EP0438001A1 - Connector insertion device - Google Patents

Connector insertion device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0438001A1
EP0438001A1 EP90403779A EP90403779A EP0438001A1 EP 0438001 A1 EP0438001 A1 EP 0438001A1 EP 90403779 A EP90403779 A EP 90403779A EP 90403779 A EP90403779 A EP 90403779A EP 0438001 A1 EP0438001 A1 EP 0438001A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
claw
strips
lamellae
contact
intended
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP90403779A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0438001B1 (en
Inventor
Patrick Beltrami
Jean-Paul Gimenes
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Amphenol Socapex SA
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Amphenol Socapex SA
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Publication of EP0438001A1 publication Critical patent/EP0438001A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0438001B1 publication Critical patent/EP0438001B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/82—Coupling devices connected with low or zero insertion force
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/72—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/721—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an insertion device for a connector.
  • connectors are made with a body from which one or more rows of flexible contact strips protrude, which come to rest under a slight elastic pressure on arranged contact pads. on the surface of the printed circuit board, along one of its edges.
  • the flexible lamellae and the contact pads become increasingly narrow and close together and in general arranged on either side of the printed circuit board, often also in two parallel rows on one side of the card, or both.
  • the card is usually inserted by hand between the rows of contact strips of the connector, the latter having curved ends forming ramps allowing the introduction of the card.
  • the number of contacts is very high, for example 300 or more, the total resistance that the strips exert against the introduction of the card becomes high and the effort to be exerted by the operator becomes also important.
  • the cards can have different thicknesses depending on the applications, so that the difficulty of insertion is higher the thicker the card.
  • the strips end at their opposite end, in the body, by male pins or female contact sockets which risk being misaligned in the event of deformation of the strips and causing false contacts, or faulty contacts, vis-à-vis a coupled connector member.
  • the latter can be coated before assembly on the connector with a solder paste which is caused to melt by passage through the oven, and there is a risk of spreading a part of this solder paste during the introduction of the card, which may result in short-circuits between neighboring pads and / or strips.
  • the object of the invention is to produce a device which is simple and easy to implement in order to allow the introduction of the card between the rows of strips of the connector while avoiding the aforementioned drawbacks.
  • the invention relates to an insertion device for a connector comprising at least one row of parallel elongated contact strips projecting from a body and intended to come into contact and to be welded flat on contact pads at the edge.
  • a printed circuit board characterized in that it comprises a base, a housing in said base intended to receive said body, at least one claw member mounted on the base and movable from a first distant position said contact strips at a second position of engagement with said contact strips, and an operating device intended to move the claw member towards a third position offset transversely by the second relative to the direction of elongation of the strips in which the claw member moves the lamellae by transverse bending.
  • the device makes it possible to hold the body and to keep the strips spaced elastically transversely, which leaves sufficient space for the introduction of the card without effort and without risk of deforming the strips, or of spreading the solder paste.
  • the alignment of the lamellae and the pads in the lateral direction poses no difficulty.
  • the operating device comprises at least one operating member of elongated shape which extends, when the claw member occupies its third position in a direction substantially parallel to the lamellae and contributes to defining a sector d orientation substantially parallel to the slats for the introduction of a card. In this way, it is not possible to introduce a card at an angle with respect to the lamellae and the risk of deforming the lamellae is avoided.
  • the claw member is brought back to its second position, in which the lamellae resiliently resume their shape and come to rest on the contact pads, then to its first position in which it releases the lamellae.
  • the card and the connector can then be moved away from the base and placed in the oven to cause the solder paste to melt and the strips to be welded to the contact pads.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a printed circuit board 10 formed of a substrate 12 of the mono or multilayer type which carries along and at the edge of its lower and upper surfaces metal contact pads 14 connected to conductive tracks not shown on the board as well known.
  • the areas are in the form of narrow and elongated bands perpendicular to the edge of the map and arranged in rows with a small interval between them.
  • the connector comprises a body 18 composed of a central block 20 provided with wings 22 defining on either side of the body protective housings 24 and 26, on one side to house contact strips 28 and the other for rods 30 or connector sockets 32 which are integral with strips 28 by means of connecting sections 34, which pass through the body 18 and are fixed there in any suitable manner as will be apparent to the skilled person.
  • the rods 30 or sockets 32 are intended to couple with sockets and rods of another well-known connector element and not shown.
  • the contact strips 28 are intended to come to rest on the contact pads of the card under a certain elastic pressure.
  • the slats have a curved part 36 inward and terminate in curved ends 38 outward.
  • two rows of facing slats are provided, of generally symmetrical shape, separated at rest by a distance less than the thickness of the card, it being understood that the connector 16 can be associated with more or less thick cards.
