Device for inserting connectors

Abstract

A device for inserting terminals is provided for inserting a terminal of an electrical wire combined with a connector into a cavity and comprises an electrical wire chuck configured to grip the electrical wire. The electrical wire chuck comprises: an upper electrical wire chuck with a predetermined width in a right-left direction; and a lower electrical wire chuck with a predetermined width in the right-left direction, which is displaceable relative to the upper electrical wire chuck in an up-down direction. The upper electrical wire chuck comprises an upper curved surface on one side along the right-left direction, and the lower electrical wire chuck comprises a lower curved surface on one side along the right-left direction.The electrical wire is clamped and gripped by the upper curved surface and the lower curved surface on a section of the electrical wire chuck, with the section of the electrical wire chuck being offset in one direction along the right-left direction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTechnical field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for inserting connectors. Background Technology

[0002] Conventionally, a terminal insertion device configured to collectively insert each of a plurality of terminals into corresponding cavities in a housing is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The terminal insertion device described in Patent Document 1 includes a pair of clamps for gripping each of the two electric wires. The pair of clamps is configured with a pair of outer claws and a pair of inner claws, wherein the pair of outer claws and the pair of inner claws are opened and closed in a right-left direction by a first air chuck and a second air chuck, respectively. Citation listPatent literaturePatent document 1: JP 4917418 BSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the above-mentioned terminal insertion device, electric wires are arranged in the right-left direction, and the opening and closing amounts of the outer claws and the inner claws are adjusted so that they grip one of the electric wires by one of the outer claws and one of the inner claws, and grip another of the electric wires by the other of the outer claws and the other of the inner claws. The pair of clamps that have gripped the electric wires inserts the terminals of the gripped one electric wire and the other electric wire into one of the cavities adjacent to each other in the right-left direction.In this case, the pair of clamping means is configured to adjust the opening and closing amounts of a pair of outer claws and a pair of inner claws to match a separation distance (pitch) between the terminals of one electric wire and the other electric wire in the right-left direction to a separation distance between cavities adjacent to each other in the right-left direction. However, a conventional terminal insertion device as described above is configured such that an electric wire is gripped by an inner and an outer claw. Therefore, when one electric wire and another electric wire gripped by the clamping means are moved toward each other in the right-left direction, the inner claws may interfere with each other, making it impossible to further move one electric wire and the other electric wire toward each other.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal insertion device including a clamping means that does not disturb the displacement of a gripped electric wire to one side along a right-left direction.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned object, a terminal inserting device is provided for inserting a terminal of an electric wire combined with a terminal into a cavity, and comprises: an electric wire chuck configured to grip an electric wire of the electric wire combined with a terminal, the electric wire chuck comprising: an upper main body portion having a predetermined width in a right-left direction; and a lower main body portion having a predetermined width in the right-left direction, the lower main body portion being configured to be displaceable relative to the upper main body portion in an up-down direction, the upper main body portion including an upper gripping portion on one side along the right-left direction, the upper gripping portion being configuredthat it comes into contact with an upper portion of the electric wire, wherein the lower main body portion includes a lower gripping portion on one side along the right-left direction, the lower gripping portion is opposite to the upper gripping portion in the up-down direction and is configured to come into contact with a lower portion of the electric wire, and wherein the electric wire chuck is configured such that the electric wire is clamped and gripped at a portion of the electric wire chuck by the upper gripping portion and the lower gripping portion, the portion of the electric wire chuck being offset to the one side along the right-left direction.

[0006] The present invention makes it possible to provide a terminal insertion device including a clamping means that cannot disturb the displacement of a gripped electric wire to one side along a right-left direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. shows a perspective view of a terminal insertion device according to one embodiment; Fig. shows an enlarged view of essential elements of the device for inserting terminals according to Fig. ; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a terminal chuck arranged in the terminal insertion device in (A) and a front view of the terminal chuck in (B); Fig. 4 shows in (A) an enlarged view of essential elements of the connecting chuck according to Fig. 3(B) and in (B) a schematic view of the connecting chuck without projections or receiving areas; Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of an electric wire chuck arranged in the terminal inserting device (A) and a front view of the electric wire chuck (B); Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the terminal inserting device having a first head and a second head moved into a gripping position for a terminaled electrical wire in an initial state; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the terminal inserting device with the terminal chuck gripping a core caulking portion of the terminal-combined electric wire in the initial state; Fig. shows a perspective view of the connector chuck retracted into a gripping position for a connector from the right side; Fig. shows a perspective view of the connector chuck fully moved into the gripping position for the connection; Fig. shows a perspective view of the connector chuck that has fully gripped the connector; Fig. shows a perspective view of the terminal chuck that grips the terminals of the connected electrical wires at a close distance next to each other; Fig. 12 shows a schematic view of the terminal chuck engaging a core caulking portion having a small size in (A) and a schematic view of the terminal chuck engaging a core caulking portion having a large size in (B); Fig. shows a side view of the connecting chuck that clamps the core caulking section; Fig. shows a front view of the connecting chuck in the state after Fig. ; Fig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating how an electric wire terminal portion of the terminal-equipped electric wire is gripped by the electric wire chucks in an initial state; Fig. 16 shows a perspective view of the electric wire chuck having initiated entry into a gripping position for an electric wire chuck section from the right side; Fig. shows a perspective view of the electric wire chuck fully moved into the gripping position for the electric wire connector; Fig. shows a perspective view of the electric wire chuck having fully gripped the electric wire clamping terminal portion; Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the electric wire chuck that grips electric wire terminal parts of terminal-connected electric wires side by side at a close pitch; Fig. 20 shows a front view of the electric wire chuck gripping an electric wire terminal portion having a small size in (A) and a front view of the electric wire chuck gripping an electric wire terminal portion having a large size in (B); Fig. shows a perspective view of the terminal insertion device with the first head and the second head placed in an insertion position; Fig. Figure 22 is a perspective view of the terminal insertion device in which the first head and the second head have been brought into an insertion position different from the insertion position shown in Fig. 21 distinguishes; Fig. Figure 23 is a perspective view of the terminal insertion device in which the first head and the second head have been brought into an insertion position different from the insertion positions shown in Fig. 20 and Fig. 21 distinguishes; Fig. shows conceptual views of exemplary variations of insertion patterns for inserting the terminals into the cavities in (A) to (D); Fig. shows a perspective view of the terminal insertion device, with the terminals mainly inserted into the cavities; Fig. shows a perspective view of the device for inserting terminals with the terminal receptacle retracted; Fig. shows a perspective view of the terminal insertion device in which the terminals have been secondarily inserted into the cavities and are then controlled by pulling; Fig. 28 shows a perspective view of the terminal insertion device with the electric wire chuck released; and Fig. shows a perspective view of the terminal insertion device with the terminals fully inserted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] An embodiment of the device for inserting connectors is described below. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a terminal insertion device 1 according to an embodiment. The terminal insertion device 1 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a device for manufacturing a wire harness to be installed, for example, in a vehicle. The terminal insertion device 1 is provided for inserting terminals 21 of end-connected electrical wires 2 into cavities 4 of a housing 3. According to the present embodiment, the terminal insertion device 1 is used for a method of independently gripping and moving one terminal 21 and another terminal 21 from among a plurality of terminals 21 held by predetermined holders 14 on a frame 10.Furthermore, the terminal insertion device 1 is used for a process of inserting the gripped and moved terminals 21 into the respective cavities 4 of the plurality of cavities 4 formed in the housing 3.

[0008] In the figures, a direction of insertion and removal of the terminals 21 (insertion direction) is referred to as the "forward-backward direction X," and one side and an opposite side along the forward-backward direction X are referred to as the "forward side X1" and the "backward side X2," respectively. Furthermore, one of the directions orthogonal to the forward-backward direction X is referred to as the "right-left direction Y," and one side and an opposite side along the right-left direction Y are referred to as the "left side Y1" and the "right side Y2," respectively. Furthermore, a height direction of the terminal insertion device 1 is referred to as the "upward-downward direction Z," and one side and an opposite side along the upward-down direction Z are referred to as the "upward side Z1" and the "downward side Z2," respectively. The above definitions are merely for convenience of explanation.The definitions do not necessarily correspond to the forward, backward, right, left, up, and down orientations during actual use of the terminal insertion device 1 and do not restrict any orientations or directions. The electrical lead wires 2 and the housing 3 into which the electrical lead wires 2 are to be inserted are described below, before describing various elements of the terminal insertion device 1, the electrical lead wires 2 to be grasped by the terminal insertion device 1.

[0009] As in Fig. 2, each of the electrical connection wires 2 includes an electrical wire 20 and a terminal 21. It should be noted that the terminal-combined electrical wires 2 according to the present embodiment include one or more twisted wires formed by combining and twisting a plurality of terminal-combined electrical wires 2. The electrical wire 20 consists of a core 22 and a coating 23 covering the outer periphery of the core 22. The core 22 is exposed at an end portion of the electrical wire 20 (only in Fig. 13), with the terminal 21 connected to the end portion. In the present embodiment, a portion of the electric wire 20 for connecting the terminal 21 and a region around this portion are referred to as a "terminal portion of the electric wire 20." The terminal 21 is formed, for example, in the shape of a female terminal and includes, starting from the back surface X2, a coating caulking portion 24, a core caulking portion 25, and an electrical connection portion 26 in sequence.

[0010] The coating caulking portion 24 is connected and fixed to the electric wire 20 by placing the coating caulking portion 24 on the cover 23 and caulking the underlying terminal portion of the electric wire 20 with the coating caulking portion 24 via the cover 23. The core caulking portion 25 is formed by bending an electrically conductive metal sheet extending along the front-back direction X, bending the metal sheet at both the right and left edges toward the top of the core 22, so that the exposed outer periphery of the core 22 is covered with the bent metal sheet and pressed to the core 22 by caulking, while maintaining the covered state of the core 22.This caulking and deformation process results in a recess 25a being formed in an upper surface of the core caulking portion 25, the recess 25a being concave toward the downward side Z2, as shown in FIG. Fig. 12. Note that the recess 25a may be formed in a lower surface of the core caulking portion 25 by bending the sheet at both the right and left edges toward a bottom of the core 22.

