Patent Publication Number: US-11381008-B2

Title: Automatable connection terminal and method for contacting a conductor

Description:
This Application claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/EP2019/059639, filed Apr. 15, 2019, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2018 109489.2, filed Apr. 20, 2018, the contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The present invention relates to a connection terminal and a method for contacting a conductor using such a connection terminal. 
     The contacting of conductors on connection terminals is usually carried out manually because, due to the mechanical connection technology used, the connection terminals cannot be coupled fully automatically to wire ends. In addition, wire ends are usually prepared manually for connecting. 
     For example, a conductor to be contacted is initially stripped at the conductor end in order to expose the conducting core. The exposed end is then equipped with a ferrule in order to ensure reliable insertion and contacting in the region of the clamping point. The conductor end can be immobilized by screwing it to a clamping jaw, or, if it is a push-in or direct connection, by inserting the conductor into a terminal opening, wherein the insertion movement effects the clamping of the conductor end by triggering a mechanical clamping mechanism. 
     This is disadvantageous because both the manual conductor preparation and the manual connecting are time-consuming and thus cost-intensive. Against this backdrop, the present invention addresses the technical problem of providing a connection terminal and a method for contacting a conductor, which do not, or at least to a lesser extent, exhibit the aforementioned disadvantages, and particularly allow for an automated terminal assignment. 
     The above-described technical problem is solved by a connection terminal according to claim  1  and a method according to claim  9 . Further embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims and the following description. 
     According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a connection terminal comprising a housing, a slide and an insulation displacement contact, wherein at least portions of the slide and the insulation displacement contact are received in the housing, wherein the slide has an opening for inserting a conductor to be contacted, wherein the slide can be moved from a first position toward the insulation displacement contact to a second position in order to engage the insulation displacement contact with the conductor to be contacted, and wherein the slide has a tool abutment which is designed to transmit, to the slide, an assembly force of a particularly robot-guided assembly tool for moving the slide from the first position to the second position. 
     Due to the tool abutment, the connection terminal is therefore suitable for automated contacting of a conductor, wherein a conductor also does not have to be stripped or prepared prior to the contacting because an insulation displacement contact is provided. The connection terminal thus allows for quick automated contacting of a conductor. 
     The housing can have a guide in order to guide the slide in a straight line from the first position to the second position. For example, one or more guide surfaces can be provided on the housing, along which guide surfaces the slide is guided from the first position to the second position. Such a guide, particularly a linear guide, allows in a simple manner for the automation of the movement from the first position to the second position. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the slide can be pivotable about a pivot axis in order to be transferred from the first position to the second position. In order to transfer the slide from the first position to the second position, it can thus be moved, at least to some extent or entirely, in a rotatory manner. 
     The insulation displacement contact can be formed, to some extent or entirely, from a metal material. 
     The insulation displacement contact can be fastened to the housing in a form-locking manner. The insulation displacement contact can have one or more retaining portions which are inserted into grooves or recesses in the housing and immobilize the insulation displacement contact on the housing in a form-locking manner. 
     According to a further embodiment of the connection terminal, the housing has a further tool abutment for supporting the assembly tool during the movement of the slide from the first position to the second position. For example, a support force resulting from the assembly force can be supported particularly entirely on the housing. This makes an automated moving of the slide from the first position to the second position possible without the assembly forces acting on surrounding components adjacent to the housing. If, in the fully assembled state, the connection terminal is fastened, for example, to a retaining device, such as a mounting wall, a mounting rail, a support rail, or the like, none of the reaction forces, resulting from the assembly force, act from the connection terminal on the retaining device when the slide is transferred from the first position to the second position because the assembly force is supported on the further tool abutment of the housing. 
     According to a further embodiment of the connection terminal, the tool abutment of the slide and the further tool abutment of the housing face one another and delimit a seat for inserting a spreading tool. For example, the tool abutment of the slide and the further tool abutment of the housing can, in the first position, delimit a tubular opening, into which a spreading tool can be inserted, which is spike-shaped in the closed state. 
