EP1061617A2

EP1061617A2 - Station for inserting terminals into connectors

Info

Publication number: EP1061617A2
Application number: EP00500063A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jordi Casas Aligue; Jordi Mestre Guasch; Miguel Lazpiur Lamariano
Original assignee: Lear Automotive EEDS Spain SL
Current assignee: Lear Automotive EEDS Spain SL
Priority date: 1999-06-16
Filing date: 2000-04-11
Publication date: 2000-12-20
Also published as: EP1061617A3

Abstract

The station is mounted on a chassis forming a resistant structure on which a robot is mounted by means of the corresponding stands, Said robot is provided with a head and it can be moved in three coordinates (x-y-z), At the same time, plates move acting as a support for connector carriers supporting connectors allowing terminals provided in said cables to be inserted inside the cavities of such connectors. Said plates are travelling on a table provided with grooves and tracks allowing for a right to left movement and vice versa as well as a forward-backward movement of said plates.

Description

The present patent application relates, as stated in its title, to a "STATION FOR INSERTING TERMINALS INTO CONNECTORS", which novel manufacturing, conformation and design features fulfil the purpose to which they have been specifically conceived, with a maximum safety and effectiveness.
More particularly, the present invention refers to a station for inserting terminals into connectors as being part of a cable processing machine which is suited for cutting, peeling, and marking cables, inserting rubbers thereon, crimping cables as well as for controlling all the above operations and finally for carry out the function of the station of the present invention.
To perform said function by such station, the station comprises, as the preceding stations, a feeding system provided with an endless belt which travels horizontally and longitudinally in the front part of the machine and which serves to convey the cables or cable portions for the subsequent processing thereof and to perform the above mentioned functions. In this case, said endless belt is feeding the station for inserting terminals into connectors by means a number of gripping members evenly distributed and arranged at regular distances to one another. The endless belt conveys the cables or cable portions, which one end has been already provided with the corresponding rubber and terminal, towards said station. The cable is sequentially stopped in front of the station and, by means of the corresponding sensor element and a gripping member, it receives the cable and holds it by the terminal. At this moment, the cable and the terminal are held by two gripping members, one of which belongs to the endless belt and the other to the station itself.
Subsequently, the cable with the terminal is held by new gripping members helped by a robot provided with a corresponding three-coordinate hinged arm. The gripping members hold the cable by the terminal in a boundary portion of the cable, keeping them in a horizontal position and placing them in front of the corresponding connector.
The connectors which are to be filled with the corresponding terminals are arranged on the frame of the station, and more particularly on a table provided with grooves along which a number of plates move. Said plates are arranged in a vertical position and the corresponding connector carriers are secured thereto by appropriate means. Such connector carriers are attached to the respective connectors which are to be filled with the corresponding terminals by means of the operations described below. Such terminals are moved from the feeding belt by the above mentioned robot.
The connectors are provided with a number of cavities located inside their body, which cavities have been designed to receive the corresponding terminals crimped at. the end of a cable or cable portion. For that reason, the robot arm in the station of the invention should be programmed according to its design and three-coordinate movement in order to be positioned at the horizontal plane on each cavity so that the corresponding terminal can enter therein in the proper position. Such position will be different as each connector is designed to receive more than one terminal. Furthermore, each cavity is formed in a different location inside the connector and therefore it is necessary the position of the arm may be changed so that it is inserting the terminals inside the connector in such a way that they are not mislocated. When insertion of terminal has been completed inside such cavities, the plates provided with the connectors having the corresponding terminals follow the travelling path determined by the above mentioned grooves. Further plates provided with connectors that are attached by connector carriers are disposed on the corresponding working plane in order to proceed with receiving the terminals and the respective cables. Connectors that are already full are removed and manually replaced by new ones.
The path travelled by the support plates of the connectors is determined by the above mentioned grooves which describe a rectangular perimeter. The driving force that is necessary to travel such path from right to left and vice versa is supplied by a belt which is provided with the corresponding driving cylinders. Said driving cylinders have a rod provided with corresponding bosses located at the plate support thus enabling movement of the plates to said directions. Therefore, said forward-backward and backward-forward movement is carried out on said table where the grooves of the pistons act, causing said plates to move in a forward-backward movement after they have been moved from right to left. Such plates have to be arranged on said working plane, said plates being provided with connectors inside which cavities terminals are to be received from the robot arm.
