JP3204060B2 - Connector inspection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a housing,
The present invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting a connector having a terminal fitting inserted therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a connector inspection apparatus, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-40669 is known. In this connector inspection device, a connector holder is fixed to a base, and a probe holder is provided so as to be able to be brought into contact with and separated from the connector holder. Also,
The probe holder is provided with a plurality of probes.

In this connector inspection apparatus, when the housing of the connector is mounted on the connector holder and the probe holder is moved toward the connector holder, each probe enters the housing and comes into contact with the corresponding terminal fitting. It is supposed to. At this time, if the terminal fitting is inserted in the correct position of the housing, correct electrical conduction can be obtained between the terminal fitting and the probe, but if the terminal fitting is not inserted in the correct position, the terminal The electrical continuity between the fitting and the probe does not reach a predetermined state. Therefore, it can be inspected whether the terminal fitting is correctly inserted into the housing.

[0004]

Some connectors have, for example, gold-plated terminal fittings in order to secure a stable electrical contact with the mating terminal fitting. When such a connector is inspected by the above-described connector inspection apparatus, there is a possibility that the plating may be peeled off at a portion in contact with the terminal fitting of the other party by the probe. Therefore, there is a problem in bringing the probe and the terminal fitting into contact with each other in a conventional manner.

Some connector housings have locking tongues called lances which engage with inserted terminal fittings to prevent the terminal fittings from coming off. The lance allows the terminal fitting to enter the housing by elastically deforming, and after the terminal fitting enters, the elastic deformation is restored to engage with the terminal fitting. It is designed to keep it from falling off. For this reason, a flexure space for allowing elastic deformation of the lance is formed in the housing.

Therefore, if a probe can be inserted from this flexure space and brought into contact with the side of the terminal fitting, it can be brought into contact with the terminal fitting without peeling off the plating on the contacting part with the counterpart terminal fitting, Good connector inspection can be performed. However, since the bending space is very narrow, it is not easy to insert the probe accurately. In addition, when the housing is set on the connector holder, the housing may be slightly displaced. Under such circumstances, it is very difficult to properly insert probes provided for all the terminal fittings into the flexible space, particularly in the case of a multipolar connector in which a large number of terminal fittings are inserted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a connector inspection apparatus capable of performing a favorable connector inspection without damaging terminal fittings even with a multipolar connector, recognizing the above technical problem. Is what you do.

[0008]

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, a connector inspection apparatus according to claim 1 comprises a housing having a terminal insertion hole formed therein, a terminal fitting inserted and mounted in the terminal insertion hole, and The present invention is applied to a connector having a lance formed in a housing for preventing a terminal fitting inserted into the terminal insertion hole from coming off, and a flexible space provided in continuation with the terminal insertion hole and allowing elastic deformation of the lance. A connector inspection device, the detection needle being capable of coming into contact with a terminal fitting in the terminal insertion hole through the bending space; and the entrance of the bending space for allowing the detection needle to enter the terminal insertion hole through the bending space. A connector holding portion that surrounds and holds the housing in an inclined state so as to face the detection needle, and prevents the housing held by the connector holding portion from coming off when the detection needle enters the bending space. To, and having a retaining member for holding the housing.

According to this configuration, the following operation is achieved. The connector housing is held by the connector holding portion. At this time, since the housing is held in a state of surrounding the periphery thereof, once held, even if external force is applied to the housing, the displacement of the housing can be extremely reduced. Thereby, the positioning accuracy of the housing with respect to the detection needle can be increased. With the housing positioned and held in this way,
When the detection needle and the connector holding portion are brought closer to each other, the detection needle can bend and accurately pass through the space obliquely and contact the side of the terminal fitting.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, a connector inspection apparatus according to a second aspect is the connector inspection apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the detection needle is provided on an inspection block, and the retaining member is provided with a predetermined position. One end of a rotating member that rotates in a seesaw shape about a rotation axis is formed, one end of which is connected to the other end of the rotating member, and the other end of which is the inspection member. A push rod connected to the block is provided, and the other end of the push rod is
The test block is slidably supported along the axial direction by a predetermined amount, and a spring is interposed between the push rod and the test block.

