JP5453604B2 - Elastic connector and method of manufacturing elastic connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is incorporated in an information device such as a portable information terminal, a notebook personal computer, a small audio player, an AV device such as a small display, and other electronic devices, and between the circuit boards and between the circuit board and the electronic component. The present invention relates to an elastic connector used for electrical connection between connecting members including various connecting parts such as between a conductive part provided on an exterior part of a device and a circuit board, and a method for manufacturing the elastic connector.

  As shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 as an example, the elastic connector 1 for electrically connecting connection members such as between circuit boards or between a circuit board and an electronic component has an insulating rubber-like elastic body. There are some which are formed in a cylindrical body with a side peripheral portion 2 and an elastic conductive portion 3 provided inside thereof. The elastic conductive portion 3 is exposed at both end faces 1a, 1a of the elastic connector 1 to form electrode surfaces 3a, 3a. The elastic conductive portion 3 exhibits conductivity in the axial direction of the cylindrical body. The elastic conductive portion 3 is obtained by mixing a conductive material in a rubber-like elastic material.

When attaching such an elastic connector 1 to an electronic device, it is not necessary to use fixing means such as soldering or mechanical joining, and the electrode surfaces 3a are in contact with the contact points (electrodes) facing each other between the connecting members. The two conductive contacts can be easily connected to each other by the elastic conductive portion 3. And the side periphery 2 can absorb the vibration and impact from the exterior of an apparatus, can also prevent abrasion and discharge of the elastic conductive part 3, and can implement | achieve reliable electrical connection.
Such an elastic connector 1 is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-257542, and is manufactured by molding because it can realize efficient production, simple work, high yield, and the like.

JP 2003-257542 A

  By the way, since the above-mentioned elastic connector 1 is manufactured by molding, when a product having a different height (axial length) of the elastic conductive portion 3 is manufactured, a different mold is required for each product. For this reason, when starting the manufacture of a new product, it is necessary to start a new mold, and there is a problem that the period until the new product is completed is long and the initial cost increases. In particular, when the elastic conducting portion 3 is formed by magnetic field orientation using a magnetic conductor as a conductor, the mold cost tends to increase because a magnetic core material that concentrates the magnetic force is embedded in the mold, and the initial cost is increased. Has increased. Moreover, when changing the product manufactured in a production factory, it is necessary to exchange a metal mold | die, there exists a problem that the preparation time of a manufacturing line is long and production efficiency deteriorates. Because of this, it is particularly unsuitable for products of high-mix low-volume production.

  Furthermore, since the elastic connector 1 is attached in pressure contact between the connecting members, the electronic device may be displaced when it receives a large impact. If the elastic connector 1 is displaced and the electrode surface 3a is detached from the contact point of the connection member, there is a problem that electrical connection between the connection members cannot be obtained.

  The present invention has been made against the background of the prior art as described above. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology with high production efficiency, which can quickly complete a new product at a small initial cost even if it has an elastic conductive portion having a height different from that of other products. Furthermore, it is providing the technique which does not raise | generate a position shift between connection members easily.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.
That is, the present invention relates to a columnar elastic connector that is sandwiched between connecting members and electrically connects these connecting members to each other. A conductive portion formed by filling some of these through-holes with a rubber-like base material cured in the hole and a conductor, and through-holes other than the through-hole serving as the conductive portion. An elastic connector comprising: a fixing member that is filled with an adhesive material; and at least one end surface of the pillar member is a cut surface that is cut in a direction crossing the column axis. provide.

In the present invention, the column body includes a tubular portion, a conductive portion, and a fixed portion. Of these, the conductive portion is hardened in the through hole of the tubular portion. That is, since the conductive portion is formed in the hole of the tubular portion without using a mold, the length between both ends of the conductive portion can be formed to the tube axis length of the tubular portion. The through hole of the tubular portion having a long axial length can be reliably filled with the conductive portion. Therefore, the conductive portion and the fixed portion can be exposed at both end surfaces of the column body, and the electrode surface by the conductive portion and the fixing surface by the fixed portion can be formed.
Further, the tubular portion has a plurality of through holes penetrating in the tube axis direction, and these through holes are provided with a conductive portion or a fixing portion. As described above, since the conductive portion and the fixing portion are provided for each through hole, the electrode surface by the conductive portion and the fixing surface by the fixing portion can be accurately formed, and the connection member is ensured to ensure the conductive connection between the connection members. It is possible to increase the difficulty of positional displacement with respect to. Therefore, an elastic connector with improved electrical connection reliability can be realized. For example, the conductive portion and the fixed portion can be configured as follows for a plurality of through holes. If more conductive portions are provided than the fixed portions, the conductive connection between the connection members can be reliably performed, and an elastic connector with improved electrical connection reliability can be realized. Furthermore, since the plurality of conductive portions are independent from each other, conductive connection between the plurality of electrodes can also be realized. If more fixing portions are provided than the conducting portions, the fixing surface can be increased to increase the fixing force with respect to the connecting member, and an elastic connector that is not easily displaced between the connecting members can be realized.
The plurality of through-holes include a form in which a plurality of through-holes are formed in one tubular part and a form in which a plurality of through-holes are formed by combining a plurality of tubular parts.
And, since at least one end surface of the column body is a cut surface obtained by cutting the column body of the long column shaft in the crossing direction with the column axis, the column axis length of the column body may be appropriately adjusted by cutting. it can.
From the above, even if it is an elastic connector made of a column body whose column axis length is different from that of other products, there is no need to start a new mold, a new product can be completed quickly, and the initial cost can be reduced. it can. In addition, when changing the product to be manufactured at the production factory, it is not necessary to replace the mold as in the conventional technique, and it can be manufactured by appropriately adjusting the column axis length of the column body. Can be increased.
In addition, since the fixing surfaces are formed on both end faces of the column body, it is possible to increase the fixing force of the end surface of the column body with respect to the connection member that comes into contact with the pressure contact, and an elastic connector that is not easily displaced between the connection members Can be realized.
The “cut surface” means not a surface formed by a mold but a surface formed by cutting with a blade, a wire, or the like.

