JP3269761B2 - Composite electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a composite electrical connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Different types of connectors, for example, a power supply connector, a signal connector and the like are separately provided to reduce the troublesomeness of connecting these components or to reduce the size of the connectors. Composite electrical connectors are known.

For example, a connector for an image forming apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-331959, in which a housing having a wide opening is formed in a housing of a current supply side connector, and a plurality of weak current terminals (contacts) are formed on an inner surface facing the recess. Are arranged, and a convex portion is provided adjacent to the concave portion, and a high current terminal (contact) facing the external surface is arranged. That is, two types of joints are provided.

On the other hand, the housing of the current receiving connector has a block-shaped projection fitted into the recess of the current supply connector, and a plurality of contacts connected to the weak current terminal correspond to the opposing outer surface. They are arranged in an exposed state. Further, a concave portion for receiving the convex portion of the current supply side connector is formed adjacent thereto, and a contact connected to the high current terminal is provided here.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned known connector, the current supply side connector can supply current to both the weak current terminal and the high current terminal when incorporated in the device. When the user of the apparatus accidentally puts a fingertip into the large opening recess during operation, there is a possibility that an undesired situation may occur due to a short circuit between the terminals. Further, the if the current supply side connector and the current-side connector, for convenience of design or
Even if it is used inadvertently replaced, the high current terminal of the current receiving connector, which supplies current, is exposed on the outer surface of the convex part. There is a danger that a short circuit may occur between the terminals and the user may receive a high current.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve such a problem and to provide a composite electric connector capable of preventing an erroneous short circuit and a danger in handling a current supply side connector.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A composite electric connector according to the present invention comprises a current supply side connector and a current receiving side connector fitted and connected to the current supply side connector to receive current supply. When the current supply connector is incorporated in the apparatus, it is always in a state where current can be supplied, and is prepared for connection of the current reception connector.

[0008] The current supply side connector of the present invention has different types of coupling portions. The dissimilar joints are, for example, a signal terminal for flowing a weak current, a ground terminal, a power supply terminal for flowing a high current, and the like. The terminals (contacts) of the dissimilar joints are provided in one housing. It has been planted.

The housing of the current supply connector has a peripheral wall which surrounds all the joints and serves as a guide when the counterpart current receiving connector is fitted. In addition, a partition wall portion made of an insulating material is provided between terminals (contacts) of at least a pair of the coupling portions through which a high current flows among the different types of coupling portions, and the partition wall portion has a height of the peripheral wall portion. It is formed to extend to near. Housing of current receiving connector
Around the support that supports the terminals on the sides.
And the peripheral wall of the current receiving connector is
Between the peripheral wall of the supply connector and the support that supports the terminals
Is fitted in the groove formed in the groove.

[0010] In such a current supply side connector of the present invention, since the peripheral wall portion is provided and the terminal is not exposed to the outside, the terminal is not erroneously grasped. This prevents fingertips from being inserted between the paired terminals, thereby preventing destruction of equipment and danger to the human body. Also, connect both connectors to the current supply side and the receiving side.
There is no danger when used in reverse.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a current supply side connector, and reference numeral 30 denotes a current receiving side connector fitted to the connector.

The current supply connector 10 has a flange 12 around the middle of the housing 11 made of an insulating material in the height direction for attachment to the apparatus. The flange 12 is connected to the apparatus and the other party. A hole 13 for passing a screw for coupling with the current receiving connector 30 is formed.

A connecting portion where the current supply side connector 10 is fitted to the current receiving side connector 30 and connected to each other is opened upward in FIG. The peripheral wall portion 14 has a substantially rectangular shape. Two substantially semicircular guide holes 18 are formed in the peripheral wall portion 14 at two diagonally inner sides so as to protrude outward and extend in the vertical direction. The guide post of the connector 30 is received. The inner peripheral shape of the peripheral wall portion 14 forms a narrow portion B1 through a wide portion A1 and a tapered portion in order to prevent erroneous fitting of the current receiving connector 30.

In the space surrounded by the peripheral wall portion 14,
A power terminal coupling portion 15 is provided in the wide portion A1, a signal terminal coupling portion 16 is provided in the narrow portion B1, and a ground terminal coupling portion 17 is provided between the two.

A power supply terminal connecting portion 15 for supplying a high current is shown in FIG.
A support part 1 made of an insulating material for supporting a power supply terminal
9 and 19 are provided close to the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 14 so as to face each other.
A groove for receiving the peripheral wall of the receiving connector 30 is formed.
ing. These two support portions 19, 19 have a partition wall portion 20.
Are arranged. The partition wall portion 20 extends to a height near the peripheral edge of the peripheral wall portion 14, and has reinforcing ribs 21 extending in the vertical direction on both surfaces. Inwardly extending grooves 22 are formed in the support portions 19 located on both sides of the partition wall portion 20 so as to extend in the vertical direction, and the power supply terminals 23 are inserted therein (in the grooves 22 of the left support portion 19). The power terminals are not visible in the figure because they are below). Further, the support portion 19 has a sub-partition wall portion 24 between the adjacent grooves 22. The sub-partition wall portion 24 is lower than the above-mentioned partition wall portion 20 in the figure, but may extend to the same height.

The signal terminal coupling portion 16 is provided upright in a column shape at the center in the width direction of the region of the narrow portion B1, and a plurality of vertical grooves 25 are formed on both surfaces so as to form a comb tooth shape. A signal terminal 26 is inserted below each vertical groove 25.

