JP2819989B2 - Flat cable fixing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flat cable fixing device suitable for fixing a flat cable used as a power supply line and a signal line in a linear motor or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a linear motor, when connecting a longitudinal end of a flat cable to a fixed portion or a movable portion, each lead wire extending from the longitudinal end of the flat cable is fixed. It is performed by soldering to a part or a movable part.

[0003]

However, in such a configuration, when the flat cable is pulled due to some accident, there is a problem that the solder connection portion having the weakest strength is damaged or disconnected. To cope with this, for example, a structure wider than that of a flat cable is employed in order to secure sufficient strength by utilizing a configuration as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-88216. After holding the longitudinal end of the flat cable between the fixed part or the movable part, the both side edges of the bracket in the width direction are directly screwed to the fixed or movable part,
I was fastened. However, in such a case, the mounting width of the flat cable needs to be increased by an amount corresponding to the width of the bracket wider than the flat cable, that is, by an amount corresponding to a direct fastening width by screws or the like to both side edges of the bracket in the width direction. However, there is a problem that the method cannot be applied to a portion where such a mounting width cannot be secured. Therefore, in order to cope with such a problem, the present invention firmly fixes the end of the flat cable used in the linear motor or the like within the width of the flat cable, and electrically connects the end of the flat cable. The goal is to always maintain the connection properly.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a flat cable for electrically connecting a fixed portion and a movable portion, a connector to which one end of the flat cable is connected, and a connector for connecting the flat cable. A fixed block that can be combined with the connector, a groove parallel to the width direction of the flat cable formed on the opposing surface of one or both of the connector and the fixed block, and a locking pin that can be fitted into the groove. A configuration in which the locking pin is fitted in the concave groove with the folded portion of the flat cable interposed therebetween, and the connector and the fixing block are united to sandwich the flat cable and the locking pin. And

[0005]

According to the structure of the present invention, when a pulling force is applied to the flat cable, the locking pin moves in the flat cable pulling direction in the groove through the folded portion, and the flat cable is flattened. The cable is clamped more firmly.

[0006]

As a result, no tensile force acts on the electrical connection portion of the flat cable, so that the flat cable does not have any abnormality such as disconnection. Further, as described above, the locking pin is interposed between the connector and the fixed block by interposing the folded portion, so that the pinching is realized within the width of the flat cable. Is done. Therefore, the fixing structure of the flat cable can be realized compactly within the width of the flat cable.

In another aspect of the present invention, a flat cable for electrically connecting a fixed portion and a movable portion, and a columnar shape erected on the fixed portion or the movable portion and parallel to a width direction of the flat cable. In the case where a strut and a clip that can be fitted to the strut are provided, and the flat cable is interposed in the strut and the clip is fitted, the above-described operation and effect are achieved by the flat cable. Can also be achieved with clamping of the clip to the post via

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a moving coil type linear motor. The linear motor includes a longitudinal stator S, a mover M accommodated in the stator S movably in the longitudinal direction, and a stator S accommodated in the stator S.
And a flat cable C for electrically connecting the movable element M to the movable element M. The stator S includes an outer rail 10, and the outer rail 10 is formed of an aluminum material and has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section. The stator S includes left and right inner rails 20 and 30 made of an aluminum material and having a substantially U-shaped cross section. Permanent magnets are held and fixed to the inner surface of the lower part of the base member 12 in the longitudinal direction so as to face each other. Further, the outer rail 10 includes end caps 40 and 40A, and these end caps 40 and 40A are respectively assembled to the longitudinal front end 10a and the longitudinal rear end 10b of the outer rail 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, one end cap 40 has a rail end block 40a, a rail end connector 40c and a locking pin 4a.
0d, and the rail end block 40a is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that can be fitted to the outer rail 10, as shown in FIGS.

