Patent Publication Number: US-9419400-B2

Title: Method of manufacturing a chained terminal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This is a Divisional Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/387,896 filed on Jan. 30, 2012, which claims priority from PCT/JP2010/062955 filed on Jul. 30, 2010, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-179091, filed on Jul. 31, 2009 in the Japanese Intellectual Property Office the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention is related to a terminal which is connected to a cable with a shielded conductor such as a coaxial cable, especially to a structure of a terminal chain by which a terminal and a signal conductor can be connected easily and a connecting method of the terminal and the signal conductor. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, as disclosed in PTLs 1, 2 and 3, when a signal conductor of a cable with a shielded conductor such as a coaxial cable is connected to a terminal, the signal conductor is crimped by a barrel formed to the terminal (a crimping barrel 31b in the PTL 1, a crimping piece 32d in the PTL 2 and a crimping piece 11c in the PTL 3). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     [PTL 1] JP-A-2008-159312 
     [PTL 2] JP-A-2006-302790 
     [PTL 3] JP-A-2003-317882 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     However, when the barrel is crimped to connect the signal conductor to the terminal as described above, it is necessary to remove from a die the terminal formed by press-forming, and place the terminal in a terminal crimping device which includes an anvil and a crimper. 
     The invention was made in view of the fact described above. The purpose of the invention is to provide a terminal chain so that it is possible for a terminal to be connected with a signal conductor only by being press-formed by dies. 
     Solution to Problem 
     To achieve the purpose described above, the terminal chains according to the invention are characterized by the (1)-(4) below. 
     (1) A terminal chain, comprising: 
     a carrier; and 
     a plurality of rectangular pieces which are connected to an end part extending in a longitudinal direction of the carrier, wherein 
     each of the rectangular pieces is press-formed so as to enclose a signal conductor exposed at one end of a wire, so that each of the rectangular pieces is formed to be a hollow cylindrical terminal. 
     (2) The terminal chain according to above (1), wherein 
     each of the rectangular pieces is connected to the end part of the carrier by a carrier link that joints the end part of the carrier and an end part of the rectangular piece, and 
     the carrier link is shaped so that the rectangular piece is placed in a position higher than a plane containing the carrier. 
     (3) The terminal chain according to above (1), wherein 
     a width of the carrier is shorter than a length of an exposed portion of the signal conductor in a longitudinal direction thereof. 
     (4) The terminal chain according to above (1), wherein 
     the carrier includes a narrow part a width of which is shorter than a length of an exposed portion of the signal conductor in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a wide part a width of which is longer than a dimension of the narrow part in a width direction thereof, and wherein 
     the rectangular piece is connected to the end part at the narrow part. 
     According to the terminal chain with the configuration of the above (1), the process for press-forming into the shape of a terminal and the process for connecting a signal conductor of the wire with the terminal can be performed simultaneously during the process for press-forming. 
     According to the terminal chains with the configurations of the above (2)-(4), since the position where the carrier and the rectangular piece are disconnected can be located at the rear end of the terminal, a burr that would hinder efficient contact of the front end of the terminal with the counterpart terminal can be prevented from being formed. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the terminal chain of the invention, a terminal can be connected with a signal conductor only by being press-formed by dies. 
     The invention is explained in brief above. Further, details of the invention will become more apparent after the embodiments of the invention described below are read with reference to the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A to 1F  are figures showing a series of process for press-forming a terminal of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of dies for manufacturing the terminal chain of the first embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 2B  is an enlarged view of main parts of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a terminal chain of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are perspective views of a terminal chain of the second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are top views of the terminal chain of the second embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5A  is a top view before a terminal is disconnected, and  FIG. 5B  is a top view of the terminal after the terminal is detached from the terminal chain. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective views of a terminal chain of the third embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are top views of the terminal chain of the third embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 7A  is a top view before a terminal is disconnected, and  FIG. 7B  is a top view of the terminal after the terminal is detached from the terminal chain. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     The forming processes of a terminal of the first embodiment of the invention, together with changes of the shape of the terminal, are explained with reference to  FIGS. 1A to 1F .  FIGS. 1A to 1F  are figures showing a series of process for press-forming the terminal of the embodiment of the invention. 