The ground terminal coupling part 17 is disposed between the power terminal coupling part 15 and the signal terminal coupling part 16, and the ground terminal 28 is inserted into a thin column having a U-shaped plane. .

The power supply terminal 23, the signal terminal 26, and the ground terminal 28 are all inserted from below the housing 11 in the figure, and the positions of the contact portions of the terminals 23, 26, 28 are grounded from above in the height direction. A terminal 28, a power terminal 23 and then a signal terminal 26 are arranged.

On the other hand, the current receiving side connector 30 has a peripheral wall portion suitable for fitting to the above current supplying side connector 10.
It is in the form of doing. A flange portion 32 is provided at a lower portion of the housing 31 having a substantially square planar shape, and guide columns 33 provided at diagonal corners of the housing 31 are inserted into the guide holes 18 of the current supply side connector 10. When the connection is made in this manner, the flange portion 32 is supported in contact with the flange portion 12 of the current supply side connector 10.

The current receiving connector 30, and a narrow narrow portion B2 and the outer wider wide portion A2, and correspond respectively to the wide portion A1 and a narrow portion B2 of the current supply side connector 10 Ayamahama It is not compatible.

In the area of the wide portion A2, a support portion 34 is provided at a central portion in the width direction, and the support portion 34 is formed with a groove 35 which opens outward and extends in the vertical direction on the opposing outer surface. A power terminal 36 having a contact portion is inserted from below. An intermediate groove 37 is formed in the support portion 34 so as to receive the partition wall portion 20 of the power supply terminal connection portion 15 of the power supply side connector 10 and the reinforcing rib 21 thereof. Further, the supporting portion 34 has a groove 3 adjacent thereto.
A guide groove 38 is formed between each pair 5 so as to receive the sub-partition 24 of the power supply side connector 10.

Comb-shaped grooves 39 are formed on both inner surfaces of the narrow portion B2, and signal terminals 40 having elastic contact portions are inserted into the grooves 39 from below. It slightly protrudes from the signal terminal 39, and comes into elastic contact with the corresponding signal terminal 26 of the signal terminal coupling portion 16 of the current supply side connector 10.

A U-shaped groove 41 is formed at the boundary between the wide portion A2 and the narrow portion B2, and a ground terminal 42 is inserted therein. Peripheral surface of the housing of the current-side connector 30 is forms a wall surface, a ground terminal disposed on the current-side connector 30, the power supply terminals, the signal terminals are eliminated be exposed to the outside, the terminal It is convenient without being deformed, damaged or corroded by dirt.

The above-described current supply side connector 10 is connected to the apparatus and is in a state where current can be supplied at any time by fitting the current receiving side connector. Even if the user of the apparatus mishandles the current supply side connector 10, the power supply terminals 23 through which a high current flows have a partition wall portion 20 and a sub-partition wall portion 24, and the space between the power supply terminal 23 and the peripheral wall portion 14 is provided. Is narrowed, so that the fingertip does not enter, and the power supply terminal 23 is not touched, and there is no danger of destruction of the device or danger to the human body.

Normally, in this type of connector, as described above, since the so-called sequence connection is performed in the order of the ground terminal, the power supply terminal, and the signal terminal, the power supply terminal in the power supply terminal coupling portion is arranged close to the opening side. The power supply terminal is prevented from touching. Therefore, the other connecting portion is blocked by the peripheral wall portion 14 without particularly providing a partition wall, and does not touch the signal terminal disposed further inside.

[0027]

According to the present invention, As described above, provided with a peripheral wall the current supply side connector, the partition wall is provided between the terminals of at least a high-current coupling unit, the said partition Setsukabe to a height close to the peripheral wall Extendable and also supported by the current receiving connector
Because there is a peripheral wall around the part , there is no danger of injury due to the user accidentally putting their fingertips and short-circuiting the terminals , and reversing the relationship between the current supply side and the receiving side.
There is no similar danger when using both connectors . In addition, the terminals (contacts) of all the joints are not exposed to the outside by the peripheral wall portion, so that the terminals are not short-circuited by being gripped. Also, it is not deformed, damaged or corroded by dirt.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Current supply side connector 11 Housing 14 Peripheral wall part 15 Coupling part (high current coupling part (power supply terminal coupling part)) 16 Coupling part (signal terminal coupling part) 17 Coupling part (ground terminal coupling part) 20 Partition wall part 21 Reinforcement Rib 30 current receiving connector

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A current supply side connector comprising: a current supply side connector; and a current receiving side connector fitted and connected to the current supply side connector and receiving a current supply.
In that each of the connectors has a coupling portion of the plurality heterogeneous, the housing of the current supply side connector has a peripheral wall that the guide upon fitting all surrounds the coupling portion counterpart serving current-side connector, the dissimilar Of the peripheral wall between at least one pair of the high current coupling portions of the coupling portions.
It includes a partition wall portion of the insulating material extends up to a height near the current receivingside
Connector housing supports terminals on side
A peripheral wall portion is provided around the support portion, and the peripheral wall portion of the current receiving side connector is provided.
Wall supports the peripheral wall and terminal of the current supply side connector
So that it fits into the groove formed between the supporting parts
Composite electrical connector being characterized in that it it. 2. The composite electric connector according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall guides when the counterpart current receiving connector is fitted. 3. The composite connector according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is provided with a reinforcing rib. (4) The current supply side connector is
Sub-partition wall between terminals located in each partitioned space
The current receiving connector receives the sub-partition wall.
2. A guide groove to be formed.
A composite electrical connector according to any one of claims 3 to 4.
Ta.