EP0216464B1 - Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung eines elektrischen Kabelbaumes - Google Patents

Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung eines elektrischen Kabelbaumes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0216464B1
EP0216464B1 EP86305723A EP86305723A EP0216464B1 EP 0216464 B1 EP0216464 B1 EP 0216464B1 EP 86305723 A EP86305723 A EP 86305723A EP 86305723 A EP86305723 A EP 86305723A EP 0216464 B1 EP0216464 B1 EP 0216464B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
connector
station
wires
transport assembly
wire
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EP86305723A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0216464A1 (de
Inventor
Anthony R. Nugarus
Thomas Pellegrino
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Molex LLC
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Molex LLC
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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
    • H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
    • H01R43/28—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for wire processing before connecting to contact members, not provided for in groups H01R43/02 - H01R43/26
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
    • H01R43/01—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for connecting unstripped conductors to contact members having insulation cutting edges

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for making an electrical harness of the type including a connector having a housing with insulation displacement type contacts loaded therein, each contact connected to an insulation clad wire.
  • a typical electrical harness employed today is one which generally comprises a connector having a housing with insulation displacement type contacts loaded therein. Each contact is connected to an insulation clad wire.
  • the wires may be an associated group of discrete conductors, or may comprise a flat ribbon cable assembly of the type having either flat or round conductors.
  • US-A-4,441,251 discloses a method and apparatus for manufacturing harness assemblies comprising two connectors having wires extending between the connectors.
  • the two connectors are positioned adjacent to each other in an insertion zone with the wire receiving portions of terminals in the connectors in alignment.
  • the wires are located in two spaced-apart planes in alignment with the terminals and the wires are moved towards the connectors and into the wire receiving portions of the terminals.
  • the one connector with the wires attached is removed and the other connector is moved through and beyond the insertion zone and wires are pulled from reels and located in the insertion zone in the spaced-apart planes.
  • the cycle is then repeated in placing two additional connectors in the insertion zone between the two planes of wires.
  • a specific apparatus for carrying out the method automatically is also disclosed.
  • the connectors are two row connectors but essentially symmetric in form.
  • US-A-4,235,015 discloses a method of producing an electrical cable harness, including mass terminating the first ends of a plurality of double-ended insulation-clad wires each to an insulation displacement terminal of a connector, the method including the steps of loading a connector onto a first transport assembly at a first station thereof, said first transport assembly being operable to move said connector between said first and a second station of said first transport assembly, feeding and measuring wires so that the first ends thereof are positioned adjacent said connector at said second station of said first transport assembly, terminating the first ends of said wires to said connector at said second station of said first transport assembly to form a first finished end of said harness and then returning said first transport assembly to said first station thereof thereby drawing a predetermined length of said wires past said second station of said first transport assembly, removably mounting one of a plurality of different, selectively actuable harness finishing modules for mass terminating second ends of said wires on a second transport assembly having a first station and a second station the same as the second station of the first transport assembly,
  • the machine of US-A-4,235,015 finishes the second ends of the wires at the second station by means of a pair of cooperating assemblies which move in from opposite sides of the second station to perform the desired finishing operation, but to change the cooperating assemblies to provide a different finishing operation is awkward and time consuming.
  • Another harness making machine is disclosed in commonly owned EP-A-0153387 filed 4th January, 1985. Briefly, the machine includes first and second connector nests each movable from their respective connector loading station to a common termination station. Arrangements must be provided for properly aligning the connector of each harness end with the ends of the harness wires to which it is terminated. Also, consideration in aligning each connector relative to the termination head must be made to account for the oppositely facing connector orientations at each harness end. Although generally satisfactory, the machine in use today is not suitable for terminating double-ended harnesses where the connectors are not symmetric with respect to an axis of the wire array. An example of this type of connector is described below with respect to EP-A-0191977. Like the machine of United States Patent No. 4,235,015, this machine is not readily reconfigurable if the connector style or the wire array is changed.
  • the connector has an integrally formed housing with opposed top and bottom surfaces extending between opposed forward mating and rearward end walls, and with two rows of axially extending terminal receiving cavities. Each cavity is defined by spaced-apart sidewalls extending between the forward mating and rearward end walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall opening to the top housing surface, so that all of the wires can be inserted for termination from the upper housing surface.
  • the two rows of terminal receiving cavities are stacked one on top of the other in a staggered configuration, so that the terminal receiving cavities of the lower rows are located between the terminal receiving cavities of their upper rows.
  • the rows are joined together by selectively removable web portions to form a plurality of commonly joined separable connector modules, each module including at least one upper row cavity and at least one lower row cavity.
  • United States Patent No. 4,091,531 issued May 30, 1978 discloses a bench tool for terminating a dual-row connector having opposed mating and wire receiving ends.
  • the terminals at the mating end of the connector are aligned such that the top and bottom rows are directly above and below each other.
  • the wire receiving end of the terminals are aligned in staggered rows as described above, so that wires of both rows can be inserted from a single direction.
  • An arbor press is provided having upper and lower tooling members with the upper member being driven toward the lower member during termination.
  • the upper member receives a connector with terminals having insulation displacing slots opening in a downward direction.
  • the bottom tooling member has a series of stacked plates with particularly configured upper saw tooth-like edges.
  • a flat ribbon cable is inserted between the upper and lower tooling members, and the arbor press is activated to terminate both rows simultaneously. After termination, an operator releases the press and withdraws the terminated cable harness from the machine.
  • the present invention provides a method of producing an electrical cable harness including mass terminating the first ends of a plurality of double-ended insulation-clad wires each to an insulation displacement terminal of a connector the method including the steps of: loading a connector onto a first transport assembly at a first station thereof, said first transport assembly being operable to move said connector between said first and a second station of said first transport assembly; feeding and measuring wires so that the first ends thereof are positioned adjacent said connector at said second station of said first transport assembly; terminating the first ends of said wires to said connector at said second station of said first transport assembly to form a first finished end of said harness and then returning said first transport assembly to said first station thereof thereby drawing a predetermined length of said wires past said second station of said first transport assembly; removably mounting one of a plurality of different, selectively actuable, harness finishing modules on a frame assembly of a second transport assembly having a first station which may be a connector loading station and a second station the same as said second station of said first transport assembly; moving said second transport
  • the present invention also provides a multi-station apparatus for automatically producing an electrical cable harness including mass terminating the first ends of a plurality of double-ended insulation-clad wires each to an insulation displacement terminal of a connector
  • the apparatus including a first connector transport assembly for receiving and moving a connector between two stations, means for loading the connector onto said first connector transport assembly at a first station thereof, wire feeding means for feeding and measuring the wires so that the first ends thereof are associated with the connector at the second station of said first connector transport assembly, wire termination means for terminating the first ends of the wires to said connector at said second station to form a first finished end of said harness, a further transport assembly having a first station which may be a connector loading station and a second station the same as said second station of said first connector transport assembly, said further transport assembly removably supporting one of a plurality of harness finishing modules on said apparatus, said harness finishing module being movable by said further transport assembly to said second station to finish simultaneously second ends of the wires to form the second finished harness end and being movable by said further transport
  • An embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention may include means for removing polarizing members extending from a connector housing.
