EP0706725A1 - Method and device for forming a branched loom - Google Patents

Method and device for forming a branched loom

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Publication number
EP0706725A1
EP0706725A1 EP94920498A EP94920498A EP0706725A1 EP 0706725 A1 EP0706725 A1 EP 0706725A1 EP 94920498 A EP94920498 A EP 94920498A EP 94920498 A EP94920498 A EP 94920498A EP 0706725 A1 EP0706725 A1 EP 0706725A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
conveyors
conveyor
branches
main
groups
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP94920498A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0706725B1 (en
Inventor
Louis Soriano
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
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 Whitaker LLC filed Critical Whitaker LLC
Publication of EP0706725A1 publication Critical patent/EP0706725A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0706725B1 publication Critical patent/EP0706725B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • 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
    • Y—GENERAL 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
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
    • Y10T29/5313—Means to assemble electrical device
    • Y10T29/532—Conductor
    • Y10T29/53243—Multiple, independent conductors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and a device for shaping, that is to say shaping, in particular by tying and / or wrapping, bundles of electric wires or fibers, tubes or cables.
  • the technical field of the invention is that of the manufacture of electrical harnesses.
  • the electrical harnesses consist of sections of electrically conductive wires whose ends are "treated", that is to say generally stripped, provided with crimped lugs and / or plugged into cells of electrical connectors.
  • terminal branches will be used to designate parts of an electric bundle constituted by parts of sections of wires, the ends of which are grouped together to form one end (called the free end) of the terminal branch, the other end of the terminal branch being designated as a node and constituting one end of another branch;
  • the term central branch designates a branch bounded by two nodes and having no end of sections of wires, constituted only by portions of sections of wires and connecting together at least two branches (terminal or not).
  • FIG. 8 of the YASAKI patent cited above illustrates a traditional way of manual conformation of electrical harnesses in which the sections of wires intended to constitute the bundle are placed on a table or work surface, which can be horizontal
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26 ⁇ and which comprises pins serving to guide and position the different parts and ends of branches of an electric bundle, thus making it possible to hold said branches in position and allowing an operator to manually tie and / or wrap each of said branches of said electric bundle ; this type of device allowing manual shaping is sometimes called the "nail board”.
  • Tests have been carried out to automate these shaping and / or ligating and / or wrapping operations of branches of electrical harnesses which are described for example in patent application EP403,350 (Aerospace).
  • the device described in this document comprises a horizontal table provided with rectilinear parallel guide tracks along which supports can slide, each holding a connector, and pins; the supports or pins can be put in place by sliding along the guide tracks.
  • the connectors and the pairs of pins are separated from each other along the guide tracks and then pairs of pins are tightened to delimit the nodes of the bundle after which supports are pulled transversely to the guide tracks to tension the respective conductors then allowing to join the conductors together to form the branches of the electrical harness.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a fully automatic electrical beam shaping device which allows complex beams to be shaped, comprising a large number of central and / or terminal branches, and which requires a minimum of moving and moving parts. organs; another objective of the invention is to eliminate the need for guiding bodies (or pins) for the conformation of electrical harnesses, and to allow the use of a binding station which is fixed or possibly movable in one direction. .
  • the solution to the problem posed consists in providing a conformation method by tying and / or wrapping of an electric bundle comprising a plurality of sections of electrically conductive wires in which: the ends or groups of ends of said sections of wires are arranged or the connectors equipping said ends or groups of ends of said sections of wires, that is to say the free ends of each of the terminal branches of said bundle, in respective supports such as clamps displaceable by a first conveyor, preferably constituted by a linear conveyor with toothed belt, of substantially horizontal longitudinal axis (XXI) which belt or notched drive belt of said clamps or support of end groups is driven by a motor such as a synchronous stepping motor,
  • a- one transfers, in an orderly manner and according to a predetermined relative spacing, a part of said clamps or supports holding said free ends of said terminal branches, which are located on the first side, left side for example, from the branch to be stretched, on a second conveyor extending said first conveyor, that is to say extending along said longitudinal axis (XXI), the clamps or support holding said free ends of said terminal branches, which are located on a second side, right side for example, of said branch to be stretched arranged or transferred, in an orderly fashion and at a predetermined relative spacing of said free ends or said groups of ends of sections of wires, by length of increasing branches, on said first conveyor, b- said first conveyor is moved in a first direction and said second conveyor is moved in a second direction substantially collinear or coaxial with said first direction and in opposite directions, in order to tension said branch and the portions of sections of wires constituting said branch,
  • a method of shaping or shaping, in particular by tying, of an electric bundle comprising at least two sections of wires, to form at least three branches separated by (and joining) in at least one node comprises the operations following: a) - said beam is held or maintained by said ends or groups of ends, that is to say each free end of each terminal branch of said electrical beam, by a respective support such as a clamp, which clamps or supports are likely to move along an axis (XXI) preferably horizontal, b) - to tension each of said branches: bl) - one classifies, for example by means of a computer or computer in which data relating to the configuration of said electrical harness and to the length in particular of said sections or of said branches of said bundle have been recorded, all of said free ends of all of said branches according to two separate categories or sets, corresponding, for a first of said categories, to those of said free ends of said end branches situated on a first side, for example on
  • the end or group of ends forming the free end of said end branch to be tied is placed on a first conveyor and all the other ends or groups are transferred or placed ends, forming the ends of all the other terminal branches, on a second conveyor aligned with or extending said first conveyor.
  • the solution to the problem also consists in providing a device for shaping and ligating branches of a bundle of sections of electrically conductive wires, said bundle having a branched or tree-like shape, each branch of said bundle being limited either by two nodes in the case a central branch, either by a node and a group of ends of said sections of son in the case of a terminal branch, which device comprises at least two main conveyors with co-linear belts of common longitudinal axis (XXI) preferably horizontal, each of said main conveyors being adapted to move and / or transport in two opposite directions supports of said groups of ends, which supports may be constituted by clamps for holding ends of sections of wires or groups of ends of sections of wires, or by connector supports receiving one or more of said ends ities of said sections of son, which device comprises at least one means or apparatus for tying, preferably located at a fixed post, near one of said conveyors, which device comprises means or apparatus for permutation along said axis (XXI) of the order of said end
  • the sum of the lengths of said main conveyors is at least equal to twice the longest length said electrical harness
  • said device comprises a first conveyor capable of driving grippers for holding ends or groups of ends of sections of wire, or upstream main conveyor, and comprises a second main conveyor capable of driving or transporting said grippers. holding ends or main downstream conveyor, and said device comprises means for tying up portions of sections of son constituting a branch, which are located near one of said conveyors, and said device comprises means for transferring said clamps from said first conveyor to said second conveyor and vice versa, comprises means for ordering said groups of ends and / or said grippers holding said groups of ends, and comprises independent means for respectively driving said first and second main conveyors in two directions or opposite directions so as to allow tensioning parts of tr ounces of threads, constituting branches of said bundles.
  • said transfer and permutation means comprise two intermediate conveyors which may each be essentially constituted by a toothed pinion whose teeth have a pitch substantially equal to the pitch of the notches of the toothed belts of said main upstream and downstream conveyors, which intermediate conveyors are movable or displaceable along an axis (ZZ1) perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (XXI) of said main upstream and downstream conveyors, which intermediate conveyors are capable of receiving and / or moving at least one of said end group supports, each of said intermediate conveyors being susceptible to be placed in a first position where it is located in the extension or alignment of said main upstream and downstream conveyors and interposed between them so as to allow the transfer of a support of end groups from said upstream conveyor to said downstream conveyor or vice versa, each n of said intermediate conveyors being capable of being placed in a second position or it is no longer in the extension of said main conveyors upstream and downstream and can serve as a temporary support for a support of end groups while a second intermediate conveyor can
  • said longitudinal axis (XXI) of said main conveyors and said axis (ZZ1) of movement of said intermediate conveyors are substantially horizontal, substantially situated in a horizontal plane, and the ends or groups of ends of said sections of wires are held in a position substantially vertical.
  • said two mobile intermediate conveyors are mechanically linked together and driven by a single jack.
  • each of said intermediate conveyors can be driven synchronously or constant velocity by one of said main upstream or downstream conveyors by a dog clutch drive device using a HOLDAM type seal.
  • said main upstream and downstream conveyors are conveyors provided with an endless belt with a toothed belt and in which said supports for groups of ends or ends of said end branches are each provided with a base provided with pads capable of drive or cooperate with notches of said toothed belt of said conveyors and each of said main upstream and downstream conveyors is driven by means of a synchronous stepping motor, and said device comprises ligating means placed near the end of a conveyor chosen from said main conveyors, which end is closest to the other main conveyor.
  • the method and device for shaping electrical harnesses according to the invention has many advantages.
  • the method and device according to the invention make it possible to carry out the conformation and ligating of complex beams from sections of individual wires fitted or not with lugs at their ends, which sections can be put in place manually by an operator in pliers or support for ends or groups of ends of sections of wire which are placed on a conveyor, or alternatively which can be placed on said conveyor by an automatic preparation machine placed upstream, and / or from groups of wires whose ends have been inserted into connectors and which can either be placed manually in holding clips of groups of ends of sections of wires or on supports which are placed on a conveyor or which are delivered by a machine automatic insertion provided upstream.
  • the present invention makes it possible to conform electrical harnesses by manipulating said beam only by automatic displacement of the free ends of its terminal branches, that is to say of the ends of the branches which are not connected to any other branch, which free ends of terminal branches can consist either of wires or groups of wires, whether or not equipped with terminals, and which can be held in clamps placed on a linear conveyor which can each hold one or more ends of sections of wires; the free ends of said end branches can also be constituted by ends of wires grouped together and inserted in connector cells, the manipulation of the free end in this case can be carried out via a connector support which will also be adapted to be placed and moved by the same linear conveyor.
  • the method and the device make it possible to conform bundles without limitation of the number of sections of wires, nor of the number of central branches or of the number of terminal branches, the configuration and positioning of the branches of the bundle and their binding being obtained by movement of the end groups, that is to say of the free ends of said end branches along a single axis, preferably horizontal, by comparison with the system such as that described in EP403 350 which requires movements in two directions to conform the beam and the branches of said bundle and which in this imitates entirely manual devices for shaping and ligating electrical harnesses.
  • the ligating method and device according to the invention are suitable for any type of beam, whatever their complexity, provided that these beams have a branched or tree structure; within the meaning of the present application, the expression "stretching a branch" of an electric bundle consists in spacing the ends of said branch, and more precisely in spacing the free ends of the terminal branches, a distance substantially equal to the length of a section of wire, the two ends of which are respectively grouped together in the two free ends of the terminal branches in question, without necessarily implying an effective mechanical stress in the 'any of the wire harness sections.
  • node refers to the theoretical point or place of junction or connection or mechanical attachment of at least three branches of the bundle, which may be in whole or in part of the central branches or terminal.
  • branch refers to a portion of the electrical bundle constituted by parts of one or more sections of electrically conductive wires, which parts of sections of wires are generally substantially parallel to each other, maintained substantially in contact with each other, in particular by wrapping, and intended to be mechanically linked together by at least one link or ligature.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of a very simple bundle made from two sections of son.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic view of the beam of Figure 1 illustrated according to another representation convention.
  • Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a second beam also very simple consisting of three sections of son.
  • the figure is a representation of the beam of figure 3 according to another representation convention identical to the convention used in figure 2.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic longitudinal view of part of a shaping device according to the invention.
  • FIG. 6 partially illustrates operations of a shaping method according to the invention and the main components of a shaping device according to the invention.
  • FIGS. 8 to 14 illustrate the successive stages of shaping the bundle shown in FIG. 7;
  • FIGS. 15 to 20 illustrate operations of permutation of groups of ends along the general axis of a shaping device according to the invention.
  • FIG. 21 illustrates a particular mode of part of the transfer and permutation means and their drive means - by one of the main conveyors of a device according to the invention, FIG. 21 being a view along XXI of Figure 6.
  • FIG. 22 illustrates in longitudinal view a detail of embodiment of the transfer and permutation means.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate, according to two different modes of representation, a very simple bundle 10 comprising three branches 11, 12 and 13 which meet at a node 9-
  • said bundle consists of a first electrical conductor 1 whose ends 2 and 3 may or may not be provided with lugs and a second section of electric wire 4 whose ends 5 and 6 may or may not be fitted with lugs.
  • said sections of wires 1 and 4 must be assembled in such a way that said ends 2 and 5 are grouped close to one another, only part of said sections of wires 1 and 4 is also grouped together over part of their length by ties or ligatures 7 and 8 schematically represented so as to constitute a branch 11 which may be surrounded by a ribbon 14 so as to give it a certain stiffness and to protect and assemble the corresponding sections of wire sections.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 represent another very simple beam which comprises, in addition to the beam shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a third section of wire 15 provided with two ends 16 and 17 which are respectively grouped with the end 3 of said section of wire 1 and the end 6 of said section of wire 4.
  • a bundle with three branches 11, 12, 13 is thus obtained, each of said branches being constituted by the assembly (by means of links 7, 8) of parts of said sections of wires 1, 4, 15.