  • the two ends 38 curved towards the outside of the lamellae 28 together form a pair of ramps and during the introduction of the card 10, in the direction of the arrow F in FIG. 2, this causes the elastic spacing of the two rows of strips, then after advancing the card, the strips 28 are placed on the contact pads 14.
  • the assembly between the card 10 and the connector 16 is then terminated by a weld between the lamellae 28 and the pads 14.
  • a weld between the lamellae 28 and the pads 14 To do this, one can apply before assembly a drop of solder paste to each contact pad 14, then the '' the card and the connector are temporarily heated once assembled in order to cause the solder paste to melt and the strips to be welded to the contact pads.
  • the introduction of the card between the slats represents a delicate operation, especially when the thickness of the card is important. Indeed, when there are a large number of lamellae, up to 300 or more, they exert a significant resistance against the introduction of the card and the operator must then exert a greater force to overcome this resistance.
  • the sliding of the strips on the contact pads can cause spreading of the solder paste, and the appearance of short circuits during the melting of the solder paste.
  • the device 50 illustrated in Figures 3 to 6 avoids these drawbacks.
  • It comprises a horizontal base 52, possibly provided with means making it possible to fix it to a table, or to any suitable support, in which an elongated housing 54 is defined intended to receive the body 18 of the connector 16, the housing and the body being provided of complementary shapes so as to allow the body to be introduced only in one position, in which the contact strips 28 protrude upwards.
  • the device On the side of the single row 28a of strips, the device comprises a flap or elongated member 56 extending over the entire length of the connector, comprising a claw 58 along its edge adjacent to the strips and pivoting along its edge opposite the connector around an axis 60, the flap comprising an operating arm 62 making it possible to pivot it from a first position known as the high position in which the flap 56 is released from the strips (FIG. 4) to a second position known as the low position in which the claw edge 58 engages behind the ends of the strips 28a ( Figure 5).
  • a flap or elongated member 56 extending over the entire length of the connector, comprising a claw 58 along its edge adjacent to the strips and pivoting along its edge opposite the connector around an axis 60, the flap comprising an operating arm 62 making it possible to pivot it from a first position known as the high position in which the flap 56 is released from the strips (FIG. 4) to a second position known as the low position in which the claw edge 58 engages behind the ends
  • the axis 60 is mounted on the bases 52 by means of eccentric end pieces 64 and is integral with an operating lever 66.
  • a rotation of the lever 66 from a low, substantially horizontal position ( Figures 4 and 5) to a high, substantially vertical position ( Figure 6) allows, through the eccentric tips 64, to move the flap 56 transversely to a third position ( Figure 6) offset transversely from the second ( Figure 5) by elastically spreading the strips 28a of the corresponding row.
  • the device On the side of the double row of lamellae 28b, 28c composed of a row of short lamellae 28c and a row of long lamellae 28b, the device also comprises an elongated flap 68, similar to the first, pivotally mounted around an axis 70 the along its edge opposite the lamellae and also provided with an operating arm 72 in order to rotate it from a first high position ( Figure 4) to a second low position ( Figure 5).
  • an elongated flap 68 similar to the first, pivotally mounted around an axis 70 the along its edge opposite the lamellae and also provided with an operating arm 72 in order to rotate it from a first high position (Figure 4) to a second low position (Figure 5).
  • the flap 68 comprises a series of notches 74 perpendicular to the axis, of a width slightly greater than that of the long strips 28b and defining between them teeth 76 of a width slightly less than the interval between the slats.
  • Each tooth 76 has two claws: a lower claw 78 by which it can engage behind the ends of the slats of the row of short slats 28c, and a lateral claw 80 by which it can engage behind the slats of the row of long strips 28b, after slight lateral movement of the flap 68 or of the connector 16.
  • the axis 70 is mounted on the base by means of eccentric end pieces 82 and carries an operating lever 84 pivoting from a horizontal position ( Figures 4, 5) to a vertical position ( Figure 6 ), in order to move the flap 68 transversely and elastically spread the slats of the two rows 28b, 28c.
  • the operating levers 66, 84 of the axes 60, 70 with eccentric 64, 82 are directed substantially vertically and define between them a sector S generally vertical, therefore generally parallel to the lamellae, relatively limited angle which constitutes the only area of approach and introduction of the map. There is therefore no risk, during this introduction, of deforming the strips by approaching at an excessive angle, or of catching the ends of the strips when inserting the card, or else of spreading the solder paste by friction against the strips or the other parts of the device.
  • the slats can be released by reverse movement of the operating levers 66, 84 from the eccentric axes. The strips then come to rest on the contact pads; then by reverse movement of the flap 68 or of the connector 16 and of the operating arms 62, 72 of the flaps 56, 58, it is possible to extract the card and the connector in place thereon, then perfect the electrical connection by melting the solder paste by passing the set through a suitable oven.
  • the invention applies to the case where the card comprises a single row of contact pads and the connector comprises a single row of contact strips, and it will be understood that the device in this case comprises a single claw member and a single member or associated operating lever.
  • the device On the opposite side, provision may be made, but not necessarily, for the device to include fixed means or mobile intended to project vertically opposite the operating member and define the opposite limit of the sector S of introduction of the card.

