Connector device and wiring harness manufacturing method

Abstract

A connector device and a method for manufacturing a wiring harness are provided. The connector device includes: a connector shell having a terminal accommodating chamber; a terminal configured to be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber; an electric wire configured to be connected to the terminal; an anti-corrosion material disposed at a position facing the terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber and an anti-corrosion target portion of the electric wire; and an anti-corrosion material support portion that holds the anti-corrosion material above the connector shell so that the anti-corrosion material can move toward the anti-corrosion target portion. The melting point of the anti-corrosion material is set to be lower than the melting point of the material forming the connector shell, and the anti-corrosion material is configured to melt and then solidify while covering the anti-corrosion target portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to a connector device and a wire harness manufacturing method. Background Art

[0002] A general wiring harness installed on a vehicle or the like includes a large number of bundled and integrated electric wires and has a complex shape. A connector for connecting a predetermined device is generally mounted on the terminal portion of the electric wire. When manufacturing the wiring harness, the sheath at the terminal portion of the electric wire, each of which is covered with an insulator such as resin, is stripped to expose the core wire, and a metal terminal is fixed to the terminal portion of the electric wire. The terminal generally uses a clamp terminal, and the front end portion where the core wire of the electric wire is exposed and the position where the core wire is covered are clamped to the terminal by a clamp. Then, the metal terminal clamped to the electric wire is inserted into and fixed to a predetermined cavity formed in a connector shell serving as a connector body.

[0003] Meanwhile, when the core wire of an aluminum wire is clamped and fixed to a terminal, it is necessary to prevent corrosion from occurring at the clamping position. Therefore, in a wiring harness, etc., an anti-corrosion operation is applied to the clamping portion of the core wire by a method such as applying a predetermined anti-corrosion material.

[0004] For example, in the prior art, a technology for improving the corrosion resistance of a wire connection portion between a terminal fitting and a wire conductor of an insulated wire in a covered wire equipped with a terminal and a wiring harness is disclosed. Specifically, the covered wire equipped with a terminal is constructed so that the connection portion between the wire conductor of the covered wire and the terminal fitting is coated with a coating film made of an antiseptic, the bottom surface of the main body of the terminal fitting is exposed to the outside without being coated with the antiseptic, and the wire-side end surface of the main body is exposed to the outside without being coated with the coating film made of the antiseptic (for example, see JP2014-165158A).

[0005] Another prior art discloses a technique for preventing long-term corrosion at the connection between the wire and the clamp terminal in a terminal-equipped wire while enabling the use of a conventional connector. The terminal-equipped wire includes an anti-corrosion material integrally formed around the connection between the wire conductor and the clamp terminal and around the wire sheath material (for example, see JP2014-26795A).

[0006] At the same time, in the wiring harness used for vehicles, high reliability is required in relation to the conduction between the electric wires and the terminals. Therefore, during the manufacturing process of the wiring harness, after the clamping terminal is clamped and fixed to the electric wire, the clamping state is checked. Specifically, it is checked whether the shape of the clamping part, the positional relationship between the exposed core wire and the clamping part, etc. are in a state that meets the prescribed conditions. Thereafter, when the type of the core wire of the electric wire is aluminum, an anti-corrosion material is applied to the clamping part. In addition, it is checked whether the anti-corrosion material is coated as specified. After completing all the above operations, the terminal connected to the electric wire is inserted into and fixed to the cavity of the connector shell.

[0007] In the manufacturing process of wire harnesses, it is desirable to be able to efficiently produce a variety of wire harnesses of different types and specifications using common manufacturing facilities. However, for example, when the core wire of the wire is made of copper or aluminum, the type of terminal may need to be changed. In addition, the presence or absence of corrosion protection and inspection varies depending on the core wire type, which complicates the process and makes it difficult to achieve manufacturing automation using common manufacturing facilities.

