JP3449133B2 - Continuity inspection device and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a continuity inspection device and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a connector is used for a wire harness or a sub-assembly (hereinafter, generally referred to as "wire assembly") constituting the wire harness. This connector has a connector housing formed of a synthetic resin material and a metal terminal housed in a terminal housing chamber formed in the connector housing. The terminal is prevented from coming off from the connector housing by a member called a lance integrated with the connector housing. Further, the terminals are classified into male terminals having thin plate-shaped contacts and tubular female terminals for receiving the contacts of the male terminals for each connector, and there are male connectors having male terminals and female terminals. By fitting the female connector included therein to each other, the terminals to be connected to each other are aligned with each other, and electrical conduction between them is achieved.

As a continuity inspection unit adopted when conducting the continuity inspection of the connector as described above, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-87877 is known. Such a continuity inspection device according to the related art includes an inspection element for each terminal of a connector to be inspected, an inspection section including the inspection element, and a connector receiving section for positioning the connector with respect to the inspection section so that the connector can be inspected. Was provided for each part number (type) of the connector. In order to position each probe to the terminal of the connector to be inspected, the inspection unit projects the probe into a recess that covers the outer peripheral portion of the housing of the connector.

[0004]

As described above, the conventional continuity inspection device has a dedicated specification in which the inspection portion and the connector receiving portion are specified for each connector. However, in recent years, the types of connectors subject to inspection have increased,
Along with this, it has become necessary to increase the types of inspection units and connector receiving units. As a result, it is difficult to manage the components of the continuity inspection apparatus, and the manufacturing cost of the continuity inspection apparatus and the cost of the continuity inspection increase.
In particular, since the inspection part and the connector receiving part are formed by cutting in order to adapt them to the shape of the connector, improvement in cost has been desired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a continuity inspection device and a method of manufacturing the same which can cope with diversification of connectors to be inspected.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a connector receiving portion for holding a connector accommodating a plurality of terminals, and a connector receiving portion provided so as to face the connector receiving portion. In which the detectors corresponding to the respective terminals are juxtaposed so as to project toward the respective terminals of the connector held in the connector receiving portion, and the inspection attitude and the connector receiving portion for contacting the detectors with the respective terminals And a connecting means for connecting the connector receiving portion and the inspection portion such that the connector receiving portion and the inspection portion can be displaced relative to each other, and the connected connector receiving portion and the inspection portion between the inspection posture and the attaching / detaching posture. In the continuity inspection device, the inspection unit is capable of positioning the terminals of the connector on the detector via the connector receiving unit in the inspection posture. It is exchangeably mounted to the inspection block, and a detector holder for holding the plurality of detectors corresponding to each connector to be held in the connector receiving portion including
However, the detector holder is made by penetrating the detector.
It is a plate-shaped member that holds the
The surface and the undulation that can change the protruding position of the detector are divided.
It is a continuity inspection device characterized by being a thing.

In the invention including this specific matter, since the inspection block of the inspection section positions the connector (and its terminal) via the connector receiving section, the difference in the outer dimensions of the connector to be inspected is set to the same outer dimension. It can be absorbed by the set connector receiving part. Further, since the detector corresponding to the connector receiving portion can be attached to and detached from the inspection block by replacing the detector holder, it is possible to position the terminals of a plurality of types of connectors to the corresponding detector in the same inspection block. It will be possible.

Then , the protruding position of the detector carried by the detector holder can be changed by penetrating the detector holder on the front surface and the back surface of the same detector holder. By selecting the mounting surface according to the protrusion size of the child, the same member can be used for a plurality of types of detectors.

Further, in another preferred aspect of the present invention, the connector receiving portion is constructed so as to be detachable from the connecting member, and is assembled to an upright member that is upright on an assembly drawing board of the wire assembly. It includes an attachable member that can be attached. In the invention including this specific matter, the connector receiving portion is detached from the connecting member, and is assembled to the standing member that is erected on the assembly drawing board of the wire assembly by the assembling member, so that the assembly receiving board is assembled. It can also be used as a connector holder standing upright.

Another aspect of the present invention is to manufacture a continuity inspection device for inspecting a connector held by a connector receiving portion with a plurality of detectors carried by an inspection block which is displaced relative to the connector receiving portion. In the method for manufacturing a continuity inspection device for manufacturing the above-mentioned inspection block as a common component, a connector receiving portion in which a connector held by the inspection block is positioned on a detector by being guided by the same inspection block; A plurality of detector holders that carry the plurality of detectors detachably from the inspection block are manufactured according to the type of the connector to be inspected, and one corresponding to the connector selected as the inspection target. The connector receiving part and the detector holder of the above are combined so that they can be inspected for continuity with the inspection block as a common part. It is a manufacturing method of passing the inspection apparatus.

