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
  • H01R43/20—Apparatus 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
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
  • H01R43/28—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for wire processing before connecting to contact members, not provided for in groups H01R43/02 - H01R43/26

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and its implementation device for automatically manufacturing electrical harnesses.
• the technical field of the invention is that of machines and methods for manufacturing electrical harnesses. Electrical harnesses are already used to equip many domestic or industrial electrical devices such as washing machines, cars, etc.
• the electrical harnesses consist of a plurality of conductive electrical wires which are grouped, for example using plastic collars or adhesive tape, to form a set of electrical connections ready to connect and fix on a support.
• Each of the wires is previously cut to the desired length and then stripped, and its ends can be crimped onto a terminal or 'inserted on a component (connector, socket—) as required.
• the manufacture of the bundles then consists in grouping together the wires thus prepared and inserting their ends into components, and then in ensuring the cohesion of the bundle thus formed by connecting means such as collar or adhesive tape.
• Methods and devices are already known for automatically manufacturing wires which are cut to the desired length, stripped and crimped, which are for example described in patent applications FR 88/16702 and FR 87/11392.
• Patent application FR 87/11392 describes and claims clamps for conveyor of automatic wiring machines, intended to hold one or more wires.
• Patent application FR 88/16702 describes and claims methods and device for mechanically crimping terminals on ends of electric wire. Also known are methods and device for automatically connecting crimped connections on wires. on electrical components. Patent application FR 86/16777 describes and claims devices which include a conveyor which connects a manual preparation station for identical pallets which carry all of the components used in the production of a bundle, to an automatic plugging unit. equipped with two mobile carriages in three directions.
• Known machines generally use specific insertion tools for each type of component and each type of end to be inserted.
• a problem posed is to automatically manufacture parts of electrical harnesses or complete electrical harnesses which can integrate types of components which are very diverse in their volume, their mass, their external shape, their type of connection; a problem posed is also to manufacture machines which can be modified easily and at a reduced cost so as to be able to adapt to changes in the types of components used, and so as to adapt to bundles which use variable numbers of different components; another problem is to provide methods and devices for manufacturing electrical harnesses which are truly automatic, that is to say which require little or no manual manipulation of the components and the tools necessary for handling these components , unlike the device described in FR 86/16777.
• a problem also consists in providing devices * and methods for manufacturing electrical harnesses which make it possible to manufacture automatically and successively, at a rapid rate, therefore without changing the tooling, different harnesses and in particular harnesses which incorporate different types of components. .
• Another problem posed is to provide devices and methods for the automatic manufacture of electrical harnesses which make it possible to insert ends of said wires in variable angular positions around a horizontal axis.
• a device for for manufacturing electrical harnesses comprising wires, the ends of which must be inserted into component cells, of the type comprising at least one main conveyor which can transport said wires by means of transfer clamps, such as furthermore comprising at least one secondary conveyor which can transport transfer trays, which transfer trays can receive at least one of said components, and such that a part of said secondary conveyor is located in an insertion zone in which a part of said conveyor is also located main, and said device comprises along said secondary conveyor at least one automatic loading station of said components on said transfer trays, and it comprises means for transferring said transfer trays from said secondary conveyor to said main conveyor.
• a device according to the invention comprises at least two automatic loading stations. which respectively comprise at least one load carrier, at least one input pusher, at least one output pusher, at least one pusher 'component, so that it can automatically loading said components onto said transfer trays .
• a device further comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of conveyors for supplying transfer trays, and preferably said feed conveyors are of the accumulation type, and it comprises means for feeding said secondary conveyor in transfer trays previously arranged on said feed conveyors, and said means for transferring said transfer trays from said secondary conveyors to said main conveyor comprise at least one insertion support which can move vertically along an axis Z ⁇ 2 -
• said main conveyor is a linear conveyor with a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis i
• said secondary conveyor is a linear conveyor with a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis y j
• said longitudinal axes xj and yyi are substantially perpendicular
• said main conveyor and said secondary conveyor respectively have a toothed belt, which toothed belts can drive said transfer clamps and / or said transfer plates.
• a device comprises a plurality of said transfer plates which comprise a base provided on its underside with studs which can cooperate with said main conveyor and said secondary conveyor, which base is connected by means of a foot to a plate, and said transfer plates comprise at least one holding jig which can cooperate with at least one of said components, which holding jig is fixed on said plate, and said transfer plates comprise means for immobilizing said components against said holding templates, so that one can automatically load at least one of said components on said transfer plate in a translational movement parallel to the substantially horizontal plane of said plate.
