Terminal displacement amount detection method, terminal insertion method, terminal displacement amount detection device, and terminal insertion device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11223178-B2
Application number	US-201916668365-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2019
Priority date	Jun 6, 2017
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

A method includes a moving step of moving linearly a holder holding parallel to one another in a single row a plurality of connector terminals while measuring a movement distance of the holder with a tip of each of the plurality of connector terminals pointing in a traveling direction, a passage detection step of detecting passage of the tip of each of the plurality of connector terminals at a target point on a path, the target point coinciding with each other in a side view when the path of each of the plurality of connector terminals is viewed in an arrangement direction of the plurality of connector terminals, and a displacement amount acquiring step of acquiring a displacement amount between the tips of the plurality of connector terminals based on the movement distance when the passage is detected for the tip of each of the plurality of connector terminals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A terminal displacement amount detection method comprising the steps of:
a moving step of moving linearly a holder holding parallel to one another in a single row a plurality of connector terminals each of which is crimped and connected to an end portion of an electrical wire, while measuring a movement distance of the holder with prespective tips of each of the plurality of connector terminals pointing in a traveling direction;
a passage detection step of detecting respective passages of the respective tips of each of the plurality of connector terminals at a respective target points on respective paths, the respective target points coinciding with each other in a side view when the respective paths of each of the plurality of connector terminals is viewed in an arrangement direction of the plurality of connector terminals; and
a displacement amount acquiring step of acquiring a displacement amount between the respective tips of each of the plurality of connector terminals based on the movement distance when the respective passages are detected for the respective tips of each of the plurality of connector terminals.

2. The terminal displacement amount detection method according to claim 1 , wherein
the passage detection step is a step of detecting the respective passages when each of the respective tips of the plurality of connector terminals intercepts a respective sensor light of a plurality of sensor lights passing through the respective target points on the respective paths of each of the plurality of connector terminals.

3. The terminal displacement amount detection method according to claim 1 , wherein
the measurement of the movement distance is performed using a contact-typed measuring instrument of measuring the movement distance of the holder by being pressed by the holder or an object disposed forward of a moving direction of the holder as the holder moves.

4. The terminal displacement amount detection method according to claim 2 , wherein
the measurement of the movement distance is performed using a contact-typed measuring instrument of measuring the movement distance of the holder by being pressed by the holder or an object disposed forward of a moving direction of the holder as the holder moves.

5. A terminal insertion method; comprising the steps of:
a moving step of moving linearly a holder holding parallel to one another in a single row a plurality of connector terminals each of which is crimped and connected to an end portion of an electrical wire while measuring a movement distance of the holder with prespective tips of each of the plurality of connector terminals pointing in a traveling direction;
a passage detection step of detecting respective passages of the respective tips of each of the plurality of connector terminals at respective target points on respective paths, the respective target points coinciding with each other in a side view when the respective paths of each of the plurality of connector terminals is viewed in an arrangement direction of the plurality of connector terminals;
a displacement amount acquiring step of acquiring a displacement amount between the respective tips of each of the plurality of connector terminals based on the movement distance when the respective passages are detected for the respective tips of each of the plurality of connector terminals; and
an insertion step of further moving linearly the holder when the displacement amount is less than a predetermined threshold so as to simultaneously insert the plurality of connector terminals into a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers of a connector housing, the connector housing being disposed such that the plurality of terminal accommodation chambers is positioned one to one along the respective paths of each of the plurality of connector terminals.

6. The terminal insertion method according to claim 5 , wherein
the insertion step is a step of while measuring the movement distance, moving linearly the holder until the measurement result reaches an insertion completion distance acquired in advance sufficient to insert all of the plurality of connector terminals into the plurality of terminal accommodation chambers.

7. The terminal insertion method according to claim 6 , wherein
the insertion completion distance is a movement distance of the holder sufficient to insert into the plurality of terminal accommodation chambers all of the plurality of connector terminals whose respective tips are located at the respective target points, and the insertion step is a step of, when the displacement amount less than the threshold is acquired, moving linearly the holder until the movement distance from a zero position reaches the insertion completion distance, and wherein
the zero position is set a position of the holder when a passage of any one of the respective tips of the plurality of connector terminals is detected.

8. The terminal insertion method according to claim 5 , wherein
the connector housing is held by a housing holder arranged forward in the traveling direction of the holder, and the measurement of the movement distance is performed using a contact-typed measuring instrument of measuring the movement distance of the holder by being pressed by the holder or the housing holder as the holder moves.

9. The terminal insertion method according to claim 6 , wherein
the connector housing is held by a housing holder arranged forward in the traveling direction of the holder, and the measurement of the movement distance is performed using a contact-typed measuring instrument of measuring the movement distance of the holder by being pressed by the holder or the housing holder as the holder moves.

10. The terminal insertion method according to claim 7 , wherein
the connector housing is held by a housing holder arranged forward in the traveling direction of the holder, and the measurement of the movement distance is performed using a contact-typed measuring instrument of measuring the movement distance of the holder by being pressed by the holder or the housing holder as the holder moves.

Assignees

• Yazaki Corp

Inventors

• Mabuchi Miyoshi

Classifications

• H01R43/20 Primary

  for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve · CPC title

• G01R31/00 Primary

  Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere ({measuring superconductive properties G01R33/1238;} testing line transmission systems H04B3/46; testing or measuring semiconductors or solid state devices during manufacture {H10P74/00}) · CPC title

• H01R13/4223

  comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers · CPC title

• G01D5/341

  controlling the movement of a following part · CPC title