  Further, the present invention relates to a columnar elastic connector that is sandwiched between connecting members and electrically connects these connecting members to each other. A conductive portion formed by filling some of these through-holes with a rubber-like base material cured in the hole and a conductor, and through-holes other than the through-hole serving as the conductive portion. A column having a fixing portion filled with an adhesive material, the column having a long axis formed long in the column axis direction and being cut in a cross direction with the column axis. Provided is an elastic connector characterized in that it is a shaft.

In the present invention, the column body includes a tubular portion, a conductive portion, and a fixed portion. Of these, the conductive portion is hardened in the through hole of the tubular portion. That is, since the conductive portion is formed in the hole of the tubular portion without using a mold, the length between both ends of the conductive portion can be formed to the tube axis length of the tubular portion. The through hole of the tubular portion having a long axial length can be reliably filled with the conductive portion. Therefore, the conductive portion and the fixed portion can be exposed at both end surfaces of the column body, and the electrode surface by the conductive portion and the fixing surface by the fixed portion can be formed.
Further, the tubular portion has a plurality of through holes penetrating in the tube axis direction, and these through holes are provided with a conductive portion or a fixing portion. As described above, since the conductive portion and the fixing portion are provided for each through hole, the electrode surface by the conductive portion and the fixing surface by the fixing portion can be accurately formed, and the connection member is ensured to ensure the conductive connection between the connection members. It is possible to increase the difficulty of positional displacement with respect to. Therefore, an elastic connector with improved electrical connection reliability can be realized. For example, the conductive portion and the fixed portion can be configured as follows for a plurality of through holes. If more conductive portions are provided than the fixed portions, the conductive connection between the connection members can be reliably performed, and an elastic connector with improved electrical connection reliability can be realized. Furthermore, since the plurality of conductive portions are independent from each other, conductive connection between the plurality of electrodes can also be realized. If more fixing portions are provided than the conducting portions, the fixing surface can be increased to increase the fixing force with respect to the connecting member, and an elastic connector that is not easily displaced between the connecting members can be realized.
The plurality of through-holes include a form in which a plurality of through-holes are formed in one tubular part and a form in which a plurality of through-holes are formed by combining a plurality of tubular parts.
And since the column body is a columnar body with a long column axis cut in a crossing direction with the column axis, the column axis length of the column body can be appropriately adjusted by cutting. .
From the above, even if it is an elastic connector made of a column body whose column axis length is different from that of other products, there is no need to start a new mold, a new product can be completed quickly, and the initial cost can be reduced. it can. In addition, when changing the product to be manufactured at the production factory, it is not necessary to replace the mold as in the conventional technique, and it can be manufactured by appropriately adjusting the column axis length of the column body. Can be increased.
In addition, since the fixing surfaces are formed on both end faces of the column body, it is possible to increase the fixing force of the end surface of the column body with respect to the connection member that comes into contact with the pressure contact, and an elastic connector that is not easily displaced between the connection members Can be realized.

The tubular portion includes an outer shell tubular portion exposed to the outside, and a small diameter tubular portion having the same tube axis direction inside the outer shell tubular portion, and the through hole is formed of the outer shell tubular portion and the small diameter tubular portion. It can be formed by a gap with the part or formed inside the small diameter tubular part. That is, the tubular part is formed by combining a plurality of partial tubular parts. Even in the tubular portion having such a configuration, a plurality of through holes can be formed in the tube axis direction, so that it is possible to increase the difficulty of displacement with respect to the connection member while ensuring the conductive connection between the connection members. Therefore, an elastic connector with improved electrical connection reliability can be realized.
If a plurality of small-diameter tubular portions are provided inside the outer tubular portion, the number of through holes can be increased, and a plurality of independent conductive portions can be provided. Therefore, the conductive connection between the connection members having a complicated electrode arrangement can be reliably performed.
By the way, when a plurality of conductive parts are formed using magnetic field orientation, the magnetic conductors forming these conductive parts must be separated for each conductive part so that adjacent conductive parts do not leak. . In the conventional mold manufacturing method, a magnetic field is applied to dispersed magnetic conductors and collected at a plurality of locations to form each conductive part. Therefore, if the pitch of the conductive parts is narrow, magnetic conduction between adjacent conductive parts is difficult. The body may be connected, and it is difficult to form a conductive portion with a narrow pitch. However, in the present invention, since the conductive portions are formed in a plurality of independent through holes, the magnetic conductor is not connected between the conductive portions, and a conductive portion with a narrow pitch can be easily formed.

  The end surface of the column can be an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the column axis direction. If it does in this way, the cutting surface part of a pillar can be made into a pointed shape, and when pressing an elastic connector to a connecting member, the press contact load can be made small.