[0008] When manufacturing wire harnesses, the entire manufacturing process can be divided into pre-processing and post-processing, and these processes can be performed in separate factories. Furthermore, processes that are not common to all wire harnesses, such as corrosion protection and its inspection, are preferably performed in post-processing whenever possible to accommodate variations in the specifications of the wire harnesses being manufactured. However, in conventional manufacturing processes, corrosion protection and its inspection must be performed in pre-processing. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The presently disclosed subject matter provides a connector device and a wire harness manufacturing method that enable terminals and manufacturing facilities to be commonly used for different types of electric wire cores and the like, and facilitates manufacturing automation.

[0010] According to an illustrative aspect of the subject matter of the present disclosure, a connector device includes: a connector housing having a terminal accommodating chamber; a terminal configured to be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber; an electric wire configured to be connected to the terminal; an anti-corrosion material disposed at a position facing an anti-corrosion target portion of the terminal and the electric wire accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber; and an anti-corrosion material support portion that holds the anti-corrosion material above the connector housing so that the anti-corrosion material can move toward the anti-corrosion target portion. The anti-corrosion material has a melting point set to be lower than the melting point of a material forming the connector housing, and is configured to melt and then solidify while covering the anti-corrosion target portion. According to another illustrative aspect of the subject matter of the present disclosure, a wire harness manufacturing method is provided for manufacturing a wire harness comprising a connector housing having a terminal accommodating chamber, a terminal configured to be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber, and an electric wire configured to be connected to the terminal, the wire harness manufacturing method comprising: arranging the terminal in the terminal accommodating chamber and fixing the terminal to the terminal accommodating chamber; fixing the electric wire to the terminal by physically and electrically connecting the electric wire to the terminal; placing an anti-corrosion material close to an anti-corrosion target portion including a connection portion where the terminal and the electric wire are connected to each other; and melting and then solidifying the anti-corrosion material to perform an anti-corrosion operation on the anti-corrosion target portion.

[0011] Other aspects and advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be apparent from the following description, drawings, and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector case and a cover thereof of a connector device according to an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter;

[0013] Figure 2 A and Figure 2 B is a perspective view showing the metal terminal and the covered wire before and after installation, respectively;

[0014] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the connector case in a state where covered electric wires and a cover are mounted to each other;

[0015] Figure 4 A. Figure 4 B. and Figure 4 C is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing different states of a part made of an anti-corrosion material during the manufacturing process; and

[0016] Figure 5 is a flow chart showing a process during the manufacture of a connector device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Detailed embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector case and a cover thereof of the connector device 1 according to an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0019] like Figure 1 As shown, the connector housing 10 is a main body forming the female side of a pair of connectors that fit into each other. A pair of female connectors and a male connector can be connected by Figure 1 Although only the female connector is described in the following description, the male connector can be constructed in the same manner as the female connector.

[0020] Figure 1 The illustrated connector case 10 is constructed so that circuits can be connected at five connection points arranged in a row along the connector width direction Aw. Specifically, a cavity (terminal accommodating chamber) 10b is formed as a continuous, elongated space extending from the connector front end 10a to the rear end opposite the connector, in the connector insertion and removal direction Az2. Each cavity 10b has a cross-sectional shape, such as a rectangle or a circle.

[0021] exist Figure 1 In the example, five cavities 10b are arranged in a row along the width direction Aw of the connector. The five cavities 10b form independent spaces and are used for arranging the following: Figure 2 A and Figure 2 B shows five spaces between the metal terminal 13 and the covered electric wire 14 .

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, an upper opening portion 10c is formed at the upper portion of the connector case 10. The upper opening portion 10c allows the upper portions of the five cavities 10b to be exposed outside the connector case 10. The upper opening portion 10c is used for welding and anti-corrosion operations described later.

[0023] Furthermore, the connector device 1 includes a cover 11 that can be fitted to the connector housing 10. The cover 11 has a shape that matches the upper opening portion 10c of the connector housing 10. Therefore, by removing the cover 11 from the upper opening portion 10c, the connector housing 10 can be easily opened. Figure 1 The upper portion shown is fitted into the upper opening portion 10 c , and the cover 11 can be fixed in a state of covering the entire upper opening portion 10 c and all of the plurality of cavities 10 b .