Said robot arm is provided by a number of mechanical and electromechanical parts so that it can perform a three-coordinate movement. Such parts comprise a post or stand on which a carriage can slide in an upward and downward vertical movement. The carriage comprises the head of the robot where the gripping members which are holding the terminal and the cable or cable portion are attached. Said carriage slides on the post in an upward and downward vertical movement and simultaneously it can undergo a forward-backward movement or a right to left movement by being provided by two extra guiding tracks provided with the corresponding carriages. This allows the head of the robot to be moved in said three-coordinate movement.
Further details and features of the present patent application will be apparent from the following description, which refers to the accompanying drawings that schematically represent the preferred details. These details are given by way of example, which refer to a possible case of practical embodiment, but it is not limited to the details disclosed herein; therefore this description must be considered from a illustrating point of view and without any type of limitations.
A detailed list of the various parts cited in the present patent application is given below: (10) station for inserting terminals into connectors, (11) standardised section members, (12) cross members, (13) longitudinal members, (14) adjustable feet, (15) side member, (16) vertical portion, (17) horizontal portion, (18) cylinder support, (19) plate, (20) screws; (21) support, (22) connectors, (23) connectors, (24) connectors, (25) screws, (26) guiding track, (27) electric motor, (28) post, (29) guiding track, (30) carriage, (31) guiding track, (32) guiding track, (33) plate, (34) gripping member, (35) gripping member head, (36) support, (37) corner members, (38) rolls, (39) fingers, (40) belt, (41) connector, (42) connector, (43) connector carrier, (44) screws, (45) stand, (45a) handrail, (46) longitudinal members, (47) sideplates, (48) standardised section members, (49) standardised section members, (50) tray, (51) sideplates, (52) gripping members, (53) grips, (54) cable, (55) terminal, (56) table, (57, 57') pistons, (58) sliding members, (59) tracks, (60) stands, (61) plate, (62) screws. (63) sideplates, (64) horizontal section member, (65) vertical section member, (66) vertical section member, (67) frame, (68) sideplates, (69) endless belt, (70) standardised section members, (71) standardised section members, (72) standardised section members, (73) grips, (74) support, (75) gripping member, (76) jaws, (77) robot, (78) head, (79) gripping member, (80) bracket, (81) screws, (82) support, (83) jaws, (84) jaws, (85) gripping member, (86) centring device, (87) support, (88) support, (89) cylinder, (90) cylinder, (91) frame, (92) bosses, (93) belt, (93a) end of belt (93), (96) buttress, (97) carriage, (98) support, (99) sideplate, (100) electric motor, (101) grooves, (102) grooves, (103) electric motor, (104) guiding track, (105) belt.
Figure nº 1 is a part-way section side view of the station (10) for inserting terminals into connectors showing how said station (10) is arranged on the chassis and the corresponding frame comprising standardised section members and conventional handrails (11-12) and resting on the ground by means of adjustable feet (14), the station (10) being formed by a three-coordinate hinged arm (77) and with systems allowing movement of the support plates (19-33) and the connector carriers (43) associated to said plates (19-33) lengthwise and crosswise on a table (56).
Figure nº 2 is a side view of the station (10) for inserting terminals into connectors where the main parts therein, such as the feeding system of the station (10), the driving system of the plates (19) where connectors (22, 23, 41, 42) are fitted, the robot arm (77) and its head (78) together with the means to allow the movement thereof in three coordinates (x-y-z) are shown.
Figure nº 3 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the station (10) for inserting terminals into connectors showing how the three-coordinate movement of the carriages (30, 97, 98) in the robot is made possible by guiding tracks (26, 29, 31).
Figure nº 4 a diagrammatic top plan view of the table (56) with the plates (19, 43) supporting connector carriers (43) and connectors (22, 23, 41, 42) passing thereon.
Figure nº 5 is an enlarged side view of the arrangement which allows movement of the plates (19, 33).
Figure nº 6 is a part-way end elevational view of the feeding system of the station comprising an endless belt (69) provided with gripping members (52) attached at regular distances to one another which convey cables or cable portions (54) trapped by grips (53).