  The conductive portion may be a conductive path formed by a chain of magnetic conductors oriented in the direction of the column axis in the rubber-like base material. In this way, the conductivity can be increased with a smaller amount of the conductor compared to the conductive rubber in which the conductor is uniformly dispersed in the rubber-like elastic body, and the conductive portion can be reduced in hardness. Therefore, when the elastic connector is pressed against the connecting member, the pressing load can be reduced.

  In addition, the present invention provides a column body comprising a tubular portion made of an insulating rubber-like elastic body and a conductive portion in which some of the through holes penetrating in the tube axis direction inside the tubular portion are filled with a conductive material. For a method of manufacturing an elastic connector in which one end and the other end of a conductive portion are in contact with each other by connecting with each other, the connection member is electrically connected to each other, with respect to a tube made of a rubber-like elastic body having a plurality of through holes. The through hole is filled with an adhesive material to form a fixing portion, and the other through holes are filled with a conductive composition composed of an uncured rubber-like base material and a conductor, and then the conductive material is formed. A long-axis column body forming step of curing the composition to form a conductive portion, and a cutting step of cutting the long-axis column body in a crossing direction with the column axis to obtain the column body are performed. An elastic connector manufacturing method is provided.

In the method for producing an elastic connector of the present invention, a fixing portion made of an adhesive material is formed in the holes of these through holes in a long tube, or a conductive composition made of an uncured rubber-like base material and a conductor. An elastic connector comprising a tubular portion, a fixed portion, and a conductive portion without using a mold, in order to perform a process of forming a long-axis column body that forms a conductive portion by curing the conductive composition after filling an object. A long-axis column body in the previous stage can be obtained, and a new product can be quickly completed at a small initial cost. In addition, when changing the product to be manufactured at the production factory, there is no need to replace the mold as in the conventional technique, and the production efficiency can be improved as compared with the conventional technique.
And, in order to execute the cutting step after the long-axis column body forming step, if the length to be cut is set appropriately, obtaining an elastic connector with columns of various axial lengths from one long-axis column body, It is also possible to obtain a large number of elastic connectors made of columns having the same axial length.

  About the manufacturing method of the said elastic connector of this invention, the flowable electrically conductive composition which mixes the conductor which consists of a magnetic conductor with an uncured rubber-like base material in the formation process of a long-axis column body is manufactured. Then, after filling the through hole, a magnetic field is applied in the tube axis direction of the tubular portion to orient the magnetic conductors in a chained manner along the tube axis direction to form a conduction path, and the conductive composition is cured. A conductive portion can be formed. In this way, it is possible to increase the electrical conductivity with a small amount of the conductive material compared to the conductive rubber in which the conductive material is uniformly dispersed in the rubber-like elastic material, and to obtain an elastic connector having a conductive portion with reduced hardness. Can do. Therefore, when press-contacting the connection member, an elastic connector having a small press-contact load can be obtained.

According to the elastic connector and the method of manufacturing the elastic connector of the present invention, the columnar length of the column body can be appropriately adjusted in order to obtain the column body by cutting the column body of the long column shaft. The conductive portion and the fixed portion can be exposed at both end faces of the column body, and an electrode surface by the conductive portion and a fixing surface by the fixed portion can be formed. Therefore, even if it is an elastic connector made of a column having a column axis length different from that of other products, it is not necessary to start a new mold, a new product can be completed quickly, and the initial cost can be reduced. In addition, when changing the product to be manufactured at the production factory, it is not necessary to replace the mold as in the conventional technique, and it can be manufactured by appropriately adjusting the column axis length of the column body. Can be increased.
Furthermore, the fixing surfaces formed on both end surfaces of the column body can increase the fixing force of the end surface of the column body with respect to the connection member that comes into contact with the pressure contact, and realize an elastic connector that is not easily displaced between the connection members. be able to.

The perspective view which shows the elastic connector of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line SA-SA in FIG. 1. Explanatory drawing when it is a manufacturing method in the elastic connector of 1st Embodiment, and fills the through-hole of a tubular part with an adhesive material or a electrically conductive composition. Explanatory drawing at the time of applying the magnetic field to the tube-axis direction of a tubular part in the manufacturing method in the elastic connector of 1st Embodiment. Explanatory drawing when it is a manufacturing method in the elastic connector of 1st Embodiment, and cut | disconnects a long-axis column body in a crossing direction with a column axis. Explanatory drawing which shows the column body which was the manufacturing method in the elastic connector of 1st Embodiment, and cut | disconnected the long-axis column body and shortened it. The perspective view which shows the one modification in the cut surface of an elastic connector. The perspective view which shows the elastic connector of 2nd Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which is a manufacturing method in the elastic connector of 2nd Embodiment, and shows a some tubular part. Explanatory drawing when it is a manufacturing method in the elastic connector of 2nd Embodiment, and fills the through-hole of a tubular part with an adhesive material or a electrically conductive composition. It is a manufacturing method in the elastic connector of 2nd Embodiment, Comprising: Explanatory drawing at the time of applying a magnetic field to the pipe-axis direction of a tubular part. Explanatory drawing when it is a manufacturing method in the elastic connector of 2nd Embodiment, and cut | disconnects a long-axis column body in a cross direction with a column axis. The perspective view which shows another modification of the cut surface of an elastic connector. The perspective view which shows the elastic connector of 3rd Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the elastic connector of 4th Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the conventional elastic connector. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the conventional elastic connector.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the structure which is common in each embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.

First Embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 6) :
The elastic connector 11 and the manufacturing method of the elastic connector 11 according to the first embodiment are shown in FIGS. 1 is a perspective view of the elastic connector 11, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the elastic connector 11, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are explanatory views showing a method of manufacturing the elastic connector 11. The elastic connector 11 according to the first embodiment includes a tubular portion 12, a conductive portion 13, and a fixing portion 14.

The tubular portion 12 is made of an insulating rubber-like elastic body and is formed in a cylindrical shape having three through holes 12a penetrating in the tube axis direction. That is, the tubular portion 12 has three holes. In the present embodiment, two through holes 12a are filled with a conductive portion 13 described later, and one through hole 12a is filled with a fixed portion 14 described later. The tubular portion 12 protects the side surfaces of the conducting portion 13 and the fixing portion 14.
As the material of the tubular portion 12, thermosetting rubber or thermoplastic elastomer having insulating properties and rubber elasticity can be used. For example, natural rubber, silicone rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, 1,2-polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, chlorosulfone rubber, polyethylene rubber, Acrylic rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, fluoro rubber, urethane rubber, styrene thermoplastic elastomer, olefin thermoplastic elastomer, ester thermoplastic elastomer, urethane thermoplastic elastomer, amide thermoplastic elastomer, vinyl chloride thermoplastic elastomer, fluorine A thermoplastic thermoplastic elastomer, an ion-crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer, and the like. As will be described later, when the conductive composition is heat-cured in the through holes 12a in the tubular portion 12, thermosetting rubber is preferable, and silicone rubber and fluorine rubber having high heat resistance are more preferable.

The conductive portion 13 is composed of a rubber-like base material 13a and a conductor 13b that are hardened in the through hole 12a in the tubular portion 12, and is formed in a cylindrical shape. Each of the two conductive portions 13 fills the inside of the through-hole 12a solidly, and both end portions are exposed to the end surfaces 12a and 12b of the tubular portion 12 to form circular electrode surfaces 13c that contact the contact points (electrodes) of the connection member. Forming. The conductor 13b of this embodiment is a magnetic conductor, and as shown in FIG. 2, the conductor 13b is chained along the tube axis direction (conduction direction) of the tubular portion 12 inside the rubber-like base material 13a. Oriented to form a conduction path 13d.
The material of the rubber-like base material 13a constituting the conductive portion 13, like the tubular section 12 of the above, the thermosetting rubber having rubber elasticity can be used. Especially, if it is a liquid thermosetting rubber at the time of non-hardening, it can make it easy to fill in the hole of the through-hole 12a in the tubular part 12. Examples thereof include liquid silicone rubber, liquid polyurethane rubber, liquid polyisobutylene rubber, and liquid polyacrylate rubber. If the rubber-like base material 13a is made of the same material as that of the tubular portion 12, when the rubber-like base material 13a is cured in the hole of the through hole 12 in the tubular portion 12, the fixing force with the tubular portion 12 is increased. Can be increased.
As the material of the conductor 13b, particles, fibers, fine wires, etc. made of metal, ceramics, etc. can be used. In the case where a magnetic conductor is used for the conductor 13b as in this embodiment, for example, nickel, cobalt, iron, ferrite, or an alloy containing a large amount thereof can be used. In addition, powders and fine wires made of highly conductive metals such as gold, silver, platinum, aluminum, nickel, copper, iron, palladium, cobalt, and chromium, alloys such as stainless steel and brass, resins, and insulating ceramics Can be used which is plated with a magnetic conductor, or a magnetic conductor plated with a highly conductive metal.
As another configuration of the conductive portion, a conductive rubber in which a conductor is uniformly dispersed in an insulating rubber-like base material can be used. In this case, examples of the material of the conductor include good-electricity metals, resins, ceramics, and carbon black.

The fixing portion 14 is made of an adhesive material that fills the inside of the through hole 12a in the tubular portion 12, and is formed in a cylindrical shape. Both end portions of the fixing portion 14 form circular fixing surfaces 14a that are exposed to the end surfaces 12a and 12b of the tubular portion 12 and are fixed to the connection member.
As the material of the fixing portion 14, an adhesive material that develops a fixing force with respect to the tubular portion 12 and the connecting member can be used. For example, silicone resin, urethane resin, acrylic resin, epoxy resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, polyamide resin, polyester resin, polyolefin resin, fluorine resin, An ionomer-based resin, polystyrene-based resin, polyimide-based resin, other thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin, and an adhesive material made of a mixture of two or more of these can be used. Of these, silicone-based pressure-sensitive adhesive materials are preferable in view of heat resistance, durability, vibration characteristics, and the like. Furthermore, additives such as a curing agent, a vulcanizing agent, a softening agent, a colorant, and a filler can be blended with these pressure-sensitive adhesive materials in order to adjust characteristics such as weather resistance and increase / decrease in adhesive strength.

  As described above, the elastic connector 11 is a cylindrical body including the tubular portion 12, the conductive portion 13, and the fixing portion 14, and the both end surfaces 11 a and 11 b are adjusted with respect to the column axis by appropriately adjusting the column axis length with a cutting blade or the like. The cut surfaces are cut in the vertical direction (cross direction) and parallel to each other. The both end surfaces 11a and 11b have an electrode surface 13c that comes into contact with the electrode of the connection member and a fixing surface 14a that comes into close contact with the connection member.