[0024] The cover 11 holds the anticorrosive material 12 in the anticorrosive material holding portion 11a in advance. The anticorrosive material holding portion 11a holds the anticorrosive material 12 in such a manner that the anticorrosive material 12 can move downward relative to the cover 11 when a force is applied to the anticorrosive material 12 from above.

[0025] The anti-corrosion material 12 is held at a position corresponding to each of the five cavities 10b facing the cover 11. The anti-corrosion material 12 is solid at room temperature, melts at a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined melting point, and solidifies when the temperature becomes sufficiently low again. The melting point of the anti-corrosion material 12 is set to be sufficiently lower than that of the connector case 10.

[0026] Figure 2 A and Figure 2 B is a perspective view showing the metal terminal and the covered wire before and after installation, respectively. Figure 2 A and Figure 2 In B, only the front end portion of the covered electric wire 14 is shown.

[0027] like Figure 2 A and Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1B , the metal terminal 13 includes a fitting portion 13a and a wire coupling portion 13b. The fitting portion 13a is located in the front region of the metal terminal 13 and has a shape of a pin terminal that can be fitted into a male connector.

[0028] The wire coupling portion 13b of the metal terminal 13 is a metal plate having a flat or curved shape that can contact the front end area of ​​the covered wire 14 and is located as shown in FIG. Figure 2 A and Figure 2 In the rear area of ​​the metal terminal 13 shown in A.

[0029] The covered electric wire 14 includes an electric wire core 14a and an insulating sheath 14b made of resin or the like covering the electric wire core 14a. When the covered electric wire 14 is mounted to the metal terminal 13, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 A and Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 8B , the insulating sheath 14 b at the front end portion of the covered electric wire 14 is stripped off, and the electric wire core 14 a is exposed.

[0030] Then, if Figure 2 A and Figure 2 B, the entire exposed portion of the wire core 14a and the front end portion of the insulating sheath 14b are aligned with the wire coupling 13b so as to overlap with the wire coupling 13b. In this state, a predetermined laser welder irradiates the wire core 14a with a laser beam through the upper opening 10c, thereby welding the wire core 14a to the wire coupling 13b.

[0031] In this embodiment, the metal terminals 13 are pre-arranged at positions corresponding to the respective cavities 10b of the connector housing 10. Figure 1With the upper opening 10c shown opened, the covered electric wires 14 are moved in the electric wire insertion direction Az1 and inserted into the respective cavities 10b from the rear end side of the connector housing 10. After the electric wire cores 14a and the front ends of the electric wires with the sheaths are aligned with the positions of the electric wire coupling portions 13b of the corresponding metal terminals 13 so as to overlap with the positions of the electric wire coupling portions 13b of the corresponding metal terminals 13, laser welding is performed.

[0032] For example, when a laser welder equipped with a galvano scanner is used, welding is easily performed by sequentially positioning a laser beam at each wire coupling portion 13 b of the plurality of metal terminals 13 accommodated in the cavity 10 b of the connector case 10 .

[0033] In the case of using a clamping terminal instead of the metal terminal 13 in a general connector, since the clamping operation cannot be performed or is difficult to perform inside the connector housing, it is necessary to clamp the wires to the clamping terminal and then insert the wires into the cavity of the connector housing.

[0034] In contrast, in this embodiment, since it is assumed that the metal terminal 13 and the covered electric wire 14 are fixed by laser welding using the upper opening portion 10c, the metal terminal 13 can be pre-installed in the connector case 10 and the covered electric wire 14 can be inserted into the cavity 10b and then welded.

[0035] Figure 3 It is a perspective view showing the appearance of the connector case in a state where covered electric wires and a cover are mounted.