In the rail end block 40a, two through holes 42a and 42b are formed in the width direction at an interval in the vertical direction.
On both sides in the width direction, a pair of left and right cylindrical projections 42c, 42c and 42d, 42 are located deeper than the through holes 42a, 42b.
d (only the protrusions 42c and 42d on one side of the rail end block 40a are shown in FIG. 2) are provided so as to correspond to the respective through holes 42a and 42b. A groove 42e having a semicircular cross section is formed in a substantially central portion in the vertical direction of the front end surface of the rail end block 40a, and a locking pin 40d is provided in the groove 42e with a flat cable C as described later. Is fitted through the front end of the. The depth of the concave groove 42e is substantially equal to the sum of the diameter of the locking pin 40d and twice the thickness of the flat cable C, and the upper part of the front end surface of the rail end block 40a above the concave groove 42e is: It is recessed from the lower part of the concave groove 42e by a dimension twice as large as the thickness of the front end of the flat cable C (corresponding to the gap g shown in FIG. 3).

The rail end connector 40c is formed by resin molding of a printed board 40b having external connection terminals 45, and is formed in an outer shape continuous with the outer rail 10. An annular peripheral wall 44a protrudes from the front surface of the rail end connector 40c where the external connection terminal 45 is exposed so as to protect the external connection terminal 45, and a lower half of the rear surface of the rail end connector 40c bulges rearward. doing.

A pair of left and right support arms 47, 47 and 48, 48 are provided on the rear upper and lower portions of the rail end connector 40c.
(Only one of the pair of support arms 47 and 48 is shown in FIG. 2)
Are formed to extend rearward, and each of the pair of support arms 4 is formed.
7, 47 and 48, 48 are rail end blocks 40
a. Each of the pair of support arms 47, 47 and 48, 48 has a pair of cylindrical projections 42c, 42c of the rail end block 40a.
And small diameter holes 47b, 47b that can be fitted to 42d, 42d
And 48b, 48b and these cylindrical projections 42c, 42c
42d, 42d and small diameter holes 47b, 47b, 48
In the state where b and 48b are fitted, large-diameter holes 47a, 47a and 48a and 48a that match the two through holes 42a and 42b of the rail end block 40a are provided. The cylindrical projection 4 of the rail end block 40a
2c, 42c, 42d, 42d and small diameter holes 47b, 47b, 48b, 48b of the rail end connector 40c are fitted, and when the rail end block 40a and the rail end connector 40c are combined, the rail end connector 40c The rear swelling portion 46 comes into contact with the lower part of the front end surface of the rail end block 40a.

A pair of left and right support arms 49, 49 (only one of the support arms 49 is shown in FIG. 2) for supporting the locking pin 40d is provided at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction on the rear surface of the rail end connector 40c. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of support arms 47, 47 and 48, 48 are formed between the pair of support arms 47 so as to extend in parallel with them. The locking pin 40d has both ends smaller in diameter than the middle part by stepping, and the small diameter parts at both ends are
By fitting into the small diameter holes 49a, 49a provided in the support arms 49, 49, the falling off is prevented.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flat cable C is composed of a flat wire harness 50 and a tape guide 6.
The flat cable C has a front end connected to the rail end connector 40c. FIG. 5 shows the connection portion, and a plurality of lead wires 51 extending from the front end of the flat cable C are connected to the printed circuit board 40 of the rail end connector 40c.
Both are connected by soldering to b. Flat cable C connected to rail end connector 40c
Is folded upward so as to surround the locking pins 40d supported by the support arms 49 of the rail end connector 40c, and in this state, the rail end connector 40c and the rail end block 40a are united. In a state where the rail end connector 40c and the rail end block 40a are united, the locking pin 40d fits into the concave groove 40d of the rail end block 40a with the folded portion of the flat cable C interposed therebetween, and the flat cable C A stop pin 40d is sandwiched between the rail end connector 40c and the rail end block 40d. The rail end connector 40c and the rail end block 40a are fitted to the front end of the outer rail 10 in a united state,
The outer rail 10 is fastened to the through-holes 42a and 42b of the rail end block 40a and the screws 14 and 14 inserted into the large-diameter holes 47a and 48a of the rail end connector 40c that match the through holes 42a and 42b. For this reason, screw insertion holes 11b, 11b and 12b, 12b are formed in the left and right side walls 11, 12 at the front end of the outer rail 10. As a result, the front end of the flat cable C is firmly fixed to the stator S. On the other hand, the rear end of the flat cable C extends along the upper wall 10a in the outer rail 10 and is folded downward to extend on the inner rails 20 and 30, and is connected to the mover M as described later. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the mover M includes two inner rails 20 inside the outer rail 10.
The mover M is provided so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction along 30. The mover M extends from the main body portion 80a in the casing 80 into an L-shape in the sensor circuit portion 90a built in the main body portion 80a of the casing 80. And a clamp mechanism 90b built in the extension 80b. Clamp mechanism 90
As shown in FIG. 6, b has a substantially L-shaped partition wall 91 and a supporting column 92 protruding from the extension 80b, and a substantially arc-shaped clamp member 93 made of an elastic material. Of the triangular base 91a and the support 92
The rear end of the flat cable C surrounds the support post 92 through a groove-shaped passage 91b formed between the support post 92 and the base lower surface 92a. A connector 81 for connection to the sensor circuit unit 90a is attached to the rear end of the flat cable C.

