Terminal Insertion Device

Abstract

To provide a terminal insertion device that can be corresponded to a various connector housing of which a pitch in a terminal housing chamber is different as well as smoothly inserting a terminal connected to a plurality of electric wires into a plurality of terminal housing chambers of the connector housing at the same time.SOLUTION: A terminal insertion device 100 in which a plurality of terminals 4 connected to each end part of a plurality of electric wires 2 of a multi-core cable 1 is inserted into each of a plurality of terminal housing chambers 7 arranged in parallel to a connector housing 6, comprises: a terminal chuck 20 for gripping a plurality of terminals 4; a separator 25 that is arranged between the plurality of terminals 4; and a movement mechanism that moves at least one of the plurality of terminals 4 gripped by the terminal chuck 20 in a state of nipping the separator 25 and the connector housing 6, and inserts the plurality of terminals 4 into the plurality of terminal housing chambers 7. The separator 25 is configured to be detachable / attachable from / to the terminal chuck 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal insertion device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there has been known a terminal insertion device for inserting a terminal of a terminal-attached electric wire into a terminal accommodating chamber formed in a connector housing to form a connector-attached electric wire (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for multi-core cables, such as high-frequency cables, which are made up of multiple bundled electric wires. To address this, a terminal insertion device has been proposed that simultaneously inserts terminals connected to the individual electric wires of a multi-core cable into the individual terminal accommodating chambers of a connector housing (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this terminal insertion device, a terminal chuck bundles multiple terminals with terminal separators spaced apart from one another, and then the terminals bundled by the terminal chuck are inserted into the multiple terminal accommodating chambers of the connector housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5169996 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-129048 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the device described in Patent Document 2, terminal separators that are interposed between the terminals to create gaps between the terminals are provided integrally with the terminal chuck, which makes it difficult to accommodate terminal insertion into connector housings with terminal accommodating chambers of different pitches.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide a terminal insertion device that can smoothly and simultaneously insert terminals connected to multiple electric wires into multiple terminal accommodating chambers of a connector housing, and that is compatible with various connector housings having terminal accommodating chambers with different pitches. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following configuration. A terminal insertion device for inserting a plurality of terminals connected to respective ends of a plurality of electric wires of a multi-core cable into a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers arranged in parallel in a connector housing, a terminal chuck for holding the plurality of terminals; a separator disposed between the plurality of terminals; a moving mechanism that moves at least one of the plurality of terminals held by the terminal chuck with the separator sandwiched therebetween and the connector housing, thereby inserting the plurality of terminals into the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers, The separator is detachable from the terminal chuck. 、 a terminal guide for positioning the tips of the terminals gripped by the terminal chuck and guiding them into the terminal accommodating chambers of the connector housing; The terminal guide is a plate-shaped second separator disposed between the plurality of terminals; a pair of guide blocks each having a recess, the guide blocks contacting both sides of the second separator and forming, together with the second separator and the recess, a guide hole through which the terminal can be inserted; Equipped with The second separator is detachable from the terminal guide. Terminal insertion device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a terminal insertion device can be provided that can smoothly and simultaneously insert terminals connected to multiple electric wires into multiple terminal accommodating chambers of a connector housing, and that can be used with various connector housings having different terminal accommodating chamber pitches.

