JP3322453B2 - Connector assembly method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for assembling a connector,
In particular, it relates to a method for implanting contacts in the body of a connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of assembling a connector, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-183081 is known. In this conventional example, a large number of contacts are arranged side by side with the metal strip on one side of the metal strip via a notch, the contacts are inserted into the body, and the metal strip is cut off at the notch. ing.

Conventionally, the metal strip 1 is gripped by the chuck 51 while the contact 3 is supported by the guide 50 as shown in FIG. 14, and the chuck 51 is turned as shown by an arrow in FIG. In general, the notch portion 2 is cut off by moving. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 6 denotes a body.

[0004]

However, FIG.
In the conventional example shown in FIG. 1, a large number of contacts 3 provided on one metal strip 1 can only be cut off at the same time, and the contacts 3 cannot be cut off from many metal strips 1 at the same time. In other words, the cutting operation can be performed only one row at a time, which takes a long time. In addition, when the multi-row metal strips 1 are incorporated in the body 6, if the interval between the metal strips 1 is short, the strips are sandwiched by the chuck 51 and cut off. Work was difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has as its object the purpose of incorporating contacts into a large number of bodies and simultaneously folding each contact from a large number of metal strips. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of assembling a connector which can be detached and separated.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the problems of the prior art and achieve the object of the present invention, the connector assembling method of the present invention employs a metal strip 1 on one side of the metal strip 1. A large number of contacts 3 are integrally arranged side by side through a notch portion 2, and the side opposite to the contacts 3 of the metal strip 1 in which many contacts 3 are arranged is arranged in a large number of parallel grooves 5 provided on an alignment table 4. A plurality of contacts 3 adjacent to the metal strip 1 which are fitted and arranged in parallel are arranged in a row in a direction orthogonal to the metal strip 1, and a contact comprising a large number of contacts 3 arranged in a row in a direction orthogonal to the metal strip 1 Each of the bodies 6 is fitted into the row L, and thereafter, by fitting the contact row L, a number of metal strips 1 combined so as to be orthogonal to the plurality of bodies 6 are pulled out of the alignment table 4, and a number of the bodies 6 are formed. Built into this The body-side support member 7 and the metal-strip-side support member are held in such a state that a large number of metal strips 1 orthogonal to the body 6 are sandwiched between the body-side support member 7 and the metal-strip-side support member 8 by applying pressure from above and below. 8 is reciprocated in a direction perpendicular to the metal strip 1 to cut off the notch 2 of the protruding base projecting each contact 3 from the metal strip 1.

Also, a number of locking grooves 9 are juxtaposed on the metal strip side supporting member 8, and the tips of the metal strips 1 arranged in parallel with the juxtaposed locking grooves 9 may be fitted. preferable.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the metal strip 1 on which a number of contacts 3 are arranged side by side is inserted into a plurality of parallel grooves 5 on the opposite side of the contacts 3 from the contacts 3 and arranged in parallel. Adjacent contacts 3 of the strip 1 are arranged in a line in a direction orthogonal to the metal strip 1, and each of the bodies 6 is arranged in a contact row L composed of a number of contacts 3 arranged in a row in the direction orthogonal to the metal strip 1. The contacts 3 can be incorporated into many bodies 6 at the same time by fitting the contacts 3 in this manner. After the contacts 3 are incorporated into many bodies 6 in this way, the contact rows L are fitted into many bodies 6 A large number of metal strips 1 combined so as to be orthogonal to each other are pulled out from the alignment table 4, and a large number of bodies 6 and a large number of metal strips 1 which are incorporated therein and are orthogonal to the body 6 are lifted up. When at least one of the body-side support member 7 and the metal band-side support member 8 is sandwiched by applying pressure between the body-side support member 7 and the metal band-side support member 8 in the direction orthogonal to the metal band 1. Reciprocating metal strip 1
Then, the notch 2 of the projecting base projecting each contact 3 is cut off so that each contact 3 can be cut off simultaneously from many metal strips 1.