     First, as shown in  FIG. 1A , a belt-shaped carrier  11  and a rectangular piece  12  which is connected to an end part extending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier  11  are formed by placing a flat metal plate in a die block M 1  for press-disconnecting and pressing the flat metal plate (details of die blocks will be described later). Then, the rectangular piece  12  is constructed of a rectangular piece body  121  which is press-formed to enclose a signal conductor of a wire to conduct with the signal conductor as described later, a carrier link  122  which joints the rectangular piece body  121  and the carrier  11 , and contacts  123  which extend from one end of the rectangular piece body  121  facing the carrier  11  towards the carrier  11 . The contacts  123  are two contacts that extend at two sides of the carrier link  122  towards the carrier  11 . In addition, when the rectangular piece  12  becomes a terminal, the contacts  123  will form the front end of the terminal (a portion in contact with a counterpart terminal). Hereinafter, for the rectangular piece  12  which is connected to the carrier  11  through the carrier link  122 , a side that is near the carrier  11  is called a front end side, and a side that is far from the carrier  11  is called a rear end side. 
     Then, the rectangular piece  12  which is press-disconnected by the die block M 1  is placed in a die block M 2  for press-forming and is pressed. In  FIG. 1B , in the rectangular piece  12 , the two parts of the rectangular piece body  121  that hold the carrier link  122  and the two contacts  123  are folded towards the center of the rectangular piece body  121  that is connected to the carrier link  122 . Then, the rectangular piece  12  is formed to have a cross section of a substantial U shape whose bottom edge is the center part of the rectangular piece body  121 , and the parts beside the center part of the rectangular piece body  121  are erected from the two sides of the center part, respectively. 
     Then, the rectangular piece  12  which is press-formed by the die block M 2  is placed in a die block M 3  for press-forming and is pressed. In  FIG. 1C , in the rectangular piece  12 , the nearly half part of the rectangular piece body  121  that is near the front end side is closed. In other words, the rectangular piece body  121  is press-formed by making close the nearly half part of the rectangular piece body  121  that is near the front end side among the two nearly half parts of the rectangular piece body  121 . On the other hand, the nearly half part of the rectangular piece body  121  that is near the rear end side is open at the top as in  FIG. 1B , or in other words, the parts besides the center of the rectangular piece body  121  are raised from the two sides of the center of the rectangular piece body  121 , respectively, to form a substantial U shape. 
     In  FIG. 1D , a signal conductor W 1  which is exposed at one end of a wire W is placed on the rear end part of the rectangular piece body  121 . Since the nearly half part of the rectangular piece body  121  that is near the rear end side is opened at the top of the rectangular piece body  121 , the signal conductor W 1  can be placed on the center of the rectangular piece body  121 . 
     Thereafter, the rectangular piece  12 , which is press-formed by the die block M 3  and whose rectangular piece body  121  carries the signal conductor W 1 , is placed in a die block M 4  for press-forming and is pressed. As shown in  FIG. 1E , the nearly half part of the rectangular piece body  121  of the rectangular piece  12  that is near the rear end side on which the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is placed is closed. In other words, the rectangular piece body  121  is formed by making close the nearly half part of the rectangular piece body  121  that is near the rear end side among the two nearly half parts of the rectangular piece body  121 . 
     Through the processes shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1E  described above, the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is connected to the rectangular piece body  121 , and the rectangular piece  12  is formed to the shape of a terminal at the same time. Thereafter, the rectangular piece  12  which is press-formed by the die block M 4  is placed in a die block M 5  for press-disconnecting, and as shown in the  FIG. 1F , the carrier link  122  is disconnected. Thus, a terminal  20  which is connected to the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is formed. 
     Above, according to the terminal of the embodiment of the invention, the process for press-forming the rectangular piece  12  to the shape of the terminal and the process for connecting the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W with the terminal can be performed at the same time. In other words, it is not necessary as before to remove from the die the terminal which is formed by press-forming, and place the terminal in a terminal crimping device which includes an anvil and a crimper. For this reason, the producing of wires to which terminals are attached can be improved, and a higher operating efficiency can be achieved. 