[0011] The electrical connection portion 26 is formed, for example, by bending an electrically conductive metal sheet to have a substantially quadrangular tubular shape, and the electrical connection portion 26 is configured so that a male terminal as a partner terminal can be inserted into and connected to the electrical connection portion 26. The terminal portion of the electric wire 20 and the terminal 21 of the resulting terminal-combined electric wire 2 form a gripped portion gripped by terminal insertion heads 16 as described below. Note that the gripped portion may be defined only by the terminal portion of the electric wire 20 or only by the terminal 21, although the gripped portion according to the present embodiment is defined by the terminal portion of the electric wire 20 and the terminal 21.This means that the gripped portion is formed by at least one of the terminal portions of the electric wire 20 or the terminal 21. Furthermore, the terminal portion of the electric wire 20 and the terminal 21, which form the gripped portion, are held by the holder 14.

[0012] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the housing 3 is designed as a box element for accommodating the terminals 21 of the terminal-combined electrical wires 2, wherein the housing 3 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape, for example, by resin molding. The housing 3 is attached to the frame 10 of the terminal insertion device 1 via a housing holder 15, which will be described below. As shown in Fig. 2, a plurality of cavities 4 are formed in the surfaces of the housing 3, which cavities are oriented in the front-back direction X to extend through these surfaces in the front-back direction X and thus to be opened in this direction. The cavities 4 are terminal receiving chambers for receiving the terminals 21. According to the present embodiment, two rows of cavities 4 are arranged in the up-down direction Z, and each of the rows of cavities 4 includes six cavities 4 arranged side by side in the right-left direction Y. In other words, the housing 3 includes a total of twelve cavities 4 formed therein. It should be noted that the number and arrangement of the cavities 4 are shown only as examples and can be changed as needed, provided that at least two cavities 4 are formed side by side in the right-left direction Y.

[0013] In the following, various elements of the terminal insertion device 1 are described. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the terminal insertion device 1 includes the frame 10, holders 14, housing holders 15, terminal insertion heads 16, and three-axis drive sources 19. The frame 10 is composed of a base plate 11, support columns 12, and a cover plate 13. The base plate 11 is composed of a rectangular plate member extending in the front-backward direction X and the right-left direction Y. The holders 14 and the housing holder 15 are attached to the top of the base plate 11. The holders 14 are configured to receive and hold the electrical wires 20 and the terminals 21.These holders 14 are shaped to extend from a central portion of the bottom plate 11 in the right-left direction Y toward the upper side Z1, each of the holders 14 being capable of holding the terminal 21 and the electric wire 20 placed thereon with a posture extending in the front-back direction X, the terminal 21 and the electric wire 20 being held by means of clamp-like tip ends of the holder 14 which are adjacent to each other in the right-left direction Y.

[0014] According to the present embodiment, a total of two terminals 21 (and two electric wires 20) are held by the holder 14 at the same height and adjacent to each other in the right-left direction Y. This state is defined as the initial state. Of the two terminals 21 and the two electric wires 20 in the initial state, a terminal 21 on the right side Y2 and an electric wire 20 connected thereto are referred to as "one terminal" and "one electric wire," respectively, by way of example. Hereinafter, the terms "one terminal" and "one electric wire" may be simply used, or the terms "terminal 21 (one terminal)" and "electric wire 20 (one electric wire)" may be used.Further, a core caulking portion 25 of the one terminal is referred to as a "first core caulking portion," and hereinafter, this core caulking portion may be simply referred to as a "first core caulking portion" or a "core caulking portion 25 (first core caulking portion)." Moreover, a gripped portion formed by the one terminal 21 and the terminal portion of the electric wire 20 may be referred to as a "first gripped portion." On the other hand, among the two terminals 21 and the two electric wires 20 in the initial state, a terminal 21 on the left side Y1 and an electric wire 20 connected thereto are, for example, referred to as "another terminal" and "another electric wire," respectively.Hereinafter, the terms "other terminal" and "other electric wire" may be simply used, or the terms "terminal 21 (other terminal)" and "electric wire 20 (other electric wire)" may be used. Further, a core caulking portion 25 of the other terminal is referred to as a "second core caulking portion," and hereinafter, this core caulking portion may be simply referred to as a "second core caulking portion" or a "core caulking portion 25 (second core caulking portion)." In addition, a gripped portion formed by the other terminal 21 and the terminal portion of the electric wire 20 may be referred to as a "second gripped portion."

[0015] According to the above configuration, in the initial state, the one terminal and the other terminal extend along the front-back direction X (terminal insertion direction) and are adjacent to each other in a direction of adjacent arrangement, which is the right-left direction Y. Moreover, the electric wire 20 (one electric wire) and the electric wire 20 (another electric wire) extend along the front-back direction X of the terminals and are adjacent to each other in a direction of adjacent arrangement, which is the right-left direction Y. One set of the one terminal and the one electric wire, and another set of the other terminal and the other electric wire may be arranged at terminal portions of different lead electric wires 2, or may be arranged at two opposite terminal portions of one lead electric wire 2.It should be noted that the set of one terminal and one electric wire and the other set of the other terminal and the other electric wire arranged at two opposite terminal portions of the electric wire 2 can be arranged in the holder 14 preferably, for example, by bending the electric wires 2 at their center into a U-shape and thus positioning the set of one terminal and one electric wire and the other set of the other terminal and the other electric wire adjacent to each other in the right-left direction Y.

[0016] The present embodiment provides that the electric wires 20 and the terminals 21 are held by the clamp-like tip ends of the holder 14. However, this is only an example, and any other structure capable of holding the electric wires 20 and the terminals 21 of the terminal-combined electric wire(s) 2 in a position extending along the front-back direction X while being juxtaposed in the right-left direction Y may be adopted. The case holder 15 is configured to hold the case 3. The case holder 15 is adjacent to the holder 14 in the right-left direction Y and is formed to extend toward the upstream side Z1.An installation recess 15a is formed in an upper portion of the housing holder 15, the installation recess 15a being concave toward the downward side Z2 and holding the housing 3 therein.

[0017] A pair of support columns 12 extend toward the upstream side Z1 from both the right and left ends of the bottom plate 11, with each of the support columns 12 connecting the bottom plate 11 to the upper plate 13. The upper plate 13 is arranged at the upper ends of the support columns 12 and faces the bottom plate 11 in the upstream-downstream direction Z. The terminal insertion heads 16 are mounted on a surface of the upper plate 13 facing the downstream side Z2. The terminal insertion heads 16 are movable in the forward-backward direction X, the right-left direction Y, and the upstream-downward direction Z by means of the three-axis drive sources 19.The terminal insertion heads 16 are configured to grip the gripped portions of the electrical lead wires 2 (terminals 21 and electrical wire portions 20 of the electrical lead wires 2 in the present embodiment) held by the holders 14, and the terminal insertion head 16 is further configured to move such gripped portions toward the housing 3 as described below and insert the gripped portions into the cavities 4 of the housing 3. The terminal insertion heads 16 include a right head 17 (first head) on the right side Y2 and a left head 18 (second head) on the left side Y1.

[0018] The right head 17 includes a terminal chuck 5 (first terminal chuck, a terminal chuck) configured to clamp and hold the core caulking portion 25 (first core caulking portion) of the terminal 21 (a terminal) in the up-down direction Z. The terminal chuck 5 will be described below. The right head 17 further includes an electric wire chuck 7 (first electric wire chuck, an electric wire chuck) configured to clamp and hold the terminal portion of the electric wire 20 (an electric wire terminal portion) in the up-down direction Z. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the terminal chuck 5 includes a terminal chuck mounting plate 50, an upper terminal chuck 51 (upper main body portion), and a lower terminal chuck 52 (lower main body portion). The terminal chuck mounting plate 50 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the front-back direction X.

[0019] The terminal chuck mounting plate 50 has a groove portion 50a formed in a front end of the terminal chuck mounting plate 50, the groove portion 50a being open toward the front side X1 and extending in the up-down direction Z, wherein the upper terminal chuck 51 and the lower terminal chuck 52 are held in the groove portion 50a. As shown in Fig. 3, the upper terminal chuck 51 includes an upper mounting portion 53, a first upper plate portion 54, and a second upper plate portion 55, and is formed with a predetermined width in the right-left direction Y. The upper mounting portion 53 is immovably mounted in an upper region within the groove portion 50a in the terminal chuck mounting plate 50 and extends from the groove portion 50a toward the front side X1. The first upper plate portion 54 extends toward the left side Y1 from an end edge of a front side of the upper mounted portion 53 facing the left side Y1, and the first upper plate portion 54 is curved to be arranged further toward the front side X1 in a direction of the left side Y1.

[0020] The second upper plate portion 55 extends from a left end edge of the first upper plate portion 54 (a side along the right-left direction Y) toward the front side X1. A front end portion of the second upper plate portion 55 is claw-shaped and protrudes toward the downward side Z2. A lower surface of this claw-shaped portion defines an upper gripping surface 56 (upper gripping portion) that comes into contact with an upper surface (a portion facing the upward side Z1) of the core caulking portion 25. The upper gripping surface 56 is formed in a shape corresponding to an outer shape of the upper surface of the core caulking portion 25 (in the present embodiment, this adapted shape is referred to as a “wire crimper-like shape”). More specifically, in the center of the upper gripping surface 56 in the right-left direction Y, as shown in Fig. 4(A), a projection 56a is formed projecting toward the downward side Z2, and curved surfaces 56b are defined in the upper gripping surface 56 on both the right and left sides of the projection 56a and curved toward the upward side Z1. The projection 56a is configured to fit with the recess 25a of the core caulking portion 25 when the core caulking portion 25 is gripped by the terminal chuck 5. The core caulking portion 25 is positioned (centered) at the center of the upper gripping surface 56 in the right-left direction Y by fitting the projection 56a with the recess 25a, and the displacement of the gripped core caulking portion 25 is also restricted by fitting the projection 56a with the recess 25a.

