Retention force testing device for contacts of a connector

Abstract

The embodiment of the present application discloses a holding force testing device for contact of a connector, comprising a machine body, a clamp and a testing assembly, the clamp comprising a rotatable first supporting part, a second supporting part installed on the machine body and at least three clamping jaws, the clamping jaws being pivotally installed on the second supporting part, the clamping surface of the clamping jaws defining a clamping cavity, the first supporting part being relatively rotatable with respect to the second supporting part, and the at least three clamping jaws being synchronously rotatable to expand or reduce the clamping cavity when the first supporting part is relatively rotatable with respect to the second supporting part, the testing assembly being installed on the machine body and comprising a probe head with a testing probe, the testing assembly being movable with respect to the machine body along a first direction, a second direction and a third direction which are orthogonal to each other so that the testing probe is aligned with, contacted with and separated from a predetermined contact of the connector. The testing device of the embodiment of the present application has a large clamping force, a large size variation range of the clamping cavity, can automatically center and has good applicability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of connector testing technology, and specifically relates to a device for testing the retention force of connector contacts. Background Technology

[0002] Connectors are commonly used to connect wire harnesses. Connector dimensions vary considerably, with different external dimensions and coordinate distributions of the connector contacts. The retaining force of the connector contacts is a crucial performance indicator; insufficient retaining force can lead to poor contact or even connection failure. Therefore, it is necessary to test the retaining force of the connector's metal contacts.

[0003] In related technologies, connector contact retention force testing devices typically employ three-jaw chucks, six-jaw chucks, drill chucks, and double V-block clamps to clamp the connector. However, the gaps between the clamping elements of such clamps are very large, making it easy for the connector to misalign or jam during use. This is especially true when the connector is small, as it can easily become stuck between the clamping elements, requiring manual re-clamping and potentially damaging the connector. Furthermore, some clamps in related technologies have a limited range of clamping cavity dimensions (cross-sectional area), making them unsuitable for connectors with large size variations, resulting in poor applicability. Additionally, the clamping force of these clamps is low, and the clamping elements are prone to wear after a period of use, leading to reduced clamping accuracy. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in the related art.

[0005] Therefore, embodiments of the present invention provide a device for testing the holding force of connector contacts with large clamping force, a wide range of clamping cavity size variations, and good applicability.

[0006] The connector contact retention force testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0007] Organism;

[0008] A clamp includes a first support member, a second support member, and at least three jaws. The second support member is mounted on the body. The first support member is connected to and rotatable relative to the second support member. The first support member has a first working through hole, and a first gear portion is provided on the peripheral wall of the first working through hole. The second support member has a second working through hole, and the central axis of the second working through hole is aligned with the central axis of the first working through hole. The jaws are pivotally mounted on the second support member and are evenly arranged circumferentially along the first working through hole. Each jaw has a clamping surface, a mating surface, and a second gear portion. In two adjacent jaws, the mating surface of one jaw is adjacent to and faces the clamping surface of the other jaw. The clamping surfaces of at least three jaws define a clamping cavity for clamping a connector. The first gear portion meshes with the second gear portion. When the first support member rotates relative to the second support member, at least three jaws rotate synchronously to expand or shrink the clamping cavity.

[0009] A test assembly, disposed on the housing and including a probe having a test probe for contacting a connector contact, the test assembly being movable relative to the housing in a first direction such that the test probe contacts and disengages from the connector contact, the test assembly being movable relative to the housing in a second direction and a third direction such that the test probe is aligned with a predetermined contact of the connector, wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are orthogonal to each other.

[0010] The connector contact retention force testing device of the present invention has a large clamping force, a wide range of clamping cavity size variations, strong applicability, and can achieve automatic centering of the connector, with high testing efficiency and accuracy.

[0011] In some embodiments, in two adjacent grippers, the distance between the mating surface of one gripper and the clamping surface of the other gripper is greater than or equal to zero and less than or equal to 5 mm.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first gear portion is an internal gear ring formed on the entire peripheral wall of the first working through hole or a plurality of internal gear ring segments spaced circumferentially along the first working through hole.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first support member is a rotatable turntable, and the second support member includes two fixed disks mounted on the machine body. The turntable is rotatably disposed between the two fixed disks along the axial direction of the first working through hole, and the gripper is located in the first working through hole and is rotatably supported on the two fixed disks by a pivot.