A large number of locking grooves 9 are juxtaposed in the metal strip side supporting member 8, and the tips of the metal strips 1 arranged in parallel with the juxtaposed locking grooves 9 are fitted. The body-side support members 7 to 8 are sandwiched between the body-side support member 7 and the metal-band-side support member 8 from above and below, and a large number of bodies 6 and a large number of metal strips 1 incorporated therein and orthogonal to the body 6. When at least one of the metal strip side support members 8 is reciprocated in a direction orthogonal to the metal strip 1 and the notch portion 2 of the protruding base projecting each contact 3 from the metal strip 1, a large number of All the notches 2 can be reliably cut off with the tip of the metal strip 1 held securely.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. 1 to 11 show one embodiment of the method of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, on one side of the metal strip 1, a number of contacts 3 are arranged side by side with the metal strip 1 via a notch 2. The metal strip 1 having such a large number of contacts 3 is formed by stamping a metal hoop material, and is cut to a required length (that is, a length corresponding to the number of cores of the connector).

Thus, in the present invention, the metal strip 1 having a large number of contacts 3 cut to the required length on one side is aligned and arranged on the alignment table 4 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 10, the alignment table 4 has a large number of parallel grooves 5 formed on the upper surface thereof.
Of the metal strip 1 on the side opposite to the contact 3 are arranged. Then, a pilot pin 11 is inserted into a pilot pin insertion hole 10 provided in the alignment table 4 at right angles to the parallel groove 5, and in this case, the hole 1 of the metal strip 1 inserted in parallel is inserted.
2 is inserted into the parallel groove 5 by inserting the pilot pin 11, the adjacent metal strips 1 are aligned with each other, and the adjacent contacts 3 of the parallel metal strips 1 are orthogonal to the metal strips 1. Line up in the direction you want.

Next, as shown in FIG.
The body 6 is fitted into a contact row L composed of a large number of contacts 3 arranged in a row in a direction perpendicular to the direction. In this case, the holes of the body 6 are press-fitted after being inserted into a contact row L including a large number of contacts 3 arranged in a line in a direction orthogonal to the metal strip 1. Next, the pilot pin 11 is pulled out, and the contact row L
Is inserted, a large number of metal strips 1 combined so as to be orthogonal to a large number of bodies 6 are extracted from the parallel grooves 5 of the alignment table 4.

Next, a large number of bodies 6 and a large number of metal strips 1 incorporated therein and orthogonal to the body 6 are pressed and held by a body side support member 7 and a metal strip side support member 8 from above and below. Either of the body-side support member 7 and the metal strip-side support member 8 may be placed on either side. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the body-side support member 7 is at the bottom and the metal strip-side support member 8 is at the top. Therefore, in this embodiment, after the state shown in FIG. 2 so that the metal strip 1 is positioned on the upper side, a block in which a number of bodies 6 and a number of metal strips 1 are combined at right angles is turned upside down. A large number of bodies 6 are placed and set on the upper surface of the side support member 7, and the metal band side support member 8 is lowered from above to press and hold the metal band 1. Here, a large number of body supporting projections 13 are juxtaposed on the body supporting surface of the body-side supporting member 7, and each body 6 is supported by fitting the concave portion 14 into the body supporting projection 13. A large number of bodies 6 are placed on the upper surface of the support member 7. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, a large number of locking grooves 9 are juxtaposed on the metal strip supporting surface of the metal strip side support member 8,
The spacing between the metal strips 1 is maintained by fitting the tips of the metal strips 1 arranged in parallel in the juxtaposed locking grooves 9.

In the present invention, one of the body-side support member 7 and the metal band-side support member 8 reciprocates in a direction orthogonal to the metal band 1.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the body-side support member 7 is pressed and clamped in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3 by the metal strip-side support member 8, and the body-side support member 7 in FIGS. It reciprocates in the direction C.

Thus, the body-side support member 7 is reciprocated in the directions shown by arrows B and C in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the metal-strip-side support member 8 pressed and clamped in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Thus, the notch portions 2 of the protruding base portions that protrude the respective contacts 3 from the many metal strips 1 are simultaneously cut off. FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C show the body-side support member 7.
Are moved and the notch portion 2 is cut off. That is, ... (a) → (b) → (c) → (b) →
(A) The folding operation is performed in the order of...