[0021] As in Fig. 3, the lower terminal chuck 52 includes a lower mounted portion 57, a first lower plate portion 58, and a second lower plate portion 59, and is formed with a predetermined width in the right-left direction Y. The lower mounted portion 57 is held in a lower region within the groove portion 50a in the terminal chuck mounting plate 50 and is movable along the up-down direction Z by means of a predetermined drive source and extends toward the front side X1 from the groove portion 50a. Note that, for example, pneumatic pressure may be used as the predetermined drive source, and the lower terminal chuck 52 and the upper terminal chuck 51 may be configured as air chucks, respectively. This configuration allows the lower terminal chuck 52 to be displaced relative to the upper terminal chuck 51 along the up-down direction Z.Although the present embodiment is provided such that the upper terminal chuck 51 is fixed and the lower terminal chuck 52 is movable, it should be noted that they are not limited thereto and the upper terminal chuck 51 may be movable.

[0022] The first lower plate portion 58 extends toward the left side Y1 from an end edge of a front side of the lower mounted portion 57 facing the left side Y1, and the first lower plate portion 58 is curved to be further disposed toward the front side X1 in a direction of the left side Y1. The second lower plate portion 59 extends from a left end edge of the first lower plate portion 58 (a side along the right-left direction Y) toward the front side X1. A front end portion of the second lower plate portion 59 is claw-shaped and protrudes toward the upper side Z1.An upper surface of this claw-shaped portion faces the upper gripping surface 56 in the up-down direction Z and defines a lower gripping surface 60 (lower gripping portion) that comes into contact with a lower surface (a portion facing the down side) of the core caulking portion 25. As shown in FIG. Fig. As shown in Fig. 4(A), the lower gripping surface 60 is formed in a shape curved toward the downward side Z2 to correspond to a shape of the lower surface of the core sealing portion 25 (in the present embodiment, this shape is referred to as an "anvil-like shape"), and the lower gripping surface 60 is opposed to the upper gripping surface 56 in the up-down direction Z. The lower gripping surface 60 serves as a receiving portion 60a for supporting the lower surface of the core caulking portion 25.

[0023] It should be noted that when the portions for contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the core sealing portion 25 are defined by flat surfaces 100, as in Fig. 4(B), an outer shape of the flat surfaces 100 does not match the curved outer shape of the core caulking portion 25, and in addition, a contact surface area between the flat surfaces 100 and the core sealing portion 25 is reduced. In this case, the core caulking portion 25 cannot be stably gripped and may be inclined in the right-left direction Y and the up-down direction Z. Therefore, the core caulking portion 25 is preferably contacted by a surface in the shape of a wire terminal and a surface in the shape of an anvil. It is further conceivable that the recess 25a of the core sealing portion 25 is formed in the lower surface of the core caulking portion 25. In this case, the configuration of the upper gripping surface 56 according to the present embodiment can be transferred to the lower gripping surface 60, and vice versa.The upper gripping surface 56 can be designed in the form of an anvil, while the lower gripping surface 60 can be designed in the form of a wire connection.

[0024] In this way, the projection 56a is provided in one of the upper gripping surface 56 or the lower gripping surface 60 having a portion opposite to the recess 25a in the up-down direction Z, the projection 56a being configured to fit with the recess 25a. Moreover, the receiving portion 60a is provided in the other of the upper gripping surface 56 or the lower gripping surface 60 in which the projection 56a is not provided, the receiving portion 60a having a shape corresponding to an external shape of the other of the upper surface and the lower surface of the core caulking portion 25 in which the recess 25a is not provided.In this way, the terminal chuck 5 is configured so that the core caulking portion 25 of the terminal 21 is gripped by means of the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60, whereby the terminal 21 is gripped by a portion of the terminal chuck 5 offset toward the left side Y1 (one side along the right-left direction Y) from a center of the terminal chuck 5.

[0025] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the electric wire chuck 7 includes an electric wire chuck mounting plate 70, an upper electric wire chuck 71 (upper main body portion), and a lower electric wire chuck 72 (lower main body portion). The electric wire chuck mounting plate 70 is formed in a rectangular-parallelpiped shape extending in the front-back direction X. The electric wire chuck mounting plate 70 has a groove portion 70a formed in a front end of the electric wire chuck mounting plate 70, the groove portion 70a being open toward the front side X1 and extending in the up-down direction Z, and the upper electric wire chuck 71 and the lower electric wire chuck 72 are held in the groove portion 70a by a connecting member 70b. As shown in Figure 2, Fig. 5, the upper electric wire chuck 71 includes an upper main body 73 and an upper plate portion 74. The upper main body 73 has a predetermined width in the right-left direction Y, and a rear surface of the upper main body 73 is fixedly fixed in an upper region within the groove portion 70a in the electric wire chuck mounting plate 70 by the connecting member 70b. The upper plate portion 74 extends from an end of a lower side of the upper main body 73 facing the left side Y1 toward the downward side Z2. A lower end of a right side surface of the upper plate portion 74 defines an inclined surface 74a that approaches a left side surface of the upper plate portion 74 toward the downward side Z2, resulting in a tapered lower tip of the upper plate portion 74.The inclined surface 74a is configured so that a lower inclined guide surface 83 of the lower electric wire chuck 72 can come into contact with the inclined surface 74a, the inclined surface 74a serving as a stopper because the contact restricts the displacement of the lower electric wire chuck 72 toward the upper side Z1.

[0026] The upper plate portion 74 includes an upper curved surface 76 formed in a lower side of the lower end, the upper curved surface 76 being curved toward the upper side Z1, the upper curved surface 76 defining an upper gripping portion configured to come into contact with a portion of the electric wire 20 oriented toward the upper side Z1. The upper curved surface 76 has a curvature and a width in the right-left direction Y configured to correspond to an external shape of an electric wire 20 having the largest diameter among the electric wires 20 to come into contact with the upper curved surface 76.A left end edge of the upper curved surface 76 is continuous with a left end edge of the upper plate portion 74 (left end edge of the upper electric wire chuck 71), and this continuous portion forms an upper claw 76a for preventing the gripped electric wire 20 from being removed. A connecting plate portion 75 is formed on the inclined surface 74a of the upper plate portion 74, with the connecting plate portion 75 protruding toward the lower right side of the upper plate portion 74. The connecting plate portion 75 is inserted into a through hole 84 in the lower electric wire chuck 72, which will be described later. A lower surface of the connecting plate portion 75 defines an upper guide inclined surface 77.The upper inclined guide surface 77 is capable of sliding contact with an outer surface of the electric wire 20 when the electric wire 20 is gripped by the electric wire chuck 7. The upper guide inclined surface 77 is continuous with an end edge of the upper curved surface 76 facing the right side Y2, and the upper guide inclined surface 77 is inclined to be further from the end edge of the upper curved surface 76 facing the right side Y2 toward the lower side Z2 in a direction toward the right side Y2.

[0027] The lower electric wire chuck 72 includes a lower main body 78 and a lower plate portion 79. The lower main body 78 has a predetermined width in the right-left direction Y, and a rear surface of the lower main body 78 is fixed to a lower region within the groove portion 70a in the electric wire chuck mounting plate 70 by the connecting member 70b. The lower main body 78 is movable along the up-down direction Z by a predetermined drive source. Note that, for example, pneumatic pressure may be used as the predetermined drive source, and the lower electric wire chuck 72 and the upper electric wire chuck 71 may be configured as air chucks, respectively. With this configuration, the lower electric wire chuck 72 can be displaced relative to the upper electric wire chuck 71 along the up-down direction Z.Although the present embodiment provides that the upper electric wire chuck 71 is fixed and the lower electric wire chuck 72 is movable, it should be noted that they are not limited to this, and the upper electric wire chuck 71 may be movable. The lower plate portion 79 extends from one end of a lower side of the lower main body 78, which faces the left side Y1, toward the downward side Z2.

[0028] The lower plate portion 79 includes a slanted portion 80 and a lower left end 81 at a lower end of the lower plate portion 79, the slanted portion 80 extending parallel to the above-described slanted surface 74a of the upper plate portion 74, the lower left end 81 extending from a left end edge of the slanted portion 80 toward the left side Y1. A lower curved surface 82 curved toward the lower side Z2 is formed in an upper surface of the lower left end 81, the lower curved surface 82 opposing the upper curved surface 76 in the up-down direction Z, the lower curved surface 82 defining a lower gripping portion configured to come into contact with a portion of the electric wire 20 oriented toward the lower side Z2.The lower curved surface 82 has a curvature and a width in the right-left direction Y configured to correspond to an external shape of an electric wire 20 having the largest diameter among the electric wires 20 to come into contact with the lower curved surface 82. A left end edge of the lower curved surface 82 is continuous with a surface of the lower left end 81 facing the left side Y1 (left end edge of the lower electric wire clamp 72), this continuous portion forming a lower claw 82a for preventing the gripped electric wire 20 from being removed.