     Next, a terminal chain manufacturing method which is applicable to the structure of the terminal of the first embodiment of the invention is explained with reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B .  FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of dies for manufacturing the terminal chain of the first embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 2B  is an enlarged view of main parts of  FIG. 2A . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , a lower die  40  and an upper die  50  are used to manufacture a terminal chain  30 . A terminal accommodating groove  41  on which the terminal chain  30  are carried, wire accommodating grooves  42  for accommodating wires W to prevent the wires W from being crushed when the upper die  50  falls, and boss holes  43  for accommodating bosses  53  of the upper die  50  are formed in the lower die  40 . 
     In particular, a carrier base  411  on which the carrier  11  of the terminal chain  30  is carried is formed in the terminal accommodating groove  41 . A plurality of rectangular piece bases  412  on which the rectangular pieces  12  of the terminal chain are carried are formed in the terminal accommodating groove  41  to bridge the carrier base  411  and respective wire accommodating grooves  42 . In the five rectangular piece bases  412  shown in  FIG. 2B , the left side rectangular piece base  412  in the figure corresponds to the die block M 1  for press-disconnecting, the rectangular piece base  412  on the right of the left side one corresponds to the die block M 2  for press-forming, the rectangular piece base  412  on the right of the above two corresponds to the die block M 3  for press-forming, the rectangular piece base  412  on the right of the above three corresponds to the die block M 4  for press-forming, the rectangular piece base  412  on the right of the above four corresponds to the die block M 5  for press-disconnecting, respectively. All of the die blocks M 1  to M 5  were described when  FIGS. 1A to 1F  were explained. The die blocks are forms formed for each of the rectangular piece bases  412 , respectively, and their shapes depend on the rectangular piece bases  412 . The shape of the rectangular piece base  412  of the die block M 1  is a shape formed by digging out the shape of the rectangular piece  12  which includes the rectangular piece body  121 , the carrier link  122  and the contacts  123  from a flat metal plate. The shapes of the rectangular piece bases  412  of the die blocks M 2  to M 4  are shapes suitable for folding the rectangular piece body  121  of the rectangular piece  12 . The shape of the rectangular piece base  412  of the die block M 5  is a shape suitable for disconnecting the carrier link  122 . In accordance with the aligned die blocks M 1  to M 5 , the respective rectangular pieces  12  are press-formed into the shapes of the terminal as described with reference to  FIGS. 1A to 1F , when the terminal chain  30  that slides towards the right direction of  FIG. 2B  are carried sequentially by the die blocks M 1  to M 5 .  FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the terminal chain of the embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , at a certain time, it is found that the shape of a rectangular piece  12  becomes closer to the shape of the terminal as the terminal chain moves towards the right direction of the figure. 
     In addition, the wire accommodating grooves  42  are formed in positions corresponding to the positions of the rectangular piece bases  412  after the die block M 3 . In more detail, the positions of the wire accommodating grooves  42  are so determined that the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W that is carried in a wire accommodating groove  42  is substantially located in the center of the corresponding rectangular piece base  412 . When the wire W is carried on the wire accommodating groove  42 , the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W 1  can be carried on the rear end part of the rectangular piece body  121  which is press-formed by the die block M 3  to be opened at the top. After the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is carried on the rear end part of the rectangular piece body  121 , since it is necessary to move in such a state to the following die blocks, the other wire accommodating grooves  42  are formed similarly in positions corresponding to the positions of the rectangular piece bases  412  of the die blocks M 4  and M 5 . 
     In addition, in the embodiments of the invention, although it is described that the rectangular piece  12  is formed to the shape of a terminal by five press-forming processes in which the dies M 1 -M 5  are used, the number of the processes is not limited to 5. Needless to mention the increase of the number of the processes, it is applicable as long as the die block for press-disconnecting to form the shape of the rectangular piece  12 , the die block for press-forming to form the shape of the terminal, and the die block for press-disconnecting to disconnect the carrier link  122  are included. 