Here, if the notch angle 2 of the notch 2 in FIG. 5 is small, the notch 2
Will not break. For this reason, if the number of times of breaking is increased, the contact 3 that breaks and the contact 3 that does not break vary, leading to deformation of the body 6. On the other hand, when the angle θ at which the notch portion 2 is bent is increased, the notch portion 2 is easily detached from the locking groove 9. For this reason, a groove shape and a pressing pressure for preventing the groove from coming off are required. Further, if the bending angle θ is further increased, the metal band side support members 8 overlap, and the notch portion 2 cannot be tilted to the opposite side, so that the bending angle θ cannot be increased from the groove shape. For the above reasons, it is necessary to find the optimum relationship between the notch angle 2 of the notch 2 and the pressing pressure. As a result of the experiment, the bending angle θ of the notch portion 2 shown in FIG. 5A is about 25 °, the pressing force P (per core) is about 83 g, and the shape of the locking groove 9 is shown in FIG. And the height H is made as large as possible.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the size from the end face of the body 6 to the notch portion 2 is reduced,
However, it is possible to eliminate the need for a separate member guide used when the conventional notch portion 2 is cut off by acting as a guide. The body-side support member 7 is reciprocated in the directions indicated by arrows B and C in FIGS. 3 and 4 while the notch portion 2 is pressed and clamped in the direction of arrow A in FIG. In this case, the tip of the metal strip 1 moves in an arc as shown in FIG. For this reason, the metal strip-side support member 8 also needs to make an arc movement. Thus, the metal strip side support member 8
9 (b), 9 (c) and 9 (d) are conceivable as a link mechanism for causing the circular motion of. That is, a link plate 16 pivotally supported by a shaft 15 is hung down on an end of the metal strip-side support member 8, and another shaft 17 is protruded below the link plate 16 (which may be rotatable). Further, a bearing recess 18 is provided at an end of the body-side support member 7. Then, as shown in FIG.
Is raised, a block composed of a large number of bodies 6 and a large number of metal strips 1 incorporated therein and orthogonal to the body 6 is set. Then, as shown in FIG. The lower side support member 8 is lowered to fit the shaft 17 into the bearing recess 18 (this state is such that a number of bodies 6 are placed and set on the upper surface of the body side support member 7 and the metal strip side support member is set from above. 8 is lowered and the metal strip 1 is pressed and clamped), and then pressed in the direction of arrow A by the metal strip-side support member 8 as shown in FIG. By moving the support member 7 in the directions indicated by the arrows B and C, the metal strip-side support member 8 makes an arc motion as shown by a dashed line in FIG. 9D.

The above-described embodiment of the present invention may be manual assembling, or may be automatic assembling in which a part or the whole is automated. FIGS. 12 and 13 show an example of an assembly line in the case of automation. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a hoop material rewinding device, which is formed by punching a metal hoop material and winding the metal band material 1 having a large number of contacts 3 in a coil shape without cutting, from the hoop material rewinding device. Are supplied sequentially.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a twisting device, which twists the metal strip 1 having the supplied contact 3 by 90 ° and feeds it forward. That is, in this embodiment, by twisting with the twisting device 21, the metal strip 1 is positioned downward and many contacts 3 are positioned upward as shown in FIG. 12B. In the drawing, reference numeral 22 denotes a transfer rotating roller, which has a hooking projection 23 projecting from the outer peripheral portion. The hooking projection 23 is hooked on the hole 12 provided in the metal strip 1 and rotated to rotate the metal strip 1. Is to be transported.

In the drawing, reference numeral 24 denotes a cutter for cutting the metal strip 1 having the contacts 3 into a length corresponding to the number of cores of the connector. A metal strip aligning device 25 for inserting the metal strip 1 into the alignment table 4 is provided in front of the cutter 24. The metal strip aligning device 25 is configured to move the movable table 26 by a stepping motor 27, and sets the movable table 4 having a large number of parallel grooves 5 formed on the upper surface thereof on the movable table 26. Metal strip 1 to contact 3
Is inserted into the parallel groove 5 with the metal strip 1 facing up.
When the insertion of the metal strip is completed, the movable base 26 is moved by a predetermined length, and the next metal strip 1 is similarly inserted into the next parallel groove 5 with the contact 3 up, and the same is repeated one after another. The metal strips 1 are inserted into the parallel grooves 5 with the contacts 3 facing upward, and the metal strips 1 are aligned and arranged on the alignment table 4.