[0009] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a terminal insertion device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the terminal insertion device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a multi-core cable having a plurality of terminals. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper chuck block of the terminal chuck. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the terminal guide. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cable chuck for explaining the cable gripping step. [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a terminal chuck illustrating the terminal holding step. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the terminal chuck illustrating the terminal gripping step. [Figure 7C] FIG. 7C is a perspective view of the terminal chuck for explaining the terminal holding step. [Figure 7D] FIG. 7D is a perspective view of the terminal chuck illustrating the terminal holding step. [Figure 7E] FIG. 7E is a perspective view of the terminal chuck illustrating the terminal holding step. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cable chuck and a terminal chuck for explaining the terminal gripping step. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the terminal chuck where the terminal is held. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view of a portion of the terminal chuck where the terminal is held. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of the terminal insertion device illustrating the terminal guiding step. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the terminal guide showing how the terminals are guided in the terminal guide. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the terminal insertion device illustrating the terminal chuck retraction step. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the terminal insertion device illustrating the terminal guide retracting step. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a side view of the terminal insertion device illustrating the housing mounting step. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the connector housing held by the housing chuck, illustrating the housing mounting step. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an end portion of a multi-core cable and a connector housing in a terminal chuck of a terminal insertion device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 18A] FIG. 18A is a side view schematically showing a terminal chuck. [Figure 18B] FIG. 18B is a front view schematically showing the terminal chuck. [Figure 19A] FIG. 19A is a side view schematically showing a terminal guide. [Figure 19B] FIG. 19B is a front view schematically showing the terminal guide. [Figure 20A] FIG. 20A is a side view schematically showing a state in which a terminal is held by a terminal chuck. [Figure 20B] FIG. 20B is a front view schematically showing a state in which the terminal is held by the terminal chuck. [Figure 21A] FIG. 21A is a side view schematically showing a state in which the terminals are guided by the terminal guide. [Figure 21B] FIG. 21B is a front view schematically showing a state in which the terminals are guided by the terminal guide. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (First embodiment) First, the terminal insertion device according to the first embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a terminal insertion device 100 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the terminal insertion device 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0012] 1 and 2, a terminal insertion device 100 according to the first embodiment is a device that simultaneously inserts terminals 4 provided at each end of a plurality of (two in this example) electric wires 2 of a multi-core cable 1 into a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 7 that are formed in a connector housing 6 and arranged in parallel. The terminal insertion device 100 includes a cable chuck 10, a terminal chuck 20, a terminal guide 30, and a housing chuck 40. The terminal insertion device 100 includes a control unit (not shown), which controls the driving of the cable chuck 10, the terminal chuck 20, the terminal guide 30, and the housing chuck 40.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a multi-core cable 1 having a plurality of terminals 4. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the multi-core cable 1 is, for example, a high-frequency cable for communication, and is a cable in which two electric wires 2 are covered with a sheath 3. The electric wires 2 are drawn out from the end of this multi-core cable 1, and terminals 4 are connected to the ends of these electric wires 2. These terminals 4 have an electric connection portion 4a at the tip end that is connected to a mating terminal, and an electric wire connection portion 4b at the rear end that is crimped and connected to the electric wires 2. These terminals 4 are cylindrical terminals with no protrusions or the like on their outer periphery. In addition, a cylindrical sleeve member 5 is attached to the end of the multi-core cable 1.

[0014] The multi-core cable 1 may be, for example, a cable in which a terminal 4 having a stabilizer or the like on the outer periphery is connected to an electric wire 2. Furthermore, the terminal insertion device 100 is not limited to cases in which only a connector housing 6 is assembled to a multi-core cable 1, and there are also cases in which a matching part is assembled together with the connector housing 6.

[0015] One side (the left side in FIG. 1) of the terminal insertion device 100 is a cable supply side, to which a cable supply device (not shown) feeds a multi-core cable 1. The other side (the right side in FIG. 1) of the terminal insertion device 100 is a housing supply side, to which a housing supply device (not shown) supplies a connector housing 6.

[0016] In the terminal insertion device 100, a cable chuck 10, a terminal chuck 20, a terminal guide 30, and a housing chuck 40 are arranged in this order from the cable supply side along the axial direction of the multi-core cable 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as the cable axial direction).

[0017] In this terminal insertion device 100, the direction in which the terminals 4 are inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers 7 of the connector housing 6 is defined as the terminal insertion direction X1.

[0018] The cable chuck 10 is a mechanism for gripping the multi-core cable 1. The cable chuck 10 has two gripping blocks 11 and 12 arranged on the left and right sides perpendicular to the cable axial direction. The gripping blocks 11 and 12 have recesses 13 and 14 on the opposing sides. The cable chuck 10 is equipped with an opening / closing mechanism (not shown), which moves the gripping blocks 11 and 12 closer to and farther from each other. The cable chuck 10 also has a moving mechanism, which allows it to move along the cable axial direction. The cable chuck 10 also has an elevating mechanism (not shown), which moves the cable chuck 10 up and down between a feeding height position for the multi-core cable 1 and a retracted position lowered from the feeding height position.

[0019] In this cable chuck 10, the gripping blocks 11, 12 move in directions in which they approach each other, so that the recesses 13, 14 of the gripping blocks 11, 12 grip the end of the multi-core cable 1 from which the electric wires 2 are drawn out.

[0020] The terminal chuck 20 is a mechanism for gripping the terminals 4 connected to the respective electric wires 2. The terminal chuck 20 is movable along the cable axial direction by a movement mechanism (not shown). The terminal chuck 20 has two chuck blocks 21 and 22 arranged vertically and perpendicular to the cable axial direction. These chuck blocks 21 and 22 have recesses 23 and 24 on opposing sides. The recess 23 of the lower chuck block 21 has a bottom 23a and side portions 23b extending from both sides of the bottom 23a toward the terminal 4. The side portions 23b are inclined so as to move away from the bottom 23a. This causes the recess 23 to gradually widen toward the terminal 4 being gripped. Similarly, the recess 24 of the upper chuck block 22 has a bottom 24a and side portions 24b extending from both sides of the bottom 24a toward the terminal 4. The side portions 24b are inclined so as to move away from each other as they move away from the bottom portion 24a, so that the recessed portion 24 has a shape that gradually widens toward the terminal 4 to be gripped.

