EP0314545A1 - Device for contact insertion in a connector housing - Google Patents

Device for contact insertion in a connector housing Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0314545A1
EP0314545A1 EP88402627A EP88402627A EP0314545A1 EP 0314545 A1 EP0314545 A1 EP 0314545A1 EP 88402627 A EP88402627 A EP 88402627A EP 88402627 A EP88402627 A EP 88402627A EP 0314545 A1 EP0314545 A1 EP 0314545A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
cable
head
wire
carriage
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP88402627A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Guy Pech
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Safran Electrical and Power SAS
Original Assignee
Labinal SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Labinal SA filed Critical Labinal SA
Publication of EP0314545A1 publication Critical patent/EP0314545A1/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R43/00Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
    • H01R43/20Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00Metal working
    • Y10T29/51Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for metal shaping or assembling
    • Y10T29/5136Separate tool stations for selective or successive operation on work
    • Y10T29/5137Separate tool stations for selective or successive operation on work including assembling or disassembling station
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00Metal working
    • Y10T29/53Means to assemble or disassemble
    • Y10T29/5313Means to assemble electrical device
    • Y10T29/53187Multiple station assembly apparatus
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00Metal working
    • Y10T29/53Means to assemble or disassemble
    • Y10T29/5313Means to assemble electrical device
    • Y10T29/532Conductor
    • Y10T29/53209Terminal or connector