[0029] An upper surface of the inclined portion 80 defines a lower inclined guide surface 83. The lower guide inclined surface 83 is capable of slidingly contacting the outer surface of the electric wire 20 when the electric wire 20 is gripped by the electric wire chuck 7. The inclined lower guide surface 83 is contiguous with an end edge of the lower curved surface 82 facing the right side Y2, and the inclined lower guide surface 83 is inclined to be located from the end edge of the lower curved surface 82 facing the right side Y2 further toward the upper side Z1 toward the right side Y2.The lower guide bevel 83 includes the through-hole 84 at the center of the lower guide bevel 83 in the front-back direction X, the through-hole 84 extending through the lower plate portion 79 in the up-down direction Z, and the above-described connecting plate portion 75 of the upper plate portion 74 is inserted into the through-hole 84. In this way, when the lower electric wire chuck 72 is moved in the up-down direction Z, an edge of the through-hole 84 is guided by a plate surface of the connecting plate portion 75, thereby preventing misalignment between the upper electric wire chuck 71 and the lower electric wire chuck 72.

[0030] In this way, the electric wire chuck 7 is configured to grip the electric wire 20 by means of the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82, with the electric wire 20 being gripped by a portion of the electric wire chuck 7 offset toward the left side Y1 (one side along the right-left direction Y) from a center of the electric wire chuck 7. At this time, the upper electric wire chuck 71 and the lower electric wire chuck 72 are relatively displaced to approach each other in the up-down direction Z, with the upper inclined guide surface 77 and the lower inclined guide surface 83 moving toward each other. During this movement, the electric wire 20 is guided toward the left side Y1 while being in sliding contact with the upper guide inclined surface 77 and the lower guide inclined surface 83.This guide ensures that the electrical wire 20 is guided into a position in which the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 are located, with the electrical wire 20 then being gripped by these curved surfaces 76 and 82.

[0031] As in Fig. 2, the left head 18 is arranged adjacent to the right head 17 in a direction of adjacent arrangement, which is the right-left direction Y. Note that the components of the left head 18 and the right head 17 are arranged in such an orientation that they are symmetrical on the right and left sides, although the orientations of the components may be different from each other. However, the components themselves are identical, and therefore, the description of the same or similar features of the left head 18 and the right head 17 will be summarized or omitted.

[0032] The left head 18 includes the terminal chuck 5 (second terminal chuck, another terminal chuck) configured to grip the core sealing portion 25 (second core sealing portion) of the terminal 21 (another terminal chuck) by clamping in the up-down direction Z. Furthermore, the left head 18 includes the electric wire chuck 7 (second electric wire chuck, another electric wire chuck) configured to clamp the electric wire clamping portion 20 (another electric wire clamping portion) by clamping in the up-down direction Z. The terminal chuck 5 of the left head 18 is formed to be symmetrical with the terminal chuck 5 of the right head 17, as shown in FIG. Fig. 3 on the right and left sides. For the connecting chuck 5 of the left head 18, the first upper plate portion 54 extends toward the right side Y2 from an end edge of a front side of the upper mounted portion 53 facing the right side Y2, and the first upper plate portion 54 is curved to be further disposed toward the front side X1 in a direction of the right side Y2. Further, the second upper plate portion 55 of the left head 18 extends from a right end edge of the first upper plate portion 54 toward the front side X1.

[0033] Furthermore, the first lower plate portion 58 of the left head 18 extends toward the right side Y2 from an end edge of a front side of the lower mounted portion 57 facing the right side Y2, and the first lower plate portion 58 is curved to be further disposed toward the front side X1 in a direction of the right side Y2. The second lower plate portion 59 extends from a right end edge of the first lower plate portion 58 toward the front side X1.With such a configuration of the left head 18, a pair of terminal chucks 5 for the right head 17 and the left head 18 are arranged side by side in the right-left direction Y as the direction of adjacent arrangement, and the pair of terminal chucks 5 are aligned to be symmetrical in the right-left direction such that the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60 are positioned inward in the direction of adjacent arrangement. Moreover, the terminal chuck 5 of the right head 17 of the pair of terminal chucks 5 is configured to grip one terminal of the plurality of terminals 21, while the terminal chuck 5 of the left head 18 is configured to grip the other terminal of the plurality of terminals 21.

[0034] The electric wire chuck 7 of the left head 18 is designed to be symmetrical to the electric wire chuck 7 of the right head 17, as shown in Fig. 5 on the right and left sides. In the electric wire chuck 7 of the left head 18, the upper plate portion 74 extends from one end of a lower side of the upper main body 73 facing the right side Y2 toward the downward side Z2. Furthermore, a lower end of a left side surface of the upper plate portion 74 defines an inclined surface 74a that approaches a right side surface of the upper plate portion 74 toward the downward side Z2. Moreover, the upper guide inclined surface 77 is continuous with an end edge of the upper curved surface 76 facing the left side Y1, and the upper guide inclined surface 77 is inclined so as to be located from the end edge of the upper curved surface 76 facing the left side Y1 further toward the downward side Z2 in a direction toward the left side Y1.The lower plate portion 79 of the lower electric wire clamping device 72 extends from one end of a lower side of the lower main body 78, which faces the right side Y2, toward the downside Z2. The lower plate portion 79 includes a slanted portion 80 and a lower right end 81 at a lower end of the lower plate portion 79, the slanted portion 80 extending parallel to the above-described slanted surface 74a of the upper plate portion 74, and the lower right end 81 extending from a right end edge of the slanted portion 80 toward the right side Y2.

[0035] Moreover, the lower guide slope 83 is continuous with an end edge of the lower curved surface 82 facing the left side Y1, and the lower guide slope 83 is inclined to be further from the end edge of the lower curved surface 82 facing the left side Y1 toward the upper side Z1 in a direction toward the left side Y1. With such a configuration of the left head 18, a pair of electric wire chucks 7 for the right head 17 and the left head 18 are juxtaposed in the right-left direction Y as the direction of adjacent arrangement, and the pair of electric wire chucks 7 are aligned to be symmetrical in the right-left direction so that the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 are positioned inward in the direction of adjacent arrangement.Furthermore, the electric wire chuck 7 of the right head 17 of the pair of electric wire chucks 7 is configured to grip one electric wire of the plurality of electric wires 20, while the electric wire chuck 7 of the left head 18 is configured to grip the other electric wire of the plurality of electric wires 20.

[0036] An independent three-axis drive source 19 is connected to each of the terminal insertion heads 16 (right head 17 and left head 18). The three-axis drive sources 19 enable the right head 17 and the left head 18 to be moved along any, some, or all of the forward-backward direction X, the right-left direction Y, and the up-down direction Z. In addition, a three-axis drive source 19 is connected to each of the terminal chucks 5 and each of the electric wire chucks 7. The three-axis drive sources 19 enable each of the terminal chucks 5 and each of the electric wire chucks 7 to be moved along any, some, or all of the forward-backward direction X, the right-left direction Y, and the up-down direction Z.

[0037] In this way, the right head 17 and the left head 18 are independently movable in any direction in an imaginary plane extending in the right-left direction Y and the up-down direction Z (i.e., in an imaginary plane orthogonal to the insertion direction of the terminals 21) by means of the three-axis drive sources 19. In this way, each of the two terminal chucks 5 and each of the two electric wire chucks 7 are also independently movable in any direction in an imaginary plane orthogonal to the insertion direction of the terminals 21. To configure the three-axis drive sources 19, for example, a plurality of electric cylinders can be provided and arranged in any orientation, wherein the plurality of electric cylinders can include, for example, one or more servomotors, cylinder tubes, piston rods.However, the configuration of the three-axis drive sources 19 is not limited to this, but any drive source that allows the right head 17 and the left head 18 to be moved independently in three axes can be used.

[0038] The following describes the process of inserting the terminals 21 into the cavities 4 using the terminal insertion device 1. According to the present embodiment, two terminals 21 (one terminal and another terminal) are inserted into a Fig. 2 shown initial state by the terminal insertion heads 16 of the terminal insertion device 1 and moved towards the housing 3, whereby the two terminals 21 are thereby inserted together into the respective cavities 4 of the plurality of cavities 4. First, in a state according to Fig. 2, the terminal insertion heads 16 are positioned, and from this state, the terminal insertion heads 16 are moved to a gripping position for gripping the parts to be gripped (terminals 21 and electrical wire parts 20). Fig. 6 shows the terminal insertion device 1 with the right head 17 and the left head 18 moved into the gripping position for the terminal-combined electric wire 2 in an initial state.

[0039] In this state, the upper terminal chuck 51 and the lower terminal chuck 52 of the terminal chuck 5 of the right head 17 of the one terminal (terminal 21 on the right side Y2) are opposed to the one terminal at a distance from the one terminal in the up-down direction Z. In addition, the upper electric wire chuck 71 and the lower electric wire chuck 72 of the electric wire chuck 7 of the right head 17 are opposed to the terminal portion of the one electric wire 20 (electric wire 20 on the right side Y2) at a distance from the one electric wire in the up-down direction Z. On the other hand, the upper terminal chuck 51 and the lower terminal chuck 52 of the terminal chuck 5 of the left head 18 are opposed to the other terminal (terminal 21 on the left side Y1) at a distance from the other terminal in the up-down direction Z.Further, the upper electric wire chuck 71 and the lower electric wire chuck 72 of the electric wire chuck 7 of the left head 18 are opposed to the terminal portion of the electric wire 20 of the other electric wire (left side electric wire 20 Y1) with a distance from the other electric wire in the up-down direction Z.

[0040] From this state, each of the lower terminal chucks 52 of the right head 17 and the left head 18 is shifted toward the upward side Z1, and the terminals 21 are then gripped by the terminal chucks 5, as shown in Fig. 7. This movement of the terminal insertion heads 16 into the gripping position and the gripping of the terminals 21 by the terminal insertion heads 16 are described in more detail below. Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the connection chuck 5 (first connection chuck) which is retracted from the right side Y2 into the gripping position for the connection 21 (one connection). Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of the connection chuck 5 (first connection chuck) which has been fully moved into the clamping position for the connection 21 (one connection). Fig. Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the connector chuck 5 (first connector chuck) which has been fully engaged by the connector 21 (one connector). As shown in the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the terminal chuck 5 is positioned at a height where the core caulking portion 25 (first core caulking portion) is located between the upper clamping surface 56 and the lower clamping surface 60. Then, the terminal chuck 5 is inserted from the right side Y2 to the left side Y1 (that is, from the outer side of the pair of terminal chucks 5 to the inner side of the pair of terminal chucks 5 in the right-left direction Y) to be brought into the gripping position.

