Patent ID: 6241539
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A connector driving apparatus for driving a plurality of connectors relatively to a plurality of mating connectors in a first direction so as to perform connection and disconnection of the plurality of connectors with the plurality of mating connectors, each of the connectors having a projection outwardly projecting therefrom in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, said apparatus comprising:a housing adapted to fixedly hold therein the mating connectors which are arranged one by one in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, the housing also being adapted to receive the connectors which are arranged one by one in the third direction so that the connectors are movable in the first direction relatively to the mating connectors, said housing comprising:a pair of first and second parallel frames extending in the third direction and apart from each other in the second direction, the first parallel frame having a plurality of pairs of first and second holes, the pairs being located at predetermined positions spaced in the third direction, the first and second holes being spaced in the first direction, the first parallel frame further having a plurality of slits extending in the first direction, the slits being adapted to receive therein the projections of the connectors with parts of the projections of the connectors projecting through the slits and being adapted to permit the projections of the connectors to be moved in the first direction;opposite side blocks arranged and adapted to fixedly connect the first and second parallel frames to each other at opposite ends of the first and second parallel frames in the third direction; anda plurality of partitions each of which has a pair of first and second engaging projections projecting on one side of the partition, the pair of first and second engaging projection engaged with a corresponding one of the pairs of first and second holes to fix a corresponding one of the partitions to the first parallel frame so that a space between the opposite side blocks within the housing is partitioned into a plurality of rooms which are arranged in the third direction to accommodate the plurality of connectors movable in the first direction; anda slider mounted on the first parallel frame and slidable in the third direction, the slider having a groove which extends in the third direction and which is adapted to receive the parts of the projections of the connectors projecting through the slits of the first parallel frame, the groove having a cam portion adapted to drive the projections of the connectors in the first direction when the slider is moved in the third direction so as to drive the connectors, the groove being in registry with the first holes of the first parallel frame and being adapted to also receive the first engaging projections projecting through the first holes; wherein each of the projections of the connectors has a particular cross section shape which is approximately an elliptical shape having a long axis in the first direction.