According to the invention including this specific matter, it becomes possible to manufacture the continuity inspection device by selecting the connector receiving portion and the detector holder corresponding to the connector to be inspected by using the inspection block as the interface member.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the accompanying drawings,
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 shows a use state of a continuity inspection device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a schematic plan view showing a male connector 1 in an inspected state, and (B) shows a female connector 2 in an inspected state. 2 is a schematic partial plan view shown, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the continuity inspection device 10 in the embodiment of FIG. 1. In the following description, the left side of FIG. 1 and the corresponding directions of the drawings are assumed to be the front.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B), a connector 1 (2) to be inspected by a continuity inspecting apparatus 10 in the illustrated example is placed in a housing 3 (4) which is a resin molded product. A plurality of terminal accommodating chambers are defined and each accommodates a male terminal 5 or a female terminal 6, and each terminal 5, 6 is locked to the corresponding connector 1, 2 by a lance (not shown). Although not shown in the figure, the housings 3 and 4 of the connectors 1 and 2 have complicated undulations according to their applications, and their outer dimensions are also different.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the continuity inspection device 10
Is provided with a base portion 11 as a connecting means, which is fixed to a work table (not shown) generally called a "work drawing board". The base portion 11 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and a pair of rail members 12 extending in the longitudinal direction are integrally formed on the upper surface of the base portion 11. A connector receiving portion 13 for receiving the connector 1 (2) to be inspected is fixed to one end of the rail member 12 in the longitudinal direction. Also,
An inspection unit 14 is slidably mounted on the rail member 12, and the inspection unit 14 can move toward or away from the back surface of the connector receiving unit 13.

The connector receiving portion 13 is formed by molding a holder portion 13A fixed to one end of the base portion 11 by molding. This holder part 13
Has a housing recess 13C formed corresponding to the outer contour of the connector 1 (2) to be inspected. The housing recess 13C houses the housings 3 and 4 of the connector 1 (2). The terminals 5 (6) are held rearward so that they can be inspected.

Here, the connector receiving portion 13 is detachably fixed to the rail member 12 with a bolt (not shown), and can be appropriately changed depending on the type of the connector 1 (2) held. It has become.
At this time, the outer dimension L in the width direction and the outer dimension H in the height direction (hereinafter,
Inspection block 15 described later (collectively referred to as “outside regulation size”)
The guide portion 13E set to have the same size in accordance with, protrudes rearward.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a usage state of the connector receiving portion 13 of the continuity inspection device 10 in the embodiment of FIG. As shown in the figure, a nut member 13D as an assembling member is insert-molded on the bottom of the holder 13A, and the nut member 13D is erected on the assembly drawing plate 30 of the wire assembly (not shown). By screwing the bolt 34 of the standing member 41, it can be used as the connector holder 35 on the assembly drawing board 30. The connector holder 35 is used to hold the connector when the connector is connected to the branch electric wire of the wire assembly in a state where the dimension of the branch electric wire is regulated. Connector holder 35
Various types of standing members 36 can be used. The structure shown in the drawing is a well-known structure in which a root member 39 supporting the root of the bolt 34 is rotatably displaceable around a spindle 38 of a bracket 37 erected on the assembly drawing board 30 ( For example, JP-A-7-28265
(See No. 4).

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the inspection unit 14 includes the connector 1 (2) held by the connector receiving unit 13.
This is for inspecting the continuity of the terminal 5 (6) by contacting the plurality of inspection probes 20 corresponding to the terminal 5 (6). Each inspection probe 20 faces the connector receiving portion 13 and is a connector 1 to be inspected.
The connector 1 held in the connector receiving portion 13 by this inspection probe 20 is a well-known device that projects forward corresponding to the position of the terminal 5 (6) of (2).
It is configured so that the conduction of the terminal 5 (6) of (2) can be inspected. A lead wire 21 is connected to each inspection probe 20, and the plug 2 of this lead wire 21 is connected.
It is connected via 2 to an inspection device (not shown).

In order to hold the plurality of inspection probes 20 described above, the inspection section 14 includes an inspection block 15 whose outer contour is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Inspection block 15
Is a resin molded product that can be displaced back and forth along the rail member 12 by being connected to the rail member 12. As a result, the inspection unit 14 and the connector receiving unit 13 are relatively separated from each other,
Relatively close to the attachment / detachment posture (see FIG. 2) that allows attachment / detachment of the connector 1 (2) to / from the connector receiving portion 13,
The connector 1 (2) can be displaced to an inspection posture (see FIG. 1) where the inspection can be performed.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the inspection unit 14 of the continuity inspection apparatus 10 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4, the inspection block 15 defines a housing space 15S whose upper portion and front and rear parts are open, and the housing space 15S has a substantially convex shape in plan view. The detector holder 17 is detachably fixed by screws 16.