  • a device comprises two main conveyors 18 and 26 which are preferably of the endless belt conveyor type, preferably said endless belt being constituted by a notched belt on at least its outer face, which strip is stretched between rollers 20 respectively 28 and driven in rotation by rotation of at least one of said rollers, which roller is driven respectively by a motor 21, 29 and a drive belt 22, 30 "which motors 21, 29 are preferably synchronous stepping motors making it possible to cause a precise movement in advance or backward of said endless belt on which supports 23, 24, 25 of end groups are arranged;
  • Said conveyors 18 and 26 are substantially placed in alignment with one another, that is to say extend along a common longitudinal axis XXI, preferably horizontal.
  • a station or tying machine preferably fixed, is placed near said conveyor 26 applied downstream conveyor, by reference to said conveyor 18 called upstream conveyor, on which are arranged said supports 23, 24, 25 holding the ends of sections of son or groups of ends of sections of wires forming said free ends of the bundle to be conformed; said supports 23, 24, 25 holding said free ends (or groups of ends) can either be placed manually on one of said conveyors or be transferred automatically by a device such as those described in the aforementioned application 09300730.
  • the clamps for holding ends or groups of ends can for example be of the type described in patent application FR87 / 11392 (Automatisms and Robotics applied ARA), and in if the ends are fitted with connectors, the end group supports, that is to say the free ends of said end branches, can be constituted by supports described in patent application FR2 671 236 (The Company Industrial); these supports which may be constituted by clips or connector supports are in the present application generally designated by the term of support for groups of ends or by the term of support of free end of terminal branch.
  • said sections of wires 1 and 4 intended to constitute the bundle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 which are located on said upstream conveyor 18, can see their ends permuted and transferred in part at least to the conveyor 26 according to the steps described in Figures 15 to 20;
  • the device comprises said upstream and downstream conveyor 18 and 26 placed in alignment with one another and separated by a device for transfer and permutation of the order of the supports of groups of ends or supports of free ends of end branches which permutation and transfer means can essentially consist of two very small intermediate conveyors 39 and 40 which are capable of moving between two positions:
  • said intermediate conveyor 39 serves as a temporary support for said support 25 for the free end of the terminal branch and allows the second intermediate conveyor 40 to come into a position in which said intermediate conveyor 40 is interposed between said conveyors 18 and 26 and allows the transfer of the one towards the other of said conveyors 18, 26 of another support 24 of group of ends or end free of terminal branch of the bundle to conform.
  • said conveyor 26 carries said support for end groups 23 and said conveyor 18 supports said support for end groups 24 and 25; the two conveyors 18 and 26 are rotated in order to cause a displacement of said supports 23, 24 and 25 to the left; with reference to FIG. 16, said intermediate conveyor 39 which is driven in synchronism with said conveyor 18 by means shown in particular in FIG. 21, allows the transfer, from said conveyor 18 to said conveyor 26, of said support 24 and then receives said support 25.
  • the permutation device is actuated, which causes an upward displacement of said intermediate conveyor 39 supporting said support 25 and of said conveyor 40 which comes into a position allowing it to be transferred, ie the return of said support 24 from the conveyor 26 (FIG. 17) to the conveyor 18 (FIG. 18), by virtue of a movement to the right of the said conveyors 18 and 26.
  • said transfer and permutation device is then actuated so as to lower said intermediate conveyors 39 and 40 until said conveyor 39 returns to the intermediate position between said conveyors 18 and 26, then said conveyors 18 and 26 are actuated to cause a movement to the left with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20 which makes it possible to transfer said support 2 from said intermediate conveyor 39 to said downstream conveyor 26 first, and which then allows said support 24 to be transferred from said conveyor 18 to said conveyor 39 then from said conveyor 39 to said conveyor 26.
  • FIG. 7 is shown schematically a slightly more complex electric harness than those in FIGS. 1 to 4, the shaping and wrapping operations of which are detailed in FIGS. 8 to 14.
  • said bundle comprises 5 groups of ends A.B.C.D.E and three nodes N1.N2.N3; said bundle consists of five terminal branches a, b, c, d, e, respectively connecting said groups of ends A, B, C, D, E to said nodes NI, NI, N2, N3, N3, and by two branches central f and g respectively connecting said nodes NI and N2, and said nodes N2 and N3-
  • FIGS. 8 to 1-1 said bundle is shown diagrammatically and said main conveyors 18 and 26 have been shown diagrammatically under said bundle, the direction of movement of which is indicated by an arrow respectively; in these figures, the end groups (represented by circles) situated to the left of a vertical dotted line separating said conveyors 18 and 26 are considered to be carried by said conveyor 26 or downstream conveyor, while said end groups located to the right of said dotted line are supposed to be moved by said upstream conveyor 18, to the right with respect to FIGS. 8 to 14 while said first ends are moved to the left by reference to the same figures.
  • the position measured along the longitudinal axis common to said main conveyors 18 and 26 is shown assuming that the length of said terminal branch (a) is greater than the length of said terminal branch (b), and that the length of said terminal branch (c) is less than the sum of the length of said terminal branch (d) and the length of said intermediate branch (g); the length of said terminal branch (e) is assumed to be greater than the length of said terminal branch (d).
  • the group of ends A is moved or transferred on said conveyor 26 and it is moved to the left to a predetermined position, and the groups of are transferred to said conveyor 18 ends B, C, D, E and they are moved to the right to a determined position and respecting a spacing between said groups of ends B, C, D, E so that all of the sections of son constituting the bundle is substantially stretched; in this case and by way of example the distance separating the group of ends A from the group of ends B, which is marked ab, in FIG.
  • the group of ends E is kept on said conveyor 18 and all the other groups of ends, namely A, B, C, D, are transferred to said second conveyor 26 main so as to place the portion of the sections of son forming said end branch (e) in the vicinity of the end 26a where the ligating device is located (not shown).
  • said group of ends D is transferred as shown in FIG. 13 onto said conveyor 18 and the other groups of ends A are transferred , B, C, E on said conveyor 26, to positions in which the portions of sections of son constituting said terminal branch (d) are substantially stretched and thus allow its binding.
  • the binding of the last terminal branch b of the bundle is then finished, by transferring the end group B to the conveyor 26 as shown in FIG. 14 and by transferring the end groups A, C, D, E to the conveyor 18, placing said groups in relative positions in which the portions of sections of son constituting said branch (b) are substantially tensioned.
  • said intermediate conveyors (39 and 40 with reference to FIG. 6 in particular), can, when they are in the position inserted or aligned with said main upstream conveyors and downstream, be driven synchronously with one of said upstream or downstream conveyors, by means of a dog clutch shown in this FIG. 21.
  • said conveyor 18 which extends along said axis XXI, comprises a toothed belt 19 provided with notches 48 spaced apart by a pitch 49, which belt is rotated and supported by a pulley or roller 20 said conveyor capable of rotating along an axis of rotation YY1; a pulley 59 mounted on a shaft common to said pulley 20 is driven simultaneously with said pulley 20 and drives itself by means of a belt 57 a pulley 58 of axis YY2 parallel to said axis YY1, which pulley 58 drives a part rotating 55 provided with a hollow groove 56; when said intermediate conveyor 39 or 40 is placed in a position where it is interposed between said upstream and downstream conveyors, which intermediate conveyor can simply be produced by a toothed pinion 50 provided with teeth 51 having a circumferential pitch 5 which is close to said pitch 49 said toothed belts, said pinion and / or said conveyor 39 can be set in motion by means of a rotating part 53 which
  • the two main conveyors 18 and 26 comprise a belt 19, respectively 27, provided with notches 48A on its external face and notches 48B on its internal face; thus, said bands or belts 19, 27 driven by said rollers or pulleys 20, 28 provided with teeth 20 A, 2 ⁇ A, can cause displacements according to arrows 32, 33 > in one or the other direction depending on signals for controlling in advance or in reverse, said supports 23, 24 (partially shown) of said groups of ends, by meshing studs 47 of the bases of said supports with teeth or notches 48; the axes YY1, YY2, YY3, parallel to each other, of rotation of said rollers and pinion 20, 50 B and 28 respectively, are perpendicular to said axes XXI and ZZ1.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Structure Of Belt Conveyors (AREA)
  • Wire Processing (AREA)
  • Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)
  • Discharge Of Articles From Conveyors (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)

Abstract

A method and a device for forming wiring looms. The device for forming and joining together the branches (11, 12, 13) of a branched loom (10) of lengths of conductor wire (1, 4, 15) comprises two or more main co-linear conveyors (18, 26) with a common longitudinal axis (XX1). Each of said main conveyors moves wire end group carriers in two opposite directions. Said device comprises at least one joining apparatus adjacent one of said conveyors, and a unit for changing the order of wire end group carriers along said axis (XX1). Said device further comprises a two-way transfer unit for transferring the wire end group carriers from one of said main conveyors to the other, and a unit for separately controlling and monitoring the movement of said conveyors over predetermined distances. The method and device may be used to produce wiring looms.

Description

PROCEDE ET DISPOSITIF DE CONFORMATION D'UN FAISCEAU RAMIFIE METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONFORMING A BRANCHED BEAM
La présente invention est relative à un procédé et un dispositif permettant de conformer, c'est-à-dire de mettre en forme notamment par ligaturage et/ou enrubannage, des faisceaux de fils électriques ou fibres, tubes ou câbles.The present invention relates to a method and a device for shaping, that is to say shaping, in particular by tying and / or wrapping, bundles of electric wires or fibers, tubes or cables.
Le domaine technique de l'invention est celui de la fabrication de faisceaux électriques.The technical field of the invention is that of the manufacture of electrical harnesses.
Les faisceaux électriques sont constitués à partir de tronçons de fils électriquement conducteurs dont les extrémités sont "traitées", c'est-à-dire généralement dénudées, munies de cosses serties et/ou enfichées dans des alvéoles de connecteurs électriques.The electrical harnesses consist of sections of electrically conductive wires whose ends are "treated", that is to say generally stripped, provided with crimped lugs and / or plugged into cells of electrical connectors.
La préparation des constituants des faisceaux électriques peut être automatisée et de tels dispositifs sont notamment décrits dans la demande de brevet W093/00730 (l'Entreprise Industrielle) qui décrit des dispositifs d'insertion et de manipulation de tronçons de fils électriques permettant de constituer des faisceaux de fils électriques ; d'autres dispositifs de fabrication de faisceaux électriques sont également décrits par exemple dans le brevet GB2087760 (YASAKI) qui décrit des dispositifs d'insertion et de préparation d'extrémités de tronçons de fils destinés à constituer des faisceaux ; dans ce document figure 8, est notamment représenté un faisceau de fils électriques ayant une structure ramifiée comportant plusieurs branches.The preparation of the components of the electrical harnesses can be automated and such devices are described in particular in patent application WO93 / 00730 (the Industrial Company) which describes devices for inserting and manipulating sections of electrical wires making it possible to constitute bundles of electric wires; other devices for manufacturing electrical bundles are also described, for example, in patent GB2087760 (YASAKI) which describes devices for inserting and preparing the ends of sections of wires intended to constitute bundles; in this document FIG. 8, is notably represented a bundle of electric wires having a branched structure comprising several branches.
Dans la présente demande, on utilisera les termes de branches terminales pour désigner des parties d'un faisceau électrique constituées par des parties de tronçons de fils dont des extrémités sont regroupées entre elles pour constituer une extrémité (dite extrémité libre) de la branche terminale, l'autre extrémité de la branche terminale étant désignée sous 1'appellation de noeud et constituant une extrémité d'une autre branche ; dans la présente demande on désigne par branche centrale une branche limitée par deux noeuds et ne comportant pas d'extrémité de tronçons de fils, constitués uniquement par des portions de tronçons de fils et reliant entre elles au moins deux branches (terminales ou non). La figure 8 du brevet YASAKI cité ci-dessus illustre une manière traditionnelle de conformation manuelle de faisceaux électriques dans laquelle on dispose les tronçons de fils destinés à constituer le faisceau sur une table ou plan de travail, qui peut être horizontaleIn the present application, the terms of terminal branches will be used to designate parts of an electric bundle constituted by parts of sections of wires, the ends of which are grouped together to form one end (called the free end) of the terminal branch, the other end of the terminal branch being designated as a node and constituting one end of another branch; in the present application, the term central branch designates a branch bounded by two nodes and having no end of sections of wires, constituted only by portions of sections of wires and connecting together at least two branches (terminal or not). FIG. 8 of the YASAKI patent cited above illustrates a traditional way of manual conformation of electrical harnesses in which the sections of wires intended to constitute the bundle are placed on a table or work surface, which can be horizontal
FEUILLE DE REMPLACEMENT (REGLE 26} et qui comporte des pions servant à guider et à positionner les différentes parties et extrémités de branches d'un faisceau électrique, permettant ainsi de maintenir en position lesdites branches et permettant à un opérateur de ligaturer et/ou enrubanner manuellement chacune desdites branches dudit faisceau électrique ; ce type de dispositif permettant une conformation manuelle est parfois désigné sous le nom de "planche à clous".SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26} and which comprises pins serving to guide and position the different parts and ends of branches of an electric bundle, thus making it possible to hold said branches in position and allowing an operator to manually tie and / or wrap each of said branches of said electric bundle ; this type of device allowing manual shaping is sometimes called the "nail board".