Abstract

The invention relates to an insertion device (50) for a connector (16) comprising at least one row of parallel elongate contact blades (28) which extend beyond a body (18) and are intended to come into contact with (14) and to be soldered flat against edge-contact areas of a printed-circuit board (10), characterised in that it comprises a base (52), a housing (54) in the said base, which housing is intended to receive the said body (18), at least one member (56) having a claw (58), which member is mounted on the base and can move from a first position away from the said contact blades (28) to a second position for engagement with the said contact blades, and a manoeuvring device (66) intended to move the member having a claw towards a third position which is transversely offset from the second position in relation to the extension direction of the blades, in which direction the member having a claw moves the blades (28) by transverse bending. <IMAGE>

Description

La présent invention concerne un dispositif d'insertion pour connecteur.The present invention relates to an insertion device for a connector.

Afin de fixer un connecteur sur une bordure d'une carte de circuit imprimé on réalise des connecteurs dotés d'un corps duquel font saillie une ou plusieurs rangées de lamelles de contact flexibles qui viennent reposer sous une légère pression élastique sur des plages de contact ménagées en surface de la carte de circuit imprimé, le long de l'une de ses bordures.In order to fix a connector on an edge of a printed circuit board, connectors are made with a body from which one or more rows of flexible contact strips protrude, which come to rest under a slight elastic pressure on arranged contact pads. on the surface of the printed circuit board, along one of its edges.

Compte tenu de la miniaturisation et de l'augmentation du nombre de contacts, les lamelles flexibles et les plages de contact deviennent de plus en plus étroites et rapprochées et en général disposées de part et d'autre de la carte de circuit imprimé, souvent également sur deux rangées parallèles sur un côté de la carte, ou sur les deux.Given the miniaturization and the increase in the number of contacts, the flexible lamellae and the contact pads become increasingly narrow and close together and in general arranged on either side of the printed circuit board, often also in two parallel rows on one side of the card, or both.

Pous assembler la carte et le connecteur, on insère habituellement à la main la carte entre les rangées de lamelles de contact du conncectuer, ces dernières comportant des extrémités courbées formant des rampes permetttant l'introduction de la carte.To assemble the card and the connector, the card is usually inserted by hand between the rows of contact strips of the connector, the latter having curved ends forming ramps allowing the introduction of the card.

Ceci présente divers inconvénients :This has various drawbacks:

En premier lieu, lorsque le nombre de contacts est très élevé, par exemple 300 ou plus, la résistance totale que les lamelles exercent à l'encontre de l'introduction de la carte devient élevée et l'effort à exercer par l'opérateur devient également important.First, when the number of contacts is very high, for example 300 or more, the total resistance that the strips exert against the introduction of the card becomes high and the effort to be exerted by the operator becomes also important.

De plus, les cartes peuvent avoir des épaisseurs différentes selon les applications, de sorte que la difficulté d'introduction est d'autant plus élevée que la carte est plus épaisse.In addition, the cards can have different thicknesses depending on the applications, so that the difficulty of insertion is higher the thicker the card.

En second lieu, plus les difficultés d'introduction sont grandes, plus l'opérateur s'efforce de parvenir à l'introduction en inclinant notamment la carte par rapport aux lamelles de contact. Il risque ainsi de provoquer des déformations de certaines au moins de ces lamelles qui conduiront à un décalage entre la lamelle et la plage de contact correspondante, et même éventuellement à des courts-circuits, ou encore des faux contacts.Secondly, the greater the introduction difficulties, the more the operator strives to achieve the introduction by inclining the card in particular with respect to the contact strips. It thus risks causing deformations of at least some of these strips which will lead to a shift between the strip and the corresponding contact area, and even possibly short-circuits, or even false contacts.

De plus, les lamelles se terminent à leur extrémité opposée, dans le corps, par des broches mâles ou des douilles femelles de contact qui risquent d'être désalignées en cas de déformation des lamelles et de provoquer des faux contacts, ou des contacts défectueux, vis-à-vis d'un organe de connecteur accouplé.In addition, the strips end at their opposite end, in the body, by male pins or female contact sockets which risk being misaligned in the event of deformation of the strips and causing false contacts, or faulty contacts, vis-à-vis a coupled connector member.

En troisième lieu, en vue de la soudure des lamelles sur les plages, ces dernières peuvent être enduites avant assemblage sur le connecteur d'une pâte à braser dont on provoque la fusion par passage au four, et l'on risque d'étaler une partie de cette pâte à braser lors de l'introduction de la carte, dont il peut résulter des court-circuits entre plages et/ou lamelles voisines.Thirdly, in view of the welding of the strips on the pads, the latter can be coated before assembly on the connector with a solder paste which is caused to melt by passage through the oven, and there is a risk of spreading a part of this solder paste during the introduction of the card, which may result in short-circuits between neighboring pads and / or strips.

En quatrième lieu, il peut y avoir après introduction de la carte un décalage latéral entre les lamelles et les plages et l'on doit faire coulisser la carte dans son plan par rapport aux lamelles de façon à le résorber. Il s'ensuit un risque d'étalement de la pâte à braser ; également, on risque de déformer latéralement les lamelles. Souvent, cette opération ne pourra être exécutée à cause des frottements trop élevés.Fourth, after the card has been inserted, there may be a lateral offset between the slats and the pads and the card must be made to slide in its plane relative to the slats so as to absorb it. There is a risk of spreading the solder paste; also, there is a risk of laterally deforming the lamellae. Often, this operation cannot be performed because of excessive friction.

En dernier lieu, ces problèmes sont aggravés lorsque les lamelles sont disposées suivant au moins deux rangées parallèles sur l'un des côtés de la carte ou les deux.Finally, these problems are compounded when the coverslips are arranged in at least two parallel rows on one or both sides of the card.

