Connector manufacturing apparatus and connector

Abstract

To achieve both downsizing of a body size and an improvement of a terminal position accuracy.SOLUTION: A first mold 10 has a terminal installation surface 13 on which a base part 511 of all first terminal fittings 510 is placed, and a first pressing pin 14 that protrudes from the terminal installation surface toward a second mold 20 in a mold clamping direction for each combination of the first terminal fitting and a second terminal fitting 520, is inserted into a through hole 513 of the base part of the first terminal fitting, and has a base part 521 of the second terminal fitting placed on a tip end thereof. A second mold includes a terminal pressing surface 23 for pressing the base part of the second terminal fitting placed on the tip end of the first pressing pin toward the first mold in the mold clamping direction, and a second pressing pin 24 which protrudes from the terminal pressing surface toward the first mold in the mold clamping direction for each combination of the first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting, is inserted into a through hole 523 of the base part of the second terminal fitting, and presses the base part of the first terminal fitting at the tip end.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector manufacturing apparatus and a connector. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional connector includes a combination of multiple sets of first and second terminal fittings and an insulating holder integrally molded with the combinations within a first mold and a second mold after the molds are clamped. After the first and second molds are clamped, the interior of the mold is shaped like a holder, and a liquid synthetic resin material is poured into the mold and cured, thereby insert-molding the insulating holder around the combination of multiple sets of first and second terminal fittings placed within the mold. This type of connector and its manufacturing apparatus are disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 listed below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-012810 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-010490 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-175834 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such connectors, when the holder is insert-molded, it is necessary to maintain high precision in the spacing between the respective terminal fittings. For example, Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose a technique in which the holder is insert-molded onto the terminal fittings supported by pins in a mold. However, if this technique were to be applied to the manufacture of the above-mentioned connectors, there would be room for improvement in the connector manufacturing apparatus from the perspective of miniaturizing the connector size.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector manufacturing apparatus and a connector that can achieve both a compact size and improved terminal positioning accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a first mold and a second mold for insert-molding an insulating holder for a combination of a plurality of sets of first terminal fittings and second terminal fittings that are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the clamping direction within a mold having a holder shape after clamping, wherein the first terminal fittings and the second terminal fittings each have a base and a terminal portion bent from the base perpendicular to the clamping direction, and the first mold has a terminal installation surface on which the bases of all the first terminal fittings are placed, and a terminal portion that protrudes from the terminal installation surface in the clamping direction toward the second mold for each combination of the first terminal fittings and the second terminal fittings, and a first pressure pin that is inserted into a through hole in the base of the first terminal fitting and has a tip on which the base of the second terminal fitting is placed, and the second mold has a terminal pressing surface that presses the base of the second terminal fitting placed on the tip of the first pressure pin toward the first mold in the mold clamping direction, and a second pressure pin that protrudes from the terminal pressing surface toward the first mold in the mold clamping direction for each combination of the first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting, is inserted into a through hole in the base of the second terminal fitting, and has a tip that presses the base of the first terminal fitting.