  • the polarizing members comprise locating pegs which project from the top and bottom surfaces of the above-described connector of EP-A-0191977 so as to extend beyond, but not overlie, the mating end wall thereof.
  • the apparatus may comprise means for presenting at least one rotated connector to a peg removal station and means for selectively removing at least one of said pegs in said axial direction immediately adjacent one of said top and bottom surfaces.
  • a further embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention may also include means for processing the above-described connector of EP-A-0191977.
  • the apparatus may include means for rotating the connector so that the forward mating end is upwardly directed, with the wires of a completed harness assembly extending in a downward direction, and a series of knife-like selectively programmable web separating members to be driven into the housing in an axial direction so as to selectively remove at least one of the webs connecting the connector rows.
  • each connector module comprises a separate connector terminated to a predetermined number of wires, so as to form a separate harness therewith.
  • the apparatus may still further include an arrangement for transporting terminated harnesses from one work station to another, wherein the connectors have a plurality of aligning tabs extending from their mating end wall to form a channel extending along the mating end wall.
  • a track is provided with a first rail complementarily shaped with the channel, and opposing second and third spaced apart rail members opposing the first rail. The connector is slid along the track, such that the first rail is received in the channel, and the second and third rails engage the rearward connector end wall adjacent the top and bottom connector surfaces.
  • Embodiments of the present invention also provide a harness making machine for presenting the wires to the terminals in each of the staggered rows of a connector of EP-A-0191977, in a simple fully automatic two-step operation.
  • the wires are fed to the termination station at a first predetermined level, and a wire preparation module having upper and lower portions is positioned at the termination station, so that the wire is positioned between the portions.
  • the lower portion includes a connector nest receiving a connector of the type wherein rows of terminal receiving cavities are staggered with all of the cavities open in an upward direction, so that all of the wires can be inserted for termination from the upper connector housing surface.
  • the cavities of the lower rows are positioned between the cavities of their upper rows, with the cavity sidewalls of upper rows acting as wire guides to aid in the passage of wires to lower rows for termination therein.
  • An elevator is provided at the termination station so that, with the module placed over the elevator, the connector nest can be raised to engage the wires with the connector housing, such that the wires to be terminated in the upper row are bent with a predetermined upward angular deflection.
  • the module also includes wire insertion blades disposed above the connector nest, in alignment with the wires. Upon lowering of the insertion blades, and subsequent termination of the wires to the terminals, the wires terminated to the lower row have an equal but downwardly directed angular deflection.
  • FIGS. 1 to 5 show an electrical harness machine of the present invention, generally designated at 10.
  • Machine 10 automatically produces a completed electrical harness, generally designated 12, as shown in Fig. 7a.
  • the electrical harness 12 includes at least one connector, generally designated 14 and a plurality of insulation-clad wires 40.
  • the connector is described in the aforementioned EP-A-0191977 filed 12th November, 1985, which is herein incorporated by reference to the extent necessary for an understanding of the present invention.
  • connector 14 comprises an insulated housing 16 having a plurality of preloaded insulation displacement contacts 18.
  • Housing 16 is integrally molded with opposed top and bottom surfaces 20, 22 extending between opposed forward mating and rearward end walls 24, 26.
  • the connector includes an upper row 28 and a lower row 30 of axially extending terminal receiving cavities 32.
  • Each cavity 32 is defined by spaced-apart sidewalls 34 extending between the forward mating and rearward end walls 24, 26.
  • Each cavity further includes a bottom wall 36 and an opposed top wall 38 opening to the top housing surface 20, so that all of the wires 40 can be inserted for termination from the upper housing surface 20.
  • the rows 28, 30 are stacked one on top of the other in a staggered configuration, so that the terminal receiving cavities of lower row 30 are located between the terminal receiving cavities of its upper row 28, with the sidewalls 34 of the upper row acting as wire guiding channels 42 to aid in the passage of wires to be terminated in the lower row 30.
  • each module including at least one upper row cavity 32U, and at least one lower row cavity 32L.
  • the wires 40 can comprise an array of discrete insulation clad conductors, or alternatively may comprise suitably prepared flat ribbon cable, as is known in the art.
  • Each cavity 32 receives a metallic terminal 18 having a conventional insulation displacement slot which is adapted to slice through the insulation of insulation clad wires 40.
  • the connector modules may comprise any convenient number of upper row cavities which need not be the same as the number of lower row cavities.
  • a connector module may comprise only a single upper row cavity, disposed between two lower row cavities, to form a three-circuit connector. Further, multiple modules may be left attached to each other to form a larger circuit connector, if desired.
  • the machine 10 is seen to generally include first and second transport assemblies 50, 52, which carry connectors 14 between first and second loading stations 54, 56 and a common termination station 58.
  • the transport assemblies include frames or carriers 60, 62 on which selectively manually dismountable wire preparation modules generally indicated at 66, 68 are provided for each assembly 50, 52, respectively.
  • each wire preparation module 66, 68 includes a connector nest 70, 72 which maintains a connector 14 in a fixed predetermined orientation.
  • Wire preparation modules 66, 68 further include wire insertion blades 74, 76 opposing connector 14 in alignment with the terminals thereof.
  • Each wire preparation module also includes means for actuating the insertion blades, typically taking the form of an air cylinder, an electric solenoid or other selectively actuable drive means 78, 80.
  • each transport assembly 50, 52 is mounted for travel between a respective connector loading station 54, 56 and a common termination station 58.
  • Transport assembly 50 for example, is mounted for reciprocation along track rails 88 extending between loading station 54 and termination station 58.
  • transport assembly 52 is mounted for reciprocation on track rails 90 between the second loading station 56 and termination station 58.
  • Wires 40 extend from a wire supply 92 to termination station 58 where they are alternately terminated to connectors carried on the two transport assemblies 50, 52.
  • a transport elevator 94 of the toggle-lock type is the only operative device located at termination station 58, all other necessary equipment being brought to the termination station by carriers 60, 62.
  • the transport elevator 94 alternately raises each carrier 60, 62 and the wire preparation modules 66, 68 carried thereon.