• holding templates have at least one bearing face against which at least one of said components can bear against at least one of its faces
• said holding templates include means pressure on at least one other face of said component, so that said component can be wedged and held on said transfer plate, and preferably said pressure means comprise at least one spring.
• said studs are spaced in the longitudinal direction in a longitudinal pitch and said studs are spaced in the transverse direction in a transverse pitch (E2). and said longitudinal pitch, respectively said transverse pitch, is a multiple of the pitch ⁇ '1 of the notches of said toothed belt of said secondary conveyor, respectively is a multiple of the pitch E'2 of the notches of said toothed belt of said main conveyor.
• a device further comprises an orientation station for said ends of said wires, which orientation station is located along said main conveyor, upstream from said insertion zone, and said orientation station comprises at least one orientation clamp which can rotate along an orientation axis yy2 substantially perpendicular to said conveyor main.
• At least one of said transfer plates comprises at least one temporary end support, so that one of said ends of one of said wires can be fixed on said temporary end support , and said transfer plates are open on their front face so that one can easily insert said ends of said wires into said cells of said component wires previously loaded in said transfer plate, and said transfer plates are open on their rear face so that one can easily access the rear ends of the conductive elements of said preloaded component.
• a solution to the problem posed also consists in providing a method of manufacturing electrical harnesses comprising wires whose ends must be inserted into cells of components, which method comprises the following operations: a - at least one main conveyor 22 is provided which can transporting said wires via transfer clamps 15.
• b - at least one secondary conveyor 7 is provided which can transport transfer trays 8, which transfer trays can receive at least one of said components 12, part 7a of said conveyor secondary being located in an insertion zone 23 in which is also located a portion 22a of said main conveyor, c - is provided along said secondary conveyor at least one automatic loading station 13 equipped with a reserve of identical components, d - there is at least one transfer tray on said secondary conveyor, and preferably has at least one empty transfer plate on said secondary conveyor, which transfer plate is provided with a holding template 8f of said components arranged on said loading stations. e - said secondary conveyor is actuated so that said transfer plate is placed in correspondence with one of said loading stations.
• f transferring said transfer tray to said station loading and at least one of said components equipping said loading station is loaded so that the front face 12 o'clock of said component is located on the side of the front face 8j of said transfer plate.
• g transfer said transfer plate onto said secondary conveyor, h - repeat operations e, f, g if necessary, and then i - activate said secondary conveyor so that said transfer plate equipped with said component is place in said insertion zone, and so that said front face of said transfer plate is facing said insertion means, j - one inserts ends of said wires previously disposed in said transfer clips, by means of insertion, into said cells of said components loaded on said transfer plate, k - transferring said transfer plate on said main conveyor.
• Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a particular embodiment of a device according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a front view of a component transfer tray.
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along III-III of Figure 2.
• Figure 4 is a front view of another embodiment of a component transfer tray according to the invention.
• FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a detail of the transfer plate of FIG. 4.
• FIGS. 6a and 6b are partial schematic views respectively of the conveyors and the pads of a transfer plate according to the invention.
• Figure 7 illustrates a side view of the transfer means according to the invention.
• FIG. 8 illustrates in longitudinal section an end orientation device according to the invention.
• Said device comprises a main conveyor 22 near which an insertion area is located 23. wherein can operate one or 'more insertion tongs with jaws 28, which can move perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said main conveyor XXi , along an axis YY1.
• said insertion clamp 16 being able to move along said axis YYj by means of a carriage 17, which carriage 17 can move along an axis XX2 parallel to said axes XXj by means of a carriage support 18.
• the automatic manufacturing device comprises a secondary conveyor 7 which is preferably a linear conveyor with axis YY1 substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis XXI of said main conveyor.
• which secondary conveyor comprises a part 7a which is located in said insertion zone, which part 7a is preferably constituted by one end of said secondary conveyor. It can be seen that, along said secondary conveyor 7, 2 stations 13j and 132 are provided for automatic loading of components onto said transfer plates; It is also seen that near the second end 7e of said secondary conveyor are provided supply conveyors (1,2,3).