[0007] The connector of the present invention comprises a plurality of sets of first terminal fittings and second terminal fittings arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to a reference direction, and an insulating holder molded integrally with the plurality of sets of first terminal fittings and second terminal fittings, wherein the first terminal fittings and the second terminal fittings each have a flat base portion with one plane exposed from the holder, and a terminal portion that is bent from the base perpendicular to the reference direction and exposed from the holder, and the pair of first terminal fittings and the pair of second terminal fittings are arranged with the other planes of the bases facing each other with a gap between them, and the holder has, for each combination of first terminal fittings and second terminal fittings, a first recessed portion that extends from the through hole in the base of the first terminal fitting to the other plane of the base of the second terminal fitting along the reference direction, and a second recessed portion that extends from the through hole in the base of the second terminal fitting to the other plane of the base of the first terminal fitting along the reference direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The connector manufacturing apparatus of the present invention uses the first and second molds described above to sandwich and hold all first terminal fittings (those having terminal portions bent perpendicular to the reference direction from the base) and all second terminal fittings (those having terminal portions bent perpendicular to the reference direction from the base). This allows the first and second terminal fittings to maintain their positions within the mold without being affected by the injection pressure of the liquid synthetic resin material, allowing for insert molding of the holder while maintaining high positional accuracy for all first and second terminal fittings. Furthermore, the connector manufacturing apparatus of the present invention does not require the first and second terminal fittings to have recesses for sandwiching and holding them between the first and second molds. This reduces the size of the first and second terminal fittings, thereby enabling a more compact connector. The connector manufacturing apparatus of the present invention can therefore produce a connector that achieves both a compact size and improved terminal positioning accuracy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connector manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first mold. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the internal space of the first mold. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the second mold. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the internal space of the second mold. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state before the first terminal fitting is installed. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state after the first terminal fittings have been installed and before the second terminal fittings have been installed. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the state after the second terminal fitting has been installed. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the connector of the embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the connector of the embodiment as viewed from a different angle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A connector manufacturing apparatus and a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0011] [Embodiment] One embodiment of a connector manufacturing apparatus and a connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0012] 1 to 11 indicates a connector manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment. Then, reference numeral 500 in Figures 1, 12, and 13 indicates a connector of this embodiment manufactured using this connector manufacturing apparatus 1. First, an overview of the connector 500 will be described.

[0013] Connector 500 of this embodiment includes first terminal fittings 510, second terminal fittings 520, and a holder 530 (FIGS. 1, 12, and 13). This connector 500 is provided with a combination of first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520, and includes a plurality of combinations of first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520. In this connector 500, an insulating holder 530 is molded integrally with the plurality of combinations of first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520.

[0014] The connector 500 is exemplified as a relay connector that electrically connects one electrical device side to the other electrical device side by mating the mating connector of the other electrical device side with the mating connector of the other electrical device side, but the connector 500 is not necessarily limited to this type of connector.

[0015] Pairs of first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 are arranged with a gap between them in the reference direction. Multiple sets of first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 are arranged with a gap between them in a direction perpendicular to the reference direction. The reference direction here refers to the clamping direction of a first mold 10 and a second mold 20, which will be described later. Hereinafter, the arrangement direction of multiple sets of first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 will be referred to as the terminal group arrangement direction.

[0016] The first terminal fitting 510 has a base 511 and a terminal portion 512 (FIGS. 1, 12, and 13). The base 511 is formed in a flat plate shape, with one flat surface 511a exposed from the holder 530 (FIG. 13). In this connector 500, the first terminal fitting 510 is arranged with the plate thickness direction of the base 511 aligned with a reference direction. The first terminal fitting 510 has its terminal portion 512 mated and connected to a mating terminal fitting (not shown) of a mating connector, with the reference direction being the mating connection direction. Therefore, the terminal portion 512 is bent from the base 511 perpendicular to the reference direction and exposed from the holder 530. The tip side of the terminal portion 512 protrudes from the holder 530, thereby exposing the tip side from the holder 530.

[0017] The second terminal fitting 520 has a base 521 and a terminal portion 522 (FIGS. 1, 12, and 13). The base 521 is formed in a flat plate shape, with one flat surface 521a exposed from the holder 530 (FIG. 13). In this connector 500, the second terminal fitting 520 is arranged with the plate thickness direction of the base 521 aligned with the reference direction. The second terminal fitting 520 has its terminal portion 522 mated and connected to a mating terminal fitting (not shown) of a mating connector, with the reference direction being the mating connection direction. Therefore, the terminal portion 522 is bent from the base 521 perpendicular to the reference direction and exposed from the holder 530. The tip side of the terminal portion 522 is exposed from the holder 530 by projecting the tip side from the holder 530. The terminal portion 522 shown here is formed as an axial male terminal portion.

[0018] In this connector 500, the pair of first terminal fitting 510 and second terminal fitting 520 are arranged with the other flat surfaces 511b, 521b of the respective base portions 511, 521 facing each other with a gap therebetween (FIG. 1).