[0014] In some embodiments, the pivot is a hollow shaft, and its two ends are respectively connected to two fixed disks. The fixed disks are installed on the machine body by fasteners passing through the fixed disks and the pivot.

[0015] In some embodiments, the diameters at both ends of the first working through hole are enlarged to form an enlarged section, and the two fixed disks are respectively fitted into the enlarged section. The side of the gripper is generally trapezoidal, and the gripper has a first end and a second end. The end face area of ​​the first end is smaller than the end face area of ​​the second end. The end face of the first end of the gripper is formed as the mating surface, and the bottom surface of the gripper is formed as the clamping surface.

[0016] In some embodiments, the clamp further includes a drive assembly for driving the turntable to rotate. The drive assembly is installed in the machine body and includes a motor and a worm gear connected to the motor. An external gear ring that meshes with the worm gear is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the turntable.

[0017] In some embodiments, the machine body is provided with a first guide rail, a second guide rail, a third guide rail, and a slide. The first guide rail extends along a first direction, the second guide rail extends along a second direction, and the third guide rail extends along a third direction. The second guide rail is disposed on the first guide rail and is movable along the first guide rail. The third guide rail is disposed on the second guide rail and is movable along the second guide rail. The slide is disposed on the third guide rail and is movable along the third guide rail. The test component is mounted on the slide.

[0018] In some embodiments, the contact retention force testing device for connectors further includes a probe memory disposed within the housing. The probe memory has multiple storage cavities for storing different probes. The testing component can be aligned with any of the storage cavities to retrieve a probe from that cavity and place a probe into that cavity.

[0019] In some embodiments, the connector contact retention force testing device further includes a camera and a controller. The camera is disposed within the body and opposite to the fixture. The camera is used to acquire dimensional and positional information of the connector contacts held by the fixture. The controller is connected to the camera to control the movement of the test component based on the dimensional and positional information acquired by the camera. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a connector contact retention force testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2This is a partial perspective view of a connector contact retention force testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is another partial perspective view of the contact retention force testing device for a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the fixture of the connector contact retention force testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the fixture of the connector contact retention force testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the clamping cavity of the fixture of the connector contact retention force testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the clamping cavity opened to its maximum.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the clamping cavity of the connector contact retention force testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention being closed to its minimum state.

[0027] Figure 8 This is an exploded view of an example of a test component of a connector contact retention force testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 9 This is an example cross-sectional schematic diagram of a test component of a connector contact retention force testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 10 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an example of a test component of a connector contact retention force testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, when it is in contact with a connector contact.

[0030] Figure 11 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of another example of the connector contact retention force testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention when it is in contact with the connector contact.

[0031] Figure label:

[0032] 100. A device for testing the retaining force of connector contacts;

[0033] 1. Body; 11. Base plate; 12. Side plate; 13. Cover; 14. Touch screen; 15. Handle; 16. Switch; 17. Operating through hole;

[0034] 2. Fixture; 21. First support component (turntable); 211. First working through hole; 212. First gear section; 213. External gear ring; 22. Second support component (fixed plate); 221. Second working through hole; 222. Shaft hole; 23. Gripper; 231. Clamping surface; 232. Mud-fitting surface; 233. Second gear section; 234. Clamping cavity; 235. First end; 236. Second end; 237. Pivot hole; 24. Pivot; 25. Fastener; 26. Expanding section; 27. Drive assembly; 271. Motor; 272. Worm gear; 273. Support;

[0035] 3. Test components; 31. Probe; 311. Test probe; 3110. Probe tip; 3111. Probe tip hole; 32. Support body; 321. Support housing; 322. Support end cap; 323. Probe sleeve; 3230. Probe mating hole; 324. Buffer spring; 33. Force sensor; 34. Sensor lead wire;

[0036] 51. First guide rail; 52. Second guide rail; 53. Third guide rail; 54. Slide table;

[0037] 6. Probe memory; 61. Storage cavity;

[0038] 7. Camera; 71. Mounting bracket;

[0039] 8. Connector; 81. Contact; 810. Contact socket; 811. Contact plug. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0041] The retaining force testing device for connector contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0042] like Figure 1-7 As shown, the connector contact retention force testing device 100 of this embodiment includes a body 1, a fixture 2 and a testing component 3.

