Terminal module and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a terminal module and a manufacturing method thereof, in particular to a terminal module with more closely arranged terminals, which comprises a plurality of metal conductors and an insulating body, each metal conductor is provided with a first guide connection end, a second guide connection end and a connection section between the first guide connection end and the second guide connection end, and each connection section is provided with at least one positioning area; when the metal conductors are arranged side by side, the distance between the metal conductors is smaller than the width of each metal conductor, and the adjacent positioning areas are arranged in a staggered mode. The insulating body wraps the connecting sections in an injection molding mode, through holes penetrating through the insulating body are formed in the positions, corresponding to the positioning areas, of the insulating body respectively, and part of the positioning areas are exposed in the through holes, so that the distance between the exposed positioning areas is increased, and the risk of short circuit of the terminal module is further reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal module, and in particular to a terminal module in which terminals are arranged closely and the spacing between exposed metals can be increased to reduce the risk of short circuit. Background Art

[0002] The application of some automotive connectors is more complicated. For example, some automotive connectors need to be immersed in transmission oil. When these automotive connectors are subjected to high temperatures, metal impurities in the lubricating oil can easily cause short circuits in the closely spaced terminal modules of the automotive connectors. Alternatively, smaller metal parts around the terminal modules may come into abnormal contact with the terminal modules, resulting in a reduced electrical gap and the risk of short circuits.

[0003] like Figure 1 to Figure 2 , is a schematic diagram of a terminal module in the prior art. The terminal module 60 is used to be installed on a housing 61, so that the contact 62 at one end of the terminal module 60 can protrude and be exposed outside the housing 61, and the terminal module 60 is composed of a plurality of terminals 63 inside and a plastic part 64 formed outside these terminals 63. As shown in the figure, the terminal module 60 of the prior art is of a slender type, and the spacing between its terminals 63 is small. In order to enable the plastic part 64 to be molded on these terminals 63, a positioning groove 65 is reserved on the plastic part 64. The positioning groove 65 is mainly used when these terminals 63 are placed in a mold (the prior art, which will not be repeated here), and a positioning part in the mold is used to clamp these terminals 63, so that the terminals 63 can be stably fixed in the mold, so that the plastic part 64 will not cause the displacement of these terminals 63 during the injection molding process, so as to improve the production qualification rate.

[0004] However, since the spacing between the terminals 63 is small, the above short circuit phenomenon is prone to occur, so each terminal 63 is reduced in size in the positioning groove 65 to increase the spacing between the terminals 63, which is easy to cause damage to the terminals 63. Since the vehicle is prone to shaking and vibration during driving, the terminals 63 that are too thin are not only easy to break, but also the spacing between the terminals 63 is limited, which is easy to cause abnormal contact with external metal and cause a short circuit.

[0005] Therefore, providing a method for increasing the spacing between exposed metals of terminals while improving the phenomenon that short circuits are easily generated between terminals has become a problem to be solved by the present invention. Summary of the invention

[0006] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a terminal module and a manufacturing method thereof, especially a terminal module and a manufacturing method thereof which can increase the spacing of exposed metal of the terminals and improve the problem that short circuits are easily generated between the terminals.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention first provides a terminal module, comprising a plurality of metal conductors and an insulating body. Each of the metal conductors has a width, and each of the metal conductors has at least one first conductive end, a second conductive end and a connecting section extending between the first conductive end and the second conductive end, each of the connecting sections is provided with at least one positioning area, and these metal conductors are arranged along the extension direction of the width of each of the metal conductors, and the spacing between each of the metal conductors is smaller than the width of each of the metal conductors, and the positioning areas on each of the adjacent metal conductors are arranged offset from each other along the extension direction of the connecting section. The insulating body is coated on the connecting sections of these metal conductors, so that each of the first conductive end and the second conductive end are respectively exposed at both ends of the insulating body, and a through hole penetrating the insulating body is respectively formed at a position on the insulating body relative to each of the positioning areas, so that each of the positioning areas is partially exposed in each of the through holes.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the central imaginary lines of each through hole are connected to form a "W" shape.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the central imaginary lines of each through hole are connected to form an "M" shape.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the positioning areas has a positioning hole, and the positioning hole and the through hole are located at the same center.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a stopper is provided at a position of each of the positioning areas relative to each of the positioning holes, protruding outwards toward both sides.

[0012] To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention further provides a method for manufacturing a terminal module, comprising: providing a plurality of metal conductors, each of which has a width, and each of which has at least one first conductive end, a second conductive end and a connecting section between the first conductive end and the second conductive end, and each of which is provided with at least one positioning area; providing a mold, wherein the mold has a molding space, and the mold is provided with a pin for clamping the positioning area at a position relative to each of the positioning areas, and then placing the metal conductors in the mold so that the metal conductors are arranged in the mold along the width of each of the metal conductors. The metal conductors are arranged in a degree direction, and the spacing between each metal conductor is smaller than the width of each metal conductor, and then the ejector pins are clamped on the positioning areas to fix the connecting section in the mold, and the positioning areas on each adjacent metal conductor are arranged staggered with each other along the extension direction of the connecting section; and an injection molding step: an insulating material is injected into the molding space, and after cooling, an insulating body covering the connecting sections is formed, so that the first conductive ends and the second conductive ends are exposed on both sides of the insulating body, and a through hole is formed on the insulating body at a position relative to each ejector pin, and a terminal module is formed by combination.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the central imaginary lines of each through hole are connected to form a "W" shape.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the central imaginary lines of each through hole are connected to form an "M" shape.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the positioning areas has a positioning hole, and the positioning hole and the through hole are located at the same center.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a stop block is provided at a position of each connecting section relative to each positioning hole, protruding outwards toward both sides.