  • Each module 66, 68 includes spaced-apart upper and lower wire preparation module portions designated by the suffixes "U” and “L”, respectively. Wire receiving gaps 96, 98 are formed between opposing upper and lower wire preparation module portions.
  • the carrier beds 60', 62' are raised by transport elevator 94, to bring the lower preparation module portion into engagement with wires 40 to assist in the termination.
  • Carrier beds 60', 62' are elevated by guide rods 82, 83 which contact elevator 94.
  • each lower portion is provided with a pull-down solenoid 84, 85.
  • wires 40 are extended from wire supply 92 such that their free ends are predeterminedly positioned at termination station 58 (see Figs. 1 and 2).
  • a first transport assembly 50 after receiving a connector 14, is moved from loading station 54 to termination station 58 such that wires 40 are received in gap 96 of its associated wire preparation module 66.
  • the connector nest 70 is initially located below wires 40, and insertion blades 74 are located above the wires, in alignment therewith (Fig. 2).
  • transport elevator 94 raises the lower portion of wire preparation module 66, so as to advance connector nest 70 and the connector 14 carried therein, upwardly toward wires 40.
  • connector 14 displaces every other wire 40 with an upward angular deflection, as illustrated in Fig. 3b. That is, the upwardly deflected wires 40U are engaged by the sidewalls 34 of the upper terminal receiving cavities 32. The wires 40L to be terminated in the lower row 30 are received in channels 42 formed between adjacent upper row cavities 32. Thereafter, actuator 78 is energized so as to drive insertion blades 74 in a downward direction, so as to insert and thereby mass terminate wires 40 in connector terminals 18. Transport assembly 50 then returns to loading station 54, thereby drawing a predetermined length of wire from wire supply 92, past termination station 58.
  • the second transport assembly 52 is loaded with a connector at second loading station 56, and is advanced to termination station 58, where it is elevated by transport elevator 94.
  • the second wire preparation module 68 can be assumed to be functionally identical to that of the first module 66, in that it mass terminates wires 40 to a second connector 14.
  • wire preparation module 68 differs in its wire handling and other related capabilities.
  • the second wire preparation module contains a travelling wire comb to ensure proper alignment between wires 40 and the terminals 18 of the connector carried thereon.
  • actuator 80 is energized to lower wire insertion blades 76 (Figs. 4d, 4e). Wires 40 are severed by insertion blades 76 as they are pinched between the blades and the upper die-like portion of nest 72 (Fig. 4f). Thereafter, the second or trailing end of the newly formed wire segments are terminated in both rows of connector 14, simultaneously (Fig. 4e).
  • automatic ejection arms 100, 102 are cycled to extract connectors 14 from their respective nests 70, 72(Fig. 5) for transport along ejection tracks to remote work stations.
  • the second transport assembly 52 is thereafter retracted to the second loading station 56, leaving the free ends of wires 40 extending from supply 92, at the predetermined position above termination station 58, and harness machine 10 is ready to begin another harness making cycle.
  • connectors 14 and the length of wires 40 extending therebetween are transported to a conventional work station 107 (see Fig. 1) where the connectors 14 are rotated 90 degrees (as indicated in Fig. 5b), such that their mating ends 24 are upwardly directed as indicated in Figs. 7, 8.
  • connectors 14 are slid along transport tracks 110 which extend to a peg removal station indicated generally at 112 (Fig. 7), and a web removal station indicated generally at 114 (Fig. 8).
  • the upwardly directed locating pegs 116, projecting from mating end wall 24, are severed by a selected array of blades 118.
  • connectors 14 are advanced to station 114 (Fig. 8) wherein the selected web portions are removed by blades 120 to form a plurality of finished harness products.
  • an optional wire preparation module 122 is shown carried on second carrier member 62.
  • the optional transport assembly formed thereby designated by the numeral 52', is movable to and from the second loading station 56, it has no useful interaction therewith, as it does not carry a connector. Instead, the optional transport assembly 52' is provided when only a single-ended harness is desired, the second or trailing end of the harness being prepared by only cutting, or alternatively, cutting and stripping, the trailing ends of wires 40 at termination station 58.
  • the first transport assembly 50 is returned to the first loading station 54, and conductors 40 are paid out, across termination station 58.
  • Transport assembly 52' follows the same path to termination station 58, and upon arrival, actuator 80' is energized to lower cutting and stripping blades 124, 126, respectively (Fig. 6d). With wires 40 cut by blades 124, and the insulation cladding thereof at least partially severed by blades 126, an actuator 128 is energized to extend movable wire clamp 130 toward the first transport assembly 50, thereby stripping the second end of the newly formed wire segments (Fig. 6). Alternatively, stripping blades 126, actuator 128, and wire clamp 130 may be omitted if only cutting, and not wire stripping, is required at the second end of the cable harness.
  • Carriers, 60, 62 act as frame assemblies for locating (see pins 61) and locking (see bolt-receiving mounting holes 63) a selected wire preparation module for movement therewith. More elaborate frame assemblies 66', 68' and 122' are illustrated in Fig. 10.
  • the various module styles described herein provide a finished second harness end having either a connector mass terminated to the wires, or second wire ends which are either cut or cut-and-stripped, in whatever form is desired by the end user.
  • a module for gang crimping of the second wire ends to a crimp-type connector can be provided.
  • the wire preparation modules can provide clinching of suitably formed terminals to the flat flexible cable.
  • a cable notching module can he provided if the wires are associated in a conventional ribbon cable. No matter what style of wire preparation module is required, the particular module can be quickly and easily bolted and unbolted from the threaded mounting holes 63 of carriers 60, 62, by simply installing and removing four mounting bolts for each module.
  • wire preparation module will be employed to describe any of the above mentioned different styles of modules including wire finishing assemblies which may comprise equipment for terminating the trailing wire ends to a connector. Even though the term “wire finishing assembly” may alternately be employed to avoid any suggestion of excluding a module style wherein the wires are terminated in a connector, for the sake of simplicity, the term “wire preparation module” will be employed to cover those styles of modules which not only cut, strip or notch and perform like operations on the second wire ends, but also terminate or otherwise prepare for termination of those ends to a connector. In either event, the feature highlighted here is that at each of the modules, whatever their style, be quickly and easily mounted to either carrier 60 or 62 by the simple installation and removal of four mounting bolts. It should be expressly understood that other particular combinations of modules and mounting frames other than those that set forth in Fig. 10, and elsewhere herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon studying the description herein, and such arrangements are regarded as being included in the present invention.
  • the present invention includes not only modularization of the entire wire preparation module, but also any portion thereof.
