-stopped together with the lance 13.

When the

female terminals

9A and 9B are properly inserted into the corresponding cavities 18 as described above, the tab terminals 6 of the corresponding joint terminals 5 are inserted into the terminal connection portions 10 of the

female terminals

9A and 9B. The In this process, the tab terminal 6 is slidably contacted while bending the elastic contact piece 14 to be in an electrically connected state. During this time, since the elastic contact piece 14 is in contact with the plate surface rather than the fracture surface of the tab terminal 6, it is not damaged from the fracture surface.

As described above, the connection between the branch points 3 of the main line 1 is made by relaying the joint terminal 5 and the main line female terminal 9A for the forward path and the return path in the detour path 4. The whole trunk line 1 is comprised by connecting between the branch points 3 in this way. Further, the joint terminal 5 and the branch line female terminal 9 B are connected at each branch point 3, whereby each electronic control unit U is branched from the main line 1 and connected. In this way, a connection is made at each branch point 3 to construct an in-vehicle network, and communication between the electronic control units U is possible.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the pair of

female terminals

9A and 9B connected to the twisted pair wires constituting the main line 1 and the branch line 2 are brought close to the inside of the housing 15, that is, the corresponding cavity 18 The interval (interval in the Y direction) can be reduced. Therefore, the high noise removal function of the twisted pair wire can be maintained as it is even at the connection site with the connector. In adopting such a configuration, even if the position of the lance 13 is changed, the tab terminal 6 is twisted approximately 90 degrees around the axis, so that the elastic contact piece 14 of the female terminal is connected to the tab terminal of the joint terminal 5. The elastic contact piece 14 can be protected from damage without contacting the fracture surface 6. In addition, since the twisting of the tab terminal 6 is not performed in advance, but is performed in accordance with the operation of inserting the joint connector CO into the housing 15, the manufacturing efficiency of the joint connector is increased by the absence of the prior processing. be able to.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the follower portion 8 is located at the front end portion of the spiral portion 29 in a state where the insertion operation of the joint terminal 5 is completed, and is sandwiched from the plate thickness direction by the opposing inner wall surface of the spiral portion 29. Therefore, each tab terminal 6 does not cause a return (springback) from the twisted state. Therefore, the effect that the tab terminal 6 can be stably in contact with the plate surface of the elastic contact piece 14 of the corresponding

female terminal

9A, 9B is also obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Joint terminal 6 ... Tab terminal 7 ... Connection piece 8 ... Follower part 9A ... Female terminal for trunk lines 9B ... Female terminal for branch lines 14 ... Elastic contact piece 15 ... Housing 16 ... 1st terminal accommodating part 17 ... 2nd terminal accommodating 26 ... Tab access path 27 ... Cam part CO ... Joint connector

Claims

A joint terminal formed with a connecting piece and a plurality of tab terminals protruding in parallel from the connecting piece;
A plurality of female terminal fittings each having a terminal connection portion in which each of the tab terminals can be inserted and a flexible contact piece capable of bending to elastically contact the tab terminal is formed;
The joint terminal can be incorporated, and a first terminal accommodating portion formed with a plurality of tab entry paths into which the tab terminals are inserted, and the female terminal fittings can be inserted coaxially facing the tab entry paths. And a housing formed with a second terminal housing portion having a plurality of cavities in which flexible lances that are elastically locked to the respective female terminal fittings are formed, and bending the elastic contact piece A method for manufacturing a joint connector, the direction of which is the same direction as the arrangement direction of the tab terminals,
In the process of incorporating the joint terminal into the first terminal accommodating portion, the follower portion that is formed to protrude from each tab terminal is replaced with a cam portion that is formed in a spiral shape around the axis of the tab entry path. When the tab terminals are twisted and deformed around the axis of each tab terminal with respect to the connecting piece, the joint terminals and the female terminals corresponding to the joint terminals are connected. A method of manufacturing a joint connector, characterized in that each tab terminal can be brought into contact with the elastic contact piece in the plate surface direction.
When the joint terminal is properly accommodated in the first terminal accommodating portion, the surface of the follower portion opposite to the twisting direction is brought into contact with the inner surface of the cam portion so that the tab terminal is opposite to the twisting direction. The method of manufacturing a joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the return to the direction is restricted.
In the housing, wherein the first terminal accommodating portion and the second terminal accommodating portion corresponding to the first terminal accommodating portion are arranged in a plurality of rows in a direction orthogonal to the bending direction of the lance.
3. The method of manufacturing a joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the female terminal connected to each of the twisted pair wires is inserted into the cavity adjacent in a direction orthogonal to the bending direction of the lance.