A body supply device 28 is provided in front of the metal band aligning device 25. The body 6 is supplied from the body supply device 28, and a large number of contacts 3 are arranged in a line in a direction orthogonal to the metal band 1. The body 6 is fitted into each of the contact rows L. Then, the body supply device 28
The body 6 is press-fitted into a contact row L composed of a large number of contacts 3 arranged in a row in a direction orthogonal to the metal strip 1 by a body press-fitting device 29 arranged in front of the body 6. here,
The body supply device 28 includes a body supply device 28a for supplying a body serving as a socket and a body supply device 28b for supplying a body serving as a header. Any one of the body supply devices 28a and 28b is used depending on the purpose. The body 6 is supplied from one side.

A cover supply device 30 is provided in front of the body press-fitting device 29. When it is necessary to incorporate the cover 31 into the body 6, the cover supply device 30 supplies the cover 31 to the body 6. Become. Of course, if it is not necessary to incorporate the cover 31,
Is not supplied. The case where the cover 31 is required means, for example, that the cover 31 is necessary when the body 6 is a header body and is a floating type.

When the cover 31 is supplied by the cover supply device 30 and the cover 31 is incorporated into the body 6, a large number of metal strips 1 are assembled so as to be orthogonal to the many bodies 6 by fitting the contact rows L. From the parallel groove 5 of the alignment table 4 (the metal strip 1 is also extracted from the alignment table 4 even when the cover 31 does not need to be incorporated),
Transfer on the line to the next process. On the other hand, the empty alignment table 4 is moved to the metal strip alignment apparatus 2 through the alignment table return line 32.
5 and is supplied to the metal strip aligning device 25 one by one.

A notch breaking device 33 is provided in front of the cover feeding device 30. The notch breaking device 33 includes a body side support member 7 and a metal strip side support member 8.
In this embodiment, the body-side support member 7
Is located above, and the metal strip side support member 8 is located below. Then, a large number of bodies 6 and a large number of metal strips 1 incorporated therein and orthogonal to the body 6 are pressed and sandwiched by the body-side support members 7 and the metal-band-side support members 8 from above and below. In this embodiment, the tips of a large number of metal strips 1 are fitted into a large number of locking grooves 9 provided on the upper surface of the metal strip side support member 8, respectively. The body 6 provided is pressed and pinched, and in this pressed state, at least one of the body-side support member 7 and the metal band-side support member 8 reciprocates in a direction orthogonal to the metal band 1 to form a large number of metal bands. Each notch 2 of the material 1 is cut off. A large number of metal strips 1 from which the notch portion 2 has been cut off are discarded by a scrap chute 34 provided next to the notch portion tearing-off device 33, and a large number of bodies 6 incorporating a large number of contacts 3 are transferred through the line as they are. In the next inspection device 35, the image is taken by the camera 36 and the appearance inspection is performed, and the characteristic inspection device 37 performs the characteristic inspection. Next, packaging is performed with a carrier tape 38 such as an embossed carrier tape.

[0025]

According to the present invention, as described above, a number of contacts are juxtaposed on one side of the metal strip with the metal strip via a notch portion, and the contacts are juxtaposed. The opposite side of the contact of the metal strip is inserted into a large number of parallel grooves provided on the alignment table, and adjacent contacts of the parallel metal strip are arranged in a line in a direction orthogonal to the metal strip. Each body is fitted into a contact row consisting of a large number of contacts arranged in a row in a direction perpendicular to the material, so that the contacts can be incorporated into many bodies at the same time and productivity is improved. After assembling the contacts into the body at the same time, by inserting the contact row, many metal strips combined so as to be orthogonal to many bodies are pulled out from the alignment table, and many The body-side support member and the metal band side in a state where pressure is applied between the body and the metal band-side support member from above and below by applying pressure to the body and a number of metal bands that are incorporated in the body and are orthogonal to the body. At least one of the support members is reciprocated in a direction orthogonal to the metal strip, and the notch portion of the protruding base projecting each contact from the metal strip is cut off, whereby each contact is simultaneously folded from many metal strips. Can be removed, improving productivity.Also, even when the distance between the contacts incorporated in the body is narrow, it can be reliably cut off at the notch part, and it can be manufactured even when the distance between the contacts incorporated in the body is small. is there.