  • the upper and/or a lower wire preparation portion are also covers the modular interchangeability of wire insertion blades, wire clamping means, or other subparts of a transport assembly 50 or 52.
  • the first modular transport assembly 50 receives a connector 14 from the first loading station 54, and is moved to termination station 58 by carrier 60.
  • the first loading station 54 comprises an accumulator track 140 which receives a single row of connectors, placed end-to-end, from a source not shown.
  • the leading connector is moved by shuttle 142 to a delivery track 144 under the action of transfer solenoid 146.
  • delivery solenoid 148 advances the connector along delivery track 144 to connector nest 70, where it is prepared for transfer to the termination station.
  • the wire preparation module 66 of the first transport assembly 50 includes wire insertion blades 74 inserted in a movable head 150, which is mounted for reciprocation about guide pins 152 under the force of double acting air cylinder referred to above as actuator 78. Also mounted on head 150 are a series of wire separator blades 154 which align wires 40, just prior to termination.
  • the first modular transport assembly 50 is advanced to termination station 58 at a lower level than that of the wire feed of wires 40, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3a.
  • Wire supply 92 includes an associated power feed, for directing the wires 40 through a wire guide 162 having a delivery end located immediately adjacent termination station 58.
  • transport elevator 94 is activated to raise the rods 82, thereby elevating the lower wire preparation module portion 66L located thereon.
  • the entire wire preparation module may be raised a first amount with an optional double-acting solenoid 84 raising 60' an additional amount.
  • connection nest 70 As connector nest 70 is raised, the upper surface of connector housing 16 carried therein contacts wires 40, deflecting every other wire with the upper row of terminals, to produce a predetermined angular deflection (see Fig. 3b).
  • the upwardly deflected wires 40U are those aligned for termination in the upper row 28 of connector 14.
  • the remaining set of wires 40L, to be terminated to the lower connector row 30, are positioned in channels 42, extending between the terminal receiving cavities of upper row 28. Channels 42 guide wires 40L to terminals located on the lower connector row 30.
  • Sequencing control 170 transmits the actuation signal to elevator 94.
  • Further sensor switches can be provided within solenoid 84, to indicate when carrier bed 60', and hence lower wire preparation module portion 66L, is raised to its uppermost height. These switches send a signal to sequencing control 170 which de-energizes elevator 94 and initiates downward movement of actuator 78, simultaneously inserting both sets of wires 40U, 40L in connector rows 28, 30. Wires 40L, upon full extension of insertion blades 74, take an equal but downwardly directed angular offset (see Fig. 3c). As indicated in the present embodiment of Fig. 3c, connector 14 is preferably centered about the level of wire feed, with the angular offsets of the upper and lower rows of wires being equally displaced from that level of wire feed.
  • sequencing control 170 initiates a retraction signal to double acting solenoid 78, whereupon moving head 150 is returned in an upward direction.
  • Solenoid 84 is energized to pull down the lower wire preparation module portion to its original, lower, position.
  • wires 40 terminated to the connector 14 carried in nest 70 are dereeled as they pass through termination station 58. If the frictional forces of dereeling are too great, or if the distance between the first loading station 54 and termination station 58 is not great enough, additional power dereeling can be provided at wire supply 92. Cable loops can be conveniently downwardly directed between the termination and loading stations.
  • test cylinder 174 is automatically activated to extend movable bed 176 carrying test pobes 178 (see Fig. 2) in an extended position toward the connector carried in nest 70.
  • the left-hand free end of test probes 178 are thereby inserted in connector 14 in preparation for electrical testing of the harness.
  • the right-hand free end of probes 178 are mated with a stationary connector block 180 located adjacent loading station 54.
  • Connector block 180 contains suitable socket terminals for reception of probe 178, providing connection to an electrical test apparatus not shown in the drawings.
  • each free end of test probes 178 is provided with retractable spring loading to provide easy mating between connector 14 and connector block 180.
  • the electrical testing is performed only on single-ended harnesses (see Section VI, below) to detect any shorts between adjacent harness conductors.
  • Other suitable electrical testing as is known in the art, may be performed on both single or double-ended harnesses being fabricated.
  • the wire preparation module of the second modular transport assembly 52 can take at least three forms. If a double ended harness is required, a wire preparation module, similar in function to that described above, can be provided for mass termination to a second connector 14. However, if a single-ended harness is required, the wire preparation module need only contain a wire cutting device. Alternatively, if a single-ended harness having stripped electrical wires at its free end is required, wire cutting and stripping equipment can be mounted to the second carrier 62.
  • the numeral 68 has been applied to the mass termination wire preparation module of the present embodiment.
  • the other wire preparation module described hereinbelow is designated by numeral 122 and includes wire cutting and stripping features.
  • a second modular transport assembly 52 adapted for mass termination to a second connector 14, is shown comprising a carrier 62 and a wire preparation module 68.
  • a connector nest 72 carries a connector 14 from second loading station 56 to termination station 58.
  • the first and second connector loading stations 54, 56 are functionally similar. Accordingly, the numerals 140 to 148 used to describe the first loading station are repeated for the second station 56 but appear therein as primed numerals. For example, the accumulator track at the second connector loading station is designated by numeral 140'.
  • wire preparation module 68 includes upper and lower wire clamps 200, 202, respectively.
  • Lower wire clamp 202 is mounted for retraction toward carrier 62 by double acting pulldown actuator 85.
  • Carrier bed 62' is mounted for vertical reciprocal movement by guide pins 83.
  • Also mounted to the lower portion 68L of module 68 is a travelling wire comb 208, the function of which will be described later.
  • the upper module portion 68U consists of the aforementioned upper wire clamp 200, wire separator blades 210, wire cut-off and insertion blades 76 and a wire clamp 214.
  • the aforementioned components 76, 200 and 204-214 are mounted for common movement to a movable head 216 which is driven by actuator 80 for movement about guide pins 220.
  • the leftmost wire clamp 214 is mounted for independent movement with respect to head 216, by actuator 222, to press wires 40 against surface 72' (see Fig. 4a).
  • energization of elevator 94 is discontinued by control 230 which then initiates independent movement of lower wire clamp 202 until it also contacts wires 40, which are maintained at their level of wire feed set by wire guide 162 (Fig. 4c).
  • control 230 can initiate the lowering of wire clamp 214 by energizing actuator 222.
  • travelling wire comb 208 is moved to the left, toward second connector 14, is lowered so as to engage wires 40, and is thereafter retracted past lower wire clamp 202.
  • sequencing control 230 energizes actuator 80, to initiate depression of tooling head 216.
  • the termination cycle is shown at a time just after contact of upper and lower wire clamp members 200, 202.