     The opening can particularly be circular cylindrical in order to facilitate a threading of a spreading tool which, in the closed state, also has a substantially circular cylindrical shape. The spreading tool can have two prongs which, when viewed in cross section, complement each other to form a circular shape, when the tool is in its closed state. Depending on the case of application, such an opening, according to further embodiments, can have a rectangular, oval, triangular, or asymmetrical cross-sectional shape. This equally applies to the cross-sectional shape of a spreading tool in the closed state. 
     In the first position of the slide, a spreading tool can thus be inserted into the seat. When the spreading tool is opened, the slide is transferred from the first position to the second position, wherein, in the second position of the slide, the tool abutment of the slide and the further tool abutment of the housing were moved away from one another by the spreading stroke of the spreading tool. In this case, the assembly forces required for moving the slide and for cutting the insulating sheathing of the conductor to be contacted in the course of this movement, are supported on the housing via the further tool abutment of the slide. 
     Alternatively, the tool abutment of the slide and the further tool abutment of the housing can be spaced apart from one another and each form a seat for inserting a pressing tool. For example, in the first position of the slide, the tool abutment of the slide and the further tool abutment of the housing can each be designed to receive the prongs of an opened pressing tool. 
     In the first position of the slide, a pressing tool can thus be inserted by its prongs into the particular seat. A closure of the pressing tool effects a transfer of the slide from the first position to the second position, wherein, in the second position of the slide, the tool abutment of the slide and the further tool abutment of the housing were moved toward one another by the pressing stroke of the pressing tool. In this case, the assembly forces required for moving the slide and for cutting the insulating sheathing of the conductor to be contacted in the course of this movement are supported on the housing by means of the further tool abutment of the slide. 
     Alternatively, only one tool abutment can be provided on the slide, but no tool abutment is provided on the housing. In this case, the assembly forces are supported by a retaining device, to which the housing is fastened, when the slide is transferred from the first position to the second position. 
     According to a further embodiment of the connection terminal, the opening in the slide is part of a tubular conductor seat which extends in a straight line. Such a conductor seat facilitates an automated insertion of a conductor because it can be inserted by means of a straight-line movement without deforming the conductor during insertion. 
     In particular, the conductor seat can extend parallel to a seat for inserting a tool, so that particularly a simultaneous automated insertion of a conductor, or a conductor end, to be contacted and the tool can take place on the slide. Such an arrangement thus allows for short process times for the automated contacting of a conductor or a conductor end within the connection terminal. 
     Alternatively, the opening in the slide can be part of a tubular conductor seat which extends at least in portions in a curved manner. As a result, an end portion of a conductor to be contacted can be deformed by an insertion movement along a curvature of the conductor seat, so that the conductor end is deflected, for example, by 90° with regard to the part of the conductor arranged in the opening in the slide. Such a design is useful, for example, when the slide is intended to be moved from the first position by moving into the housing in the direction of the insulation displacement tool in order to contact the conductor end. This ensures that, as in the previously described embodiments, the longitudinal extension of the conductor end portion to be contacted is oriented transversely to the movement direction of the slide from the first position to the second position. As a result, the sheathing of the conductor to be cut faces the insulation displacement tool. 
     According to a further embodiment of the connection terminal, the slide has a recess for receiving the insulation displacement tool, wherein, at least in the second position of the slide, the insulation displacement tool extends into the recess in the slide in a protruding manner. 
     In particular, a conductor seat can be provided on the slide on both sides of the recess, so that a conductor received in the conductor seat rests on both sides and spans the recess. When the insulation displacement contact cuts into the sheathing of the conductor, the conductor is thus supported on both sides of the insulation displacement tool in order to allow for reliable contacting without a kinking of the conductor end portion. 
     The insulation displacement tool can have cutting edges protruding in a fork-shaped manner in order to encase and contact a conductor to be contacted on two sides. As a result, the cutting edges can delimit a cutting gap, into which a conductor to be contacted or a conductor end of a conductor to be contacted is inserted as a result of the movement of the slide from the first position to the second position. 