[0041] Subsequently, the lower connecting chuck 52 is moved towards the upward side Z1, as shown in Fig. 10, the core sealing portion 25 is then clamped and gripped by the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60 in the up-down direction Z. The same operation is also performed between the left head 18 and the terminal 21 (another terminal). Namely, the terminal chuck 5 of the left head 18 (second terminal chuck) is inserted from the left side Y1 to the right side Y2 (that is, from the outer side of the pair of terminal chucks 5 to the inner side of the pair of terminal chucks 5 in the right-left direction Y) to be brought into the gripping position. Then, the core caulking portion 25 (second core caulking portion) is gripped by the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60.In a state where the terminals 21 have been completely gripped by the terminal chucks 5, the terminal 21 (one terminal) and the electric wire 20 (one electric wire), as well as the terminal 21 (another terminal) and the electric wire 20 (another electric wire) extend along the front-backward direction X, and the terminal 21 (one terminal) and the electric wire 20 (another electric wire) are adjacent to the terminal 21 (another terminal) and the electric wire 20 (another electric wire) in the right-left direction Y as the direction of adjacent arrangement, as shown in FIG. Fig. 11 shown.

[0042] Further, in this state, the projection 56a of the upper gripping surface 56 is connected to the recess 25a in the core sealing portion 25, and the curved surface 56b of the upper gripping surface 56 is in contact with the upper surface of the core sealing portion 25, as shown in Fig. 12(A) and (B). In addition, the lower surface of the core sealing portion 25 is supported by the lower gripping surface 60, i.e., the receiving portion 60a. This applies to both a core sealing portion 25 with smaller dimensions in the right-left direction Y and in the up-down direction Z, as shown in Fig. 12(A), as well as for a core seal section 25 having larger dimensions in the right-left direction Y and in the up-down direction Z, as shown in Fig. 12(B). In this way, the projection 56a is engaged with the recess 25a, and the bottom surface of the core seal portion 25 is supported by the receiving portion 60a, thereby restricting displacement of the core seal portion 25, particularly in the right-left direction Y and the up-down direction Z, while the core seal portion 25 is gripped by the central portions of the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60 in the right-left direction Y.

[0043] In addition, the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60 have a predetermined dimension in the forward-backward direction X, as shown in Fig. 13, which can ensure a sufficient contact surface area between the gripping surfaces and the core sealing portion 25, so that a gripped state of the core sealing portion 25 is stably maintained by the connecting chuck 5. This prevents the core sealing portion 25 from being inclined with respect to a horizontal direction. As already mentioned, the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60 of the connecting chuck 5 of the left head 18 and the connecting chuck 5 of the right head 17 are each offset inwardly toward the adjacent arrangement. This prevents, for example, other components such as the first upper plate portions 54 and / or the first lower plate portions 58 from interfering with each other, as in Fig. 14. Furthermore, it is possible for the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60 on the right side Y2 to approach the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60 on the left side Y1 with a minimum distance therebetween to achieve a narrow separation distance (narrow pitch) while thus preventing interference.

[0044] In the present embodiment, a minimum distance S1 is defined, for example, as the smallest distance between an end edge of the terminal chuck 5 of the right head 17 (one terminal chuck) oriented inward in the right-left direction Y (direction of the adjacent arrangement), on the one hand, and an end edge of the terminal chuck 5 of the left head 18 (another terminal chuck) oriented inward in the right-left direction Y, on the other hand. Furthermore, a minimum distance S2 is to be defined as the smallest distance between an end edge of the terminal 21 (one terminal) oriented inward in the right-left direction Y and an end edge of the terminal 21 (another terminal) oriented inward in the right-left direction Y. The minimum distance S1 is preferably greater than the minimum distance S2.This configuration allows the terminal 21 (one terminal) and the terminal 21 (another terminal) to approach each other in the right-left direction Y, so that the terminals 21 can contact each other at most without interference between the terminal chucks 5. Specifically, the minimum distance S1 may be about 1.5 mm, and the terminals 21 may be juxtaposed at a minimum distance S2 smaller than the minimum distance S1, that is, less than about 1.5 mm. Since the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60 of the terminal chuck 5 are displaced relative to each other in the up-down direction Z as described above, the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60 cannot be displaced in the right-left direction Y during the above-mentioned relative displacement in the right-left direction Y.Accordingly, it is possible to maintain a state that allows the terminals 21 to approach each other in the right-left direction Y both during the operation of gripping the terminals 21 and during the operation of terminating the gripping.

[0045] After the core sealing sections 25 are completely clamped by the terminal chucks 5, the terminal sections of the electric wire 20 are clamped by the electric wire chucks 7, as shown in Fig. 15. The method for clamping the terminal portions of the electric wire 20 by the electric wire clamping devices 7 will be described in detail. Fig. 16 shows a perspective view of the electric wire chuck 7 (first electric wire chuck) which has initiated entry into the gripping position for the electric wire 20 (one electric wire) from the right side Y2. Fig. 17 shows a perspective view of the electric wire chuck 7 (first electric wire chuck) which has been fully moved to the gripping position for the electric wire 20 (one electric wire). Fig. Fig. 18 shows a perspective view of the electric wire chuck 7 (first electric wire chuck) that has completely gripped the electric wire 20 (an electric wire). Fig. 16 and Fig. 17, the electric wire chuck 7 is positioned at a height where the end portion of the electric wire 20 is located between the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82. Then, the electric wire chuck 7 is inserted from the right side Y2 to the left side Y1 (that is, from the outer side of the pair of electric wire chucks 7 to the inner side of the pair of electric wire chucks 7 in the right-left direction Y) to be brought into the gripping position.

[0046] Subsequently, the lower electric wire tensioning device 72 is moved towards the upper side Z1, as shown in Fig. 18, the terminal portion of the electric wire 20 is then clamped and gripped by the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 in the up-down direction Z. The same process is also performed for the left head 18 and the electric wire 20 (another electric wire). Namely, the electric wire chuck 7 of the left head 18 (second electric wire chuck) is inserted from the left side Y1 to the right side Y2 (that is, from the outside of the pair of electric wire chucks 7 to the inside of the pair of electric wire chucks 7 in the right-left direction Y) to be brought into the gripping position. Then, the terminal portion of the electric wire 20 (terminal portion of the electric wire 20 of the other electric wire) is clamped and gripped by the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 in the up-down direction Z.

[0047] During this clamping operation, the upper electric wire chuck 71 and the lower electric wire chuck 72 are moved toward each other, and the upper inclined guide surface 77 and the lower inclined guide surface 83 are also moved toward each other. As the inclined guide surfaces move toward each other, the electric wire 20 is gradually guided toward the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 while being in sliding contact with the upper inclined guide surface 77 and the lower inclined guide surface 83. This guidance ensures that the electric wire 20 is moved to a position where the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 are located, and that the electric wire 20 is gripped by the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82.Furthermore, the gripped electric wire 20 is supported on one side in the right-left direction Y by the above-mentioned upper claw 76a and the lower claw 82a, on the other side in the right-left direction Y by the upper guide bevel 77 and the lower guide bevel 83, on a side oriented toward the upstream side Z1 by the upper curved surface 76, and on a side oriented toward the downstream side Z2 by the lower curved surface 82. In this way, the electric wire 20 is prevented from being removed in a direction intersecting the front-backward direction X, so that a state in which the electric wire 20 is gripped by the electric wire chuck 7 is stably maintained.

[0048] As already mentioned, the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 of the electric wire chuck 7 of the left head 18 and the electric wire chuck 7 of the right head 17 are each offset inwardly toward the adjacent assembly. This prevents, for example, other components such as the support plates for the electric wire chuck 70 from interfering with each other, as shown in Fig. 19. Moreover, it is possible for the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 on the right side Y2 to approach the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 on the left side Y1 with a minimum distance therebetween to achieve a narrow separation distance (narrow pitch). In the present embodiment, for example, a minimum distance S3 is defined as the smallest distance between an end edge of the electric wire chuck 7 of the right head 17 (one electric wire chuck) oriented inward in the right-left direction Y (adjacent arrangement direction), on the one hand, and an end edge of the electric wire chuck 7 of the left head 18 (another electric wire chuck) oriented inward in the right-left direction Y, on the other hand.Furthermore, a minimum distance S4 is defined as the minimum distance between an end edge of the electric wire 20 (of one electric wire) oriented inward in the right-left direction Y and an end edge of the electric wire 20 (of another electric wire) oriented inward in the right-left direction Y. The minimum distance S3 is preferably larger than the minimum distance S4.

[0049] This configuration allows the electric wire 20 (one electric wire) and the electric wire 20 (another electric wire) to approach each other in the right-left direction Y, so that the terminals 21 can contact each other at most without causing interference between the electric wire chucks 7. Specifically, the minimum pitch S3 may be about 1.5 mm, and the electric wires 20 may be juxtaposed with the minimum pitch S4 smaller than the minimum pitch S3, that is, smaller than about 1.5 mm. Since the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 of the electric wire chuck 7 are displaced relative to each other in the up-down direction Z as described above, the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 cannot be displaced in the right-left direction Y during the above-mentioned relative displacement in the right-left direction Y.Accordingly, it is possible to maintain a state that allows the electric wires 20 to approach each other in the right-left direction Y both during the operation of gripping the electric wires 20 and during the operation of completing the gripping.