According to this configuration, the same operation as the first aspect of the invention is achieved. In particular, according to the present invention, when the inspection block is moved to the connector holding portion side and the detection needle approaches the connector holding portion, the push rod pushes the other end of the rotating member. Accordingly, the rotating member rotates in a seesaw shape, and one end of the rotating member contacts and presses the housing. That is, in conjunction with the operation of the detection needle approaching the connector holding portion, the retaining member is pressed against the held housing. As a result, when the detection needle is brought into contact with the terminal fitting, the displacement of the housing can be reliably prevented, and the housing can be prevented from falling out of the connector holding portion.

In addition, even if the detection needle approaches the connector holding portion while the retaining member is pressed against the housing, the push rod is slid in the axial direction with respect to the inspection block by the elastic deformation of the elastic member. Can be. Therefore, before the detection needle enters the bending space, the retaining member is pressed against the housing, and from this state, even if the detection needle further approaches the connector holding portion, the push rod is slid with respect to the inspection block. The retaining member can be kept pressed against the housing until the detection needle has completely entered the bending space.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view when a connector 2 is inspected using a connector inspection apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
3 is a perspective view of a main part of the connector 2 as an inspection target.

First, the connector 2 to be inspected will be described. Referring to FIG. 2, this connector 2 is of a horizontally long multi-pole type, and has a horizontally long housing 3 and a number of terminal fittings (not shown) inserted and mounted therein. are doing. The housing 3 has many terminal insertion holes 4. Each terminal insertion hole 4 is
Is formed to penetrate from the rear surface 50 (see FIG. 1) side to the front surface 5 side. Although not shown, each terminal insertion hole 4 has a locking tongue piece called a lance formed therein. This lance serves to prevent the terminal fittings from coming off. On the other hand, each terminal fitting is crimped to the end of the electric wire 6 in advance, and is inserted into each terminal insertion hole 4 together with the electric wire 6. When the terminal fitting is inserted to a predetermined position of the terminal insertion hole 4, the lance engages with a predetermined portion of the terminal fitting. Thereby, the terminal fitting is prevented from coming off.

The lance is formed to protrude into the terminal insertion hole 4 so as to be elastically deformable. Therefore, when the terminal fitting is inserted into the terminal insertion hole 4, the lance is elastically deformed by being pushed by the inserted terminal fitting.
Then, when the terminal fitting is inserted to a predetermined position, the elastic deformation is restored and the terminal fitting is engaged with the terminal fitting.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a bending space which allows elastic deformation of the lance. As shown in FIG.
Are formed in large numbers. Each bending space 7 is opened at the front surface 5 of the housing 3 and communicates with the corresponding terminal insertion hole 4 inside. In other words, the lance that has been elastically deformed by being pushed by the terminal fittings is temporarily accommodated in the bending space 7.

Since the respective bending spaces 7 and the terminal insertion holes 4 communicate with each other, the side portions of the respective terminal fittings (portions where the terminal fittings do not contact the counterpart terminal fittings) face the bending space 7. It has become. Reference numeral 8 indicates a bolt. The bolts 8 are used to fasten the housing 3 and the mating housing so that the housing 2 and the mating housing are securely fitted when the connector 2 is mated with the mating connector.

Next, the connector inspection apparatus 1 will be described. Referring to FIG. 1, this connector inspection device 1 inspects a connector 2, and includes a base 10, a connector holding unit 11 provided on the base 10, and a connector holding unit 11. The inspection unit 12, a contact / separation mechanism 13 for bringing the inspection unit 12 into and out of contact with the connector holding unit 11 in the direction of the outline arrow, and pressing the connector held by the connector holding unit 11 to prevent the housing 3 from coming off And an interlocking mechanism 15 that drives the retaining member 14 in conjunction with the contact / separation operation of the inspection unit 12.