[0036] When the covered electric wires 14 are respectively inserted into the five cavities 10b of the connector housing 10, the electric wire coupling portions 13b and the electric wire cores 14a in the respective cavities 10b are laser welded, and the cover 11 is mounted to the connector housing 10 and the upper opening 10c is closed, the connector device 1 enters the state as shown in FIG. Figure 3 In addition, Figure 3 After assembling in the state, perform the anti-corrosion operation described later as needed.

[0037] When the material of the wire core 14a of the covered wire 14 connected to the metal terminal 13 is aluminum, an anti-corrosion operation is required to prevent corrosion of the connection portion. In addition, an anti-corrosion operation needs to be performed after completing laser welding of the connection portion between the wire coupling portion 13b and the wire core 14a.

[0038] When the material of the wire core 14a is copper, the anti-corrosion operation can be omitted. In addition, when a plurality of covered wires 14 having different types of wires are connected to a connector in a mixed state, the anti-corrosion operation can be selectively performed only on the covered wires 14 in which the material of the wire core 14a is aluminum.

[0039] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the metal terminal 13 is formed of a material commonly used for connection with two covered electric wires 14 respectively made of aluminum and copper, thereby being compatible with the two covered electric wires 14 respectively made of aluminum and copper in a common manufacturing process.

[0040] Figure 4 A. Figure 4 B. and Figure 4 C is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing different states of a part made of an anti-corrosion material during the manufacturing process. Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the state shown in Figure A, the wire coupling portion 13b of the metal terminal 13 and the wire core 14a are fixed to each other by laser welding. In addition, the anti-corrosion material 12 is placed in the anti-corrosion material holding portion 11a of the cover 11 at a position directly above the parts to be welded, facing the parts to be welded.

[0041] exist Figure 4 In the state shown in A, when force is applied from the outside to the position of the anticorrosive material holding portion 11a, thereby pushing the anticorrosive material 12 downward from above, the Figure 4 The state shown in B. That is, the anticorrosive material 12 held on the cover 11 is close to or in contact with the front ends of the electric wire core wire 14a and the insulating sheath 14b for each cavity 10b.

[0042] exist Figure 4 In the state shown in B, heat is applied to the anti-corrosion material 12 at each position to heat the anti-corrosion material 12 to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the anti-corrosion material 12. For example, while reducing the output of the laser welder, the anti-corrosion material 12 is heated by irradiating the anti-corrosion material 12 with a laser beam.

[0043] When the anti-corrosion material 12 is heated and melted, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 3 , the anti-corrosion material 12 melts and falls, changing shape to cover the outer side of each wire core 14a and the leading end of the insulating sheath 14b. After heating is completed and the temperature decreases, the anti-corrosion material 12 solidifies in this shape. Thus, the sheath of the anti-corrosion material 12 is formed, protecting the wire cores 14a and the vicinity of the weld, thereby preventing corrosion. Furthermore, since the melting point of the anti-corrosion material 12 is sufficiently lower than that of the connector housing 10, deformation of the connector housing 10 can be prevented when the anti-corrosion material 12 is heated.

[0044] Figure 5 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in the manufacturing process of the connector device 1. This processing procedure may be performed manually by an operator or may be performed using an automatic assembly device or an inspection device. Figure 5 The processing process will be described as follows.

[0045] First, in step S11, all the metal terminals 13 to be mounted to the connector are inserted into the respective cavities 10b in the connector case 10. This step is unnecessary when the connector case 10 to which the metal terminals 13 are pre-mounted can be used as an assembly.

[0046] Next, the covered electric wire 14 in which the insulating sheath 14b is stripped to expose the electric wire core 14a at the front end portion is prepared in advance, and the covered electric wire 14 is inserted into the portion of each cavity 10b of the connector case 10 from the electric wire insertion direction Az1. Then, the electric wire coupling portion 13b of the metal terminal 13 and the electric wire core 14a in each cavity 10b are aligned to overlap each other, and the portions to be joined are irradiated with a laser beam from the upper opening portion 10c, thereby performing laser welding and fixing (S12).