Des essais ont été effectués pour automatiser ces opération de conformation et/ou ligaturage et/ou enrubannage de branches de faisceaux électriques qui sont décrits par exemple dans la demande de brevet EP403 350 (Aérospatiale) .Tests have been carried out to automate these shaping and / or ligating and / or wrapping operations of branches of electrical harnesses which are described for example in patent application EP403,350 (Aerospace).
Le dispositif décrit dans ce document comporte une table horizontale pourvue de voies rectilignes de guidage parallèle le long desquelles peuvent glisser des supports maintenant chacun un connecteur, et des pions ; les supports ou pions peuvent être mis en place par coulissement le long des voies de guidage. Les connecteurs et les paires de pions sont écartés les uns des autres le long des voies de guidage puis des paires de pions sont resserrées pour délimiter les noeuds du faisceau après quoi des supports sont tirés transversalement aux voies de guidage pour tendre les conducteurs respectifs permettant ensuite de solidariser les conducteurs pour former les branches du faisceau électrique.The device described in this document comprises a horizontal table provided with rectilinear parallel guide tracks along which supports can slide, each holding a connector, and pins; the supports or pins can be put in place by sliding along the guide tracks. The connectors and the pairs of pins are separated from each other along the guide tracks and then pairs of pins are tightened to delimit the nodes of the bundle after which supports are pulled transversely to the guide tracks to tension the respective conductors then allowing to join the conductors together to form the branches of the electrical harness.
Un système similaire à celui-ci est décrit dans la demande de brevet EP -490 795 (RICARD) qui comporte une pince à poser des liens déplacée par un robot muni d'un bras ; le dispositif comporte plusieurs convoyeurs parallèles entre lesquels sont prévus des glissières parallèles aux convoyeurs recevant des butées mobiles qui devient et organisent les branches du faisceau ; le faisceau à conformer est tenu d'une part par ses extrémités et d'autre part par les noeuds au moyen de pinces de dérivation ; la pince à poser des liens se déplace en différents points des convoyeurs parallèles ; ce dispositif nécessite l'intervention d'un opérateur pour enlever le faisceau conformé.A system similar to this is described in patent application EP -490,795 (RICARD) which comprises pliers for placing links moved by a robot provided with an arm; the device comprises several parallel conveyors between which are provided slides parallel to the conveyors receiving movable stops which becomes and organize the branches of the bundle; the beam to be conformed is held on the one hand by its ends and on the other hand by the nodes by means of bypass clamps; the clamp for placing links moves to different points of the parallel conveyors; this device requires the intervention of an operator to remove the shaped beam.
L'inconvénient des dispositifs décrits dans ces documents est leur très grande complexité ; en effet, ces dispositifs incorporent un très grand nombre d'éléments (pions, supports et dispositif de ligaturage) qui doivent être déplacés selon deux directions situées dans un plan (qui sont perpendiculaires entre elles) et ces dispositifs complexes sont coûteux et peu adaptés pour la production entièrement automatique de faisceaux électriques.The drawback of the devices described in these documents is their very great complexity; in fact, these devices incorporate a very large number of elements (pins, supports and ligating device) which must be moved in two directions located in a plane (which are perpendicular to each other) and these complex devices are expensive and unsuitable for the fully automatic production of electrical harnesses.
Un objectif de l'invention est de procurer un dispositif de conformation de faisceaux électriques entièrement automatique qui permette de conformer des faisceaux complexes, comportant un grand nombre de branches centrales et/ou terminales, et qui nécessite un minimum de pièces en mouvement et de déplacement d'organes ; un autre objectif de l'invention est d'éliminer la nécessité d'organes (ou pions) de guidage pour la conformation de faisceaux électriques, et de permettre d'utiliser un poste de ligaturage qui soit fixe ou éventuellement déplaçable selon une seule direction..An object of the invention is to provide a fully automatic electrical beam shaping device which allows complex beams to be shaped, comprising a large number of central and / or terminal branches, and which requires a minimum of moving and moving parts. organs; another objective of the invention is to eliminate the need for guiding bodies (or pins) for the conformation of electrical harnesses, and to allow the use of a binding station which is fixed or possibly movable in one direction. .
La solution au problème posé consiste à procurer un procédé de conformation par ligaturage et/ou enrubannage d'un faisceau électrique comportant une pluralité de tronçons de fils électriquement conducteurs dans lequel : on dispose les extrémités ou groupes d'extrémités desdits tronçons de fils ou les connecteurs équipant lesdites extrémités ou groupes d'extrémités desdits tronçons de fils, c'est-à-dire les extrémités libres de chacune des branches terminales dudit faisceau, dans des supports respectifs tels que des pinces déplaçables par un premier convoyeur, de préférence constitué par un convoyeur linéaire à courroie crantée, d'axe longitudinal (XXI) sensiblement horizontal laquelle courroie ou bande d'entraînement cranté desdites pinces ou support de groupes d'extrémités est entraînée par un moteur tel qu'un moteur synchrone pas à pas,The solution to the problem posed consists in providing a conformation method by tying and / or wrapping of an electric bundle comprising a plurality of sections of electrically conductive wires in which: the ends or groups of ends of said sections of wires are arranged or the connectors equipping said ends or groups of ends of said sections of wires, that is to say the free ends of each of the terminal branches of said bundle, in respective supports such as clamps displaceable by a first conveyor, preferably constituted by a linear conveyor with toothed belt, of substantially horizontal longitudinal axis (XXI) which belt or notched drive belt of said clamps or support of end groups is driven by a motor such as a synchronous stepping motor,
- et pour tendre chacune des branches dudit faisceau : a- on transfère, de façon ordonnée et selon un espacement relatif prédéterminé, une partie desdites pinces ou supports tenant lesdites extrémités libres desdites branches terminales, qui sont situées d'un premier coté, coté gauche par exemple, de la branche à tendre, sur un deuxième convoyeur prolongeant ledit premier convoyeur c'est-à-dire s'étendant selon ledit axe longitudinal (XXI), les pinces ou support tenant lesdites extrémités libres desdites branches terminales, qui sont situées d'un deuxième coté, coté droit par exemple, de ladite branche à tendre étant disposés ou transférés, de façon ordonnée et selon un espacement relatif prédéterminé desdites extrémités libres ou desdits groupes d'extrémités de tronçons de fils , par longueur de branches croissantes, sur ledit premier convoyeur, b- on déplace ledit premier convoyeur selon une première direction et on déplace ledit deuxième convoyeur selon une deuxième direction sensiblement colinéaire ou coaxiale à ladite première direction et de sens opposé, pour tendre ladite branche et les portions de tronçons de fils constituant ladite branche,- And to tension each of the branches of said bundle: a- one transfers, in an orderly manner and according to a predetermined relative spacing, a part of said clamps or supports holding said free ends of said terminal branches, which are located on the first side, left side for example, from the branch to be stretched, on a second conveyor extending said first conveyor, that is to say extending along said longitudinal axis (XXI), the clamps or support holding said free ends of said terminal branches, which are located on a second side, right side for example, of said branch to be stretched arranged or transferred, in an orderly fashion and at a predetermined relative spacing of said free ends or said groups of ends of sections of wires, by length of increasing branches, on said first conveyor, b- said first conveyor is moved in a first direction and said second conveyor is moved in a second direction substantially collinear or coaxial with said first direction and in opposite directions, in order to tension said branch and the portions of sections of wires constituting said branch,
- on ligature ou on enrubanne ladite branche tendue grâce à un dispositif de ligaturage. Avantageusement, un procédé de conformation ou mise en forme, notamment par ligaturage, d'un faisceau électrique comportant au moins deux tronçons de fils, pour former au moins trois branches séparées par (et se rejoignant) en au moins un noeud, comporte les opérations suivantes : a) - on tient ou on maintient ledit faisceau par lesdites extrémités ou groupes d'extrémités, c'est-à-dire chaque extrémité libre de chaque branche terminale dudit faisceau électrique, par un support respectif tel qu'une pince, lesquels pinces ou supports sont susceptibles de se déplacer selon un axe (XXI) de préférence horizontal, b) - pour tendre chacune desdites branches : bl) - on classe, par exemple grâce à un calculateur ou ordinateur dans lequel des données relatives à la configuration dudit faisceau électrique et à la longueur notamment desdits tronçons ou desdites branches dudit faisceau ont été enregistrées, toutes lesdites extrémités libres de toutes lesdites branches selon deux catégories ou ensembles disjoints, correspondant, pour une première desdites catégories, à celles desdites extrémités libres desdites branches terminales situées d'un premier coté par exemple coté gauche de ladite branche à tendre, et correspondant, pour une deuxième desdites catégories, à celles desdites extrémités libres desdites branches terminales situées d'un deuxième coté par exemple appelé coté droit de ladite branche à tendre, b2 - on écarte lesdites extrémités desdites branches terminales faisant partie de ladite première catégorie par rapport auxdites extrémités desdites branches terminales faisant partie de ladite deuxième catégorie, par un mouvement relatif desdits supports ou pinces selon ledit axe (XXI), b3 - on pose au moins un lien sur ladite branche tendue grâce à un dispositif de ligaturage ou d'enrubannage.- Tying or wrapping said stretched branch using a ligating device. Advantageously, a method of shaping or shaping, in particular by tying, of an electric bundle comprising at least two sections of wires, to form at least three branches separated by (and joining) in at least one node, comprises the operations following: a) - said beam is held or maintained by said ends or groups of ends, that is to say each free end of each terminal branch of said electrical beam, by a respective support such as a clamp, which clamps or supports are likely to move along an axis (XXI) preferably horizontal, b) - to tension each of said branches: bl) - one classifies, for example by means of a computer or computer in which data relating to the configuration of said electrical harness and to the length in particular of said sections or of said branches of said bundle have been recorded, all of said free ends of all of said branches according to two separate categories or sets, corresponding, for a first of said categories, to those of said free ends of said end branches situated on a first side, for example on the left side of said branch to be stretched, and corresponding, for a second of said categories, to those of said free ends of said end branches situated on a second side, for example called the right side of said tender branch, b2 - the said ends of said end branches forming part of said first category are separated from said ends of said terminal branches forming part of said second category, by a relative movement of said supports or pliers along said axis (XXI), b3 - at least one link is placed on said stretched branch by means of a binding or wrapping device.
Avantageusement, pour ligaturer lesdites branches terminales dudit faisceau électrique, on dispose l'extrémité ou le groupe d'extrémités formant l'extrémité libre de ladite branche terminale à ligaturer sur un premier convoyeur et on transfère ou on dispose toutes les autres extrémités ou groupes d'extrémités, formant les extrémités de toutes les autres branches terminales, sur un deuxième convoyeur aligné avec ou prolongeant ledit premier convoyeur.Advantageously, in order to tie said end branches of said electrical bundle, the end or group of ends forming the free end of said end branch to be tied is placed on a first conveyor and all the other ends or groups are transferred or placed ends, forming the ends of all the other terminal branches, on a second conveyor aligned with or extending said first conveyor.
La solution au problème posé consiste également à procurer dispositif de conformation et de ligaturage de branches d'un faisceau de tronçons de fils conducteurs électriques, ledit faisceau ayant une forme ramifiée ou arborescente, chaque branche dudit faisceau étant limitée soit par deux noeuds dans le cas d'une branche centrale, soit par un noeud et un groupes d'extrémités desdits tronçons de fils dans le cas d'une branche terminale, lequel dispositif comporte au moins deux convoyeurs principaux à bandes co-linéaires d'axe longitudinal commun (XXI) de préférence horizontal, chacun desdits convoyeurs principaux étant adapté pour déplacer et/ou transporter selon deux directions opposées des supports desdits groupes d'extrémités, lesquels supports peuvent être constitués par des pinces de maintien d'extrémités de tronçons de fils ou de groupes d'extrémités de tronçons de fils, ou bien par des supports de connecteurs recevant une ou plusieurs desdites extrémités desdits tronçons de fils, lequel dispositif comporte au moins un moyen ou appareil de ligaturage, situé de préférence à poste fixe, à proximité de l'un desdits convoyeurs, lequel dispositif comporte un moyen ou appareil de permutation le long dudit axe (XXI) de l'ordre desdits supports de groupes d'extrémités, lequel dispositif comporte un moyen ou appareil de transfert bidirectionnel desdits supports de groupes d'extrémités d'un desdits convoyeur à l'autre desdits convoyeurs, lequel dispositif comporte des moyens de commande et de contrôle de déplacement ou mouvement desdits convoyeurs indépendamment l'un de l'autre, selon des distances prédéterminées.The solution to the problem also consists in providing a device for shaping and ligating branches of a bundle of sections of electrically conductive wires, said bundle having a branched or tree-like shape, each branch of said bundle being limited either by two nodes in the case a central branch, either by a node and a group of ends of said sections of son in the case of a terminal branch, which device comprises at least two main conveyors with co-linear belts of common longitudinal axis (XXI) preferably horizontal, each of said main conveyors being adapted to move and / or transport in two opposite directions supports of said groups of ends, which supports may be constituted by clamps for holding ends of sections of wires or groups of ends of sections of wires, or by connector supports receiving one or more of said ends ities of said sections of son, which device comprises at least one means or apparatus for tying, preferably located at a fixed post, near one of said conveyors, which device comprises means or apparatus for permutation along said axis (XXI) of the order of said end group supports, which device comprises a means or apparatus for bidirectional transfer of said end group supports from one of said conveyors to the other of said conveyors, which device comprises control and displacement or movement control of said conveyors independently of one another, according to predetermined distances.
