Connector

Abstract

The connector forms a row in which a plurality of slot connection sections for connecting the respective electric wires are arranged in the transverse direction (x) and overlaps the plurality of rows in the vertical direction (z), and when there is an empty slot connection section to which at least one of the electric wires is not connected in any one of the rows, the connector determines a virtual line that passes through the center of the vertical direction (z) of the respective row in parallel to the respective row, and if the virtual line passes through the center of the vertical direction (z) of the respective row in the vertical direction (z) of the respective row in the vertical direction (z) of the respective row in the vertical direction (z) of the respective row. When the center of each column on the virtual line is set as the center of 180-degree rotational symmetry, the electric wire is not connected to the groove connecting part in the other column of each column, which is located at a position of 180-degree rotational symmetry with respect to the empty groove connecting part in any column. According to the invention, even if the connector is a double-row type connector, the difficulty of pulling out the connector can be reduced, and the electric wire can be prevented from being broken.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a connector in which multiple connecting parts are arranged in two rows. Background Technology

[0002] In an electrical connector, multiple wire receiving recesses are arranged to receive and hold individual wires, and multiple insertion holes are arranged to receive and hold individual post-type terminals (terminal pins). The wire receiving recesses and insertion holes are combined one after another and placed adjacent to each other. For each set of wire receiving recesses and insertion holes, contacts are provided that pass through the wire receiving recesses and insertion holes, and the wires in the wire receiving recesses and the post-type terminals in the insertion holes are connected through the contacts. Additionally, as a connector, there are dual-row connectors, for example, configured to overlap two of the above-described electrical connectors vertically. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Here, for example, the image forming apparatus can be divided into multiple models based on differences such as color equipment, monochrome equipment, and production PPM. Even if the number of components such as motors and sensors differs between models, a common substrate design can be used for each model, and a common connector can be used across models. In this case, depending on the model, some components are not mounted. However, since the electrical connection of these unmounted components is not required, the wires of these components connected to the terminal pins on the substrate side are removed from the connector. That is, the wires of these unmounted components (referred to as empty pins) are omitted from the various wires on the connector side connected to the terminal pins on the substrate side.

[0004] However, when multiple wires in a connector are removed and these wires are clustered on one side of the connector, the force applied to the connector is uneven when the connector is pulled out, making removal difficult and potentially causing the wires to break.

[0005] In particular, in dual-row connectors like those described above, the number of wires and terminal pins increases significantly, thus requiring more force to remove the connector from each terminal pin. When multiple wires being removed are clustered on one side of the connector, the difficulty of removal and the wire breakage rate become higher.

[0006] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to reduce the difficulty of removal and prevent wire breakage, even for dual-row connectors.

[0007] As one aspect of the present invention, a technique that further improves the above-described technique is proposed.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention relates to a connector forming a column of a plurality of first connecting portions arranged in one direction, wherein two of the columns are arranged parallel to each other and overlap in a direction orthogonal to the one direction, and a wire is connected to each of the plurality of first connecting portions. When there is an empty first connecting portion in any of the columns that is not connected to at least one of the wires, when a virtual line parallel to the columns and passing through the center between the columns is determined, and when the position of the virtual line, which is the center of the columns in the one direction, is set as the center of 180-degree rotational symmetry, the wire is not connected to the first connecting portion in the other columns of the columns that is located at the 180-degree rotationally symmetric position relative to the empty first connecting portion in any of the columns.

[0009] According to the present invention, even for dual-row connectors, the difficulty of removal can be reduced and wire breakage can be prevented. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a top view illustrating a dual-row connector according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2A as well as Figure 2B These are schematic top and front views of the dual-row connector of this embodiment.

[0012] Figure 3 It is a perspective view showing the terminal pins arranged in two columns.

[0013] Figure 4A as well as Figure 4B The diagram schematically shows two other examples of the slot connections involved in this embodiment that are empty and not connected to wires.

[0014] Figure 5A as well as Figure 5B The diagram schematically shows two comparative examples of slot connections that are empty and not according to this embodiment, without the connection of electrical wires. Detailed Implementation

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 This is a top view illustrating a dual-row connector according to one embodiment of the present invention. Additionally, Figure 2A This is a schematic top view of the dual-row connector of this embodiment. Figure 2B This is a schematic front view of the dual-row connector of this embodiment. It should be noted that... Figure 1 , Figure 2A as well as Figure 2B And the description that follows Figure 4A as well as Figure 4B , Figure 5A as well as Figure 5B In the example shown, one orientation of the dual-row connector 11 will be considered. Figure 1 And let the horizontal axis in Figure 2 be x, and... Figure 1 as well as Figure 2A The vertical axis in the diagram is defined as y, which will be used as an example of a direction orthogonal to the stated direction. Figure 2B The vertical direction in the value is set to z.