[0019] Specifically, first terminal fitting 510 has, as terminal portions 512, a first terminal portion 512A bent from one end of its base portion 511 perpendicular to the reference direction, and a second terminal portion 512B bent from the other end of its base portion 511 in the opposite direction to first terminal portion 512A (FIGS. 1, 6, and 7). Further, second terminal fitting 520 has, as terminal portions 522, a first terminal portion 522A bent from one end of its base portion 521 perpendicular to the reference direction, and a second terminal portion 522B bent from the other end of its base portion 521 in the opposite direction to first terminal portion 522A (FIGS. 1, 8, and 9). In this connector 500, the pair of first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 are arranged so that the first terminal portions 512A, 522A face each other with a gap in a direction perpendicular to the reference direction and the terminal group arrangement direction, and the second terminal portions 512B, 522B face each other with a gap in a direction perpendicular to the reference direction and the terminal group arrangement direction.

[0020] The connector 500 shown here includes three pairs of first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 .

[0021] The holder 530 has a holder main body 531 that holds the bases 511, 521 of all the first terminal fittings 510 and the second terminal fittings 520 (FIGS. 1, 12, and 13). The holder main body 531 is provided with a first wall surface 531a that exposes one flat surface 511a of the bases 511 of all the first terminal fittings 510, and a second wall surface 531b that exposes one flat surface 521a of the bases 521 of all the second terminal fittings 520 (FIGS. 1, 12, and 13).

[0022] The holder main body 531 shown here is formed in a rectangular shape. The first wall surface 531a is formed as a flat surface that is flush with one flat surface 511a of all the base portions 511 (FIG. 13). The second wall surface 531b is formed as a flat surface that is flush with one flat surface 521a of all the base portions 521 (FIG. 12).

[0023] The holder 530 shown here has a first terminal holding portion 532 that holds the root sides (the bases 511, 521 sides) of the first terminal portions 512A, 522A of all the first terminal fittings 510 and the second terminal fittings 520, and a second terminal holding portion 533 that holds the root sides (the bases 511, 521 sides) of the second terminal portions 512B, 522B of all the first terminal fittings 510 and the second terminal fittings 520 ( FIGS. 1 , 12 , and 13 ). The first terminal holding portion 532 and the second terminal holding portion 533 are formed in a rectangular shape. The tip sides of all the first terminal portions 512A, 522A protrude from the first terminal holding portion 532, so that the tip sides are exposed from the holder 530. Moreover, the tip sides of all the second terminal portions 512B, 522B are exposed from the holder 530 by protruding from the second terminal holding portion 533.

[0024] This holder 530 is insert-molded with a liquid synthetic resin material onto all of the first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520. The connector manufacturing apparatus 1 is equipped with a first mold 10 and a second mold 20 for insert-molding this holder 530 (FIGS. 1 to 11).

[0025] The first mold 10 and the second mold 20 can be moved relative to each other in the clamping direction and the opposite direction, and each mold has an internal space formed so that when they are closest to each other in the clamped position (FIG. 1), the shape inside the molds forms the shape of a holder 530 (hereinafter referred to as the "holder shape"). A combination of multiple sets of first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 is placed inside the clamped holder shape. The combinations of multiple sets of first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 are placed at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the clamping direction (the aforementioned terminal group arrangement direction) inside the clamped holder shape. The first mold 10 and the second mold 20 insert-molde the insulating holder 530 around the combination of multiple sets of first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 placed inside the clamped holder shape by hardening a liquid synthetic resin material injected into the clamped holder shape.

[0026] Here, the first mold 10 is the lower mold and the second mold 20 is the upper mold, and all of the first terminal fittings 510 and all of the second terminal fittings 520 are placed in the internal space of the first mold 10, and the second mold 20 is moved relatively toward the first mold 10. The internal spaces of the first mold 10 and the second mold 20 will be described below.

