EP0365137A1 - Procédé pour la fabrication de faisceau de câbles électriques - Google Patents

Procédé pour la fabrication de faisceau de câbles électriques Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0365137A1
EP0365137A1 EP89309343A EP89309343A EP0365137A1 EP 0365137 A1 EP0365137 A1 EP 0365137A1 EP 89309343 A EP89309343 A EP 89309343A EP 89309343 A EP89309343 A EP 89309343A EP 0365137 A1 EP0365137 A1 EP 0365137A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wire
wires
terminal
discrete
connector housing
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
EP89309343A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Kenneth Foster Folk
Francis Eugene Polliard
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.)
Whitaker LLC
Original Assignee
AMP Inc
Whitaker LLC
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 AMP Inc, Whitaker LLC filed Critical AMP Inc
Publication of EP0365137A1 publication Critical patent/EP0365137A1/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
    • H01R43/04—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for forming connections by deformation, e.g. crimping tool
    • H01R43/048—Crimping apparatus or processes
    • H01R43/052—Crimping apparatus or processes with wire-feeding mechanism

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an automated method of making an electrical harness of the type having a plurality of discrete wires, one end of which, terminates in a connector.
  • Machines of this type are capable of feeding only a single wire and are not capable of selecting a wire of a particular type from a plurality of available wires and feeding that selected wire.
  • the feeding device accommodates six different wires, anyone of which may be selected and fed by a two belt feeding mechanism.
  • the fed wire passes through a single wire passageway to a harness making machine for processing.
  • the present invention relates to an automated method of making an electrical harness wherein a wire of a desired type is automatically selected from a plurality of wires of different types available for use.
  • the wire is terminated with appropriate terminals and one end inserted into the appropriate cavity of a selected connector housing.
  • the method includes selecting a wire from the plurality of wires and feeding the selected wire.
  • the end of the wire is then terminated by attaching a terminal thereto, cutting the fed wire to form a segment of predetermined length, and terminating the cut end of the wire segment with a second terminal.
  • the second terminal and wire end is moved to a connector loading zone and inserting into a selected cavity of a selecting connector housing.
  • FIG. 1A An example of a harness 11, made by the present method is shown in Figure 1A.
  • a plurality of discrete wire segments 12 including a discrete wire segment 14 that is of a different type, such as different color, gage, or insulation, than the wires 12 are shown inserted into cavities 16 of a connector housing 18.
  • Each discrete wire segment 12, 14 has a selected terminal 20 crimped onto a first end and a selected terminal 22 crimped onto a second end.
  • the terminals 22 and second ends of the wire segments are inserted into appropriate cavities 16 as shown.
  • Such electrical harnesses are well known in the art.
  • a plurality of discrete wires 24, some of which are of different type than others, are directed into a wire selection and feeding unit 26.
  • Each of the wires 24 is pulled from a substantially endless source such as a barrel or reel 28. It will be understood that the wires 24 have been previously fed from the reels 28 into the wire selection unit 26 preparatory to harness making production. Initially, the first time that any of the plurality of wires is selected, its end is stripped of insulation as required by the terminals being used. Thereafter, when a wire segment is cut, the remaining wire is stripped and then retracted into the wire selection unit 26, thereby obviating the need to strip the wire upon subsequent selection.
  • the first wire 30 to be processed is selected by the wire selection unit 26 and fed outwardly through a wire passageway 32 a specific distance.
  • the wire selection unit 26 is then pivoted about a pivot point 34 until the end of the first wire 30 is presented to one of the terminal presses 36, 38.
  • the wire selection unit 26 is shown in this pivoted position in phantom lines and indicated as B in Figure 1.
  • the terminal presses 36, 38 are arranged to crimp terminals 40 and 42 respectively which are dispensed from the reels 44 in strip form.
  • the press that is selected corresponds to the terminal that is desired.
  • the selected press, 38 in this example, crimps a terminal 42 onto the end of the wire 30.
  • the wire select unit 26 is then pivoted about the point 34 in the opposite direction to return to its starting position shown in solid lines and indicated as A in Figure 1.
  • the wire 30 is then feed along a wire path 50, shown in Figure 1, to an extended position.
  • the wire 30 has passed through a wire cutting and stripping station 52.
  • the wire 30 is extended along the wire path 50 for a predetermined distance.