[0050] When the smallest distance S3 is larger than the smallest distance S4 and the smallest distance S1 is larger than the smallest distance S2 as described above, similarly to the above configuration, the smallest distance between the inner end edge of the right head 17 (first head) in the right-left direction Y (direction of adjacent arrangement) and the inner end edge of the left head 18 (second head) in the right-left direction Y is larger than a smallest distance between an end edge of the first gripped portion (one terminal and the electric wire 20 terminal portion of the one electric wire) and an end edge of the second gripped portion (another terminal and the electric wire 20 terminal portion of the other electric wire), with the end edges of the first and second gripped portions directed inward in the right-left direction Y.This allows each of the gripped sections to be moved inwardly toward the adjacent assembly while avoiding interference with the right head 17 and the left head 18.

[0051] Furthermore, as described above, the upper curved surface 76 and the lower inclined guide surface 83 have a curvature and a width in the right-left direction Y configured to correspond to an external shape of an electric wire 20 having the largest diameter among the electric wires 20 intended to come into contact with the upper curved surface 76 and the lower inclined guide surface 83. This enables a state to be stably maintained in which various electric wires 20 to be gripped, including an electric wire 20 having a smallest diameter as well as an electric wire 20 having a largest diameter, are gripped by the electric wire chuck 7, as shown in Fig. 20(A) and (B).

[0052] Subsequently, the terminal insertion heads 16, which grip the terminals 21 and the electric wires 20, are moved to an insertion position. The insertion position is a position where the front ends of the gripped terminals 21, extending in the front-back direction X, are opposed to the respective cavities 4 in the front-back direction X. Each of the terminals 21 gripped by the right head 17 and the terminals 21 gripped by the left head 18 are moved toward the insertion position. During this movement, the right head 17 and the left head 18 are independently displaced in arbitrary directions on the imaginary plane orthogonal to the insertion direction of the terminals 21 by means of the three-axis drive sources 19 as described above.This allows the right head 17 and the left head 18 to be displaced independently of each other in any direction in the imaginary plane extending in the right-left direction Y and in the up-down direction Z. Fig. 21 shows a perspective view of the terminal connector 1 in which the right head 17 and the left head 18 have been moved into the insertion position. Fig. Fig. 22 shows a perspective view of the terminal insertion device 1, wherein the right head 17 and the left head 18 have been brought into an insertion position different from the insertion position according to Fig. 21 differs. Fig. Figure 23 shows a perspective view of the terminal insertion device 1, in which the right head 17 and the left head 18 have been brought into an insertion position different from the insertion positions according to Fig. 20 and Fig. 21 differs.

[0053] In the Fig. 21, the terminals 21 and the electric wire 20 (one terminal and one electric wire) moved by the right head 17 are arranged at the same height as the terminal 21 and the electric wire 20 (another terminal and another electric wire) in the right-left direction Y moved by the left head 18, similar to the initial state. In addition, the terminal 21 (one terminal) is separated from the terminal 21 (another terminal) in the right-left direction Y (direction of adjacent arrangement) by the same distance by which the two cavities 4 for inserting the terminals 21 are separated from each other in the right-left direction Y. In this way, it is possible to insert the terminal 21 (one terminal) and the terminal 21 (another terminal) together into the two respective cavities 4, that is, two respective cavities 4 adjacent to each other in the right-left direction Y.

[0054] In the Fig. In the state shown in Fig. 22, the terminal 21 and the electric wire 20, which have been moved by the right head 17 in the right-left direction Y, are arranged in a position in the up-down direction Z that is different from that of the terminal 21 and the electric wire 20, which have been moved by the left head 18, unlike the initial state. This means that one terminal and the other terminal are arranged in an oblique direction. Moreover, one terminal is separated from the other terminal in the oblique direction (direction of adjacent arrangement) by the same distance by which the cavities 4 are separated from each other in the same direction. In this way, even if the two respective cavities 4 are adjacent to each other in an oblique direction, the one terminal and the other terminal can be inserted together into the respective cavities 4.

[0055] In the Fig. 23, the terminals 21 and the electric wire 20 moved by the right head 17 are arranged in an oblique direction with the terminal 21 and the electric wire 20 moved by the left head 18, similar to the state according to Fig. 22. However, one terminal is separated from the other terminal in the oblique direction (direction of the adjacent arrangement) by a distance which is greater than that in the state according to Fig. 22. This allows one terminal and the other terminal to be inserted together into the respective cavities 4, even if the two respective cavities 4 are not adjacent to each other but are spaced apart from each other in an oblique direction.

[0056] In general, it is possible to insert one terminal and the other terminal together into two corresponding cavities 4 arranged and separated from each other at different distances in the right-left direction Y and in the oblique direction. Fig. Fig. 24 shows conceptual views of exemplary variations of insertion patterns for inserting the terminals 21 into the cavities 4 in (A) to (D). According to Fig. 24(A), two cavities 4 are arranged in the right-left direction Y and are separated from each other at a close distance, ie, at a distance of about 1.5 mm, wherein one terminal and the other terminal are inserted together into the two cavities 4. According to Fig. 24(B), in the housing 3, six cavities 4 are arranged at the above-mentioned close pitch in the right-left direction Y, and two rows of six cavities 4 are arranged in the up-down direction Z, that is, the housing 3 contains twelve cavities 4 formed therein. The one terminal and the other terminal are inserted together into two of the twelve cavities 4 adjacent to each other in the right-left direction Y (hatched with lines oblique to the left side Y1 with respect to the up-down direction Z).

[0057] In addition, one terminal and the other terminal are inserted together into two of the twelve cavities 4 that are adjacent to each other in the oblique direction (hatched with lines that run obliquely to the left side Y1 and the right side Y2 with respect to the up-down direction Z). Furthermore, one terminal and the other terminal are inserted together into two of the twelve cavities 4 that are arranged obliquely (hatched with lines that run obliquely to the right side Y2 with respect to the up-down direction Z), with the two cavities 4 on the left side Y1 and the right side Y2 being spaced from each other and another cavity 4 being arranged therebetween. In Fig. 24(C), the housing 3 contains two cavities 4 arranged in the right-left direction Y and separated by a large distance, the large distance being greater than the above-mentioned narrow distance. One terminal and the other terminal are inserted together into the two cavities 4. In Fig. 24(D), the housing 3 includes six cavities 4 arranged at the above-mentioned large pitch in the right-left direction Y, with two rows of six cavities 4 arranged in the up-down direction Z.

[0058] One terminal and the other terminal are inserted together into two of the twelve cavities 4 that are adjacent to each other in the right-left direction Y (hatched with lines that run obliquely to the left side Y1 with respect to the up-down direction Z). In addition, one terminal and the other terminal are inserted together into two of the twelve cavities 4 that are adjacent to each other in the oblique direction (hatched with lines that run obliquely to the left side Y1 and the right side Y2 with respect to the up-down direction Z). Furthermore, one terminal and the other terminal are inserted together into two of the twelve cavities 4 that are arranged obliquely (hatched with lines that run obliquely to the right side Y2 with respect to the up-down direction Z), with the two cavities 4 on the left side Y1 and the right side Y2 being spaced from each other and another cavity 4 being interposed therebetween.

[0059] Subsequently, the terminals 21 inserted into the insertion position are primarily inserted into the cavities 4, as shown in Fig. 25. The connectors 21 are moved in the insertion position by the right head 17 or the left head 18 toward the front side X1. In this way, the connectors 21 are inserted into the respective cavities 4, but not completely, whereby the connectors 21 are positioned with respect to the cavities 4. Subsequently, the connectors 21 are secondarily inserted into the cavities 4, as shown in Fig. 26. At this time, the connecting chuck 5 of the right head 17 and the connecting chuck 5 of the left head 18 displace the respective lower connecting chucks 52 toward the downward side Z2, thereby completing the gripping of the core seal portions 25. Then, the connecting chucks 5 are retracted outwardly by the three-axis drive sources 19 in the right-left direction Y, that is, in a direction in which the connecting chucks 5 are separated from each other.

[0060] Then, each of the electric wire chucks 7 is moved by the three-axis drive sources 19 toward the front side X1, as shown in Fig. 27, whereby the terminals 21 are fully inserted into the cavities 4, thus completing the secondary assembly. Subsequently, the electric wire chucks 7, still gripping the terminal portions of the electric wire 20, are moved toward the rear side X2 (in a direction in which the terminals 21 are taken out) to pull the terminal portions of the electric wire 20 of the terminals 21 toward the rear side X2.

[0061] By pulling the terminal portions of the electric wire 20 in this way, a terminal(s) 21 that is / are insufficiently inserted into the cavity 4(s) is / are removed from the cavities 4. In the present embodiment, the process of pulling the terminal portions of the electric wire 20 by the electric wire chucks 7 is referred to as a pulling test. The pulling test makes it possible to independently check whether one terminal and the other terminal have been securely inserted into the cavities 4 or not. After completing the pulling test, the electric wire chuck 7 of the right head 17 and the electric wire chuck 7 of the left head 18 move the respective lower electric wire chucks 72 toward the downward side Z2, as shown in Fig. 28, whereby the gripping of the electric wires 20 is terminated. Then, the electric wire chucks 7 are retracted outwardly in the right-left direction Y by the three-axis drive sources 19, that is, in a direction in which the electric wire chucks 7 are separated from each other. Subsequently, the right head 17 and the left head 18 are moved toward the rear side X2 by the three-axis drive sources 19, as shown in Fig. 29, whereby the terminals 21 are fully inserted into the cavities 4.