• said supply conveyors are smooth-belt accumulation conveyors, which are provided at one of their ends with a stop 270, and on which reserves of transfer trays, preferably empty transfer trays, have been placed. : it can be seen in the figure that said feed conveyor 1 is intended to receive a type of transfer tray of reduced width, that said feed conveyor 2 is intended to receive another type of said transfer trays of greater width, and that said feed conveyor 3 is designed to receive another type of transfer tray; said feed conveyors (1. 2. 3) are normally each fed by an identical reserve of transfer trays. It can be seen that advantageously automatic means have been provided for transferring said transfer plates from each of said feed conveyors to said secondary conveyor, which means are represented by pushers (4, 5. 6); said pushers (4, 5.
• each of said transfer plates has a front face 8j and a rear face 8k. said front and rear face being identified with respect to the direction of advancement S2 of said secondary conveyor.
• Said transfer means 20 include in particular a support for transfer which can move on a substantially vertical axis ZZ2 (substantially perpendicular to the plane of the figure). It can be seen that, according to the invention, said secondary conveyor delivers said transfer plates to said transfer means comprising said transfer support 20 so that said front face 8j of said transfer plates is opposite said insertion means, in occurrence of said insertion clamp 16: indeed, on said automatic component loading stations 132.132. said components 12 are loaded so that the face intended to receive said ends of said wires is located on the side of said front face of said transfer plates.
• said end alignment station is provided with an orientation clamp 38 which can rotate about an axis YY2 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said main conveyor and substantially parallel to said axis YYx, so as to angularly position said ends of said wires so that they can be introduced in said angular position in the cells of said components located on said transfer plates: it can be seen that on said main conveyor, downstream of the insertion zone 23.
• transfer plates 84 and 85 which have been previously loaded with said components and which have been transferred from said secondary conveyor to said transfer support 20, position in which said insertion means have inserted wires 9 into the alv oles of the components located on said transfer trays, so as to constitute a bundle or a portion of a bundle, then said transfer means have transferred said transfer trays from said secondary conveyor to the transfer zone 22a of said main conveyor, and said main conveyor can then route said transfer plates 84 and 85 provided with said wires 9, the ends of which are inserted into said components 12 so as to constitute a bundle 28 or a portion of a bundle, towards a storage or use area downstream of said main conveyor.
• an upstream main conveyor 22 1 delivers said wires provided at their ends with connections to said insertion zone 23, and a second downstream main conveyor 22 which can evacuate said transfer plates on which said components have been placed and inserted said ends of said wires to constitute said bundles or part of bundles.
• FIG 2 there is shown in front view an embodiment of a transfer plate 8 according to the invention which is disposed on said secondary conveyor 7; we see that in this embodiment.
• said secondary conveyor is mainly constituted by section 7c in general U shape, provided with a groove in which can slide a belt provided with teeth or notches 7b. which can drive said transfer plates thanks to the particular configuration of their base;
• said transfer trays include a base 8b which is provided in its lower part with nails 8a which may, for example, be of substantially trapezoidal section, which base 8b is surmounted by a column-shaped foot 8c, which connects said base to a substantially horizontal plate 8d.
• jigs 8f - 8f2 "8f3 which make it possible to maintain in a determined position a component 12 provided on its front face with cells 12a in which there are ends of conductors which generally constitute male connections on which we must insert for example female connections which have been previously crimped on the ends of the wires.
• FIG. 2 which is a front view of one of said transfer plates, it can be seen that said studs 8a of said base are spaced apart by a transverse pitch E2. along a transverse axis XX3. It can also be seen that holding jigs 8f4 and 8f5 are provided on said plate: it can be seen that said holding jig 8f3 includes pressure means on a face 12d of said component 12. which pressing means include a spring 8g which is supported on said face 12d and which is held by a cap 8h fixed to said holding template 8f3-
• FIG. 3 which is a view along III-III of FIG. 2, it can be seen that said component 12 rests on said plate 8d of said transfer plate and that said component which comprises conductive elements 12e, one end of which 12f opens into said cells
• said studs 8a of said base of said transfer plate are substantially of trapezoidal section in this longitudinal view of said transfer plate and are spaced apart in a longitudinal pitch
• FIG. 4 another embodiment of the transfer plate of a device according to the invention has been illustrated; we see that said transfer plate comprises a plate 8d which can be provided with a mark intended for positioning said transfer plate, which mark is materialized by a notch 8e; we see that said plate overcomes a foot 8c which connects said plate to a base 8b provided with studs 8a; we see that above said plate are provided holding templates 8f2.8f2 and 8f3.