L'invention a pour but de réaliser un dispositif simple et facile à mettre en oeuvre afin de permettre l'introduction de la carte entre les rangées de lamelles du connecteur en évitant les inconvénients précités.The object of the invention is to produce a device which is simple and easy to implement in order to allow the introduction of the card between the rows of strips of the connector while avoiding the aforementioned drawbacks.

A cet effet, l'invention concerne un dispositif d'insertion pour connecteur comportant au moins une rangée de lamelles de contacts allongées parallèles dépassant d'un corps et destinées à entrer en contact et à être soudées à plat sur des plages de contact en bordure d'une carte de circuits imprimés, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend une base, un logement dans ladite base destiné à recevoir ledit corps, au moins un organe à griffe monté sur la base et déplaçable d'une première position éloignée desdites lamelles de contacts à une seconde position d'engagement avec lesdites lamelles de contacts, et un dispositif de manoeuvre destiné à déplacer l'organe à griffe vers une troisième position décalée transversalement de la seconde par rapport à la direction d'allongement des lamelles dans laquelle l'organe à griffe déplace les lamelles par fléchissement transversal.To this end, the invention relates to an insertion device for a connector comprising at least one row of parallel elongated contact strips projecting from a body and intended to come into contact and to be welded flat on contact pads at the edge. a printed circuit board, characterized in that it comprises a base, a housing in said base intended to receive said body, at least one claw member mounted on the base and movable from a first distant position said contact strips at a second position of engagement with said contact strips, and an operating device intended to move the claw member towards a third position offset transversely by the second relative to the direction of elongation of the strips in which the claw member moves the lamellae by transverse bending.

Ainsi, le dispositif permet de tenir le corps et de maintenir les lamelles écartées élastiquement transversalement, ce qui laisse un espace suffisant pour l'introduction de la carte sans effort et sans risque de déformer les lamelles, ni d'étaler la pâte à braser. En outre, la mise en coïncidence des lamelles et des plages dans le sens latéral ne pose aucune difficulté.Thus, the device makes it possible to hold the body and to keep the strips spaced elastically transversely, which leaves sufficient space for the introduction of the card without effort and without risk of deforming the strips, or of spreading the solder paste. In addition, the alignment of the lamellae and the pads in the lateral direction poses no difficulty.

Selon un mode de réalisation particulier, le dispositif de manoeuvre comporte au moins un organe de manoeuvre de forme allongée qui s'étend, lorsque l'organe à griffe occupe sa troisième position dans une direction sensiblement parallèle aux lamelles et contribue à définir un secteur d'orientation sensiblement parallèle aux lamelles en vue de l'introduction d'une carte. De la sorte, il n'est pas possible d'introduire une carte de façon inclinée par rapport aux lamelles et l'on évite le risque de déformer les lamelles.According to a particular embodiment, the operating device comprises at least one operating member of elongated shape which extends, when the claw member occupies its third position in a direction substantially parallel to the lamellae and contributes to defining a sector d orientation substantially parallel to the slats for the introduction of a card. In this way, it is not possible to introduce a card at an angle with respect to the lamellae and the risk of deforming the lamellae is avoided.

Une fois la carte mise en place, l'organe à griffe est ramené vers sa seconde position, dans laquelle les lamelles reprennent élastiquement leur forme et viennent reposer sur les plages de contact, puis vers sa première position dans laquelle il libère les lamelles.Once the card is in place, the claw member is brought back to its second position, in which the lamellae resiliently resume their shape and come to rest on the contact pads, then to its first position in which it releases the lamellae.

La carte et le connecteur peuvent alors être éloignés du socle et passés au four pour provoquer la fusion de la pâte à braser et la soudure des lamelles sur les plages de contact.The card and the connector can then be moved away from the base and placed in the oven to cause the solder paste to melt and the strips to be welded to the contact pads.

Divers détails et avantages de l'invention apparaitront clairement à la lecture de la description qui va suivre, en se référant aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues en coupe schématiques d'un connecteur et d'une carte de circuit imprimé avant et après assemblage,
  • la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un mode de réalisation d'un dispositif selon la présente invention,
  • la figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale du dispositif suivant la ligne 4-4 à la figure 3 dans sa position initiale,
  • la figure 5 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 4 du dispositif dans une position intermédiaire, et
  • la figure 6 est une vue analogue du dispositif dans sa position de mise en oeuvre finale.
Various details and advantages of the invention will appear clearly on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • Figures 1 and 2 are schematic sectional views of a connector and a printed circuit board before and after assembly,
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention,
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device along line 4-4 in FIG. 3 in its initial position,
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 of the device in an intermediate position, and
  • Figure 6 is a similar view of the device in its final implementation position.

La figure 1 illustre une carte de circuit imprimé 10 formée d'un substrat 12 du type mono ou multicouches qui porte le long et en bordure de ses surfaces inférieure et supérieure des plages de contact métalliques 14 reliées à des pistes conductrices non représentées de la carte comme bien connu. Les plages ont la forme de bandes étroites et allongées perpendiculairement à la bordure de la carte et disposées en rangées avec un faible intervalle entre elles.FIG. 1 illustrates a printed circuit board 10 formed of a substrate 12 of the mono or multilayer type which carries along and at the edge of its lower and upper surfaces metal contact pads 14 connected to conductive tracks not shown on the board as well known. The areas are in the form of narrow and elongated bands perpendicular to the edge of the map and arranged in rows with a small interval between them.