[0062] As described above, the above-described embodiment allows the terminal 21 and the terminal portion of the electric wire 20 (one terminal and one electric wire, first gripped portion) to be independently displaced in arbitrary directions in an imaginary plane orthogonal to the front-back direction X (insertion direction) by the right head 17 (first head). It is also possible for the terminal 21 and the terminal portion of the electric wire 20 (another terminal and another electric wire, second gripped portion) to be independently displaced in arbitrary directions by the left head 18 (second head).Therefore, assuming that the insertion direction of the terminals 21 is, for example, the front-backward direction X, it is possible to displace the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion relative to each other in the right-left direction Y and the up-down direction Z, i.e., in an oblique direction. With these relative displacements, it is possible to adaptively insert one terminal and another terminal together into the respective cavities 4 which are arranged next to each other at different intervals, for example, in the right-left direction Y. It is further possible to adaptively insert one terminal and another terminal together into the respective cavities 4 which are arranged at different intervals, for example, in an oblique direction.Thus, it is possible to provide a terminal insertion device 1 which can be flexibly adapted to different arrangements of the cavities 4 provided for inserting a plurality of terminals 21 and enables a joint insertion of the plurality of terminals 21 into the respective cavities 4.

[0063] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the minimum distance between the end edges of the right head 17 gripping the first gripping portion and the left head 18 gripping the second gripping portion is greater than the minimum distance between the end edges of the gripping portions gripped by the heads 17 and 18, with the end edges of the right and left heads 17 and 18 facing inward in the right-left direction Y and the end edges of the gripping portions facing inward in the direction of adjacent arrangement. Due to the relationship between the minimum distances, it is possible to move the first gripped portion and the second gripped portion relative to each other such that the first and second gripped portions can contact each other at most in the right-left direction Y without causing interference between the left head 18 and the right head 17.Therefore, even in the case where the cavities 4 for inserting the terminals 21 are close to each other in the right-left direction Y, it is possible to flexibly adjust the insertion and insert one terminal and another terminal together into the respective cavities 4.

[0064] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to grip the core sealing portion 25 of one terminal (first core sealing portion) by means of the terminal chuck 5 (first terminal chuck) of the right head 17. Moreover, it is possible to grip the core sealing portion 25 of the other terminal (second core sealing portion) by means of the terminal chuck 5 (second terminal chuck) of the left head 18. The core sealing portion 25 has a relatively constant shape within the terminal 21 and is difficult to deform compared to the electric wire 20. Since each core sealing portion 25 can be clamped and gripped in the up-down direction Z, it is possible to more stably maintain a state in which the terminal 21 and the terminal portion of the electric wire 20 are gripped.A conventional terminal insertion device as described above is configured such that an electric wire 20 is clamped by an inner claw and an outer claw in the right-left direction Y. Therefore, when two electric wires 20 are moved toward each other in the right-left direction Y, the inner claws interfere with each other in such a terminal insertion device, making it impossible to move the electric wires toward each other. Therefore, the configuration described above is such that the terminal chucks 5 clamp the respective wire caulking portions 25 in the up-down direction Z.Furthermore, the minimum distance S1 between the end edges of the terminal chuck 5 is greater than the minimum distance S2 between the end edges of the terminal 21 (one terminal) and the terminal 21 (another terminal), with the end edges of the terminal holder 5 and the end edges of the terminals 21 oriented inward in the direction of adjacent arrangement. This allows one terminal and the other terminal to be moved toward each other, so that the terminals can contact each other at most in the right-left direction Y without the terminal chucks 5 interfering with each other.

[0065] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to apply the tensile test to the electric wire 20 (one electric wire) through the electric wire chuck 7 (first electric wire chuck) of the right head 17 while the terminal 21 (one terminal) is inserted into the cavity 4. It is also possible to apply the tensile test to the electric wire 20 (another electric wire) through the electric wire chuck 7 (second electric wire chuck) of the left head 18 while the terminal 21 (another terminal) is inserted into the cavity 4. Since the pull-out check makes it possible to pull out one or more terminals 21 that are not sufficiently inserted into the cavity 4 (the cavities), it is possible to independently check whether one terminal and the other terminal are securely inserted into the cavities 4.This prevents a possible insufficient insertion of the connections 21 on the right head 17 and the left head 18 from being overlooked.

[0066] According to the above embodiment, the electric wire 20 is gripped by the upper curved surface 76 (upper gripping portion) and the lower curved surface 82 (lower gripping portion) in a position of the electric wire chuck 7 offset from a center of the electric wire chuck 7 to one side along the right-left direction Y, and the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 are provided on one side of the upper electric wire chuck 71 (upper main body portion) along the right-left direction Y and on one side of the lower electric wire chuck 72 (lower main body portion) along the right-left direction Y, respectively.Compared with embodiments in which the structure for gripping the electric wire 20 is provided in the center of the electric wire chuck 7 in the right-left direction Y, this enables a reduction in the protrusion of the electric wire chuck 7 protruding to one side along the right-left direction Y from the gripped electric wire 20. This makes it difficult for the electric wire chuck 7 to interfere with other elements during the displacement of the gripped electric wire 20 to one side along the right-left direction Y. Therefore, it is possible to provide a terminal insertion device 1 including an electric wire chuck 7 (juggle device) that is unlikely to interfere with the displacement of the gripped electric wire 20 to one side along the right-left direction Y.According to the above configuration, the electric wire chuck 7 is further configured such that a distance between the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 in the up-down direction Z is changed by sliding the upper electric wire chuck 71 and the lower electric wire chuck 72 relative to each other in the up-down direction Z. In this way, the electric wire chuck 7 is configured to selectively assume a state in which the electric wire 20 is gripped or a state in which the electric wire 20 is not gripped. This makes it difficult to change the position of the electric wire chuck 7 in the right-left direction Y during gripping of the electric wire 20 and at the time of completion of the gripping.In this way, it is possible to maintain a state in which the electric wire chuck 7 is unlikely to interfere with other members on one side of the gripped electric wire along the right-left direction Y during the gripping operation of the electric wire 20 as well as at the time of completion of the gripping operation.

[0067] The above embodiment is further provided such that the upper curved surface 76 is continuous with an end edge of the upper electric wire chuck 71 on one side along the right-left direction Y, and the lower curved surface 82 is continuous with an end edge of the lower electric wire chuck 72 on one side along the right-left direction Y. Accordingly, this can further reduce the amount of projection of the electric wire chuck 7 protruding toward the one side along the right-left direction Y from the gripped electric wire 20.

[0068] Unlike the above embodiment, it is also possible that the upper curved surface 76 is not continuous with an end edge of the upper electric wire chuck 71 on one side along the right-left direction Y, and the lower curved surface 82 is not continuous with an end edge of the lower electric wire chuck 72 on one side along the right-left direction Y. In this case, the upper curved surface 76 may preferably be provided on one side of the upper electric wire chuck 71 along the right-left direction Y, and the lower curved surface 82 may be provided on one side of the lower electric wire chuck 72 along the right-left direction Y.Compared with embodiments in which the structure for gripping the electric wire 20 is provided in the center of the electric wire chuck 7 in the right-left direction Y, this enables the reduction of the amount of protrusion of the electric wire chuck 7 protruding to one side along the right-left direction Y from the gripped electric wire 20.

[0069] The above embodiment is further provided such that the upper guide inclined surface 77 and the lower guide inclined surface 83 are moved toward each other by sliding the upper electric wire chuck 71 and the lower electric wire chuck 72 relative to each other along the up-down direction Z in a direction in which they are moved toward each other. During this movement of the inclined guide surfaces toward each other, the electric wire 20 can be in sliding contact with both inclined guide surfaces 77 and 83 to guide the electric wire 20 to one side along the right-left direction Y. This guidance can ensure that the electric wire 20 is guided to a position where the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 are located, and the electric wire 20 is gripped by the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82.

[0070] The above embodiment is further provided such that each of a pair of electric wire chucks 7 is independently displaceable in arbitrary directions in an imaginary plane extending in the right-left direction Y and the up-down direction Z (orthogonal to the insertion direction of the terminal 21). In this case, the pair of electric wire chucks 7 are adjacent to each other in the right-left direction Y as a direction of adjacent arrangement, and the pair of electric wire chucks 7 are aligned to be symmetrical in the right-left direction such that the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 are positioned inward in the direction of adjacent arrangement.With this relative arrangement, the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 on the right side Y2 in the electric wire chuck 7 on the right side Y2 are positioned so as to be offset from their centers toward the electric wire chuck 7 on the left side Y1. Furthermore, the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 on the left side Y1 in the electric wire chuck 7 on the left side Y1 are positioned so as to be offset from their centers toward the electric wire chuck 7 on the right side Y2. This means that the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 on one side and the upper curved surface 76 and the lower curved surface 82 on the other side are offset from their respective centers in a direction in which they are moved relative to each other.This can reduce a protrusion of the electric wire chuck 7 from the gripped electric wires 20 in the direction in which the electric wire chucks 7 are moved toward each other, whereby it is possible to suppress mutual interference of the electric wire chucks 7 and thus move one electric wire and the other electric wire toward each other in the right-left direction.

[0071] The above embodiment is further provided such that the minimum distance S3 between the end edges of the electric wire chuck 7 of the right head 17 and the electric wire chuck 7 of the left head 18 is larger than the minimum distance S4 between the end edges of one electric wire and another electric wire, with the end edges of the electric wire chuck 7 and the end edges of the electric wires facing inward in the direction of adjacent arrangement. This allows one electric wire and another electric wire to be moved toward each other so that the electric wires can contact each other at most in the right-left direction Y without causing interference between one electric wire chuck 7 and the other electric wire chuck 7.