[0043] The clamp 2 includes a first support component 21, a second support component 22, and at least three grippers 23. For example, there can be 3-6 grippers, which can ensure the formation of the clamping cavity, reduce the number of grippers, simplify the structure of the clamp, and make the clamp structure compact and miniaturized.

[0044] The second support component 22 is mounted on the body 1, that is, the second support component 22 is fixed and the first support component 21 is rotatably mounted on the second support component 22.

[0045] The first support member 21 has a first working through hole 211, and a first gear portion 212 is provided on the peripheral wall of the first working through hole 211. The second support member 22 has a second working through hole 221, and the central axis of the second working through hole 221 is aligned with the central axis of the first working through hole 211.

[0046] The grippers 23 are pivotally mounted on the second support member 22 and are evenly arranged circumferentially along the first working through hole 211. The grippers 23 have a clamping surface 231, a mating surface 232, and a second gear portion 233. In two adjacent grippers 23, the mating surface 232 of one gripper 23 is adjacent to and faces the clamping surface 231 of the other gripper 23, thereby defining or surrounding a clamping cavity 234 for clamping the connector 8 by the clamping surfaces 231 of at least three grippers 23.

[0047] The first gear 212 meshes with the second gear 233. When the first support member 21 rotates relative to the second support member 22, at least three grippers 23 rotate synchronously, thereby expanding or shrinking the clamping cavity 234.

[0048] Here, it is important to understand that "the mating surface of one gripper is adjacent to the clamping surface of another gripper" means that the mating surface of one gripper and the clamping surface of the adjacent gripper can be in contact or the distance between them is very small, for example, less than 10 mm. Therefore, the clamping cavity can be described as a circumferentially closed cavity. Preferably, the distance between the mating surface of one gripper and the clamping surface of the adjacent gripper is greater than or equal to zero and less than or equal to 5 mm. For example, the distance can be 0, 1 mm, 1.25 mm, 2 mm, 3.8 mm, 4 mm, 4.5 mm, or 5 mm.

[0049] When the aforementioned spacing is 0, the mating surface of one gripper contacts and slides relative to the clamping surface of the adjacent gripper, preventing very small connectors from getting stuck between adjacent grippers. When the aforementioned spacing is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 5mm, there is a gap between the mating surface of one gripper and the clamping surface of the adjacent gripper. However, compared to the gap between clamping elements in related technologies, this gap is very small. This not only prevents the connector from getting stuck between adjacent grippers but also reduces manufacturing difficulty and cost, improving practicality.

[0050] Figure 6 A schematic diagram is shown with the clamp in its maximum opening position. Figure 7A schematic diagram is shown of the clamp with the clamping cavity reduced to its minimum state. Compared to three-jaw chucks, six-jaw chucks, drill chucks, and double V-block clamps in related technologies, the testing device of this invention features jaws driven synchronously by a first support component through a meshing second gear and a first gear to expand or shrink the clamping cavity. The jaws have high clamping force, high precision, low wear, long service life, and a wider range of clamping cavity dimensions (cross-sectional area), adapting to connectors with large dimensional variations and improving applicability.

[0051] In this embodiment of the invention, the cross-section of the clamping cavity 234 is always a regular polygonal structure, which can clamp connectors with circular, polygonal, or other outer peripheral contours. Furthermore, the distance between the mating surface of one jaw and the clamping surface of the adjacent jaw remains constant and does not change with the clamping cavity 34. When clamping the connector 8, automatic centering of the connector 8 can be achieved.

[0052] Test assembly 3 is mounted within housing 1 and includes a probe 31 having a test probe 311 for contacting a contact 81 of connector 8. Test assembly 3 is movable relative to housing 1 in a first direction so that test probe 311 can contact and disengage with contact 81 of connector 8. Test assembly 3 is movable relative to housing 1 in a second and a third direction so that test probe 311 is aligned with predetermined contacts of connector 8, wherein the first, second, and third directions are orthogonal to each other.

[0053] For example, Figure 1 and Figure 2 The left and right directions shown are the first directions. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The up and down directions shown are the second direction. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The front-back direction shown is the third direction. By moving the test component 3 in the front-back direction and the up-down direction, the test probe 311 and the predetermined contact of the connector 8 can be aligned in the left-right direction. Then, by driving the test component 3 to move in the left-right direction, the test probe 311 can make contact with or disengage from the predetermined contact 81 of the connector 8, thereby completing the contact force test of the contact.