A column 92b is integrally formed at the tip of the support 92, and the column 9
The rear end of the flat cable C extending from 1b is wound and clamped from the outside by the clamp member 93 to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 92b (see FIGS. 1 and 6). The connection of the flat cable C with the connector 81 is performed by soldering a plurality of lead wires 52 extending from the rear end of the flat cable C to the connector 81 as shown in FIG. The mover M is connected to each of the inner rails 20 and 30 in accordance with power supply from the flat cable C.
A thrust is obtained by an electromagnetic action generated between the internal magnet and a permanent magnet (not shown).

In this embodiment configured as described above,
When power is supplied to the mover M via the flat cable C, the mover M is applied to both inner rails 20 and 30 under the electromagnetic action generated between the mover M and a permanent magnet (not shown) in each of the inner rails 20 and 30. Along its length. At this time, if no abnormal pulling force is applied to the flat cable C, the front end of the flat cable C is railed together with the locking pin 40d at a portion surrounding the locking pin 40d as shown in FIG. It is located at the center in the concave groove 42e of the end block 40a.

In this state, the flat cable C
When the cable is pulled to the right in FIG. 1 (in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1) by some abnormal pulling force above the middle folded portion, the flat cable C is The locking pin 40d is lifted upward while being surrounded as shown in FIG. Thereafter, in connection with the above-described pulling force on the front end of the flat cable C, the locking pin 40d is
The rail end connector 40c strongly contacts the surface portion of the rear bulging portion 46 and the inner peripheral surface portion of the concave groove 42e. As a result, the front end of the flat cable C is
Is firmly sandwiched and fixed between the outer peripheral portion of the outer peripheral portion, the surface portion of the bulging portion 46 and the inner peripheral surface portion of the concave groove 42e. Therefore, due to such a fixing action, the abnormal rightward pulling force applied to the flat cable C is reliably interrupted without being transmitted to the solder connection portion between the front end of the flat cable C and the printed circuit board 40b. You. As a result, even if an abnormal rightward pulling force acts on the flat cable C, the soldered portion of the front end of the flat cable C with the printed circuit board 40b causes disconnection or poor connection. And can be maintained properly.

On the other hand, when the flat cable C is pulled to the right in FIG. 1 by some abnormal pulling force below the middle folded portion, the lower side of the flat cable C The part moves rightward in the figure.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the rear end of the flat cable C is
The flat cable C has an extraordinary rightward pulling force applied to the flat cable C.
Is reliably shut off without being transmitted to the solder connection portion with the connector 81 at the rear end. As a result, even if an abnormal pulling force is applied to the flat cable C, regardless of this, the solder connection portion with the connector 81 at the rear end of the flat cable C does not cause disconnection or poor connection, and Can be maintained.

Next, a first modified example of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In this first modified example, the rail end connector 40c described in the above embodiment is described.
A symmetrically formed concave groove 46a having a semicircular cross section in a surface portion of the bulging portion 46 facing the concave groove 42e;
e (the upper part of the concave groove 46a)
Is the upper half of the front wall of the rail end block 40a (the concave groove 4).
2e), with a gap g therebetween. Other configurations are the same as those in the above embodiment.

