Electric wire processing device

Abstract

An electric wire processing device (1) comprises: a first support part (24) that defines a holding hole (28) into which a base end part (71) of a terminal (70) can be inserted; and a second support part (23) that defines a restriction hole (27) through which a tip part (72) of the terminal can be inserted. The holding hole (28) has a size that allows the base end part to be held at a predetermined position, and the restriction hole has a size that allows displacement of the tip part only within the hole. The tip part of the terminal is inserted into the hole of a housing (80) in a state in which the base end part is present in the holding hole and the tip part is present in the restriction hole.

Description

Electric wire processing equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric wire processing device for attaching a housing to a terminal attached to an electric wire.

[0002] Various processing devices have been proposed for use in inserting terminals of a terminal-attached electric wire into terminal accommodating chambers provided in a housing. For example, one of the conventional processing devices grips the electric wire of the terminal-attached electric wire with a gripping tool (a so-called chuck), and then moves the housing close to the gripped electric wire with the terminal, thereby accommodating the terminal in the terminal accommodating chamber of the housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent No. 3981024

[0004] In order to accurately guide the terminal into the terminal receiving chamber of the housing, it is desirable to directly grip the terminal with a gripping tool (chuck) as described above. However, directly gripping the terminal with a gripping tool can cause deformation of the terminal itself, which can impair the terminal's original function (e.g., electrical connection between the terminal and the mating terminal). In other words, when accommodating the terminal in the housing using a processing device, it is difficult to accurately hold the terminal with a gripping tool or the like while maintaining the terminal's original function.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electric wire processing apparatus that can hold a terminal with high precision while maintaining the original function of the terminal.

[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, an electric wire processing device is an electric wire processing device for attaching a housing to a terminal attached to an electric wire, comprising: a first support portion defining a holding hole sized to allow a base end of the terminal to be inserted therethrough; a second support portion defining a restriction hole sized to allow a tip end of the terminal to be inserted therethrough; and an attachment portion for arranging the housing in a predetermined attachment position, wherein the holding hole has a size such that an edge of the holding hole abuts against the base end to hold the base end in a predetermined position, and the restriction hole has a size such that when the base end is held in the predetermined position, displacement of the tip end is permitted only within the restriction hole, and the first support portion has a pair of holding portions, and is configured such that the holding hole is defined between the pair of holding portions by bringing the pair of holding portions close to each other, and the holding hole is not defined by moving the pair of holding portions away from each other, and the second support portion The mounting portion is configured to have a pair of regulating portions, and to define a regulating hole between the pair of regulating portions by bringing the pair of regulating portions closer to each other, and to not define the regulating hole by moving the pair of regulating portions away from each other, and to insert the terminal of the tip portion into the accommodating chamber of the housing with the base end portion inserted into the retaining hole of the first support portion and the tip portion inserted into the regulating hole of the second support portion, and then to insert the tip portion and the base end into the accommodating chamber of the housing with the first support portion not defining the retaining hole and the second support portion not defining the regulating hole.