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device allowing the automatic insertion of contacts each provided with their cable or individual conductor, in a connector housing.
  • Bundles of conductive cables such as, for example, avionic bundles, comprise a large number of individual flexible conductors ending in a contact element or pin housed in a cell of a connector housing. These boxes therefore comprise a large number of cells each receiving such a contact.
  • the plugging of the contacts each connected to the end of its cable or corresponding individual flexible conductor, generally by crimping, is carried out manually, means of assistance and guidance for insertion being provided to facilitate identification. and placing contacts in the cells.
  • the present invention proposes to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a method of inserting contacts provided with their individual cables into cells of a connector housing comprising a large number of cells, and this in an automatic, rapid manner, simple, safe and economical.
  • Another objective of the invention is to produce such a device which allows insertion without risk of deterioration of the contacts or of the flexible conductors connected to the contacts.
  • Another objective is to allow and facilitate automatic insertion into a connector housing despite the presence, during the insertion of the last contacts, of a large mass of cables behind the housing, and this very for very miniaturized connectors.
  • Yet another objective of the invention is to facilitate, even to automate, the identification of a contact and of the cell which must receive it.
  • Yet another objective of the invention is to make it possible to carry out automatically a plurality of operations which must necessarily be carried out before the actual insertion, and in particular the correct cutting of the end of the cable, the stripping of the end of the cable and the fixing or crimping of this end of the cable into the contact part or barrel which is to receive it.
  • the subject of the invention is a device for inserting contacts, each provided with their individual conductor or flexible cable, in the cells of a connector housing, device comprising a connector housing support, means of insertion movable on a trajectory towards and away from the connector housing, and means allowing relative movement between the connector support and the trajectory in order to present the desired cell of the connector housing on the trajectory, characterized in that said means of insertion include: - An insertion head capable of opening to receive a contact extended by its individual cable and of closing around the contact, the end of the head oriented towards the connector housing being bevelled to spread progressively, during its movement towards the connector housing, the cables of the contacts possibly already laid, said insertion head being movable between a remote position for receiving the contact and an advanced position close to the cell located on the path, - And final insertion means, such as a feather, for moving the contact over the end of the trajectory between the contact position corresponding to said advanced position of the insertion head and an end of insertion position of the contact in the socket.
  • said means of insertion
  • beveled shape of the end of the head is meant a streamlined shape gradually narrowing forward, such as for example a conical shape, so as to gradually spread, and without any risk of deterioration, the cables or conductors of the contacts already placed which would be on the path of the insertion head.
  • the anterior end of the contact emerges, during the entire path of the insertion head, or at least during the terminal part of this path, in front of the faired anterior end of the head insertion so as to already partially penetrate into the cell when the insertion head is immobilized in its advanced position close to the cell.
  • the means for moving the contact to the end of the trajectory are then limited to continuing the penetration of the contact in the socket which guides it to the end of insertion position.
  • the insertion head can maintain contact directly until it reaches its advanced position, after which the contact is taken care of by the final insertion means.
  • final insertion means for example a feather, essentially exerting a push on the contact, without having to rigidly maintain or pinch the contact.
  • the contact can be maintained positively by said final insertion means making it possible to move the contact to the end of the trajectory.
  • the insertion head essentially provides protection, and possibly guiding of the contact during all or part of the movement of the contact, under the effect of the final insertion means, at the end of the trajectory.
  • This displacement at the end of the trajectory, under the effect of said means of final insertion of the contact, can be obtained either by firmly holding the rear connector end by these means to move it, or by simply exerting a push by these means on a posterior contact support surface such as a flange, or even by only driving the flexible cable at the rear of the contact, and it is then possible to provide a guide channel, in the insertion head, to guide and contain the cable in a position close to the rectilinear position in order to force it to push the contact forward into the cell.
  • the final insertion means for moving the contact to the end of the trajectory may include a feather separable into two half-feathers so as to open and close around the posterior end of the contact and / or the end of flexible cable or conductor of contact, then being able to open again, said feather ensuring either a rigid maintenance of the contact, or simply a push on a suitable posterior relief relief such as a flange, the anterior end of the feather penetrating with the contact, in an initial part of the cell to guide the contact.
  • the feather can be used simply to guide the flexible cable with little play and special means are provided at the rear to grip the cable and push it forward.
  • the motor means which drive the insertion head and / or the final insertion means, such as a feather for moving the contact to the end of the trajectory, are preferably arranged to allow fast speeds and slow speeds.
  • these motor means ensure first of all, from the initial position in which the insertion head takes care of the contact, a rapid displacement speed then, when reaches the vicinity of the advanced position close to the cell, the speed becomes slow, means then being sensitive to the speed of movement or to the force on the insertion head to stop the movement if the resistance encountered exceeds a threshold adapted to the simple resistance expected by the presence of the cables of the contacts already installed.
  • the final insertion means such as the pen
  • the advance is made slowly and means detecting the resistance to advancement, or the end of the movement, stop the displacement when the contact has reached its end of insertion position, beyond which it can no longer advance.
  • the device can also include a test clip which, once the contact has been definitively inserted, comes to grip a portion of cable of this contact to exert rearward traction.
  • this backward movement which corresponds to an absence of insertion, or to a poor insertion of contact, or even to a break in connection between the contact and its cable, this can thus be detected. defect.
  • the device according to the invention can, in a preferred embodiment, incorporate other stations such as a crimping station, a stripping station and a conductor cable sectioning station.
  • the device can include control means such as, in particular, a stripping control, for example by searching for four-point electrical continuity, and / or a visual crimping control by camera and / or crimping control. by attempting to extract the cable.
  • control means such as, in particular, a stripping control, for example by searching for four-point electrical continuity, and / or a visual crimping control by camera and / or crimping control. by attempting to extract the cable.
  • the means allowing relative movement between the connector support and the trajectory in order to present the desired socket of the connector means in the trajectory can advantageously be controlled by software or any other control programming associating with a determined contact, the socket which must match it.
  • the implementation of the program can be controlled by direct automatic input, the operator then being able to to have no more than a simple role of monitoring the machine, automatically supplied with contacts and wires, means then being provided for assigning each section of wire the corresponding code.
  • the device shown includes the device 1 properly said and a number of accessory devices, namely an electronic cabinet 2, an operator station 3 with a seat, and possibly a so-called starting store 4 which can contain identified sections of wire and a so-called working store 5 which can contain various accessories into which the wire section must be threaded.
  • accessory devices namely an electronic cabinet 2, an operator station 3 with a seat, and possibly a so-called starting store 4 which can contain identified sections of wire and a so-called working store 5 which can contain various accessories into which the wire section must be threaded.
  • an alphanumeric input keyboard 6 and a display screen 7 are arranged.
  • a computer monitor screen is associated with the alphanumeric input keyboard 6.
  • the device 1 comprises the following stations, connected by a path in bold line schematically illustrating the path of the anterior end of a section of wire, namely: an introduction station A, a stripping station B, a crimping station C and an insertion station in fact comprising a station D for handling the connector with a feather and the insertion station proper E.
  • the introduction station A arranged on the front of the device, near the operator's station 3, has a funnel-shaped part 12 facilitating the introduction of the end to be crimped with wire or cable. Behind the part 12 is placed a clamp 13 capable of coming to grip the wire at a fairly fable distance from its end.
  • the clamp 13 is part of a set of four clamps 13 supported equiangularly by a barrel 16 rotating around a horizontal axis 17.
  • a wire cutting device 14 is disposed behind the clamps 13 and in front of an end detection device wire or cable 15 comprising a paddle contact which serves as a stop and indicates the presence of the wire.
  • the rotation of a quarter turn of the barrel 16 brings the end of the wire maintained by the clamp 13 which had grasped it, to the stripping station B.
  • This station comprises, mounted on a suitable slider 18, a stripping device 19 having two knife jaws 20, 21 with a translational movement, one relative to the other, and provided with symmetrical sets of semi-circular cutting impressions 22 adapted to the different diameters or gauges of wire.
  • the slider 18 can move towards and away from the end of the wire held by the clamp 13, the jaws being separated during movement towards the end and being brought together during movement away from said end to ensure stripping.
  • an electrical continuity check can be carried out by usual contact members at the stripping station to verify that stripping has been carried out.
  • the device 19 can, moreover, be moved vertically so as to bring, at the end of the wire, the pair of imprints 22 corresponding to its diameter.
  • a further rotation of a quarter turn anti-clockwise brings the end of the wire to the crimping station C.
  • the station C firstly comprises a clamp 30 mounted on a sliding carriage 31 capable of moving the axially end of the wire between the position determined by the pliers 13 and the crimping station C proper, the pliers 13 offering some resistance to this transfer to force the wire to remain straight between the pliers 30 and 13 spaced apart from one another other.
  • These pliers 30 grip the wire at the level of the bare portion of wire, leaving free the cut and stripped end of the wire.
  • the crimping station C also includes a vibrating bowl 33 serving as a reserve of contacts 80.
  • This vibrating bowl delivers the contacts 80 one after the other to a selection and presentation device 34 of a usual type which comes to present the contact 80 in the central passage of a crimping head 35 provided with four punches 36 returned in position remote from the passage by conventional springs 37 pushing the punch actuating heads away from the central passage.
  • the rotation of the peripheral part 38 of the head 35 causes, by a cam effect, the sinking of the punches, the degree of sinking being determined by the angle of rotation.
  • the central passage of the crimping head 35 is judiciously aligned with the trajectory of the severed and stripped end of wire determined by the movement of the clamp 30 so that this end penetrates into the barrel 81 of the contact, after which the punches crimp the barrel on the bare end of the wire.
  • a crimping check can be carried out, while the barrel 81 is blocked by the punches after crimping, by seeking to roll back the clamp 30 away from the crimping station C and noting that this movement is impossible.
  • a visual check of the quality of the crimping can advantageously be carried out by a corresponding camera or any other display device, projecting the images of the contact 80 crimped onto the screen 7.
  • the wire on which the connection has been crimped is transferred to the insertion station horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the wire on which the contact has just been crimped.
  • a carriage 41 movable horizontally and transversely relative to the direction of movement of the carriage 31 carries two clamps 42, 43, spaced apart from one another, the clamp 42 gripping the contact while the clamp 43 grips the wire or cable away from contact, the wire extending in a straight line between the clamps 42, 43.
  • the wire When the wire provided with its contact 80 has arrived, by the movement of the carriage 41, in alignment with the insertion station E, the wire can be supported, between the clamps 42 and 43, by the insertion means.
  • the insertion station E comprises a mobile table with vertical displacement in coordinates.
  • a plate 50 provided with supports 51 to receive connector housings 52 in a perfectly indexed position, each support 51 being adapted to a particular type of connector.
  • the table that supports the plate can be moved in the vertical plane so as to be able to exactly align each socket 53 of the connector with the rectilinear path followed by the contact in the insertion station E. This movement is carried out in the usual way by stepping motors controlled by a microprocessor obeying the orders of the main microprocessor managing the inputs of the alphanumeric keyboard 6.
  • the device according to the invention comprises, to remedy this drawback, a geometric axis of analysis parallel to the axis formed by the rectilinear insertion path and located at a precise distance from the latter. At the two ends of this axis of analysis are arranged two strictly aligned optical fibers, one emitting a light beam and the other receiving it. A third fiber takes into account the ambient light.
  • the control means of the device according to the invention which incorporates a microprocessor, move the table so that a determined cell of the connector housing mounted on the plate 50 comes to be present in the axis of analysis.
  • the corresponding cell would be aligned with the emitting and receiving fibers.
  • the device searches for the maximum amplitude signal which corresponds to the best position of the connector for this cell. The operation is then identified for a second determined cell and once these two data are entered, the connector is perfectly located in space.
  • the insertion station E comprises the insertion means comprising the insertion head, the pen for the insertion proper, and a test clip making it possible to check the locking of the contact in its socket and a force sensor for displacement associated with a motor controlled by current by a specific microprocessor in order to master the insertion cycle in speed, acceleration, displacement, torque, effort.
  • the insertion pen 60 has a generally tubular shape and composed of two half-shells or half-feathers separated by an axial plane of symmetry. Each half-feather has, at the front of a part 63 forming a body, one end 61, the diameter of the tube formed by the union of the two half-feathers not being greater than that of a contact flange, c that is to say being less than the diameter of the cell.
  • the half-shells of the pen 60 are carried by a carriage capable of moving parallel to the insertion path, each shell being mounted and indexed by means 62 on a mobile arm carried by the carriage so that the symmetrical movements of these arms can, in one direction, spread the two half-feathers away from the straight path of insertion and, in the opposite direction, bring the half-feathers together until they come to form the feather 60 centered on the path of insertion, the ends 61 surrounding the part of the contact barrel 81 located at the rear of the collar 82, the rest of the pen surrounding the part of wire or cable which pursues the contact.
  • the insertion head 70 consists of two elements or half-heads of streamlined shape, giving the head, when the two elements are combined, a conical appearance as seen in Figure 5.
  • Each of the elements has a half imprint 71 capable of receiving the body 63 of the pen whose end, and in particular the terminal part 61, emerges at the front.
  • each insertion half-head still has a clamp element 72, also faired, provided with a suitable imprint receiving the end 61 of the pen and, at the beyond that, a contact part disposed at the front of the contact flange 82, however allowing the front of the two clamp elements 72 to emerge when they are joined, the front end 83 of the contact.
  • Movement clamp elements 72 between their advanced position and their retracted position releasing the feather is effected by means of rods 73 in a direction inclined with respect to the axis of the path of therefore the axis of the feather, under the effect of suitable cylinders.
  • a separate carriage carries the insertion head 70 by means of two supports making it possible to separate the insertion half-heads or to bring them together around the pen 60. This carriage will come to harness the one carrying the pen when the thread to be inserted is in place.
  • the test clip is mounted on the pen carriage behind the pen and allows the wire to be held to make a pulling force towards the rear for the contact snap test. It consists of a support against which rests a movable jaw of the clamp.
  • the operator enters a section of cable or wire in the wire section store and, after identifying it, enters the reference of the wire using the keyboard.
  • This entry memorized by the electrical control means comprising a microprocessor, will cause the moving table to move the plate 50 of the connector housing holder in order to present the cell corresponding to this wire, according to suitable software, in alignment with the insertion path when this wire has reached insertion station E.
  • the actuation of this contact triggers a cycle of the device, each of the stations A to E performing all of the operations which are specific to it during this cycle.
  • the triggering of the cycle causes the transport clamp 13 to close, then the end of the wire is cut off and, after a waiting period allowing at the other stations to carry out their operations, the barrel 16 is driven in anti-clockwise rotation by a quarter turn and the sectioned end of wire is then presented to the stripping station B.
  • a new free clamp is then available at station A in front of the sectioning device.
  • the cycle causes the stripping of the end of a section of wire which is present there. Entering the wire identification also caused, through the software, the choice of a size of stripping knife imprint and the device containing the knives is therefore, if necessary, moved vertically to bring the imprint to a suitable horizontal level.
  • the cut end of the wire being placed in a perfectly precise and immutable location, the stripping length will be determined by the travel of advance of the stripping device 19 towards and on the wire.
  • a stop determined by a directly graduated manual micrometric screw, can be used to define the stripping length.
  • the stripping knives are actuated and their imprints penetrate into the insulator which surrounds the conductive core of the wire.
  • the device 19 then starts to move back, causing the stripping.
  • the knives are open and an air nozzle cleans the knives and rejects the knockout.
  • a further rotation of a quarter turn anti-clockwise brings the wire end into the crimping station C.
  • the pliers 30 take over the end of the wire section at the beginning of the non-stripped portion of wire, then the clamp 30 pulls the wire towards the crimping tool, the clamp 13 then simply exerting a braking force making it possible to keep the wire perfectly straight during its advance.
  • a contact from the vibrating bowl was placed in alignment with the central passage of the crimping head 35 with the contact barrel 81 aligned with the path of the wire end, after which the head crimping 35 has advanced to surround the contact barrel.
  • the software controls, according to the wire identification, the degree of rotation of the peripheral part 38 of the crimping head and, consequently, the importance of the cam effect produced on the punches 36, for example by the effect of an end of rotation stop and crimping takes place.
  • the crimping head moves back and moves away from the crimped contact, the operator can then see the contact and the wire coming out on the control screen.
  • the clamp 30 opens while the clamps 42 and 43 take charge, one of the contact by its anterior pin, the other, a portion of wire distant from the contact, the wire extending in a rectilinear manner between the clamps 42 and 43.
  • the carriage 41 which has come, from a central rest position, to present the clamps 42 and 43, is then driven in a translational movement towards the insertion station E until the wire along the insertion path.
  • the two half-feathers which were separated from each other are placed on either side of the wire 84 and the rear end of the contact barrel 81 behind the flange 82 to reconstitute the pen, between the clamps 42, 43. These then open and the carriage 41 is returned to the middle waiting position.
  • the positioning table positions the relevant connector socket, according to the software instructions, in the insertion path.
  • the pen trolley then advances towards the tray 50 supporting the connector housing. In its advance, this carriage meets and drives the mobile carriage supporting the insertion head 70. At this time, the clamps 72 are actuated and come to maintain the contact of which only the anterior end 83 of the spindle projects forward, for example 4 mm as seen in diagram a of FIG. 7.
  • the two pen and head carriages then advance together until the contact has penetrated a short distance (for example from 1 to 2 mm) in the connector socket. In this movement, the contact is rigidly maintained and only its anterior end protrudes from the clamps 72.
  • the streamlined shape of the insertion head, with its clamps 72 gradually draws aside those of the already inserted wires which are present and makes it possible to proceed at the start smooth insertion and no damage to the wires of the other contacts already inserted.
  • test clamp then clamps the thread and the feather carriage is driven in a reverse movement and pulls on the thread retained by the contact snapped into its socket. Beyond a certain threshold, the traction is stopped, and the test clamp releases the wire, noting that the insertion has been suitable. The pen carriage moves back until the position of the insertion head carriage is reached and the insertion head carriage then attaches again to the pen carriage.
  • the set of two carriages moves back to the standby position of the insertion head carriage where this carriage detaches from the pen holder carriage which moves back alone to its rest position.
  • the pen and the test clip open and drop the wire and the insertion cycle is complete.
  • the displacements are measured from an origin by an incremental encoder fixed on the motor axis of the pen holder carriage.
  • a force sensor placed on the drive belt measures the forces exerted on the pen.
  • the drive motor is a direct current and low inertia motor controlled by current, which makes it possible to define and control at any time its acceleration, its speed and its torque. During this cycle, we therefore control the insertion forces as well as the tearing-off forces, any anomaly with respect to the level of the thresholds placed in memory stopping the cycle.
  • the degree of automation of the device according to the invention can be variable. Indeed, instead of using an operator, or could also supply station A with sections of wire by an automatic device coming from a section preparation station, an automatic means for entering the identification of the wire, by example by optical reading, which can replace the wire identification input with an alphanumeric keyboard.
  • the software can, depending on the identification of the wire, cause the vertical displacement of the jaws of stripping knives to present the imprint corresponding to the relevant wire diameter.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)

Abstract

In order to insert contacts (80) into a connector housing (52), the device comprises an insertion head, capable of gripping each contact (80), and final insertion means. The end of the insertion head oriented towards the connector housing (52) is bevelled in order progressively to separate, during its movement towards this housing, the cables and the contacts which are possibly in place already. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention a trait à un dispositif permettant l'enfichage automatique de contacts munis chacun de leur câble ou conducteur individuel, dans un boîtier de connecteur.The present invention relates to a device allowing the automatic insertion of contacts each provided with their cable or individual conductor, in a connector housing.