[0047] Next, the cover 11 is mounted to the upper opening portion 10c of the connector case 10 (S13). Figure 3 The connector housing 10 is in the state shown, and the upper opening 10c is closed. Furthermore, the cover 11 and the anti-corrosion material 12 are provided on the connector housing 10. The anti-corrosion material 12 is provided directly above the wire coupling portion 13b of each metal terminal 13 and the wire core 14a of the covered wire 14 in the connector housing 10.

[0048] Next, the material of the core wire of the covered wire 14 installed in each cavity position of the connector housing 10 is identified (S14). For example, based on information indicating the manufacturing specifications of the wiring harness to be manufactured, the core wire material of the covered wire 14 for each cavity position of each connector can be identified. If the material is aluminum, the process proceeds from S14 to S15, and if the material is copper, the process proceeds to S18.

[0049] Next, in S15, if Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 8B , force is applied from above the anti-corrosion material holding portion 11 a in the cover 11 at the upper portion of the corresponding cavity 10 b , and the anti-corrosion material 12 is pushed into the cavity 10 b where the anti-corrosion operation is required.

[0050] Next, the anti-corrosion material 12 pushed into each cavity 10b is heated for a certain period of time, thereby melting the anti-corrosion material 12 (S16). Figure 4 As shown in C, the melted anticorrosive material 12 flows downward to form a sheath, thereby covering the surface of the electric wire core wire 14a and the like for the connection portion of each cavity 10b, and is solidified when the temperature drops.

[0051] The process from S14 to S17 is performed for all covered electric wires 14 connected to the same connector case 10. When the process for all covered electric wires 14 is completed, the process proceeds from S17 to S18, and an inspection is performed on the portion to be subjected to the anti-corrosion operation. For example, the operator visually inspects the anti-corrosion material holding portion 11a to check whether the sheath of the anti-corrosion material 12 is formed in a predetermined state at the portion requiring the anti-corrosion operation.

[0052] By the way, Figure 5 The manufacturing process shown can be divided into pre-processing PR1 including S12 and S13 and post-processing PR2 including S14 to S18 to manage manufacturing. For example, by using factories, facilities, personnel, etc. located in multiple locations, pre-processing PR1 and post-processing PR2 can be efficiently performed according to the production schedule of vehicles at different times.

[0053] On the other hand, in the case where the metal terminal 13 and the covered electric wire 14 are connected to each other before the metal terminal 13 is inserted into the connector housing 10 as in a general manufacturing process, it is necessary to perform an anti-corrosion operation and an inspection thereof in accordance with the previous electric wire type in the pre-process PR1, thereby reducing the degree of freedom in changing the manufacturing process of the wiring harness. Figure 5 The process shown manufactures Figures 1 to 4 The connector device 1 having the structure shown in C can efficiently produce harnesses.

[0054] In the above-described connector device 1, since the anti-corrosion material 12 is previously retained by the anti-corrosion material retaining portion 11a of the cover 11, the connector case 10, the cover 11, and the metal terminal 13 can be used as a universal component regardless of whether the core wire material of the covered electric wire 14 to be mounted on the connector is aluminum or copper. In addition, when the material of the covered electric wire 14 is aluminum, it is not necessary to separately prepare an anti-corrosion material as a special component.

[0055] Furthermore, since laser welding and anti-corrosion processing can be performed using a portion of upper opening portion 10c formed in connector housing 10, the connection between metal terminal 13 and covered wire 14 and the anti-corrosion manufacturing process can be performed while metal terminal 13 is positioned in cavity 10b of connector housing 10. This facilitates automation of the manufacturing process. Furthermore, anti-corrosion processing can be performed in post-processing step PR2.