[0054] In some embodiments, the first gear portion 212 may be configured as a complete annular internal gear ring formed on the entire peripheral wall of the first working through hole 211. Optionally, the first gear portion 212 may be configured as a plurality of internal gear ring segments spaced circumferentially along the first working through hole 211, the internal gear ring segments corresponding to the second gear portion 233, and the number of internal gear ring segments may be the same as the number of second gear portions (i.e., the number of grippers). Optionally, the number of internal gear ring segments may be less than the number of second gear portions; for example, two second gear portions may mesh with one internal gear ring segment respectively.

[0055] Preferably, the clamping surface 231 of the gripper 23 is provided with anti-slip texture or clamping teeth to improve the clamping effect on the connector 8 and prevent slippage.

[0056] The following is for reference. Figures 1-11 This invention describes a device for testing the holding force of connector contacts according to some specific embodiments.

[0057] like Figures 1-7 As shown, the testing device 100 of this embodiment includes a body 1, a fixture 2, a testing component 3, a probe memory 6, a camera 7, and a controller (not shown).

[0058] like Figure 1 As shown, the body 1 is a generally rectangular shell. Body 1 includes a base plate 11, side plates 12, and a cover 13. The side plates 12 are fixed to the left end of the base plate 11, and the cover 13 is fastened to the base plate 11 and connected to the side plates 12, thereby defining a mounting cavity within the body. The fixture 2, the test assembly 3, the probe memory 6, and the camera 7 can be housed within the mounting cavity of body 1.

[0059] The top surface of the housing 13 is provided with a handle 15 and a switch 16. The handle 15 is used for carrying and transporting the testing device 100. The switch 16 is used to control the power supply to or off of the testing device 100. The housing 13 is provided with a touch screen display 14, which is used to set test parameters, plan test paths, formulate test strategies, display holding force, and control the testing device 100 to complete the test.

[0060] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 The mounting cavity of the body 1 is provided with a first guide rail 51, a second guide rail 52, and a third guide rail 53. There are two first guide rails 51, which are mounted on the base plate 11, spaced apart in the front-to-back direction and extending in the left-to-right direction. The second guide rail 52 extends in the vertical direction and is mounted on the two first guide rails 51, and is movable in the left-to-right direction along the first guide rails 51. The second guide rail 51 has an inverted U-shaped structure to increase its structural stability. In some embodiments, the second guide rail 52 can be two independent guide rails, each movably mounted on one of the two first guide rails 51. The third guide rail 53 extends in the front-to-back direction. The front and rear ends of the third guide rail 53 are connected to the second guide rail 52 and are movable in the vertical direction along the second guide rail 52. A slide 54 is provided on the third guide rail 53, and the slide 54 is movable in the front-to-back direction along the third guide rail 53.

[0061] like Figures 2-3 As shown, test component 3 is mounted on slide 54 and is movable in the left-right, front-back, and up-down directions. Figures 8-10As shown, the test assembly 3 includes a probe 31, a support body 32, and a force sensor 33. The support body 32 includes a support housing 321, a support end cap 322, a probe sliding sleeve 323, and a buffer spring 324. The support end cap 322 is installed on the right end of the support housing 321 to close the right end. The force sensor 33 is disposed inside the support housing 321 and adjacent to the support end cap 322. The probe sliding sleeve 323 is slidably disposed inside the support housing 321 in the left-right direction (axial direction of the support housing). The buffer spring 324 is disposed between the force sensor 33 and the probe sliding sleeve 323.

[0062] like Figures 8-10 As shown, the contact 81 of connector 8 is a female contact with a contact socket 810, and the test probe 311 has a probe tip 3110, which can be inserted into and removed from the contact socket 810. In other embodiments, such as Figure 11 As shown, the contact 81 of the connector 8 is a male contact with a contact plug 811, and the test probe 311 has a probe end hole 3111. The contact plug 811 can be inserted into and removed from the probe end hole 3111.

