Electrical connectors – With guiding means for mating of coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-12
2001-12-11
Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With guiding means for mating of coupling part
C439S660000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328591
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receptacle type connector and plug type connector which are connected with and disconnected from each other when a maintenance part of an image forming device of a copier, facsimile terminal equipment or printer, for example, a toner cartridge is attached to and detached from the image forming device.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, when a toner cartridge is attached to or detached from an image forming device body, connectors for supplying electric power or transmitting signals are simultaneously connected together with the toner cartridge. Conventionally, the toner cartridge is inserted into and drawn out from the image forming device body in the lateral direction. Therefore, it is common that the inserting and drawing direction of the toner cartridge coincides with the inserting and drawing direction of the connectors.
On the other hand, from the viewpoint of improving the layout of parts arranged in an image forming device, it is desirable that both connectors are inserted into and drawn out from each other when the toner cartridge is moved upward and downward in the image forming device. In this case, the plug type connector is arranged on a side plate of the toner cartridge (what is called a side type) and the receptacle type connector is arranged in an image forming device body.
In this connection, when a used toner cartridge is replaced with a new one, both the connectors are separated from each other. In this case, in order to prevent the contacts of each connector from being damaged when they come into contact with external foreign objects, it is necessary to protect the contacts. Therefore, the essential profile of the housing of each connector is formed into a box-shape surrounding the periphery of a group of contacts.
However, when both the connectors are connected with each other under the condition that the housings of both the connectors are formed into a perfect box-shape, for example, the plug type connector must be formed into an L-shape when it is viewed from the side, that is, the L-shaped portion greatly protrudes from the side of the toner cartridge. As a result, the size of the toner cartridge is increased.
In order to solve the above problems, it is possible to consider that one of the side walls of the housings of both the connectors is abolished or one side wall is provided independently from the other side wall. However, when the above structure is adopted, the connecting strength of the connectors is lowered, and the electrical continuity between the contacts might become unstable. Further, the contacts might not be sufficiently protected when both the connectors are disconnected from each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a receptacle type connector and plug type connector characterized in that: the size of the connecting structure can be reduced; the connecting strength can be enhanced; and the contacts can be sufficiently protected even when one connector is separated from the other connector.
In order to accomplish the above object, the invention described as a first aspect provides a receptacle type connector to which a plug type connector is connected or from which the plug type connector is disconnected when the plug type connector attached to a side of an object is raised or lowered, the receptacle type connector including:
a housing provided with a front wall section, rear wall section, right and left side wall section and intermediate wall section for holding contacts in parallel with the front and the rear wall section, wherein
corners of longitudinal ribs respectively formed on inner faces of the right and left side wall sections connect corners of side edges of the front wall section with corners of corresponding side edges of the intermediate wall section,
a primary inserting and drawing recess into which a contact holding wall of the plug type connector is inserted and from which the contact holding wall of the plug type connector is drawn out is defined by the front wall section, the intermediate wall section and the right and left longitudinal ribs, and
a subsidiary inserting and drawing recess, the profile of which is a groove-shape, into which a guide wall of the plug type connector is inserted and from which the guide wall of the plug type connector is drawn out is defined by the rear wall section, the intermediate wall section, the right and left side wall sections, and the right and left longitudinal ribs.
In this structure, when the corners of the longitudinal ribs are connected with the corners of the corresponding side edges of the front wall section and the intermediate wall section, the structure to define each inserting recess can be made compact and the mechanical strength can be enhanced. The contact holding wall of the opponent plug type connector and the guide wall can be respectively inserted into the primary inserting and drawing recess and the groove-shaped subsidiary inserting and drawing recess and strongly connected. The primary inserting and drawing recess can be defined by the longitudinal ribs, front wall section and intermediate wall section which are connected with each other. Therefore, the contacts can be positively protected after the receptacle type connector has been disconnected from the plug type connector. Concerning the plug type connector, it is sufficient that the engaging grooves engaged with the longitudinal ribs are formed on the right and the left side wall. As a result, the connecting structure can be made compact.
The invention described as a second aspect provides a receptacle type connector according to the first aspect, wherein the longitudinal groove is defined by the side edge of the front wall section, the inner face of the side wall section opposing to the side edge and the longitudinal rib. In this structure, a portion of the side wall of the plug type connector can be introduced into these longitudinal grooves. Therefore, the connecting structure can be more enhanced.
The invention described as a third aspect provides a plug type connector combined with the receptacle type connector according to the first and second aspects, the plug type connector including: a housing provided with a front wall section, right and left side wall sections, contact holding wail which is parallel with the front wall section and inserted into and drawn out from the primary inserting and drawing recess of the receptacle type connector, and a lower wall section opposing to the front wall section with respect to the contact holding wall, wherein
an opening edge section surrounding the periphery of the contact holding wall is formed by the front wall section, the right and left side wall sections and an end section of the lower wall section,
an engaging groove extending from the opening edge section in parallel with a side end edge of the contact holding wall by a predetermined length is formed on the right and left side wall and the longitudinal ribs of the receptacle type connector are inserted into and drawn out from the engaging groove,
a gap is formed between the edge section of an engaging groove and the side end edge of the contact holding wall opposing to it, and
a first portion continuing to the front wall section in the first portion opposed to a second portion with respect to the engaging grooves of the right and the left side wall section is formed into a groove-shaped guide wall which is inserted into and drawn out from the subsidiary inserting and drawing recess of the receptacle type connector together with the front wall section in the case of combining the plug type connector with the receptacle type connector.
In this structure, the contact holding wall and the guide wall can be respectively inserted into the primary inserting and drawing recess and the groove-shaped subsidiary inserting and drawing recess of the receptacle type connector and strongly connected wi
Ushio Kohei
Ushiro Yutaka
Hammond Briggitte R.
J.S.T. Mfg. Co. Ltd.
Luebke Renee
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
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