     According to a further embodiment of the connection terminal, a snap-in device is provided in order to hold the slide in the first position in a form-locking and/or force-locking manner. This ensures that the slide remains reliably in the first position during transport, during assembly of the connection terminal, and during the preferably automated insertion of a conductor to be contacted into the opening in the slide. The snap-in device can have e.g. a tongue and groove, between which a snap-in connection is formed which is releasable by an application of force with a minimum tensile force. 
     Alternatively or additionally, a snap-in connection can be provided in order to hold the slide in the second position in a form-locking and/or force-locking manner. This ensures that the slide remains reliably in the second position in order to ensure permanent contacting between the insulation displacement contact and the conductor to be contacted. The snap-in device can have e.g. a tongue and groove, between which a snap-in connection is formed which is releasable by an application of force with a minimum tensile force. 
     For example, a first groove can be provided on a slide, which engages in the first position with a first tongue of the housing. With the use of an assembly tool, a tensile force can be introduced into the snap-in connection in order to drive the tongue and groove apart in a damage-free manner and to move the slide from the first position to the second position. In the second position, a second groove formed on the slide can interlock with a second tongue of the housing in order to immobilize the slide in the second position. The second snap-in connection is also releasable particularly in a damage-free manner by exceeding a minimum tensile force. 
     According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for contacting a conductor, comprising the following method steps: providing a connection terminal, wherein the connection terminal is designed according to the invention; providing a conductor to be contacted; inserting the conductor into the opening in the slide; moving the slide from a first position toward the insulation displacement contact to a second position in order to engage the insulation displacement contact with the conductor to be contacted, wherein the insulation displacement contact cuts an insulation of the conductor and is brought to bear against a conducting core of the conductor, and wherein the slide is moved automatically using the assembly tool of a robot. 
     The use of a connection terminal according to the invention allows for automated contacting of a conductor, wherein a conductor portion of the conductor does not have to be stripped or prepared prior to the contacting because an insulation displacement contact is provided. Therefore, automated contacting of a conductor is made possible in a short process time. 
     It is understood that method steps described with reference to the connection terminal according to the invention can be developments of the method according to the invention. 
     According to a further embodiment of the method, the provided connection terminal is fastened to a retaining device, such as a mounting wall, a mounting rail, or the like, and the housing of the connection terminal has a further tool abutment in order to support the assembly tool on the housing when the slide is moved from the first position to the second position, wherein an assembly force of the assembly tool is substantially entirely supported on the housing, so that substantially no forces are introduced into the retaining device when the slide is moved. 
     Since substantially no assembly forces are diverted to the retaining device, it will not bend mechanically, and therefore reliable, particularly robot-supported, contacting along a predefined assembly path is provided, and the contacting does not have to be additionally verified. 
     The wording “substantially no forces” presently indicates that less than 10% of the reaction forces required for supporting the assembly forces are introduced into the retaining device, particularly that less than 5% of the reaction forces required for supporting the assembly forces are introduced into the retaining device, more particularly that less than 2% of the reaction forces required for supporting the assembly forces are introduced into the retaining device. 
     A further embodiment of the method is characterized in that the movement of the slide from the first position to the second position is a straight-line movement. Such a movement can be carried out automatically in a simple manner. 
     As already described above, the assembly tool can be a spreading tool that performs a spreading movement, or the assembly tool can be a pressing tool that performs a closing movement or a pressing movement. 
     Alternatively, only a pushing of the slide toward the insulation displacement contact from a first position, protruding from the housing, to a second position, partially or entirely recessed in the housing, can take place. 
     A further embodiment of the method is characterized in that the conductor to be contacted is not pretreated, particularly not stripped and/or particularly not provided with a ferrule, prior to the insertion of the conductor into the opening in the slide. As a result, quick, particularly fully automated, contacting of the conductor can be achieved. 