Les faisceaux de câbles conducteurs, tels que, par exemple, les faisceaux avioniques, comportent un grand nombre de conducteurs individuels souples se terminant par un élément ou broche de contact logé dans un alvéole d'un boîtier de connecteur. Ces boîtiers comportent donc un grand nombre d'alvéoles recevant chacun un tel contact. Actuellement, l'enfichage des contact reliés chacun à l'extrémité de son câble ou conducteur souple individuel correspondant, en général par sertissage, s'effectue manuellement, des moyens d'aide et de guidage à l'insertion étant prévus pour faciliter le repérage et la mise en place des contacts dans les alvéoles.Bundles of conductive cables, such as, for example, avionic bundles, comprise a large number of individual flexible conductors ending in a contact element or pin housed in a cell of a connector housing. These boxes therefore comprise a large number of cells each receiving such a contact. Currently, the plugging of the contacts each connected to the end of its cable or corresponding individual flexible conductor, generally by crimping, is carried out manually, means of assistance and guidance for insertion being provided to facilitate identification. and placing contacts in the cells.

Ces procédés manuels d'enfichage ou d'insertion sont fastidieux, coûteux et constituent une source d'erreurs, l'opératrice devant ne pas se tromper non seulement lors des identifications de conducteurs et d'alvéoles mais encore lors de l'insertion proprement dite.These manual plug-in processes or insertion are tedious, expensive and constitute a source of errors, the operator must not be mistaken not only during the identification of conductors and cells but also during the actual insertion.

La présente invention se propose de remédier à ces inconvénients et de fournir un procédé d'insertion de contacts munis de leurs câbles individuels dans des alvéoles d'un boîtier de connecteur comprennant un grand nombre d'alvéoles, et ceci de façon automatique, rapide, simple, sûre et économique.The present invention proposes to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a method of inserting contacts provided with their individual cables into cells of a connector housing comprising a large number of cells, and this in an automatic, rapid manner, simple, safe and economical.

Un autre objectif de l'invention est de réaliser un tel dispositif qui permette l'insertion sans risque de détérioration des contacts ni des conducteurs sou­ples reliés aux contacts.Another objective of the invention is to produce such a device which allows insertion without risk of deterioration of the contacts or of the flexible conductors connected to the contacts.

Un autre objectif, encore de l'invention est de permettre et faciliter l'insertion automatique dans un boîtier de connecteur malgré la présence, lors de l'insertion des derniers contacts, d'une grande masse de câbles derrière le boîtier, et ceci même pour des connec­teurs très miniaturisés.Another objective, still of the invention, is to allow and facilitate automatic insertion into a connector housing despite the presence, during the insertion of the last contacts, of a large mass of cables behind the housing, and this very for very miniaturized connectors.

Un autre objectif encore de l'invention est de faciliter, voire d'automatiser, l'identification d'un contact et de l'alvéole qui doit le recevoir.Yet another objective of the invention is to facilitate, even to automate, the identification of a contact and of the cell which must receive it.

Un autre objectif encore de l'invention est de permettre de réaliser de façon automatique une pluralité d'opérations qui doivent obligatoirement être effectuées avant l'insertion proprement dite, et notamment le sec­tionnement correct de l'extrémité du câble, le dénudage de l'extrémité du câble et la fixation ou sertissage de cette extrémité du câble dans la partie ou fût de contact qui doit la recevoir.Yet another objective of the invention is to make it possible to carry out automatically a plurality of operations which must necessarily be carried out before the actual insertion, and in particular the correct cutting of the end of the cable, the stripping of the end of the cable and the fixing or crimping of this end of the cable into the contact part or barrel which is to receive it.

L'invention a pour objet un dispositif d'insertion de contacts, munis chacun de leur conducteur ou câble souple individuel, dans les alvéoles d'un boîtier de connecteur, dispositif comportant un support de boîtier de connecteur, des moyens d'insertion mobiles sur une trajectoire vers et à l'écart du boîtier de connecteur, et des moyens permettant un déplacement relatif entre le sup­port de connecteur et la trajectoire afin de présenter l'alvéole désiré du boîtier de connecteur sur la trajec­toire, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'insertion com­portent :
- une tête d'insertion susceptible de s'ouvrir pour recevoir un contact prolongé par son câble individuel et de se refermer autour du contact, l'extrémité de la tête orientée vers le boîtier de connecteur étant biseautée pour écarter progressivement, pendant son déplacement vers le boîtier de connecteur, les câbles des contacts éventuelle­ment déjà posés, ladite tête d'insertion étant mobile entre une position reculée de réception du contact et une position avancée proche de l'alvéole situé sur la trajectoire,
- et des moyens d'insertion finale, tels qu'une plume, pour déplacer le contact sur la fin de la trajectoire entre la position de contact correspondant à ladite position avancée de la tête d'insertion et une position de fin d'insertion du contact dans l'alvéole.
The subject of the invention is a device for inserting contacts, each provided with their individual conductor or flexible cable, in the cells of a connector housing, device comprising a connector housing support, means of insertion movable on a trajectory towards and away from the connector housing, and means allowing relative movement between the connector support and the trajectory in order to present the desired cell of the connector housing on the trajectory, characterized in that said means of insertion include:
- An insertion head capable of opening to receive a contact extended by its individual cable and of closing around the contact, the end of the head oriented towards the connector housing being bevelled to spread progressively, during its movement towards the connector housing, the cables of the contacts possibly already laid, said insertion head being movable between a remote position for receiving the contact and an advanced position close to the cell located on the path,
- And final insertion means, such as a feather, for moving the contact over the end of the trajectory between the contact position corresponding to said advanced position of the insertion head and an end of insertion position of the contact in the socket.

Par forme biseautée de l'extrémité de la tête, on entend une forme carénée se rétrécissant progres­sivement vers l'avant, telle que par exemple une forme conique, de façon à écarter progressivement, et sans aucun risque de détérioration, les câbles ou conducteurs des con­tacts déjà posés qui se trouveraient sur la trajectoire de la tête d'insertion.By beveled shape of the end of the head is meant a streamlined shape gradually narrowing forward, such as for example a conical shape, so as to gradually spread, and without any risk of deterioration, the cables or conductors of the contacts already placed which would be on the path of the insertion head.

Dans une forme de réalisation préférée, l'extrémité antérieure du contact émerge, pendant tout le trajet de la tête d'insertion, ou au moins pendant la partie terminale de ce trajet, à l'avant de l'extrémité antérieure carénée de la tête d'insertion de façon à déjà pénétrer par­tiellement dans l'alvéole lorsque la tête d'insertion est immobilisée dans sa position avancée proche de l'alvéole. Les moyens pour déplacer le contact sur la fin de la trajec­toire se bornent alors à poursuivre la pénétration du contact dans l'alvéole qui le guide jusqu'à la position de fin d'insertion.In a preferred embodiment, the anterior end of the contact emerges, during the entire path of the insertion head, or at least during the terminal part of this path, in front of the faired anterior end of the head insertion so as to already partially penetrate into the cell when the insertion head is immobilized in its advanced position close to the cell. The means for moving the contact to the end of the trajectory are then limited to continuing the penetration of the contact in the socket which guides it to the end of insertion position.

Dans une forme de réalisation particulière de l'invention, la tête d'insertion peut maintenir directement le contact jusqu'au moment où elle atteint sa position avancée, après quoi le contact est pris en charge par les moyens d'insertion finale.In a particular embodiment of the invention, the insertion head can maintain contact directly until it reaches its advanced position, after which the contact is taken care of by the final insertion means.

Il est ainsi possible d'utiliser des moyens d'insertion finale, par exemple une plume, exerçant essen­tiellement une poussée sur le contact, sans devoir maintenir ou pincer rigidement le contact.It is thus possible to use final insertion means, for example a feather, essentially exerting a push on the contact, without having to rigidly maintain or pinch the contact.

Dans une autre forme de réalisation, le con­tact peut être maintenu positivement par lesdits moyens d'insertion finale permettant de déplacer le contact sur la fin de la trajectoire. Dans ce cas, le tête d'insertion assure essentiellement la protection, et éventuellement un guidage du contact pendant tout ou partie du déplacement du contact, sous l'effet des moyens d'insertion finale, sur la fin de la trajectoire.In another embodiment, the contact can be maintained positively by said final insertion means making it possible to move the contact to the end of the trajectory. In this case, the insertion head essentially provides protection, and possibly guiding of the contact during all or part of the movement of the contact, under the effect of the final insertion means, at the end of the trajectory.

Ce déplacement sur la fin de la trajectoire, sous l'effet desdits moyens d'insertion finale du contact, peut être obtenu soit en maintenant fermement l'extrémité postérieure de connecteur par ces moyens pour le déplacer, soit en exerçant simplement une poussée par ces moyens sur une surface d'appui postérieure du contact telle qu'une col­lerette, soit même en entraînant uniquement le câble souple à l'arrière du contact, et l'on peut alors prévoir un canal de guidage, dans la tête d'insertion, pour guider et con­tenir le câble dans une position proche de la position rec­tiligne afin de l'obliger à pousser le contact en avant dans l'alvéole.This displacement at the end of the trajectory, under the effect of said means of final insertion of the contact, can be obtained either by firmly holding the rear connector end by these means to move it, or by simply exerting a push by these means on a posterior contact support surface such as a flange, or even by only driving the flexible cable at the rear of the contact, and it is then possible to provide a guide channel, in the insertion head, to guide and contain the cable in a position close to the rectilinear position in order to force it to push the contact forward into the cell.

Les moyens d'insertion finale pour déplacer le contact sur la fin de la trajectoire peuvent comporter une plume séparable en deux demi-plumes de façon à s'ouvrir et se refermer autour de l'extrémité postérieure du contact et/ou de l'extrémité du câble ou conducteur souple du contact, puis à pouvoir s'ouvrir à nouveau, ladite plume assurant soit un maintien rigide du contact, soit simplement une poussée sur un relief postérieur convenable de contact tel qu'une collerette, l'extrémité antérieure de la plume pénétrant avec le contact, dans une partie initiale de l'alvéole pour assurer le guidage du contact. En variante, la plume peut servir simplement à guider avec un faible jeu le câble souple et des moyens particuliers sont prévus à l'arrière pour agripper le câble et le repousser vers l'avant.The final insertion means for moving the contact to the end of the trajectory may include a feather separable into two half-feathers so as to open and close around the posterior end of the contact and / or the end of flexible cable or conductor of contact, then being able to open again, said feather ensuring either a rigid maintenance of the contact, or simply a push on a suitable posterior relief relief such as a flange, the anterior end of the feather penetrating with the contact, in an initial part of the cell to guide the contact. As a variant, the feather can be used simply to guide the flexible cable with little play and special means are provided at the rear to grip the cable and push it forward.

Les moyens moteurs qui entraînent la tête d'insertion et/ou les moyens d'insertion finale tels qu'une plume pour déplacer le contact sur la fin de la trajectoire, sont de préférence agencés pour permettre des vitesses rapides et des vitesses lentes.The motor means which drive the insertion head and / or the final insertion means, such as a feather for moving the contact to the end of the trajectory, are preferably arranged to allow fast speeds and slow speeds.

