JP2654476B2 - Multi-pole connector - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a multi-pole connector having a plurality of contacts held in a housing, and more particularly, to a wiring of this substrate which is directly inserted into a printed board or the like. The present invention relates to a multi-pole connector configured to hold a plurality of contacts each having a leg portion electrically connected to the connector.

(Prior Art) A multipolar connector 1 as shown in FIG. 7 is often used as a connector for electrically connecting a wiring pattern of a printed circuit board to an external electric wire or the like. The multi-pole connector 1 has a plurality of contacts 3 formed by an insulating housing 2.
An opening for inserting a mating terminal is formed in the front end face 2a of the housing 2,
The mating terminal inserted from this opening engages with the terminal portion of the contact 3 held in the housing 2 so as to be electrically connected. This contact 3 is the housing 2
Behind the rear end face 2b, for example, in three rows, have projecting legs 3a, 3b, 3c, and these legs 3a, 3b, 3c are inserted into connection holes formed in the printed circuit board. Accordingly, the wiring pattern connected to the connection hole and the contact 3 are electrically connected.

In such a multipolar connector 1, the pitch between the legs 3a, 3b, and 3c projecting outwardly in a plurality of rows (three in this example) is equal to the pitch of the connection holes of the board into which these are inserted. Although it is necessary to match them, there is a case where the leg pitch is erroneously changed during handling of the multipolar connector 1 by erroneously pushing the leg and partially bending the leg. If the pitch between the legs is incorrect, it becomes very difficult to insert the printed circuit board into the connection holes.
As shown in the figure, an alignment plate 4 having three rows of through inserts 4a, 4b, 4c aligned with the pitches of the legs 3a, 3b, 3c is inserted into the through holes 4a, 4b, 4c. , 3c, and insert legs 3a, 3
b, 3c to prevent bending deformation of the legs by holding the alignment plate 4 even if the legs are accidentally pressed during handling, etc., so that the pitch of the legs 3a, 3b, 3c is not disturbed. I have.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) A plurality of legs protruding outward of the multi-pole connector are held by the alignment plate 4 as described above, thereby preventing bending deformation of the legs and pitch of the legs. Can be prevented from going out of order, but since the tip positions of the legs 3a, 3b, 3c usually vary slightly, especially when the number of legs 3a, 3b, 3c is large,
It becomes difficult to insert the legs 3a, 3b, 3c into the insertion holes 4a, 4b, 4c of the alignment plate 4.

A connector has been proposed in which a terminal arrangement shelf having slits provided in accordance with the terminal pitch is integrally formed with the housing in order to absorb displacements and variations in the manufacturing of the terminal legs of the connector and maintain the terminals in order. (Japanese
61-13585).

However, since the terminal arrangement shelf of this connector is integral with the housing, it is difficult to align a plurality of rows of terminals collectively on the terminal arrangement shelf, and the workability of arranging terminals on the terminal arrangement shelf is not good. There is a problem. When the terminal arrangement shelf is separate from the housing (for example,
In Japanese Patent No. 4287), since the slits penetrate the terminal arrangement shelf in the vertical direction, the strength of the terminal arrangement shelf is significantly reduced, and the dimensions and pitch of the slit may change due to warpage.

Therefore, the present invention has a connector that solves the above-mentioned problems, that is, an alignment plate that has good workability in inserting the contact leg into the insertion hole without reducing the structural strength and dimensional stability. The purpose is to provide a connector.

(Means for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention, a plurality of contacts having legs to be inserted and connected into connection holes of a printed circuit board, the plurality of contacts are held, and the legs are arranged in a plurality of rows on a rear surface. A multi-pole connector comprising a housing projecting outward from the housing, and a plurality of rows of insertion holes for aligning each of the legs, and an alignment plate separate from the housing, wherein the alignment plate comprises: A guide groove extending in a direction perpendicular to the row direction of the insertion holes and opening toward a rear surface of the housing, and communicating with an upper end of the insertion hole; It is characterized by having a possible groove width.

