US 6,681,479 B2 · Terminal mounting method and apparatus

Abstract

A terminal mounting apparatus inserts press-fit terminals into a terminal housing for constituting a joint connector. The terminal mounting apparatus has a terminal positioning unit, a transfer unit, a carrier cutting unit, a tab bending unit, a separator, and an insertion unit. The terminal positioning unit adjusts spaces between adjacent ones of the terminals such that each of the terminals can enter one of the terminal insertion channels. The transfer unit transfers the terminals. The carrier cutting unit removes a desired joint portion jointing the terminals. The tab bending unit brings a desired contact tab, which can connect an upper one to a lower one of the terminals, into a connection state. The separator adjusts spaces between the terminals to correspond to spaces between terminal insertion channels. The insertion unit presses the terminals all at once into the terminal insertion channels.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims12

Dependent claims

a terminal space adjusting means for adjusting spaces between adjacent ones of the terminals such that each of the terminals can enter one of the terminal insertion channels,
a terminal holding means for holding a required number of the terminals having the spaces adjusted by the terminal space adjusting means for mounting the terminals in the insulating housing, and
a terminal insertion means for inserting the terminals all at once into the plurality of terminal insertion channels of the insulating housing.

A terminal mounting apparatus for mounting press-fit terminals in a plurality of terminal insertion channels parallel defined in an insulating housing, wherein the terminals are supplied as a jointed terminal assembly having the parallel press-fit terminals and joint portions jointing adjacent ones of the terminals to each other, and the terminal has a connection portion moving into a connection state and an isolation state, the connection state connecting the terminal to a second press-fit terminal received in a second insulating housing when the insulating housing having the terminal is layered on the second insulating housing, the isolation state isolating the terminal from the second press-fit terminal,

the insulating housing being able to receive the terminals in predetermined ones of the plurality of terminal insertion channels,
the apparatus comprising:
a terminal space adjusting means for adjusting spaces between the terminals such that each of the terminals can enter one of the terminal insertion channels,
a terminal holding means for holding a required number of the terminals having the spaces adjusted by the terminal space adjusting means for mounting the terminals in the insulating housing,
a joint portion removing means for removing at least one of the joint portions to isolate associated adjacent ones of the terminals held by the terminal holding means from each other,
a connection portion moving means for moving the connection portion into the connection state connecting the terminal to the second press-fit terminal,
a second terminal space adjusting means for further adjusting the spaces of the terminals held by the terminal holding means to coincide with spaces between of the predetermined terminal insertion channels, and
a terminal insertion means for inserting the terminals adjusted in the spaces by the second terminal space adjusting means all at once into the plurality of terminal insertion channels of the insulating housing,
wherein the terminal holding means transfers the terminals adjusted in the spaces by the terminal space adjusting means sequentially across the joint portion removing means, the connection portion moving means, the second terminal space adjusting means, and the terminal insertion means.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description15,707 words

Summary3,880 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a terminal mounting method and a terminal mounting apparatus for mounting press-fit terminals in insulating housings which are layered to constitute an connector used for a wiring harness.

#2. Related Art

Brief description of the drawings36 figures

#FIG. 1 is a side view showing a terminal mounting apparatus of an embodiment according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of the terminal mounting apparatus of the embodiment;

#FIG. 3 is a view taken along an arrow S1 of FIG. 2 regarding a terminal positioning unit of the terminal mounting apparatus of the embodiment;

Detailed description11,029 words

#Referring to FIGS. 1 to 27, a terminal mounting apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be discussed hereinafter. As best shown in FIG. 3, the terminal mounting apparatus 1 mounts press-fit terminals 30 in a terminal housing 40 constituting an insulating housing. The terminal 30 best shown in FIG. 28 is used to a joint connector.

#The terminal 30 is defined by bending an electrically conductive metal plate. As illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 29, the terminal 30 has a flat connection wall 35a laying an electrical cable 4 (see FIG. 34) thereon, a pair of side walls 35b, a cable connection portion 31, and an electrical contact portion 32. The connection wall 35a corresponds to the connection wall described in the summery of the invention.

#The connection wall 35 and side walls 35b each are shaped in a band plate. Each side wall 35b is contiguous with and raised from each side edge of the connection wall 35a.

Facts

Application

09/824,856Filed 4 Apr 2001

Priority

JP 2000-11646218 Apr 2000

Published

US 2001/0029664 A118 Oct 2001

Granted

27 Jan 2004

Term ended

30 Dec 2021

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 270 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification17 codes

H01R 43/20
Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or…
H01R 13/514
Bases; Cases: composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact…
H01R 43/16
Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or…
Y10T 29/49133
Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.: with component orienting

Timeline

18 Apr 2000Priority claimedJP 2000-116462
4 Apr 2001Application filedUS 09/824,856
4 Apr 2001Assigned to Yazaki Corporationassignment of assignor's interest
18 Oct 2001PublishedUS 2001/0029664 A1
27 Jan 2004GrantedUS 6,681,479 B2
30 Dec 2021Term endedEstimated, includes 270 days of adjustment

Terminal mounting method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Terminal mounting method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims12

Description15,707 words

Drawings

Classification17 codes

Life of this patent

Description15,707 words