In one of the preferred embodiments of the object of the present invention and as it can be seen from figure nº 2, the feeding system of the station (10) is located at the front part thereof. Said system is not the object of the present invention but it is disclosed as it is pertaining thereto. Such feeding system is supported by a supporting structure provided by standardised horizontal section members (48) which support the chassis of the cable processing machine by means of sideplates (47) onto which standardised section members (70) are disposed supporting a tray (50) and an endless belt (69) provided with gripping members (52) having grips (53) attached at regular distances to one another and which convey cables or cable portions (54) trapped therebetween. The cable or cable portion (54) is horizontally conveyed and one of its ends is provided with the corresponding rubber and terminal (55). The gripping members (52) are stopped in a programmed way in front of the support (74) attached to the frame of the machine by means of further angular supports (74, 82) fastened by screws (81, 87). The support (74) is provided with a gripping member (75) which opens its grips (76) to trap the corresponding terminal therebetween.
As long as the cable (54) has been retained by the gripping members (52, 75), the robot arm (77) is driven down, and more particularly its head (78), that is provided with brackets (80) fitted in a gripping member (79) and in another gripping member (85) provided with grips (83, 84) which collect the cable (54) and the terminal (55). As the jaws (76) and (53) of the gripping members (75) and (52) have been simultaneously opened, the jaws (83) and (84) hold the cable (54) keeping it in an horizontal position, as it can be seen from figure nº 7. Then, said cable (54) and the terminal (55) are ready to be inserted into the corresponding connectors (22, 23, 41, 42), as it will be described below.
The head (78) of the robot (77) can operate in three different coordinates (x-y-z) due to its arrangement, comprising as shown in figures nº 1, 2, 3 and 7, a post (28) which travels inside the carriage (30) in an ascending and descending vertical movement. The carriage travels, see figure nº 3, along the guiding track (29) as shown in figure nº 6 which, in turn, is attached to another carriage (97) by appropriate means, sliding in a guiding track (104) that is driven by electric motors (100) and (103). The guiding track (104) is hanged up by means of a stand (45), see figures nº 2 and 3. Said guiding track (104) are supported by handrails (45a) which are provided in the upper part of the stand (45).
On the other hand, the frame or base (67) is mounted on the chassis of the machine which comprises standardised section members (12) and (13). The table (56) is located on such base (67), see figures nº 1 and 4, and the plates (19) are disposed in a vertical position on said table (56). The plates (19) are provided with the connectors (22, 23, 41, 42) by means of the connector carriers (43), as it can be seen from figure no 1, which are shown by way of an example.
Said plates (19) can be moved in a right to left movement and in a forward-backward movement and vice versa through grooves (101) and (102) formed in the table (56) where tracks (59) are provided as shown in figures nº 2 and 5. Said movement is performed by translation means that. comprise cylinders (57, 57') as shown in figure nº 2 working in conjunction with supports (87) and (88). Forward-backward movement and vice versa is achieved by means of cylinders (89) and (90), as shown in figure nº 4, acting as shown in figure nº 2. The end of the rod is provided with buttresses (96) covering bosses (92) which protrude from the horizontal part of the support (21) on which the plates (19) are mounted allowing the forward-backward movement thereof.
Movements which define the operation of said station for inserting terminals into connectors are determined by the following:
a) Feeding the station (10) with cables or cable portions (54) provided with rubbers and terminals (55), by means of the gripping member (52) and the grips (53), stopping the endless belt (69) and being positioned in the support (74), the gripping member (75) holding the cable or cable portion (54) and the terminal (55) by their jaws (76).
b) The cable (54) and the terminal (55) are held twice by the gripping members (79) having the corresponding jaws which horizontally drives up said cable or cable portion (54) and the terminal (55) when they have been released from the gripping members (75) and (52).
c) Moving the head (78) of the robot (77) until it has been positioned in the horizontal of the corresponding cavity of any connectors, e.g. connectors (22), (23), (41) and (43) located in the plate (19) by the corresponding connector carriers (44) attached to the plate (19) by screws (44) and being aligned by centring devices (86).
d) Moving the head (78) forward to insert the terminals (55) inside the respective cavities of the above mentioned connectors, followed by a slight backward movement to ascertain whether the terminals (55) have not been mislocated. At this time, the above mentioned movements or operations are repeated in the reverse order to collect a new cable (54) and terminal (55) in order to carry out the operation again as many times as necessary until all the cavities of the mentioned connectors have been completed.
e) Moving the plates (19) by means of the grooves (101, 102), the tracks (59) and the cylinders (89, 90, 57, 57') so that the connectors which have been filled of terminals (55) are replaced by other connectors.
Once having been sufficiently described what the present patent application consists in accordance to the enclosed drawings, it is understood that any detail modification can be introduced as appropriate, provided that variations may alter the essence of the invention as summarised in the appended claims.