[0007] FIG. 1A is a first diagram for sequentially explaining the manufacturing process for an electric wire with terminals using an electric wire to be processed by an electric wire processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a second diagram for sequentially explaining the manufacturing process for an electric wire with terminals using an electric wire to be processed by an electric wire processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1C is a third diagram for sequentially explaining the manufacturing process for an electric wire with terminals using an electric wire to be processed by an electric wire processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1D is a fourth diagram for sequentially explaining the manufacturing process for an electric wire with terminals using an electric wire to be processed by an electric wire processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1E is a fifth diagram for sequentially explaining the manufacturing process for an electric wire with terminals using an electric wire to be processed by an electric wire processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1F is a sixth diagram for sequentially explaining the manufacturing process for an electric wire with terminals using an electric wire to be processed by an electric wire processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1G is a seventh diagram for sequentially explaining the manufacturing process for an electric wire with terminals using an electric wire to be processed by an electric wire processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1H is an eighth diagram for sequentially explaining the manufacturing process for a terminal-attached electric wire using an electric wire to be processed by the electric wire processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1A. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the entire electric wire processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the electric wire chuck of the electric wire processing apparatus shown in FIG. 3, in which the electric wire chuck holds the electric wire in the state shown in FIG. 1F, and a pair of chuck arms belonging to the terminal chuck are in the open position and are spaced apart on both sides of the inner terminal crimped to the end portion of the electric wire. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a pair of chuck arms belonging to the terminal chuck shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing from above the pair of chuck arms closing from the state shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, in which the pair of chuck arms are in the closed position. FIG. 8 is a top view showing the pair of chuck arms in the closed position. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 7 (however, the electric wires, inner terminals, and inner housing are shown as a top view).Fig. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the base end of the inner terminal is held by a holding hole defined by a pair of terminal guides when the pair of chuck arms are in a closed position. Fig. 11 is a front view showing a state in which the position of the tip end of the inner terminal is restricted by a restriction hole defined by a pair of terminal guides when the pair of chuck arms are in a closed position. Fig. 12 is a view corresponding to Fig. 9 showing a state in which the tip end of the inner terminal has been inserted into the hole of the inner housing from the state shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is a view corresponding to Fig. 9 showing a state in which the pair of chuck arms have been opened from the state shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a view corresponding to Fig. 9 showing a state in which the tip and base ends of the inner terminal have been inserted into the hole of the inner housing from the state shown in Fig. 13.

[0008] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a description will be given of an electric wire processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and an electric wire with terminal 100 using an electric wire 50 to be processed by the electric wire processing apparatus 1. The electric wire with terminal 100 shown in Fig. 1H is manufactured by sequentially performing the manufacturing steps shown in Figs. 1A to 1H.

[0009] To manufacture the electric wire with terminal 100, first, an electric wire 50 is prepared as shown in Fig. 1A. As shown in Fig. 2, the electric wire 50 is a so-called coaxial electric wire, which is composed of a rod-shaped conductor core wire 51, a cylindrical inner insulator 52 covering the outer periphery of the conductor core wire 51, a cylindrical aluminum foil 53 covering the outer periphery of the inner insulator 52, a cylindrical braided conductor 54 covering the outer periphery of the aluminum foil 53, and a cylindrical insulating sheath 55 covering the outer periphery of the braided conductor 54. Note that, in this example, an electric wire with terminal using a coaxial electric wire is used as the electric wire 50, but an electric wire with terminal using an electric wire other than a coaxial electric wire may also be processed by the electric wire processing apparatus 1 of the present invention.

[0010] Next, as shown in FIG. 1B , a predetermined length of the sheath 55 is stripped from the terminal portion of the electric wire 50, thereby exposing the terminal portion of the braided conductor 54. Next, as shown in FIG. 1C , a cylindrical metal sleeve 60 is crimped onto the proximal portion of the exposed braided conductor 54. Next, as shown in FIG. 1D , the exposed braided conductor 54 located distal to the sleeve 60 is folded back toward the proximal end toward the terminal portion of the sheath 55 and the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 60. Next, as shown in FIG. 1E , the terminal portion of the aluminum foil 53 exposed by folding back the braided conductor 54 and the terminal portion of the inner insulator 52 located therein are stripped away, thereby exposing the terminal portion of the conductor core wire 51. Next, as shown in FIG. 1F , a base end portion 71 of an elongated cylindrical metal inner terminal 70 is crimped onto the conductor core wire 51 by crimping a crimping piece provided on the base end portion 71 to the exposed conductor core wire 51. Next, as shown in Fig. 1G, a substantially cylindrical insulating inner housing 80 is attached to the inner terminal 70 so as to cover the base end 71 and the tip end 72 of the inner terminal 70. Then, as shown in Fig. 1H, a substantially cylindrical metal outer terminal 90 is attached to the inner housing 80 so as to cover the folded-back braided conductor 54 and the inner housing 80, and a pair of crimping pieces 91, 92 provided on the base end side of the outer terminal 90 are crimped and fixed to the braided conductor 54 located on the outer periphery of the terminal portion of the sheath 55 and the braided conductor 54 located on the outer periphery of the sleeve 60, respectively. In this manner, the electric wire with terminal 100 shown in Fig. 1H is manufactured.