    
    
     
       In the following, the invention shall be described in more detail by means of drawings showing embodiments. In the drawings, shown schematically: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connection terminal according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is the connection terminal from  FIG. 1  with a conductor to be contacted; 
         FIG. 3  is the connection terminal from  FIG. 1  with a conductor to be contacted and a tool; 
         FIG. 4  is the connection terminal from  FIG. 1  with a conductor to be contacted and a tool; 
         FIG. 5  is the connection terminal from  FIG. 1  with a conductor to be contacted and a tool; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a further connection terminal according to the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is the connection terminal from  FIG. 6  with a conductor to be contacted; 
         FIG. 8  is the connection terminal from  FIG. 6  with a conductor to be contacted; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a further connection terminal according to the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is the connection terminal from  FIG. 9  with a conductor to be contacted; 
         FIG. 11  is the connection terminal from  FIG. 9  with a conductor to be contacted. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connection terminal  2  according to the invention. The connection terminal  2  comprises a housing  4 , a slide  6 , and an insulation displacement contact  8 . At least portions of the slide  6  and the insulation displacement contact  8  are received in the housing  4 . The slide  6  has an opening  10  for inserting a conductor  12  to be contacted. 
     The slide  6  can be moved from a first position ( FIG. 1 ) toward the insulation displacement contact  8  to a second position ( FIG. 5 ). In this manner, the insulation displacement contact  6  engages with the conductor  12  to be contacted. 
     The slide  6  has a tool abutment  14  which is designed to transmit, to the slide  6 , an assembly force of a robot-guided assembly tool  16  ( FIG. 3 ) for moving the slide  6  from the first position to the second position. 
     In addition to the tool abutment  14  of the slide  6 , the housing  4  has a further tool abutment  18 . The tool abutment  18  is used to support the assembly tool  16  on the housing  4  when the slide  6  is moved from the first position to the second position. In this manner, the assembly force introduced into the slide  5  by the tool  16  can be entirely supported on the housing  4 , so that, when the slide  6  is moved from the first position to the second position, no forces act on a retaining device (not shown), to which the connection terminal  2  is fastened in the fully assembled state. The assembly force acting on the slide  6  and a resulting reaction force or support force acting on the tool abutment  14  cancel each other out with regard to a retaining device, to which the connection terminal  2  is fastened. 
     Presently, the tool abutment  14  of the slide  6  and the further tool abutment  18  of the housing  4  face one another in the first position of the slide  6  shown in  FIG. 1  and delimit a tubular seat  20  for inserting the tool  16  designed as a spreading tool  16 . 
     The opening  10  in the slide  6  is presently part of a tubular conductor seat  22  extending in a straight line. As seen when viewed along its longitudinal extension, the conductor seat  22  is presently oriented parallel to the tubular seat  20 . 
     The slide  6  also has a recess  24  for receiving the insulation displacement tool  8 . In the first position ( FIG. 1 ) of the slide  6  and in the second position ( FIG. 5 ) of the slide  6 , the insulation displacement tool  8  extends into the seat  24  of the slide  6  in a protruding manner. 
     The insulation displacement tool  8  has cutting edges  26  protruding in a fork-shaped manner in order to encase and contact a conductor  12  to be contacted on two sides. 
     The connection terminal  2  has a snap-in device  28  in order to hold the slide  6  in the first position in a form-locking and/or force-locking manner. The snap-in device  28  has a tongue  30  formed on the housing  4  and a groove  32  provided on the slide  6 , between which a snap-in connection is formed. A further snap-in device  34  is used to immobilized the slide  6  in the second position ( FIG. 5 ), wherein the snap-in device  34  has a tongue  36  formed on the housing  4  and a groove  38  provided on the slide  6 . 
     In the following, a method according to the invention for contacting the conductor  12  shall be described in more detail using  FIG. 1-5 . 
     In a first method step, the connection terminal  2  is initially provided. In this case, the slide  6  is in the first position shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the slide  6  is held in the first position by the snap-in connection formed by the tongue  30  and the groove  32 . 