Claims

"STATION FOR INSERTING TERMINALS INTO CONNECTORS" comprising a system for feeding cables (54) and terminals (55) which is provided with an endless belt (69) travelling horizontally and longitudinally across the machine and gripping members (52) attached at regular distances to one another having grips (53) to convey said cables (54) and terminals (55), said station (10) being provided with a structure comprising handrails (48) and standardised section members (70) supporting said endless belt (69) and a tray (50), characterised in that said station (10) is mounted on a chassis formed by a number of standardised section members (12) and (13) acting as handrails and forming a resistant structure on which a frame or base (67) is located provided with a table (56) disposed thereon that is supporting a robot (77) by means of vertical stands (45) and horizontal handrails (45a), said robot (77) being provided with a head (78) and being able to move in three coordinates (x-y-z), plates (19) being moved on said table (56) acting as a support for connector carriers (43) supporting connectors (22, 23, 41, 42) allowing the terminals (55) that are mounted in the cables (54) to be inserted into the cavities of said connectors (22, 23, 41, 42) by such head (78), said plates (19) travelling through said table (56) which is provided with grooves (101) and (102) and tracks (59) allowing for a right to left movement and vice versa as well as a forward-backward movement of said plates (19).
"STATION FOR INSERTING TERMINALS INTO CONNECTORS" as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it is provided with a gripping member (75) at the front part thereof having jaws (76) which hold the cable (54) and the terminal (55) keeping them in an horizontal position by means of a second gripping member (52) attached to the endless belt (69).
"STATION FOR INSERTING TERMINALS INTO CONNECTORS" as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the gripping member (75) is attached to the chassis of the machine by means of supports (74, 82) and screws (81, 87).
"STATION FOR INSERTING TERMINALS INTO CONNECTORS" as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the head (78) of the robot (77) comprises two gripping members (79) and (85) provided with jaws (83, 84) intended to collect the cable (54) and the terminal (55) as they have been released from the plates (52) and (75) that are located at the front part of the machine, and to drive them upwards.
"STATION FOR INSERTING TERMINALS INTO CONNECTORS" as claimed in any of the claims 1 and 4, characterised in that the head (78) of the robot (77) is driven in a three-coordinate movement by the post (28) which is vertically moved through the carriage (30), said carriage sliding on the guiding track (29) and on a second guiding track (104) provided with a carriage (97), said parts being driven by electric motors (100) and (103) respectively, said guiding track (104) being supported by the stands (45) and the horizontal handrails (45a).
"STATION FOR INSERTING TERMINALS INTO CONNECTORS" as claimed claim 1, characterised in that the plate (19) is mounted on a support (21) having a substantially angular configuration by means of screws (20), the connector carriers (43) being attached to said plate (19) by means of screws (44) and centring devices (86), the connectors (22, 23, 41, 42) being then mounted and bosses (92) being provided on a horizontal part of the supports (21) working in collaboration with buttresses (96) protruding from the rod of the cylinder (90) which determine the backward movement of said plates (19), whilst the forward movement is achieved as the rod of the cylinder (89) is pushing the support (21).
"STATION FOR INSERTING TERMINALS INTO CONNECTORS" as claimed in any of the claims 1 and 6, characterised in that right to left and vice versa movement of the plates (19) is carried out by cylinders (57, 57') provided with supports (86, 87).
"STATION FOR INSERTING TERMINALS INTO CONNECTORS" as claimed in any of preceding claims, characterised in that movements carried out by the station (10) are the following:

Holding the cable (54) and the terminal (55) horizontally by gripping members (52, 75) and their grips (53, 76).

Driving up the cable (54) and the terminal (55) horizontally when they have been released from the gripping members (75) and (52) and collected by the gripping members (79, 85).

Moving the head (78) of the robot (77) in three coordinates (x-y-z) until the cable (54) and its terminal (55) have been positioned in the horizontal of each of the cavities in the connectors (22, 23, 41, 42) which are arranged on the plate (19) by means of the connector carriers (43).

Forward moving the head (78) inserting the terminals (55) inside the respective cavities of said connectors (22, 23, 41, 42), said movement being followed by a slight backward movement.

Translating the plates (19) by means of the grooves (101, 102), tracks (59) and the cylinders (89, 90, 57, 57') so that the connectors which have been filled of terminals (55) are replaced by other connectors.