(Operation) When the leg of the contact is relatively moved along the tapered guide groove, the tip of the leg is aligned with the guide groove, so that the leg can be easily inserted into the insertion hole of the alignment plate.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an alignment plate according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the process of inserting the contact leg into the alignment plate of FIG. The multi-pole connector (not shown) is a conventional multi-pole connector 1 (7th
Similarly to FIG. 2), a housing 13 made of an insulating material, and a terminal 13 a, which has a terminal portion that once comes into contact with a mating terminal and is inserted into the connection hole of the printed board at the other end and soldered to the wiring pattern of this board. It comprises a plurality of contacts having 14a, 15a and an alignment plate 26 for aligning the legs 13a, 14a, 15a of these contacts. Multiple contact legs 13
a, 14a, and 15a project rearward from the rear surface of the housing in a state of being aligned in three rows, and are bent at a right angle on the way to extend downward as shown in the state of being aligned in three rows. The alignment plate 26 attached to the legs 13a, 14a, 15a is made of an insulating material, and the upper surface thereof has three steps 26a, 26b, 26 having a stepped shape.
formed from c. And these three surfaces 26a, 26b, 2
A plurality of horizontally arranged insertion holes 27, 28, 29 for inserting the legs 13a, 14a, 15a arranged in three rows in each of 6c are formed on the upper surface 26a. At the upper end of the insertion hole 27, each of the guide grooves 27a opened toward the middle surface 26b
A fan-shaped tapered portion 27b is formed in the opening of the guide groove 27a toward the middle surface 26b. In addition,
The above-mentioned alignment plate is provided on the middle surface 26b and the lower surface 26c.
As in the case of 16, a plurality of insertion holes 28, 29 are formed side by side, and the upper ends of the insertion holes 27, 28, 29 are formed with inverted conical tapered portions 27c, 28a, 29a.

In order to attach the alignment plate 26 having the above shape to the legs 13a, 14a, and 15a, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer leg 13a is moved in the lateral direction (the direction of arrow B) with the outer leg 13a approaching the middle surface 26b. And the outer leg 13a is guided into the guide groove 27a by the tapered portion 27b. When the legs 13a forming the outer rows completely enter the guide grooves 27a, the lower ends of the legs 13a are located immediately above the outer insertion holes 27, and the legs 14a forming the center and the inner rows. The lower ends of 15a are located directly above the center and inner insertion holes 28, 29, respectively. Therefore, when the legs 13a, 14a, and 15a are moved downward (in the direction of arrow A) in this state, the outer legs 13a are inserted into the outer insertion holes 27 as they are because they are guided by the guide grooves 27a. At the same time, the central leg portion 14a is guided by the tapered portion 28a and inserted into the insertion hole 28. And legs 13a, 14a, 15a
Is further moved downward, the inner leg 15a is guided by the tapered portion 29a and is inserted into the insertion hole 29, and the leg 13a, 1
The attachment of the alignment plate 26 to 4a and 15a is completed. The outermost leg portion 13a has a longer overall length than the other leg portions 14a and 15a, and thus has a large variation in the tip position. However, since the outermost leg portion 13a is guided by the guide groove 27a, the insertion of the insertion hole 27 is easy.

Still another example of the alignment plate will be described with reference to FIGS. The alignment plate 36 has three steps 36a, 36b, and 36c like the above-described alignment plate 26. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the respective surfaces 36a, 36b,
A plurality of guide grooves 40 are formed at right angles to the direction in which 36c extends (the direction in which the row extends) and extend from the lower surface 36c to the upper surface 36a, and are used to insert the legs 13a, 14a, and 15a. The insertion holes 37, 38, 39 aligned in a row are connected to the two surfaces 36a, 36a.
The holes are pierced vertically from b and 36c through the guide groove 40. The insertion holes 37, 38,
An inverted conical tapered portion 37a, 38a, 39a is formed at the upper end of 39, and the open end of the groove 40 at the inner side end of the three stepped surfaces is a fan-shaped tapered portion 40a, 40b, respectively. 40c
Are formed.

In order to attach the alignment plate 36 to the legs 13a, 14a, and 15a, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower ends of the legs 13a, 14a, and 15a are positioned slightly above the bottom surface of the guide groove 40. The legs 13a, 14a, and 15a are moved in the lateral direction (the direction of arrow B) to sequentially enter the guide grooves 40 from the outer legs 13a. When the lower part of each leg 13a, 14a, 15a completely enters the guide groove 40, the lower end of each leg 13a, 14a, 15a is located directly above each insertion hole 37, 38, 39. Therefore, the legs 13a, 14a,
When 15a is pushed downward (in the direction of arrow A), each leg 13a, 14
The a and 15a are respectively guided by the tapered portions 37a, 38a and 39a and inserted into the respective insertion holes 37, 38 and 39, whereby the mounting of the alignment plate 36 to the legs 13a, 14a and 15a is completed.