[0056] According to aspects of the above-described embodiment, a connector device (1) includes: a connector housing (10) having a terminal accommodating chamber (e.g., a cavity 10b); a terminal (e.g., a metal terminal 13) configured to be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber (10b); an electric wire (e.g., a covered electric wire 14) configured to be connected to the terminal; an anti-corrosion material (e.g., an anti-corrosion material 12) provided at a position facing an anti-corrosion target portion of the terminal and the electric wire accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber; and an anti-corrosion material support portion (e.g., an anti-corrosion material retaining portion 11a) that retains the anti-corrosion material above the connector housing so that the anti-corrosion material can move toward the anti-corrosion target portion. The melting point of the anti-corrosion material is set to be lower than the melting point of the material forming the connector housing, and the anti-corrosion material is configured to melt and then solidify while covering the anti-corrosion target portion.

[0057] According to the connector device having the above-mentioned structure, the anti-corrosion material is retained on the connector shell via the anti-corrosion material support portion. Therefore, after the terminal and the wire are accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber inside the connector shell, the anti-corrosion operation can be performed by melting the anti-corrosion material as a post-processing. In addition, since the anti-corrosion material support portion pre-supports the anti-corrosion material in a state where the anti-corrosion material can move in a direction close to the anti-corrosion target portion, it is not necessary to prepare the anti-corrosion material separately when the anti-corrosion operation is required. In addition, when the anti-corrosion operation is not required, the anti-corrosion material does not affect the connection portion between the terminal and the wire. Therefore, even if the core wire type of the wire to be installed is aluminum or copper, a universal component can be used as the anti-corrosion material support portion. In addition, since the melting point of the anti-corrosion material is set to be lower than the melting point of the material of the connector shell, the anti-corrosion operation can be performed without having a significant impact on the connector shell by simply heating the anti-corrosion material to melt the anti-corrosion material and form a sheath.

[0058] The anti-corrosion material may be melted after the anti-corrosion material moves to a position close to the anti-corrosion target portion while being held by the anti-corrosion material supporting portion.

[0059] With this configuration, since the anticorrosion material is melted in a state close to the anticorrosion target portion, the anticorrosion target portion can be reliably covered.

[0060] The connector device may further include a cover member (e.g., a cover 11) configured to engage with the connector housing (10) and cover an opening (e.g., an upper opening portion 10c) of the connector housing (10), the opening being formed at a position corresponding to the terminal accommodating chamber (10b). The opening (10c) and the cover member (11) may be provided at positions facing the anti-corrosion target portion. The anti-corrosion material support portion (11a) may be provided in the cover member (11).

[0061] With this configuration, before the cover member is installed, a portion of the connector housing's terminal accommodating chamber is exposed to the outside through the opening. Therefore, when using a laser welder, for example, the material inside the terminal accommodating chamber can be welded from outside the connector housing through the opening. In other words, after the terminals and wires are housed in the terminal accommodating chamber within the connector housing, the operation of joining the terminals and wires can be performed. Furthermore, by attaching the cover member to the connector housing, the opening can be easily closed, protecting the joint between the terminals and wires in the terminal accommodating chamber.

[0062] The opening may be formed at a position facing the corrosion prevention target portion in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the terminal and the electric wire (eg, an electric wire insertion direction Az1 ).

[0063] With this configuration, since the opening portion is formed at a position where the components of the corrosion protection target portion are easy to process, an operation of processing the internal components from the outside of the connector case, that is, an operation such as welding, becomes easy.

[0064] The terminal accommodating chamber (10b) may be a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers. The opening of the connector case may be formed across the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers, and the cover member may cover all of the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers.

[0065] With this configuration, even if the number of terminals and wires to be accommodated in the connector housing is large, the entire opening portion can be covered by preparing only one cover member, and an increase in the number of connector components and an increase in the number of operating steps when assembling the components can be avoided.