A method for manufacturing the elastic connector 11 will be described.
First, a liquid conductive composition 15 is obtained by blending an uncured and liquid thermosetting rubber, which is a rubber-like base material 13a, with a magnetic conductor as a conductor 13b. Then, a long tube shaft three-hole rubber tube 16 having three through-holes 16a penetrating in the tube axis direction is separately prepared, and as shown in FIG. The conductive composition 15 is filled using the dispenser D from the side. Further, the adhesive material 17 is filled into the remaining one hole of the three-hole rubber tube 16 by using the dispenser D from one end side. At this time, if the other end side of the three-hole rubber tube 16 is inserted and closed, or if it is closed using a release paper or a release tape not shown, the conductive composition 15 and the adhesive material 17 are removed from the three-hole rubber tube 16. It can be made difficult to leak.
Next, as shown in FIG. 4, a magnetic field in which the magnetic force lines ML are directed in the tube axis direction is applied to the three-hole rubber tube 16 filled with the conductive composition 15 and the adhesive material 17, and the conductor 13b is moved in the tube axis direction. After forming a conduction path 13d (see FIG. 2) by chain alignment, the conductive composition 15 is heated and cured to form the conductive portion 13. When the conductive composition 15 is heat-cured, the adhesive material 17 can also be heat-cured to form the fixing portion 14. Thus, the long-axis column 18 can be obtained in the process of forming the long-axis column 18 that forms the conductive portion 13 and the fixed portion 14 in the hole of the three-hole rubber tube 16. Note that if the primer treatment is applied to the inner surface of the three-hole rubber tube 16 before the conductive composition 15 is filled in the three-hole rubber tube 16, the fixing force between the three-hole rubber tube 16 and the conductive portion 13 can be increased. Further, the magnitude of the magnetic field is preferably a magnetic flux density of 0.01 T or more. When the magnetic flux density is less than 0.01T, it is difficult to orient the conductor 13b connected from one end side to the other end side of the rubber tube 16, and it is difficult to reliably form the conduction path 13d. A more preferable magnetic flux density is 0.1T to 20T. If it is 0.1T or more, the orientation efficiency of the conductor 13b can be improved. Under conditions such as exceeding 20T, the magnetic field generator is expensive, and it is difficult to stably generate a magnetic field. Not practical.
Finally, as shown in FIG. 5, a cutting step of cutting the long axis column 18 with a cutting blade C along a cutting line CL perpendicular to the column axis (crossing direction) is performed, and as shown in FIG. It is possible to obtain a plurality of elastic connectors 11 in which both end surfaces 11a and 11b, which are obtained by shortening the long-axis column 18 and are cylindrical bodies having cut surfaces.
In addition, although the example which uses the three-hole rubber tube 16 of both ends opening was shown as a tubular part of a long tube axis | shaft, the thing of one end opening (one end closing) can also be used.

According to the above-described manufacturing method, since the conductive portion 13 is formed in the through hole 12a in the tubular portion 12 without using a mold, the length between both ends of the conductive portion 13 is set to the tube of the tubular portion 12. The through hole 12a of the tubular portion 12 having a long tube shaft length can be reliably filled with the conductive portion 13. Therefore, the conductive portion 13 and the fixing portion 14 can be exposed at both end surfaces 11a and 11b of the elastic connector 11 formed of a cylindrical body, and the electrode surface 13c by the conductive portion 13 and the fixing surface 14a by the fixing portion 14 can be formed. it can.
Since both end surfaces 11a and 11b of the cylindrical body are cut surfaces, in other words, the cylindrical body is obtained by cutting a cylindrical body having a long column axis in a direction perpendicular to the column axis (crossing direction) to shorten the axis. Further, it is possible to obtain the elastic connector 11 in which the columnar body is appropriately adjusted by cutting the columnar body of the long columnar shaft. A large number of elastic connectors 11 each having a columnar body having the same axial length can be obtained from one long-axis columnar body 18.
From the above, even if the elastic connector 11 is a cylindrical body having a column length different from that of other products, it is not necessary to start a new mold, the new product can be completed quickly, and the initial cost can be reduced. Can do. In addition, when changing the product to be manufactured at the production factory, it is not necessary to replace the mold as in the prior art, and it can be manufactured by adjusting the column axis length of the cylindrical body as appropriate. Can be increased.
Furthermore, since the fixing surfaces 14a are formed on the both end surfaces 11a and 11b of the cylindrical body, the fixing force of the end surfaces 11a and 11b in the cylindrical body can be increased with respect to the connecting member that comes into contact with the pressure contact, and between the connecting members The elastic connector 11 that is difficult to be displaced can be realized.

  Since the elastic connector 11 forms the conduction path 13d by the chain orientation of the conductors 13b, the conductive connector 13b has a small blending amount and high conductivity compared to the conductive rubber in which the conductors are uniformly dispersed in the rubber-like elastic body. Rate can be realized, and the conductive portion 13 can be reduced in hardness. Therefore, when the elastic connector 11 is pressed against the connecting member, the pressure load can be reduced.

The tubular portion 12 has three through-holes 12a, and includes two conductive portions 13 and one fixing portion 14 that are independent for each through-hole 12a. Therefore, the electrode surface 13c and the fixing portion 14 by the conductive portion 13 are provided. Therefore, it is possible to accurately form the fixing surface 14a, and to increase the difficulty of displacement with respect to the connection member while ensuring the conductive connection between the connection members. Therefore, the elastic connector 11 having improved electrical connection reliability can be realized. And since many conduction | electrical_connection parts 13 are provided rather than the fixing | fixed part 14, the conduction | electrical_connection connection between connection members can be performed reliably and the elastic connector 11 which improved the reliability of electrical connection can be implement | achieved. Furthermore, since the two conductive portions 13 are independent of each other, a conductive connection between the two electrodes can also be realized.
Further, in the examples described so far, the conductive portions 13 are provided more than the fixed portions 14, but if the fixed portions 14 are provided more than the conductive portions 13, the fixing force to the connection member can be increased. An elastic connector that is difficult to be displaced between the connecting members can be realized.