D'autre part, on a représenté à cette même figure un connecteur 16 destiné à être raccordé à la carte 10.On the other hand, there is shown in this same figure a connector 16 intended to be connected to the card 10.

Le connecteur comprend un corps 18 composé d'un bloc central 20 doté d'ailes 22 définissant de part et d'autre du corps des logements de protection 24 et 26, d'un côté pour abriter des lamelles de contact 28 et de l'autre pour des tiges 30 ou des douilles 32 de connecteur qui sont solidaires de lamelles 28 au moyen de tronçons de liaison 34, lesquels traversent le corps 18 et y sont fixés de toute manière appropriée comme il apparaîtra à l'homme de métier.The connector comprises a body 18 composed of a central block 20 provided with wings 22 defining on either side of the body protective housings 24 and 26, on one side to house contact strips 28 and the other for rods 30 or connector sockets 32 which are integral with strips 28 by means of connecting sections 34, which pass through the body 18 and are fixed there in any suitable manner as will be apparent to the skilled person.

Les tiges 30 ou douilles 32 sont destinées à s'accoupler avec des douilles et tiges d'un autre élément de connecteur bien connu et non représenté.The rods 30 or sockets 32 are intended to couple with sockets and rods of another well-known connector element and not shown.

Les lamelles de contact 28 sont destinées à venir reposer sur les plages de contact de la carte sous une certaine pression élastique.The contact strips 28 are intended to come to rest on the contact pads of the card under a certain elastic pressure.

A cet effet, les lamelles ont une partie 36 incurvée vers l'intérieur et se terminent par des extrémités recourbées 38 vers l'extérieur.For this purpose, the slats have a curved part 36 inward and terminate in curved ends 38 outward.

Dans le cas illustré, il est prévu deux rangées de lamelles en vis-à-vis, de forme généralement symétrique, séparées au repos par une distance inférieure à l'épaisseur de la carte, étant entendu que le connecteur 16 peut être associé à des cartes plus ou moins épaisses.In the illustrated case, two rows of facing slats are provided, of generally symmetrical shape, separated at rest by a distance less than the thickness of the card, it being understood that the connector 16 can be associated with more or less thick cards.

Les deux extrémités 38 recourbées vers l'extérieur des lamelles 28 forment ensemble une paire de rampes et lors de l'introduction de la carte 10, dans le sens de la flèche F à la figure 2, celle-ci provoque l'écartement élastique des deux rangées de lamelles, puis après avancée de la carte, les lamelles 28 viennent se placer sur les plages de contact 14.The two ends 38 curved towards the outside of the lamellae 28 together form a pair of ramps and during the introduction of the card 10, in the direction of the arrow F in FIG. 2, this causes the elastic spacing of the two rows of strips, then after advancing the card, the strips 28 are placed on the contact pads 14.

L'assemblage entre la carte 10 et le connecteur 16 est ensuite terminé par une soudure entre les lamelles 28 et les plages 14. Pour ce faire, on peut appliquer avant assemblage une goutte de pâte à braser sur chaque plage de contact 14, puis l'on chauffe temporairement la carte et le connecteur une fois assemblés afin de provoquer la fusion de la pâte à braser et la soudure des lamelles sur les plages de contact.The assembly between the card 10 and the connector 16 is then terminated by a weld between the lamellae 28 and the pads 14. To do this, one can apply before assembly a drop of solder paste to each contact pad 14, then the '' the card and the connector are temporarily heated once assembled in order to cause the solder paste to melt and the strips to be welded to the contact pads.

L'introduction de la carte entre les lamelles représente une opération délicate, tout particulièrement lorsque l'épaisseur de la carte est importante. En effet, lorsqu'il y a un grand nombre de lamelles, jusqu'à 300 ou au delà, elles exercent une résistance importante contre l'introduction de la carte et l'opérateur doit alors exercer une force supérieure pour vaincre cette résistance.The introduction of the card between the slats represents a delicate operation, especially when the thickness of the card is important. Indeed, when there are a large number of lamellae, up to 300 or more, they exert a significant resistance against the introduction of the card and the operator must then exert a greater force to overcome this resistance.

Il est souvent tenté d'incliner la carte suivant une direction oblique par rapport aux lamelles, comme indiqué en pointillés, à la figure 2. Mais il risque de provoquer des déformations irrémédiables des lamelles 28 qui ne pourront plus venir en coïncidence sur les plages 14, ce qui peut entraîner des courts-circuits, ou ne pourront plus faire contact avec les plages, ce qui peut entraîner des absences de contact, ou des faux contacts.It is often attempted to tilt the card in an oblique direction relative to the lamellae, as indicated in dotted lines, in FIG. 2. But it risks causing irreparable deformations of the lamellae 28 which will no longer be able to coincide on the pads 14 , which can lead to short-circuits, or can no longer make contact with the pads, which can lead to lack of contact, or false contacts.