  • the cutting and stripping station 52 is then actuated thereby severing a wire segment 31 from the wire 30.
  • the insulation is stripped from both the severed end of the segment 31 and the stub end of the wire 30, as shown in Figure 2.
  • the end of the wire segment 31 having the terminal 42 crimped thereto will be referred to as the first end while the newly severed end will be referred to as the second end.
  • a clamp 54 retains the second end of the wire segment 31 in position on the wire path 50 during the cutting and stripping operations.
  • the wire segment 31 is then fed along the wire path 50, from left to right as seen in Figure 2, until the second end is presented to one of the terminal presses 60, 62.
  • the terminal presses 60, 62 are similar to the terminal presses 36, 38 in that terminals in strip form, in this case terminals 64 and 66, are dispensed from the reels 44 for crimping on the second end of the wire segments.
  • the second end of the wire segment 31 is presented to the press 60 where a terminal 64 is crimped thereto.
  • the wire segment 31 is then moved further along the wire path 50, from left to right as viewed in Figure 3, until the second end and the attached terminal 64 enter the connector loading station 68 and are presented to a selected cavity of a previously selected connector housing 70.
  • the terminal 64 is then inserted into the selected cavity.
  • a pair of housing trays 72 and 74 containing a supply of connector housings 70 and 76 respectively are suitably arranged so that a connector housing from either of the trays may be selected and loaded into an X-Y robot 80 by a loader 82. This is preferably done prior to the first wire segment 31 being moved into the connector loading station, or concurrently therewith.
  • another wire 30 is selected by the wire selection unit 26 from the plurality of wires 24, and fed outwardly through the wire passageway 32.
  • this selected wire 30 may or may not be of a different type than that of the previously selected wire 30.
  • the present wire 30 is presented to one of the presses 36, 38 for receiving a selected terminal 40, 42, extended to its desired length and cut into a wire segment.
  • the cut end then receives a desired terminal from one of the presses 60, 62 which is then moved to the connector loading station and inserted into a selected cavity of the connector housing 70. This process is repeated until all of the desired wire segments 31 have been cut to length, properly terminated, and inserted into appropriate cavities in the selected connector housing.
  • the connector housing 70 is then ejected from the X-Y robot 80 and the completed harness 90 placed in a collector tray 84. This process may be repeated to produce any desired number of similar electrical harnesses 90. It will be appreciated that any desired number of terminal presses 36, 38 and 60, 62 may be utilized to accommodate the number of different terminations required without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
  • the movement of the wire segment 31 is along the wire path 50 which is in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the segment 31.
  • the harness making machine 10 of Figures 1, 2, and 3 may be arranged to move the wire segment 31 in a direction other than axially. See, for example, Figures 4, 5, and 6, which schematically depict a harness making machine 100 for making the harness 90 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
  • the machine elements of the machine 100 having the same identifying numbers as the machine elements of the machine 10, are substantially identical in form and operation.
  • the machine 100 includes a wire selection and feeding unit 26 and an adjacent pair of terminal presses 36 and 38.
  • a connector loading station 68, X-Y robot 80, loader 82, connector housing trays 72 and 74, and a collector tray 84 are located to the right side of the machine 100, as viewed in Figures 4, 5, and 6.
  • a pair of terminal presses 60 and 62 are disposed between the unit 26 and the connector loading station 68.
  • the wire selection and feeding unit 26 is oriented so that the wire passageway 32 directs the selected wire 30 downwardly, as viewed in Figures 4, 5, and 6, along a wire path 50 that passes through a wire cutting and stripping station 52.
  • the wire 30 is terminated with a selected terminal 42, then extended along the wire path 50, and cut and stripped to form a wire segment 31 of a desired length.
  • the wire segment 31, being held by the gripper 54, is then moved laterally in a direction indicated by the arrow C, as shown in Figure 5, to present the cut end, or second end, to the press 60 to crimp a terminal 64 thereon, the wire segment 31 is then again moved laterally to the connector loading station 68 where the terminal 64 is inserted into a selected cavity of the connector housing 70, see Figure 6.
  • the above steps are repeated until all of the desired wire segments 31 have been properly terminated and inserted into their respective cavities in the connector housing 70.
  • the completed harness 90 is then ejected into the collector tray 84 as shown in Figure 6. It is therefore seen that the method of the present invention can be practiced so that the wire segment 31 is moved in any of a variety of ways.