Regarding the both end faces 11a and 11b of the elastic connector 11, an example in which the cut faces are parallel to each other and cut in a direction perpendicular to the column axis of the cylindrical body has been shown. However, as shown in FIG. It can be a flat inclined surface cut in the crossing direction oblique to the column axis direction.
If it does in this way, the shape by the side of the end surface 11a of a cylindrical body can be made into a pointed shape, and when the elastic connector 11 is press-contacted to a connection member, the press-contact load can be made small.
Even in the case of manufacturing such an end face, since the inclined surface is formed after the conductive path 13d is formed, it is possible to easily obtain the conductive path 13d along the column axis and the inclined surface inclined to the column axis. On the other hand, in the conventional technique for forming a mold, the cavity surface forming the inclined surface is skewed with respect to the direction of the magnetic field lines, so that the strength of the magnetic field lines that pass through the cavity is likely to be generated, and in the column axis direction. It is difficult to surely form a conduction path to go.

Second Embodiment [FIGS. 8 to 12] :
An elastic connector 21 of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the elastic connector 21, and FIGS. 9 to 12 are explanatory views showing a method for manufacturing the elastic connector 21. The elastic connector 21 of the second embodiment is different from the elastic connector 11 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the tubular portion 22 and the fixing portion 24. Other configurations and raw materials, functions, and effects of each member are the same as those of the elastic connector 11.

  Similar to the tubular portion 12, the tubular portion 22 is formed of an insulating rubber-like elastic body. However, the tubular portion 22 includes a cylindrical outer shell tubular portion 22a that forms an outer peripheral portion, a cylindrical small-diameter tubular portion 22b that has the same axial direction and axial center inside the outer shell tubular portion 22a, It consists of The outer tubular portion 22a protects the outer surface side of the fixing portion 24, which will be described later, and the small-diameter tubular portion 22b exists between the conductive portion 13 and the fixing portion 24 to protect the side surface side of the conductive portion 13. doing.

  The fixing portion 24 is formed in a cylindrical shape that fills the gap between the outer tubular portion 22a and the small diameter tubular portion 22b. Both end portions of the fixing portion 24 are exposed to form an annular fixing surface 24a that comes into contact with the connecting member.

  As described above, the elastic connector 21 is a cylindrical body including the tubular portion 22, the conductive portion 13, and the fixing portion 24, and both end surfaces 21 a and 21 b are parallel to each other cut in a direction perpendicular to the column axis (crossing direction). The cut surface.

A method for manufacturing the elastic connector 21 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 9, a large-diameter rubber tube 26a and a small-diameter rubber tube 26b are prepared, and the small-diameter rubber tube 26b is inserted inside the large-diameter rubber tube 26a by aligning the axes of the two rubber tubes 26a. And As shown in FIG. 10, from one end of the double rubber tube 26, a liquid conductive composition 15 containing a magnetic conductor is filled into the inside of the small diameter rubber tube 26b using the dispenser D, and the dispenser D is also used. Then, the adhesive material 17 is filled in the gap between the large diameter rubber tube 26a and the small diameter rubber tube 26b. Next, as shown in FIG. 11, a magnetic field in which the magnetic lines of force ML are directed in the direction of the tube axis is applied to the double rubber tube 26 filled with the conductive composition 15 and the adhesive material 17, and the conduction path of the magnetic conductor (FIG. 2), the conductive composition 15 and the adhesive material 17 are heat-cured to form the conductive portion 13 and the fixing portion 24 to obtain the long axis column 28. Finally, as shown in FIG. 12, the long-axis column 28 is cut with a cutting blade C along a cutting line CL perpendicular to the column axis (cross direction), and both ends of the long-axis column 28 are shortened. It is possible to obtain a plurality of elastic connectors 21 whose surfaces 21a and 21b are cylindrical bodies having cut surfaces.
Even in this embodiment, when the conductive composition 15 and the adhesive material 17 are filled, the conductive composition 15 can be obtained by closing the other end of the double rubber tube 26 with a release paper or a release tape (not shown). And the adhesive material 17 can be made difficult to leak from the double rubber tube 26. Moreover, although the example which uses the double rubber tube 26 of both ends opening was shown as a tubular part of a long tube shaft, the thing of one end opening (one end closing) can also be used.

According to the above-described manufacturing method, since the conductive portion 13 and the fixing portion 14 are exposed and the electrode surface 13c and the fixing surface 14a are formed on both end surfaces 21a and 21b of the elastic connector 21 formed of a cylindrical body, the connecting member It is possible to increase the difficulty of misalignment with respect to the connection member while reliably connecting the conductive connections. Therefore, the elastic connector 21 with improved electrical connection reliability can be realized.
Moreover, although the example in which the fixing surface 14a by the cylindrical fixing portion 14 has a larger area than the electrode surface 13c by the cylindrical conductive portion 13 has been shown, a cylindrical fixing portion is provided inside the small diameter tubular portion 22b, If a cylindrical conductive portion is provided in the gap between the shell tubular portion 22a and the small diameter tubular portion 22b, an electrode surface having a larger area than the fixing surface can be provided, and conduction connection between the connection members can be ensured. it can.