De plus, comme indiqué en introduction, il convient de disposer les lamelles et les plages de contact exactement en coïncidence, ce qui suppose de présenter la carte correctement face aux lamelles dès le début de l'introduction puisqu'il est pratiquement impossible de faire glisser la carte latéralement par rapport aux lamelles.In addition, as indicated in the introduction, it is advisable to arrange the lamellae and the contact pads exactly in coincidence, which means presenting the card correctly facing the lamellae from the start of the introduction since it is practically impossible to slide the card laterally with respect to the lamellae.

Enfin, comme déjà indiqué, le glissement des lamelles sur les plages de contact peut provoquer un étalement de la pâte à braser, et l'apparition de courts-circuits lors de la fusion de la pâte à braser.Finally, as already indicated, the sliding of the strips on the contact pads can cause spreading of the solder paste, and the appearance of short circuits during the melting of the solder paste.

Le dispositif 50 illustré aux figures 3 à 6 permet d'éviter ces inconvénients.The device 50 illustrated in Figures 3 to 6 avoids these drawbacks.

Il comprend une base horizontale 52, munie éventuellement de moyens permettant de la fixer à une table, ou à tout support approprié, dans laquelle est défini un logement allongé 54 destiné à recevoir le corps 18 du connecteur 16, le logement et le corps étant munis de formes complémentaires afin de ne permettre l'introduction du corps que dans une seule position, dans laquelle les lamelles 28 de contact sont en saillie vers le haut.It comprises a horizontal base 52, possibly provided with means making it possible to fix it to a table, or to any suitable support, in which an elongated housing 54 is defined intended to receive the body 18 of the connector 16, the housing and the body being provided of complementary shapes so as to allow the body to be introduced only in one position, in which the contact strips 28 protrude upwards.

De telles formes complémentaires sont bien connues des hommes de métier et n'ont donc pas été représentées.Such complementary forms are well known to those skilled in the art and have therefore not been shown.

On note que dans le mode de réalisation illustré, il est prévu une rangée de lamelles 28a d'un côté et deux rangées 28b, 28c de l'autre, mais comme on le verra, l'invention s'applique aussi bien à tous les cas suivants :

  • une ou deux rangées d'un seul côté
  • une ou deux rangées des deux côtés.
Note that in the illustrated embodiment, there is provided a row of strips 28a on one side and two rows 28b, 28c on the other, but as will be seen, the invention applies equally to all following cases:
  • one or two rows on one side
  • one or two rows on both sides.

Du côté de la rangée unique 28a de lamelles, le dispositif comprend un volet ou organe allongé 56 s'étendant sur toute la longueur du connecteur, comportant une griffe 58 le long de sa bordure voisine des lamelles et pivotant le long de sa bordure opposée au connecteur autour d'un axe 60, le volet comportant un bras de manoeuvre 62 permettant de le faire pivoter d'une première position dite position haute dans laquelle le volet 56 est dégagé des lamelles (Figure 4) à une seconde position dite position basse dans laquelle la bordure à griffe 58 vient s'engager derrière les extrémités des lamelles 28a (Figure 5).On the side of the single row 28a of strips, the device comprises a flap or elongated member 56 extending over the entire length of the connector, comprising a claw 58 along its edge adjacent to the strips and pivoting along its edge opposite the connector around an axis 60, the flap comprising an operating arm 62 making it possible to pivot it from a first position known as the high position in which the flap 56 is released from the strips (FIG. 4) to a second position known as the low position in which the claw edge 58 engages behind the ends of the strips 28a (Figure 5).

L'axe 60 est monté sur les base 52 par l'intermédiaire d'embouts excentriques 64 et est solidaire d'un levier de manoeuvre 66.The axis 60 is mounted on the bases 52 by means of eccentric end pieces 64 and is integral with an operating lever 66.

Une rotation du levier 66 depuis une position basse, sensiblement horizontale (Figures 4 et 5) jusqu'à une position haute, sensiblement verticale (Figure 6) permet, grâce aux embouts excentriques 64, de faire déplacer transversalement le volet 56 jusqu'à une troisième position (Figure 6) décalée transversalement de la seconde (Figure 5) en écartant élastiquement les lamelles 28a de la rangée correspondante.A rotation of the lever 66 from a low, substantially horizontal position (Figures 4 and 5) to a high, substantially vertical position (Figure 6) allows, through the eccentric tips 64, to move the flap 56 transversely to a third position (Figure 6) offset transversely from the second (Figure 5) by elastically spreading the strips 28a of the corresponding row.

Du côté de la double rangée de lamelles 28b, 28c composée d'une rangée de lamelles courtes 28c et une rangée de lamelles longues 28b, le dispositif comprend également un volet 68 allongé, analogue au premier, monté pivotant autour d'un axe 70 le long de sa bordure opposée aux lamelles et également muni d'un bras de manoeuvre 72 afin de le faire pivoter d'une première position haute (Figure 4) à une seconde position basse (Figure 5).On the side of the double row of lamellae 28b, 28c composed of a row of short lamellae 28c and a row of long lamellae 28b, the device also comprises an elongated flap 68, similar to the first, pivotally mounted around an axis 70 the along its edge opposite the lamellae and also provided with an operating arm 72 in order to rotate it from a first high position (Figure 4) to a second low position (Figure 5).