In the present embodiment, the connector 2 is held by the connector holding section 11, and a plurality of detection needles 18 (in the present embodiment, contact probes are employed) provided in the inspection section 12 are connected to the connector 2. It is to check whether each terminal fitting is correctly inserted into the corresponding terminal insertion hole 4 by making contact with each of the included terminal fittings and checking the presence or absence of conduction.

A feature of the present embodiment is that the connector holding section 11 is composed of an inclined fixed frame 17 inclined at a predetermined angle to the inspection section 12 side.
That the housing 3 can be reliably positioned and held in a state surrounding the housing 3, and at the time of inspection (when the contact probe 18 is brought into contact with the terminal fitting), the retaining member 14 comes into contact with the housing 3 and presses it down. This is because the connector can be prevented from slipping out of the inclined fixing frame 17, whereby the displacement of the housing 3 can be suppressed at the time of inspection, and a good connector inspection can be performed.

Although not shown, a continuity determining device is connected to the connector inspection device 1. This continuity determination device is connected to a lead wire 19 connected to the contact probe 18, and the contact probe 18
When good conduction is obtained between the
By receiving the electric signal, it is possible to determine that the conduction is good. 1, the number of the lead wires 19 is omitted for simplification, and the electric wire 6 shown in FIG. 2 is not shown.

Hereinafter, each part of the connector inspection apparatus 1 will be described in detail. The base 10 has a main frame 20 and a sub-frame 21. Inclination fixed frame 17 and inspection unit 12
Is attached to the main frame portion 20, and the retaining member 14 is attached to the sub-frame portion 21 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 41. The retaining member 14 is rotated to rotate the housing 3 held by the tilt fixing 17.
Abut from the rear surface 60 side, and can be pressed.

The sub-frame portion 21 is provided with a top plate 24, and a groove 25 is formed at a substantially central portion of the top plate 24 so as to extend along the direction in which the inspection section 12 comes into contact with or separates from the inspection portion 12. The retaining member 14 is
The one side end 26 is attached so as to protrude outward from the groove 25. Also, on both sides of the end of the main frame portion 20,
A stay 23 for supporting the lever 22 of the contact / separation mechanism 13 is formed. FIG. 1 illustrates only the stay 23 on the near side.

An inclined fixed frame 1 as a connector holding portion 11
7, a housing chamber 27 for housing the housing 3 of the connector 2 is formed at a substantially central portion thereof. This accommodation room 2
The inside shape of the housing 7 is the housing 3 of the connector 2 to be inspected.
Corresponding to the external shape. That is, the housing chamber 27 can be tightly housed in a state surrounding the housing 3, thereby effectively suppressing the positional shift even if an external force is applied to the housing 3 once held. be able to.

The inclination angle of the inclined fixed frame 17 is set such that the housing 3 is accommodated in the accommodation space 27 and
(See FIG. 2) is set at an angle facing the inspection unit 12. Therefore, the connector 2 to be inspected is fixed to the inclined fixing frame 17.
By fitting into the accommodation room 27 from the front surface 28 side of
The housing 3 is held in a state where the housing 3 is inclined at a predetermined angle, and the respective bending spaces 7 face the respective contact probes 18 of the inspection unit 12.

Further, since the housing chamber 27 can house only the housing 3 having a predetermined outer shape, it is assumed that a component such as a retainer is added to the housing 3, In the case where the outer shape of the housing 3 changes depending on the presence or absence, it is also possible to confirm whether or not components such as the retainer are securely mounted. This is because the housing 3 does not have a predetermined outer shape unless components such as a retainer are mounted, and thus the housing 3 cannot be fitted into the accommodation chamber 27 exactly. The inner surface shape of the housing chamber 27 can be appropriately changed in design according to the outer shape of the housing of the connector to be inspected. In addition, the inclination angle of the inclination fixing frame 17 is also set in accordance with the shape of the housing 3,
Can be appropriately changed so as to face the inspection unit 12.