[0021] The terminal chuck 20 includes an opening / closing mechanism (not shown) that moves the chuck blocks 21 and 22 toward and away from each other. When the chuck blocks 21 and 22 move toward each other, the terminal chuck 20 grips the terminal 4 connected to the wire 2 with the recesses 23 and 24 of the chuck blocks 21 and 22.

[0022] The lower chuck block 21 has a slit 21a in its side portion, into which the side portion of the recessed portion 24 of the upper chuck block 22 fits. Therefore, the chuck blocks 21 and 22 are brought close to each other without the side portions of the recessed portions 23 and 24 interfering with each other.

[0023] The terminal chuck 20 has a separator 25. The separator 25 is disposed between each terminal 4 and is incorporated into the upper chuck block 22. The upper chuck block 22 is divided in the middle, and the separator 25 is disposed in the center of the division. The separator 25 is formed in the shape of a long plate, and its tip protrudes downward from the chuck block 22. The separator 25 is movable vertically relative to the chuck block 22.

[0024] Separator 25 has a protruding piece 25a at its tip. This protruding piece 25a is provided on the rear side in terminal insertion direction X1 of separator 25. This protruding piece 25a has a tapered shape that narrows toward the tip on the rear side in terminal insertion direction X1 in side view.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chuck block 22 on the upper side of the terminal chuck 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear end side of separator 25 extends upward and is fixed to support block 26 provided above chuck block 22. The rear end side of separator 25 is fastened to support block 26 with mounting bolts 27, and separator 25 is detachable from terminal chuck 20. That is, separator 25 can be removed from support block 26 by loosening mounting bolts 27, and, for example, another separator 25 of a different thickness can be attached to support block 26 with mounting bolts 27.

[0026] The terminal guide 30 is a mechanism that positions the tips of the multiple terminals 4 gripped by the terminal chuck 20 and guides them into the terminal accommodating chambers 7 of the connector housing 6. The terminal guide 30 is equipped with a lifting mechanism (not shown), which allows it to be raised and lowered in the vertical direction perpendicular to the cable axial direction.

[0027] The terminal guide 30 has a pair of guide blocks 31, 32 and a second separator 33. The pair of guide blocks 31, 32 are arranged on the left and right sides perpendicular to the cable axial direction, and the second separator 33 is arranged between these guide blocks 31, 32. The terminal guide 30 is equipped with an opening / closing mechanism (not shown) that moves the guide blocks 31, 32 in a direction perpendicular to the cable axial direction. The guide blocks 31, 32 are moved toward and away from the second separator 33 by the opening / closing mechanism.

[0028] The pair of guide blocks 31, 32 have recesses 34, 35, respectively, on the side of the second separator 33. These recesses 34, 35 are formed in an arc shape when viewed from the terminal insertion direction X1, and the diameter gradually decreases in the terminal insertion direction X1.

[0029] The second separator 33 is formed in a long plate shape and is disposed between the terminals 4. The second separator 33 has a separator piece 33a at its tip. The separator piece 33a is formed in a tapered shape such that the rear side in the terminal insertion direction X1 gradually becomes thicker in the terminal insertion direction X1.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the terminal guide 30. As shown in FIG. 5, the rear end of the second separator 33 extends downward and is fixed to a support block 38 provided below the guide blocks 31 and 32. The rear end of the second separator 33 is fastened to the support block 38 with a mounting bolt 39, and the second separator 33 is detachable from the terminal guide 30. In other words, the second separator 33 can be removed from the support block 38 by loosening the mounting bolt 39, and another second separator 33 having a separator piece 33a of a different thickness can be attached to the support block 38 with the mounting bolt 39, for example.

[0031] In the terminal guide 30, the opening and closing mechanism brings the guide blocks 31, 32 into close contact with the second separator 33. Then, the separator piece 33a of the second separator 33 and the recesses 34, 35 of the guide blocks 31, 32 form guide holes 36, 37 that gradually narrow in the terminal insertion direction X1. The terminals 4 can be inserted into the guide holes 36, 37, and when the terminals 4 are inserted into the guide holes 36, 37, the tips of the terminals 4 are positioned in the terminal accommodating chambers 7 of the connector housing 6.