• said support jig 8f being in the form of a bracket, said support jig 8f2 in the form of an arch provided with a cast iron 8f22 and said support jig 8f3 in the form of a vertical plate: in this way said jigs 8f2 and 8f2 allow positioning on said plate a component 12 of complex shape, a protruding part 12b of which can be inserted in said light 8f22 provided in said holding jig 8f2; indeed, said holding templates 8f and 8f2 have been studied specifically to accommodate said complex component shown in FIG. 4: it can be seen that said holding template 8f is provided on 12
• said transfer plate 8 is shown along its front face, so that said front face of said transfer plate corresponds to the front faces of said components 12 which have been loaded on said transfer plate.
• FIG. 5 which is a sectional view of a detail of embodiment of said holding template 8f3 shown on said transfer plate 8 of Figure 4. it can be seen that said holding template ⁇ 8f3 is provided with temporary end supports 81 on which can be inserted connections 9a crimped at the end of wires 9.
• said main conveyor 22 is provided with a toothed belt 22d whose notches are separated by a longitudinal pitch E * 2.
• said secondary conveyor 7 is provided with a toothed belt 7d, the notches of which are spaced along said longitudinal axis Y of said secondary conveyor 7 by a pitch E * 2-
• said base 8b of said transfer plate is provided with pads 8a which are spaced a transverse pitch E2 and which are spaced at a longitudinal pitch ⁇ ⁇ .
• said transverse pitch E2 of said studs is equal to twice said pitch E'2 of said notches of said toothed belt of said main conveyor and that said longitudinal pitch E2 of said studs is equal to said pitch E'2 of said 13
• FIG. 7 there is shown schematically the transfer means which make it possible to transfer said transfer plates 8 from said secondary conveyor 7 (partially shown). to said main conveyor 22 (partially shown); we see in this figure that said secondary conveyor 7 which extends along said longitudinal axis YY has conveyed along arrow S2 said transfer plates 8 which are provided with said connectors 12.
• said transfer means for " transferring said transfer plates from said secondary conveyor comprises a transfer support 20 which can move along a substantially vertical axis ZZ2 thanks to displacement means 26 such as a jack ( preferably a mechanical jack comprising a stepping motor and a screw / nut assembly) and by means of guide means in vertical translation 25: said guide means and said drive means can for example be fixed on a table 27; advantageously, said transfer support 20 may be provided with locking means 21 of said transfer tray 8 on said transfer support 20, so as to wedge and immobilize said transfer tray on said transfer support; in this way, said support transfer, can move along a vertical axis ZZ2 so as to make the altitude of one of said cells 12a of said component 12 coincide on said transfer plate, the altitude corresponding to the position along a vertical axis ZZ2 of said insertion clamp 16 which can insert said end 9a of a wire 9 into said cell 12a
• FIG. 8 there is shown in partial section a wire end orientation device 24; it can be seen that said device 24 for orienting said ends 9a of said wires 9 comprises a clamp equipped with 2 jaws 38 which can grip said end 9a. which clamp can rotate around said axis YY2 thanks to a motor 44 which can drive through a pulley 43 and a belt 42.
• a support 48 of said clamp which support 48 receives said clamp and can rotate along said axis YY2. thanks for example to ball bearings, which allow the movement of said support 48 relative to a fixed support 46 which can be fixed on said table 27 *
• means 45 are provided for actuating said jaws 38 of said clamp so as to open or close them as needed.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Automatic Assembly (AREA)
• Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
• Insulated Conductors (AREA)
• General Factory Administration (AREA)
• Looms (AREA)
• Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
• Supply And Installment Of Electrical Components (AREA)
• Manufacture Of Switches (AREA)
• Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9403958

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

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Family Cites Families (4)

• 1990
  • 1990-12-28 FR FR9016625A patent/FR2671236B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1991
  • 1991-12-17 JP JP4502525A patent/JP2755269B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-12-17 AT AT92902216T patent/ATE111683T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1991-12-17 CA CA002099122A patent/CA2099122C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-12-17 DE DE69104066T patent/DE69104066T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-12-17 WO PCT/FR1991/001020 patent/WO1992012614A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1991-12-17 EP EP92902216A patent/EP0564536B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-12-17 ES ES92902216T patent/ES2062886T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-12-27 PT PT99949A patent/PT99949B/pt not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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