[0027] In the first mold 10, the internal space is roughly divided into a first space 11 that forms a part of the holder main body 531 of the holder 530, and a second space 12 that forms the first terminal holding portion 532 of the holder 530 (FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6 to 11). In addition, in the second mold 20, the internal space is roughly divided into a first space 21 that forms the remainder of the holder main body 531 of the holder 530, and a second space 22 that forms the second terminal holding portion 533 of the holder 530 (FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 11).

[0028] The first mold 10 has a terminal installation surface 13 on which the base portions 511 of all the first terminal fittings 510 are placed (FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6 to 9). This terminal installation surface 13 forms a first wall surface 531a of the holder main body 531. Therefore, one flat surface 511a of all the base portions 511 is placed on this terminal installation surface 13. This terminal installation surface 13 is formed in a flat shape that allows one flat surface 511a of all the base portions 511 to be in surface contact with the one flat surface 511a of all the base portions 511, and is provided as part of the bottom surface of the first space portion 11.

[0029] The first mold 10 also has first presser pins 14 that protrude from the terminal installation surface 13 toward the second mold 20 in the mold clamping direction for each combination of the first terminal fittings 510 and the second terminal fittings 520, are inserted into the through holes 513 in the bases 511 of the first terminal fittings 510, and have tips on which the bases 521 of the second terminal fittings 520 are placed (FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6 to 11). The first presser pins 14 are provided in the first space 11.

[0030] In the first mold 10, for each first terminal fitting 510, the first pressure pin 14 is inserted into the through hole 513 of the base 511, and then one flat surface 511a of the base 511 is placed on the terminal installation surface 13 (FIGS. 6 to 9). The tip side of the first pressure pin 14 protrudes from the other flat surface 511b of the base 511 of the first terminal fitting 510 (FIGS. 8 and 9). The amount of protrusion of the tip side of this first pressure pin 14 is set to the distance between the other flat surfaces 511b, 521b of the bases 511, 521 of the first terminal fitting 510 and the second terminal fitting 520 in the connector 500. Therefore, in the first mold 10, the other flat surface 521b of the base 521 is placed on the tip of the first pressure pin 14 for each second terminal fitting 520 (FIGS. 8 to 11).

[0031] In this first mold 10, the root sides (base portions 511, 521 sides) of the first terminal portions 512A, 522A of all the first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 are arranged in the second space 12. Therefore, this first mold 10 has first terminal insertion passages 15 into which the first terminal portions 512A of the first terminal fittings 510 are inserted along the mold clamping direction, and second terminal insertion passages 16 into which the first terminal portions 522A of the second terminal fittings 520 are inserted along the mold clamping direction (FIGS. 3, 7, 9, and 11). The first mold 10 has the first terminal insertion passages 15 and second terminal insertion passages 16 for each combination of the first terminal fittings 510 and the second terminal fittings 520. The first terminal insertion passages 15 and second terminal insertion passages 16 are connected to the second space 12 via the bottom surface of the second space 12.

[0032] In this way, the first mold 10 can place the second terminal fitting 520 on top of the first terminal fitting 510 via the first press pin 14. When placing the first terminal fitting 510 and the second terminal fitting 520, the first mold 10 inserts the first terminal portion 512A of the first terminal fitting 510 into the first terminal insertion path 15 and the first terminal portion 522A of the second terminal fitting 520 into the second terminal insertion path 16. Therefore, the first mold 10 can simplify the installation work of the first terminal fitting 510 and the second terminal fitting 520.

[0033] The second mold 20 has a terminal pressing surface 23 that presses the base 521 of the second terminal fitting 520 placed on the tip of the first press pin 14 toward the first mold 10 in the mold clamping direction (FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 11). This terminal pressing surface 23 forms the second wall surface 531b of the holder main body 531. Therefore, this terminal pressing surface 23 is formed in a flat shape that comes into surface contact with one flat surface 521a of all the bases 521. This terminal pressing surface 23 is provided as a part of the upper wall surface of the first space portion 21.