The inspection section 12 has an inspection block 30 and a number of contact probes 18 (the same number as the number of terminal fittings included in the connector 2 to be inspected) mounted thereon. The front surface 31 of the inspection block 30 is inclined at a predetermined angle, that is, the inclination angle of the inclined fixed frame 17. Each contact probe 18 is arranged so as to protrude from the inclined front surface 31 toward the inclined fixing plate 17, and each contact probe 18 corresponds one-to-one to the terminal fitting of the connector 2 held by the inclined fixing plate 17. I have. Each contact probe 18 is connected to a lead wire 19, and as described above, each lead wire 19 is connected to a continuity determination device (not shown). Each contact probe 18
, A known one is adopted, and the description thereof is omitted.

The contact / separation mechanism 13 includes a pair of slide rods 32.
, A lever 22, a link member 33 connecting the lever 22 and the inspection block 30, and a spring 34.
Each slide bar 34 is arranged at a predetermined interval. Both ends of each slide bar 34 are fixed to a pair of plate members 35 and 36 facing each other of the main frame portion 20, and are arranged along the direction in which the inspection section 12 approaches and separates. These slide bars 34 penetrate below the inspection block 30 of the inspection unit 12. Therefore, although the inspection unit 12 is attached to the main frame unit 20, the inspection block 30 is actually slidably supported by the pair of slide bars 34. Thereby, the inspection unit 12
Can be moved toward and away from the inclined fixed frame 17.

The lever 22 has a substantially U-shaped member 37 and a handle 38 provided on the member. Both ends of the substantially U-shaped member 37 are rotatably connected to the stay 23 via lever rotating pins 39. The link member 33 is an elongated plate, and both ends of the link member 33 are connected to the substantially U-shaped member 37 and the inspection block 3 via the connecting pin 40.
Connected to 0. Further, the spring 34 is interposed between the front surface 31 of the inspection block 30 and the plate member 35 of the main frame 20. In the present embodiment, the spring 34 is mounted concentrically on each slide bar 34.

Accordingly, when the grip 22 is gripped and the lever 22 is rotated, the inspection block 3
0 is pressed, and as a result, the inspection unit 12
, And approach the inclined fixed frame 17 side. On the other hand, when the inspection unit 12 rotates the lever 22 in a direction opposite to the above rotation direction from a state in which the inspection unit 12 approaches the inclined fixed frame 17, the inspection unit 12 slides along the slide rod 32 and Separates from 17. Moreover, the inspection unit 12
The spring 34 is compressed when approaches the inclined fixed frame 17 side, so that the rotation of the lever 22 can be assisted by the elastic force of the spring 34 when the inspection unit 12 is separated from the inclined fixed frame 17. Can be easily separated.

Next, the retaining member 14 will be described. The retaining member 14 is formed of a rectangular bar having a rectangular cross section, and is rotatably supported by the sub-frame portion 21 via the rotating shaft 41 as described above. The retaining member 14 has a through hole 46 as shown in FIG. The through-hole 46 extends a predetermined length along the longitudinal direction of the retaining member 14, and the rotating shaft 41 passes through the through-hole 46, and both ends are fixed to the side plate of the sub-frame 21. . That is, the retaining member 14 can be rotationally displaced between the position shown in FIG. 1 and the position shown in FIG.

Here, when the retaining member 14 is at the position shown in FIG. 1, it is in a state of being separated from the inclined fixing frame 17, and this position is defined as the "separation position" of the retaining member 14.
When the retaining member 14 is at the position shown in FIG. 4, the one end 26 of the retaining member 14 can approach the inclined fixing frame 17 and come into contact with the housing 3 held by the same. It is defined as the “contact position” of the retaining member 14. In the present embodiment, the retaining member 14 is configured by a square bar, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured by a round bar or the like.

The retaining member 14 is driven via an interlocking mechanism 15. The interlocking mechanism 15 includes the inspection unit 12 and the retaining member 14.
And a push rod 43 for connecting the two. FIG.
Is a cross-sectional view of the connector inspection device 1 in a state where the housing 2 is held, and shows a structure of the interlocking mechanism 15. Referring to FIG. 3, push rod 43 is formed of a round bar member, and one end 44 is provided on the other end 42 of retaining member 14.
And the other end 45 is connected to the inspection block 3 of the inspection unit 12.
Connected to 0. One end 44 of the push rod 43 is rotatably connected to the other end 42 of the retaining member 14 by a connecting pin 47, and the other end 45 of the push rod 43 is inspected via the spring 16. Block 3
It is slidably connected below 0.