[0032] The housing chuck 40 is a mechanism for gripping the connector housing 6. The housing chuck 40 has two gripping blocks 41, 42 arranged on the left and right sides perpendicular to the cable axial direction. The gripping blocks 41, 42 have holding recesses 43, 44 on opposing sides. The housing chuck 40 is equipped with an opening / closing mechanism (not shown), and this movement mechanism moves the gripping blocks 41, 42 toward and away from each other. The housing chuck 40 also has a movement mechanism (not shown), which allows it to move along the cable axial direction.

[0033] As the gripping blocks 41, 42 of the housing chuck 40 move toward each other, the holding recesses 43, 44 of the gripping blocks 41, 42 grip the connector housing 6 supplied by the housing supply device. At this time, the gripping blocks 41, 42 of the housing chuck 40 grip the connector housing 6 with the terminal accommodating chambers 7 arranged horizontally.

[0034] The housing chuck 40 is also capable of gripping the connector housing 6 and an alignment part having insertion holes through which the terminals 4 are inserted, at the rear side of the connector housing 6 in the terminal insertion direction X1.

[0035] The terminal insertion device 100 also includes a terminal position detection unit 50. This terminal position detection unit 50 detects the tip position of the terminal 4 using a laser. The terminal position detection unit 50 is disposed between the terminal chuck 20 and the terminal guide 30. This terminal position detection unit 50 has a laser irradiation unit 51 that irradiates laser light and a laser receiving unit 52 that receives the laser light irradiated from the laser irradiation unit 51. The terminal position detection unit 50 sandwiches the terminal 4 provided on the electric wire 2 of the multi-core cable 1 held by the cable chuck 10, with the laser irradiation unit 51 disposed above and the laser receiving unit 52 disposed below, for example.

[0036] The terminal position detector 50 transmits a detection signal from the laser receiver 52 to the controller. Based on the detection signal from the laser receiver 52, the controller detects that the terminal 4 blocks the laser light irradiated from the laser emitter 51. Based on the detection signal from the terminal position detector 50, the controller detects the tip positions of the terminals 4 and the difference between the tip positions of the respective terminals 4. The controller then corrects the insertion amount of the terminals 4 into the terminal accommodating chambers 7 of the connector housing 6 based on information from a servo motor and an encoder provided in the movement mechanism of the housing chuck 40.

[0037] Next, each step of inserting the terminal 4 into the terminal accommodating chamber 7 of the connector housing 6 by the terminal inserting device 100 having the above configuration will be described.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cable chuck 10 illustrating the cable gripping process. FIGS. 7A to 7E are perspective views of the terminal chuck 20 illustrating the terminal gripping process. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cable chuck 10 and the terminal chuck 20 illustrating the terminal gripping process. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the terminal chuck 20 gripping a terminal 4. FIG. 10 is a side view of the terminal chuck 20 gripping a terminal 4. FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of the terminal insertion device 100 illustrating the terminal guiding process. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the terminal guide 30 showing the terminal 4 guided by the terminal guide 30. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the terminal insertion device 100 illustrating the terminal chuck retracting process. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the terminal insertion device 100 illustrating the terminal guide retracting process. FIG. 15 is a side view of the terminal insertion device 100 illustrating the housing mounting process. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the connector housing 6 gripped by the housing chuck 40 illustrating the housing mounting process.

[0039] (Cable holding process) The multi-core cable 1 is supplied to the supply side of the terminal insertion device 100. Then, the cable chuck 10, with the gripping blocks 11 and 12 spaced apart from each other, rises from the retracted position to the supply height position. As a result, the end of the multi-core cable 1 to which the sleeve member 5 is attached is positioned between the gripping blocks 11 and 12 of the cable chuck 10 (see FIG. 2).

[0040] 6, the gripping blocks 11 and 12 move toward each other, and the end of the multi-core cable 1 to which the sleeve member 5 is attached is clamped by the recesses 13 and 14 of the gripping blocks 11 and 12. As a result, the end of the multi-core cable 1 is held by the cable chuck 10 while being positioned by the recesses 13 and 14.

[0041] At this time, the cable chuck 10 grips the hard sleeve member 5 of the multi-core cable 1. This makes it possible to suppress variations in the position of the tip of the electric wire 2 drawn out from the end of the multi-core cable 1, and in the next process, the terminal 4 connected to the electric wire 2 can be smoothly gripped by the terminal chuck 20.

[0042] (Terminal gripping process) As shown in FIG. 7A, in a state in which the terminal 4 of the electric wire 2 is disposed between the chuck blocks 21 and 22 of the terminal chuck 20, the chuck blocks 21 and 22 of the terminal chuck 20 move in directions in which they approach each other.