     The die blocks as described above have shapes that can be embedded in the terminal accommodating groove  41 , are suitable die blocks necessary to press-form the rectangular piece  12 , and can press-form the terminal to a shape in accordance with the specification when they are embedded in the terminal accommodating groove  41 . 
     On the other hand, wire accommodating grooves  52  for accommodating wires W to prevent the wires W from being crushed when the upper die  50  falls onto the lower die  40 , and bosses  53  which are fitted to the boss holes of the lower die  40  are formed in the upper die  50 . Further, die blocks, which correspond to the respective die blocks of the lower die  40 , are installed at the bottom of the upper die  50  in positions corresponding to the respective die blocks (not shown in the figure). The die blocks of the upper metal mould  50  also have shapes that can be embedded, are suitable die blocks necessary to press-form the rectangular piece  12 , and can press-form the terminal to a shape in accordance with the specification when they are embedded. 
     Above, according to the terminal chain of the embodiment of the invention, the process for press-forming the rectangular piece  12  to the shape of a terminal and the process for connecting the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W with the terminal can be performed at the same time. In other words, it is not necessary to remove from the die the terminal which is formed by press-forming, and place the terminal in a terminal crimping device which includes an anvil and a crimper, as conventional. For this reason, the producing of wires to which terminals are attached can be improved, and a higher operating efficiency can be achieved. 
     In the embodiment of the invention, a method was described in which after the nearly half part of the rectangular piece body  121  that is near the front end side is closed by the die block M 3 , and the nearly half part of the rectangular piece body  121  that is near the rear end side is closed by the die block M 4  when the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is carried on the rear end part of the rectangular piece body  121 . The signal conductor W 1  can be definitely carried on the rectangular piece body  121  by forming in advance a receiving part for receiving the signal conductor W 1 . As another example of using the receiving part, for example, it is also possible that after the rectangular piece  12  is formed to a substantial U shape when the part beside the center of the rectangular piece is erected by the die block M 2  from the two side of the center of the rectangular piece body  121 , the rectangular piece body  121  is closed as a whole when the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is carried on the rear end part of the rectangular piece body  121 . On the other hand, it is not necessary to configure with such receiving part. For example, it is also possible that after the rectangular piece  12  is formed by being press-disconnected by the die block M 1 , the rectangular piece body  121  is press-formed to be closed as a whole when the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is carried on the rear end part of the rectangular piece body  121 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     In the first embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the front end of the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is carried on the rear end part of the rectangular piece  12  (part far from the carrier  11 ), the wire W does not cross the carrier  11 , or in other words, the rectangular piece  12  is hold between the carrier  11  and the wire W. When the wire W is carried on the rectangular piece  12  without crossing the carrier  11  as in the first embodiment, the wire W is hold by the carrier  11  and the dies during the process of press-forming. Since it is not necessary to consider the problem of being crushed, the shapes of the lower die  40  and the upper die  50  can be very simple. Further to say, the longer the diameter of wire W becomes, the more necessary it to consider that the wire W is sandwiched by the carrier  11  and the dies. But it is not any more. On the other hand, in the first embodiment in which the wire W is carried on the rectangular piece  12  without crossing the carrier  11 , the disconnecting position of the carrier  11  and the rectangular piece  12  (in other words, a part of the carrier link  122 ) is located at the front end of the terminal  20 . Therefore, a burr that would hinder efficient contact of the front end of the terminal  20  with the counterpart terminal is inevitably formed. 
     Thus, in the second embodiment of the invention, a terminal chain  80  in which a burr formed by disconnecting the carrier would be formed at the rear end of a terminal, and terminals  70  constructing the terminal chain  80  are described. 