[0017] The advantage of the present invention over the prior art is that the present invention arranges the positioning areas along the extension direction of the connecting section so that the adjacent positioning areas are staggered with each other, thereby effectively increasing the spacing between the positioning areas after they are exposed, and at the same time separating them through the insulating body, thereby effectively improving the phenomenon of short circuits between the exposed positioning areas. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a terminal module in the prior art is shown;

[0019] Figure 2 A schematic plan view of a terminal module in the prior art is shown;

[0020] Figure 3 A three-dimensional exploded view of the terminal module in the present invention is shown;

[0021] Figure 4 A three-dimensional exploded view of a metal conductor in the present invention is shown;

[0022] Figure 5 Shows Figure 4 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of

[0023] Figure 6 A planar exploded view of the terminal module of the present invention is shown;

[0024] Figure 7 Shows Figure 6 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of

[0025] Figure 8 Shows Figure 6 A partial cross-sectional enlarged schematic diagram;

[0026] Fig. 9 A schematic flow chart of the manufacturing method of the present invention is shown;

[0027] Fig.10 An enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the mold of the present invention is shown.

[0028] [Brief Description of Reference Symbols in the Drawings]

[0029] (Prior Art)

[0030] 60 terminal module

[0031] 61 Shell

[0032] 62 contacts

[0033] 63 terminals

[0034] 64 plastic parts

[0035] 65 positioning groove (the present invention)

[0036] 10-terminal module

[0037] 20Metal conductor

[0038] 21 conductor terminal

[0039] 22 Second conductor terminal

[0040] 21 First conductor terminal

[0041] 22 Second conductor terminal

[0042] 23 extension

[0043] 24 Positioning Zone

[0044] 25 positioning holes

[0045] 26 stopper

[0046] 30 Insulation body

[0047] 31 through holes

[0048] 40 Extend the imaginary line

[0049] 50 molds

[0050] 51 Upper die seat

[0051] 52 lower die seat

[0052] 53 molding space 54 ejector pin DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] In order to further understand the techniques, means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the predetermined purpose, preferred feasible embodiments are now cited and described in detail with the accompanying drawings. It is believed that a more in-depth and specific understanding of the purposes, features and advantages of the present invention can be obtained.

[0054] like Figures 3 to 8 As shown, the present invention first provides a terminal module. The terminal module 10 is composed of a plurality of metal conductors 20 and an insulating body 30 .

[0055] The metal conductors 20 are arranged in parallel in sequence along the width direction of each of the metal conductors 20 , and a spacing is formed between each of the adjacent metal conductors 20 . Each of the spacings is smaller than the width of each of the metal conductors 20 .

[0056] Each of the metal conductors 20 has a first conductive end 21, a second conductive end 22, and an extension section 23 extending between the first conductive end 21 and the second conductive end 22. Each of the extension sections 23 has at least one positioning area 24, and each of the positioning areas 24 has a positioning hole 25, and at the location of the positioning hole 25, a stopper 26 is provided protruding outwardly toward both sides. In each of the adjacent metal conductors 20, each of the positioning areas 24 is staggered and arranged along the extension direction of the extension section 23.

[0057] The insulating body 30 is covered on the extension section 23 of these metal conductors 20, so that each of the first conductive ends 21 and the second conductive ends 22 are respectively exposed at two ends of the insulating body 30, and a through hole 31 penetrating the insulating body 30 is formed at a position relative to each of the positioning areas 24, and each of the through holes 31 and each of the positioning holes 25 are located at the same center, and each of the positioning areas 24 is partially exposed in each of the through holes 31.

[0058] In this way, after the center of each through hole 31 is connected by extended imaginary lines 40, these extended imaginary lines 40 will present a "W" or "M" shape, so that the positioning areas 24 exposed in each through hole 31 can be effectively separated by the insulating body 30. At the same time, by staggering the positioning areas 24 on each adjacent metal conductor 20 in the direction of the extension section 23, the distance between these through holes 31 can be effectively increased, so that each positioning area 24 exposed in each through hole 31 will not cause a short circuit.

[0059] In addition, the stoppers 26 protruding from both sides of each positioning area 24 will be covered between the insulating body 30 . Therefore, the configuration of the stoppers 26 can effectively increase the structural strength between the metal conductors 20 and the insulating body 30 .