[0016] like Figure 1 , Figure 2A as well as Figure 2B As shown, the dual-in-line connector 11 includes a generally cuboid-shaped connector body 12 molded from insulating synthetic resin. The connector body 12 has a single side (referred to as side A) 12A and another single side (referred to as side B) facing each other in the vertical direction z. Side A 12A and side B 12B extend in the horizontal direction x and vertical direction y. Additionally, the connector body 12 has end faces 12C extending in both the horizontal direction x and vertical direction z.

[0017] On surface A 12A of the connector body 12, a plurality of slot connection portions 21 extending in the longitudinal direction y are arranged in a horizontal direction x. Between each slot connection portion 21, a rib 22 protruding inwards from one end of each slot connection portion 21 is formed. Similarly, on surface B 12B of the connector body 12, a plurality of slot connection portions 23 extending in the longitudinal direction y are arranged in a horizontal direction x. Between each slot connection portion 23, a rib 24 protruding inwards from one end of each slot connection portion 23 is formed. The slot connection portions 21 and 23 form two parallel rows that overlap in the vertical direction z. Furthermore, each slot connection portion 21 and 23 corresponds to the first connection portion in the claims.

[0018] On the end face 12C of the connector body 12, a plurality of hole connection portions 25 extending in the longitudinal direction y are arranged in a horizontal direction x, and a plurality of hole connection portions 26 extending in the longitudinal direction y are also arranged in a horizontal direction x. Similar to the slot connection portions 21 and 23, the hole connection portions 25 and 26 are formed in two parallel rows that overlap in the vertical direction z. Furthermore, the hole connection portions 25 and 26 correspond to the second connection portion in the claims.

[0019] Each slot connection portion 21 on the A-side 12A of the connector body 12 and each hole connection portion 25 on the end face 12C of the connector body 12 are adjacent in the vertical direction z, and adjacent slot connection portions 21 and hole connection portions 25 are grouped together. Similarly, each slot connection portion 23 on the B-side 12B of the connector body 12 and each hole connection portion 26 on the end face 12C of the connector body 12 are adjacent in the vertical direction z, and adjacent slot connection portions 23 and hole connection portions 26 are grouped together.

[0020] For each combination of the slot connection portion 21 on the A-side 12A of the connector body 12 and the hole connection portion 25 on the end face 12C of the connector body 12, a conductive contact 27 for connecting the slot connection portion 21 and the hole connection portion 25 is provided. Similarly, for each combination of the slot connection portion 23 on the B-side 12B of the connector body 12 and the hole connection portion 26 on the end face 12C of the connector body 12, a conductive contact 28 for connecting the slot connection portion 23 and the hole connection portion 26 is provided.

[0021] The conductive contact 27 or 28 has two contact protrusions 31 or 32 that protrude toward the inside of the slot connection portion 21 or 23 facing each other, and terminal pins 41 or 42 that are inserted into the inside of the hole connection portion 25 or 26 (e.g. Figure 3 (Shown) the various contact parts (not shown).

[0022] The ends of each individual wire 33 are pressed into and held in the slot connection portion 21 of the A side 12A of the connector body 12, with the ends of each wire 33 arranged in a transverse x direction. Similarly, the ends of each individual wire 34 are pressed into and held in the slot connection portion 23 of the B side 12B of the connector body 12, with the ends of each wire 34 arranged in a transverse x direction. Each wire 33 and 34 is a wire formed by using an insulating synthetic resin-coated conductor core.

[0023] For each slot connection portion 21 on side A 12A of the connector body 12, the end of the wire 33 is pressed between the ribs 22 on both sides of the slot connection portion 21, thereby embedding the end of the wire 33 into the slot connection portion 21. The end of the wire 33 is pressed by the ribs 22 on both sides of the slot connection portion 21 and held inside the slot connection portion 21. At this time, the covering of the end of the wire 33 is clamped into the two contact protrusions 31 of the conductive contact 27 and breaks, and the core wire of the conductor of the wire 33 contacts each contact protrusion 31 and connects to the conductive contact 27. Similarly, for each slot connection portion 23 on side B 12B of the connector body 12, the end of the wire 34 is pressed between the ribs 24 on both sides of the slot connection portion 23, thereby embedding the end of the wire 34 into the slot connection portion 23. The end of the wire 34 is pressed by the ribs 24 on both sides of the slot connection portion 23 and held inside the slot connection portion 23. The covering at the end of the wire 34 is clamped into the two contact protrusions 32 of the conductive contact 28 and breaks, and the core wire of the conductor of the wire 34 contacts each contact protrusion 32 and connects to the conductive contact 28.