  • the left hand edge 76c (see Fig. 4c) of wire cutting and insert blades 76 has just engaged a co-operating edge 72c (see Fig. 4c) of connector nest 72 so as to sever wires 40.
  • sequencing control 230 relieves back pressure on solenoid 85, to allow lower wire clamp 202 to be fully depressed by the downwardly moving wire clamp 200.
  • sequencing control 230 Upon maximum downward extension of the upper module, as indicated by sensors located within solenoid 85, sequencing control 230 de-energizes solenoid 80 at a point where cut-off and insertion blades 212 have fully seated the newly formed wire segments in the terminals of the second connector 14. Immediately prior to the termination shown in Fig. 4d, wire separators 210 (see Fig. 4d) have engaged the freshly cut wire segments to aid in alignment with the terminals of connector 14. Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 4f, sequencing control 230 initiates raising of upper wire preparation module 68U, by energizing double acting solenoid 80.
  • sequencing control 230 energizes double acting solenoid 85 to retract lower wire clamp 202, thereby pulling the carrier bed 62', with lower module portion 68L and connector nest 72, below the newly formed free end of supply wires 40.
  • elevator 94 is retracted so as to retract the toggle lock mechanism allowing downward movement of carrier bed 62'.
  • the termination of the second connector 14 forms a double-ended harness ready for ejection from the transport assemblies 50, 52.
  • ejection arms 100 are extended to overlie the connectors 14, their spring-loaded pawls 184 being retractable as they are passed over the connector housings.
  • pawls 184 clear the remote end of connectors 14, ejection arms 100 reverse direction and pawls 184 pull connectors 14 onto their respective eject tracks 104, for transport to 90 degree roll-over stations 107 (see Fig. 1).
  • FIG. 5a An example of a roll-over station 107 is shown in Fig. 5a incorporated with an arm 100.
  • arm 100 is mounted for reciprocal extension and retraction indicated by arrow 240 under the driving force of actuator 242.
  • a second pawl 244 is provided to provide gripping of connector 14.
  • the leading pawl 184 is preferably mounted on an extendible section 246 of ejection arm 100, while the second pawl 244 is fixed in a stationary position.
  • a motor 251 is energized to drive the gear 252.
  • Actuator 242 and ejection arm 100 are rotatably mounted at each end by rotatable supports 254, 256.
  • the leading support 254 is rotatably driven by gear 252. Accordingly, connector 14 is rotated 90 degrees in a plane extending perpendicular to eject track 104. Limit switches 260 de-energize motor 251, when the proper angular rotation is achieved. Upon rotation, actuator 242 is again energized to introduce connector 14 to a delivery track 110 (see Fig. 8a), which will be explained below with reference to Fig. 8a.
  • a second roll-over station 170 must be provided for a second connector 14, when a double-ended harness is produced. While a particular roll-over station 170 is shown in Fig. 5a, other arrangements will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
  • connectors 14 Upon leaving stations 107, connectors 14 are positioned with their mating ends 24 upwardly directed, and wires 12 extending between connectors 14 forming a downward loop, as shown in Fig. 7a.
  • an alternative embodiment of the second modular transport assembly designated generally at 52', includes wire cutting and stripping tooling, rather than the mass termination tooling referred to above.
  • wires 40 have been extended past termination station 58 by the first transport assembly 50, upon its retraction to a point adjacent loading station 54.
  • opposed moving wire comb members 130, 132 are extended toward the wire supply 92.
  • the wire combs are brought into engagement with each other, and are thereafter retracted to their initial position, being moved toward first transport assembly 50.
  • wires 40 have been combed and aligned, ready for cutting and stripping operations.
  • Sensors located in wire combs 130, 132 send a cycle completion signal to sequencing control 240, upon returning to their initial position. Thereafter, sequencing control 240 energizes elevator 94, raising tooling head 246 to engage wires 40, and raising lower wire clamp 248 to also engage wire 40.
  • Tooling head 246 and wire clamp 248 are both contained on a movable bed 250. Pull down solenoid 256 is in turn fastened to bed 250 to ensure retraction thereof at the proper time.
  • connectors 14 are located at a peg removal station 112, whereat knife-like peg-removing blades 118 are lowered to sever selected polarizing pegs 116 from the upper and lower housing surfaces 20, 22 respectively.
  • the pegs 116 have been positioned so as to extend beyond, but not overlie mating edge 24.
  • the positioning of connectors 14, to withstand the force of severing blades 118, is ensured by delivery track 110.
  • Blades 118 are mounted to a press-like actuator 119 for downward movement across top and bottom connector surfaces 20, 22. Accordingly, it is important that track 110 is more narrow than the body of connector 14, and prevents sideways rocking of that body during peg removal.
  • Connectors 14 have alignment tabs 260 extending from mating end 24 to form an alignment channel 262 extending therealong.
  • Track 110 has an upper rail member 266 complementarily shaped with channel 262, for a close-fitting reception therein.
  • Track 110 further includes second and third rail members 270, 272 which engage and support the wire receiving end 26 of connector 14 immediately adjacent the top and bottom connector surfaces 20, 22. In effect, lower rails 272, 270 oppose upper rail 266 to form a connector receiving cavity corresponding to the profile of connector 14.
  • the connector With upper rail 266 received in channel 262, and lower rails 270, 272 supporting the opposed end wall 26, the connector is supported by track 110 to prevent rocking movement during the sliding travel of the connector therealong.
  • the rocking movement referred to occurs in a plane extending along the track, as well as the two directions mutually perpendicular thereto.
  • connectors 14 are slid along track 110, for presentation to web removal station 114 which includes a predetermined plurality of web removing blades 120.
  • the web removal blades are lowered into the mating end of connector 14, so as to remove selected web portions 44, to form a plurality of connector modules 46 as indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 8c.
  • the phantom lines 280 (Fig. 8b) indicate the region of material removed from connector housing 16 by blades 120 corresponding to a web portion 44.
  • the particular connector modules 46 formed by blades 120 have a vertically elongated side profile, particularly for a two-circuit connector comprising one upper terminal and one lower terminal.
  • the arrangement of delivery track 110 is particularly advantageous in that it provides reliable sliding transport of the connector module, without rocking about any of its three mutually orthogonal axes, one of which lies in the direction of track 110.