Avantageusement, la somme des longueurs desdits convoyeurs principaux est au moins égale au double de la plus grande longueur dudit faisceau électrique,Advantageously, the sum of the lengths of said main conveyors is at least equal to twice the longest length said electrical harness,
Avantageusement, ledit dispositif comporte un premier convoyeur susceptible d'entrainer des pinces de maintien d'extrémités ou de groupes d'extrémités de tronçons de fils, ou convoyeur principal amont, et comporte un deuxième convoyeur principal susceptible d'entrainer ou transporter lesdites pinces de tenue d'extrémités ou convoyeur principal aval, et ledit dispositif comporte des moyens de ligaturage de portions de tronçons de fils constituant une branche, qui sont situés à proximité de l'un desdits convoyeurs, -et ledit dispositif comporte des moyens de transfert desdites pinces dudit premier convoyeur audit deuxième convoyeur et inversement, comporte des moyens pour ordonner lesdits groupes d'extrémités et/ou lesdites pinces tenant lesdits groupes d'extrémités, et comporte des moyens indépendants d'entraînement respectifs desdits premiers et deuxièmes convoyeurs principaux dans deux directions ou sens opposés de manière à permettre de tendre des parties de tronçons de fils, constituant des branches desdits faisceaux.Advantageously, said device comprises a first conveyor capable of driving grippers for holding ends or groups of ends of sections of wire, or upstream main conveyor, and comprises a second main conveyor capable of driving or transporting said grippers. holding ends or main downstream conveyor, and said device comprises means for tying up portions of sections of son constituting a branch, which are located near one of said conveyors, and said device comprises means for transferring said clamps from said first conveyor to said second conveyor and vice versa, comprises means for ordering said groups of ends and / or said grippers holding said groups of ends, and comprises independent means for respectively driving said first and second main conveyors in two directions or opposite directions so as to allow tensioning parts of tr ounces of threads, constituting branches of said bundles.
Avantageusement, lesdits moyens de transfert et de permutation comportent deux convoyeurs intermédiaires qui peuvent être chacun essentiellement constitués par un pignon denté dont les dents ont un pas sensiblement égal au pas des crans des courroies crantées desdits convoyeurs principaux amont et aval, lesquels convoyeurs intermédiaires sont mobiles ou déplaçables selon un axe (ZZ1) perpendiculaire audit axe (XXI) longitudinal desdits convoyeurs principaux amont et aval, lesquels convoyeurs intermédiaire sont susceptibles de recevoir et/ou déplacer au moins un desdits supports de groupes d'extrémités, chacun desdits convoyeurs intermédiaires étant susceptible d'être placé dans une première position où il est situé dans le prolongement ou l'alignement desdits convoyeurs principaux amont et aval et intercalé entre ceux ci de manière à permettre le transfert d'un support de groupes d'extrémités dudit convoyeur amont vers ledit convoyeur aval ou inversement, chacun desdits convoyeurs intermédiaires étant susceptible d'être placé dans une deuxième position ou il n'est plus dans le prolongement desdits convoyeurs principaux amont et aval et peut servir de support temporaire à un support de groupes d'extrémités tandis qu'un deuxième convoyeur intermédiaire peut être placé dans ladite position d'alignement avec lesdits convoyeurs principaux de manière à permettre de transférer un support de groupes d'extrémités et ainsi de manière à permettre de permuter l'ordre desdits groupes d'extrémités le long dudit axe (XXI) longitudinal desdits convoyeurs principaux amont et aval.Advantageously, said transfer and permutation means comprise two intermediate conveyors which may each be essentially constituted by a toothed pinion whose teeth have a pitch substantially equal to the pitch of the notches of the toothed belts of said main upstream and downstream conveyors, which intermediate conveyors are movable or displaceable along an axis (ZZ1) perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (XXI) of said main upstream and downstream conveyors, which intermediate conveyors are capable of receiving and / or moving at least one of said end group supports, each of said intermediate conveyors being susceptible to be placed in a first position where it is located in the extension or alignment of said main upstream and downstream conveyors and interposed between them so as to allow the transfer of a support of end groups from said upstream conveyor to said downstream conveyor or vice versa, each n of said intermediate conveyors being capable of being placed in a second position or it is no longer in the extension of said main conveyors upstream and downstream and can serve as a temporary support for a support of end groups while a second intermediate conveyor can be placed in said position of alignment with said main conveyors so as to allow the transfer of support for end groups and thus so as to allow the order of said end groups to be permuted along said longitudinal axis (XXI) of said main upstream and downstream conveyors .
Avantageusement, ledit axe (XXI) longitudinal desdits convoyeurs principaux et ledit axe (ZZ1) de déplacement desdits convoyeurs intermédiaires sont sensiblement horizontaux, sensiblement situés dans un plan horizontal, et les extrémités ou groupes d'extrémités desdits tronçons de fils sont tenus dans une position sensiblement verticale.Advantageously, said longitudinal axis (XXI) of said main conveyors and said axis (ZZ1) of movement of said intermediate conveyors are substantially horizontal, substantially situated in a horizontal plane, and the ends or groups of ends of said sections of wires are held in a position substantially vertical.
Avantageusement, lesdits deux convoyeurs intermédiaires mobiles sont mécaniquement liés entre eux et entraînés par un seul vérin.Advantageously, said two mobile intermediate conveyors are mechanically linked together and driven by a single jack.
Avantageusement, chacun desdits convoyeurs intermédiaires peut être entraîné de façon synchrone ou homocinétique par un desdits convoyeurs amont ou aval principaux par un dispositif d'entraînement par crabotage utilisant un joint de type HOLDAM.Advantageously, each of said intermediate conveyors can be driven synchronously or constant velocity by one of said main upstream or downstream conveyors by a dog clutch drive device using a HOLDAM type seal.
Avantageusement, lesdits convoyeurs principaux amont et aval sont des convoyeurs munis d'une bande sans fin à courroie crantée et dans lequel lesdits supports de groupes d'extrémités ou d'extrémités desdites branches terminales sont chacun muni d'une base dotée de plots susceptibles d'engrainer ou coopérer avec des crans desdites courroie crantée desdits convoyeurs et chacun desdits convoyeurs principaux amont et aval est entraîné par l'intermédiaire d'un moteur synchrone pas à pas, et ledit dispositif comporte des moyens de ligaturage placés à proximité de l'extrémité d'un convoyeur choisi parmi lesdits convoyeurs principaux, laquelle extrémité est la plus proche de 1'autre convoyeur principal.Advantageously, said main upstream and downstream conveyors are conveyors provided with an endless belt with a toothed belt and in which said supports for groups of ends or ends of said end branches are each provided with a base provided with pads capable of drive or cooperate with notches of said toothed belt of said conveyors and each of said main upstream and downstream conveyors is driven by means of a synchronous stepping motor, and said device comprises ligating means placed near the end of a conveyor chosen from said main conveyors, which end is closest to the other main conveyor.
Les procédé et dispositif de conformation de faisceaux électriques selon 1'invention comporte de nombreux avantages. Les procédé et dispositif selon l'invention permettent de réaliser la conformation et le ligaturage de faisceau complexes à partir de tronçons de fils individuels équipés ou non à leurs extrémités de cosses, lesquels tronçons peuvent être mis en place manuellement par un opérateur dans des pinces ou support d'extrémités ou de groupes d'extrémités de tronçons de fils qui sont placés sur un convoyeur, ou alternativement qui peuvent être placés sur ledit convoyeur par une machine automatique de préparation placée en amont, et/ou à partir de groupes de fils dont des extrémités ont été insérées dans des connecteurs et qui peuvent être soit placés manuellement dans des pinces de tenue de groupes d'extrémités de tronçons de fils ou sur des supports qui sont placés sur un convoyeur ou qui sont délivrés par une machine automatique d'insertion prévue en amont.The method and device for shaping electrical harnesses according to the invention has many advantages. The method and device according to the invention make it possible to carry out the conformation and ligating of complex beams from sections of individual wires fitted or not with lugs at their ends, which sections can be put in place manually by an operator in pliers or support for ends or groups of ends of sections of wire which are placed on a conveyor, or alternatively which can be placed on said conveyor by an automatic preparation machine placed upstream, and / or from groups of wires whose ends have been inserted into connectors and which can either be placed manually in holding clips of groups of ends of sections of wires or on supports which are placed on a conveyor or which are delivered by a machine automatic insertion provided upstream.
La présente invention permet de conformer des faisceaux électriques en manipulant ledit faisceau uniquement par déplacement automatique des extrémités libres de ses branches terminales, c'est à dire des extrémités des branches qui ne sont reliées à aucune autre branche, lesquelles extrémités libres de branches terminales peuvent être constituées soit par des fils ou groupes de fils équipés ou non de cosses, et qui peuvent être maintenus dans des pinces placées sur un convoyeur linéaire qui peuvent tenir chacune une ou plusieurs extrémités de tronçons de fils ; les extrémités libres desdites branches terminales peuvent être également constituées par des extrémités de fils regroupés et insérés dans des alvéoles de connecteurs, la manipulation de l'extrémité libre dans ce cas pouvant être effectuée par l'intermédiaire d'un support de connecteur qui sera également adapté pour être placé et déplacé par le même convoyeur linéaire.The present invention makes it possible to conform electrical harnesses by manipulating said beam only by automatic displacement of the free ends of its terminal branches, that is to say of the ends of the branches which are not connected to any other branch, which free ends of terminal branches can consist either of wires or groups of wires, whether or not equipped with terminals, and which can be held in clamps placed on a linear conveyor which can each hold one or more ends of sections of wires; the free ends of said end branches can also be constituted by ends of wires grouped together and inserted in connector cells, the manipulation of the free end in this case can be carried out via a connector support which will also be adapted to be placed and moved by the same linear conveyor.
Le procédé et le dispositif permettent de conformer des faisceaux sans limitation du nombre de tronçons de fils, ni du nombre de branches centrales ou du nombre de branches terminales, la conformation et la mise en place des branches du faisceau et leur ligaturage étant obtenu par des mouvement des groupes d'extrémités c'est à dire des extrémités libres desdites branches terminales selon un seul axe de préférence horizontal, par comparaison au système tel que celui décrit dans EP403 350 qui nécessite des mouvements selon deux directions pour conformer le faisceau et les branches dudit faisceau et qui imite en cela les dispositifs entièrement manuels de conformation et de ligaturage de faisceaux électriques.The method and the device make it possible to conform bundles without limitation of the number of sections of wires, nor of the number of central branches or of the number of terminal branches, the configuration and positioning of the branches of the bundle and their binding being obtained by movement of the end groups, that is to say of the free ends of said end branches along a single axis, preferably horizontal, by comparison with the system such as that described in EP403 350 which requires movements in two directions to conform the beam and the branches of said bundle and which in this imitates entirely manual devices for shaping and ligating electrical harnesses.
Les procédé et dispositif de ligaturage selon l'invention sont adaptés à tout type de faisceau quelle que soit leur complexité, à la condition que ces faisceaux ait une structure ramifiée ou arborescente ; au sens de la présente demande, l'expression "tendre une branche" d'un faisceau électrique consiste à espacer les extrémités de ladite branche, et plus précisément à espacer les extrémités libres des branches terminales, d'une distance sensiblement égale à la longueur d'un tronçon de fil dont les deux extrémités sont respectivement regroupées dans les deux extrémités libres des branches terminales en question, sans que cela implique obligatoirement une contrainte mécanique effective dans l'un quelconque des tronçons de fils du faisceau électrique.The ligating method and device according to the invention are suitable for any type of beam, whatever their complexity, provided that these beams have a branched or tree structure; within the meaning of the present application, the expression "stretching a branch" of an electric bundle consists in spacing the ends of said branch, and more precisely in spacing the free ends of the terminal branches, a distance substantially equal to the length of a section of wire, the two ends of which are respectively grouped together in the two free ends of the terminal branches in question, without necessarily implying an effective mechanical stress in the 'any of the wire harness sections.
Au sens de la présente demande, le terme "noeud" se réfère au point ou au lieu théorique de jonction ou de liaison ou d'attache mécanique d'au moins trois branches du faisceau, qui peuvent être en tout ou partie des branches centrales ou terminales.Within the meaning of the present application, the term "node" refers to the theoretical point or place of junction or connection or mechanical attachment of at least three branches of the bundle, which may be in whole or in part of the central branches or terminal.
Au sens de la présente demande, le terme branche se rapporte à une portion du faisceau électrique constituée par des parties d'un ou plusieurs tronçons de fils électriquement conducteur, lesquelles parties de tronçons de fils sont généralement sensiblement parallèles entre elles, maintenues sensiblement en contact les unes avec les autres, par enrubannage notamment, et destinées à être liées mécaniquement entre elles par au moins un lien ou ligature.Within the meaning of the present application, the term branch refers to a portion of the electrical bundle constituted by parts of one or more sections of electrically conductive wires, which parts of sections of wires are generally substantially parallel to each other, maintained substantially in contact with each other, in particular by wrapping, and intended to be mechanically linked together by at least one link or ligature.