[0024] The structure in which the sheath of the wire is sandwiched between the two contact protrusions of the conductive contact and breaks, and the conductor core of the wire contacts and connects to the conductive contact, is a known structure. For example, this structure is also described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 59-42785).

[0025] Insert into the two rows of hole connection portions 25 and hole connection portions 26 on the end face 12C of the connector body 12. Figure 3 The two columns of terminal pins 41 and 42 are shown. Terminal pins 41 and 42 protrude from a rectangular substrate 43 molded from insulating synthetic resin. The substrate 43 is fixed to a printed wiring board (not shown), and terminal pins 41 and 42 are connected to various components via conductor patterns on the printed wiring board.

[0026] When a row of terminal pins 41 are inserted into a row of hole connection portions 25 on the end face 12C of the connector body 12, each terminal pin 41 contacts the contact portion of the conductive contact 27 on the inner side of each hole connection portion 25. Since the conductor core of the wire 33 of each slot connection portion 21 on the A-side 12A of the connector body 12 contacts the contact protrusion 31 of each conductive contact 27 as described above, the terminal pins 41 of each hole connection portion 25 are connected to the conductor core of the wire 33 of each slot connection portion 21 through each conductive contact 27. Similarly, when a row of terminal pins 42 are inserted into a row of hole connection portions 26 on the end face 12C of the connector body 12, each terminal pin 42 contacts the contact portion of the conductive contact 28 on the inner side of each hole connection portion 26. Since the conductor core of the wire 34 of each slot connection portion 23 of the connector body 12 B-side 12B contacts each contact protrusion 32 of each conductive contact 28 as described above, the terminal pin 42 of each hole connection portion 26 is connected to the conductor core of the wire 34 of each slot connection portion 23 through each conductive contact 28.

[0027] Thus, when the ends of each wire 33 are inserted into the slot connection portions 21 of the A-side 12A of the connector body 12, the core wires of the conductors of each wire 33 are connected to the conductive contacts 27, and a row of terminal pins 41 are inserted into a row of hole connection portions 25 of the end face 12C of the connector body 12, each terminal pin 41 is connected to the core wires of the conductors of the wires 33 in the slot connection portions 21 through the conductive contacts 27. Similarly, when the ends of each wire 34 are inserted into the slot connection portions 23 of the B-side 12B of the connector body 12, the core wires of the conductors of each wire 34 are connected to the conductive contacts 28, and a row of terminal pins 42 are inserted into a row of hole connection portions 26 of the end face 12C of the connector body 12, each terminal pin 42 is connected to the core wires of the conductors of the wires 34 in the slot connection portions 23 through the conductive contacts 28.

[0028] As described above, each terminal pin 41 and each terminal pin 42 are connected to each component via each conductor pattern on the printed wiring board. Therefore, each wire 33, 34 is connected to each conductor pattern on the printed wiring board via each conductive contact 27, 28 of the dual in-line connector 11 and each terminal pin 41, 42, and is then connected to each component via each conductor pattern.

[0029] Here, for the components that are not mounted on the printed wiring board, since no connecting wire is required, the wire is removed from the dual-row connector 11 and omitted.

[0030] However, when multiple wires are removed from the dual-row connector 11 and these wires are clustered on one side of the dual-row connector 11, the force applied to the dual-row connector 11 is uneven when the wires are pulled to remove the dual-row connector 11 from the substrate 43 fixed on the printed wiring substrate. This makes it difficult to remove the dual-row connector 11 and may result in wire breakage.

[0031] Therefore, in the dual-row connector 11 of this embodiment, the wire connection structure is configured such that when there is at least one empty slot connection portion in each slot connection portion 21 or each slot connection portion 23 of the two rows where no wire is connected, when a virtual line parallel to the two rows and passing through the center between the two rows is determined, and when the position of the virtual line, which is the center of the two rows in the x direction, is set as the center of 180-degree rotational symmetry, no wire is connected to the slot connection portion of the other row of the two rows where the empty slot connection portion in one of the two rows is located at a position of 180-degree rotational symmetry relative to the empty slot connection portion in one of the two rows.

[0032] For example, such as Figure 2B As shown, a virtual line K is defined that runs parallel to the two columns and passes through the center between the slot connection portions 21 and 23 of the two columns. The center P of the two columns on the virtual line K is set as the center of 180-degree rotational symmetry. Furthermore, when the wires are not connected to the six slot connection portions 21 on the right side of the upper column and the six slot connection portions 21 on the right side are empty, no wires are connected to the six slot connection portions 23 on the left side of the lower column, which are located in a rotationally symmetrical position relative to the right slot connection portions 21 of the upper column. The six slot connection portions 23 on the left side of the lower column are left empty.