[0063] The left end of the probe sleeve 323 has a probe mating hole 3230, and the right end of the probe 31 is pluggably fitted into the probe mating hole 3230, thereby mounting the probe 31 onto the support body 32. The left end of the probe 31 has a test probe 311 for contacting and mating with the contact 81 of the connector 8. The force sensor 33 is connected via a sensor lead 34, which passes through the support end cover 322 and extends out of the support housing 321, for example, to a controller.

[0064] Those skilled in the art will understand that the force sensor can be located in other positions, as long as it can detect the thrust exerted by the test component 3 on the connector 8 or the reaction force exerted by the connector 8 on the test component 3.

[0065] The mounting cavity of the body 1 may be equipped with a drive device, such as a motor or electric push rod, for driving the test component 3 to move in the left-right, up-down, and forward-backward directions, respectively. The drive device may be connected to a controller so that the controller can control the movement of the test component 3.

[0066] The probe storage 6 is located within the mounting cavity of the body 1. The probe storage 6 has multiple storage chambers 61 for storing various probes 31 for use with different connectors or different contacts 81 of the connector. The test assembly 3 can be aligned with any of the storage chambers to retrieve and insert probes from that chamber. The probe storage 6 can be arranged side-by-side with the clamp 2 within the body 1 to save space.

[0067] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, a mounting base 71 is provided inside the mounting cavity of the body 1. A camera 7 is mounted on the mounting base 71 and opposite to the clamp 2, used to take pictures of the connector 8 to obtain the external dimensions and position information of each contact 81 of the connector 8. The controller is connected to the camera 7 to control the movement of the test assembly 3 according to the external dimensions and position information obtained by the camera 7, so that the test assembly 3 selects a suitable probe from the probe memory 6 and aligns the test probe 311 with the predetermined contact 81. The controller is also connected to the force sensor of the test assembly 3 to obtain the pushing force applied by the test assembly 3 to the contact 81 of the connector 8 or the reaction force of the contact 8 of the connector 8 to the test assembly 3. In addition, the controller can also group the contacts, plan the test path, formulate the test strategy according to the acquired external dimensions and position information, and then test the holding force of multiple contacts sequentially according to the test strategy.

[0068] For example, when grouping contacts, multiple identical contacts can be grouped together. During testing, the same probe is used to test multiple contacts in the same group sequentially. After testing multiple contacts in the same group, the probe is placed into one storage cavity of the probe memory, and then another probe 31 is taken out from another storage cavity to test multiple contacts in another group sequentially. This reduces the number of probe changes and improves testing efficiency.

[0069] The clamp 2 is installed inside the mounting cavity of the body 1, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the clamp 2 is mounted on the side plate 12 and located inside the side plate 12. The side plate 12 is provided with an operation through hole 17, through which the connector 8 can be installed into the clamp 2 from the outside of the mounting cavity of the body 1 and removed from the clamp 2 without opening the cover 13, thus improving testing efficiency.

[0070] like Figures 1-7 As shown, the clamp 2 includes a rotatable turntable 21, two fixed discs 22, four grippers 23 and a drive assembly 27, wherein the turntable 21 is the first support component and the two fixed discs 22 are the second support components.

[0071] The turntable 22 is a disc and has a circular first working hole 211 located at the center of the disc. The fixed disc 22 is a disc and has a circular second working hole 221 located at the center of the fixed disc and a plurality of shaft holes 222 evenly arranged around the second working hole 221. The two fixed discs 22 are mounted on the side plate 12, and the turntable 22 is axially aligned with the first working hole 211. Figure 2 The second working through hole 221 is rotatably disposed between two fixed disks (in the left and right directions), and its central axis coincides with that of the first working through hole 211.

[0072] The diameters at both ends of the first working through hole 211 are enlarged to form an enlarged section 26. In other words, the first working through hole 211 is divided into three sections, with large diameters at both ends and small diameters in the middle. As a result, an annular boss is formed in the middle of the peripheral wall of the first working through hole 211. An internal gear ring 212 is provided on the peripheral wall of the annular boss, and an external gear ring 213 is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the turntable.

[0073] The two fixed discs 22 are respectively fitted into the two enlarged hole sections 26 and stopped by annular bosses, thereby improving the assembly accuracy and stability of the fixed discs and turntables, reducing the thickness of the fixture, and making the fixture structure compact and small in size.