[0011] 1A to 1H are performed using a predetermined processing device. In particular, the manufacturing step shown in FIG. 1G (i.e., the step of attaching an inner housing 80 to an inner terminal 70 provided at the end portion of an electric wire 50 in the state shown in FIG. 1F) is performed using an electric wire processing device 1 described below. Note that, of the manufacturing steps shown in FIGS. 1A to 1H, the manufacturing steps other than the step shown in FIG. 1G may be performed manually by an operator.

[0012] The configuration of the electric wire processing device 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 14. The electric wire processing device 1 is a device for processing the end portion of an electric wire 50, and as shown in FIG. 9 and other figures, functions to attach an inner housing 80 to an inner terminal 70 provided at the end portion of the electric wire 50 in the state shown in FIG. 1F. The electric wire processing device 1 has a working axis L (see FIGS. 3 and 6) that coincides with the axis of the electric wire 50 held in a fixed position for work. For convenience of explanation, the following definitions are used to define the "front-rear direction," "up-down direction," "left-right direction," "front," "rear," "up," "down," "left," and "right" as shown in FIG. 3 and other figures. The "front-rear direction," "up-down direction," and "left-right direction" are mutually orthogonal. The front-rear direction coincides with the axial direction of the working axis L and the "plate thickness direction" of the present invention.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 3 , the wire processing device 1 mainly includes a wire chuck 10, a terminal chuck 20 arranged in front of the wire chuck 10, and a housing chuck (not shown) arranged in front of the terminal chuck 20.

[0014] The wire chuck 10 serves to hold the wire 50 in a straight line along the working axis L. As shown in Fig. 3, the metal wire chuck 10 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped base block 11, a guide rail 12 that is integrally provided on the upper part of the base block 11 and extends in the left-right direction, and a pair of left and right movable supports 13 that are supported by the guide rail 12 and are movable in the left-right direction relative to the guide rail 12. The pair of left and right movable supports 13 are arranged opposite each other so as to be able to move close to and apart from each other in the left-right direction.

[0015] Each movable support 13 has a generally U-shaped configuration that opens upward when viewed from the left-right direction. A pair of left and right front chuck blocks 14 are integrally provided on the opposing surfaces (inner surfaces in the left-right direction) of the front upper ends of the pair of left and right movable supports 13, facing each other in the left-right direction. A pair of left and right rear chuck blocks 15 are integrally provided on the opposing surfaces (inner surfaces in the left-right direction) of the rear upper ends of the pair of left and right movable supports 13, facing each other in the left-right direction. A pair of left and right front wire accommodating grooves 16 extending in the front-rear direction are formed on the opposing surfaces (inner surfaces in the left-right direction) of the pair of left and right front chuck blocks 14, facing each other in the left-right direction. A pair of left and right rear wire accommodating grooves 17 extending in the front-rear direction are formed on the opposing surfaces (inner surfaces in the left-right direction) of the pair of left and right rear chuck blocks 15, facing each other in the left-right direction.

[0016] The wire chuck 10 includes a moving mechanism (not shown) that selectively moves the pair of left and right movable supports 13 (i.e., the pair of left and right front and rear chuck blocks 14, 15 integral with the movable supports 13) between a close position (see FIGS. 3 and 6 ) where the movable supports 13 are close to each other in the left-right direction and a separated position where the movable supports 13 are separated from each other in the left-right direction. When the pair of left and right front and rear chuck blocks 14, 15 are moved from the separated position, where the electric wire 50 is positioned at a predetermined position between the pair of left and right front and rear chuck blocks 14, 15, to the close position, the electric wire 50 is accommodated and held in the pair of left and right front and rear wire receiving grooves 16, 17. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3 , the electric wire 50 is held in a straight line along the working axis L by the pair of left and right front and rear chuck blocks 14, 15, with the inner terminal 70 provided at the end of the electric wire 50 protruding forward from the pair of left and right front chuck blocks 14.