Dans une forme de réalisation préférée de l'invention, ces moyens moteurs assurent tout d'abord, à partir de la position initiale dans laquelle la tête d'insertion prend en charge le contact, une vitesse de déplacement rapide puis, lorsque l'on parvient au voisinage de la position avancée proche de l'alvéole, la vitesse devient lente, des moyens étant alors sensibles à la vitesse de déplacement ou à l'effort sur la tête d'insertion pour arrêter le mouvement si la résistance rencontrée dépasse un seuil adapté à la simple résistance escomptée par la présence des câbles des contacts déjà posés.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, these motor means ensure first of all, from the initial position in which the insertion head takes care of the contact, a rapid displacement speed then, when reaches the vicinity of the advanced position close to the cell, the speed becomes slow, means then being sensitive to the speed of movement or to the force on the insertion head to stop the movement if the resistance encountered exceeds a threshold adapted to the simple resistance expected by the presence of the cables of the contacts already installed.

Dans le cas préféré où extrémité antérieure du contact a pénétré partiellement dans l'alvéole lorsque la tête d'insertion est arrivée à sa position finale avancée proche de l'alvéole, les moyens d'insertion finale, tels que la plume, sont alors déplacés tout d'abord rapidement jusqu'à une position proche de la position de fin d'insertion du fait qu'aucun obstacle ne peut être présent à ce niveau, puis à partir de la position précitée, l'avance se fait lentement et des moyens détectant la résistance à l'avancement, ou la fin du mouvement, arrêtent le déplacement lorsque le contact est parvenu à sa position de fin d'insertion, au-delà de laquelle il ne peut plus avancer.In the preferred case where the anterior end of the contact has partially penetrated into the socket when the insertion head has reached its final advanced position close to the socket, the final insertion means, such as the pen, are then moved first quickly to a position close to the end of insertion position since no obstacle can be present at this level, then from the aforementioned position, the advance is made slowly and means detecting the resistance to advancement, or the end of the movement, stop the displacement when the contact has reached its end of insertion position, beyond which it can no longer advance.

De façon avantageuse, le dispositif peut encore comporter une pince de test qui, une fois que le con­tact a été définitivement inséré, vient agripper une portion de câble de ce contact pour exercer une traction vers l'arrière. Dans le cas où ce mouvement vers l'arrière est possible, ce qui correspond à une absence d'insertion, ou à une mauvaise insertion de contact, ou encore à une rupture de liaison entre le contact et son câble, on peut ainsi détecter cette défectuosité.Advantageously, the device can also include a test clip which, once the contact has been definitively inserted, comes to grip a portion of cable of this contact to exert rearward traction. In the case where this backward movement is possible, which corresponds to an absence of insertion, or to a poor insertion of contact, or even to a break in connection between the contact and its cable, this can thus be detected. defect.

Le dispositif selon l'invention peut, dans une forme de réalisation préférée, incorporer d'autres postes tels qu'un poste de sertissage, un poste de dénudage et un poste de sectionnement de câble conducteur.The device according to the invention can, in a preferred embodiment, incorporate other stations such as a crimping station, a stripping station and a conductor cable sectioning station.

De façon avantageuse, le dispositif peut com­porter des moyens de contrôle tels que, notamment, un contrôle de dénudage, par exemple par recherche d'une con­tinuité électrique quatre points, et/ou un contrôle visuel de sertissage par caméra et/ou contrôle du sertissage par tentative d'extraction du câble.Advantageously, the device can include control means such as, in particular, a stripping control, for example by searching for four-point electrical continuity, and / or a visual crimping control by camera and / or crimping control. by attempting to extract the cable.

Les moyens permettant un déplacement relatif entre le support de connecteur et la trajectoire afin de présenter l'alvéole désiré du moyen connecteur dans la tra­jectoire peuvent avantageusement être pilotés par un logi­ciel ou toute autre programmation de commande associant à un contact déterminé, l'alvéole qui doit lui correspondre. On peut par exemple, à cet effet, prévoir un pupitre avec cla­vier permettant à une opératrice qui identifie le contact par son câble conducteur, de saisir un code d'identification qui provoque, en fonction du programme précité, le déplacement de ces moyens pour amener l'alvéole correspon­dant sur la trajectoire d'insertion.The means allowing relative movement between the connector support and the trajectory in order to present the desired socket of the connector means in the trajectory can advantageously be controlled by software or any other control programming associating with a determined contact, the socket which must match it. One can for example, for this purpose, provide a desk with keyboard allowing an operator who identifies the contact by its conductive cable, to enter an identification code which causes, according to the aforementioned program, the displacement of these means to bring the corresponding socket on the insertion path.

Dans une autre forme de réalisation, dans laquelle les contacts ou les câbles correspondants présentent un marquage susceptible d'être lu par un appareil de saisie, tel que par exemple des étiquettes avec un mar­quage optique, par exemple par code barre, on peut commander la mise en oeuvre du programme par saisie automatique directe, l'opératrice pouvant alors n'avoir plus qu'un sim­ple rôle de surveillance de la machine, alimentée automa­tiquement en contacts et en fils, des moyens étant alors prévus pour attribuer à chaque section de fil le code correspondant.In another embodiment, in which the corresponding contacts or cables have a marking capable of being read by an input device, such as for example labels with an optical marking, for example by bar code, the implementation of the program can be controlled by direct automatic input, the operator then being able to to have no more than a simple role of monitoring the machine, automatically supplied with contacts and wires, means then being provided for assigning each section of wire the corresponding code.

D'autres avantages et caractéristiques de l'invention apparaîtront à la lecture de la description suivante, faite à titre d'exemple non limitatif, et se référant au dessin annexé dans lequel :

  • la figure 1 représente une vue schématique en perspective d'un dispositif selon l'invention,
  • la figure 2 représente une vue en élévation d'un couteau de dénudage de ce dispositif,
  • la figure 3 représente une vue en élévation d'une tête de sertissage de contact de ce dispositif,
  • la figure 4 représente une vue en perspective d'une platine porte-boîtier de connecteur,
  • la figure 5 représente une vue en élévation avec coupe partielle de la tête d'insertion du dispositif,
  • la figure 6 représente une vue en élévation de la plume d'insertion coopérant avec cette tête,
  • la figure 7 représente, de façon schématique, des vues de la tête et de la plume lors de différents stades de l'insertion,
  • la figure 8 représente une vue en coupe, au niveau d'un alvéole, d'un contact mis en place dans le con­necteur, et
  • la figure 9 représente une vue schématique éclatée du dispositif de la figure 1, montrant les princi­paux constituants du dispositif.
Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given by way of nonlimiting example, and referring to the appended drawing in which:
  • FIG. 1 represents a schematic perspective view of a device according to the invention,
  • FIG. 2 represents an elevation view of a stripping knife of this device,
  • FIG. 3 represents an elevation view of a contact crimping head of this device,
  • FIG. 4 represents a perspective view of a plate housing the connector housing,
  • FIG. 5 represents an elevation view with partial section of the insertion head of the device,
  • FIG. 6 represents an elevation view of the insertion pen cooperating with this head,
  • FIG. 7 schematically represents views of the head and of the pen during different stages of insertion,
  • FIG. 8 represents a sectional view, at the level of a cell, of a contact placed in the connector, and
  • Figure 9 shows an exploded schematic view of the device of Figure 1, showing the main components of the device.

En se référant à la figure 1, on voit que le dispositif représenté comporte le dispositif 1 proprement dit et un certain nombre de dispositifs accessoires, à savoir une armoire électronique 2, un poste d'opératrice 3 avec un siège, et éventuellement un magasin dit de départ 4 pouvant contenir des tronçons repérés de fil et un magasin dit de travail 5 pouvant contenir des accessoires divers dans lequel le tronçon de fil doit être enfilé.Referring to Figure 1, we see that the device shown includes the device 1 properly said and a number of accessory devices, namely an electronic cabinet 2, an operator station 3 with a seat, and possibly a so-called starting store 4 which can contain identified sections of wire and a so-called working store 5 which can contain various accessories into which the wire section must be threaded.

Au niveau de poste de l'opératrice, se trouve disposé un clavier alphanumérique de saisie 6 et un écran de visualisation 7. De préférence, un écran de moniteur infor­matique est associé au clavier alphanumérique de saisie 6.At the operator's station level, an alphanumeric input keyboard 6 and a display screen 7 are arranged. Preferably, a computer monitor screen is associated with the alphanumeric input keyboard 6.

Le dispositif 1 comporte les postes suivants, reliés par un trajet en trait gras illustrant de façon schématique le trajet de l'extrémité antérieure d'un tronçon de fil, à savoir : un poste d'introduction A, un poste de dénudage B, un poste de sertissage C et un poste d'insertion comprenant en fait un poste D de prise en charge de connec­teur par une plume et le poste d'insertion proprement dit E.The device 1 comprises the following stations, connected by a path in bold line schematically illustrating the path of the anterior end of a section of wire, namely: an introduction station A, a stripping station B, a crimping station C and an insertion station in fact comprising a station D for handling the connector with a feather and the insertion station proper E.

Le poste d'introduction A, disposé sur la partie frontale du dispositif, à proximité du poste 3 de l'opératrice, présente une pièce en entonnoir 12 facilitant l'introduction de l'extrémité à sertir du fil ou câble. Derrière la pièce 12 se trouve disposée une pince 13 suscep­tible de venir saisir le fil à une assez fable distance de son extrémité. La pince 13 fait partie d'un ensemble de qua­tre pinces 13 supportées équiangulairement par un barillet 16 tournant autour d'un axe horizontal 17. Un dispositif de sectionnement de fil 14 est disposé derrière les pinces 13 et devant un dispositif de détection d'extrémité de fil ou câble 15 comprenant un contact à palette qui sert de butée et indique la présence du fil.The introduction station A, arranged on the front of the device, near the operator's station 3, has a funnel-shaped part 12 facilitating the introduction of the end to be crimped with wire or cable. Behind the part 12 is placed a clamp 13 capable of coming to grip the wire at a fairly fable distance from its end. The clamp 13 is part of a set of four clamps 13 supported equiangularly by a barrel 16 rotating around a horizontal axis 17. A wire cutting device 14 is disposed behind the clamps 13 and in front of an end detection device wire or cable 15 comprising a paddle contact which serves as a stop and indicates the presence of the wire.