  • the wire 30 be automatically selected from a plurality of wires 24 which are usually of different type, such as different color, gage, or kind of insulation. While a particular harness may be composed of wire segments 31 of the same type wire, the method of the present invention permits the making of a harness having discrete wire segments of varying type and varying kinds of terminations on their ends. Further, the method of the present invention permits the automatic selection of the terminals and of the connector housing desired.
  • the mechanism utilized to practice the teachings of the present invention are known in the art, but, heretofore have not been brought together to form a harness making machine that is capable of performing the present method.
  • the general arrangement of the machine may be in accordance with that disclosed in the above referenced U.S. Patent Number 4,628,600 which discloses the functions, feeding, cutting and stripping, and terminating discrete wire segments.
  • the mechanisms described therein or any suitable similar mechanisms known in the industry may be used to perform such functions
  • the above referenced U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 107, 147 discloses a wire selecting and feeding unit which may be utilized for the wire selection and feeding functions of the present invention.
  • the ′147 patent application discloses a device for selectively feeding any of a plurality of wires arranged in pairs, each pair having a first wire and a second wire.
  • Each wire pair has a feeding unit associated therewith comprising a driver belt and two idler belts.
  • the idler belts are movable between a feeding position and a non-feeding position.
  • a specific wire is fed by moving its associated feeding belt to its feeding position and actuating the driven belt so that the wire is fed by the two belts.
  • a wire guide is provided and has convergent passageways which extend to a wire outlet. After a wire segment has been cut, the wire stub can be retracted by reversing the direction of the driven belt.
  • Connector housing loader devices for pick-up of a connector housing from a tray or other dispenser of such housings and transfer and placement of the connector housing to an X-Y robotic holder including the X-Y robot are commonly known in the industry. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,650,391 which issued March 17, 1987 to Adlon et al. and U.S. Patent No. 4,611,846 which issued September 16, 1986 to Feiber et al. Both Adlon and Feiber disclose devices which pick-up a connector from a tray and place it on a work piece.
  • a typical X-Y robot device that can be suitably utilized in the practice of the present invention, see U.S. Patent No.
  • a typical control system 108 for the harness making machine exemplified herein is depicted in the block diagram of Figure 7.
  • a computer 110 which in the present example is an IBM PC XT, includes a memory 112 for storage of harness making information.
  • An input and display unit 114 is the primary interface between the operator and the control system 108.
  • the computer 110 includes a series of output channels 116 which connect to and drive various instrumentalities 118 of the harness making machines 10 and 100. Since such control systems are well known in the computer art, no attempt will be made here to show this system in more detailed form. It will be understood that each of the instrumentalities 118, while shown in functional form, include the necessary driver circuitry and associated control devices to permit their operation and control.
  • the wire select and feed function 120 includes the wire selection and feeding mechanisms described above as well as the survo motors, control and power circuitry, and sense switches needed to effect positive control of the mechanisms by the computer.
  • the operator by manipulating the input and display unit 114, defines in the computer's memory, the parameters of the electrical harness that is desired. Also defined are the types of wires which are available to the wire selection and feeding unit 26, the types of terminals in each of the presses 36, 37, 60 and 62, and the types of connector housings in each of the trays 72 and 74.
  • a control program within the computer,s memory initiates operation of and maintains control of the various instrumentalities 118 in the making of the electrical harness by the method of the present invention.
  • control system 108 is by way of example of a typical control system that could be used.
  • Various hardwire control systems that do not utilize a computer, and that are well known in the industry, can also be utilized in the practice of the present invention.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)
  • Automatic Assembly (AREA)
EP89309343A 1988-10-18 1989-09-14 Procédé pour la fabrication de faisceau de câbles électriques Ceased EP0365137A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US26238388A 1988-10-18 1988-10-18
US262383 1988-10-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0365137A1 true EP0365137A1 (fr) 1990-04-25