[0017] The terminal chuck 20 serves to hold an inner terminal 70 provided at an end portion of an electric wire 50 along a working axis L. As shown in Fig. 3, the metal terminal chuck 20 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped base block 21 and a pair of left and right rod-shaped chuck arms 22 whose base ends are rotatably supported at both left and right corners of the upper part of the base block 21. The pair of left and right chuck arms 22 are supported by the base block 21 so as to be rotatable between a closed position shown in Fig. 3 and an open position shown in Fig. 4. The terminal chuck 20 includes a rotation mechanism (not shown) that can selectively move the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 to either the closed position or the open position.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 5 and other figures, a pair of left and right terminal guides 23 are integrally formed on the front end surfaces of the extending ends of the pair of left and right chuck arms 22. Each terminal guide 23 is a flat metal plate oriented such that its thickness direction coincides with the front-rear direction. When the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 are in the closed position, a V-shaped notch 25 is formed on each of the opposing side end surfaces (inner side end surfaces in the left-right direction) of the pair of left and right terminal guides 23 that extend in the up-down direction. The pair of left and right terminal guides 23 are offset in the thickness direction (front-rear direction) by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the terminal guide 23 (see FIG. 8 and other figures). Therefore, when the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 are in the closed position, the pair of left and right terminal guides 23 overlap in the thickness direction (front-rear direction), and the notch 25 of one terminal guide 23 and the notch 25 of the other terminal guide 23 are positioned so as to face each other, thereby defining a restriction hole 27 (see FIG. 11). The tip end 72 (see FIG. 1F) of the inner terminal 70 is inserted into the restriction hole 27. The function of the restriction hole 27 will be described later. When the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 is in the open position, the restriction hole 27 is not defined.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5 and other figures, a pair of left and right terminal guides 24 are integrally formed on the rear end surfaces of the extending ends of the pair of left and right chuck arms 22. Each terminal guide 24 is a flat metal plate oriented such that its thickness direction coincides with the front-rear direction. When the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 are in the closed position, a V-shaped notch 26 is formed on each of the opposing side end surfaces (inner side end surfaces in the left-right direction) of the pair of left and right terminal guides 24 that extend in the up-down direction. The pair of left and right terminal guides 24 are offset in the thickness direction (front-rear direction) by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the terminal guide 24 (see FIG. 8 and other figures). Therefore, when the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 are in the closed position, the pair of left and right terminal guides 24 overlap in the thickness direction (front-rear direction), and the notch 26 of one terminal guide 24 and the notch 26 of the other terminal guide 24 are positioned so as to face each other, thereby defining a retaining hole 28 (see FIG. 10). The base end portion 71 (see FIG. 1F ) of the inner terminal 70 is inserted into the holding hole 28. The function of the holding hole 28 will be described later. When the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 is in the open position, the holding hole 28 is not defined.

[0020] The housing chuck (not shown) serves to hold the inner housing 80 (see FIG. 1G ), which is to be attached to the inner terminal 70 provided at the end of the electric wire 50, along the working axis L. The structure of the housing chuck for holding the inner housing 80 is similar to that of the electric wire chuck 10, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The housing chuck has a moving mechanism for moving the held inner housing 80 closer to the inner terminal 70 (moving it relatively rearward). The configuration of the electric wire processing device 1 has been described above.

[0021] Next, the operation of the wire processing device 1 when using the wire processing device 1 to perform the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 1G (i.e., the process of attaching an inner housing 80 to an inner terminal 70 provided at the end portion of the wire 50 in the state shown in FIG. 1F) will be described.

[0022] 1G using the electric wire processing apparatus 1, first, with the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 of the terminal chuck 20 held in the open position as shown in Fig. 4, the electric wire 50 in the state shown in Fig. 1F is held in a straight line along the working axis L by the electric wire chuck 10, and the inner housing 80 is held along the working axis L by the housing chuck. The inner terminal 70 provided at the end portion of the electric wire 50 protrudes forward from the pair of left and right front chuck blocks 14, and the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 in the open position are arranged spaced apart on both the left and right sides of the inner terminal 70 (see Fig. 6, etc.).

