Mounting aid

Description

Description

[0001] The invention is based on a assemblage device according to the category of independent claim 1.

[0002] Such assembly device These are needed to easily, securely, and without additional tools fix modular circuit board connectors with a connecting element. State of the art

[0003] German patent application DE 10 2017 119 287 A1 discloses a modular connector for mounting on a printed circuit board, wherein the connector can be assembled from several individual connector modules and wherein the connector modules can be connected by means of at least one connector. For this purpose, the connector modules have dovetail guides, wherein the connector fits flush into the connector modules.

[0004] US 2004 / 0111879 A1 discloses an installation tool for printed circuit board components, comprising a tool head with a surface designed for use in a press; an insert connected to the tool head for receiving at least one printed circuit board component; and a post attached to and extending from one side of the tool head to ensure proper alignment of the tool with respect to the printed circuit board component or proper alignment of the component with respect to the printed circuit board.

[0005] To optimally utilize the space on a circuit board, the modules of a modular PCB connector are designed with minimal dimensions. Accordingly, so-called "male" modules, i.e., modules of a PCB connector for receiving pin contacts, are comparatively thin-walled to accommodate the aforementioned dovetail guide. When combined with a connecting element, this thin-walled design is not a disadvantage; however, individual modules, especially the "male" type, are initially susceptible to improper handling.

[0006] The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application: US 2004 / 0111879 A1. Task

[0007] The object of the invention is to overcome, in a simple and cost-effective manner, the challenges that arise during the assembly of a modular printed circuit board connector due to the thin-walled design of some modules.

[0008] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims and the following description. Disclosure of the invention

[0010] The problem is solved by an assembly device according to claim 1. The assembly device according to the invention serves to support a connection process of at least one module of a modular printed circuit board connector with at least one connecting element. The assembly device consists of at least one base plate and at least one spring, arranged generally perpendicular to the base plate and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base plate, wherein the spring is at least partially designed to receive the at least one module. The spring is provided with a groove extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base plate, and the groove is designed to receive at least one contact element of at least one module. This means that at least one electrically conductive contact element of a module received by the assembly device is placed in the groove.Ideally, this positioning of the contact element occurs without direct contact with the mounting device. In other words, a module is placed onto the mounting device in such a way that an approximately U-shaped insulating body of the module, with the opening of the U, is positioned on the spring of the mounting device. A contact element 30 located inside the U-shape is thereby inserted into the groove within the spring, so that the mounting of the modules with the connecting element for the contact elements is carried out without damage. In this context, "mounting device" refers to an auxiliary tool used for the purpose of assembly. After assembly, the mounting device is removed from the modules to be mounted and can be reused. "Modular PCB connector" generally refers to connectors for printed circuit boards.Printed circuit board connectors can be assembled from several components called "modules." Modular printed circuit board connectors can be made up of several identical modules or of any number of different modules. The term "base plate" initially refers to a simple, essentially flat plate. Further designs may include arranged features or recesses. The term "spring" initially refers to a plane protruding from the base plate.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the spring of the mounting device has a length at least largely equal to the length of the base plate. The mounting device thus takes on approximately the shape of a T-profile. This allows the entire length of the mounting device to be used for holding the modules to be joined.

[0012] In a further developed embodiment, the spring is formed with at least one chamfered edge on its side opposite the base plate. Advantageously, in a spring with a recessed groove, chamfers are present on both sides facing outwards. This means that the two webs of the spring formed by the groove each have a chamfer on at least their side facing away from the groove. The chamfers ensure better and faster engagement of the mounting device with the corresponding modules to be mounted.

[0013] A clever embodiment further provides that the spring has at least one stop along its longitudinal axis, at least at one end, with the stop being arranged transversely and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base plate. In other words, another plate is added transversely to the spring and perpendicular to the base plate. This plate serves as a stop to align modules to be connected. If the spring has a groove, this groove can also be formed by this additional plate.