[0034] The second mold 20 also has second presser pins 24 that protrude from the terminal pressing surface 23 toward the first mold 10 in the mold clamping direction for each combination of the first terminal fitting 510 and the second terminal fitting 520, are inserted into the through holes 523 in the base portions 521 of the second terminal fittings 520, and press the base portions 511 of the first terminal fittings 510 at their tips (FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 11). The second presser pins 24 are provided in the first space 21.

[0035] In the second mold 20, at the position closest to the first mold 10 after mold clamping, the root sides (base portions 511, 521 sides) of the second terminal portions 512B, 522B of all the first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 are arranged in the second space portion 22. Therefore, this second mold 20 has first terminal insertion passages 25 into which the second terminal portions 512B of the first terminal fittings 510 are inserted along the mold clamping direction, and second terminal insertion passages 26 into which the second terminal portions 522B of the second terminal fittings 520 are inserted along the mold clamping direction (FIGS. 1, 5, and 11). The second mold 20 has the first terminal insertion passages 25 and the second terminal insertion passages 26 for each combination of the first terminal fittings 510 and the second terminal fittings 520. The first terminal insertion path 25 and the second terminal insertion path 26 communicate with the second space 22 via the upper wall surface of the second space 22 .

[0036] In the connector manufacturing apparatus 1, a liquid synthetic resin material is injected into a holder-shaped mold formed by the internal space of the first mold 10 and the second mold 20 after the molds are clamped, and the liquid synthetic resin material is hardened. As a result, in the connector manufacturing apparatus 1, holders 530 made by hardening the liquid synthetic resin material are insert-molded for all combinations of first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520.

[0037] In the connector manufacturing apparatus 1, the second mold 20 is then separated from the first mold 10, and the connector 500 is removed from the first mold 10. Therefore, in this connector 500, a first recessed portion 534 extending from the through hole 513 in the base 511 of the first terminal fitting 510 to the other flat surface 521b of the base 521 of the second terminal fitting 520 along the mold clamping direction (reference direction) is formed in the holder 530, and a second recessed portion 535 extending from the through hole 523 in the base 521 of the second terminal fitting 520 to the other flat surface 511b of the base 511 of the first terminal fitting 510 along the mold clamping direction (reference direction) is formed (FIG. 1). The first recessed portion 534 is formed by removing the first pressure pin 14. The second recessed portion 535 is formed by removing the second pressure pin 24. The holder 530 has the first recessed portion 534 and the second recessed portion 535 for each combination of the first terminal fitting 510 and the second terminal fitting 520 .

[0038] By using the first mold 10 and second mold 20 described above, this connector manufacturing apparatus 1 can clamp and press all of the first terminal fittings 510 (having terminal portions 512 bent orthogonally from the base portion 511 in a reference direction) and all of the second terminal fittings 520 (having terminal portions 522 bent orthogonally from the base portion 521 in a reference direction). Therefore, this connector manufacturing apparatus 1 can maintain the position of each of the first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 within the mold without being affected by the injection pressure of the liquid synthetic resin material, so that the holder 530 can be insert-molded while maintaining high positional accuracy for all of the first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520.

[0039] Furthermore, this connector manufacturing apparatus 1 does not require the first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 to have recesses for clamping and holding them between the first mold 10 and second mold 20, so the size of the first terminal fittings 510 and second terminal fittings 520 can be reduced, thereby achieving a compact size of the connector 500. Here, all of the first terminal fittings 510 and all of the second terminal fittings 520 have a simple shape bent on the same plane, which can improve the dimensional accuracy of the terminal fittings themselves and reduce costs by improving yield.