[0023] Next, as shown by the white arrows in Fig. 6 , the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 are rotated by the rotation mechanism of the terminal chuck 20, and the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 are moved from the open position to the closed position (see Figs. 7 to 9 ). As a result, the notches 26 of the pair of left and right terminal guides 24 face each other to define a retaining hole 28, and the base end 71 of the inner terminal 70 is naturally guided and inserted into this retaining hole 28 (see Fig. 10 ). At the same time, the notches 25 of the pair of left and right terminal guides 23 face each other to define a restricting hole 27, and the tip end 72 of the inner terminal 70 is naturally guided and inserted into this restricting hole 27 (see Fig. 11 ). As a result, the inner terminal 70 is held along the working axis L.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 10 , the retaining hole 28 has a size such that the edge of the retaining hole 28 (the groove surface of the notch 26) abuts against the base end 71 of the inner terminal 70, thereby holding the base end 71 in a predetermined position. In the example shown in FIG. 10 , the base end 71 of the inner terminal 70 is held in a predetermined position by abutting the edge of the retaining hole 28 at four circumferential locations on the base end 71. Furthermore, the abutment of the edge of the retaining hole 28 (the groove surface of the notch 26) against the base end 71 of the inner terminal 70 can act to correct any misalignment of the base end 71 in the circumferential direction (so-called rolling). As described above, the base end 71 of the inner terminal 70 is the portion where the crimping piece is crimped to the exposed conductor core 51 of the electric wire 50. Therefore, even if the edge of the retaining hole 28 comes into contact with the base end 71, the function of the inner terminal 70 is not impaired. Therefore, in this example, the base end portion 71 of the inner terminal 70 is held in a predetermined position by the holding hole 28 by bringing the base end portion 71 into contact with the edge of the holding hole 28 .

[0025] As shown in Fig. 11 , the restriction hole 27 has a size that allows displacement of the tip end 72 of the inner terminal 70 only within the restriction hole 27 when the base end 71 of the inner terminal 70 is held in a predetermined position by the retaining hole 28. In the example shown in Fig. 11 , an annular gap exists between the tip end 72 of the inner terminal 70 and the hole edge of the restriction hole 27 (the groove surface of the notch 25). The tip end 72 of the inner terminal 70 functions as a connection part with a mating terminal. Therefore, by providing a gap between the hole edge of the restriction hole 27 and the tip end 72 to the extent that displacement of the tip end 72 within the hole of the restriction hole 27 is allowed, unintended deformation of the tip end 72 is suppressed. Furthermore, the size of the restriction hole 27 is large enough to allow displacement of the tip 72 of the inner terminal 70 within the hole of the restriction hole 27. Therefore, when the pair of left and right terminal guides 23 are brought close to each other to define the restriction hole 27, even if the tip 72 of the inner terminal 70 comes into contact with the groove surface of the notch 25, excessive deformation or the like does not occur in the tip 72.

[0026] 12 , the moving mechanism of the housing chuck is operated to move the inner housing 80 held by the housing chuck closer to the inner terminal 70 (moving it relatively rearward), thereby inserting the end of the tip portion 72 of the inner terminal 70 into the hole of the inner housing 80. Here, because the retaining hole 28 holds the base end 71 of the inner terminal 70 in a predetermined position, even if the tip portion 72 of the inner terminal 70 is displaced within the restriction hole 27, the tip portion 72 of the inner terminal 70 can be properly inserted into the hole of the inner housing 80.

[0027] Next, as shown in FIG. 13 , the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 are rotated using the rotation mechanism of the terminal chuck 20, and the pair of left and right chuck arms 22 are moved from the closed position to the open position. As a result, neither the restriction hole 27 nor the holding hole 28 is defined. Next, as shown in FIG. 14 , the movement mechanism of the housing chuck is operated to bring the inner housing 80 held by the housing chuck closer to the inner terminal 70 (moving it relatively rearward), thereby inserting the tip end 72 and the base end 71 of the inner terminal 70 into the hole of the inner housing 80. This completes the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 1G using the electric wire processing apparatus 1. After this manufacturing process, the electric wire 50 in the state shown in FIG. 1G is then subjected to the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 1H .