Here, in the illustrated example, the guide portion 13E formed on the rear end side of the connector receiving portion 13 is slidably fitted into the accommodating concave portion 15S, so that the connector 1 (2) is formed. Instead of directly positioning
The connector 1 (2) can be positioned via the holder member 13A of the connector receiving portion 13.

As described above, the holder member 13A is a replaceable member that can be replaced according to the type of the connector 1 (2) held by the holder member 13A, but as shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B). The specified outer dimensions L and H of each holder member 13A are set to the same dimension so that they can be slidably fitted into the accommodation recess 15S of the inspection block 15. Therefore, in the illustrated specific example, it is possible to combine the same inspection block 15 with one selected from a plurality of types of connector receiving portions 13.

As shown in FIG. 1, the detector holder 17
Is a plate-like member that holds the inspection probe 20 by penetrating the inspection probe 20 as a detector, and the front surface and the back surface define an undulation capable of changing the protruding position of the inspection probe 20. More specifically, a thick portion 17A that defines a rectangular step is defined in the central portion of one surface of the detector holder 17, and the inspection probe 20
Penetrates the thick portion 17A. On the other hand, a thin portion 17B is defined on both sides of the thick portion 17A, and the screw 16 penetrates the thin portion 17B to fix the thin portion 17B to the back end plate 15A of the inspection block 15. ing. Further, the back end plate 15A of the inspection block 15 is provided with a notch 15B which can penetrate the thick portion 17A. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1 (A), when the thick portion 17A is attached to the rear and when it is attached to the front as shown in FIG. Since the protruding position of the inspection probe 20 penetrating the portion 17A (the position exposed to the front from the detector holder 17) changes, the protruding dimension D of the inspection probe 20 used.
By selecting the mounting surface (front and back of the detector holder 17) according to 1, D2, the same member can be used for a plurality of types of inspection probes 20.

In the illustrated example, a cover member 18 made of transparent acrylic resin is fixed to the upper portion of the inspection block 15 with screws 19, as shown in FIG. The cover member 18 is formed in a substantially T shape in a plan view in which an extension portion 18A extends rearward, and a clamp band 18B that bundles the lead wires 21 of the inspection probe 20 is attached to the extension portion 18A.

Referring to FIG. 2, a toggle mechanism 40, which is an example of a driving means adopted in the continuity inspection apparatus 10,
The base portion 11 includes a pair of support portions 41 provided upright on the rear end portion of the base portion 11. The handle 42 has an axis A on the support portion 41.
It is rotatably supported by 1. Handle 42
Is provided in the vicinity of the axis A1 and includes a cam-shaped pressurizing portion 43 that abuts the back surface of the inspection block 15 of the inspection portion 14, and a grip portion 44 that is continuous with the pressurizing portion 43. A pressure surface 43A is formed on the peripheral surface of the pressure unit 43, and the inspection block 15 of the inspection unit 14 is formed on the pressure surface 43A.
It is constantly pressed by a spring (not shown). And
By rotating the handle 42 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 around the axis A1 described above, the inspection block 15 can be biased forward by the shape of the pressing surface 43A and is rotated by a predetermined amount. By this, axis A
It is possible to lock the inspection block 15 in the inspection posture in a toggle shape in cooperation with 1.

Next, the operation of the illustrated embodiment will be described. First, referring to FIG. 2, in the configuration described above, when the inspection unit 14 is in the detaching posture in which the inspection unit 14 is retracted rearward and the connector receiving unit 13 is released, the connector 1 (2) to be inspected is received by the connector receiving unit. It can be attached to the part 13. After that, by operating the handle 42 of the toggle mechanism 40 to move the inspection block 15 of the inspection unit 14 forward, the connector receiving portion 13 and the inspection unit 14 are relatively displaced to the inspection posture, and the continuity inspection is performed. Will be possible.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B),
Each terminal 5 (6) of the connector 1 (2) and the inspection probe 20
In each case, the guide portion 13E of the connector receiving portion 13 is positioned by sliding in the housing recess 15S of the inspection portion 14. Therefore, according to the illustrated specific example, since it is possible to position the terminals 5 (6) of a plurality of types of connectors 1 (2) on the corresponding inspection probe 20 with the same inspection block 15, the inspection unit 14 of As a result of being able to reduce the increase in types as much as possible, it becomes easy to manage the parts of the continuity inspection device 10, and the manufacturing cost of the continuity inspection device 10
Consequently, the cost of continuity inspection can be reduced. Therefore, according to the illustrated embodiment, there is a remarkable effect that it is possible to cope with the diversification of the connector 1 (2) to be inspected.