La rotation d'un quart de tour du barillet 16 amène l'extrémité du fil maintenue par la pince 13 qui l'avait saisi, au poste de dénudage B. Ce poste comprend, monté sur un coulisseau convenable 18, un dispositif de dénudage 19 présentant deux mâchoires de couteau 20, 21 animées d'un mouvement de translation l'une par rapport à l'autre, et pourvues de jeux symétriques d'empreintes tran­chantes semi-circulaires 22 adaptées aux différents diamètres ou jauges de fil. Le coulisseau 18 peut se déplacer vers et à l'écart de l'extrémité de fil maintenue par la pince 13, les mâchoires étant séparées lors du mouve­ment vers l'extrémité et étant rapprochées lors du mouvement à l'écart de ladite extrémité pour assurer le dénudage.The rotation of a quarter turn of the barrel 16 brings the end of the wire maintained by the clamp 13 which had grasped it, to the stripping station B. This station comprises, mounted on a suitable slider 18, a stripping device 19 having two knife jaws 20, 21 with a translational movement, one relative to the other, and provided with symmetrical sets of semi-circular cutting impressions 22 adapted to the different diameters or gauges of wire. The slider 18 can move towards and away from the end of the wire held by the clamp 13, the jaws being separated during movement towards the end and being brought together during movement away from said end to ensure stripping.

De façon avantageuse, on peut réaliser une vérification de continuité électrique par des organes de contact usuels au niveau du poste de dénudage pour vérifier que le dénudage a bien été effectué.Advantageously, an electrical continuity check can be carried out by usual contact members at the stripping station to verify that stripping has been carried out.

Le dispositif 19 peut, en outre, être déplacé verticalement de façon à amener, au niveau de l'extrémité de fil, la paire d'empreintes 22 correspondant à son diamètre.The device 19 can, moreover, be moved vertically so as to bring, at the end of the wire, the pair of imprints 22 corresponding to its diameter.

Une nouvelle rotation d'un quart de tour dans le sens anti-horaire amène l'extrémité de fil au poste de sertissage C. Le poste C comporte tout d'abord une pince 30 montée sur un chariot coulissant 31 susceptible de déplacer axialement l'extrémité du fil entre la position déterminée par la pince 13 et le poste de sertissage C proprement dit, la pince 13 opposant une certaine résistance à ce transfert pour obliger le fil à rester rectiligne entre les pinces 30 et 13 écartées l'une de l'autre. Cette pince 30 saisit le fil au niveau de la partie non dénudée de fil, laissant libre l'extrémité sectionnée et dénudée du fil.A further rotation of a quarter turn anti-clockwise brings the end of the wire to the crimping station C. The station C firstly comprises a clamp 30 mounted on a sliding carriage 31 capable of moving the axially end of the wire between the position determined by the pliers 13 and the crimping station C proper, the pliers 13 offering some resistance to this transfer to force the wire to remain straight between the pliers 30 and 13 spaced apart from one another other. These pliers 30 grip the wire at the level of the bare portion of wire, leaving free the cut and stripped end of the wire.

Le poste de sertissage C comporte également un bol vibrant 33 servant de réserve de contacts 80. Ce bol vibrant délivre les contacts 80 l'un après l'autre à un dispositif de sélection et présentation 34 d'un type usuel qui vient présenter le contact 80 dans le passage central d'une tête de sertissage 35 munie de quatre poinçons 36 rappelés en position éloignée du passage par des ressorts usuels 37 repoussant les têtes d'actionnement de poinçon à l'écart du passage central. La rotation de la partie périphérique 38 de la tête 35 provoque, par un effet de came, l'enfoncement des poinçons, le degré d'enfoncement étant déterminé par l'angle de rotation.The crimping station C also includes a vibrating bowl 33 serving as a reserve of contacts 80. This vibrating bowl delivers the contacts 80 one after the other to a selection and presentation device 34 of a usual type which comes to present the contact 80 in the central passage of a crimping head 35 provided with four punches 36 returned in position remote from the passage by conventional springs 37 pushing the punch actuating heads away from the central passage. The rotation of the peripheral part 38 of the head 35 causes, by a cam effect, the sinking of the punches, the degree of sinking being determined by the angle of rotation.

Le passage central de la tête de sertissage 35 est judicieusement aligné avec la trajectoire de l'extrémité sectionnée et dénudée de fil déterminée par le mouvement de la pince 30 de sorte que cette extrémité pénètre dans le fût 81 du contact, après quoi les poinçons sertissent le fût sur l'extrémité dénudée de fil.The central passage of the crimping head 35 is judiciously aligned with the trajectory of the severed and stripped end of wire determined by the movement of the clamp 30 so that this end penetrates into the barrel 81 of the contact, after which the punches crimp the barrel on the bare end of the wire.

Un contrôle du sertissage peut être effectué, pendant que le fût 81 est bloqué par les poinçons après le sertissage, en cherchant à faire reculer la pince 30 à l'écart du poste de sertissage C et en constatant que ce mouvement est impossible.A crimping check can be carried out, while the barrel 81 is blocked by the punches after crimping, by seeking to roll back the clamp 30 away from the crimping station C and noting that this movement is impossible.

Un contrôle visuel de la qualité du sertis­sage peut avantageusement être effectué par une caméra correspondante ou tout autre dispositif de visualisation, projetant les images du contact 80 serti sur l'écran 7.A visual check of the quality of the crimping can advantageously be carried out by a corresponding camera or any other display device, projecting the images of the contact 80 crimped onto the screen 7.

Le transfert du fil sur lequel la connexion a été sertie vers le poste d'insertion s'effectue horizontale­ment dans une direction perpendiculaire à la direction du fil sur lequel on vient de sertir le contact. A cette fin, un chariot 41 mobile horizontalement et transversalement par rapport à la direction de déplacement du chariot 31 porte deux pinces 42, 43, éloignées l'une de l'autre, la pince 42 saisissant le contact alors que la pince 43 saisit le fil ou câble loin du contact, le fil s'étendant de façon rectiligne entre les pinces 42, 43.The wire on which the connection has been crimped is transferred to the insertion station horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the wire on which the contact has just been crimped. To this end, a carriage 41 movable horizontally and transversely relative to the direction of movement of the carriage 31 carries two clamps 42, 43, spaced apart from one another, the clamp 42 gripping the contact while the clamp 43 grips the wire or cable away from contact, the wire extending in a straight line between the clamps 42, 43.

Lorsque le fil muni de son contact 80 est arrivé, par le mouvement du chariot 41, en alignement avec le poste d'insertion E, le fil peut être pris en charge, entre les pinces 42 et 43, par les moyens d'insertion.When the wire provided with its contact 80 has arrived, by the movement of the carriage 41, in alignment with the insertion station E, the wire can be supported, between the clamps 42 and 43, by the insertion means.

Le poste d'insertion E comporte une table mobile à déplacement vertical en coordonnées. Sur cette table, on vient fixer un plateau 50 muni de supports 51 pour recevoir des boîtiers de connecteur 52 dans une position parfaitement indexée, chaque support 51 étant adapté à un type particulier de connecteur. La table qui supporte le plateau peut être déplacée dans le plan vertical de façon à pouvoir aligner exactement chaque alvéole 53 de connecteur avec le trajet rectiligne suivi par le contact dans le poste d'insertion E. Ce déplacement est effectué de façon usuelle par des moteurs pas-à-pas pilotés par un microprocesseur obéissant aux ordres du microprocesseur principal gérant les entrées du clavier alphanumérique 6.The insertion station E comprises a mobile table with vertical displacement in coordinates. On this table, we just fix a plate 50 provided with supports 51 to receive connector housings 52 in a perfectly indexed position, each support 51 being adapted to a particular type of connector. The table that supports the plate can be moved in the vertical plane so as to be able to exactly align each socket 53 of the connector with the rectilinear path followed by the contact in the insertion station E. This movement is carried out in the usual way by stepping motors controlled by a microprocessor obeying the orders of the main microprocessor managing the inputs of the alphanumeric keyboard 6.

En raison des tolérances de construction et de montage, des différences de position relativement impor­tantes peuvent apparaître d'un connecteur à l'autre. Le dispositif selon l'invention comporte, pour remédier à cet inconvénient, un axe géométrique d'analyse parallèle à l'axe formé par le trajet rectiligne d'insertion et situé à une distance précise de ce dernier. Aux deux extrémités de cet axe d'analyse sont disposées deux fibres optiques rigoureusement alignées, l'une émettant un faisceau lumineux et l'autre le recevant. Une troisième fibre tient compte de la lumière ambiante. Les moyens de commande du dispositif selon l'invention, qui incorpore un microprocesseur, déplacent la table pour qu'un alvéole déterminé du boîtier de connecteur monté sur le plateau 50 vienne se présenter dans l'axe d'analyse. Normalement, en l'absence de tolérance, l'alvéole correspondant serait aligné avec les fibres émettrice et réceptrice. Par déplacements successifs programmés, le dispositif recherche le signal d'amplitude maximum qui correspond à la meilleure position du connecteur pour cet alvéole. L'opération est ensuite repérée pour un deuxième alvéole déterminé et une fois que ces deux données sont saisies, le connecteur est parfaitement situé dans l'espace.Due to construction and mounting tolerances, relatively large differences in position may occur from connector to connector. The device according to the invention comprises, to remedy this drawback, a geometric axis of analysis parallel to the axis formed by the rectilinear insertion path and located at a precise distance from the latter. At the two ends of this axis of analysis are arranged two strictly aligned optical fibers, one emitting a light beam and the other receiving it. A third fiber takes into account the ambient light. The control means of the device according to the invention, which incorporates a microprocessor, move the table so that a determined cell of the connector housing mounted on the plate 50 comes to be present in the axis of analysis. Normally, in the absence of tolerance, the corresponding cell would be aligned with the emitting and receiving fibers. By successive programmed displacements, the device searches for the maximum amplitude signal which corresponds to the best position of the connector for this cell. The operation is then identified for a second determined cell and once these two data are entered, the connector is perfectly located in space.

La poste d'insertion E comporte les moyens d'insertion comprenant la tête d'insertion, la plume pour l'insertion proprement dite, et une pince de test permettant de contrôler le verrouillage du contact dans son alvéole et un capteur d'effort de déplacement associé à un moteur piloté en courant par un microprocesseur spécifique afin de maîtriser le cycle d'insertion en vitesse, accélération, déplacement, couple, effort.The insertion station E comprises the insertion means comprising the insertion head, the pen for the insertion proper, and a test clip making it possible to check the locking of the contact in its socket and a force sensor for displacement associated with a motor controlled by current by a specific microprocessor in order to master the insertion cycle in speed, acceleration, displacement, torque, effort.