[0043] 7B, first, the protruding pieces 25a at the tip of the separator 25 provided on the chuck block 22 on the upper side of the terminal chuck 20 are inserted between the electric wires 2 at the rear of each terminal 4. Then, as shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D, the separators 25 are interposed between the terminals 4, and the terminals 4 are separated from each other by the separators 25.

[0044] In this way, when the separator 25 is interposed between the terminals 4, the protruding pieces 25a at the tip of the separator 25 are inserted between the electric wires 2 at the rear of each terminal 4. Therefore, even if there is no gap between the terminals 4 due to the influence of flexure or bending of the electric wires 2, by inserting the protruding pieces 25a of the separator 25 between the electric wires 2, a gap is formed between the terminals 4, and the separator 25 can be smoothly interposed.

[0045] 7E, the chuck blocks 21 and 22 are brought closer to the terminals 4 separated by the separator 25. As a result, the terminals 4 are gripped by the chuck blocks 21 and 22 in a separated and aligned state, and the terminals 4 are aligned and protruding with a gap between them, as shown in FIGS.

[0046] At this time, each of the chuck blocks 21, 22 has a recessed portion 23, 24 that gradually widens toward the terminal 4. Therefore, even if there is a variation in the terminals 4 that causes them to widen from each other, the recessed portions 23, 24 of the chuck blocks 21, 22 can smoothly capture the terminals 4 and arrange them in an aligned position.

[0047] 10, the chuck blocks 21 and 22 have a thickness T that allows them to grip at least the wire connection portions 4b of the terminals 4 over the entire length L. That is, by gripping the wire connection portions 4b of the terminals 4 over the entire length L with the chuck blocks 21 and 22, the gripped terminals 4 can be arranged parallel to each other and properly aligned.

[0048] (Terminal guide process) 11, the cable chuck 10 and the terminal chuck 20 move in the terminal insertion direction X1, and the terminals 4 gripped and aligned by the terminal chuck 20 are brought closer to the terminal guide 30. At this time, the guide blocks 31 and 32 of the terminal guide 30 are in contact with the second separator 33, and guide holes 36 and 37 are formed by the separator pieces 33a of the second separator 33 and the recesses 34 and 35 of the guide blocks 31 and 32. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, the tips of the terminals 4 brought closer to the terminal guide 30 are inserted into the guide holes 36 and 37 of the terminal guide 30.

[0049] Here, the recesses 34, 35 are gradually reduced in diameter in the terminal insertion direction X1, and the separator piece 33a of the second separator 33 is tapered so that the rear side in the terminal insertion direction X1 gradually becomes thicker in the terminal insertion direction X1. As a result, the guide holes 36, 37 formed by these recesses 34, 35 and the separator piece 33a are shaped to narrow in the terminal insertion direction X1. Therefore, the tip of the terminal 4 is smoothly guided by the guide holes 36, 37, which have a shape that narrows in the terminal insertion direction X1, and is aligned with the terminal accommodating chamber 7 of the connector housing 6.

[0050] When the cable chuck 10 and the terminal chuck 20 are moved in the terminal insertion direction X1 to bring the terminal 4 closer to the terminal guide 30, the terminal position detection unit 50 detects the tip position of the terminal 4 and the difference in the tip positions of each terminal 4, and sends the detection signal to the control unit.

[0051] (Terminal chuck retraction process) As shown in FIG. 13, the chuck blocks 21 and 22 of the terminal chuck 20 that have been holding the terminal 4 move in directions away from each other, and the terminal chuck 20 releases the terminal 4 from its grip.

[0052] (Terminal insertion process) The terminal guide 30 and the housing chuck 40 move in the direction opposite to the terminal insertion direction X1. As a result, the tip of the terminal 4 inserted into the guide holes 36, 37 enters the terminal accommodating chamber 7 of the connector housing 6. At this time, since the terminal 4 is inserted and positioned in the guide holes 36, 37 of the terminal guide 30, the tip of the terminal 4 can be smoothly guided into the terminal accommodating chamber 7 of the connector housing 6.

[0053] (Terminal guide retraction process) 14, the guide blocks 31 and 32 of the terminal guide 30 move away from the second separator 33, and the terminal guide 30 moves down and retreats, whereby the terminal guide 30 is released from guiding the terminals 4.

[0054] (Housing installation process) As shown in Fig. 15, the housing chuck 40 further moves in the direction opposite to the terminal insertion direction X1. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 16, the terminal 4, whose tip end is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 7, is inserted into and accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 7 of the connector housing 6. As a result, the multicore cable 1 becomes a connector-equipped multicore cable with the connector housing 6 attached to its end.