As shown in FIG. 13, the crossing direction in which the end surface 21a formed by one of the cut surfaces is inclined with respect to the column axis direction, as shown in FIG. It can be an inclined surface such as a side surface of a cone cut into two.
If it does in this way, the shape by the side of the end surface 21a of a cylindrical body can be made into a pointed shape, and when the elastic connector 21 is press-contacted to a connection member, the press-contact load can be made small.
Further, in the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, even when such an end face is manufactured, the inclined surface is formed after the conductive path 13d is formed, and therefore the conductive path 13d along the column axis and the inclined surface that is inclined to the column axis. Can be easily obtained.

Third Embodiment (FIG. 14) :
An elastic connector 31 of the third embodiment is shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the elastic connector 31. The elastic connector 31 of the third embodiment differs from the elastic connector 21 of the second embodiment in the configuration of the tubular portion 32 and the fixing portion 34. Other configurations and raw materials, actions, and effects of each member are the same as those of the elastic connector 21.

  Similar to the tubular portion 22, the tubular portion 32 is formed of an insulating rubber-like elastic body, and has a cylindrical outer tubular portion 32a that forms an outer peripheral portion, and a tube inside the outer tubular portion 32a. It is comprised by the two cylindrical small diameter tubular parts 32b and 32b which have the same axial direction. The outer tubular portion 32a protects the outer surface side of the fixing portion 34 described later, and the small-diameter tubular portion 32b exists between the conductive portion 13 and the fixing portion 34 to protect the side surface side of the conductive portion 13. doing.

  The fixing portion 34 is formed in a cylindrical shape that fills the gap between the outer tubular portion 32a and the two small diameter tubular portions 32b. In other words, it is formed in a cylindrical shape having two through holes 34b penetrating in the tube axis direction. Then, both end portions of the fixing portion 24 are exposed to form a fixing surface 34a that comes into contact with the connection member.

  As described above, the elastic connector 31 is a cylindrical body including the tubular portion 32, the conductive portion 13, and the fixing portion 34, and both end surfaces 31a and 31b are parallel to each other cut in a direction perpendicular to the column axis (crossing direction). The cut surface.

  A method for manufacturing the elastic connector 31 will be described. The manufacturing method of the elastic connector 31 is substantially the same as the elastic connector 21 of the second embodiment. First, a large-diameter rubber tube and two small-diameter rubber tubes are prepared, and the small-diameter rubber tube is inserted inside the large-diameter rubber tube by aligning the tube axis directions of the two. And from one end side of these rubber tubes, the liquid conductive composition which mix | blended the magnetic conductor using the dispenser D is filled inside each small diameter rubber tube, and also using the dispenser D, an adhesive material is used as a large diameter rubber tube. Fill the gap with the small diameter rubber tube. Next, a magnetic field in which the magnetic force lines ML are directed in the tube axis direction is applied to these rubber tubes to form a conduction path (see FIG. 2) of the magnetic conductor, and then the conductive composition and the adhesive material are cured by heating. The long axis column body is obtained by forming the portion 13 and the fixing portion 34. Finally, the long-axis column body is cut with a cutting blade along a cutting line perpendicular to the column axis (crossing direction), and both end faces 31a and 31b, which are obtained by shortening the long-axis column body, are cylinders having a cut surface. A plurality of elastic connectors 31 can be obtained.

According to such a manufacturing method, since the two conductive portions 13 are provided in the tube axis direction of the tubular portion 32, it is possible to increase the difficulty of displacement with respect to the connection member while ensuring the conductive connection between the connection members. it can. Therefore, the elastic connector 31 with improved electrical connection reliability can be realized. Further, since the two conducting portions 13 are independent, the conducting connection of the connecting member having two electrodes such as plus / minus can be realized.
Further, if the outer tubular portion 32a and the small diameter tubular portion 32b are combined in this way, the configuration of the both end faces 31a and 31b can be easily varied, and the conductive connection between the connecting members having complicated electrode arrangements is possible. Can also be done reliably.

Fourth Embodiment (FIG. 15) :
An elastic connector 41 of the fourth embodiment is shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the elastic connector 41. The elastic connector 41 of the fourth embodiment is different from the elastic connector 21 of the second embodiment in the configuration of the tubular portion 42. Other configurations and raw materials, actions, and effects of each member are the same as those of the elastic connector 21.

  Similar to the tubular portion 22, the tubular portion 42 is formed of an insulating rubber-like elastic body, and has a cylindrical outer tubular portion 42a that forms an outer peripheral portion, and a tube inside the outer tubular portion 42a. A cylindrical small-diameter tubular portion 42b having four holes penetrating in the tube axis direction with the same axial direction and axial center. The outer tubular portion 42a protects the outer surface side of the fixed portion 24, and the small-diameter tubular portion 42b exists between the conductive portion 13 and the fixed portion 24 to protect the side surface side of the conductive portion 13. Yes.

  As described above, the elastic connector 41 is a cylindrical body including the tubular portion 42, the conductive portion 13, and the fixing portion 24, and both end surfaces 41 a and 41 b are parallel to each other cut in a direction perpendicular to the column axis (crossing direction). The cut surface.