[0074] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, four grippers 23 are located within the first working through hole 211. Each gripper 23 has multiple pivot holes 237, and the grippers 23 are rotatably mounted between two fixed plates 22 via pivots 24 passing through the pivot holes 237. The pivot 24 is a hollow shaft, with its two ends respectively fitting into shaft holes 222 on the two fixed plates. The two fixed plates are respectively mounted to the side plates 12 of the machine body 1 via fasteners 25, such as bolts, passing through the pivots 24. Furthermore, the fasteners 25 connect the two fixed plates 22 together, increasing the overall structural stability.

[0075] like Figure 4 As shown, the side of the gripper 23 is generally trapezoidal. The gripper 23 has a first end 235 and a second end 236. The end face area of ​​the first end 235 is smaller than that of the second end 236. The end face of the first end 235 of the gripper 23 is formed as a mating surface 232, and the bottom surface of the gripper 23 is formed as a clamping surface 231. The second gear portion is formed at the junction of the end face of the second end of the gripper 23 and the upper surface. The bottom surface of the gripper 23 is the surface of the gripper 23 facing the center of the turntable, and the upper surface is the surface of the gripper 23 opposite to the bottom surface.

[0076] like Figure 3-7 As shown, the drive assembly 27 is located inside the body 1 and includes a motor 271 and a worm gear 272. One end of the worm gear 272 is connected to the motor 271, and the other end of the worm gear 272 is rotatably supported by a support 273. The worm gear 272 meshes with the external gear ring 213 of the turntable 22. For example, under the control of the controller, the motor 271 can drive the turntable 21 to rotate forward relative to the fixed plate 22 through the meshing worm gear 272 and the internal gear ring (worm wheel) 213. The turntable 21 then drives the four grippers 3 to swing synchronously around the pivot 24 through the meshing internal gear ring 212 and the second gear 233, gradually opening the gripping cavity 234 to its maximum. Figure 6 As shown.

[0077] When motor 271 drives turntable 21 to rotate in the opposite direction relative to fixed disk 22 via worm gear 272 and external gear ring 213, it drives gripper to rotate synchronously in the opposite direction, and gripping cavity 234 gradually shrinks. In some embodiments, such as Figure 7 As shown, the area of ​​the clamping cavity can be reduced to almost zero. Preferably, in order to reduce machining accuracy requirements and facilitate assembly, the minimum cross-section of the clamping cavity is greater than zero.

[0078] In this embodiment of the invention, the motor drives the turntable to rotate via a worm gear pair, and the turntable drives the grippers to rotate synchronously via a gear pair. This results in high gripping force, good gripping effect, minimal wear, and high precision from the grippers. The size of the gripping cavity can vary widely, offering good applicability. Furthermore, it can automatically center the connector, and the gap between the grippers can be very small, improving reliability.

[0079] The testing process of the testing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below.

[0080] Operating switch 16 powers on the testing device 100. By operating the touch screen 14, motor 271 drives turntable 21 to rotate forward, and the four grippers 23 swing synchronously in the forward direction, gradually opening the clamping cavity 234 to place connector 8 into the clamping cavity 234. Then, motor 271 drives turntable 21 to rotate in the reverse direction, and the four grippers 23 swing synchronously in the reverse direction, gradually closing the clamping cavity 234, thereby clamping the connector with the grippers 23.

[0081] By operating the touch screen 14, the camera 7 is activated to acquire the position and size information of the contact components. The contact components are grouped, test paths are planned, and test strategies are formulated. The controller controls the drive device to move the test assembly 3 within the body 1. The support body 32 retrieves a corresponding probe 31 from the probe memory 6. Then, the controller drives the test assembly 3 to move according to the position and size information of the contact components acquired by the camera 7, so that the test probe 311 contacts the predetermined contact 81 of the connector 8. The thrust applied by the test assembly 3 to the predetermined contact 81 is gradually increased. When the thrust reaches a preset value, the thrust is stopped for a period of time. The change in thrust (i.e., the reaction force of the contact component on the test assembly) can be displayed on the touch screen to determine whether the contact is qualified. For example, if the thrust decreases, it indicates that the contact has retracted and the holding force of the contact is insufficient. In this case, the test device can mark it as unqualified and issue an alarm. If the thrust does not decrease, the holding force of the surface contact can reach the preset value and is marked as qualified. Then, the controller moves the test component away from the connection, thereby detaching the test probe from the contact and completing the test of the contact.