[0055] At this time, the control unit corrects the insertion amount of the terminals 4 into the terminal accommodating chambers 7 of the connector housing 6 based on information from the servo motor and encoder provided in the movement mechanism of the housing chuck 40. This allows each terminal 4 to be inserted and accommodated in a set position in the terminal accommodating chambers 7 of the connector housing 6 with high precision.

[0056] As described above, according to the terminal insertion device 100 of the first embodiment, the terminals 4 connected to the multiple electric wires 2 of the multi-core cable 1 can be smoothly inserted and accommodated in the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 7 of the connector housing 6.

[0057] Furthermore, since the separators 25 that separate the terminals 4 are detachable from the terminal chuck 20, separators 25 of a thickness that corresponds to the pitch of the terminal accommodating chambers 7 of the connector housing 6 can be attached to the terminal chuck 20. This configuration makes it possible to accommodate various connector housings 6 having terminal accommodating chambers 7 with different pitches, thereby increasing versatility.

[0058] Furthermore, in the terminal insertion device 100, the housing chuck 40 can grip the alignment component. Therefore, by inserting the terminal 4 into the insertion hole of the alignment component and then guiding the terminal 4 into the terminal accommodating chamber 7 of the connector housing 6, buckling of the terminal 4 due to getting caught in the terminal accommodating chamber 7 of the connector housing 6 can be suppressed.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the housing chuck 40 is moved in the direction opposite to the terminal insertion direction X1 in the terminal insertion step and the housing attachment step, but the cable chuck 10 may be moved in the terminal insertion direction X1 in these steps. Also, the housing chuck 40 may be moved in the direction opposite to the terminal insertion direction X1, and the cable chuck 10 may be moved in the terminal insertion direction X1.

[0060] In the above embodiment, a cylindrical terminal 4 without a protrusion or the like on its outer periphery is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 7 of the connector housing 6, but the terminal 4 to be inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 7 of the connector housing 6 may have a stabilizer that protrudes outward. Even in the case of a terminal 4 having such a stabilizer, the terminal chuck 20 can grip the wire connection portion 4b of the terminal 4 over the entire length L, thereby correcting the rotational position around the axis to the correct position. This allows the terminal 4 having a stabilizer to be smoothly inserted and accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 7 of the connector housing 6.

[0061] (Second embodiment) Next, a terminal insertion device according to a second embodiment will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described further. Fig. 17 is a perspective view of an end of a multi-core cable 1A and a connector housing 6A in a terminal chuck 20A of a terminal insertion device 200 according to a second embodiment. Figs. 18A and 18B are a side view and a front view schematically showing the terminal chuck 20A. Figs. 19A and 19B are a side view and a front view schematically showing the terminal guide 30A. Figs. 20A and 20B are a side view and a front view schematically showing the state in which the terminal chuck 20A grips a terminal 4. Figs. 21A and 21B are a side view and a front view schematically showing the state in which the terminal guide 30A guides a terminal 4.

[0062] 17, a terminal insertion device 200 according to the second embodiment is a device compatible with a multi-core cable 1A having four electric wires 2. That is, this terminal insertion device 200 is a device that simultaneously inserts terminals 4 provided at the ends of the four electric wires 2 of the multi-core cable 1A into upper, lower, left, and right terminal accommodating chambers 7 formed in a four-core connector housing 6A.

[0063] As shown in Figures 18A and 18B, the terminal insertion device 200 includes a four-core terminal chuck 20A. The terminal chuck 20A includes a side separator 28. The side separator 28 extends in a left-right direction perpendicular to the terminal insertion direction X1, and is moved back and forth from one side perpendicular to the terminal insertion direction X1 to the other side by a moving mechanism (not shown). In addition, in the terminal chuck 20A, an insertion hole 25b is formed in a separator 25 extending in a vertical direction, and the side separator 28 can be inserted into and removed from the insertion hole 25b (see Figure 17). The side separator 28 provided on the terminal chuck 20A is also detachable from the terminal chuck 20A.

[0064] 19A and 19B, the terminal insertion device 200 is provided with a four-core terminal guide 30A. In this terminal guide 30A, two recesses 34, 35 are formed vertically and spaced apart on the second separator 33 side of each of the guide blocks 31, 32. Therefore, in this terminal guide 30A, when each of the guide blocks 31, 32 is in contact with the second separator 33, the second separator 33 and the recesses 34, 35 form two guide holes 36, 37 on the top and bottom.

[0065] 20A and 20B, in the terminal gripping step, the terminal 4 connected to the wire 2 of the multi-core cable 1A is separated into left and right by the separator 25 and into top and bottom by the side separators 28. Then, the terminal 4 separated into top, bottom, left and right by the separator 25 and the side separators 28 is gripped by the chuck blocks 21 and 22.