Les nombreux avantages procurés par l'invention, seront mieux compris au travers de la description suivante qui se réfère aux dessins annexés, qui illustrent sans aucun caractère limitatif, des modes particuliers de réalisation de procédé et dispositif de conformation de faisceaux électriques selon l'invention.The numerous advantages provided by the invention will be better understood through the following description which refers to the appended drawings, which illustrate without any limiting character, particular embodiments of the method and device for shaping electrical harnesses according to the invention .
La figure 1 est une vue schématique d'un faisceau très simple constitué à partir de deux tronçons de fils. La figure 2 est une vue schématique du faisceau de la figure 1 illustré selon une autre convention de représentation.Figure 1 is a schematic view of a very simple bundle made from two sections of son. Figure 2 is a schematic view of the beam of Figure 1 illustrated according to another representation convention.
La figure 3 est une représentation schématique d'un deuxième faisceau également très simple constitué de trois tronçons de fils.Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a second beam also very simple consisting of three sections of son.
La figure est une représentation du faisceau de la figure 3 selon une autre conventin de représenetation identique à la convention utilisée à la figure 2.The figure is a representation of the beam of figure 3 according to another representation convention identical to the convention used in figure 2.
La figure 5 est une vue longitudinale schématique d'une partie d'un dispositif de conformation selon l'invention.Figure 5 is a schematic longitudinal view of part of a shaping device according to the invention.
La figure 6 illustre partiellement des opérations d'un procédé de conformation selon l'invention et les principaux constituants d'un dispositif de conformation selon l'invention.FIG. 6 partially illustrates operations of a shaping method according to the invention and the main components of a shaping device according to the invention.
La figure 7 illustre selon une convention de représentation sensiblement identique à celle des figures 2 et 4 d'un faisceau sensiblement plus complexe. les figures 8 à 14 illustrent les étapes successives de conformation du faisceau représenté à la figure 7- Les figures 15 à 20 illustrent des opérations de permutation de groupes d'extrémités le long de l'axe général d'un dispositif de conformation selon l'invention.Figure 7 illustrates according to a representation convention substantially identical to that of FIGS. 2 and 4 of a substantially more complex bundle. FIGS. 8 to 14 illustrate the successive stages of shaping the bundle shown in FIG. 7; FIGS. 15 to 20 illustrate operations of permutation of groups of ends along the general axis of a shaping device according to the invention.
La figure 21 illustre un mode particulier d'une partie des moyens de transfert et de permutation et leurs moyens d'entrainement- par l'un des convoyeurs principaux d'un dispositif selon l'invention, la figure 21 étant une vue selon XXI de la figure 6.FIG. 21 illustrates a particular mode of part of the transfer and permutation means and their drive means - by one of the main conveyors of a device according to the invention, FIG. 21 being a view along XXI of Figure 6.
La figure 22 illustre en vue longitudinale un détail de réalisation des moyens de transfert et de permutation.FIG. 22 illustrates in longitudinal view a detail of embodiment of the transfer and permutation means.
Les figures 1 et 2 illustrent selon deux modes de représentation différent un faisceau 10 très simple comportant trois branches 11, 12 et 13 qui se rejoignent en un noeud 9-FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate, according to two different modes of representation, a very simple bundle 10 comprising three branches 11, 12 and 13 which meet at a node 9-
Comme illustré à la figure 1, ledit faisceau est constitué par un premier conducteur électrique 1 dont les extrémités 2 et 3 peuvent être ou non munies de cosses et d'un deuxième tronçon de fil électrique 4 dont les extrémités 5 et 6 peuvent être ou non munies de cosses.As illustrated in FIG. 1, said bundle consists of a first electrical conductor 1 whose ends 2 and 3 may or may not be provided with lugs and a second section of electric wire 4 whose ends 5 and 6 may or may not be fitted with lugs.
Afin de constituer le faisceau représenté figures 1 et 2, lesdits tronçons de fils 1 et 4 doivent être assemblés de manière à ce que lesdites extrémités 2 et 5 soient regroupées à proximité l'une de l'autre, qu'une partie desdits tronçons de fils 1 et 4 soit également regroupée ensemble sur une partie de leur longueur par des liens ou ligature 7 et 8 schématiquement représentés de manière à constituer une branche 11 qui pourra être entourée par un ruban 14 de manière à lui donner une certaine raideur et à protéger et assembler les parties de tronçons de fils correspondantes.In order to constitute the bundle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, said sections of wires 1 and 4 must be assembled in such a way that said ends 2 and 5 are grouped close to one another, only part of said sections of wires 1 and 4 is also grouped together over part of their length by ties or ligatures 7 and 8 schematically represented so as to constitute a branch 11 which may be surrounded by a ribbon 14 so as to give it a certain stiffness and to protect and assemble the corresponding sections of wire sections.
Ledit lien 8 qui peut être qualifié de lien intermédiaire sera situé à proximité du noeud par référence à la figure 2. Les figures 3 et 4 représente un autre faisceau très simple qui comporte, en supplément par rapport au faisceau représenté aux figures 1 et 2, un troisième tronçon de fil 15 muni de deux extrémités 16 et 17 qui sont respectivement regroupés avec l'eextrémité 3 dudit tronçon de fil 1 et l'extrémité 6 dudit tronçon de fil 4. On obtient ainsi un faisceau à trois branches 11, 12, 13 chacune desdites branches étant constituée par l'assemblage (grâce à des liens 7, 8) de parties desdits tronçons de fils 1, 4, 15.Said link 8 which can be qualified as an intermediate link will be located near the node by reference to FIG. 2. FIGS. 3 and 4 represent another very simple beam which comprises, in addition to the beam shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a third section of wire 15 provided with two ends 16 and 17 which are respectively grouped with the end 3 of said section of wire 1 and the end 6 of said section of wire 4. A bundle with three branches 11, 12, 13 is thus obtained, each of said branches being constituted by the assembly (by means of links 7, 8) of parts of said sections of wires 1, 4, 15.
On voit à la figure --J que lesdites branches 11, 12, 13 se rejoignent en un point théorique 9 appelé noeud, ce noeud étant matérialisé généralement, comme représenté à la figure 3. par la jonction mécanique des trois branches qui est réalisée par la mise en place de liens 8 à proximité du point de rencontre ou noeud des trois branches. Comme représenté à la figure un dispositif conforme à l'invention comporte deux convoyeurs principaux 18 et 26 qui sont de préférence du type convoyeur à bande sans fin, de préférence ladite bande sans fin étant constituée par une courroie crantée sur sa face extérieure au moins, laquelle bande est tendue entre des rouleaux 20 respectivement 28 et entrainée en déplacement par rotation d'un au moins desdits rouleaux, lequel rouleau est entrainé respectivement par un moteur 21, 29 et une courroie d'entraînement 22, 30« lesquels moteurs 21, 29 sont de préférence des moteurs synchrones pas à pas permettant de provoquer un mouvement précis d'avance ou de recul de ladite bande sans fin sur laquelle sont disposés des supports 23, 24, 25 de groupes d'extrémités;We see in Figure --J that said branches 11, 12, 13 meet at a theoretical point 9 called node, this node being generally materialized, as shown in Figure 3. by the mechanical junction of the three branches which is achieved by the establishment of links 8 near the meeting point or node of the three branches. As shown in the figure, a device according to the invention comprises two main conveyors 18 and 26 which are preferably of the endless belt conveyor type, preferably said endless belt being constituted by a notched belt on at least its outer face, which strip is stretched between rollers 20 respectively 28 and driven in rotation by rotation of at least one of said rollers, which roller is driven respectively by a motor 21, 29 and a drive belt 22, 30 "which motors 21, 29 are preferably synchronous stepping motors making it possible to cause a precise movement in advance or backward of said endless belt on which supports 23, 24, 25 of end groups are arranged;
Lesdits convoyeurs 18 et 26 sont sensiblement placés dans l'alignement l'un de l'autre c'est à dire s'étendent selon un axe longitudinal commun XXI de préférence horizontal. Un poste ou une machine de ligaturage, de préférence fixe, est placé à proximité dudit convoyeur 26 applé convoyeur aval, par référence audit convoyeur 18 appelé convoyeur amont, sur lequel sont disposés lesdits supports 23, 24, 25 tenant les extrémités de tronçons de fils ou groupes d'extrémités de tronçons de fils formant lesdites extrémités libres du faisceau à conformer ; lesdits supports 23, 24, 25 tenant lesdites extrémités libres (ou groupes d'extrémités) peuvent soit être placés manuellement sur l'un desdits convoyeurs soit être transférés automatiquement par un dispositif tel que ceux décrits dans la demande 09300730 sus-citée. Les pinces de maintien d'extrémités ou de groupes d'extrémités peuvent par exemple être du type de celles décrites dans la demande de brevet FR87/11392 (Automatismes et Robotique appliqués ARA) , et dans le cas où les extrémités seraient équipées de connecteurs, les supports de groupes d'extrémités, c'est à dire d'extrémités libres desdites branches terminales, peuvent être constitués par des supports décrits dans la demande de brevet FR2 671 236 (L'Entreprise Industrielle) ; ces supports pouvant être constitués par des pinces ou des supports de connecteur sont dans la présente demande généralement désignés sous le terme de suppport de groupes d'extrémités ou sous le terme de support d'extrémité libre de branche terminale.Said conveyors 18 and 26 are substantially placed in alignment with one another, that is to say extend along a common longitudinal axis XXI, preferably horizontal. A station or tying machine, preferably fixed, is placed near said conveyor 26 applied downstream conveyor, by reference to said conveyor 18 called upstream conveyor, on which are arranged said supports 23, 24, 25 holding the ends of sections of son or groups of ends of sections of wires forming said free ends of the bundle to be conformed; said supports 23, 24, 25 holding said free ends (or groups of ends) can either be placed manually on one of said conveyors or be transferred automatically by a device such as those described in the aforementioned application 09300730. The clamps for holding ends or groups of ends can for example be of the type described in patent application FR87 / 11392 (Automatisms and Robotics applied ARA), and in if the ends are fitted with connectors, the end group supports, that is to say the free ends of said end branches, can be constituted by supports described in patent application FR2 671 236 (The Company Industrial); these supports which may be constituted by clips or connector supports are in the present application generally designated by the term of support for groups of ends or by the term of support of free end of terminal branch.
Par référence aux figures 5 et 6, lesdits tronçons de fils 1 et 4 destinés à constituer le faisceau représenté aux figures 1 et 2 qui sont situés sur ledit convoyeur amont 18, peuvent voir leurs extrémités permutées et transférées en partie au moins sur le convoyeur 26 selon les étapes décrites aux figures 15 à 20; Par référence à ces figures 15 à 20, on voit que le dispositif comporte lesdits convoyeur amont 18 et aval 26 placés dans l'alignement l'un de l'autre et séparé par un dispositif de transfert et de permutation de l'ordre des supports de groupes d'extrémités ou supports d'extrémités libres de branches terminales lesquels moyens de permutation et de transfert peuvent être essentiellement constitués par deux très petits convoyeurs intermédiaires 39 et 40 qui sont susceptibles de se déplacer entre deux positions :With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, said sections of wires 1 and 4 intended to constitute the bundle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 which are located on said upstream conveyor 18, can see their ends permuted and transferred in part at least to the conveyor 26 according to the steps described in Figures 15 to 20; With reference to these figures 15 to 20, it can be seen that the device comprises said upstream and downstream conveyor 18 and 26 placed in alignment with one another and separated by a device for transfer and permutation of the order of the supports of groups of ends or supports of free ends of end branches which permutation and transfer means can essentially consist of two very small intermediate conveyors 39 and 40 which are capable of moving between two positions:
- une première position où l'un des convoyeurs intermédiaires, 39 par exemple (par référence à la figure 19) est intercalé entre lesdits convoyeurs 18 et 26, placé dans l'alignement de ceux-ci et permet le transfert du support d'extrémités de branches terminales de l'un à l'autre desdits convoyeurs 18 26 par une rotation des moyens d'entraînement dudit convoyeur intermédiaire,- A first position where one of the intermediate conveyors, 39 for example (with reference to Figure 19) is interposed between said conveyors 18 and 26, placed in alignment with them and allows the transfer of the end support of end branches from one to the other of said conveyors 18 26 by a rotation of the drive means of said intermediate conveyor,
- dans une deuxième position (par référence à la figure 17) où ledit convoyeur intermédiaire 39 s'est déplacé (verticalement par référence à la figure 17) perpendiculairement par rapport à l'axe longitudinal desdits convoyeurs principaux amont et aval 18, 26, ledit convoyeur intermédiaire 39 sert de support temporaire audit support 25 d'extrémité libre de branche terminale et permet au deuxième convoyeur intermédiaire 40 de venir dans une position dans laquelle ledit convoyeur intermédiaire 40 est intercalé entre lesdits convoyeurs 18 et 26 et permet le transfert de l'un vers l'autre desdits convoyeurs 18, 26 d'un autre support 24 de groupe d'extrémités ou d'extrémité libre de branche terminale du faisceau à conformer.- in a second position (with reference to FIG. 17) where said intermediate conveyor 39 has moved (vertically with reference to FIG. 17) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said main upstream and downstream conveyors 18, 26, said intermediate conveyor 39 serves as a temporary support for said support 25 for the free end of the terminal branch and allows the second intermediate conveyor 40 to come into a position in which said intermediate conveyor 40 is interposed between said conveyors 18 and 26 and allows the transfer of the one towards the other of said conveyors 18, 26 of another support 24 of group of ends or end free of terminal branch of the bundle to conform.