La plume d'insertion 60 présente une forme générale tubulaire et composée de deux demi-coquilles ou demi-plumes séparées par un plan de symétrie axial. Chaque demi-plume présente, à l'avant d'une partie 63 formant corps, une extrémité 61, le diamètre du tube formé par la réunion des deux demi-plumes n'étant pas supérieur à celui d'une collerette de contact, c'est-à-dire étant inférieur au diamètre de l'alvéole. Les demi-coquilles de la plume 60 sont portées par un chariot susceptible de se déplacer parallèlement au trajet d'insertion, chaque coquille étant montée et indexée par des moyens 62 sur un bras mobile porté par le chariot de façon que les mouvements symétriques de ces bras puissent, dans un sens, écarter les deux demi-plumes loin du trajet rectiligne d'insertion et, dans le sens opposé, rapprocher les demi-plumes jusqu'à venir former la plume 60 centrée sur le trajet d'insertion, les extrémités 61 venant entourer la partie du fût de contact 81 située à l'arrière de la collerette 82, le reste de la plume entourant la partie de fil ou câble qui poursuit le contact.The insertion pen 60 has a generally tubular shape and composed of two half-shells or half-feathers separated by an axial plane of symmetry. Each half-feather has, at the front of a part 63 forming a body, one end 61, the diameter of the tube formed by the union of the two half-feathers not being greater than that of a contact flange, c that is to say being less than the diameter of the cell. The half-shells of the pen 60 are carried by a carriage capable of moving parallel to the insertion path, each shell being mounted and indexed by means 62 on a mobile arm carried by the carriage so that the symmetrical movements of these arms can, in one direction, spread the two half-feathers away from the straight path of insertion and, in the opposite direction, bring the half-feathers together until they come to form the feather 60 centered on the path of insertion, the ends 61 surrounding the part of the contact barrel 81 located at the rear of the collar 82, the rest of the pen surrounding the part of wire or cable which pursues the contact.

La tête d'insertion 70 est constituée de deux éléments ou demi-têtes de forme carénée, donnant à la tête, lorsque les deux éléments sont rassemblés, une apparence conique comme on le voit sur la figure 5. Chacun des éléments présente une demi-empreinte 71 susceptible de recevoir le corps 63 de la plume dont l'extrémité, et notam­ment la partie terminale 61, émerge à l'avant. Afin de protéger l'extrémité antérieure de la plume ainsi que le con­necteur, chaque demi-tête d'insertion présente encore un élément de pince 72, également caréné, muni d'une empreinte convenable venant recevoir l'extrémité 61 de plume et, au-­delà, une partie de contact disposée à l'avant de la col­lerette de contact 82 en laissant toutefois émerger à l'avant des deux éléments de pince 72 lorsqu'ils sont réunis, l'extrémité antérieure 83 du contact. Le mouvement des éléments de pince 72 entre leur position avancée et leur position rétractée libérant la plume s'effectue par l'intermédiaire de tiges 73 selon une direction inclinée par rapport à l'axe du trajet de donc l'axe de la plume, sous l'effet de vérins convenables. Un chariot séparé porte la tête d'insertion 70 par l'intermédiaire de deux supports permettant d'éloigner les demi-têtes d'insertion ou de les réunir autour de la plume 60. Ce chariot viendra s'atteler à celui qui porte la plume lorsque le fil à insérer est en place.The insertion head 70 consists of two elements or half-heads of streamlined shape, giving the head, when the two elements are combined, a conical appearance as seen in Figure 5. Each of the elements has a half imprint 71 capable of receiving the body 63 of the pen whose end, and in particular the terminal part 61, emerges at the front. In order to protect the front end of the pen as well as the connector, each insertion half-head still has a clamp element 72, also faired, provided with a suitable imprint receiving the end 61 of the pen and, at the beyond that, a contact part disposed at the front of the contact flange 82, however allowing the front of the two clamp elements 72 to emerge when they are joined, the front end 83 of the contact. Movement clamp elements 72 between their advanced position and their retracted position releasing the feather is effected by means of rods 73 in a direction inclined with respect to the axis of the path of therefore the axis of the feather, under the effect of suitable cylinders. A separate carriage carries the insertion head 70 by means of two supports making it possible to separate the insertion half-heads or to bring them together around the pen 60. This carriage will come to harness the one carrying the pen when the thread to be inserted is in place.

La pince de test est montée sur le chariot porte-plume derrière la plume et permet de tenir le fil pour effectuer un effort de traction vers l'arrière pour le test d'encliquetage de contact. Elle est constituée d'un support contre lequel vient s'appuyer une mâchoire mobile de la pince.The test clip is mounted on the pen carriage behind the pen and allows the wire to be held to make a pulling force towards the rear for the contact snap test. It consists of a support against which rests a movable jaw of the clamp.

Le fonctionnement est le suivant :The operation is as follows:

L'opératrice saisit un tronçon de câble ou fil dans le magasin de tronçons de fil et, après l'avoir identifié, entre la référence du fil par le clavier. Cette saisie mémorisée par les moyens de commande électrique com­portant un microprocesseur, provoquera le déplacement du tableau mobile de la platine 50 porte-boîtier de connecteur afin de présenter l'alvéole correspondant à ce fil, en fonc­tion d'un logiciel convenable, en alignement avec le trajet d'insertion lorsque ce fil sera parvenu dans le poste d'insertion E.The operator enters a section of cable or wire in the wire section store and, after identifying it, enters the reference of the wire using the keyboard. This entry, memorized by the electrical control means comprising a microprocessor, will cause the moving table to move the plate 50 of the connector housing holder in order to present the cell corresponding to this wire, according to suitable software, in alignment with the insertion path when this wire has reached insertion station E.

L'opératrice introduit ensuite l'extremité du fil dans l'entonnoir 12 et l'extrémité du fil bute sur le contact à palette qui indique la présence du fil. L'actionnement de ce contact déclenche un cycle du disposi­tif, chacun des postes A à E effectuant la totalité des opérations qui lui sont propres pendant ce cycle. Au niveau du poste A, le déclenchement du cycle provoque la fermeture de la pince 13 de transport, puis le sectionnement de l'extrémité du fil et, après un délai d'attente permettant aux autres postes d'effectuer leurs opérations, le barillet 16 est entraîné en rotation anti-horaire d'un quart de tour et l'extrémité sectionnée de fil se trouve alors présentée au poste de dénudage B. Une nouvelle pince libre se trouve alors disponible au poste A devant le dispositif de sec­tionnement.The operator then introduces the end of the wire into the funnel 12 and the end of the wire abuts on the paddle contact which indicates the presence of the wire. The actuation of this contact triggers a cycle of the device, each of the stations A to E performing all of the operations which are specific to it during this cycle. At station A, the triggering of the cycle causes the transport clamp 13 to close, then the end of the wire is cut off and, after a waiting period allowing at the other stations to carry out their operations, the barrel 16 is driven in anti-clockwise rotation by a quarter turn and the sectioned end of wire is then presented to the stripping station B. A new free clamp is then available at station A in front of the sectioning device.

Au poste B le cycle provoque le dénudage de l'extrémité d'un tronçon de fil qui y est présent. La saisie de l'identification du fil a également provoqué, par le biais du logiciel, le choix d'une taille d'empreinte de couteau de dénudage et le dispositif contenant les couteaux est donc, s'il y a lieu, déplacé verticalement pour amener l'empreinte au niveau horizontal convenable. L'extrémité sectionnée de fil étant disposée à un emplacement parfaite­ment précis et immuable, la longueur de dénudage sera déterminée par la course d'avance du dispositif de dénudage 19 vers et sur le fil. Une butée, déterminée par une vis micrométrique manuelle directement graduée, peut être utilisée pour définir la longueur de dénudage.At station B the cycle causes the stripping of the end of a section of wire which is present there. Entering the wire identification also caused, through the software, the choice of a size of stripping knife imprint and the device containing the knives is therefore, if necessary, moved vertically to bring the imprint to a suitable horizontal level. The cut end of the wire being placed in a perfectly precise and immutable location, the stripping length will be determined by the travel of advance of the stripping device 19 towards and on the wire. A stop, determined by a directly graduated manual micrometric screw, can be used to define the stripping length.

A la fin de l'avance du dispositif de dénudage, qui détermine la longueur de dénudage, les couteaux de dénudage sont actionnés et leurs empreintes pénètrent dans l'isolant qui entoure l'âme conductrice du fil. Le dispositif 19 se met alors à reculer, provoquant le dénudage. Lorsqu'il arrive en position de repos, les couteaux sont ouverts et une buse d'air nettoie les couteaux et rejette la débouchure.At the end of the stripping device advance, which determines the stripping length, the stripping knives are actuated and their imprints penetrate into the insulator which surrounds the conductive core of the wire. The device 19 then starts to move back, causing the stripping. When it reaches the rest position, the knives are open and an air nozzle cleans the knives and rejects the knockout.

En raison de l'effort important de traction exercé sur le fil, on peut avantageusement, au poste de dénudage, prévoir un moyen de renforcement de la pince 13, par exemple par l'action de vérins venant exercer un effort supplémentaire de serrage.Due to the large tensile force exerted on the wire, it is advantageously possible, at the stripping station, to provide a means for reinforcing the clamp 13, for example by the action of jacks which exert an additional clamping force.

Une nouvelle rotation d'un quart de tour dans le sens anti-horaire amène l'extrémité de fil dans le poste de sertissage C. A ce niveau, la pince 30 vient prendre en charge l'extrémité du tronçon de fil au niveau du début de la partie non dénudée de fil, puis la pince 30 tire le fil vers l'outil de sertissage, la pince 13 exerçant alors sim­plement un effort de freinage permettant de maintenir le fil parfaitement rectiligne pendant son avance. Pendant ce temps, un contact en provenance du bol vibrant a été mis en place dans l'alignement du passage central de la tête de sertissage 35 avec le fût de contact 81 aligné avec le tra­jet de l'extrémité de fil, après quoi la tête de sertissage 35 s'est avancée pour entourer le fût de contact. Le logi­ciel commande, en fonction de l'identification de fil, le degré de rotation de la partie périphérique 38 de la tête de sertissage et, par conséquent, l'importance de l'effet de came produit sur les poinçons 36, par exemple par l'effet d'une butée de fin de rotation et le sertissage a lieu. A la fin du sertissage, la tête de sertissage recule et s'éloigne du contact serti, l'opératirce pouvant alors voir le contact et le fil qui en sort sur l'écran de contrôle. Après cela, la pince 30 s'ouvre alors que les pinces 42 et 43 prennent en charge, l'une le contact par sa broche antérieure, l'autre, une partie de fil éloignée du contact, le fil s'étendant de façon rectiligne entre les pince 42 et 43. Le chariot 41, qui est venu, depuis une position de repos médiane, présenter les pinces 42 et 43, est alors animé d'un mouvement de translation vers le poste d'insertion E jusqu'à aligner le fil le long du trajet d'insertion.A further rotation of a quarter turn anti-clockwise brings the wire end into the crimping station C. At this level, the pliers 30 take over the end of the wire section at the beginning of the non-stripped portion of wire, then the clamp 30 pulls the wire towards the crimping tool, the clamp 13 then simply exerting a braking force making it possible to keep the wire perfectly straight during its advance. During this time, a contact from the vibrating bowl was placed in alignment with the central passage of the crimping head 35 with the contact barrel 81 aligned with the path of the wire end, after which the head crimping 35 has advanced to surround the contact barrel. The software controls, according to the wire identification, the degree of rotation of the peripheral part 38 of the crimping head and, consequently, the importance of the cam effect produced on the punches 36, for example by the effect of an end of rotation stop and crimping takes place. At the end of crimping, the crimping head moves back and moves away from the crimped contact, the operator can then see the contact and the wire coming out on the control screen. After that, the clamp 30 opens while the clamps 42 and 43 take charge, one of the contact by its anterior pin, the other, a portion of wire distant from the contact, the wire extending in a rectilinear manner between the clamps 42 and 43. The carriage 41, which has come, from a central rest position, to present the clamps 42 and 43, is then driven in a translational movement towards the insertion station E until the wire along the insertion path.

