EP1145389A1 - Unit for automatically crimping flexible flat cable layers and corresponding crimping method - Google Patents

Unit for automatically crimping flexible flat cable layers and corresponding crimping method

Info

Publication number
EP1145389A1
EP1145389A1 EP99968805A EP99968805A EP1145389A1 EP 1145389 A1 EP1145389 A1 EP 1145389A1 EP 99968805 A EP99968805 A EP 99968805A EP 99968805 A EP99968805 A EP 99968805A EP 1145389 A1 EP1145389 A1 EP 1145389A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
crimping
ramp
branch
ply
connector
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
EP99968805A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1145389B1 (en
Inventor
Roel Hellemans
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.)
S Y Systems Technologies France SAS
Original Assignee
Siemens Automotive SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens Automotive SA filed Critical Siemens Automotive SA
Publication of EP1145389A1 publication Critical patent/EP1145389A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1145389B1 publication Critical patent/EP1145389B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/50—Fixed connections
    • H01R12/59—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
    • H01R43/04—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for forming connections by deformation, e.g. crimping tool
    • H01R43/048—Crimping apparatus or processes
    • 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
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
    • Y10T29/49117—Conductor or circuit manufacturing
    • Y10T29/49174—Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
    • Y10T29/49181—Assembling terminal to elongated conductor by deforming
    • 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
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
    • Y10T29/49117—Conductor or circuit manufacturing
    • Y10T29/49174—Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
    • Y10T29/49181—Assembling terminal to elongated conductor by deforming
    • Y10T29/49185—Assembling terminal to elongated conductor by deforming of terminal
    • 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
    • Y10T29/51—Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for metal shaping or assembling
    • Y10T29/5187—Wire working
    • 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
    • Y10T29/53209—Terminal or connector
    • 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
    • Y10T29/53209—Terminal or connector
    • Y10T29/53213—Assembled to wire-type conductor
    • 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
    • Y10T29/53209—Terminal or connector
    • Y10T29/53213—Assembled to wire-type conductor
    • Y10T29/53217—Means to simultaneously assemble multiple, independent conductors to terminal
    • 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
    • Y10T29/53209—Terminal or connector
    • Y10T29/53213—Assembled to wire-type conductor
    • Y10T29/53235—Means to fasten by deformation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an automatic crimping unit for flexible flat cable plies and a corresponding crimping method.
  • this crimping is often done manually.
  • the establishment of the branch to be crimped in the crimping station is thus commonly carried out by an operator. This leads to inevitable mounting errors, and very few cable strands are made correctly the first time.
  • Such a crimping process requires the establishment of systematic checks of each strand, which increases the manufacturing time accordingly.
  • the object of the present invention is to create a crimping unit in which the setting up of the crimping branch in the crimping station is carried out automatically.
  • the present invention relates to an automatic crimping unit for flexible flat cable plies, the said ply comprising at least one branch on which a connector is to be crimped, the said unit being characterized in that it comprises:
  • crimping stations arranged vertically offset vertically above the plane of the guide plate and adapted to crimp a connector at the end of a branch
  • a plurality of tilting ramps having a first end at the plane of the guide plate when they are in the tilted state, and a second end at a crimping station, said ramp being arranged in the opposite direction from displacement of the ply, each ramp being adapted to tilt, on command, towards the guide plate so that a predetermined branch of the ply follows the ramp that it meets on its way during its displacement and goes towards one of the crimping stations to receive a connector there.
  • the tilting of the ramp makes it possible to guarantee that only the branch of the ply located opposite this ramp will be brought to the corresponding crimping station.
  • the ply is rigid enough for the branch to be crimped to be driven at the same time as the ply itself.
  • the ramps making it possible to bring each of the branches to be crimped towards a crimping station, have a narrower width.
  • the branch to be crimped contains only two tracks, sometimes it contains a large number (ten or more).
  • the width of the ramp is each time adapted to direct all of the tracks constituting the branch to be crimped towards the crimping station. Consequently, the ramps according to the invention do not all have the same width.
  • the width of each ramp can be modified depending on the layer to be produced.
  • each crimping station has a set of ramps of various widths. Whenever a series of plies is to be produced, the appropriate ramps are placed in front of each crimping station.
  • the tilting of a ramp is programmable over time.
  • the various connectors can be placed one after the other on each of the branches or be crimped at the same time.
  • FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic views showing a sheet of flat cables on which connectors are to be crimped
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a crimping unit according to the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the crimping unit according to FIG. 2.
  • FIGS. 1a and 1b show a ply 10 of flat cables to be crimped.
  • this ribbon of flat cables is extremely simple since it consists of four tracks held together in a common connector 11 (on the left in the drawing).
  • This layer is divided into two branches 12 of different lengths each consisting of two tracks.
  • a connector 13 is placed at the end of each of these branches. As shown in Figure 1b, these branches are intended to take different directions by folding and to supply accessories placed in the vehicle in separate locations.
  • the connector crimping unit 20 making it possible to produce such a ply 10 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • This unit comprises three crimping stations 14a, 14b, 14c (in the particular case of the production of the ply shown in FIG. 2). It is understood that the number of crimping stations can vary depending on the configuration of the branches to be crimped.
  • the crimping unit also includes a guide plate 15 on which is laid the ribbon of flat cables 10. This ribbon of flat cables is driven in displacement along a guide rail 16.
  • the means of displacement of the ribbon are constituted by rollers 17 which can be rotated in two directions of rotation (clockwise and counterclockwise).
  • the tablecloth is driven by friction of the rollers against the tablecloth, which has the consequence of driving the latter to the right or to the left (in the drawing), that is to say in two opposite directions of movement. .
  • Each crimping station is placed above the ply (vertically offset), so that a tilting ramp 18a, 18b, 18c associated therewith is located directly above the tracks of the branch on which it must install a connector.
  • the tilting ramps 18a, b and c are in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2.
  • the ply is therefore driven by the rollers 17 and moves unhindered below the crimping stations 14a, b, c.
  • the common connector 11 is firstly crimped. To do this, the sheet 10 is brought using the rollers 17 so that its left end is disposed to the right of the tilting ramp 18a. The tilting (dotted lines, Figure 2) of the ramp 18a towards the guide plate is then controlled. Thus, a first end of this ramp is disposed at the level of the guide plate 15 (in contact with this plate), while a second end of the ramp 18a is arranged at the crimping station 14a. The rollers 17 are then rotated so that the ply 10 is driven to the left. As the ramp 18a is inclined in the opposite direction of movement of the ply, the latter is deflected and directed towards the crimping station.
  • the common connector 11 is crimped on the end of the ply.
  • the rollers 17 drive the ply 10 in the opposite direction (that is to say to the right in the drawing) so that the ply descends from the crimping station 14a.
  • the tilting ramp 18a is raised to the rest position.
  • the connectors 13 to be placed at the end of the branches 12 are then put in place in a similar manner, by controlling the tilting of the ramps 18b then 18c, and by driving the sheet in the appropriate direction using the rollers 17.
  • certain rollers 17 could damage the connector (s) already installed. To avoid this, the rollers 17 can be erased vertically. This erasure can be programmed. Thus, the rollers 17 do not damage the already installed connectors when they drive the moving web.
  • the crimping process according to the present invention consists in:
  • the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.
  • the crimping unit according to the present invention may comprise a plurality of crimping stations and a plurality of associated tilting ramps, this depending on the configuration of the branches to be crimped.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