Par référence à la figure 15, dans cette position, ledit convoyeur 26 porte ledit support de groupes d'extrémités 23 et ledit convoyeur 18 supporte lesdits supports de groupes d'extrémités 24 et 25 ; les deux convoyeurs 18 et 26 sont mis en rotation afin de provoquer un déplacement desdits supports 23, 24 et 25 vers la gauche ; par référence à la figure 16 ledit convoyeur intermédiaire 39 qui est entrainé en synchronisme avec ledit convoyeur 18 par des moyens représentés notamment figure 21, permet le transfert, dudit convoyeur 18 audit convoyeur 26, dudit support 24 et reçoit ensuite ledit support 25.With reference to FIG. 15, in this position, said conveyor 26 carries said support for end groups 23 and said conveyor 18 supports said support for end groups 24 and 25; the two conveyors 18 and 26 are rotated in order to cause a displacement of said supports 23, 24 and 25 to the left; with reference to FIG. 16, said intermediate conveyor 39 which is driven in synchronism with said conveyor 18 by means shown in particular in FIG. 21, allows the transfer, from said conveyor 18 to said conveyor 26, of said support 24 and then receives said support 25.
Par référence à la figure 17 le dispositif de permutation est actionné, qui provoque un déplacement vers le haut dudit convoyeur intermédiaire 39 supportant ledit support 25 et dudit convoyeur 40 qui vient dans une position lui permettant le transfert c'est à dire le retour dudit support 24 du convoyeur 26 (figure 17) au convoyeur 18 (figure 18), grâce à un mouvement vers la droite desdits convoyeurs 18 et 26.With reference to FIG. 17, the permutation device is actuated, which causes an upward displacement of said intermediate conveyor 39 supporting said support 25 and of said conveyor 40 which comes into a position allowing it to be transferred, ie the return of said support 24 from the conveyor 26 (FIG. 17) to the conveyor 18 (FIG. 18), by virtue of a movement to the right of the said conveyors 18 and 26.
Par référence à la figure 19. ledit dispositif de transfert et permutation est ensuite actionné de manière à faire descendre lesdits convoyeurs intermédiaires 39 et 40 jusqu'à ce que ledit convoyeur 39 revienne dans la position intermédiaire entre lesdits convoyeurs 18 et 26, puis lesdits convoyeurs 18 et 26 sont actionnés pour provoquer un déplacement vers la gauche par référence aux figures 19 et 20 ce qui permet de transférer premièrement ledit support 2 dudit convoyeur intermédiaire 39 audit convoyeur aval 26, et ce qui permet de transférer ensuite ledit support 24 dudit convoyeur 18 audit convoyeur 39 puis dudit convoyeur 39 audit convoyeur 26.With reference to FIG. 19. said transfer and permutation device is then actuated so as to lower said intermediate conveyors 39 and 40 until said conveyor 39 returns to the intermediate position between said conveyors 18 and 26, then said conveyors 18 and 26 are actuated to cause a movement to the left with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20 which makes it possible to transfer said support 2 from said intermediate conveyor 39 to said downstream conveyor 26 first, and which then allows said support 24 to be transferred from said conveyor 18 to said conveyor 39 then from said conveyor 39 to said conveyor 26.
Grâce à ces opérations de permutation on peut déplacer les groupes d'extrémités du faisceau représenté figure 5, jusqu'à une position représentée figure 6 dans laquelle une partie au moins d'une branche 11 constituée par une portion des tronçons de fils 1 et 4 est placée en regard d'un poste de ligaturage 31 situé à proximité du convoyeur aval 26, le groupes d'extrémités 34 (regroupant lesdites extrémités 2 et desdits tronçons 1 et 4 respectivement) , qui est tenu par ledit support 23 de groupe d'extrémités, étant situé à gauche dudit poste de ligaturage, c'est-à-dire à gauche de la branche 11 à tendre, sur ledit convoyeur 26, et lesdits supports 25 et 24 desdites extrémités (respectives 6 et 3 desdits tronçons de fils 4 et 1) étant situés sur ledit convoyeur amont 18 à droite de la branche 11 à tendre ; un mouvement respectif desdits convoyeurs 26 et 18 selon les flèches 33 et 32 de sens opposé, permet de placer lesdits de groupes d'extrémités ou de groupes d'extrémités 23, 25, 24 dans des positions dans lesquelles les tronçons de fils 4 et 1 sont sensiblement tendus comme représenté à la figure 6 ce qui permet le ligaturage et/ou 1'enrubannage de la branche 11. Lorsqu'on prévoit notamment un dispositif selon l'invention qui comporte un seul poste 31 de ligaturage susceptible de ligaturer dans une zone relativement restreinte les portions de tronçons de fils qui lui sont présentées, il est nécessaire que la somme des longueurs 38 et 37 respectives des convoyeurs 26 et 18 soit au moins égale au double de la plus grande longueur du faisceau à conformer en l'occurence la longueur du tronçon de fil 1 qui est dans l'exemple traité la plus grande longueur dudit faisceau.Thanks to these permutation operations, it is possible to move the groups of ends of the bundle represented in FIG. 5, to a position represented in FIG. 6 in which at least part of a branch 11 formed by a portion of the sections of wires 1 and 4 is placed next to a ligating station 31 located near the downstream conveyor 26, the end groups 34 (grouping together said ends 2 and said sections 1 and 4 respectively), which is held by said group support 23 ends, being located to the left of said binding station, that is to say to the left of branch 11 to be stretched, on said conveyor 26, and said supports 25 and 24 of said ends (respective 6 and 3 of said sections of wires 4 and 1) being located on said upstream conveyor 18 to the right of branch 11 to be stretched; a respective movement of said conveyors 26 and 18 according to arrows 33 and 32 in opposite directions, makes it possible to place said groups of ends or groups of ends 23, 25, 24 in positions in which the sections of wires 4 and 1 are substantially stretched as shown in Figure 6 which allows the tying and / or wrapping of the branch 11. When providing in particular a device according to the invention which comprises a single station 31 for tying capable of tying in an area relatively restricted the portions of sections of wire which are presented to it, it is necessary that the sum of the respective lengths 38 and 37 of the conveyors 26 and 18 is at least equal to twice the greatest length of the bundle to be conformed in this case the length of the section of wire 1 which is in the example treated the greatest length of said bundle.
A la figure 7 est représenté schématiquement un faisceau électrique un peu plus complexe que ceux des figures 1 à 4, dont les opérations de conformation et enrubannage sont détaillées aux figures 8 à 14.In FIG. 7 is shown schematically a slightly more complex electric harness than those in FIGS. 1 to 4, the shaping and wrapping operations of which are detailed in FIGS. 8 to 14.
Par référence à la figure 7, ledit faisceau comporte 5 groupes d'extrémités A.B.C.D.E et trois noeuds N1.N2.N3 ; ledit faisceau est constitué par cinq branches terminales a, b, c, d, e, reliant respectivement lesdits groupes d'extrémités A,B,C,D,E auxdits noeuds NI,NI,N2,N3,N3, et par deux branches centrales f et g reliant respectivement lesdits noeuds NI et N2, et lesdits noeuds N2 et N3-With reference to FIG. 7, said bundle comprises 5 groups of ends A.B.C.D.E and three nodes N1.N2.N3; said bundle consists of five terminal branches a, b, c, d, e, respectively connecting said groups of ends A, B, C, D, E to said nodes NI, NI, N2, N3, N3, and by two branches central f and g respectively connecting said nodes NI and N2, and said nodes N2 and N3-
Sur les figures 8 à 1-1, on a représenté schématiquement ledit faisceau et on a représenté schématiquement sous ledit faisceau lesdits convoyeurs principaux 18 et 26 dont le sens de déplacement est repéré respectivement par une flèche ; sur ces figures, les groupes d'extrémités (représentés par des cercles) situés à gauche d'un trait pointillé vertical séparant lesdits convoyeurs 18 et 26 sont considérés comme portés par ledit convoyeur 26 ou convoyeur aval, alors que lesdits groupes d'extrémités situés à droite dudit trait pointillé sont censés être déplacés par ledit convoyeur amont 18, vers la droite par rapport aux figures 8 à 14 alors que lesdites premières extrémités sont déplacées vers la gauche par référence aux mêmes figures.In FIGS. 8 to 1-1, said bundle is shown diagrammatically and said main conveyors 18 and 26 have been shown diagrammatically under said bundle, the direction of movement of which is indicated by an arrow respectively; in these figures, the end groups (represented by circles) situated to the left of a vertical dotted line separating said conveyors 18 and 26 are considered to be carried by said conveyor 26 or downstream conveyor, while said end groups located to the right of said dotted line are supposed to be moved by said upstream conveyor 18, to the right with respect to FIGS. 8 to 14 while said first ends are moved to the left by reference to the same figures.
Egalement certaines branches sont représentées sous une forme coudée sans que cette représentation ait une signification particulière mais n'a pour but que de clarifier la lecture de ces figures.Also certain branches are represented in a bent form without this representation having a particular meaning but has for goal only to clarify the reading of these figures.
Par référence à ces figures la position mesurée selon l'axe longitudinal commun auxdits convoyeurs principaux 18 et 26 est représenté en supposant que la longueur de ladite branche terminale (a) est supérieure à la longueur de ladite branche terminale (b) , et que la longueur de ladite branche terminale (c) est inférieure à la somme de la longueur de ladite branche terminale (d) et de la longueur de ladite branche intermédiaire (g) ; la longueur de ladite branche terminale (e) est supposée supérieure à la longueur de ladite branche terminale (d) .With reference to these figures, the position measured along the longitudinal axis common to said main conveyors 18 and 26 is shown assuming that the length of said terminal branch (a) is greater than the length of said terminal branch (b), and that the length of said terminal branch (c) is less than the sum of the length of said terminal branch (d) and the length of said intermediate branch (g); the length of said terminal branch (e) is assumed to be greater than the length of said terminal branch (d).
Par référence à la figure 8, pour tendre la branche terminale (a) et permettre de la ligaturer, dans une zone située à proximité de l'extrémité 26a dudit convoyeur 26, laquelle extrémité 26a est située à proximité dudit convoyeur 18 c'est-à-dire de l'autre convoyeur principal, on déplace ou on transfère le groupe d'extrémités A sur ledit convoyeur 26 et on le déplace vers la gauche jusqu'à une position prédéterminée, et on transfère sur ledit convoyeur 18 les groupes d'extrémités B, C, D, E et on les déplace vers la droite jusqu'à une position déterminée et en respectant un espacement entre lesdites groupes d'extrémités B, C, D, E de manière à ce que l'ensemble des tronçons de fils constituant le faisceau soit sensiblement tendu ; en l'occurrence et à titre d'exemple la distance séparant le groupe d'extrémités A du groupe d'extrémités B, qui est repérée ab, sur la figure 8, sera sensiblement égale à la somme des longueurs des branches terminales (a) et (b) ; de la même façon la distance repérée ac sur la figure 8, séparant lesdits groupes d'extrémités A et C, sera sensiblement égale à la somme des longueurs desditeε branches terminales (c) et (a) et auxquelles s'ajoute la longueur de ladite branche centrale (f). Après que ladite branche (a) soit ligaturée par une machine non représentée ce qui correspond à l'opération représentée à la figure 8, pour passer à l'opération de ligaturage et de conformation de la branche (f) , comme représenté à la figure 9. on transfère dudit convoyeur 18 audit convoyeur 26 ledit groupe d'extrémités B et que l'on positionne de sorte que ladite branche (f) soit sensiblement tendue grâce aux moyens de permutation et d'ordonnancement et de transfert décrits précédemment.With reference to FIG. 8, in order to stretch the terminal branch (a) and allow it to be tied up, in an area located near the end 26a of said conveyor 26, which end 26a is located near said conveyor 18 that is that is to say from the other main conveyor, the group of ends A is moved or transferred on said conveyor 26 and it is moved to the left to a predetermined position, and the groups of are transferred to said conveyor 18 ends B, C, D, E and they are moved to the right to a determined position and respecting a spacing between said groups of ends B, C, D, E so that all of the sections of son constituting the bundle is substantially stretched; in this case and by way of example the distance separating the group of ends A from the group of ends B, which is marked ab, in FIG. 8, will be substantially equal to the sum of the lengths of the terminal branches (a) and B) ; in the same way the distance marked ac in FIG. 8, separating said groups of ends A and C, will be substantially equal to the sum of the lengths of said terminal branches (c) and (a) and to which the length of said length is added. central branch (f). After said branch (a) is ligated by a machine not shown which corresponds to the operation shown in Figure 8, to proceed to the ligating and shaping operation of the branch (f), as shown in FIG. 9. said group of ends B is transferred from said conveyor 18 to said conveyor 26 and positioned so that said branch (f) is substantially stretched by means of permutation and d scheduling and transfer described above.