[0066] According to another aspect of the above embodiment, a wire harness manufacturing method is provided for manufacturing a wire harness including a connector housing (10) having a terminal accommodating chamber, a terminal (e.g., a metal terminal 13) configured to be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber, and an electric wire (e.g., a covered electric wire 14) configured to be connected to the terminal. The wire harness manufacturing method includes: arranging the terminal in the terminal accommodating chamber and fixing the terminal to the terminal accommodating chamber (S11); fixing the electric wire to the terminal by physically and electrically connecting the electric wire to the terminal (S12); placing an anti-corrosion material close to an anti-corrosion target portion including a connection portion where the terminal and the electric wire are connected to each other (S15); and melting and then solidifying the anti-corrosion material to perform an anti-corrosion operation on the anti-corrosion target portion (S16).

[0067] With this configuration, if corrosion protection is required for the connection between the terminal and the wire, it can be performed during post-processing. In other words, since corrosion protection does not need to be performed before the wires are inserted into the connector housing, the order of the manufacturing process can be easily optimized as needed. Therefore, for example, if the wire harness manufacturing process is divided into pre-processing and post-processing, and pre-processing and post-processing manufacturing are performed in different factories, the allocation of manufacturing facilities and functions installed in each factory can be optimized.

Claims

1. A connector device, comprising: a connector housing having a plurality of terminal receiving chambers; a plurality of terminals configured to be respectively accommodated in the terminal accommodation chambers; a plurality of electric wires configured to be connected to the terminals respectively; a plurality of anti-corrosion materials respectively provided at respective positions facing anti-corrosion target portions of the terminals and the electric wires accommodated in the respective terminal accommodation chambers; as well as a plurality of anti-corrosion material supporting portions, which respectively hold the anti-corrosion materials above the connector housing so that the anti-corrosion materials can move toward the anti-corrosion target portions; wherein the melting point of the anti-corrosion material is set to be lower than the melting point of the material forming the connector shell, and For the anti-corrosion target portion that does not require an anti-corrosion operation, the anti-corrosion material is held in an initial position by the anti-corrosion material supporting portion, so that the anti-corrosion operation is not performed; For the anti-corrosion target part that needs to be subjected to the anti-corrosion operation, after the anti-corrosion material is moved to a position close to the anti-corrosion target part while being held by the anti-corrosion material supporting part, the anti-corrosion material is configured to melt and then solidify while covering the anti-corrosion target part, thereby performing the anti-corrosion operation on the anti-corrosion target part.

2. The connector device according to claim 1, further comprising: a cover member configured to engage with the connector case and cover an opening of the connector case, the opening being formed at a position corresponding to the terminal accommodating chamber, wherein the opening and the cover member are provided at positions facing the anti-corrosion target portion, and Wherein, the anti-corrosion material supporting portion is provided in the cover member.

3. The connector device according to claim 2, in, The opening is formed at a position facing the corrosion prevention target portion in a direction orthogonal to longitudinal directions of the terminal and the electric wire.

4. The connector device according to claim 2 or 3, in, The terminal accommodating chamber is a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers, wherein the opening of the connector case is formed across the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers, and The cover member covers all of the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers.

5. A method for manufacturing a wire harness, the method comprising: a connector housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers; a plurality of terminals configured to be respectively accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers; and a plurality of electric wires configured to be respectively connected to the terminals; the terminals and the electric wires having corrosion-resistant target portions for performing corrosion-resistant operations using an anti-corrosion material as needed, the anti-corrosion material being held by an anti-corrosion material support portion; the method comprising: Disposing the plurality of terminals in the terminal receiving chambers, respectively, and fixing the terminals to the terminal receiving chambers, respectively; securing each of the wires to each of the terminals by physically and electrically connecting each of the wires to each of the terminals; For the anti-corrosion target portion of the terminal and the electric wire that do not require an anti-corrosion operation, the anti-corrosion material is held in an initial position by the anti-corrosion material supporting portion so that the anti-corrosion operation is not performed; For the corrosion target portion requiring the corrosion prevention operation, the corrosion prevention material is brought close to the corrosion target portion including a connection portion where the terminal and the electric wire are connected to each other, and the corrosion prevention material is melted and then solidified, thereby performing the corrosion prevention operation on the corrosion target portion.

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