[0028] As described above, according to the electric wire processing device 1 of this embodiment, when the inner housing 80 is attached to the inner terminal 70, the base end 71 of the inner terminal 70 is inserted into the retaining hole 28 of the first support portion (terminal chuck 20), and the tip end 72 of the inner terminal 70 is inserted into the restricting hole 27 of the second support portion (terminal chuck 20). In the retaining hole 28, the hole edge of the retaining hole 28 abuts against the base end 71 of the inner terminal 70, thereby holding the base end 71 in a predetermined position. In the restricting hole 27, the displacement of the tip end 72 is permitted only within the hole of the restricting hole 27. In this example, the base end 71 of the inner terminal 70 is the portion where the crimping piece is crimped onto the conductor core 51 of the electric wire 50. Therefore, even if the hole edge of the retaining hole 28 comes into contact with the base end 71, the function of the inner terminal 70 is not impaired. Therefore, the base end 71 of the inner terminal 70 is held in a predetermined position by the retaining hole 28. In contrast, in this example, the tip end portion 72 of the inner terminal 70 functions as a connection portion with a mating terminal. Therefore, by providing a gap between the edge of the restriction hole 27 and the tip end portion 72 to the extent that displacement of the tip end portion 72 within the restriction hole 27 is permitted, unintended deformation of the tip end portion 72 is suppressed. However, because the retaining hole 28 holds the base end portion 71 of the inner terminal 70 in a predetermined position, even if the tip end portion 72 displaces within the restriction hole 27, the inner terminal 70 can be properly inserted into the hole of the inner housing 80. As a result, the wire processing device 1 according to this embodiment can properly attach the cylindrical inner housing 80 to the rod-shaped inner terminal 70 attached to the electric wire 50.

[0029] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, etc. are possible as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as they can achieve the present invention, and are not limited thereto.

[0030] Here, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the electric wire processing device (1) is an electric wire processing device (1) for attaching a housing (80) to a terminal (70) attached to an electric wire (50), and includes: a first support portion (24) defining a holding hole (28) large enough to allow a base end (71) of the terminal (70) to be inserted therethrough; a second support portion (23) defining a restriction hole (27) large enough to allow a tip end (72) of the terminal (70) to be inserted therethrough; and an attachment portion for arranging the housing (80) at a predetermined attachment position, wherein the holding hole (28) has a size such that an edge of the holding hole (28) abuts against the base end (71) to hold the base end (71) at a predetermined position, and the restriction hole (27) has a size such that the tip end (72) can be displaced only within the restriction hole (27) when the base end (71) is held at the predetermined position, The first support portion (24) has a pair of holding portions (24), and is configured such that the holding hole (28) is defined between the pair of holding portions (24) by bringing the pair of holding portions (24) closer to each other, and the holding hole (28) is not defined by moving the pair of holding portions (24) away from each other; the second support portion (23) has a pair of restricting portions (23), and is configured such that the restricting hole (27) is defined between the pair of restricting portions (23) by bringing the pair of restricting portions (23) closer to each other, and the restricting hole (27) is not defined by moving the pair of restricting portions (23) away from each other; and the mounting portion With the base end (71) inserted into the retaining hole (28) of the first support part (24) and the tip end (72) inserted into the restricting hole (27) of the second support part (23), the end of the tip end (72) is inserted into the storage chamber of the housing (80), and then with the first support part (24) not defining the retaining hole (28) and the second support part (23) not defining the restricting hole (27), the tip end (72) and the base end (71) are inserted into the storage chamber of the housing (80).

[0031] According to the electric wire processing apparatus having the above configuration, when a housing is attached to a terminal, the base end of the terminal is inserted into the retaining hole of the first support portion, and the tip end of the terminal is inserted into the restricting hole of the second support portion. In the retaining hole, the edge of the retaining hole abuts against the base end of the terminal, holding the base end in a predetermined position, while in the restricting hole, displacement of the tip end is permitted only within the restricting hole. The base end of the terminal is generally the portion where a crimping piece or the like of the terminal is crimped onto the conductor core of the electric wire. Therefore, even if the edge of the retaining hole comes into contact with the base end, the function of the terminal is not impaired. Therefore, the base end of the terminal is held in a predetermined position by the retaining hole. In contrast, the tip end of the terminal is generally the portion where a connection portion with a mating terminal is provided. Therefore, by providing a gap between the edge of the restricting hole and the tip end to the extent that displacement of the tip end is permitted within the restricting hole, unintended deformation of the tip end is suppressed. The retaining hole holds the base end of the terminal in a predetermined position, so that even if the tip end of the terminal is displaced slightly within the restricting hole, the terminal can be properly inserted into the housing hole. Therefore, the wire processing device of the present invention can hold the terminal with precision while maintaining the terminal's original function.

