Method of connecting flat cable to connecting terminal, connecting apparatus, and connecting state determining method

A method of connecting a flat cable to a connecting terminal, in which the flat cable, having a plurality of flat conductors arranged in parallel and having surfaces thereof covered with an insulating material, is connected to the connecting terminal, by piercing a plurality of crimp pieces, formed integrally with a substrate of the connecting terminal, into a desired conductor of the flat cable and by inwardly bending leading ends of the crimp pieces penetrating the flat cable to hold the desired conductor therebetween, comprising the step of:

• forming cut ends in the desired conductor by means of the plurality of crimp pieces pierced into the desired conductor, each cut end extending along an inner face of a corresponding one crimp piece and in contact with the inner face with a constant contact pressure over substantially the entire length of the cut end.

A method of connecting a flat cable to a connecting terminal, in which the flat cable, having a plurality of flat conductors arranged in parallel and having surfaces thereof covered with an insulating material, is connected to the connecting terminal, by piercing a plurality of crimp pieces, formed integrally with a substrate of the connecting terminal, into a desired conductor of the flat cable and by inwardly bending leading ends of the crimp pieces penetrating the flat cable to hold the desired conductor therebetween, comprising the steps of:

• forming cut ends in the desired conductor by means of the plurality of crimp pieces pierced into the desired conductor, each cut end extending along an inner face of a corresponding one crimp piece and in contact with the inner face with a constant pressure over substantially the entire length of the cut end;
• and
• inwardly bending the leading ends of the crimp pieces penetrating the flat cable, while maintaining a contact state of the cut ends with the crimp pieces unchanged.

A connecting state determining method for determining a connecting state of a connecting terminal to a flat cable having a plurality of flat conductors arranged in parallel and having surfaces thereof covered with an insulating material, in which the connecting state is determined when a desired conductor of the flat cable is connected to the connecting terminal by piercing a plurality of crimp pieces formed integrally with a substrate of the connecting terminal into the desired conductor and by inwardly bending leading ends of the crimp pieces penetrating the flat cable to hold the desired conductor therebetween, comprising the step of:

• determining the connecting state of the crimp pieces to the desired conductor by comparing a piercing load determined when the crimp pieces are pierced into the flat cable and a normal piercing load determined in advance and observed when crimp pieces are normally pierced into a flat cable.