When the housing 2 is held by the inclined fixing frame 17, the retaining member 14 is located at the position shown in FIG. 3, that is, at the separated position. When the inspection unit 12 is slid to the left in FIG. 3 by operating the lever 22 (see FIG. 1), the push rod 43 moves to the left in conjunction with the inspection unit 12 and the other end of the retaining member 14. 42 is pushed to the left. As a result, the retaining member 14 rotates in a seesaw shape about the rotation shaft 41 and is displaced to the contact position shown in FIG. That is, one end 26 of the retaining member 14 is
The housing 3 of the held connector 2
Abut from the direction in which is held (the direction of fitting into the inclined fixed frame 17).

Referring to FIG. 3, the spring 16 is disposed in a receiving hole 50 provided in the inspection section 12. The accommodation hole 50 is formed substantially below the center of the inspection block 30 and has a large diameter portion 53 and a small diameter portion 54. The small diameter portion 54 is formed on the front surface 31 side of the inspection block 30, that is, on the retaining member 14 side, and the large diameter portion 53 is formed on the small diameter portion 5.
It is communicated with 4.

A flange 52 is formed on the other end 45 of the push rod 43. And this other end 45
Is inserted into the accommodation hole 50. To elaborate,
The flange 52 formed on the push rod 43 is fitted into the large-diameter portion 53 exactly, and can be slid right and left in the large-diameter portion 53 in FIG. Thereby, the push rod 43
Can move forward and backward with respect to the accommodation hole 50.

Since the flange 52 cannot enter the small diameter portion 54, the push rod 43 cannot move further to the left when the flange 52 is at the position shown in FIG. That is, the flange 52 is
A stopper that restricts the movement of the push rod 43 in the direction in which the push rod 43 protrudes from the housing hole 50 at the position shown in FIG. 3 is configured. When the movement is restricted by the flange 52, the stopper member 14 is disposed at the separation position. It has become so.

On the other hand, since the spring 51 is disposed in the housing hole 50, the flange 52 is always receiving the elastic force of the spring 51. Therefore, the push rod 43 is always elastically biased in a direction protruding from the accommodation hole 50, and
The protrusion is regulated by the flange 52. For this reason, the push rod 43 is always resiliently protruded to the left as shown in FIG. 3. However, the push rod 43 is pushed to the right against the elastic force of the spring 51 to enter the housing hole 50. Can be.

Therefore, when the retaining member 14 is rotated by being pushed by the push rod 43, the retaining member 14 is moved before the contact probe 18 enters the bending space 7 (see FIG. 2).
Can be brought into contact with the housing 3. By the way, when the inspection unit 12 is further moved to the housing 3 side from this state, a state equivalent to pushing the push rod 43 to the right against the elastic force of the spring 51 is obtained, and as shown in FIG. With the position of the member 14 held at the contact position, the push rod 43 is
To enter. That is, the housing 3 can be reliably positioned with respect to the inclined fixing frame 17 before the contact probe 18 enters the bending space 7, and furthermore, the contact probe 18 enters the bending space 7 and reliably contacts the terminal fitting. Until the contact is made, the positioning state of the housing 3 can be maintained.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the housing 3 of the connector 2 to be inspected is moved straight from the position shown in FIG. And is held by the inclined fixing frame 17 while surrounding the periphery of the housing 3.
In addition, since the inclined fixing frame 7 allows the housing 3 to be inserted so as to face the inspection unit 12, the housing 3 is inserted in a direction (for example, from above) crossing the direction facing the inspection unit 12 as in the related art. The displacement of the housing 3 and the tilting fixed frame 17 is extremely small as compared with the case where the insertion is made. Thereby, the positioning accuracy of the housing 3 with respect to the inspection unit 12 can be increased, and the housing 3 can be reliably positioned. In addition, when the retaining member 14 comes into contact with the held housing 3 from the same direction as the direction in which the housing 3 is fitted into the inclined fixing frame 17, when the contact probe 18 and the terminal fitting come into contact with each other, The housing 3 is a fixed inclined frame 17
Can be prevented from getting out of
The deformation can be reliably suppressed.