[0066] At this time, the chuck blocks 21 and 22 have a thickness T that allows them to grip at least the wire connection portions 4b of the terminals 4 over the entire length L. Therefore, by gripping the wire connection portions 4b of the four terminals 4 over the entire length L with these chuck blocks 21 and 22, the four gripped terminals 4 can be arranged parallel to one another and properly aligned.

[0067] 21A and 21B , in the terminal guiding step, when the cable chuck 10 and the terminal chuck 20A move in the terminal insertion direction X1, the tips of the terminals 4 held and aligned by the terminal chuck 20A are inserted into the guide holes 36, 37 of the terminal guide 30A. As a result, the tips of the four terminals 4 are guided by the guide holes 36, 37 and aligned with the four terminal accommodating chambers 7 of the connector housing 6A, respectively. As a result, in the terminal insertion step and the housing attachment step, the four terminals 4 can be smoothly inserted and accommodated in the four terminal accommodating chambers 7 of the connector housing 6A.

[0068] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. Furthermore, the material, shape, size, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0069] Here, the features of the embodiments of the terminal insertion device according to the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [9].

[0070] [1] A terminal insertion device (100, 200) for inserting a plurality of terminals (4) connected to respective ends of a plurality of electric wires (2) of a multi-core cable (1, 1A) into a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers (7) arranged in parallel in a connector housing (6, 6A), a terminal chuck (20, 20A) for holding the plurality of terminals (4); a separator (25) disposed between the plurality of terminals (4); a moving mechanism that moves at least one of the plurality of terminals (4) held by the terminal chuck (20, 20A) with the separator (25) sandwiched therebetween and the connector housing (6, 6A) to insert the plurality of terminals (4) into the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers (7), The separator (25) is detachable from the terminal chuck (20, 20A).

[0071] According to the terminal insertion device having the configuration [1] above, the separator that separates the terminals is detachable from the terminal chuck. This allows the device to accommodate various connector housings having terminal accommodating chambers with different pitches by attaching a separator of a thickness corresponding to the pitch of the terminal accommodating chambers of the connector housing to the terminal chuck, thereby increasing versatility.

[0072] [2] The terminal insertion device described in [1], wherein the separator (25) has a protruding piece (25a) that is inserted between the electric wires (2) at the rear of the terminals (4) when the separator (25) is placed between the plurality of terminals (4).

[0073] According to the terminal insertion device having the configuration [2] above, when placing a separator between multiple terminals, the separator's protruding pieces are inserted between the wires at the rear of each terminal. Terminals of each wire in a multi-core cable tend to become misaligned at their leading ends due to the effects of flexing or bending of the wires, which can cause the leading ends to overlap. Therefore, by inserting the separator's protruding pieces between the wires at the rear of each terminal when placing a separator between the terminals, the terminals can be separated, allowing the separator to be smoothly placed between the terminals and separating them.

[0074] [3] The terminal chuck (20, 20A) has two chuck blocks (21, 22) that clamp and hold the terminal (4), The chuck blocks (21, 22) have a thickness (T) that allows them to grip at least the wire connection portion (4b) of the terminal (4) that is connected to the wire (2) over the entire length (L).

[0075] According to the terminal insertion device having the configuration [3] above, the held terminals can be arranged parallel to each other and aligned well.

[0076] [4] The terminal insertion device according to [3], wherein the chuck blocks (21, 22) have recesses (23, 24) that gradually widen toward the terminal (4) to be gripped.

[0077] According to the terminal insertion device having the configuration [4] above, when the terminals are gripped by the chuck blocks, the recesses of the chuck blocks gradually widen toward the terminals, allowing the terminals to be smoothly captured. Furthermore, when the terminals are gripped, the gradually widening recesses can pull the outwardly expanding terminals toward the terminals and arrange them in an aligned position.

[0078] [5] A terminal insertion device as described in [1], which is provided with terminal guides (30, 30A) that position the tips of the multiple terminals (4) gripped by the terminal chucks (20, 20A) and guide them into the terminal accommodating chambers (7) of the connector housing (6).

[0079] According to the terminal insertion device having the configuration [5] above, the terminals gripped by the terminal chuck can be smoothly guided into the terminal accommodating chambers of the connector housing.

[0080] [6] The terminal guide (30, 30A) a plate-shaped second separator (33) disposed between the plurality of terminals (4); a pair of guide blocks (31, 32) each having a recess (34, 35) and abutting against both sides of the second separator (33) to form, together with the second separator (33) and the recess (34, 35), a guide hole (36, 37) through which the terminal (4) can be inserted; Equipped with The terminal insertion device according to [5], wherein the second separator (33) is detachable from the terminal guide (30, 30A).