The alignment plate 36 has a first protrusion 35b extending in the lateral direction formed on the side surface on the front side (left side in FIG. 4) of the lower surface 36c, and extends forward below the first protrusion. A plate-shaped locking portion 35a is formed, and a second protrusion (see FIG. 3) 35c extending forward and backward is formed on both side surfaces. These projections 35b, 35c and locking portions 35a are for fixing the alignment plate 36 to the housing 32 with the alignment plate 36 attached to the legs 13a, 14a, 15a.
As shown in FIG. 5, a first engaging groove 32c is formed on the rear surface 32b to extend in the lateral direction to engage with the first protrusion 35b, and the lower surface is in contact with the engaging portion 35a. And a mounting step 33 formed integrally on both sides of the housing 32 to fix the housing 32 to a printed board or the like. A second engagement groove 33a for engagement is formed. In addition,
A notch 33b is formed on the lower surface of the mounting block 33 to allow inward elastic deformation of a portion where the second engagement groove 33a is formed. For this reason, the legs 13a, 14a, 15a are inserted into the insertion holes 37, 38, 39, and the alignment plate 36 is moved to the legs 13a,
14a and 15a, the first engagement protrusion 35b and the first engagement groove 32
c, the second engagement projection 35c and the second engagement groove 33a are respectively engaged, and the engagement portion 35a is abutted against the engagement step 32c, and the alignment plate 36 is engaged with the housing 32. Supported. It should be noted that the structure in which the alignment plate is engaged with and supported by the housing in this manner can be used in the case of the alignment plate described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and the following alignment plate. is there.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the aligning plate is provided with three tapered stepped surfaces 46a, 46b, 46c.
Each surface 46a, 46b, 46c is formed with a plurality of guide grooves 45a, 45b, 45c opened toward the lower surface,
Insertion holes 47, 48, 49 having tapered portions 47a, 48a, 49a may be formed on the guide grooves 45a, 45b, 45c. To attach the alignment plate 46 to the legs 13a, 14a, 15a, as shown in FIG. 6B, tilt the alignment plate 46 so that the tapered stepped surfaces 46a, 46b, 46c are horizontal. The legs 13a, 14a, 15a are moved in the direction of the horizontal arrow B with respect to the plate 46, and the legs 13a, 14a, 15a are moved to the guide grooves 45a, 45b, Let go into 45c. Next, while rotating the alignment plate 46 in the direction of arrow C, the legs 13a, 14a, 15a are utilized by using the tapered portions 47a, 48a, 49a.
Into the insertion holes 47, 48, and 49.
13a, 14a and 15a are pushed into the insertion holes 47, 48 and 49 to complete the mounting.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, the guide groove of the alignment plate extends in a direction perpendicular to the row direction of the insertion holes, opens toward the rear surface of the housing, communicates with the upper end of the insertion hole, and communicates with the contact hole. Since the legs have a groove width that allows easy movement, a connector is obtained in which the workability of inserting the contacts into the insertion holes of the legs is good without lowering the structural strength and dimensional stability of the alignment plate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an alignment plate used in the multipolar connector of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a process of inserting a leg portion of the contact into the alignment plate of FIG. 3 and 4 are perspective and sectional views showing another embodiment of the alignment plate, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a housing to which the alignment plate shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is attached, 6A and 6B are a perspective view and a sectional view showing still another embodiment of the alignment plate, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional multi-pole connector. 13a, 14a, 15a …… Legs 26,36,46 …… Alignment plates 27,37,38,39,47,48,49 …… Insertion holes 27a, 40,45a, 45b, 45c …… Guide grooves 27b, 40a, 40b, 40c …… Taper 32 …… Housing

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A housing for holding a plurality of contacts inserted into and connected to a connection hole of a printed circuit board, a housing for holding the plurality of contacts, arranging the legs in a plurality of rows, and projecting outward from a rear surface; A multi-pole connector having a plurality of rows of insertion holes for aligning each of the legs, the alignment plate being separate from the housing, wherein the alignment plate is orthogonal to the row direction of the insertion holes. A guide groove extending in the direction and opening toward the rear surface of the housing and communicating with an upper end of the insertion hole, wherein the guide groove has a groove width that allows the leg to move easily. Multi-pole connector.