Family

ID=22997265

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89309343A Ceased EP0365137A1 (fr) 1988-10-18 1989-09-14 Procédé pour la fabrication de faisceau de câbles électriques

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0365137A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH02170310A (fr)
KR (1) KR900007143A (fr)
BR (1) BR8905246A (fr)
PT (1) PT92011A (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0794597A1 (fr) * 1996-03-09 1997-09-10 Friedrich Riempp Machine pour la production automatique de câbles, comportant une terminaison à un bout au-moins
EP0703646A3 (fr) * 1994-09-02 1997-12-29 Brökelmann, Jaeger & Busse GmbH & Co Procédé et dispositif pour câbler les bornes de raccordement de composants d'appareils électriques
WO1998009357A1 (fr) * 1996-08-30 1998-03-05 The Whitaker Corporation Fourniture de fil et unite de positionnement
EP1775804A3 (fr) * 2005-10-12 2009-04-08 K.M.I. Trade S.R.L. Dispositif pour la production d'un câblage électrique
CN113922188A (zh) * 2020-07-09 2022-01-11 泰科电子(上海)有限公司 线缆处理系统

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP6081328B2 (ja) * 2013-09-13 2017-02-15 日本オートマチックマシン株式会社 電線の端子圧着システムおよび電線の端子圧着方法

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3766624A (en) * 1969-08-13 1973-10-23 Amp Inc Automatic lead making and wiring machine
US4347651A (en) * 1979-07-18 1982-09-07 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha System for manufacturing connection wires
EP0126842A2 (fr) * 1983-04-27 1984-12-05 Grote & Hartmann GmbH & Co. KG Méthode pour le pressage et dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre de cette méthode
EP0147081A2 (fr) * 1983-11-29 1985-07-03 Nippon Acchakutanshi Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif de variation de longueur de fils en combinaison avec un appareil pour la fabrication de faisceaux de fils électriques
DE3526900C1 (de) * 1985-07-26 1987-01-22 Grote & Hartmann Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum automatischen Sammeln von gecrimpten,elektrischen Verbindern zum Bestuecken von Gehaeusen
US4653160A (en) * 1982-11-10 1987-03-31 Artos Engineering Company Apparatus for making finished wire harnesses or sub-assemblies therefor

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3766624A (en) * 1969-08-13 1973-10-23 Amp Inc Automatic lead making and wiring machine
US4347651A (en) * 1979-07-18 1982-09-07 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha System for manufacturing connection wires
US4653160A (en) * 1982-11-10 1987-03-31 Artos Engineering Company Apparatus for making finished wire harnesses or sub-assemblies therefor
EP0126842A2 (fr) * 1983-04-27 1984-12-05 Grote & Hartmann GmbH & Co. KG Méthode pour le pressage et dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre de cette méthode
EP0147081A2 (fr) * 1983-11-29 1985-07-03 Nippon Acchakutanshi Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif de variation de longueur de fils en combinaison avec un appareil pour la fabrication de faisceaux de fils électriques
DE3526900C1 (de) * 1985-07-26 1987-01-22 Grote & Hartmann Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum automatischen Sammeln von gecrimpten,elektrischen Verbindern zum Bestuecken von Gehaeusen

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0703646A3 (fr) * 1994-09-02 1997-12-29 Brökelmann, Jaeger & Busse GmbH & Co Procédé et dispositif pour câbler les bornes de raccordement de composants d'appareils électriques
EP0794597A1 (fr) * 1996-03-09 1997-09-10 Friedrich Riempp Machine pour la production automatique de câbles, comportant une terminaison à un bout au-moins
WO1998009357A1 (fr) * 1996-08-30 1998-03-05 The Whitaker Corporation Fourniture de fil et unite de positionnement
US5784770A (en) * 1996-08-30 1998-07-28 The Whitaker Corporation Wire feed and positioning unit
EP1775804A3 (fr) * 2005-10-12 2009-04-08 K.M.I. Trade S.R.L. Dispositif pour la production d'un câblage électrique
US7975372B2 (en) 2005-10-12 2011-07-12 K.M.I. Trade S.R.L. Apparatus for producing electrical wiring
CN113922188A (zh) * 2020-07-09 2022-01-11 泰科电子(上海)有限公司 线缆处理系统
CN113922188B (zh) * 2020-07-09 2024-04-02 泰科电子(上海)有限公司 线缆处理系统

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR900007143A (ko) 1990-05-09
BR8905246A (pt) 1990-05-22
JPH02170310A (ja) 1990-07-02
PT92011A (pt) 1990-04-30

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