[0082] After all contact components have been tested, motor 72 drives turntable 21 to rotate forward, thereby causing gripper 23 to rotate forward synchronously. The clamping cavity 234 gradually increases, releasing connector 8, which can then be removed from the fixture. Other operations and runs of the testing device in this embodiment of the invention can be performed by those skilled in the art using known operating strategies, and will not be described in detail here.

[0083] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0084] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0085] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0086] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0087] In this invention, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0088] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for testing the retaining force of connector contacts, characterized in that, include: Organism; A clamp includes a first support member, a second support member, and at least three jaws. The second support member is mounted on the body. The first support member is connected to and rotatable relative to the second support member. The first support member has a first working through hole, and a first gear portion is provided on the peripheral wall of the first working through hole. The second support member has a second working through hole, and the central axis of the second working through hole is aligned with the central axis of the first working through hole. The jaws are pivotally mounted on the second support member and are evenly arranged circumferentially along the first working through hole. Each jaw has a clamping surface, a mating surface, and a second gear portion. In two adjacent jaws, the mating surface of one jaw is adjacent to and faces the clamping surface of the other jaw. The clamping surfaces of at least three jaws define a clamping cavity for clamping a connector. The first gear portion meshes with the second gear portion. When the first support member rotates relative to the second support member, at least three jaws rotate synchronously to expand or shrink the clamping cavity. A test assembly disposed within the housing and including a probe having a test probe for contacting a connector contact, the test assembly being movable relative to the housing in a first direction such that the test probe contacts and disengages from the connector contact, the test assembly being movable relative to the housing in a second direction and a third direction such that the test probe is aligned with the connector contact, wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are orthogonal to each other; The side of the gripper is generally trapezoidal. The gripper has a first end and a second end. The end face area of ​​the first end is smaller than that of the second end. The end face of the first end of the gripper is formed as the mating surface, and the bottom surface of the gripper is formed as the clamping surface.

2. The connector contact retention force testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, In two adjacent grippers, the distance between the mating surface of one gripper and the clamping surface of the other gripper is greater than or equal to zero and less than or equal to 5 mm.

3. The device for testing the retaining force of connector contacts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first gear portion is an internal gear ring formed on the entire peripheral wall of the first working through hole or a plurality of internal gear ring segments spaced apart circumferentially along the first working through hole.

4. The connector contact retention force testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first support component is a rotatable turntable, and the second support component includes two fixed disks mounted on the machine body. The turntable is rotatably disposed between the two fixed disks along the axial direction of the first working through hole, and the gripper is located in the first working through hole and is rotatably supported on the two fixed disks by a pivot.

5. The connector contact retention force testing device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pivot is a hollow shaft, and its two ends are respectively connected to two fixed plates. The fixed plates are installed on the machine body by fasteners passing through the fixed plates and the pivot.

6. The connector contact retention force testing device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The diameters at both ends of the first working through hole are enlarged to form an enlarged section, and the two fixed disks are respectively fitted into the enlarged section.

7. The connector contact retention force testing device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The fixture also includes a drive assembly for driving the turntable to rotate. The drive assembly is located inside the machine body and includes a motor and a worm gear connected to the motor. An external gear ring that meshes with the worm gear is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the turntable.

8. The device for testing the retaining force of connector contacts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The machine body is provided with a first guide rail, a second guide rail, a third guide rail and a slide. The first guide rail extends along a first direction, the second guide rail extends along a second direction, and the third guide rail extends along a third direction. The second guide rail is disposed on the first guide rail and is movable along the first guide rail. The third guide rail is disposed on the second guide rail and is movable along the second guide rail. The slide is disposed on the third guide rail and is movable along the third guide rail. The test component is mounted on the slide.

9. The device for testing the retaining force of connector contacts according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a probe memory, which is located in the body of the machine. The probe memory has multiple storage cavities for storing different probes. The test component can be aligned with any of the storage cavities to retrieve the probe from the storage cavity and to place the probe into the storage cavity.

10. The apparatus for testing the retaining force of the contacts of a connector according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, It also includes a camera and a controller. The camera is located inside the machine body and is opposite to the fixture. The camera is used to acquire the external dimensions and position information of the contacts of the connector held by the fixture. The controller is connected to the camera to control the movement of the test component based on the external dimensions and position information acquired by the camera.

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