JP2622528B2 - FPC connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for internal mounting of electronic equipment, and more particularly to an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit).
And a connector for connecting the.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional FPC connectors
As shown in FIG. 5, the connection between the PC cable and the connector is performed by inserting the connection end of the FPC cable 6 to which the reinforcing plate 61 is attached into the opening 71 formed in the insulator 70 of the connector 7. The contacts 73 and 75 provided on the upper and lower sides are pushed and spread, and the contacts 73 and 75 are
75, the FPC cable 6 is sandwiched, and the exposed conductor portion of the FPC cable 6 is brought into contact with the contact 73.

[0003] In addition, a so-called ZIF (Zero Inserial) is used to easily connect an FPC cable to a connector.
rtion Force) connector. As shown in FIG. 6, the connection of the ZIF connector 8 to the FPC cable is performed by inserting the FP into the opening 81 of the insulator 80.
After the connection end of the C cable 6 is inserted and the conductor exposed portion of the FPC cable 6 is positioned on the contact 83, the slide insulator 88 is rotated in the direction of the arrow to close, thereby the conductor of the FPC cable 6 is closed. The exposure was performed by pressing the exposed portion against the contact 83.

[0004]

In the FPC connector 7 as shown in FIG. 5 and the ZIF connector 8 as shown in FIG.
It is necessary to guide the C cable 6 into the openings of the insulators 70 and 80 by moving the C cable 6 in its length direction. At this time, for example, when the positioning of the insulators 70 and 80 is not properly performed, the FP
Since the C cable 6 is inserted obliquely in the lateral direction (vertical direction on the paper) with respect to the insertion axis, the conductor exposed portion of the FPC cable 6 does not align with the contacts 73 and 83,
Prone to poor connection.

In the case of automatic connection of the FPC, the robot must determine whether or not the FPC cable has been completely inserted until the connector abuts. However, the robot should make such a determination. If this is the case, the robot must be sophisticated, and it is practically difficult for the robot to make this determination in terms of cost. As a result, automatic connection of the FPC cable cannot be performed.

[0006] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the above-described connection failure, and furthermore, to automatically connect an FPC cable by a robot. An object of the present invention is to provide an FPC connection connector.

[0007]

According to the present invention, an FPC is provided.
FPC connection connector used in combination with cable
Provided on the connection end side of the FPC cable,
The projections and the engagement projections project to predetermined positions on both end faces
With the formed reinforcing plate and the guide protrusion of the reinforcing plate
A guide groove is formed to guide and house downward from
The guide portion and the engagement protrusion when connecting the FPC cable
A lock member having an engagement hole for engagement and accommodation;
Corresponds to the exposed conductor of the FPC cable when connecting the cable.
Contact urged toward the conductor exposed portion at a position
Has a connector provided on the insulator.
When connecting the FPC cable and the connector, the reinforcing plate
Guide protrusion is guided by the guide groove of the guide portion
The position of the connection between the FPC cable and the connector
The reinforcing plate is determined in this positioned state.
Of the lock member is engaged with the engagement hole of the lock member.
As a result, the contact is exposed to the exposed conductor of the FPC cable.
A connector for FPC connection characterized by contact is obtained.
It is.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the contact is press-fitted from the printed circuit board installation surface side of the insulator.

[0009]

According to the present invention, guide projections are formed at both ends of the reinforcing plate attached to the connection end of the FPC cable, and these are inserted into the guide grooves of the guide formed on the insulator from above. To move the FPC cable. At this time, the engagement protrusions cause the lock member to move to the FP.
C While descending while spreading in the width direction of the cable, the exposed portion of the conductor of the FPC cable presses and contacts the corresponding contact on the insulator, and when the FPC cable presses the contact, the engaging projection is engaged with the lock member. The connector fits into the mating hole and holds the FPC cable in the engaged state. Then, in this state, the conductor-exposed portion of the FPC cable is in pressure contact with the contact.

As described above, the FPC cable is mounted on the connector so as to be placed from above the connector, and the FPC cable is mounted on the connector.
When the guide protrusions and the engagement protrusions of the reinforcing plate provided on the connection end side of the cable are at positions corresponding to the guides and the engagement holes of the connector, respectively, the conductor exposed portions of the FPC cable contact the contacts. The relative positional relationship between the FPC cable and the connector is properly determined only by inserting the guide protrusion into the guide groove, and the reinforcing plate is connected to the connector while maintaining the relative positional relationship. The conductor exposed portion of the FPC cable is pressed into contact with the contact simply by pushing in the direction. Therefore, the contact position between the FPC cable and the contact does not shift, and automatic connection by the robot can be performed. And FP
Since the C cable is sandwiched between the reinforcing plate and the contact, the reliability of the connection is high.

Further, since the contact is press-fitted from the printed circuit board mounting surface side of the insulator and is exposed on the FPC cable mounting surface side, the suction nozzle of the connector when the connector is automatically mounted on the printed circuit board is automatically mounted. A sufficient suction surface can be secured.

[0012]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an FPC / FFC connector of the present invention, FIG. 2 (a) is a plan view thereof, and FIG.
2B is a front view, FIG. 2C is a bottom view, FIG. 2D is a side view, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view.

As shown in FIG. 1, a reinforcing plate 2 is integrally attached to an upper surface of a connection end of the FPC cable 1. Guide projections 21 are formed to project from end surfaces on both side surfaces of the reinforcing plate 2 near the insertion-side end surface.
In the center of the end surface on both side surfaces, an engaging projection 23 is provided.
Are formed to protrude.