[0040] As described above, the connector manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can produce a connector 500 that achieves both a compact size and improved terminal positioning accuracy. Furthermore, by improving the dimensional accuracy and positioning accuracy of the first terminal fittings 510 and the second terminal fittings 520, the connector manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can prevent the second mold 20 from striking the second terminal portions 512B, 522B of the first terminal fittings 510 and the second terminal fittings 520 when clamping the first mold 10 and the second mold 20 together. Therefore, this connector manufacturing apparatus 1 can prevent deformation of the first terminal fittings 510 and the second terminal fittings 520 and suppress a decrease in yield. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1. Connector manufacturing equipment 10 First mold 13 Terminal installation surface 14 First pressure pin 15 First terminal insertion path 16 Second terminal insertion path 20 Second mold 23 Terminal pressing surface 24 Second pressure pin 25 First terminal insertion path 26 Second terminal insertion path 500 Connectors 510 First terminal fitting 511 Base 511a One side 511b The other plane 512 Terminal section 512A 1st terminal section 512B 2nd terminal section 513 Through hole 520 Second terminal fitting 521 Base 521a One plane 521b The other plane 522 Terminal section 522A 1st terminal section 522B 2nd terminal section 523 Through hole 530 Holder 534 First recess 535 Second recess

Claims

1. a first mold and a second mold for insert-molding an insulating holder for a combination of a plurality of sets of first terminal fittings and second terminal fittings that are arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the clamping direction within a mold having a holder shape after clamping; The first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting each have a base portion and a terminal portion bent from the base portion perpendicular to the mold clamping direction, the first mold has a terminal installation surface on which the base portions of all the first terminal fittings are placed, and a first presser pin that protrudes from the terminal installation surface toward the second mold in the mold clamping direction for each combination of the first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting, is inserted into a through hole in the base portion of the first terminal fitting, and has a tip on which the base portion of the second terminal fitting is placed, a second mold having a terminal pressing surface that presses the base of the second terminal fitting placed on the tip of the first pressure pin toward the first mold in the mold clamping direction, and a second pressure pin that protrudes from the terminal pressing surface toward the first mold in the mold clamping direction for each combination of the first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting, is inserted into a through hole in the base of the second terminal fitting, and presses the base of the first terminal fitting with its tip.

2. the first terminal fitting has a first terminal portion bent from one end of the base portion thereof in a direction perpendicular to the mold clamping direction, and a second terminal portion bent from the other end of the base portion thereof in a direction opposite to the first terminal portion, the second terminal fitting has a first terminal portion bent from one end of the base portion thereof in a direction perpendicular to the mold clamping direction, and a second terminal portion bent from the other end of the base portion thereof in a direction opposite to the first terminal portion, the first mold has, for each combination of the first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting, a first terminal insertion path into which the first terminal portion of the first terminal fitting is inserted along the mold clamping direction, and a second terminal insertion path into which the first terminal portion of the second terminal fitting is inserted along the mold clamping direction; 2. The connector manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein the second mold has, for each combination of the first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting, a first terminal insertion path into which the second terminal portion of the first terminal fitting is inserted along the mold clamping direction, and a second terminal insertion path into which the second terminal portion of the second terminal fitting is inserted along the mold clamping direction.

3. a plurality of pairs of first terminal fittings and second terminal fittings arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the reference direction; an insulating holder integrally formed with a plurality of combinations of the first terminal fittings and the second terminal fittings; Equipped with Each of the first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting has a flat base portion having one flat surface exposed from the holder, and a terminal portion bent from the base portion perpendicular to the reference direction and exposed from the holder, the first terminal metal fitting and the second terminal metal fitting that make up a pair are disposed so that the flat surfaces of the other of the base portions of the respective terminal metal fittings face each other with a gap therebetween, a first recessed portion extending from the through hole of the base of the first terminal fitting to the other flat surface of the base of the second terminal fitting along the reference direction, and a second recessed portion extending from the through hole of the base of the second terminal fitting to the other flat surface of the base of the first terminal fitting along the reference direction, for each combination of the first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting.

4. the first terminal fitting has, as the terminal portions, a first terminal portion bent from one end of the base portion thereof in a direction perpendicular to the reference direction, and a second terminal portion bent from the other end of the base portion thereof in a direction opposite to the first terminal portion; 4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the second terminal fitting has as its terminal portions a first terminal portion bent from one end of its base portion perpendicular to the reference direction, and a second terminal portion bent from the other end of its base portion perpendicularly in the opposite direction to the first terminal portion.

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