[0033] Therefore, when pulling the wires 33 and 34 in an attempt to remove the dual-row connector 11 from the substrate 43 fixed on the printed wiring board, the force applied to the dual-row connector 11 will not be uneven, the difficulty of removing the dual-row connector 11 will be reduced, and wire breakage can be prevented.

[0034] Figure 4A , Figure 4B Two other examples of slot connection portions 21 and 23, which are empty and not connected to wires, are shown. Figure 4A In this case, the center P on the virtual line K that runs parallel to the two columns and passes through the center between the slot connection parts 21 and 23 of the two columns is set as the center of rotational symmetry. Since the wires are not connected to the four right slot connection parts 21 in the upper column, the four right slot connection parts 21 are empty. Therefore, the wires are not connected to the four left slot connection parts 23 in the lower column, which are located in a rotationally symmetrical position relative to the four right slot connection parts 21 in the upper column. The four left slot connection parts 23 in the lower column are set to be empty.

[0035] exist Figure 4B Since the wires are not connected to the seven right-side and two left-side slot connection parts 21 in the upper column, and the seven right-side and two left-side slot connection parts 21 are empty, the wires are not connected to the seven left-side and two right-side slot connection parts 23 in the lower column, which are in a rotationally symmetrical position relative to the seven right-side and two left-side slot connection parts 23 in the upper column. The seven left-side and two right-side slot connection parts 23 in the lower column are set to empty.

[0036] Therefore, when the dual-row connector 11 is removed, the force applied to the dual-row connector 11 will not be uneven, the difficulty of removing the dual-row connector 11 is reduced, and wire breakage can be prevented.

[0037] Figure 5A , Figure 5B Two comparative examples are shown of the slot connection portions 21 and 23 of the aforementioned wire connection structure, which are not empty and are not without wires. Figure 5A , Figure 5B In either of them, the empty slot connection portions 21 in the upper column and the empty slot connection portions 23 in the lower column are not rotationally symmetrical to each other. Therefore, when the dual-row connector 11 is removed, the force applied to the dual-row connector 11 is uneven, making it difficult to remove the dual-row connector 11 and causing wire breakage.

[0038] Thus, in this embodiment, since the center of the two columns is set as the center P of 180-degree rotational symmetry on the virtual line K that passes through the center between the slot connection portions 21 and 23 of the two columns parallel to each other, no wires are connected to the slot connection portions of the other column in the two columns where the empty slot connection portion is located at a 180-degree rotational symmetry position relative to one of the two columns. Therefore, when the wires 33 and 34 are pulled in an attempt to remove the two-column connector 11, the force applied to the two-column connector 11 will not be uneven, the difficulty of removing the two-column connector 11 is reduced, and wire breakage can be prevented.

[0039] It should be noted that, in the above embodiments, the following structure is exemplified, in which the covering of each wire 33, 34 is sandwiched into the two contact protrusions 31, 32 of each conductive contact 27, 28 and broken, and the core wire of the conductor of each wire 33, 34 contacts and connects to each conductive contact 27, 28 with each contact protrusion 31, 32. However, since connectors with various other structures for connecting and holding the ends of wires to conductive contacts are provided, the present invention can be applied to these connectors.

[0040] Additionally, using Figures 1 to 5BThe structure of the above-described embodiments is merely one example of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention to this structure.

[0041] Various modifications and variations of the present invention without departing from its scope and spirit will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described in this specification.

Claims

1. A connector comprising a plurality of first connecting portions arranged in a column along one direction, wherein two said columns are arranged parallel to each other and overlap in a direction orthogonal to said one direction, and wires are connected to each of said plurality of first connecting portions, the connector being characterized in that, When there is an empty first connection portion in any column where at least one of the wires is not connected, when a virtual line parallel to the columns and passing through the center between the columns is determined, when the position of the virtual line, which is the center of the columns in the one direction, is set as the center of 180-degree rotational symmetry, the wire is not connected to the first connection portion in the other columns of the columns at the 180-degree rotational symmetry position relative to the empty first connection portion in any column.

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of each first connecting part in each column is the same.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Two columns are arranged parallel to each other and adjacent to each of the first connecting parts, the columns being columns of a plurality of second connecting parts arranged in one direction, and terminal pins are connected to each of the plurality of second connecting parts.

4. The connector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first connecting part is a groove connecting part for pressing in and holding the end of the wire, and the second connecting part is a hole connecting part for inserting and holding the terminal pin.

Images