Therefore, at the time of the connector inspection, each contact probe 18 can be accurately and obliquely passed through the bending space, and can be brought into contact with the corresponding side of the terminal fitting. As a result, even if the connector 2 has an extremely large number of terminal fittings, it is possible to obtain a favorable condition without damaging a predetermined portion of each terminal fitting, that is, a portion that comes into contact with a counterpart terminal fitting to which the terminal fitting is connected. Connector inspection can be performed.

In particular, according to the present embodiment, the inclined fixed frame 17
By contacting the retaining member 14 with the housing 3 held in the housing 3, the housing 3 can be securely fixed before the contact probe 18 contacts the terminal fitting, and in this state, the housing 3 can be brought into contact with the terminal fitting. Accordingly, it is possible to further suppress the displacement of the housing 3 during the inspection, and as a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the terminal fitting from being damaged, and to perform the connector inspection.

Moreover, as a mechanism for securely fixing the housing 3 before the contact probe 18 comes into contact with the terminal fitting and maintaining the state, the resiliently urged push rod 43 is inserted into the insertion hole 50. Because of this, a very simple structure is adopted in which the rotation of the retaining member 14 is restricted, and therefore there is an advantage that the cost of the connector inspection device 1 can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the present invention.

[0045]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the housing can be accurately positioned and held with respect to the inspection section by the inclined fixing frame, and the housing can be securely fixed by the retaining member. The detector of the inspection section can be accurately and obliquely passed through the bending space and brought into contact with the corresponding side of the terminal fitting. Therefore, the connector can be inspected well without damaging the portion of the terminal fitting mounted on the housing that comes into contact with the counterpart terminal fitting.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained. In addition, in the invention according to the present invention, the housing is fixed before the detector contacts the terminal fitting, and the detector can be brought into contact with the terminal fitting in this state, so that the detector passes through the bending space. Until the housing contacts the terminal fitting, the displacement of the housing can be reliably prevented. This can more reliably prevent the terminal fitting from being damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connector.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector inspection device, showing a state in which a retaining member is at a separated position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector inspection device, showing a state where a retaining member is at a contact position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector inspection apparatus 2 Connector 3 Housing 4 Terminal insertion hole 6 Electric wire 7 Flexure space 11 Connector holding part 12 Inspection part 13 Contact / separation mechanism 14 Detachment member 15 Interlocking mechanism 16 Spring 17 Inclined fixed frame 18 Contact probe 26 One side end 30 Inspection 30 Block 41 Rotating shaft 42 Other end 43 Push rod 50 Housing hole

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 43/00 G01R 31/02-31/04

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A housing having a terminal insertion hole formed therein, a terminal fitting inserted and mounted in the terminal insertion hole, and a lance formed in the housing for preventing the terminal fitting inserted into the terminal insertion hole from coming off. And, provided in connection with the terminal insertion hole,
A connector inspection device applied to a connector having a flexure space that allows elastic deformation of a lance, comprising: a detection needle that can contact a terminal fitting in a terminal insertion hole through the flexure space; and a detection needle that passes through the flexure space. In order to allow the needle to enter the terminal insertion hole, a connector holding portion that surrounds and holds the housing in a state where the housing is inclined so that the entrance of the bending space faces the detection needle, and when the detection needle enters the bending space. And a retaining member for holding the housing in order to prevent the housing held by the connector holding portion from coming off. 2. The connector inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection needle is provided on an inspection block, and the retaining member is one of a rotation member that rotates in a seesaw shape about a predetermined rotation axis. A push rod having one end connected to the other end of the rotating member and the other end connected to the inspection block; A connector inspection apparatus characterized in that an end is supported by an inspection block so as to be slidable by a predetermined amount along an axial direction, and a spring is interposed between the push rod and the inspection block.