Dans le poste d'insertion E, les deux demi­plumes qui étaient séparées l'une de l'autre viennent se disposer de part et d'autre du fil 84 et de l'extrémité arrière du fût de contact 81 derrière la collerette 82 pour reconstituer la plume, entre les pinces 42, 43. Celles-ci s'ouvrent alors et le chariot 41 est ramené à la position médiane d'attente.In the insertion station E, the two half-feathers which were separated from each other are placed on either side of the wire 84 and the rear end of the contact barrel 81 behind the flange 82 to reconstitute the pen, between the clamps 42, 43. These then open and the carriage 41 is returned to the middle waiting position.

Pendant ce temps, la table de positionnement positionne l'alvéole pertinent de connecteur, en fonction des instructions du logiciel, dans le trajet d'insertion.During this time, the positioning table positions the relevant connector socket, according to the software instructions, in the insertion path.

Le chariot porte-plume avance alors vers le plateau 50 supportant le boîtier de connecteur. Dans son avance, ce chariot rencontre et entraîne le chariot mobile supportant la tête d'insertion 70. A ce moment, les pinces 72 sont actionnées et viennent maintenir le contact dont seule l'extrémité antérieure 83 de la broche dépasse vers l'avant, par exemple de 4 mm comme on le voit sur le schéma a de la figure 7. Les deux chariots de plume et de tête avancent alors ensemble jusqu'à ce que le contact ait pénétré d'une faible distance (par exemple de 1 à 2 mm) dans l'alvéole de connecteur. Dans ce mouvement, le contact est maintenu rigidement et seule son extrémité antérieure dépasse des pinces 72. La forme carénée de la tête d'insertion, avec ses pinces 72, écarte graduellement ceux des fils déjà insérés qui sont présents et permet de procéder au début d'insertion sans encombre et sans détérioration des fils des autres contacts déjà insérés.The pen trolley then advances towards the tray 50 supporting the connector housing. In its advance, this carriage meets and drives the mobile carriage supporting the insertion head 70. At this time, the clamps 72 are actuated and come to maintain the contact of which only the anterior end 83 of the spindle projects forward, for example 4 mm as seen in diagram a of FIG. 7. The two pen and head carriages then advance together until the contact has penetrated a short distance (for example from 1 to 2 mm) in the connector socket. In this movement, the contact is rigidly maintained and only its anterior end protrudes from the clamps 72. The streamlined shape of the insertion head, with its clamps 72, gradually draws aside those of the already inserted wires which are present and makes it possible to proceed at the start smooth insertion and no damage to the wires of the other contacts already inserted.

Une fois que l'extrémité antérieure de con­tact a pénétré dans l'alvéole de connecteur comme représenté sur le schéma b de la figure 7, le chariot de la tête d'insertion 70 s'arrête et les pinces 72 s'ouvrent, libérant le contact. A ce moment, le chariot portant la plume 60 avance jusqu'à insérer complètement le connecteur dans la position représentée sur le schéma c. Cette position est décelée par la valeur du couple nécessaire au-delà d'un cer­tain seuil sans déplacement.Once the front contact end has penetrated into the connector socket as shown in diagram b of FIG. 7, the carriage of the insertion head 70 stops and the clamps 72 open, releasing the contact. At this time, the carriage carrying the pen 60 advances until fully inserting the connector in the position shown in diagram c. This position is detected by the value of the torque required beyond a certain threshold without displacement.

La pince de test pince alors le fil et le chariot de plume est animé d'un mouvement inverse et tire sur le fil retenu par le contact encliqueté dans son alvéole. Au-delà d'un certain seuil, la traction est arrêtée, et la pince de test relâche le fil, constatant que l'insertion a été convenable. Le chariot de plume recule jusqu'à ce que la position du chariot de tête d'insertion soit atteinte et le chariot de tête d'insertion s'attache alors à nouveau au chariot de plume.The test clamp then clamps the thread and the feather carriage is driven in a reverse movement and pulls on the thread retained by the contact snapped into its socket. Beyond a certain threshold, the traction is stopped, and the test clamp releases the wire, noting that the insertion has been suitable. The pen carriage moves back until the position of the insertion head carriage is reached and the insertion head carriage then attaches again to the pen carriage.

L'ensemble des deux chariots recule jusqu'à la position d'attente du chariot porte-tête d'insertion où ce chariot se détache du chariot porte-plume qui recule seul jusqu'à sa position de repos. La plume et la pince de test s'ouvrent et laissent choir le fil et le cycle d'insertion est terminé.The set of two carriages moves back to the standby position of the insertion head carriage where this carriage detaches from the pen holder carriage which moves back alone to its rest position. The pen and the test clip open and drop the wire and the insertion cycle is complete.

De façon avantageuse, les déplacements sont mesurés à partir d'un origine par un codeur incrémental fixé sur l'axe moteur du chariot porte-plume. Un capteur d'effort placé sur la courroie d'entraînement mesure les efforts exercés sur la plume. Le moteur d'entraînement est un moteur à courant continu et à faible inertie asservi en courant, ce qui permet de définir et de maîtriser à tout instant son accélération, sa vitesse et son couple. Pendant ce cycle, on contrôle donc les efforts d'insertion ainsi que les efforts d'arrachement, toute anomalie par rapport au niveau des seuils placés en mémoire arrêtant le cycle.Advantageously, the displacements are measured from an origin by an incremental encoder fixed on the motor axis of the pen holder carriage. A force sensor placed on the drive belt measures the forces exerted on the pen. The drive motor is a direct current and low inertia motor controlled by current, which makes it possible to define and control at any time its acceleration, its speed and its torque. During this cycle, we therefore control the insertion forces as well as the tearing-off forces, any anomaly with respect to the level of the thresholds placed in memory stopping the cycle.

Le degré d'automatisation du dispositif selon l'invention peut être variable. En effet, au lieu d'utiliser une opératrice, ou pourrait également alimenter le poste A en tronçons de fil par un dispositif automatique en prove­nance d'un poste de préparation de tronçons, un moyen automatique de saisie de l'identification du fil, par exem­ple par lecture optique, pouvant remplacer l'entrée d'identification de fil par clavier alphanumérique.The degree of automation of the device according to the invention can be variable. Indeed, instead of using an operator, or could also supply station A with sections of wire by an automatic device coming from a section preparation station, an automatic means for entering the identification of the wire, by example by optical reading, which can replace the wire identification input with an alphanumeric keyboard.

Pour des connecteurs qui utiliseraient plusieurs types et tailles de broches, on pourrait également prévoir plusieurs bols vibrants et des moyens permettant d'amener dans l'axe du passage de la tête de sertissage, un contact d'une type déterminé en fonction de l'identité qui a été saisie pour le fil correspondant.For connectors which would use several types and sizes of pins, one could also provide several vibrating bowls and means making it possible to bring in the axis of the passage of the crimping head, a contact of a type determined according to the identity that was entered for the corresponding thread.

De même, au niveau du poste de dénudage, le logiciel peut, en fonction de l'identification du fil, pro­voquer le déplacement vertical des mâchoires de couteaux de dénudage pour présenter l'empreinte correspondant au diamètre de fil pertinent.Similarly, at the stripping station, the software can, depending on the identification of the wire, cause the vertical displacement of the jaws of stripping knives to present the imprint corresponding to the relevant wire diameter.

Claims (24)