Pour tendre la branche (e) comme représenté à la figure 10, on conserve le groupe d'extrémités E sur ledit convoyeur 18 et on transfère tous les autres groupes d'extrémités à savoir A, B, C, D sur ledit deuxième convoyeur 26 principal de manière à placer la portion des tronçons de fils formant ladite branche terminale (e) au voisinage de l'extrémité 26a où est situé le dispositif de ligaturage (non représenté) .To tension the branch (e) as shown in FIG. 10, the group of ends E is kept on said conveyor 18 and all the other groups of ends, namely A, B, C, D, are transferred to said second conveyor 26 main so as to place the portion of the sections of son forming said end branch (e) in the vicinity of the end 26a where the ligating device is located (not shown).
On peut ensuite, comme représenté à la figure 11, tendre la branche (g) centrale, en transférant sur ledit convoyeur 18 ledit groupe d'extrémités D tout en conservant sur ledit convoyeur 26 lesdits groupes d'extrémités A, B, C, jusqu'à des positions dans lesquelles les portions de tronçons de fils constituant ladite branche (g) sont sensiblement tendues et permettant ainsi leur ligaturage .It is then possible, as shown in FIG. 11, to stretch the central branch (g), by transferring onto said conveyor 18 said group of ends D while preserving on said conveyor 26 said groups of ends A, B, C, up to 'at positions in which the portions of sections of son constituting said branch (g) are substantially stretched and thus allowing their binding.
Comme représenté figure 12 on peut ensuite tendre et ligaturer la branche (c) terminale comportant à une extrémité le groupe d'extrémités C et à l'autre extrémité le noeud N2, en transférant sur le convoyeur 18 le* groupe d'extrémités C et en transférant sur le convoyeur 26 les groupes d'extrémités A, B, D, E, jusqu'à une position dans laquelle les tronçons de fils constituant la branche (c) sont sensiblement tendus et situé dans une zone à proximité du dispositif de ligaturage.As shown in FIG. 12, it is then possible to tension and tie the terminal branch (c) comprising at one end the group of ends C and at the other end the node N2, by transferring the * group of ends C to the conveyor 18 by transferring on the conveyor 26 the groups of ends A, B, D, E, to a position in which the sections of son constituting the branch (c) are substantially stretched and located in an area close to the ligating device .
Afin de ligaturer la branche terminale (d) située entre ledit noeud N3 et ledit groupe d'extrémités D, on transfère comme représenté à la figure 13 ledit groupe d'extrémités D sur ledit convoyeur 18 et on transfère les autres groupes d'extrémités A, B, C, E sur ledit convoyeur 26, jusqu'à des positions dans lesquelles les portions de tronçons de fils constituant ladite branche terminale (d) sont sensiblement tendus et autorisent ainsi son ligaturage.In order to tie the terminal branch (d) located between said node N3 and said group of ends D, said group of ends D is transferred as shown in FIG. 13 onto said conveyor 18 and the other groups of ends A are transferred , B, C, E on said conveyor 26, to positions in which the portions of sections of son constituting said terminal branch (d) are substantially stretched and thus allow its binding.
On termine ensuite le ligaturage de la dernière branche b terminale du faisceau, en transférant comme représenté à la figure 14 le groupe d'extrémité B sur le convoyeur 26 et en transférant les groupes d'extrémités A, C, D, E sur le convoyeur 18, en plaçant lesdits groupes dans des positions relatives dans lesquelles les portions de tronçons de fils constituant ladite branche (b) sont sensiblement tendus.The binding of the last terminal branch b of the bundle is then finished, by transferring the end group B to the conveyor 26 as shown in FIG. 14 and by transferring the end groups A, C, D, E to the conveyor 18, placing said groups in relative positions in which the portions of sections of son constituting said branch (b) are substantially tensioned.
Par référence à la figure 21, on voit que selon un mode préférentiel de réalisation, lesdits convoyeurs intermédiaires (39 et 40 par référence à la figure 6 notamment), peuvent, lorsqu'ils sont dans la position intercalée ou alignée avec lesdits convoyeurs principaux amont et aval, être entraînés de façon synchrone avec l'un desdits convoyeurs amont ou aval, par l'intermédiaire d'un dispositif de crabotage représenté sur cette figure 21.With reference to FIG. 21, it can be seen that according to a preferred embodiment, said intermediate conveyors (39 and 40 with reference to FIG. 6 in particular), can, when they are in the position inserted or aligned with said main upstream conveyors and downstream, be driven synchronously with one of said upstream or downstream conveyors, by means of a dog clutch shown in this FIG. 21.
Sur cette figure on voit en effet que ledit convoyeur 18 qui s'étend selon ledit axe XXI, comporte un courroie crantée 19 munie de crans 48 espacés d'un pas 49, laquelle courroie est entraînée en rotation et supportée par une poulie ou rouleau 20 dudit convoyeur susceptible de tourner selon un axe de rotation YY1 ; une poulie 59 montée sur un arbre commun à ladite poulie 20 est entraînée simultanément à ladite poulie 20 et entraine elle même par l'intermédiaire d'une courroie 57 une poulie 58 d'axe YY2 parallèle audit axe YY1, laquelle poulie 58 entraine une pièce tournante 55 munie d'une rainure en creux 56 ; lorsque ledit convoyeur intermédiaire 39 ou 40 est mis dans une position où il est intercalé entre lesdits convoyeurs amont et aval, lequel convoyeur intermédiaire peut être simplement réalisé par un pignon denté 50 muni de dents 51 ayant un pas circonférentiel 5 qui est voisin dudit pas 49 desdites courroies crantées, ledit pignon et/ou ledit convoyeur 39 peut être mis en mouvement grâce à une pièce tournante 53 Qui est solidaire en rotation selon un axe YY2 dudit pignon denté 50 dudit convoyeur intermédiaire 39 ; lorsque ledit convoyeur intermédiaire 39 est déplacé selon ledit axe ZZ1 jusqu'à ce que l'axe de rotation dudit pignon 50 vienne coïncider avec l'axe de rotation YY2 de ladite poulie 58 du dispositif d'entraînement, la pièce tournante 53 solidaire en rotation dudit pignon 50 et munie sur sa face externe soit d'une rainure protubérante 5 soit d'ergots excentrés remplissant la même fonction, vient coopérer avec la rainure en creux 6 prévue sur la pièce 55 de manière à permettre un entraînement en rotation de ladite pièce 53 et par conséquent dudit pignon denté par ledite poulie 58 selon un type d'accouplement généralement connu sous le nom de H0LDAM, ce qui permet d'éviter une motorisation séparée dudit convoyeur intermédiaire 39 permettant le transfert des supports de groupes d'extrémités de l'un vers l'autre desdits convoyeurs principaux amont et aval. Par référence à la figure 22, les deux convoyeurs principaux 18 et 26 comportent une courroie 19, respectivement 27, munie de crans 48A sur sa face externe et de crans 48B sur sa face interne ; ainsi, lesdites bandes ou courroies 19, 27 entraînées par lesdits rouleaux ou poulies 20, 28 munies de dents 20 A, 2δA, peuvent provoquer des déplacements selon les flèches 32, 33> dans l'un ou l'autre sens en fonction de signaux de commande d'avance ou de recul, desdits supports 23, 24 (partiellement représentés) desdits groupes d'extrémités, par engrènement des plots 47 des bases desdits supports avec les dents ou crans 48 ; les axes YY1 , YY2, YY3, parallèles entre eux, de rotation respectivement desdits rouleaux et pignon 20, 50 B et 28, sont perpendiculaires auxdits axes XXI et ZZ1. Dans la position représentée à la figure 22 où ledit convoyeur intermédiaire 40 est aligné, par sa face supérieure 40 C (servant de plan de glissement auxdits supports) avec les faces supérieures 18 C et 26 C desdits convoyeurs 18, 26, lesdits supports 23, 24 peuvent être transférés de l'un à l'autre desdits convoyeurs ; il est bien sur nécessaire que lesdits pas 49, 47A (des plots 47) et 52 soient égaux, et que la distance 60 séparant lesdits axes YY1 et YY2 ou YY2 et YY3 soit voisine de (ou au moins égale à) la longueur 61 des bases desdits supports 23, 24, 25. On voit sur cette figure que lesdits convoyeurs intermédiaires mobiles 39 et 40 peuvent être reliés à une tige 43 (partiellement représentée) entrainée en translation selon ledit axe ZZ1 par un seul vérin (non représenté) . In this figure we see indeed that said conveyor 18 which extends along said axis XXI, comprises a toothed belt 19 provided with notches 48 spaced apart by a pitch 49, which belt is rotated and supported by a pulley or roller 20 said conveyor capable of rotating along an axis of rotation YY1; a pulley 59 mounted on a shaft common to said pulley 20 is driven simultaneously with said pulley 20 and drives itself by means of a belt 57 a pulley 58 of axis YY2 parallel to said axis YY1, which pulley 58 drives a part rotating 55 provided with a hollow groove 56; when said intermediate conveyor 39 or 40 is placed in a position where it is interposed between said upstream and downstream conveyors, which intermediate conveyor can simply be produced by a toothed pinion 50 provided with teeth 51 having a circumferential pitch 5 which is close to said pitch 49 said toothed belts, said pinion and / or said conveyor 39 can be set in motion by means of a rotating part 53 which is rotationally integral along an axis YY2 of said toothed pinion 50 of said intermediate conveyor 39; when said intermediate conveyor 39 is moved along said axis ZZ1 until the axis of rotation of said pinion 50 comes to coincide with the axis of rotation YY2 of said pulley 58 of the drive device, the rotating part 53 integral in rotation of said pinion 50 and provided on its external face either with a protruding groove 5 or with eccentric lugs fulfilling the same function, comes to cooperate with the hollow groove 6 provided on the part 55 so as to allow a rotary drive of said part 53 and consequently of said pinion toothed by said pulley 58 according to a type of coupling generally known under the name of H0LDAM, which avoids a separate motorization of said intermediate conveyor 39 allowing the transfer of the end group supports from one to the other of said main upstream and downstream conveyors. With reference to FIG. 22, the two main conveyors 18 and 26 comprise a belt 19, respectively 27, provided with notches 48A on its external face and notches 48B on its internal face; thus, said bands or belts 19, 27 driven by said rollers or pulleys 20, 28 provided with teeth 20 A, 2δA, can cause displacements according to arrows 32, 33 > in one or the other direction depending on signals for controlling in advance or in reverse, said supports 23, 24 (partially shown) of said groups of ends, by meshing studs 47 of the bases of said supports with teeth or notches 48; the axes YY1, YY2, YY3, parallel to each other, of rotation of said rollers and pinion 20, 50 B and 28 respectively, are perpendicular to said axes XXI and ZZ1. In the position shown in FIG. 22 where said intermediate conveyor 40 is aligned, by its upper face 40 C (serving as a sliding plane for said supports) with the upper faces 18 C and 26 C of said conveyors 18, 26, said supports 23, 24 can be transferred from one to the other of said conveyors; it is of course necessary that said steps 49, 47A (of pads 47) and 52 are equal, and that the distance 60 separating said axes YY1 and YY2 or YY2 and YY3 is close to (or at least equal to) the length 61 of bases of said supports 23, 24, 25. It can be seen in this figure that said mobile intermediate conveyors 39 and 40 can be connected to a rod 43 (partially shown) driven in translation along said axis ZZ1 by a single jack (not shown).

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Procédé de conformation d'un faisceau électrique comportant une pluralité de tronçons de fils dans lequel : - on dispose les extrémités libres de chacune des branches terminales dudit faisceau, dans des supports respectifs tels que des pinces (23, 24, 25) déplaçables par un premier convoyeur (18),1. A method of shaping an electrical bundle comprising a plurality of sections of wires in which: - the free ends of each of the terminal branches of said bundle are placed in respective supports such as movable clamps (23, 24, 25) by a first conveyor (18),
- puis, pour tendre chacune des branches dudit faisceau : a- on transfère, de façon ordonnée et selon un espacement relatif prédéterminé, une partie desdits supports tenant lesdites extrémités libres desdites branches terminales qui sont situées d'un premier coté de la branche à tendre, sur un deuxième convoyeur (26) prolongeant ledit premier convoyeur, les supports tenant lesdites extrémités libres desdites branches terminales qui sont situées d'un deuxième coté de ladite branche à tendre étant disposés ou transférés, de façon ordonnée et selon un espacement relatif prédéterminé desdites extrémités libres ou desdits groupes d'extrémités de tronçons de fils, sur ledit premier convoyeur, b- on déplace ledit premier convoyeur (18) selon une première direction (32) et on déplace ledit deuxième convoyeur (26) selon une deuxième direction (33) colinéaire et de sens opposé à ladite première direction,- Then, to tension each of the branches of said bundle: a- an orderly transfer is made and according to a predetermined relative spacing, a portion of said supports holding said free ends of said end branches which are located on one side of the branch to be stretched , on a second conveyor (26) extending said first conveyor, the supports holding said free ends of said end branches which are situated on a second side of said branch to be stretched being arranged or transferred, in an orderly fashion and at a predetermined relative spacing of said free ends or of said groups of ends of sections of wires, on said first conveyor, b- said first conveyor (18) is moved in a first direction (32) and said second conveyor (26) is moved in a second direction (33 ) collinear and opposite direction to said first direction,
- on ligature ladite branche tendue grâce à un dispositif (31) de ligaturage. - Said stretched branch is ligated by means of a ligating device (31).