Le long de sa bordure voisine des lamelles 28b, 28c le volet 68 comporte une série d'entailles 74 perpendiculaires à l'axe, d'une largeur légèrement supérieure à celle des lamelles longues 28b et définissant entre elles des dents 76 d'une largeur légèrement inférieure à l'intervalle séparant les lamelles. Chaque dent 76 comporte deux griffes : une griffe inférieure 78 par laquelle elle peut s'engager derrière les extrémités des lamelles de la rangée de lamelles courtes 28c, et une griffe latérale 80 par laquelle elle peut s'engager derrière les lamelles de la rangée de lamelles longues 28b, après léger déplacement latéral du volet 68 ou du connecteur 16.Along its border bordering on the strips 28b, 28c, the flap 68 comprises a series of notches 74 perpendicular to the axis, of a width slightly greater than that of the long strips 28b and defining between them teeth 76 of a width slightly less than the interval between the slats. Each tooth 76 has two claws: a lower claw 78 by which it can engage behind the ends of the slats of the row of short slats 28c, and a lateral claw 80 by which it can engage behind the slats of the row of long strips 28b, after slight lateral movement of the flap 68 or of the connector 16.

Comme pour le premier volet, l'axe 70 est monté sur la base par l'intermédiaire d'embouts excentriques 82 et porte un levier de manoeuvre 84 pivotant d'une position horizontale (Figures 4, 5) à une position verticale (Figure 6), afin de déplacer transversalement le volet 68 et écarter élastiquement les lamelles des deux rangées 28b, 28c.As for the first flap, the axis 70 is mounted on the base by means of eccentric end pieces 82 and carries an operating lever 84 pivoting from a horizontal position (Figures 4, 5) to a vertical position (Figure 6 ), in order to move the flap 68 transversely and elastically spread the slats of the two rows 28b, 28c.

D'une part, lorsque les lamelles 28a, 28b, 28c ont été ainsi écartées des deux côtés, il est facile d'introduire une carte 10 de circuit imprimé entre les rangées de lamelles, et de la positionner correctement, dans le sens latéral afin que les plages de contact 14 soient placées exactement en coïncidence face aux lamelles 28. Cette introduction se fait sans effort, donc sans risque de déformer les lamelles, et sans risque d'étaler la pâte à braser déposée sur les plages de contact.On the one hand, when the lamellae 28a, 28b, 28c have been thus separated on both sides, it is easy to insert a printed circuit board 10 between the rows of lamellae, and to position it correctly, in the lateral direction so that the contact pads 14 are placed exactly in coincidence with the strips 28. This introduction is done effortlessly, therefore without risk of deforming the strips, and without risk of spreading the solder paste deposited on the contact pads.

D'autre part dans ce mode de réalisation particulier, les leviers de manoeuvre 66, 84 des axes 60, 70 à excentrique 64, 82 sont dirigés sensiblement verticalement et définissent entre eux un secteur S généralement vertical, donc généralement parallèle aux lamelles, d'angle relativement limité qui constitue la seule zone d'approche et d'introduction de la carte. On ne risque donc pas, lors de cette introduction, de déformer les lamelles par approche sous un angle excessif, ni d'accrocher les extrémités des lamelles en introduisant la carte, ou encore d'étaler la pâte à braser par frottement contre les lamelles ou les autres pièces du dispositif.On the other hand in this particular embodiment, the operating levers 66, 84 of the axes 60, 70 with eccentric 64, 82 are directed substantially vertically and define between them a sector S generally vertical, therefore generally parallel to the lamellae, relatively limited angle which constitutes the only area of approach and introduction of the map. There is therefore no risk, during this introduction, of deforming the strips by approaching at an excessive angle, or of catching the ends of the strips when inserting the card, or else of spreading the solder paste by friction against the strips or the other parts of the device.

Une fois la carte mise correctement en place, on peut libérer les lamelles par mouvement inverse des leviers de manoeuvre 66, 84 des axes à excentriques. Les lamelles viennent alors se poser sur les plages de contact ; puis par mouvement inverse du volet 68 ou du connecteur 16 et des bras de manoeuvre 62, 72 des volets 56, 58, on peut extraire ensemble la carte et le connecteur en place sur celle-ci, puis parfaire la liaison électrique par fusion de la pâte à braser en faisant passer l'ensemble dans un four approprié.Once the card is correctly in place, the slats can be released by reverse movement of the operating levers 66, 84 from the eccentric axes. The strips then come to rest on the contact pads; then by reverse movement of the flap 68 or of the connector 16 and of the operating arms 62, 72 of the flaps 56, 58, it is possible to extract the card and the connector in place thereon, then perfect the electrical connection by melting the solder paste by passing the set through a suitable oven.

Bien entendu, l'invention s'applique au cas où la carte comprend une seule rangée de plages de contact et le connecteur comporte une seule rangée de lamelles de contact, et on comprendra que le dispositif comprend dans ce cas un seul organe à griffe et un seul organe ou levier de manoeuvre associé.Of course, the invention applies to the case where the card comprises a single row of contact pads and the connector comprises a single row of contact strips, and it will be understood that the device in this case comprises a single claw member and a single member or associated operating lever.