     Similar to the first embodiment, in accordance with the aligned die blocks, the terminals  70  of the second embodiment are press-formed to the shapes of the terminal as shown by the respective rectangular pieces  62  in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , when the sliding terminal chain  80  is carried sequentially on the die blocks. Next, the forming processes of a terminal of the second embodiment of the invention, together with change of the shape of the terminal, are explained with reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
     First, a belt-shaped carrier  61  and a rectangular piece  62  which is connected to an end part extending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier  61  are formed by placing a flat metal plate in a die block M 11  for press-disconnecting and pressing the flat metal plate. Then, the rectangular piece  62  is constructed of a rectangular piece body  621  which is press-formed to encloses a signal conductor of a wire to conduct with the signal conductor, a carrier link  622  which joints the rectangular piece body  621  and the carrier  61 , and contacts  623  which extend from one end of the rectangular piece body  621  opposite to the end that is connected to the carrier link  622  towards a direction away from the carrier  61 . Thereafter, for the rectangular piece  62  which is jointed to the carrier  61  through the carrier link  622 , a side which is far from the carrier  61  is called the front end side, and a side which is near the carrier  61  is called the rear end side (please note that they are different from the definitions of the front end side and the rear end side of the first embodiment). The carrier link  622  is divided into two parts from the rear end side of the rectangular piece body  621 , and the two parts are connected to the carrier  61 , respectively. The carrier link  622  is shaped so that a part of the carrier link  622  is folded vertically from the horizontal plane containing the rectangular piece body  621 . Thus, the rectangular piece body  621  is located in a position higher than the horizontal plane containing the carrier  61 . The difference between the height of the rectangular piece body  621  and that of the carrier  61  corresponds to the size of the diameter of the wire carried on the rectangular piece body  621 , more specifically, half of the wire diameter. In addition, the contacts  623  are two contacts that extend from the two sides of the rectangular piece body  621  towards a direction away from the carrier  61 . When the rectangular piece  62  becomes a terminal, the contacts  623  will form the front end of the terminal (a portion in contact with a counterpart terminal). 
     Thereafter, the rectangular piece  62  which is press-disconnected by the die block M 11  is placed in a die block M 12  for press-forming and is pressed. Then, in the rectangular piece  62 , the two parts beside the center of the rectangular piece body  621  and the two contacts  623  are folded towards the center of the rectangular piece body  621 . Then, the rectangular piece  62  is formed to have a cross section of a substantial U shape whose bottom edge is the center part of the rectangular piece body  621 , and the parts beside the center part of the rectangular piece body  621  are erected from the two sides of the center part, respectively. 
     After the rectangular piece  62  is formed to a substantial U shape when the parts beside the center of the rectangular piece are erected by the die block M 12  from the two sides of the center of the rectangular piece body  621 , the signal conductor W 1  exposed at one end of the wire W is placed on the rear end of the rectangular piece body  621 . Then, the wire W, as shown by the top view of the terminal chain of the second embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 5A , is so placed that the wire W crosses the carrier  61  while the signal conductor W 1  crosses the carrier link  622 . Even when the wire W is placed as above, since the difference between the height of the rectangular piece body  621  and that of the carrier  61  is half of the diameter of the wire W, in the process of carrying the signal conductor W 1  on the rectangular piece body  621 , the wire W contacts with the carrier  61  before the signal conductor W 1  contacts with the rectangular piece body  621  and the carrier link  622 . Thus, the contact of the signal conductor W 1  with the rectangular piece body  621  and the carrier link  622  will not be hindered. 
     Thereafter, the rectangular piece  62 , whose rectangular piece body  621  carries the signal conductor W 1 , is placed in a die block M 13  for press-forming and is pressed. Then, the rectangular piece body  621  of the rectangular piece  62  in which the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is placed is totally closed. In other words, the rectangular piece body  621  is formed by making close the two parts beside the center part of the rectangular piece body  621 . 
     Through the processes described above, the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is connected to the rectangular piece body  621 , and the rectangular piece  62  is formed to the shape of a terminal at the same time. Then, the rectangular piece  62  which is press-formed by the die block M 13  is placed in a die block M 14  for press-disconnecting, and the carrier  61  and the carrier link  622  are disconnected at the carrier disconnecting positions as shown in  FIG. 5A , that is, the disconnecting surfaces are located at the two sides of the wire W and in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the wire W. When the terminal  70  is formed by disconnecting as above, as shown in  FIG. 5B , a part of the carrier link  622  which can be regarded as a part of the carrier is formed to the rear end of the terminal  70 . Thus, a terminal  70  which is connected to the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is formed. 