[0072] According to the above embodiment, the terminal is gripped in a position of the terminal chuck 5 by the upper gripping surface 56 (upper gripping portion) and the lower gripping surface 60 (lower gripping portion), the position being offset from a center of the terminal chuck 5 to one side along the right-left direction Y, wherein the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60 are provided on one side of the upper end chuck 51 (upper main body portion) along the right-left direction Y and on one side of the lower end chuck 52 (lower main body portion) along the right-left direction Y, respectively. Compared to embodiments in which the structure for gripping the terminal 21 is provided in the center of the terminal chuck 5 in the right-left direction Y, this enables a reduction in the protrusion of the terminal chuck 5 that protrudes to the one side along the right-left direction Y from the gripped terminal 21.Therefore, it is possible to provide a terminal insertion device 1 including a terminal chuck 5 (chuck) in which the displacement of the gripped terminal 21 toward one side along the right-left direction Y is unlikely to be disturbed. According to the above configuration, the terminal chuck 5 is further configured such that a distance between the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60 in the up-down direction Z is changed by sliding the upper terminal chuck 51 and the lower terminal chuck 52 relative to each other in the up-down direction Z, and the terminal chuck 5 is configured to selectively assume a state in which the terminal 21 is gripped or a state in which no terminal 21 is gripped.This makes it difficult to change the position of the terminal chuck 5 in the right-left direction Y during the gripping of the terminal 21 and at the time of gripping completion. Thus, it is possible to maintain a state in which the terminal chuck 5 is unlikely to interfere with other elements on one side of the gripped terminal along the right-left direction Y during the gripping operation of the terminal 21 and at the time of gripping completion.

[0073] The above embodiment is further provided such that the upper surface of the core caulking portion 25 is contacted by the upper gripping surface 56 of the second upper plate portion 55 extending along an extending direction of the core caulking portion 25. Similarly, the lower surface of the core caulking portion 25 is contacted by the lower gripping surface 60 of the second lower plate portion 59 extending along an extending direction of the core caulking portion 25. The core caulking portion 25 has a relatively constant shape within the terminal 21 and is difficult to deform compared to the electric wire 20.It is possible to ensure a contact surface area corresponding to a predetermined length along an extending direction of the second upper plate portion 55 and the second lower plate portion 59 to clamp and grip this core caulking portion 25 in the up-down direction Z by means of the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60. Accordingly, it is possible to more stably maintain a state in which the terminal 21 is gripped by the terminal chuck 5.

[0074] The above embodiment is further provided such that the projection 56a fits with the upper or lower surface of the core caulking portion 25 having the recess 25a formed therein. Furthermore, the receiving portion 60a is configured to contact the other of the upper or lower surface of the core caulking portion 25 without the recess 25a. This allows the core caulking portion 25 to be clamped and held in the up-down direction Z by the projection 56a and the receiving portion 60a.The inclination of the core caulking portion 25 in the up-down direction Z and in the right-left direction Y can be limited by the fitting of the projection 56a with the recess 25a and by the contact of the receiving portion 60a with the core caulking portion 25, whereby it is possible to stably maintain a state in which the terminal 21 is gripped at a predetermined position by the terminal chuck 5.

[0075] The above embodiment is further configured such that each of a pair of terminal chucks 5 is independently movable in arbitrary directions within an imaginary plane extending in the right-left direction Y and the up-down direction Z (orthogonal to the insertion direction of the terminal 21). In this case, the pair of terminal chucks 5 are adjacent to each other in the right-left direction Y as the adjacent arrangement direction, and the pair of terminal chucks 5 are aligned to be symmetrical in the right-left direction such that the upper gripping surface 56 and the lower gripping surface 60 are disposed inward in the adjacent arrangement direction. In this relative arrangement, the upper clamping surface 56 and the lower clamping surface 60 on the right side Y2 are positioned in the terminal chuck 5 on the right side Y2 so as to be offset from the center thereof toward the terminal chuck 5 on the left side Y1.Furthermore, the upper clamping surface 56 and the lower clamping surface 60 on the left side Y1 of the terminal chuck 5 on the left side Y1 are positioned so as to be offset from their centers toward the terminal chuck 5 on the right side Y2. This means that the upper clamping surface 56 and the lower clamping surface 60 on one side and the upper clamping surface 56 and the lower clamping surface 60 on the other side are offset from their respective centers in a direction in which they are moved toward each other. This can reduce a protrusion of the terminal chuck 5 from the gripped terminal 21 in the direction in which the terminal chucks 5 are moved toward each other. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress mutual interference of the terminal chucks 5 and thus move one terminal and the other terminal toward each other in the right-left direction Y.

[0076] In the present embodiment, it is further provided that the smallest distance S1 between the end edges of the terminal chuck 5 of the right head 17 and the terminal chuck 5 of the left head 18 is greater than the smallest distance S2 between the end edges of one terminal and the other terminal, with the end edges of the terminal chuck 5 and the end edges of the terminals 21 directed inward toward the adjacent arrangement. This allows one terminal and the other terminal to be moved toward each other so that the terminals can contact each other at most in the right-left direction Y without interference between the terminal chuck 5. List of reference symbols X Forward-backward direction (insertion direction) Y Right-left direction (any direction) Z Up-down direction (any direction) 1 device for plugging in connections 2 connection combined electrical wires 4 cavities 5 connecting chucks 7 Electric wire chuck 17 Right head (first head) 18 Left head (second head) 20 Electrical Wires (one electrical wire, another electrical wire, first gripped part, second gripped part) 21 connections (one connection, another connection, first gripped part, second gripped part) 51 Upper connecting chuck (upper part of the main body) 52 Lower connecting chuck (lower part of the main body) 56 Upper gripping surface (upper gripping part) 60 Lower gripping surface (lower gripping part) 71 Upper electric wire chuck (upper part of the main body) 72 Lower electric wire chuck (lower part of the main body) 76 Upper curved surface (upper gripping part) 82 Lower curved surface (lower gripping part)

Claims

[1] A terminal insertion device (1) for inserting a terminal (21) of a terminal-combined electrical wire (2) into a cavity (4), comprising: an electric wire chuck (7) configured to grip an electric wire (20) of the terminal-combined electric wire (2), wherein the electric wire chuck (7) comprises: an upper main body portion (71) having a predetermined width in a right-left direction (Y); and a lower main body portion (72) having a predetermined width in the right-left direction (Y), the lower main body portion (72) being configured to be displaceable relative to the upper main body portion (71) in an up-down direction (Z), wherein the upper main body portion (71) has an upper gripping portion (76) on one side along the right-left direction (Y), the upper gripping portion (76) being configured to come into contact with an upper portion of the electric wire (20), wherein the lower main body portion (72) has a lower gripping portion (82) on one side along the right-left direction (Y), the lower gripping portion (82) being opposite to the upper gripping portion (76) in the up-down direction (Z) and being configured to come into contact with a lower portion of the electric wire (20), and wherein the electric wire chuck (7) is configured such that the electric wire (20) is clamped and gripped at a portion of the electric wire chuck (7) by the upper gripping portion (76) and the lower gripping portion (82), the portion of the electric wire chuck (7) being offset to the one side along the right-left direction (Y). [2] The device for plugging in terminals (1) according to claim 1, wherein the upper gripping portion (76) has an upper curved surface (76) which is curved upwards and is configured to come into contact with the upper portion of the electrical wire (20), wherein an end edge of the upper curved surface (76) on one side along the right-left direction (Y) is continuous with an end edge of the upper main body portion (71) on one side along the right-left direction (Y), wherein the lower gripping portion (82) has a lower curved surface (82) which is curved downward and configured to come into contact with the lower portion of the electrical wire (20), and wherein an end edge of the lower curved surface (82) on one side along the right-left direction (Y) is continuous with an end edge of the lower main body portion (72) on one side along the right-left direction (Y). [3] The device for plugging in terminals (1) according to claim 1, wherein the upper main body portion (71) has an upper inclined guide surface (77) continuous with one end of the upper gripping portion (76) on another side along the right-left direction (Y), wherein the upper inclined guide surface (77) is inclined so as to be arranged further downward in a direction to the other side along the right-left direction (Y), and is capable of coming into sliding contact with an outer surface of the electric wire (20), wherein the lower main body portion (72) has a lower inclined guide surface (83) continuous with one end of the lower gripping portion (82) on another side along the right-left direction (Y), and wherein the lower inclined guide surface (83) is inclined so as to be arranged further upward in a direction to the other side along the right-left direction (Y), and is capable of coming into sliding contact with the outer surface of the electric wire (20). [4] The device for plugging in terminals (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a pair of electric wire chucks (7) are arranged side by side in the right-left direction (Y) as the direction of an adjacent arrangement, wherein the pair of electric wire chucks (7) are aligned to be symmetrical in the right-left direction (Y) so that the upper gripping portion (76) and the lower gripping portion (82) are positioned inward in the direction of the adjacent arrangement, wherein one electric wire chuck (7) of the pair of electric wire chucks (7) is configured to grip one electric wire (20) from a plurality of electric wires (20), wherein another electric wire chuck (7) of the pair of electric wire chucks (7) is configured to grip another electric wire (20) of the plurality of electric wires (20), wherein each of the electric wire chucks (7) is independently displaceable in any direction in an imaginary plane orthogonal to an insertion direction of the terminal (21). [5] The device for plugging in terminals (1) according to claim 4, wherein the one electric wire (20) and the other electric wire (20) are configured to extend along the insertion direction of the terminal (21) and to be adjacent to each other in a direction of adjacent arrangement, which is the right-left direction (Y), and wherein a minimum distance (S3) between an end edge of one electric wire chuck (7) and an end edge of the other electric wire chuck (7) is greater than a minimum distance (S4) between an end edge of one electric wire (20) and an end edge of the other electric wire (20), the end edge of one electric wire chuck (7) and the end edge of the other electric wire chuck (7) are oriented inward in the direction of the adjacent arrangement, and the end edge of one electric wire (20) and the end edge of the other electric wire (20) are oriented inward in the direction of the adjacent arrangement.

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