[0014] In one embodiment, the mounting device further provides that the base plate has at least one recess on the opposite side of the spring, the recess being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base plate. According to the invention, this recess is shaped such that it can hold the opposing modules of the modules that are mounted on the spring side. It is further assumed that so-called "male" modules are received and mounted on the spring side of the mounting device. Consequently, the recess is designed to receive at least one circumferential side of the corresponding "female" modules to facilitate their assembly. This means that the mounting device is universally suitable for mounting corresponding modules of a modular printed circuit board connector system.

[0015] In one embodiment, it is advantageous for the recess to extend at least largely the length of the base plate. If, in a corresponding embodiment, the spring is also formed over a comparable length, corresponding modules of the printed circuit board connectors can be mounted more easily. This simplifies the assembly of matched modular printed circuit board connectors, both male and female, using a single mounting device.

[0016] In another embodiment of the mounting device, the base plate is formed with at least one chamfered edge facing the recess. The chamfer at the recess is also intended to ensure faster engagement of the mounting tool and the modules of a printed circuit board connector to be connected. Furthermore, a corresponding module itself can be designed with a chamfered edge, thereby ensuring a secure hold of the module in the mounting device.

[0017] Finally, one embodiment provides the recess with at least one stop at at least one end, the stop being arranged transversely and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base plate. This stop provides a simple and reliable way to align modules to be joined before connecting them with a connecting element. The stop can be made of multiple parts. Furthermore, the stop can be positively engaged with the base plate. Alternatively, the stop can be frictionally engaged with the base plate. Preferably, the stop is integrally formed with the base plate. Example of implementation

[0018] An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail below. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an assembly device according to the invention; Fig. 2 another perspective view of an assembly device according to the invention with modules of a modular printed circuit board connector attached; Fig. 3 a rear view of an assembly device according to the invention; Fig. 4 a rear view of an assembly device according to the invention with modules of a modular printed circuit board connector attached.

[0019] The figures contain simplified, schematic representations. In some cases, identical reference symbols are used for elements that are the same but may not be identical. Different views of the same elements may be scaled differently.

[0020] Directional terms such as "left", "right", "up" and "down" are to be understood in relation to the respective figure and may vary in the individual illustrations compared to the depicted object.

[0021] The Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an assembly device 1 according to the invention. The illustrated embodiment initially comprises the base plate 3. A spring 4 projects perpendicularly from the base plate 3. The spring 4 runs parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the base plate 3. The spring 4 is provided with a groove 5. The illustration clearly shows that the spring 4 has a chamfered edge 7 on each of its sides facing away from the groove 5. A plate, which functions as a stop 8, is located on the spring 4. This plate, shaped as a stop 8, is oriented perpendicular to the base plate 3 and transverse to the longitudinal axis L of the base plate 3. In this embodiment, this stop 8 is divided into two sections by the groove 5. It is also indicated that the base plate 3 is only partially formed by the groove 5. Fig. 3 The reverse side shown has a recess 9.

[0022] In the Fig. 2will be a comparison to the Fig. 1The illustration shows the mounting device 1 according to the invention rotated horizontally by approximately 90°. This illustration is further illustrated, at least partially, with exemplary embodiments of modules 2 of a modular printed circuit board connector. Five modules 2 are shown. The modules 2 shown are identical; however, modules belonging to the related system but not identical to the modules 2 shown can also be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the "male" modules 2 generally form a U-profile. Contact elements 6 are arranged within the U-profile of the modules 2. To prevent damage to these contact elements 6, a groove 5 is provided in the spring 4. The contact elements 6 can remain in the groove 5 during the assembly of the modular printed circuit board connector as soon as the modules 2 are placed on the mounting device 1.In this embodiment, the chamfered edges 7 of the spring 4 conform to a wedge-shaped recess in the illustrated module 2. The stop 8 ensures that all attached modules 2 can be pushed against the stop 8 along the longitudinal axis L. This further simplifies the attachment of the connecting element (not shown).