[0060] Another example Figures 3 to 10 As shown, the present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a terminal module, and the manufacturing method includes the following steps: 1. First, provide the above-mentioned multiple metal conductors 20, which are obtained by integrally forming the metal material by stamping. 2. Provide a mold 50, which is at least composed of an upper mold base 51 and a lower mold base 52, and a molding space 53 is formed inside the mold 50, and the molding space 53 has the same shape as the above-mentioned insulating body 30. In addition, the mold 50 is also formed with multiple ejector pins 54 that can extend into the above-mentioned through hole 31, each of which is respectively composed of the upper mold base 51 and the lower mold base 52, and each of the ejector pins 54 can also extend into each of the positioning holes 25, and the positioning area 24 is clamped by these ejector pins 54, so that the extension section 23 can be effectively fixed in the mold 50. 3. An injection molding step: an insulating material is injected into the molding space 53 and cooled in the molding space to form the insulating body 30 covering the extension sections 23, and expose the first conductive ends 21 and the second conductive ends 22 on both sides of the insulating body 30. At the same time, the insulating material covers the ejector pins 54. When the mold 50 is removed, the through holes 31 are formed on the insulating body 30, and the terminal module 10 is formed through combination.

[0061] It is worth mentioning that when the metal conductors 20 are clamped in the positioning area 24 by the ejector pins 54, it can effectively prevent the insulating material from impacting the extension sections 23 and causing upward or downward displacement when injected into the molding space 53. When the guide pins 54 extend to the positioning holes 25, it can further prevent the extension sections 23 from being displaced left or right in the molding space 53, thereby ensuring that the extension sections 23 are completely covered in the insulating body 30, so as to improve the overall process qualification rate of the terminal module 10 during the injection molding process.

[0062] In addition, after the insulating material is cooled and formed around the ejector pin 54, a barrier will be formed between these positioning areas 24, thereby avoiding the risk of short circuit caused by contact with external substances between these positioning areas 24 exposed in these through holes 31. At the same time, as these positioning areas 24 are arranged in the extension direction of these extension sections 23 in a staggered manner, the spacing between these positioning areas 24 can be increased, which can also effectively reduce the occurrence of short circuits between the positioning areas 24.

[0063] The above is a detailed description and drawings of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, which are not intended to limit the present invention. The entire scope of the present invention shall be based on the claims. All embodiments and approximate structures of the spirit of the claims and similar variations thereof shall be included in the present invention.

Claims

1. A terminal module, comprising: A plurality of metal conductors, each of which has a width, and each of which has at least a first conductive end, a second conductive end, and a connecting section extending between the first conductive end and the second conductive end, each of which is provided with at least one positioning area, and the metal conductors are arranged along the extending direction of the width of each of the metal conductors, and the spacing between each of the metal conductors is smaller than the width of each of the metal conductors, and the positioning areas on each of the adjacent metal conductors are arranged in a staggered manner along the extending direction of the connecting section; and An insulating body is coated on the connecting section of these metal conductors, so that each of the first conductive end and the second conductive end are respectively exposed at two ends of the insulating body, and a through hole penetrating the insulating body is respectively formed at a position relative to each of the positioning areas, so that each of the positioning areas is partially exposed in each of the through holes.

2. The terminal module according to claim 1, wherein: The central imaginary lines of each through hole are connected to form a "W" shape.

3. The terminal module according to claim 1, wherein: The central imaginary lines of each through hole are connected to form an "M" shape.

4. The terminal module according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the positioning areas is provided with a positioning hole, and the positioning hole and the through hole are located at the same center.

5. The terminal module according to claim 4, wherein: A stopper is provided at a position of each positioning area relative to each positioning hole, protruding outwards toward both sides.

6. A method for manufacturing a terminal module, comprising: A plurality of metal conductors are provided, each of which has a width, and each of which has at least one first conductive end, one second conductive end, and a connecting section extending between the first conductive end and the second conductive end, and each of which has at least one positioning area; A mold is provided, wherein a molding space is provided in the mold, and a pin for clamping the positioning area is respectively provided at a position on the mold relative to each positioning area, and the metal conductors are placed in the mold so that the metal conductors are arranged in the mold along the width direction of each metal conductor, and the spacing between each metal conductor is smaller than the width of each metal conductor, and the positioning areas are clamped by the pins to fix the connecting section in the mold, and the positioning areas on each adjacent metal conductor are arranged staggered with each other along the extension direction of the connecting section; and An injection molding step: inject an insulating material into the molding space, and after cooling, form an insulating body covering the connecting sections, so that the first conductive ends and the second conductive ends are exposed on both sides of the insulating body, and a through hole is formed on the insulating body at a position corresponding to each ejector pin, and a terminal module is formed by combination.

7. The method for manufacturing a terminal module according to claim 6, wherein: The central imaginary lines of each through hole are connected to form a "W" shape.

8. The method for manufacturing a terminal module according to claim 6, wherein: The central imaginary lines of each through hole are connected to form an "M" shape.

9. The method for manufacturing a terminal module according to claim 6, wherein: Each of the positioning areas is provided with a positioning hole, and the positioning hole and the through hole are located at the same center.

10. The method for manufacturing a terminal module according to claim 9, wherein: A stop block is provided at a position of each connecting section relative to each positioning hole and protrudes outwards toward both sides.

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