1. Dispositif d'insertion de contacts, munis chacun de leur conducteur ou câble souple dans les alvéoles d'un boîtier de connecteur, dispositif comportant un support de boîtier de connecteur (50), des moyens d'insertion mobiles sur une trajectoire vers et à l'écart du boîtier de connecteur, et des moyens permettant un déplacement relatif entre le support de connecteur et la trajectoire afin de présenter l'alvéole désiré du boîtier de connecteur sur la trajectoire, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'insertion comportent :
- une tête d'insertion (70) susceptible de s'ouvrir pour recevoir un contact prolongé par son câble individuel et de se refermer autour du contact, l'extrémité de la tête orientée vers le boîtier de connecteur étant biseautée pour écarter progressivement, pendant son déplacement vers le boîtier de connecteur, les câbles et les contacts éven­tuellement déjà posés, ladite tête d'insertion étant mobile entre une position reculée de réception du contact et une position avancée proche de l'alvéole situé sur la trajec­toire,
- et des moyens d'insertion finale (60) pour déplacer le contact sur la fin de la trajectoire entre la position de contact correspondant à ladite position avancée de tête d'insertion et une position de fin d'insertion du contact dans l'alvéole.
1. Device for inserting contacts, each provided with their conductor or flexible cable in the cells of a connector housing, device comprising a connector housing support (50), insertion means movable on a path towards and away from the connector housing, and means allowing relative movement between the connector support and the path in order to present the desired socket of the connector housing on the path, characterized in that said insertion means comprise:
- An insertion head (70) capable of opening to receive a contact extended by its individual cable and of closing around the contact, the end of the head oriented towards the connector housing being bevelled to spread progressively, during its displacement towards the connector housing, the cables and the contacts possibly already laid, said insertion head being movable between a remote position for receiving the contact and an advanced position close to the cell located on the path,
- And final insertion means (60) for moving the contact at the end of the trajectory between the contact position corresponding to said advanced position of insertion head and a position for the end of insertion of the contact into the socket .
2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que, lorsque la tête d'insertion est refermée autour du contact, l'extrémité antérieure (83) du contact émerge de la partie antérieure de la tête d'insertion (70), la position avancée de la tête de contact étant telle que ladite extrémité de contact (83) pénètre partiellement dans l'alvéole.2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the insertion head is closed around the contact, the anterior end (83) of the contact emerges from the anterior part of the insertion head (70), the advanced position of the contact head being such that said contact end (83) partially penetrates into the cell. 3. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que la tête d'insertion (70) main­tient le contact, les moyens d'insertion finale comportant une plume (60) dont une extrémité de petit diamètre repousse le contact pour pénétrer avec lui dans l'alvéole.3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the insertion head (70) maintains contact, the final insertion means comprising a feather (60), one end of small diameter repels the contact to penetrate with it into the cell. 4. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'insertion finale entraînent le câble ou fil souple disposé à l'arrière du contact, un canal de guidage guidant et contenant le câble dans une position proche de la position rectiligne pour l'obliger à pousser le contact en avant dans l'alvéole.4. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the final insertion means drive the flexible cable or wire disposed at the rear of the contact, a guide channel guiding and containing the cable in a close position from the rectilinear position to force it to push the contact forward into the socket. 5. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'insertion finale comportent une plume séparable en deux demi-plumes (60) s'ouvrant et se refermant autour de l'extrémité postérieure du contact et/ou de l'extrémité du câble.5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means of final insertion comprise a feather separable into two half-feathers (60) opening and closing around the rear end of the contact and / or the end of the cable. 6. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'insertion sont entraînés par des moyens moteurs qui assurent tout d'abord, à partir de la position initiale dans laquelle la tête d'insertion prend en charge le contact, une vitesse de déplacement rapide puis, lorsque l'on parvient au voisinage de la position avancée proche de l'alvéole, une vitesse lente, des moyens de détection étant prévus pour arrêter le mouvement si la résistance rencontrée dépasse une valeur seuil, après quoi les moyens d'insertion finale sont actionnés à une vitesse d'abord rapide puis, lorsque l'on arrive à une position proche de la position de fin d'insertion, à une vitesse lente, des moyens de détection étant prévus pour arrêter immédiatement le déplacement lorsque le contact est parvenu dans sa position de fin d'insertion.6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insertion means are driven by motor means which ensure first of all, from the initial position in which the insertion head takes in charge of the contact, a rapid displacement speed then, when one reaches the vicinity of the advanced position close to the cell, a slow speed, detection means being provided to stop the movement if the resistance encountered exceeds a value threshold, after which the final insertion means are actuated at a speed which is fast at first and then, when one arrives at a position close to the end of insertion position, at a slow speed, detection means being provided to stop movement immediately when the contact has reached its end of insertion position. 7. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'insertion comportent une pince de test qui, une fois que le contact a été définitivement inséré, vient agripper une portion de câble de contact pour exercer une traction vers l'arrière.7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the insertion means comprise a test clamp which, once the contact has been definitively inserted, comes to grip a portion of contact cable to exercise rearward traction. 8. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisé en ce que le boîtier de contact est monté sur une table mobile en coordonnées et en ce qu'il est prévu un axe d'initialisation parallèle à la direction du trajet d'insertion et situé à une certaine dis­tance déterminée dudit trajet, des moyens optiques permet­tant de déterminer le positionnement exact des alvéoles de connecteur, définissant la position du boîtier de connecteur dans l'espace.8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the contact box is mounted on a table movable in coordinates and in that there is provided an initialization axis parallel to the direction of the path d insertion and located at a certain determined distance from said path, optical means making it possible to determine the exact positioning of the connector cells, defining the position of the connector housing in space. 9. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des postes supplémentaires, notamment de sertissage, de dénudage et de sectionnement d'extrémités de câble.9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises additional stations, in particular crimping, stripping and sectioning of cable ends. 10. Dispositif selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des moyens de contrôle électrique et/ou optique et/ou par traction, notamment pour le dénudage et/ou le sertissage.10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises electrical and / or optical and / or traction control means, in particular for stripping and / or crimping. 11. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendication 1 à 10, caractérisé en ce qu'il est commandé par des moyens de saisie d'une identification d'un tronçon de câble dont le connecteur est destiné à être inséré dans un alvéole déterminé du boîtier de connecteur.11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is controlled by means of inputting an identification of a section of cable whose connector is intended to be inserted into a determined cell of the connector housing. 12. Dispositif selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que le tronçon de câble présente un mar­quage susceptible d'être lu par un appareil de saisie.12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the cable section has a marking capable of being read by an input device. 13. Dispositif selon la revendication 9, caractérisé par un poste d'introduction de câble (A) présentant une pince (13) montée sur un barillet, un dispo­sitif de sectionnement de fil (14) et un contact de butée.13. Device according to claim 9, characterized by a cable introduction station (A) having a clamp (13) mounted on a barrel, a wire cutting device (14) and a stop contact. 14. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 13, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un poste de dénudage (B) comprenant, sur un coulisseau, un dispositif de dénudage présentant deux mâchoires de couteaux (20, 21) animées d'un mouvement de translation l'une par rapport à l'autre et pourvues de jeux symétriques d'empreintes tranchantes semi-circulaires (22) adaptées à différents diamètres de fil, ledit coulisseau pouvant se déplacer vers et à l'écart de l'extrémité de fil selon une course réglable.14. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a stripping station (B) comprising, on a slide, a stripping device having two jaws of knives (20, 21) animated d '' a translational movement relative to each other and provided with symmetrical sets of semi-circular cutting impressions (22) adapted to different diameters of wire, said slide being able to move towards and away from the end of wire according to an adjustable stroke. 15. Dispositif selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que ledit dispositif de dénudage est réglable dans une direction permettant de présenter le jeu d'empreintes pertinent pour le dénudage du câble, en fonction de l'identification du câble.15. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said stripping device is adjustable in a direction making it possible to present the set of imprints relevant for the stripping of the cable, as a function of the identification of the cable. 16. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 15, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un poste de sertissage (C) comprenant une pince (30) montée sur un chariot coulissant (31) susceptible de déplacer l'extrémité de câble axialement vers une tête de sertissage, des moyens étant prévus pour maintenir le câble dans une direction rectiligne.16. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that it comprises a crimping station (C) comprising a clamp (30) mounted on a sliding carriage (31) capable of moving the cable end axially towards a crimping head, means being provided for holding the cable in a rectilinear direction. 17. Dispositif selon la revendication 16, caractérisé en ce que le poste de sertissage comporte une tête de sertissage mobile axialement et à l'écart de la position de contact alignée avec le passage central de ladite tête.17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the crimping station comprises a crimping head movable axially and away from the contact position aligned with the central passage of said head. 18. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 16 et 17, caractérisé en ce que, pour le contrôle du sertis­sage, il comporte une caméra de contrôle visuel.18. Device according to one of claims 16 and 17, characterized in that, for checking the crimping, it includes a visual control camera. 19. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 16 à 18, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte, pour le transfert du fil entre le poste de sertissage (C) et le poste d'insertion (E), un chariot muni de deux pinces écartées (42, 43), l'une des pinces saisissant le contact alors que l'autre pince saisit le câble en en emplacement éloigné.19. Device according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that it comprises, for the transfer of the wire between the crimping station (C) and the insertion station (E), a carriage provided with two clamps apart (42, 43), one of the clamps gripping the contact while the other clamp grips the cable in a remote location. 20. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 19, caractérisé en ce que le poste d'insertion (E) comporte un premier chariot sur lequel est montée une plume d'insertion (60) et un second chariot sur lequel est montée la tête d'insertion (70), le chariot de plume venant, dans son déplacement vers le boîtier de connecteur, entraîner le chariot de tête d'insertion pour se dégager de celui-ci lors du mouvement final d'insertion.20. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the insertion station (E) comprises a first carriage on which is mounted an insertion pen (60) and a second carriage on which is mounted the insertion head (70), the pen carriage coming in its movement towards the housing connector, drive the insertion head carriage to disengage from it during the final insertion movement. 21. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 20, caractérisé en ce que la plume d'insertion (60) est formée de deux demi-coquilles presen­tant une partie formant corps et une extrémité (61) de petit diamètre inférieur au diamètre de l'alvéole, lesdits demi-­coquilles étant portées par des bras mobiles situés symétriquement de part et d'autre du trajet d'insertion et portés par le chariot de plume.21. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 20, characterized in that the insertion pen (60) is formed by two half-shells having a body part and an end (61) of small diameter less than the diameter of the cell, said half-shells being carried by movable arms located symmetrically on either side of the insertion path and carried by the pen carriage. 22. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 21, caractérisé en ce que la tête d'insertion (70) est formée de deux demi-têtes de forme carénée, chacune des demi-têtes présentant une demi-­empreinte (71) susceptible de recevoir un corps de plume en protégeant l'extrémité antérieure de la plume, chaque demi-­tête d'insertion présentant un élément de pince (72) égale­ment caréné, muni d'une empreinte convenable venant recevoir l'extrémité (61) de plume et une partie de contact.22. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the insertion head (70) is formed by two half-heads of faired shape, each of the half-heads having a half-cavity (71) capable of receiving a feather body while protecting the anterior end of the feather, each insertion half-head having a clamp element (72) also faired, provided with a suitable imprint receiving the end (61) of pen and part of contact. 23. Dispositif selon la revendication 22, caractérisé en ce que lesdits éléments de pince (72) sont déplaçables entre leure position avancée et leur position rétractée libérant la plume, par l'intermédiaire de tiges inclinées (73).23. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that said clamp elements (72) are movable between their advanced position and their retracted position releasing the feather, by means of inclined rods (73). 24. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 23, caractérisé en ce qu'une pince de test est montée sur le chariot porte-plume derrière la plume.24. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 23, characterized in that a test clip is mounted on the pen holder carriage behind the pen.
EP88402627A 1987-10-28 1988-10-19 Device for contact insertion in a connector housing Ceased EP0314545A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8714935 1987-10-28
FR8714935A FR2622743B1 (en) 1987-10-28 1987-10-28 DEVICE FOR PLACING CONTACTS IN A CONNECTOR HOUSING

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EP0314545A1 true EP0314545A1 (en) 1989-05-03

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EP88402627A Ceased EP0314545A1 (en) 1987-10-28 1988-10-19 Device for contact insertion in a connector housing

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US (1) US4949451A (en)
EP (1) EP0314545A1 (en)
JP (1) JPH01146278A (en)
FR (1) FR2622743B1 (en)

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US8099857B2 (en) * 2008-02-09 2012-01-24 Cirris Systems Corporation Apparatus for electrical pin installation and retention confirmation
CN107732618A (en) * 2017-11-17 2018-02-23 惠州光弘科技股份有限公司 A kind of mobile phone connecting line installs auxiliary pen
CN111504243B (en) * 2019-01-31 2022-12-02 泰科电子(上海)有限公司 Detection device and detection method suitable for detecting terminal assembly depth of cable connector
CN118174110B (en) * 2024-05-09 2024-07-09 成都广润恒创智能科技有限公司 Assembling machine

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US4598469A (en) * 1984-11-27 1986-07-08 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force Double pinch-push contact insertion end-effector

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3826990A1 (en) * 1988-08-09 1990-02-15 Fraunhofer Ges Forschung TOOLS FOR JOINTING CONTACTS IN PLUG HOUSING

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FR2622743B1 (en) 1990-01-19
FR2622743A1 (en) 1989-05-05
US4949451A (en) 1990-08-21
JPH01146278A (en) 1989-06-08

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