Claims (16)

  1. Verfahren zur Herstellung eines elektrischen Kabelbaumes (12), bei dem ein Massenanschluß der ersten Enden einer Mehrzahl doppelendiger Drähte (40) mit Isolierungsmantel jeweils an einem Isolierungsverdrängeranschluß eines Verbinders (14) vorgenommen wird, wobei das Verfahren die Schritte umfaßt, daß
       ein Verbinder (14) auf eine erste Transporteinheit (50) in einer ersten Station (54) derselben aufgegeben wird, wobei die erste Transporteinheit (50) derart betätigbar ist, daß der Verbinder (14) zwischen der ersten und einer zweiten Station (58) der ersten Transporteinheit (50) bewegt wird,
       Drähte (40) derart zugeführt und bemessen werden, daß deren erste Enden angrenzend an den Verbinder (14) in der zweiten Station (58) der ersten Transporteinheit (50) positioniert werden,
       die ersten Enden der Drähte (40) an den Verbinder (14) in der zweiten Station (58) der ersten Transporteinheit (50) angeschlossen werden, um ein erstes fertiggestelltes Ende des Kabelbaums (12) zu bilden, und dann die erste Transporteinheit (50) zu deren erster Station (54) zurückgeführt wird, wodurch eine vorbestimmte Länge der Drähte (40) an der zweiten Station (58) der ersten Transporteinheit (50) vorbeigezogen wird,
       einer einer Mehrzahl verschiedener, wahlweise betätigbarer Module (68;122) zur Kabelbaumfertigstellung auf eine Rahmeneinheit (62) einer zweiten Transporteinheit (52;52') lösbar angebracht wird, die eine erste Station (56), die eine Verbinderaufgabestation sein kann, und eine zweite Station (58) besitzt, die die gleiche ist wie die zweite Station (58) der ersten Transporteinheit (50),
       die zweite Transporteinheit (52,52') mit der Rahmeneinheit (62) und dem Modul (68;122) von der ersten Station (56) der zweiten Transporteinheit (52,52') zu der zweiten Station (58) bewegt wird,
       die zweite Transporteinheit (52,52') in der zweiten Station gehalten wird, während der Modul (68,122) betätigt wird, um gleichzeitig die zweiten Drahtenden zur Bildung eines zweiten fertiggestellten Kabelbaumendes fertigzustellen und dadurch einen ein- oder einen doppelendigen Kabelbaum zu bilden, je nach Wunsch in Abhängigkeit von dem einen der Kabelbaumfertigstellungsmodule, der zur Fertigstellung der zweiten Drahtenden ausgewählt wird, und dann die zweite Transporteinheit (52,52') zusammen mit der Rahmeneinheit und dem Modul (68,122) zu der ersten Station (56) der zweiten Transporteinheit (52,52') für eine Bereitstellung zur Produktion eines weiteren Kabelbaums bewegt wird.
  2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, bei dem
       die Drähte (40) der zweiten Station (58) entlang einer ersten Ebene zugeführt werden, so daß deren erste Enden in einer vorbestimmten Position angeordnet sind,
       der Verbinder (14) der ersten Transporteinheit (50) in einer zweiten niedrigeren Ebene aufgegeben wird,
       die erste Transporteinheit (50) entlang der zweiten Ebene zu der vorbestimmten, an die ersten Drahtenden angrenzenden Position bewegt wird und
       zumindest ein Bereich (66L) der ersten Transporteinheit (50) angehoben wird, so daß der darauf aufgegebene Verbinder (14) unmittelbar unter den Drähten (40) plaziert wird, derart, daß die ersten Drahtenden für einen Massenanschluß an den Verbinder (14) positioniert werden.
  3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, bei dem
       die zweite Transporteinheit (52,52') entlang der zweiten niedrigeren Ebene bewegt wird, um den einen der Kabelbaumfertigstellungsmodule (68,122) angrenzend an die zweiten Drahtenden zu positionieren, und
       ein Bereich (68L,250) des Moduls (68,122) in eine unmittelbar an die Drähte (40) angrenzende Position angehoben wird, um die zweiten Drahtenden bei der weiteren Betätigung des Moduls (68,122) fertigzustellen.
  4. Verfahren nach einem beliebigen vorhergehenden Anspruch, bei dem
       der eine Kabelbaumfertigstellungsmodul (68) eine Anordnung für einen Massenanschluß der zweiten Enden der Drähte (40) an einen zweiten Verbinder (14) umfaßt, der eine Mehrzahl von Isolierungsverdrängeranschlüssen besitzt, um das zweite fertiggestellte Ende des Kabelbaums zu bilden,
       der eine und der zweite Verbinder (14) jeweils ein einteilig gebildetes Gehäuse (16) mit gegenüberliegenden oberen und unteren Oberflächen (20,22), die sich in axialer Richtung zwischen einander gegenüberliegenden vorderen Verbindungs- und hinteren Endwänden (24,26) erstrecken, und zumindest zwei Reihen (28,30) axial verlaufender Anschlußaufnahmeräume (32) besitzt, wobei die Reihen von Räumen eine oben auf der anderen in versetzter Form gestapelt werden, so daß die Räume einer Reihe (28) zwischen den Räumen der anderen Reihe (30) angeordnet sind und jeder Raum einen nach oben weisenden Drahtaufnahmeschlitz aufweist, der sich zu der oberen Gehäuseoberfläche (20) öffnet, so daß sämtliche Drähte (40) für einen Anschluß von der oberen Gehäuseoberfläche (20) eingesetzt werden können, wobei das Verfahren vorsieht, daß
       der eine und der zweite Verbinder (14) so aufgegeben werden, daß die oberen Verbinderoherflächen (20) der Verbinder (14) in dieselbe Richtung weisend während des Anschlusses gehalten werden, und
       die jeweiligen Drahtenden an die Reihen (28,30) jedes Verbinders (14) gleichzeitig angeschlossen werden.
  5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 4, bei dem
       der eine und der zweite Verbinder (14) bei deren Anschluß gedreht werden, so daß deren vordere Verbindungsenden (24) nach oben gerichtet werden, wobei die sich zwischen den Verbindern (14) erstreckenden Drähte (40) des Kabelbaums (12) eine nach unten verlaufende Schlaufe bilden, und
       der Kabelbaum (12) an eine entfernte Arbeitsstation (112,114) transportiert wird, indem die hinteren Endwände (26) der Verbinder entlang jeweiligen ersten und zweiten Transportbahnen (110) verschoben werden, die jeweils Schlitzöffnungen zur Aufnahme der Drähte (40) besitzen.