  A method for manufacturing the elastic connector 41 will be described. The manufacturing method of the elastic connector 41 is substantially the same as the elastic connector 21 of the second embodiment. First, a large-diameter rubber tube and a four-hole small-diameter rubber tube are prepared, and the small-diameter rubber tube is inserted inside the large-diameter rubber tube by aligning the axes of both. And from one end side of these rubber tubes, the liquid conductive composition which mix | blended the magnetic conductor using dispenser D is each filled with four holes of a small diameter rubber tube, and also using dispenser D, an adhesive material is used for a large diameter rubber tube. And fill the gap between the small diameter rubber tube. Next, a magnetic field in which the magnetic force lines ML are directed in the tube axis direction is applied to these rubber tubes to form a conduction path (see FIG. 2) of the magnetic conductor, and then the conductive composition and the adhesive material are cured by heating. The long axis column body is obtained by forming the portion 13 and the fixing portion 24. Finally, the long-axis column body is cut with a cutting blade along a cutting line perpendicular to the column axis (crossing direction), and both end faces 41a and 41b obtained by shortening the long-axis column body are cylinders with cut surfaces. A plurality of elastic connectors 41 can be obtained.

  According to such a manufacturing method, since the four independent conductive portions 13 are provided, it is possible to increase the difficulty of displacement with respect to the connection member while ensuring the conductive connection between the connection members. Therefore, the elastic connector 41 with improved electrical connection reliability can be realized. In addition, a conductive connection between the connection members having four electrodes can be realized. Furthermore, the conductive connection between the connection members having a complicated electrode arrangement can be reliably performed.

1 Elastic connector (conventional technology)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a End surface 2 Side peripheral part 3 Elastic conductive part 11 Elastic connector (1st Embodiment)
11a End surface 11b End surface 12 Tubular portion 12a Through-hole 13 Conductive portion 13a Rubber-like base material 13b Conductor 13c Electrode surface 13d Conductive path 14 Fixing portion 14a Fixing surface 15 Conductive composition 16 Three-hole rubber tube 17 Adhesive 18 Long axis column 21 Elastic connector (second embodiment)
21a End surface 21b End surface 22 Tubular portion 22a Outer shell tubular portion 22b Small diameter tubular portion 24 Fixed portion 24a Fixed surface 26 Double rubber tube 26a Large diameter rubber tube 26b Small diameter rubber tube 28 Long shaft column 31 Elastic connector (third embodiment)
32 tubular portion 32a outer tubular portion 32b small diameter tubular portion 34 fixed portion 34a fixing surface 34b through hole 41 elastic connector (fourth embodiment)
42 Tubular part 42a Outer shell tubular part 42b Small diameter tubular part C Cut blade CL Cutting line D Dispenser ML Magnetic field line

Claims (8)

A columnar body comprising a tubular portion made of an insulating rubber-like elastic body, and a conductive portion filled with a conductive material in some of the through holes penetrating in the tube axis direction inside the tubular portion. In the manufacturing method of the elastic connector in which the connection members are connected to each other by one end and the other end being in contact with the connection member,
For a tube made of a rubber-like elastic body having a plurality of through holes, some through holes are filled with an adhesive material to form a fixing portion, and the other through holes are uncured thermosetting rubber. after filling the conductive composition comprising at rubbery substrate and the conductor made of the steps formed in the long axis columnar body forming the conductive portion by curing the conductive composition,
Cutting the long-axis column body in a crossing direction with the column axis to make a short axis, and obtaining the column body,
The manufacturing method of the elastic connector characterized by performing this. In the long columnar body forming process, a flowable conductive composition is prepared by mixing a conductor made of a magnetic conductor with an uncured rubber-like base material, filling the through-hole, 2. The elasticity according to claim 1 , wherein a magnetic field is applied in the tube axis direction to orient the magnetic conductors in a chained manner along the tube axis direction to form a conduction path, and the conductive composition is cured to form a conductive portion. A method for manufacturing a connector. In the columnar-shaped elastic connector that is sandwiched between the connecting members and electrically connects the connecting members to each other.
A tubular portion made of an insulating rubber-like elastic body and having a plurality of through holes penetrating in the column axis direction;
A conductive part formed by filling some of these through holes with a rubber-like base material made of a thermosetting rubber cured in the hole and a conductor;
A fixing portion formed by filling a through-hole other than the through-hole serving as the conductive portion with an adhesive material,
An elastic connector, wherein at least one end surface of the column body is a cut surface cut in a direction crossing the column axis. In the columnar-shaped elastic connector that is sandwiched between the connecting members and electrically connects the connecting members to each other.
A tubular portion made of an insulating rubber-like elastic body and having a plurality of through holes penetrating in the column axis direction;
A conductive part formed by filling some of these through holes with a rubber-like base material cured in the hole and a conductor;
A fixing portion formed by filling a through-hole other than the through-hole serving as the conductive portion with an adhesive material,
An elastic connector, wherein the columnar body is a long-axis columnar body formed long in the direction of the column axis and cut to a short axis by cutting the column body in a direction crossing the column axis. The tubular portion includes an outer shell tubular portion exposed to the outside, and a small diameter tubular portion having the same tube axis direction inside the outer shell tubular portion,
The elastic connector according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the through hole is formed by a gap between the outer shell tubular portion and the small diameter tubular portion, or is formed inside the small diameter tubular portion. The elastic connector according to any one of claims 3 to 5 , wherein an end surface of the column body is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the column axis direction. Conductive portion, claims 3 6 to any one of claims in which conductor made of a magnetic conductor to form a conductive path through the rubber-like base material with a chain oriented along the cylindrical axis direction Elastic connector. The elastic connector according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the tubular portion is made of a thermosetting rubber.

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