[0032] Furthermore, each of the pair of retaining portions (24) may be a plate-like body having a V-shaped notch (26), and the first support portion (24) may be arranged so that the pair of retaining portions (24) overlap in the plate thickness direction and the notch (26) of one retaining portion (24) faces the notch (26) of the other retaining portion (24) to define the retaining hole (28).

[0033] In the wire processing apparatus having the above configuration, the first support portion defines the retaining hole by arranging the V-shaped notches of the pair of retaining portions so that they face each other. As a result, when the pair of retaining portions are brought close to each other to define the retaining hole, the base end of the terminal contacts the groove surface of the notch, naturally guiding the base end into a predetermined position. Furthermore, any misalignment around the axis of the terminal (so-called rolling) can also be corrected during this process.

[0034] Furthermore, each of the pair of regulating portions (23) may be a plate-like body having a V-shaped notch (25), and the second support portion (23) may be arranged so that the pair of regulating portions (23) overlap in the plate thickness direction and the notch (25) of one regulating portion (23) faces the notch (25) of the other regulating portion (23) to define the regulating hole (27).

[0035] According to the wire processing apparatus having the above configuration, the second support portion defines the restriction hole by arranging the V-shaped notches of the pair of restriction portions so that they face each other. This allows the tip of the terminal to be naturally guided (i.e., guided) into a position within the restriction hole, as described above. Here, the size of the restriction hole is set to allow for displacement of the tip of the terminal within the restriction hole. Therefore, even if the tip of the terminal comes into contact with the groove surface of the notch when the pair of restriction portions are brought close to each other to define the restriction hole, excessive deformation of the tip will not occur.

[0036] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2024-105182) filed on June 28, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0037] The electric wire processing device of the present invention can hold terminals with high precision while maintaining the original functions of the terminals. The present invention having this effect can be used, for example, in the production of electric wires with terminals.

[0038] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Electric wire processing device 20 Terminal chuck 23 Terminal guide (second support portion, restricting portion) 24 Terminal guide (first support portion, holding portion) 25 Notch 26 Notch 27 Restricting hole 28 Holding hole 50 Electric wire 70 Inner terminal (terminal) 71 Base end portion 72 Tip end portion 80 Inner housing (housing)

Claims

1. An electric wire processing device for attaching a housing to a terminal attached to an electric wire, comprising: a first support part defining a retaining hole sized to allow the base end of the terminal to be inserted therethrough; a second support part defining a restricting hole sized to allow the tip end of the terminal to be inserted therethrough; and an attachment part for arranging the housing in a predetermined attachment position, wherein the retaining hole has a size that allows the edge of the retaining hole to abut against the base end to hold the base end in the predetermined position, and the restricting hole has a size that allows displacement of the tip end only within the restricting hole when the base end is held in the predetermined position, the first support part has a pair of retaining parts, and is configured so that the retaining hole is defined between the pair of retaining parts by bringing the pair of retaining parts closer to each other, and the retaining hole is not defined by moving the pair of retaining parts away from each other, and the second support part an electric wire processing device having a pair of restricting portions, the restricting hole being defined between the pair of restricting portions by bringing the pair of restricting portions closer to each other, and the restricting hole not being defined by moving the pair of restricting portions away from each other; and the mounting portion being configured to insert an end of the tip portion into the accommodating chamber of the housing with the base end portion inserted into the retaining hole of the first support portion and the tip portion inserted into the restricting hole of the second support portion, and then insert the tip portion and the base end into the accommodating chamber of the housing with the first support portion not defining the retaining hole and the second support portion not defining the restricting hole.

2. An electric wire processing device according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of holding parts is a plate-like body having a V-shaped notch, and the first support part is arranged so that the pair of holding parts overlap in the plate thickness direction and the notch of one holding part faces the notch of the other holding part, thereby defining the holding hole.

3. An electric wire processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the pair of restricting portions is a plate-like body having a V-shaped notch, and the second support portion is arranged so that the pair of restricting portions overlap in the plate thickness direction and the notch of one restricting portion faces the notch of the other restricting portion, thereby defining the restricting hole.

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