     Above, according to the terminal chain of the second embodiment of the invention and the terminals constructing the terminal chain, the e for press-forming the rectangular piece  62  to the shape of a terminal and the process for connecting the terminal with the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W can be performed at the same time. In other words, it is not necessary as before to remove from the die the terminal which is formed by press-forming, and place the terminal in a terminal crimping device which includes an anvil and a crimper. For this reason, the producing of wires to which terminals are attached can be improved, and a higher operating efficiency can be achieved. 
     In addition, since the disconnecting position of the carrier  61  and the rectangular piece  62  is located at the rear end of the terminal  70 , burrs that are formed during the process of disconnecting are also formed at the rear end of the terminal  70 . As a result, the burrs that would hinder efficient contact of the front end of the terminal  70  with the counterpart terminal can be prevented from forming. 
     Further, since the height of the rectangular piece body  621  is provided to be different from that of the carrier  61 , the wire W is hold by the carrier  61  and the dies during the process of press-forming, and will not be crushed. 
     Third Embodiment 
     In the third embodiment, a terminal chain  110  in which a burr formed by disconnecting the carrier would be formed at the rear end of a terminal, and terminals  100  constructing the terminal chain  80  are described. In the second embodiment, the wire W is hold by the carrier  61  and the dies. In order to avoid the problem of being crushed, the height of the rectangular piece body  621  is provided to be different from that of the carrier  61 . In order to avoid the same problem, the third embodiment is characterized in dimensions in the width direction of the carrier  61 . 
     Similar to the first and the second embodiments, in accordance with the aligned die blocks, terminals  100  of the third embodiment are press-formed to the shapes of the terminal as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  by the respective rectangular pieces  92  by carrying a sliding terminal chain  110  sequentially on the die blocks. Next, the forming processes of the terminal of the third embodiment of the invention, together with change of the shape of the terminal, are explained with reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
     First, a jagged shaped carrier  91  with narrow parts  911  whose width is short and wide parts  912  whose width is long alternately aligned in the longitudinal direction and a rectangular piece  92  which is connected to a narrow part  911  among the end parts extending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier  91  are formed by placing a flat metal plate in a die block M 21  for press-disconnecting and pressing the flat metal plate. The width of the narrow parts  911  of the carrier  91  is shorter than the length in the longitudinal direction of a signal conductor W 1  which is exposed at one end of the wire W, and the width of wide parts  912  is longer than the width of the narrow parts  911 . The narrow parts  911  and the wide parts  912  are connected alternately and aligned at one side in their width direction. In the third embodiment, although the width of the wide parts  912  is longer than the width of the narrow parts  911 , any width is possible as long as the width of the carrier  91  at the part that is connected to the rectangular piece  92  (corresponding to the narrow part  911  in the third embodiment) is shorter than the length in the longitudinal direction of the signal conductor W 1  which is exposed at one end of the wire W. Further, in the third embodiment, although it is described that the narrow parts  911  and the wide parts  912  are connected and aligned at one side in their width direction, the invention is not limited in terms of the connecting positions of the narrow parts  911  and the wide parts  912 . 
     In addition, the rectangular piece  92  is constructed of a rectangular piece body  921  which is press-formed to enclose a signal conductor of a wire to conduct with the signal conductor, and contacts  923  which extend from one end of the rectangular piece body  921  opposite to the end that is connected to the carrier  91  towards a direction away from the carrier  91 . Thereafter, for the rectangular piece  92  which is jointed to the carrier  91 , a side which is far from the carrier  91  is called the front end side, and a side which is near the carrier  91  is called the rear end side. (Please note that they are different from the definitions of the front end side and the rear end side of the first embodiment.) The contacts  923  are two contacts that extend from the two sides of the rectangular piece body  921  towards a direction away from the carrier  91 . When the rectangular piece  92  becomes a terminal, the contacts  923  will form the front end of the terminal (a portion in contact with a counterpart terminal). 