[0081] According to the terminal insertion device having the configuration [6] above, the plate-shaped second separators arranged between the terminals are detachable from the terminal guides. This allows the second separators, whose thickness corresponds to the pitch of the terminal accommodating chambers of the connector housing, to be attached to the terminal guides, thereby making it possible to accommodate various connector housings having terminal accommodating chambers with different pitches, thereby increasing versatility.

[0082] [7] The terminal insertion device according to [6], wherein the guide holes (36, 37) are formed in a shape that gradually narrows in the insertion direction of the terminal (4).

[0083] According to the terminal insertion device having the configuration [7] above, the guide hole is shaped to gradually narrow in the direction of the terminal insertion, so that the terminal held by the terminal chuck can be smoothly inserted into the guide hole and guided into the terminal accommodating chamber of the connector housing.

[0084] [8] A housing chuck (40) for gripping the connector housing (6, 6A), The terminal insertion device described in [1], wherein the housing chuck (40) is capable of gripping an alignment part having an insertion hole through which the terminal (4) is inserted on the opposite side of the insertion direction of the terminal (4) in the connector housing (6, 6A).

[0085] According to the terminal insertion device having the configuration [8] above, after the terminal is inserted into the insertion hole of the matching part, the terminal is guided into the terminal accommodating chamber of the connector housing, thereby preventing the terminal from getting caught and buckling inside the terminal accommodating chamber of the connector housing.

[0086] [9] A cable chuck (10) for holding the multi-core cable (1, 1A), The terminal insertion device according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein the cable chuck (10) holds a sleeve member (5) attached to an end of the multi-core cable (1, 1A).

[0087] According to the terminal insertion device having the configuration [9] above, by holding the sleeve member of the multi-core cable with the cable chuck, it is possible to suppress variation in the tip position of the electric wire pulled out from the end of the multi-core cable, and the terminal connected to the electric wire can be smoothly gripped by the terminal chuck. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1,1A: Multi-core cable 2: Electric wire 4: Terminal 5: Sleeve material 6: Connector housing 7: Terminal housing 10: Cable chuck 20, 20A: Terminal chuck 21, 22: Chuck block 23,24: Concave part 25: Separator 25a:Protruding piece 30: Terminal guide 31, 32: Guide block 33: Second separator 34,35: Recess 36, 37: Guide holes 40: Housing chuck 100, 200: Terminal insertion device L: Total length T: Thickness X1: Terminal insertion direction (insertion direction)

Claims

1. A terminal insertion device for inserting a plurality of terminals connected to respective ends of a plurality of electric wires of a multi-core cable into a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers arranged in parallel in a connector housing, a terminal chuck for holding the plurality of terminals; a separator disposed between the plurality of terminals; a moving mechanism that moves at least one of the plurality of terminals held by the terminal chuck with the separator sandwiched therebetween and the connector housing, thereby inserting the plurality of terminals into the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers, The separator is detachable from the terminal chuck; a terminal guide for positioning the tips of the terminals gripped by the terminal chuck and guiding them into the terminal accommodating chambers of the connector housing; The terminal guide is a plate-shaped second separator disposed between the plurality of terminals; a pair of guide blocks each having a recess, the guide blocks contacting both sides of the second separator and forming, together with the second separator and the recess, a guide hole through which the terminal can be inserted; Equipped with The second separator is detachable from the terminal guide. Terminal insertion device.

2. the separator has protruding pieces that are inserted between the electric wires at the rear portions of the terminals when the separator is disposed between the terminals. The terminal insertion device according to claim 1 .

3. The terminal chuck has two chuck blocks that sandwich and grip the terminal, the chuck block has a thickness that allows it to grip at least the wire connecting portion of the terminal that is connected to the wire over the entire length in the direction in which the terminal is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber. The terminal insertion device according to claim 1 .

4. The chuck block has a concave portion that gradually widens toward the terminal to be gripped. The terminal insertion device according to claim 3 .

5. The guide hole is formed in a shape that gradually narrows in the direction in which the terminal is inserted. The terminal insertion device according to claim 1 .

6. a housing chuck for gripping the connector housing; The housing chuck is capable of gripping an alignment part having an insertion hole through which the terminal is inserted, on the opposite side of the connector housing in the insertion direction of the terminal. The terminal insertion device according to claim 1 .

7. a cable chuck for holding the multi-core cable; The cable chuck holds a sleeve member attached to an end of the multi-core cable. The terminal insertion device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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