     In a next method step, the conductor  12  to be contacted is provided and automatically inserted into the opening  10  in the slide  6  ( FIG. 2 ). For this purpose, the conductor  12  extends along the conductor seat  22  over the recess  24 , so that the conductor  12  is supported on two sides. 
     In a next method step ( FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 ), the spreading tool  16  is provided and inserted into the seat  20 . 
     Subsequently ( FIG. 5 ), the prongs  40 ,  42  of the spreading tool  16  are moved apart in order to move the slide  6  from the first position to the second position shown in  FIG. 5 . In such case, the insulation displacement contact  8  engages with the conductor  12 , wherein the insulation displacement contact  8  cuts an insulation of the conductor  12  and is brought to bear against a conducting core of the conductor  12 . The slide  6  is moved automatically by means of the assembly tool  16  attached to a robot. The movement of the slide  6  from the first position to the second position is presently a straight-line movement. 
       FIGS. 6, 7, and 8  describe a further connection terminal  44  according to the invention in a perspective view. In order to avoid repetitions, only the differences with regard to the previously described embodiment shall be described in the following, wherein the same features are denoted with the same reference signs. 
     The connection terminal  44  has a slide  46 , the first position of which is shown in  FIG. 6 . In the first position, at least one portion of the slide  46  extends beyond the housing  2  in a protruding manner. 
     The slide  46  has a tool abutment  48  which is designed to transmit, to the slide  46 , an assembly force of a robot-guided assembly tool for moving the slide  46  from the first position ( FIG. 6 ) to the second position ( FIG. 8 ). For moving the slide  46  from the first position to the second position, a compression force is applied on one side to the tool abutment  48  of the slide  46 , so that the slide  46  is moved into the housing  2 . For this purpose, a snap-in device  50  initially forms a resistance, wherein the snap-in device can be displaced in the direction of the slide  6  by applying a minimum force. 
     In contrast to the initially described embodiment, the slide  46  has a tubular conductor seat  52  extending in a curved manner. A conductor  12  is thus deformed on one side by an insertion into the conductor seat  52 , so that the outer lateral surface of the conductor  12  faces the insulation displacement tool  8 . 
     Moving the slide  46  into the housing  2  thus effects contacting of the conductor  12  with the insulation displacement contact  8 , analogous to the embodiment described with  FIG. 1-5 . 
       FIGS. 9, 10, and 11  show a further embodiment of a connection terminal  54  according to the invention which differs from the embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 1-5  in that the slide  56  can be moved from the first position shown in  FIG. 9  to the second position shown in  FIG. 11  by means of a pressing tool. 
     A tool abutment  58  of the slide  56  and a tool abutment  60  of the housing  2  in the first position shown in  FIG. 9  are initially arranged apart from one another by a pressing stroke to be executed, and they are moved toward one another by the insertion of prongs of a pressing tool into the seats  58 ,  60  and a subsequent bringing-together of the prongs. Therefore, a movement of the slide  56  toward the insulation displacement contact  8  is, contrary to the initially described embodiment, not effected by opening a spreading tool but by closing a pressing tool. 
     In this variant, the assembly forces and reaction forces also cancel each other out, so that a retaining device (not shown), on which the connection terminal is held in the fully assembled state, does not experience a load from assembly forces or resulting reaction forces. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS 
       2  Connection terminal 
       4  Housing 
       6  Slide 
       8  Insulation displacement contact 
       10  Opening 
       12  Conductor 
       14  Tool abutment 
       16  Assembly tool 
       18  Tool abutment 
       20  Seat 
       22  Conductor seat 
       24  Recess 
       26  Cutting edges 
       28  Snap-in device 
       30  Tongue 
       32  Groove 
       34  Snap-in device 
       36  Tongue 
       38  Groove 
       40  Prong 
       42  Prong 
       44  Connection terminal 
       46  Slide 
       48  Tool abutment 
       50  Snap-in device 
       52  Conductor seat 
       54  Connection terminal 
       56  Slide 
       58  Tool abutment 
       60  Tool abutment