  6. Mehrstationenvorrichtung zur automatischen Herstellung eines elektrischen Kabelbaumes mit einem Massenanschluß der ersten Enden einer Mehrzahl doppelendiger Drähte (40) mit Isolierungsmantel jeweils an einen Isolierungsverdrängeranschluß (18) eines Verbinders (14), bestehend aus
       einer ersten Verbindertransporteinheit (50) zur Aufnahme und zum Bewegen eines Verbinders (14) zwischen zwei Stationen (54,58),
       einer Einrichtung (140,142,144,146) zum Aufgeben des Verbinders (14) auf die erste Verbindertransporteinheit (50) in einer ersten Station (54) derselben,
       einer Drahtzuführeinrichtung (92,162) zur Zuführung und Bemessung der Drähte (40) derart, daß deren erste Enden dem Verbinder (14) in der zweiten Station (58) der ersten Verbindertransporteinheit (50) zugeordnet werden,
       einer Drahtanschlußeinrichtung (66) zum Anschließen der ersten Enden der Drähte (40) an den Verbinder (14) in der zweiten Station (58) zur Bildung eines ersten fertiggestellten Endes des Kabelbaums,
       einer weiteren Transporteinheit (52,52') mit einer ersten Station (56), die eine Verbinderaufgabestation sein kann, und einer zweiten Station (58), die die gleiche ist wie die zweite Station (58) der ersten Verbindertransporteinheit (50),
       wobei die weitere Transporteinheit (52,52') einen einer Mehrzahl von Kabelbaumfertigstellungsmodulen (68,122) auf der Vorrichtung lösbar abstützt,
       der Kabelbaumfertigstellungsmodul (68,122) von der weiteren Transporteinheit (52,52') in die zweite Station (58) bewegbar ist, um gleichzeitig die zweiten Enden der Drähte (40) zur Bildung der zweiten fertiggestellten Kabelbaumenden fertigzustellen, sowie von der weiteren Transporteinheit (52,52') in die erste Station (56) der weiteren Transporteinheit (52,52') bewegbar ist, um die Maschine für den Beginn eines weiteren Kabelbaumherstellungszyklus bereitzustellen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die weitere Transporteinheit (52,52') eine Rahmeneinheit (62) besitzt, die den einen Kabelbaumfertigstellungsmodul (68,122) lösbar abstützt,
       die weitere Transporteinheit (52,52') zusammen mit der Rahmeneinheit (62) und dem Kabelbaumfertigstellungsmodul (68,122) von der ersten Station (56) der weiteren Transporteinheit zu deren zweiter Station (58) bewegbar ist und der Kabelbaumfertigstellungsmodul (68,122), während die zweite Transporteinheit in der zweiten Station gehalten wird, betätigt wird, derart, daß gleichzeitig die zweiten Enden fertiggestellt werden, wodurch ein ein- oder doppelendiger Kabelbaum, wie gewünscht, gebildet wird, und
       die weitere Transporteinheit zusammen mit der Rahmeneinheit (62) und dem Kabelbaumfertigstellungsmodul (68,122) von der zweiten Station (58) der weiteren Transporteinheit (52,52') in die erste Station (56) der weiteren Transporteinheit (52,52') bewegbar ist, um die Maschine für den Beginn eines weiteren Kabelbaumherstellungszyklus bereitzustellen.
  7. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, bei der
       die Drahtbearbeitungsstation des Moduls (68,122) einander gegenüberliegende obere und untere Modulbereiche (68U,68L,130,132,214,124,126,249,246,248,126') mit einem Spalt (98) zwischen diesen zur Aufnahme der zweiten Drahtenden aufweist, wobei die einander gegenüberliegenden Modulbereiche zur Fertigstellung der zweiten Enden der Drähte aufeinander zu bewegbar sind und dadurch die zweiten fertiggestellten Kabelbaumenden zu bilden, und
       die Vorrichtung ferner eine Hebeeinrichtung (94) in der zweiten Station (58) zum Anheben zumindest eines der unteren Modulbereiche (68L,246,248) zu den zweiten Drahtenden hin zur Ermöglichung deren Fertigbearbeitung aufweist.
  8. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, bei der die erste Verbindertransporteinheit (50) ein Verbindernest (70) zur Aufnahme des Verbinders (14) aufweist und die Drahtanschlußeinrichtung (66) eine vorspringende Einrichtung (74) für einen Eingriff mit den und Einsetzen der ersten Enden der Drähte in die Anschlüsse (18) des Verbinders (14) bei Vorbewegung dieser vorspringenden Einrichtung (74) zum Verbindernest (70) hin aufweist und
       das Verbindernest (70) eine Position angrenzend an die Hebeeinrichtung (94) einnimmt, wenn der Verbinder (14) zu der zweiten Station (58) bewegt wird, und mit dieser für eine Bewegung des Verbinders (14) zu den ersten Drahtenden hin in Eingriff kommt.
  9. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7 oder 8, bei der die jeweiligen Modulbereiche Klemmeinrichtungen (248,249) für das zweite Drahtende und Drahtabisolierungsmesser (126,126'), die zum Erfassen der Drähte aufeinanderzubewegbar sind, und eine Betätigungseinrichtung (128) zum Verschieben der Klemmeinrichtung (248,249) zum Ablösen der Isolierung von den zweiten Enden der Drähte umfassen.
  10. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7 oder 8, bei der
       einer der Modulbereiche (68L) ein Verbindernest (72) zur Aufnahme eines zweiten Verbinders (14) mit einer Mehrzahl von Isolierungsverdrängeranschlüssen (18) aufweist,
       der andere Modulbereich (68U) eine zweite Drahtanschlußeinrichtung (76) für einen Massenanschluß des zweiten Endes der Drähte an den zweiten Verbinder (14) zur Bildung des zweiten fertiggestellten Endes des Kabelbaums umfaßt und
       eine Einrichtung (140',142',144'146') zum Aufgeben des zweiten Verbinders (14) auf das zweite Verbindernest (72) vorgesehen ist.
  11. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 7 bis 10, zur Herstellung von Kabelbäumen mit Verbindern (14) jeweils mit einem einteilig geformten Gehäuse (16) mit einander gegenüberliegenden oberen und unteren Oberflächen (20,22), die sich zwischen einander gegenüberliegenden vorderen Verbindungs- und hinteren Endwänden (24,26) erstrecken, und zumindest zwei Reihen (28,30) axial verlaufender Anschlußaufnahmeräume (32), wobei die Raumreihen die eine auf der Oberseite der anderen in einer versetzten Form gestapelt sind, so daß die Räume einer Reihe (28) zwischen den Räumen der anderen Reihe (30) angeordnet sind, und jeder Raum einen nach oben weisenden Drahtaufnahmeschlitz besitzt, der sich zur oberen Gehäuseoberfläche (20) öffnet, so daß sämtliche Drähte (40) zum Anschluß von der oberen Gehäuseoberfläche (20) eingesetzt werden können, wobei
       die Aufgabeeinrichtung (140 - 146, 140' - 146') geeignet ist, Verbinder (14) derart aufzugeben, daß eine obere Oberfläche (20) von diesen in einer nach oben weisenden Richtung während des Anschlusses gehalten wird, und
       die Drahtanschlußeinrichtung (66,76) für einen Anschluß sämtlicher erster Drahtenden gleichzeitig in Anschlüssen (18) betreffender Reihen (28,30) des Verbinders (14) betätigbar ist.