     Then, the rectangular piece  92  which is press-disconnected by the die block M 21  is placed in a die block M 22  for press-forming and is pressed. Then, in the rectangular piece  92 , the two parts beside the center of the rectangular piece body  921  and the two contacts  923  are folded towards the center of the rectangular piece body  921 . Then, the rectangular piece  92  is formed to have a cross section of a substantial U shape whose bottom edge is the center part of the rectangular piece body  921 , and the parts beside the center part of the rectangular piece body  921  are erected from the two sides of the center part, respectively. 
     Further, after the rectangular piece  92  is formed to a substantial U shape when the parts beside the center of the rectangular piece are erected by the die block M 22  from the two sides of the center of the rectangular piece body  921 , the signal conductor W 1  exposed at one end of the wire W is placed on the rear end of the rectangular piece body  921 . Then, the wire W, as shown by the top view of the terminal chain of the third embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 7A , is so placed that the signal conductor W 1  which is exposed at one end of the wire W crosses the narrow part  911 . When the wire W is placed on the carrier  91  in this way, the wire W will not contact with the carrier  91 . 
     Thereafter, the rectangular piece  92 , whose rectangular piece body  921  carries the signal conductor W 1 , is placed in a die block M 23  for press-forming and is pressed. Then, the rectangular piece body  921  of the rectangular piece  92  on which the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is placed is totally closed. In other words, the rectangular piece body  921  is formed by making close the two parts beside the center part of the rectangular piece body  921 . 
     Through the processes described above, the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is connected to the rectangular piece body  921 , and the rectangular piece  92  is formed to the shape of a terminal at the same time. Then, the rectangular piece  92  which is press-formed by the die block M 23  is placed in a die block M 24  for press-disconnecting, and the narrow part  911  of the carrier  911  is disconnected at the carrier disconnecting positions as shown in  FIG. 7A , that is, the disconnecting surfaces are located at the two sides of the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W and in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the wire W. When the terminal  100  is formed by disconnecting as above, as shown in  FIG. 7B , a part of the narrow part  911  which can be regarded as a part of the carrier is formed to the rear end of the terminal  100 . Thus, a terminal  100  which is connected to the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W is formed. 
     Above, according to the terminal chain and the terminals constructing the terminal chain of the third embodiment of the invention, the process for press-forming the rectangular piece  92  to the shape of a terminal and the process for connecting the terminal with the signal conductor W 1  of the wire W can be performed at the same time. In other words, it is not necessary as before to remove from the die the terminal which is formed by press-forming, and place the terminal in a terminal crimping device which includes an anvil and a crimper. For this reason, the producing of wires to which terminals are attached can be improved, and a higher operating efficiency can be achieved. 
     In addition, since the disconnecting positions of the carrier  91  and the rectangular piece  92  are located at the rear end of the terminal  100 , burrs that are formed during the process of disconnecting are also formed at the rear end of the terminal  100 . As a result, the burrs that would hinder efficient contact of the front end of the terminal  100  with the counterpart terminal can be prevented from forming. 
     Further, since the signal conductor W 1  is carried on the rectangular piece  92  which is connected to the narrow part  911  of the carrier  91 , the wire W is hold by the carrier  91  and the die during the process of press-forming, and will not be crushed. 
     Although the present invention is described in detail with reference to the embodiments, it is apparent that various modifications and amendments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     This application is based on the Japanese patent application No. 2009-179091 filed on Jul. 31, 2009, whose content is incorporated herein by way of reference. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               11 ,  61 ,  91  carrier 
               12 ,  62 ,  92  rectangular piece 
               121 ,  621 ,  921  rectangular piece body 
               122 ,  622  carrier link 
               123 ,  623 ,  923  contact 
               20 ,  70 ,  100  terminal 
               30 ,  80 ,  110  terminal chain 
               40  lower die 
               50  upper die 
               911  narrow part 
               912  wide part 
             W wire 
             W 1  signal conductor