Further, a large number of locking grooves are arranged in parallel on the metal strip side supporting member, and the tips of the metal strips arranged in parallel are fitted into the juxtaposed locking grooves, so that a large number of bodies are formed. And at least one of the body-side support member and the metal-strip-side support member in a state where a large number of metal strips incorporated in the body and orthogonal to the body are sandwiched from above and below by the body-side support member and the metal-strip-side support member. When the notch of the protruding base that protrudes each contact from the metal strip by reciprocating in the direction orthogonal to the metal strip is cut off, move while securely supporting the tips of many metal strips. All the notches can be reliably cut off, and a large number of notches can be reliably cut off.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a step of setting a large number of metal strips on an alignment table according to one embodiment of the present invention.
(B) is a side view.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a process of inserting a body according to the first embodiment;
Is a perspective view, and (b) is a side view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a step of pressing and holding the body and the metal strip by pressing the body and the metal strip from above and below by a body-side support member and a metal strip-side support member;

FIGS. 4 (a), (b) and (c) are explanatory views showing an operation state for notching a notch portion in the above.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory view showing a notch folding angle and a pressing force according to the embodiment, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory view of a locking groove.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a contact is incorporated into a body and a tip end of a metal strip is fitted into a locking groove when the notch portion is cut off.

FIG. 7 is a cut-away front view of a metal strip integrally provided with a large number of contacts used therein.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a metal strip integrally provided with a large number of contacts used therein.

FIG. 9 (a) is an explanatory view showing movement of a metal strip and a locking groove at the time of a breaking operation of the above notch;
(B), (c), and (d) are explanatory views of a link mechanism for causing the metal strip-side support member to move in an arc.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show an alignment table used in the above, wherein FIG. 10A is a front view, FIG. 10B is a plan view, FIG. 10C is a side view, and FIG. 10D is an enlarged sectional view of a parallel groove portion. It is.

FIG. 11 shows a metal strip-side support member used in the above.
(A) is a front view, (b) is a plan view, (c)
Is a side view, and (d) is an enlarged sectional view of a locking groove portion.

FIG. 12 (a) is a schematic plan view of a line showing an example of automation of the method of the present invention, and FIG. 12 (b) is a front view of a metal strip after passing through a twisting device.

FIG. 13 is a schematic front view of a line showing an example of automation of the above.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where a notch portion in a conventional example is cut off.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Metal strip 2 Notch part 3 Contact 4 Alignment table 5 Parallel groove 6 Body 7 Body side support member 8 Metal strip side support member 9 Lock groove

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-1-183,081 (JP, A) JP-A-59-33773 (JP, A) JP-A-63-121283 (JP, A) JP-A-4- 141976 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model 5-20289 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 63-63200 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 43/00 H01R 43 / 20 H05K 13/04

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A metal strip having a plurality of contacts arranged in parallel with a metal strip via a notch on one side of the metal strip, and a side of the metal strip having a large number of contacts arranged opposite to the contact is aligned. A large number of parallel grooves provided in the table are fitted into a large number of parallel grooves, and adjacent contacts of the metal strips arranged in parallel are arranged in a row in a direction orthogonal to the metal strips, and a large number of rows are arranged in a row in a direction orthogonal to the metal strips. Each body is fitted into a contact row consisting of contacts, and then a large number of metal strips combined perpendicular to many bodies are pulled out from the alignment table by fitting the contact rows, and then assembled into many bodies and this The body-side support member and the metal-band-side support portion are sandwiched by applying pressure to the body-side support member and the metal-band-side support member from above and below with a large number of metal strips orthogonal to the body. A method of assembling a connector, characterized in that at least one of the members is reciprocated in a direction orthogonal to the metal band and a notch portion of a protruding base projecting each contact from the metal band is cut off. 2. The metal strip side supporting member is provided with a plurality of locking grooves arranged side by side, and the tips of the metal strips arranged in parallel are fitted into the juxtaposed locking grooves. Connector assembly method.