  12. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, bei Abhängigkeit des Anspruchs 11 von Anspruch 8, zur Herstellung von Kabelbäumen mit Verbindern nach Anspruch 11, von denen die Gehäuseseitenwände (34) der oberen Reihen (28) der Verbinder als Drahtführungen zur Hilfe beim Durchgang der Drähte (40) zu unteren Reihen (30) für einen Anschluß in diesen wirken, derart, daß sämtliche Drahtenden für einen Anschluß von der oberen Gehäuseoberfläche (20) eingesetzt werden können, wobei die Drahtzuführeinrichtung (92,162,50) geeignet ist, die Drähte (40) derart zuzuführen und zu bemessen, daß die ersten Drahtenden bei Zuordnung zu einem Verbinder (14) in der zweiten Station (58) in einer gemeinsamen Ebene mit den anzuschließenden Drahtenden angrenzend an die Anschlüsse (18) verschiedener Reihen (28,30) des Verbinders (14) angeordnet sind, wodurch, wenn der Verbinder zu den ersten Drahtenden hin bewegt wird, der Verbinder die anzuschließenden Enden in einer ersten Reihe mit einer vorbestimmten aufwärtsgerichteten Winkelauslenkung verbiegt und bewirkt, daß die an die andere Reihe anzuschließenden Drähte eine gleiche abwärtsgerichtete Winkelauslenkung bei Anschluß durch die Drahtanschlußeinrichtung (66,76) besitzen.
  13. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, ferner bestehend aus
       einer Einrichtung (107,170) zum Drehen jedes Verbinders (14) bei dessen Anschluß, so daß dessen vorderes Verbindungsende (24) nach oben gerichtet ist, wobei die Drähte des Kabelbaums in Abwärtsrichtung verlaufen,
       einer ersten Transportbahn (110) mit einer geschlitzten Öffnung zur Aufnahme der Drähte (40) und Oberflächen (270,272) zum Abstützen der hinteren Endwand (26) des Verbinders (14) und
       einer Einrichtung zum Transportieren des Kabelbaums zu einer entfernten Station (112,114) der Vorrichtung durch Verschieben des Verbinders auf der Bahn (110).
  14. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 13, zur Herstellung von Kabelbäumen mit Verbindern (14) nach Anspruch 11 oder den Ansprüchen 11 und 12, wobei die Reihen (28,30) der Verbinder zumindest teilweise miteinander durch wahlweise entfernbare Stegbereiche (44) zur Bildung einer Mehrzahl gemeinsam verbundener brennbarer Verbindermodule (46) verbunden sind, wobei jeder Modul zumindest einen Raum (28) der oberen Reihe und zumindest
       einen Raum (30) der unteren Reihe aufweist, wobei die entfernte Station der Vorrichtung eine Verbindersteg-Entfernungsstation (114) umfaßt und die Vorrichtung ferner versehen ist mit
       einer Einrichtung (120) in der Stegentfernungsstation zum selektiven Entfernen zumindest eines der Verbinderstege (44) in der axialen Richtung, um so eine Mehrzahl der Verbindermodule (46) zu bilden, wobei jeder Verbindermodul (46) auf diese Weise einen gesonderten Verbinder (14) umfaßt, der an eine vorbestimmte Anzahl der Drähte (40) angeschlossen ist, um so einen gesonderten Kabelbaum (12) mit diesem zu bilden.
  15. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 13 oder 14 zur Herstellung von Kabelbäumen mit Verbindern (14) nach Anspruch 11, 12 oder 13, wobei jeder Verbinder (14) ferner eine Mehrzahl von Zentrierstiften (16) aufweist, die von den oberen und unteren Oberflächen (20,22) vorstehen, um sich so über die Verbindungsendwand (24) hinaus zu erstrecken, sie jedoch nicht zu überlagern, wobei die entfernte Station der Vorrichtung ferner eine Stiftentfernungsstation (112) umfaßt und die Vorrichtung ferner versehen ist mit
       einer Einrichtung (118,119) in der Stiftentfernungsstation (112) zum selektiven Entfernen zumindest eines der Verbinderstifte (116) in der axialen Richtung unmittelbar angrenzend an eine der oberen und unteren Oberflächen (20,22).
  16. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 13, 14 oder 15 zur Herstellung von Kabelbäumen mit Verbindern (14) nach Anspruch 11, 12, 13 oder 14, wobei jeder Verbinder (14) ferner eine Mehrzahl von Ausrichtlaschen (260) aufweist, die von der Verbindungsendwand (24) ausgehen, um einen entlang der Verbindungsendwand verlaufenden Kanal (262) zu bilden, wobei
       die Transportbahn (110) eine erste Schiene (266), die komplementär zu dem Kanal (222) geformt und in diesem aufnehmbar ist, und ein zweites und drittes beabstandetes Schienenteil (270,272) gegenüber der ersten Schiene (266) aufweist, das mit dem Verbinder (14) zur Abstützung dessen hinterer Endwand (26) in Eingriff bringbar ist,
       wodurch der Verbinder (14) von der Bahn (110) zur Verhinderung einer Schaukelbewegung während der Bewegung entlang dieser abgestützt ist.
EP86305723A 1985-09-20 1986-07-25 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung eines elektrischen Kabelbaumes Expired - Lifetime EP0216464B1 (de)

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US5155907A (en) * 1990-01-26 1992-10-20 Amp Incorporated Method of aligning individual connectors
CN103317342B (zh) * 2013-05-29 2016-01-20 东莞市津达电子有限公司 贴片式连接器自动组装机
US10522985B2 (en) * 2017-07-13 2019-12-31 John D Tillotson, JR. Customizable wire harness form board sub-assembly structure having simple, quick-change wire routing exchange point capability

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US4235015A (en) * 1979-02-16 1980-11-25 Molex Incorporated Electrical harness fabrication method and apparatus
DE2928704A1 (de) * 1979-07-16 1981-02-19 Amp Inc Vorrichtung zum gleichzeitigen anschluss einer reihe von kabeln an entsprechende kontakte
CA1167626A (en) * 1980-06-09 1984-05-22 Daniel B. Grubb Apparatus for, and a method of, serially manufacturing electrical harness assemblies
US4363167A (en) * 1980-08-11 1982-12-14 Amp Incorporated Method of terminating leading ends of a plurality of wires

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