[0023] Cleverly, the modules 2 have shaped elements 11 on their dovetail groove 10, which are engaged with a connecting element to secure the modules 2 in the axial direction to the dovetail-shaped connecting element.

[0024] A view of the rear, or rather the underside, of the mounting device 1 is shown in Fig. 3The figure shows that a recess 9 is formed parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the base plate 3. The transitions between the base plate 3 and the recess 9 are provided with chamfered edges 7'. These facilitate the insertion of the modules 2' to be connected. A stop 8' is also provided on this side of the assembly device 1. This again limits the displacement of the attached modules 2' in one direction along the longitudinal axis L. Using stops at both ends of the longitudinal axis L of the base plate 3 can also be advantageous. Furthermore, the stop 8' can be connected to the stop 8. In the embodiment shown, the entire assembly device 1 consists of a single cast component. This also means that the stop 8' and the stop 8 can be formed from a single component if the assembly device 1 is manufactured in multiple parts.

[0025] A rear side, or underside, of the mounting device 1, at least partially equipped with modules 2', is in Fig. 4 shown. Compared with Fig. 3 The image is rotated approximately 90° in the horizontal plane. Similar to in Fig. 2Five modules 2' are shown, which are "female" modules 2'. These modules 2', after being fixed with a connecting element (not shown), can be used as the "female" part of a modular printed circuit board connector. This modular printed circuit board connector can be connected to a correspondingly populated "male" printed circuit board connector by plugging them together. The modules 2' are inserted into the recess 9 on one side, which is connected with a connecting element. The illustration shows that a chamfer on the module 2', together with a chamfered edge 7', ensures that when force is applied towards the mounting device 1, the module 2' is securely pressed into the recess 9 and held there by the edges of the recess 9 against the base plate 3.Cleverly, the recess 9 is made just deep enough so that the contact elements 6' of module 2' do not come into direct contact with the base plate 3. This prevents the contact elements 6' from being damaged or affected during assembly.

[0026] Even though the figures show various aspects or features of the invention in combination, it is apparent to those skilled in the art – unless otherwise indicated – that the combinations shown and discussed are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or sets of features from different embodiments can be interchanged. Reference symbol list

[0027] 1 Mounting device 2, 2' Module 3 . Base plate 4 Spring 5 Groove 6, 6' Contact element 7, 7' Chamfered edge 8, 8' Stop 9 Recess 10, 10' Dovetail groove 11, 11' Form element Longitudinal axis

Claims

1. A mounting device (1) for supporting a connection process of at least one module (2, 2') of a modular circuit board connector to at least one connection element, wherein the mounting device (1) is formed from at least one base plate (3) and at least one tongue (4) arranged principally perpendicularly on the base plate (3) and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) of the base plate (3), wherein the tongue (4) is at least partially designed to receive the at least one module (2), characterized in that the tongue (4) has a groove (5) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) of the base plate (3), wherein the groove (5) is designed to accommodate at least one contact element (6) of a module (2).

2. The mounting device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tongue (4) has, at least for the most part, a length equal to the length of the base plate (3).

3. The mounting device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tongue (4) is formed with at least one chamfered edge (7) on the side opposite the base plate (3).

4. The mounting device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tongue (4) has at least one stop (8), at least at one end, wherein the stop (8) is arranged transversely and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the base plate (3).

5. The mounting device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base plate (3) has at least one recess (9) on the opposite side of the tongue (4), wherein the recess (9) extends parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) of the base plate (3).

6. The mounting device (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the recess (9) has, at least for the most part, a length equal to the length of the base plate (3).

7. The mounting device (1) as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the base plate (3) is formed with at least one chamfered edge (7') toward the recess (9).

8. The mounting device (1) as claimed in one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the recess (9) has at least one stop (8'), at least at one end, wherein the stop (8') is arranged transversely and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the base plate (3).