In the connector 3 for connecting the FPC cable 1, notches 31 extending in the short side direction are formed in the insulator 30 at predetermined intervals and arrangement. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the contact 33 is press-fitted into the notch groove 31 from the back side of the insulator 30. The contact 33 is provided such that the conductor exposed portion 33a protrudes from the upper surface of the insulator 30. The contact 33 is formed in a meandering shape so as to impart a spring property.
On the 3b side, the two raised portions 33c and 33d are press-fitted upward from the bottom side of the insulator 30.
The reason why the two raised portions 33c and 33d are press-fitted portions is to ensure the holding of the contacts 33 and to prevent the contacts 33 from falling when the FPC cable 1 is connected.

At both corners on the rear side of the insulator 30 (on the side where the soldering portion 33b of the contact 33 is located), guide portions 35 are formed upright. A guide groove 35a is formed in the guide portion 35 so as to face inward. The width of the guide groove 35a is set to a size in which the guide protrusion 21 formed in the reinforcing plate 2 can be inserted.

A groove 36 is formed on both sides of the insulator 30, and a flexible lock member 37 is provided in the groove 36. This lock member 3
Numeral 7 is elastically urged inward to hold the reinforcing plate 2 from both sides when the FPC cable 1 is connected. The locking member 37 includes the engaging protrusion 2 of the reinforcing plate 2.
An engagement hole 37a into which the third member 3 fits is formed. Therefore, when the FPC cable is connected, the reinforcing plate 2 is sandwiched and the relative position is prevented from changing. 37 b in the figure
Is a hold-down portion for fixing the connector and the printed circuit board with solder.

Next, a procedure for connecting the FPC cable 1 to the connector 3 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the FPC cable 1 is positioned immediately above the connector 3 with the reinforcing plate 2 positioned on the upper surface side. That is, at this time, the conductor exposed portion of the FPC cable 1 faces the contact 33.
When the reinforcing plate 2 is moved downward, the guide protrusion 21 is fitted into the guide groove 35 a of the guide portion 35 of the connector 3. When it is further lowered in this state, the engaging projection 23 of the reinforcing plate 2 is fitted into the engaging hole 37a while pressing the lock member 37 apart. When the engagement protrusion 23 is fitted into the engagement hole 37a of the lock member 37, the FPC cable 1 is pressed by the reinforcing plate 2 as shown in FIG. The conductor exposed portion of the cable 1 is connected to the contact 33 in a pressing contact state. At this time, the contact 33 is urged toward the FPC cable 1 while being bent, and the contact for connection does not become insufficient.

According to the above-described embodiment, the guide groove 35a of the guide portion 35 has been described as extending in the vertical direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, FPC
Formed diagonally toward the cable 1 extension direction side,
A configuration in which the FPC cable 1 is connected by being lowered in an oblique direction may be used. Further, the guide groove 35a may be tapered so that even if the position of the FPC cable 1 is slightly shifted, this shift may be absorbed. In this manner, the engagement protrusion 23 may be finally fitted into the engagement hole 37a of the lock member 37, and in this state, may be connected to the FPC cable 1 as shown in FIG. It is.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, the FPC
The cable has a guide protrusion, and the connector has a guide portion for guiding the guide protrusion.
By lowering the cable from above the connector and inserting the guide protrusion into the guide groove of the guide portion, the cable is guided to the connection position, and when the FPC cable is in the connection position, the engagement protrusion of the reinforcing plate is formed. The part fits into the engagement hole of the lock member of the connector, and the FPC cable connects to the connector. As a result, only by moving the FPC cable downward, it is possible to reliably connect to the connector with one touch.

Also, since the contacts of the connector are pressed into the insulator from the side of the printed circuit board of the connector, the suction surface of the nozzle for automatic mounting can be secured on the upper surface of the insulator (the surface facing the FPC cable). It is possible to automatically mount the connector.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an FPC connection connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an FPC connection connector of the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view. (B) is a front view. (C) is a bottom view. (D) is a side view.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the FPC connection connector of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a state in which an FPC cable is connected to the FPC connection connector of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing an example of a conventional FPC connection connector.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing another example of a conventional FPC connection connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 FPC cable 2 Reinforcement plate 3 Connector 6 FPC cable 7 Connector (conventional example) 8 Connector (conventional example) 21 Guide projection 23 Engagement projection 30 Insulator 33 Contact 35 Guide 35 a Guide groove 37 Lock member 37 a Engage Hole 61 Reinforcement plate 70 Insulator 73 Contact 75 Contact 80 Insulator 83 Contact 88 Slide insulator

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] Claims: 1. An FPC cable used in combination with an FPC cable.
That the FPC connector, provided on the connecting end side of the FPC cable, and a reinforcing plate in which a guide projection electromotive unit and KakarigototsuOkoshi portion formed to project a predetermined position of the end surfaces, the guide projection of the reinforcing plate and the guide grooves are formed guide portion for guiding housing facing down direction electromotive unit from above, a locking member engaging hole is formed to engage accommodating the engaging GototsuOkoshi portion during FPC cable connection, FPC FP with cable connection
A contact which is urged toward the conductor exposed portion at a position corresponding to the conductor exposed portion of the C cable, and a connector provided in the insulator, when connecting the FPC cable and connector, the reinforcing plate Moth
The guide protrusion is guided by the guide groove of the guide portion.
Positioning of the connection between the FPC cable and the connector
Is performed, and in this positioned state, the reinforcing plate is engaged.
The mating projection is engaged with the engagement hole of the lock member.
Contact makes contact with exposed conductor of FPC cable
A connector for connecting an FPC. 2. The FPC connection connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact is press-fitted from a side of a printed circuit board installation surface of the insulator.