Electricity: measuring and testing – Fault detecting in electric circuits and of electric components – Of individual circuit component or element
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-31
2004-05-04
Le, N. (Department: 2858)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Fault detecting in electric circuits and of electric components
Of individual circuit component or element
C439S488000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06731118
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector inspection apparatus, and more particularly relates to an apparatus for inspecting a connector in which a terminal is inserted in a terminal receiving portion of a connector housing, a retainer is attached to the connector housing to prevent removal of the terminal from the housing, and in which a portion of the retainer projects outwardly if the retainer is in a condition of only partial engagement with the terminal. Such retainers lock a terminal inserted in a connector housing when in full engagement therewith.
2. Description of the Related Art
A connector inspection apparatus for detecting a partial engagement condition of a retainer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No. HEI 9-82444 (1997).
FIG. 11
is a perspective view of such a prior art connector inspection apparatus
230
. While performing a continuity test for a terminal
220
, this inspection apparatus also detects whether a retainer
210
inserted in a retainer receiving opening
204
formed in a retainer attachment wall
203
of a connector housing
201
is in a full engagement condition or only a partial engagement condition.
A connector
200
is assembled by inserting terminals
220
into cavities
202
formed in an end wall
201
a
of the connector housing
201
, and thereafter inserting a retainer
210
into the retainer receiving opening
204
in the retainer attachment wall
203
so that the retainer
210
engages a latch portion
221
of each terminal
220
in the housing
201
, thereby locking the terminals
220
in the housing
201
.
The inspection apparatus
230
has a connector holding member
231
with a recessed receiving portion
232
in which the connector
200
is inserted for inspection. An inspection unit
234
may be reciprocated toward and away from the connector holding member
231
in order to perform a continuity test. The inspection unit
234
is moved toward the connector holding member
231
by turning a lever
233
in the direction shown by arrow G, so that a continuity test pin
235
contacts the terminal
220
.
In the situation in which the retainer
210
is not properly engaged with the latch portion
221
, an outer portion
211
of the retainer
210
projects outwardly from a surface of the retainer attachment wall
203
, and thus the retainer is in a partially inserted condition. When the inspection unit
234
is moved toward the connector
200
, a contact piece
236
mounted on the inspection unit
234
contacts the projecting outer portion
211
of the retainer
210
, and thereby displaces the connector
200
. As a result, a positioning plate
242
, which is secured by screws
241
through rubber bushes
240
to the recessed receiving portion
232
of the connector holding member
231
, is pushed by the connector
200
and is displaced due to elastic deformation of the rubber bushes
240
. This makes it possible to visually detect a partially inserted condition of the retainer
210
.
In the situation in which the retainer
210
is properly engaged with the latch portion
221
, the outer portion
211
of the retainer
210
is aligned with the surface of the retainer attachment wall
203
, and thus the retainer is in a fully inserted condition. In the fully inserted condition, the contact piece
236
does not contact the retainer
210
, and therefore the positioning plate
242
is not displaced.
In the prior art connector inspection apparatus, even if the retainer
210
is in the partially inserted condition, the lever
233
may be forcibly turned too far. This may result in the contact piece
236
damaging the retainer
210
, such as by bending it. This may further result in an inability to detect the partially inserted condition of the retainer.
Also, in the prior art connector inspection apparatus, in the situation where there is an error in the positioning of the contact piece
236
relative to the connector
200
, a relative displacement between the contact piece
236
and the retainer
210
will prevent proper detection of a partially inserted condition of the retainer
210
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector inspection apparatus that can reliably inspect for a properly locked condition of a retainer and can prevent the retainer from being damaged.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector inspection apparatus that can reliably inspect a condition of a retainer.
In order to achieve the above objects, an aspect of the invention is directed to an inspection apparatus for connectors of the type which include a connector housing having a terminal receiving portion with cavities in which terminals are inserted, and a retainer attached to the terminal receiving portion for preventing removal of the terminals from the cavities. In such connectors, an outer portion of the retainer protrudes from a surface of a retainer attachment wall when the retainer is not in a properly locked position for preventing terminal removal, and the outer portion of the retainer does not protrude from the surface of the retainer attachment wall when the retainer is in a properly locked position for preventing terminal removal.
The inspection apparatus according to this aspect of the invention includes a holder for holding the connector during inspection, an inspection unit movable toward and away from the holder, and a movement device that moves the inspection unit toward and away from the holder. The inspection unit includes a retainer position inspection piece which passes over a portion of the surface of the retainer attachment wall when the inspection unit is moved toward the holder by the movement device. The retainer position inspection piece is movable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the inspection unit within a predetermined range.
In the inspection apparatus according to this aspect of the invention, the a distal end of the retainer position inspection piece passes over the outer portion of the retainer during movement of the inspection unit toward the holder when the retainer is in the properly locked position, and the retainer position inspection piece remains in a forwardly movable condition relative to the inspection unit. Further, the distal end of the retainer position inspection piece engages the outer portion of the retainer protruding from the surface of the retainer attachment wall during movement of the inspection unit toward the holder when the retainer is not in the properly locked position, and the retainer position inspection piece is placed in a rearwardly movable condition relative to the inspection unit.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the inspection unit may further include a biasing member that biases the retainer position inspection piece relative to the inspection unit for the relative forward and rearward movement within the predetermined range. The biasing member may include a coil spring.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the inspection unit may further include a continuity test pin configured to contact a terminal within the connector when the inspection unit is moved toward the holder by the movement device. This contact may take place regardless of whether the retainer position inspection piece is in the forwardly movable condition or the rearwardly movable condition.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the inspection unit may further include an electrical detection device that generates electrical signals in response to the forwardly movable condition of the retainer position inspection piece and the rearwardly movable condition of the retainer position inspection piece. The connector may be of the type which includes a hood surrounding at least the terminal receiving portion with a given clearance. The electrical detection device may include a conductive detection piece parallel to and movable with the retainer position inspection piece. The holder may include a pit for holding the connector with the retainer oriented in a l
Fujita Takao
Nishino Akira
Le N.
Sumitomo Wiring System Ltd.
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