Du côté opposé, on prévoira éventuellement mais non nécessairement que le dispositif comprenne des moyens fixes ou mobiles destinés à faire saillie verticalement en regard de l'organe de manoeuvre et définir la limite opposée du secteur S d'introduction de la carte.On the opposite side, provision may be made, but not necessarily, for the device to include fixed means or mobile intended to project vertically opposite the operating member and define the opposite limit of the sector S of introduction of the card.

Claims (5)

Dispositif (50) d'insertion pour connecteur (16) comportant au moins une rangée de lamelles de contacts (28) allongées parallèles dépassant d'un corps (18) et destinées à entrer en contact (14) et à être soudées à plat sur des plages de contact en bordure d'une carte de circuits imprimés (10), caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend une base (52), un logement (54) dans ladite base destiné à recevoir ledit corps (18), au moins un organe (56) à griffe (58) monté sur la base et déplaçable d'une première position éloignée desdites lamelles de contacts (28) à une seconde position d'engagement avec lesdites lamelles de contacts, et un dispositif de manoeuvre (66) destiné à déplacer l'organe à griffe vers une troisième position décalée transversalement de la seconde par rapport à la direction d'allongement des lamelles dans laquelle l'organe à griffe déplace les lamelles (28) par fléchissement transversal.Insertion device (50) for connector (16) comprising at least one row of parallel elongated contact strips (28) projecting from a body (18) and intended to come into contact (14) and to be welded flat on contact pads on the edge of a printed circuit board (10), characterized in that it comprises a base (52), a housing (54) in said base intended to receive said body (18), at least one claw member (56) mounted on the base and movable from a first position remote from said contact strips (28) to a second position of engagement with said contact strips, and an operating device (66) intended moving the claw member to a third position offset transversely from the second relative to the direction of elongation of the lamellae in which the claw member displaces the lamellae (28) by transverse bending. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'organe à griffe consiste en un volet (56) allongé orienté sensiblement parallèlement aux lamelles, doté d'une griffe (58) le long d'une bordure voisine des lamelles et monté pivotant le long de sa bordure opposée autour d'un axe (60), ce dernier étant monté sur la base (52) par l'intermédiaire d'embouts excentriques (64) et portant ledit levier de manoeuvre (66).Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the claw member consists of an elongated flap (56) oriented substantially parallel to the slats, provided with a claw (58) along an edge adjacent to the slats and pivotally mounted on the along its opposite border around an axis (60), the latter being mounted on the base (52) by means of eccentric end pieces (64) and carrying said operating lever (66). Dispositif selon l'une ou l'autre des revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend deux organes (56, 68) à griffe (58 ; 78, 80) situés de part et d'autre du logement (54).Device according to either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises two members (56, 68) with claw (58; 78, 80) located on either side of the housing (54) . Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que l'un des organes (68) à griffe (78, 80) au moins comprend des dents (76) dotées de griffes inférieures (78) et latérales (80) destinées à coopérer avec des lamelles courtes (28c) et longues (28b) de connecteur.Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one of the claw members (68) (78, 80) comprises teeth (76) provided with lower (78) and lateral (80) claws ) intended to cooperate with short (28c) and long (28b) connector strips. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de manoeuvre (66) comporte au moins un organe de manoeuvre de forme allongée (66) qui s'étend, lorsque l'organe (56) à griffe (58) occupe sa troisième position, dans une direction sensiblement parallèle aux lamelles et contribue à définir un secteur (S) d'orientation sensiblement parallèle aux lamelles (28) en vue de l'introduction d'une carte (10).Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the operating device (66) comprises at least one operating member of elongated shape (66) which extends, when the member (56) with claw (58) occupies its third position, in a direction substantially parallel to the lamellae and contributes to defining a sector (S) of orientation substantially parallel to the lamellae (28) in view the introduction of a card (10).
EP19900403779 1990-01-17 1990-12-27 Connector insertion device Expired - Lifetime EP0438001B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9000507 1990-01-17
FR9000507A FR2657198B1 (en) 1990-01-17 1990-01-17 INSERTION DEVICE FOR CONNECTOR.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0438001A1 true EP0438001A1 (en) 1991-07-24
EP0438001B1 EP0438001B1 (en) 1993-05-05

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19900403779 Expired - Lifetime EP0438001B1 (en) 1990-01-17 1990-12-27 Connector insertion device

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EP (1) EP0438001B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69001544T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2657198B1 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3638167A (en) * 1970-04-13 1972-01-25 Bunker Ramo Controlled insertion force receptacle for flat circuit bearing elements
US4618199A (en) * 1985-08-30 1986-10-21 Pfaff Wayne Low insertion force socket
US4793816A (en) * 1987-07-20 1988-12-27 Industrial Electronic Hardware Terminal protector for circuit board connector

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3638167A (en) * 1970-04-13 1972-01-25 Bunker Ramo Controlled insertion force receptacle for flat circuit bearing elements
US4618199A (en) * 1985-08-30 1986-10-21 Pfaff Wayne Low insertion force socket
US4793816A (en) * 1987-07-20 1988-12-27 Industrial Electronic Hardware Terminal protector for circuit board connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2657198A1 (en) 1991-07-19
EP0438001B1 (en) 1993-05-05
DE69001544D1 (en) 1993-06-09
FR2657198B1 (en) 1992-05-15
DE69001544T2 (en) 1993-12-09

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