In particular, in the illustrated example, since the same detector holder 17 can be used for a plurality of types of inspection probes 20, the number of detector holders 17 can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced. It has the advantage of being possible. Further, when the connector receiving portion 13 can also be used as the connector holder 35 of the assembly drawing board 30, there is an advantage that the component (holder portion 13A) of the continuity inspection device 10 can be diverted.

In the continuity inspection apparatus 10 described above, the inspection block 15 and the toggle mechanism 40 as common parts are assembled to the rail member 12 to form a common unit, while the connector holder 13 and the detector holder 17 carrying the detector are carried.
By manufacturing a plurality of types of and according to the type of the connector 1 (2) to be inspected, and assembling the appropriately selected connector receiving portion 13 and detector holder 17 to the common unit so that the continuity inspection can be performed. Manufactured.

According to such a manufacturing method, the connector 1
(2) Since it is possible to reduce only the connector receiving portion 13 to be the most costly member that needs to be molded by changing the specification every time, it is possible to significantly reduce the manufacturing cost. Therefore, since it is possible to reduce only the connector receiving portion 13 to be the most expensive member that needs to be molded by changing the specification for each connector 1 (2), it is possible to significantly reduce the manufacturing cost. There is an advantage.

The above-described embodiments are merely examples of preferred examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. It goes without saying that various design changes can be made within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since it is possible to position the terminals of a plurality of types of connectors on the corresponding detectors in the same inspection block, it is possible to reduce the increase in the types of inspection parts as much as possible. This simplifies the manufacturing cost of the continuity inspection device, and thus the continuity inspection cost. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is a remarkable effect that it is possible to cope with diversification of connectors to be inspected.

In particular, when the same detector holder can handle a plurality of types of detectors, there are advantages that the number of detector holders can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced. . Further, when the connector receiving portion can also be used as the connector holder, there is an advantage that the parts of the continuity inspection device can be diverted.

In addition, according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, it is possible to reduce only the connector receiving portion to be the most costly member that needs to be molded by changing the specification for each connector. Can be reduced to.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B show a usage state of a continuity inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view showing a male connector, and FIG. 1B is a plane view showing a female connector. It is a partial schematic diagram.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the continuity inspection device in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a usage state of a connector receiving portion of the continuity inspection device in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an inspection unit of the continuity inspection device in the embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 male connector 2 female connector 11 Base part (connecting means) 13 Connector receiving part 13A holder member 13D nut member (assembly member) 13E guide part 14 Inspection Department 15 inspection blocks 15S accommodation recess 17 Detector holder 20 Inspection probe (detector) 35 Standing member 40 Toggle mechanism (driving means)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connector receiving portion for holding a connector accommodating a plurality of terminals, and a detector provided facing the connector receiving portion and corresponding to each terminal of the connector are held in the connector receiving portion. And the connector receiving portion between the inspection posture in which the detector is brought into contact with each terminal and the attaching / detaching posture in which the connector is attached / detached to / from the connector receiving portion. A continuity inspection device comprising a connecting means for connecting the inspection section so as to be relatively displaceable, and a drive means for relatively displacing the connected connector receiving section and the inspection section between the inspection posture and the attachment / detachment posture. In the above-mentioned inspection unit, the inspection block in which the terminals of the connector can be positioned on the detector through the connector receiving unit in the inspection posture, and the inspection block is replaceably attached to the inspection block. Look including a detector holder for holding the plurality of detectors corresponding to each connector to be held in the receiving portion, the detector Hol
Da holds the detector by penetrating the detector
It is a plate-shaped member, and the detector protrudes on the front and back surfaces.
A continuity inspection device, characterized in that an undulation whose position can be changed is defined . 2. A continuity testing apparatus according to claim 1 Symbol placement, the connector receiving portion, together are configured to be removable from the coupling member, the standing portion material to be erected on the assembly drawing board of the wire assembly A continuity inspection device including an assembling member that can be attached to the. 3. A continuity inspection device for producing a continuity inspection device for inspecting a connector held by a connector receiving portion with a plurality of detectors carried by an inspection block that is displaced relative to the connector receiving portion. In the method, by manufacturing the above inspection block as a common part and being guided by the same inspection block,
A connector receiving portion in which the held connector is positioned on the detector, and a detector holder that holds the plurality of detectors in a detachable state with respect to the inspection block are selected as the types of connectors to be inspected. According to the continuity inspection, a plurality of types are manufactured in accordance with the inspection block as a common part, and one connector receiving part and detector holder corresponding to the connector selected as the inspection target are combined so that the continuity inspection is possible. Device manufacturing method.