2. procédé selon la revendication 1 de conformation d'un faisceau (10) électrique comportant au moins deux tronçons (1, 4, 15) de fils, pour former au moins trois branches (11, 12, 13) séparées par au moins un noeud (9), comportant les opérations suivantes : a) - on tient ou on maintient ledit faisceau par lesdites extrémités (3, 6) ou groupes d'extrémités (2, 5), c'est-à-dire chaque extrémité libre de chaque branche terminale dudit faisceau électrique, par un support respectif tel qu'une pince (23, 24, 25), lesquels pinces ou supports sont susceptibles de se déplacer selon un axe (XXI) de préférence horizontal, b) - pour tendre chacune desdites branches : bl) - on classe, par exemple grâce à un calculateur dans lequel des données relatives à la configuration dudit faisceau électrique et à la longueur notamment desdits tronçons ou desdites branches dudit faisceau ont été enregistrées, toutes lesdites extrémités libres de toutes lesdites branches selon deux catégories disjointes correspondant pour une première desdites catégories à celles desdites extrémités libres desdites branches terminales situées d'un premier coté de ladite branche à tendre, et correspondant pour une deuxième desdites catégories à celles desdites extrémités libres desdites branches terminales situées d'un deuxième coté de ladite branche à tendre, b2 - on écarte lesdites extrémités desdites branches terminales faisant partie de ladite première catégorie par rapport auxdites extrémités desdites branches terminales faisant partie de ladite deuxième catégorie, par un mouvement relatif desdits supports ou pinces selon ledit axe (XXI), b3 - on pose au moins un lien sur ladite branche tendue grâce à un dispositif de ligaturage.2. method according to claim 1 for shaping an electrical bundle (10) comprising at least two sections (1, 4, 15) of wires, to form at least three branches (11, 12, 13) separated by at least one node (9), comprising the following operations: a) - said beam is held or maintained by said ends (3, 6) or groups of ends (2, 5), that is to say each free end of each terminal branch of said electrical harness, by a respective support such as a clamp (23, 24, 25), which clamps or supports are capable of moving along an axis (XXI) preferably horizontal, b) - to tension each of said branches: bl) - one classifies, for example using a computer in which data relating to the configuration of said beam electric and to the length in particular of said sections or of said branches of said bundle have been recorded, all of said free ends of all of said branches according to two disjoint categories corresponding for a first of said categories to those of said free ends of said terminal branches located on a first side of said branch to be stretched, and corresponding for a second of said categories to those of said free ends of said terminal branches situated on a second side of said branch to be stretched, b2 - said ends of said terminal branches forming part of said first category are separated from said ends of said end branches belonging to said second category, by a relative movement of said supports or clamps along said axis (XXI), b3 - at least one link is placed on said stretched branch by means of a ligating device.
3. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 2 dans lequel pour ligaturer lesdites branches terminales dudit faisceau électrique, on dispose l'extrémité ou le groupes d'extrémités formant l'extrémité libre de ladite branche terminale à ligaturer sur un premier convoyeur et on transfère ou on dispose toutes les autres extrémités ou groupes d'extrémités formant les extrémités de toutes les autres branches terminales, sur un deuxième convoyeur.3. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein in order to ligate said end branches of said electrical bundle, the end or the group of ends forming the free end of said end branch to be ligated on a first conveyor are arranged. and all the other ends or groups of ends forming the ends of all the other terminal branches are transferred or placed on a second conveyor.
4. Dispositif de conformation et de ligaturage de branches (11, 12, 13) d'un faisceau (10) ramifié de tronçons de fils conducteurs (1, 4, 15), comportant au moins deux convoyeurs (18, 26) principaux co-linéaires d'axe longitudinal commun (XXI), chacun desdits convoyeurs principaux étant adapté pour déplacer des supports de groupes d'extrémités selon deux directions opposées, lequel dispositif comporte au moins un appareil de ligaturage situé à proximité de l'un desdits convoyeurs, lequel dispositif comporte un moyen de permutation le long dudit axe (XXI) de l'ordre desdits supports de groupes d'extrémités, lequel dispositif comporte un moyen de transfert bidirectionnel desdits supports de groupes d'extrémités d'un desdits convoyeurs principaux à l'autre desdits convoyeurs principaux, lequel dispositif comporte des moyens de commande et de contrôle de déplacement desdits convoyeurs indépendamment l'un de l'autre, selon des distances prédéterminées.4. Device for shaping and ligating branches (11, 12, 13) of a branched bundle (10) of sections of conducting wires (1, 4, 15), comprising at least two main conveyors (18, 26) co -linear with a common longitudinal axis (XXI), each of said main conveyors being adapted to move supports for groups of ends in two opposite directions, which device comprises at least one ligating device located near one of said conveyors, which device comprises means for permutation along said axis (XXI) of the order of said end group supports, which device comprises means for bidirectional transfer of said end group supports from one of said main conveyors to the other of said main conveyors, which device comprises means for controlling and controlling the movement of said conveyors independently of one of the other, according to predetermined distances.
5. Dispositif selon la revendication 4 comportant un premier convoyeur principal (18) susceptible d'entrainer des pinces de maintien d'extrémités ou de groupes d'extrémités de tronçons de fils, dit convoyeur principal amont, comportant un deuxième convoyeur principal susceptible d'entrainer ou transporter lesdites pinces de tenue d'extrémités, dit convoyeur principal aval, comportant des moyens de transfert desdites pinces dudit premier convoyeur principal audit deuxième convoyeur principal et inversement, comportant des moyens pour ordonner lesdits groupes d'extrémités et/ou lesdites pinces tenant lesdits groupes d'extrémités, comportant des moyens indépendant d'entraînement respectif desdits premiers et deuxièmes convoyeurs principaux dans deux directions opposés de manière à permettre de tendre des parties de tronçons de fils constituant des branches desdits faisceaux.5. Device according to claim 4 comprising a first main conveyor (18) capable of driving clamps for holding ends or groups of ends of sections of son, said upstream main conveyor, comprising a second main conveyor capable of drive or transport said end holding clamps, said downstream main conveyor, comprising means for transferring said clamps from said first main conveyor to said second main conveyor and vice versa, comprising means for ordering said end groups and / or said holding clamps said groups of ends, comprising independent means for respective drive of said first and second main conveyors in two opposite directions so as to allow tensioning of portions of sections of son constituting branches of said bundles.
6. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 4 à 5 dans lequel lesdits moyens de transfert et de permutation comportent deux convoyeurs intermédiaires (39, 40) qui peuvent être chacun essentiellement constitué par un pignon denté (46,50) dont les dents ont un pas sensiblement égal au pas (49) des crans (48) des courroies crantées desdits convoyeurs amont et aval (18, 26), lesquels convoyeurs intermédiaires (39,40) sont mobiles selon un axe (ZZ1) perpendiculaire audit axe (XXI) longitudinal desdits convoyeurs principaux, lesquels convoyeurs intermédiaires sont susceptibles de recevoir et/ou déplacer au moins un desdits supports de groupes d'extrémités, chacun desdits convoyeurs intermédiaires étant susceptible d'être placé dans une première position où il est situé dans le prolongement desdits convoyeurs principaux amont et aval et intercalé entre ceux ci de manière à permettre le transfert d'un support de groupes d'extrémités dudit convoyeur amont vers ledit convoyeur aval ou inversement, chacun desdits convoyeurs intermédiaires étant susceptible d'être placé dans une deuxième position où il peut servir de support temporaire à un support de groupes d'extrémités tandis qu'un deuxième convoyeur intermédiaire peut être placé dans ladite position d'alignement avec lesdits convoyeurs principaux de manière à permettre de transférer un support de groupes d'extrémités et ainsi de manière à permettre de permuter l'ordre desdits groupes d'extrémités le long dudit axe (XXI) longitudinal desdits convoyeurs principaux amont et aval.6. Device according to any one of claims 4 to 5 wherein said transfer and permutation means comprise two intermediate conveyors (39, 40) which may each consist essentially of a toothed pinion (46.50) whose teeth have a pitch substantially equal to the pitch (49) of the notches (48) of the toothed belts of said upstream and downstream conveyors (18, 26), which intermediate conveyors (39,40) are movable along an axis (ZZ1) perpendicular to said axis (XXI) longitudinal of said main conveyors, which intermediate conveyors are capable of receiving and / or moving at least one of said end group supports, each of said intermediate conveyors being capable of being placed in a first position where it is located in the extension of said conveyors main upstream and downstream and interposed between them so as to allow the transfer of a support for end groups of said upstream conveyor ver s said downstream conveyor or vice versa, each of said intermediate conveyors being capable of being placed in a second position where it can serve as a temporary support for a support of end groups while a second intermediate conveyor can be placed in said position d alignment with said main conveyors so as to allow the transfer of support for end groups and thus so as to allow swapping the order of said groups of ends along said longitudinal axis (XXI) of said main upstream and downstream conveyors.
7- Dispositif selon la revendication 6 dans lequel ledit axe (XXI) longitudinal desdits convoyeurs principaux et ledit axe (ZZ1) de déplacement desdits convoyeurs intermédiaires sont sensiblement horizontaux, et dans lequel les extrémités ou groupes d'extrémités desdits tronçons de fils sont tenus dans une position sensiblement verticale.7- Device according to claim 6 wherein said longitudinal axis (XXI) of said main conveyors and said axis (ZZ1) of movement of said intermediate conveyors are substantially horizontal, and wherein the ends or groups of ends of said sections of son are held in a substantially vertical position.
8. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 7 dans lequel lesdits convoyeurs intermédiaires mobiles sont mécaniquement liés entre eux et entraînés par un seul vérin.8. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 7 wherein said movable intermediate conveyors are mechanically linked together and driven by a single cylinder.
9. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 4 à 8 dans lequel chacun desdits convoyeurs intermédiaires peut être entraîné de façon homocinétique par un desdits convoyeurs principaux par un dispositif d'entraînement par crabotage utilisant un joint de type HOLDAM. 9. Device according to any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein each of said intermediate conveyors can be driven homokinetically by one of said main conveyors by a dog clutch drive device using a seal of the HOLDAM type.
EP94920498A 1993-06-28 1994-06-21 Method and device for forming a branched loom Expired - Lifetime EP0706725B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9308161 1993-06-28
FR9308161A FR2707828B1 (en) 1993-06-28 1993-06-28 Method and device for shaping a branched beam.
PCT/FR1994/000750 WO1995000989A1 (en) 1993-06-28 1994-06-21 Method and device for forming a branched loom

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EP0706725A1 true EP0706725A1 (en) 1996-04-17
EP0706725B1 EP0706725B1 (en) 1997-08-27

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US (1) US5732750A (en)
EP (1) EP0706725B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3609408B2 (en)
DE (1) DE69405241T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2109001T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2707828B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1995000989A1 (en)

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WO1997036304A1 (en) * 1996-03-28 1997-10-02 The Whitaker Corporation Automated method of taping a harness, and a machine therefor
US6230404B1 (en) * 1996-05-09 2001-05-15 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Method and apparatus for producing a wiring harness
US6174395B1 (en) * 1997-03-20 2001-01-16 Komax Holding Ag Automated method of taping a harness, and a machine therefor
DE10101621C2 (en) * 2001-01-16 2003-12-24 Rolf Hugo Device for equipping a cable with grommets
US8285418B2 (en) * 2009-07-23 2012-10-09 Kla-Tencor Corporation Dual scanning stage
WO2011158145A1 (en) * 2010-06-16 2011-12-22 Schleuniger Holding Ag Apparatus for fitting cable sleeves onto a cable
US9352430B2 (en) 2010-06-16 2016-05-31 Schleuniger Holding Ag Cable grommet fitting apparatus for cable
CN104081596B (en) 2011-09-29 2016-12-28 施洛伊尼格控股有限公司 For the method with cable sheaths assembling cable and the sealing member for cable processing equipment or the buanch unit of similar cable build-up member
EP2709217B1 (en) 2012-09-12 2017-08-09 Schleuniger Holding AG Machine for assembling cable sleeves
NL2013215B1 (en) * 2014-07-18 2016-07-14 H W J Holding B V Wire harness.
KR101796434B1 (en) 2016-07-04 2017-11-13 주식회사 드림로봇 Sliding actuator for robot with one motor and two belt
WO2024126709A1 (en) 2022-12-15 2024-06-20 Komax Holding Ag Device and method for producing a cable harness

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US4835858A (en) * 1988-03-25 1989-06-06 Amp Incorporated Method and apparatus for assembling electrical harnesses
FR2648667B1 (en) * 1989-06-15 1991-09-27 Aerospatiale METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING WIRING COMPONENTS
FR2670618A1 (en) * 1990-12-13 1992-06-19 Ricard Claude Methods and devices for automatically manufacturing tree-structure wiring looms

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69405241T2 (en) 1998-01-29
JPH09501258A (en) 1997-02-04
WO1995000989A1 (en) 1995-01-05
EP0706725B1 (en) 1997-08-27
JP3609408B2 (en) 2005-01-12
FR2707828B1 (en) 1995-11-10
FR2707828A1 (en) 1995-01-20
ES2109001T3 (en) 1998-01-01
DE69405241D1 (en) 1997-10-02
US5732750A (en) 1998-03-31

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