In the first modified example configured as described above, when one side of the flat cable C is pulled in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 8, the flat cable C lifts the locking pin 40d upward. Thereafter, in connection with the above-described pulling force on the flat cable C, the locking pin 40d is moved through the flat cable C into the two concave grooves 42.
e, 46a strongly contact each inner peripheral surface portion. Thereby, the flat cable C is firmly clamped and fixed between the outer peripheral portion of the locking pin 40d and the inner peripheral surface portions of the two concave grooves 42e and 46a. Therefore, even if an abnormal pulling force acts on one side of the flat cable C by such a fixing action, the flat cable C is reliably shut off without being transmitted to the other side.

Next, a second modification of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. In this second modification, the rail end block 40a described in the above embodiment will be described.
Is formed as a concave groove 42f having a triangular cross section. On the other hand, a concave groove 46b having a triangular cross section is formed on the surface of the bulging portion 46 in the above-mentioned embodiment facing the concave groove 42f. The upper portion of the surface portion facing the concave groove 42f (the upper portion of the concave groove 46b) faces the upper end portion of the front wall of the rail end block 40a (the upper portion of the concave groove 42f) via a gap g. . Other configurations are the same as those in the above embodiment.

In the second modified example configured as described above, when one side of the flat cable C is pulled in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 10, the flat cable C lifts the locking pin 40d upward. Thereafter, in relation to the above-described pulling force on the flat cable C, the locking pin 40d is moved through the flat cable C into the double concave groove 4d.
The inner peripheral surface portions 2f and 46b are strongly in contact with each other. As a result, the flat cable C is firmly clamped and fixed between the outer peripheral portion of the locking pin 40d and the inner peripheral surface portions of the two concave grooves 42f and 46b. Therefore, even if an abnormal pulling force acts on one side of the flat cable C by such a fixing action, the flat cable C is reliably shut off without being transmitted to the other side. In addition,
In the second modification, the fixing force of the flat cable C is large due to the wedge effect.

In practicing the present invention, the structure for fixing the front end of the flat cable C in the end cap 40 may be employed as the structure for fixing the rear end of the flat cable C in the mover M. Alternatively, the rear end fixing structure of the flat cable C in the mover M may be employed as the front end fixing structure of the flat cable C in the end cap 40.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the flat cable C of the linear motor, but may be applied to various flat cables.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an embodiment of a linear motor to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an end cap attached to a rail front end of the linear motor.

FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged sectional view of a front end portion of the rail and an end cap thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part for explaining the operation of a locking pin and a flat cable front end in the end cap.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of a rail end connector of the end cap.

6 is a fragmentary schematic side view of the mover of FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cutaway view of a main part showing a first modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view for explaining operation of a locking pin and a flat cable in the first modified example.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cutaway view of a main part showing a second modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cutaway view of a main part for describing an operation of a locking pin and a flat cable in the second modified example.

[Explanation of symbols]

C: flat cable, M: mover, 10: outer rail, 40: end cap, 40a: rail end block, 40b: printed circuit board, 40c: rail end connector, 40d: locking pin, 42e, 42f, 46
a, 46b: concave groove, 90b: clamp mechanism, 92: support column, 92b: cylindrical portion, 93: clamp member.

Continued on the front page (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01R 9/09 H01R 13/585 H01R 13/72 H01B 7/24 H02G 11/00 H02G 15/00 H05K 7/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A flat cable for electrically connecting a fixed portion and a movable portion, a connector to which one end of the flat cable is connected, a fixed block that can be combined with the connector, and a connector for the connector and the fixed block. The flat cable includes a concave groove formed on one or both facing surfaces thereof and parallel to the width direction of the flat cable, and a locking pin that can be fitted in the concave groove, wherein the locking pin is a folded portion of the flat cable. A flat cable fixing device having a configuration in which the connector and the fixing block are united so as to sandwich the flat cable and the locking pin while being fitted into the concave groove with an interposition. 2. A flat cable for electrically connecting a fixed portion and a movable portion, a columnar support standing upright on the fixed portion or the movable portion and parallel to a width direction of the flat cable; A flat cable fixing device, comprising: a clip that can be fitted to the support post; and the clip is fitted by interposing the flat cable to the support column.