The invention concerns a unit (20) for automatically crimping flexible flat cable layers (10), said layer comprising at least a branch (12) whereon a connector (11, 13) is to be crimped, said unit being characterised in that it comprises: a guide tray (15) whereon circulates the flat cable layers (10); a plurality of crimping stations (14a, 14b, 14c) arranged vertically offset relatively to the guide tray (15) plane vertical alignment and adapted to crimp a connector (11, 13) on the end of a branch (12); and a plurality of tilting ramps (18a, 18b, 18c) having a first end at the guide tray plane when they are tilted, and a second end at the crimping post, said ramp being arranged in the direction opposite to the layer displacement, each ramp being adapted to be controlled to tilt towards the guide tray, such that a predetermined branch (12) of the layer follows the ramp which it encounters on its path when it travels towards one of the crimping posts to receive therein a connector (11, 13).

Description

UNITE DE SERTISSAGE AUTOMATIQUE DE NAPPES DE CABLES PLATS FLEXIBLES ET PROCEDE DE SERTISSAGE CORRESPONDANT AUTOMATIC CRIMPING UNIT FOR FLEXIBLE FLAT CABLE PATCHES AND CORRESPONDING CRIMPING METHOD
La présente invention concerne une unité de sertissage automatique de nappes de câbles plats flexibles et un procédé de sertissage correspondant.The present invention relates to an automatic crimping unit for flexible flat cable plies and a corresponding crimping method.
Il est déjà connu d'utiliser des câbles plats de grande longueur pour réaliser des connections électriques à l'intérieur d'un véhicule automobile. Ces câbles plats ont l'avantage de présenter une épaisseur restreinte et donc de pouvoir se glisser derrière l'habillage interne du véhicule sans en détruire l'esthétique. En outre, les câbles plats sont plus légers que les câbles ronds et moins onéreux. Bien entendu, comme pour les câbles ronds (qu'ils remplacent), ils sont munis de connecteurs à l'extrémité de chacune de leurs branches. Le sertissage de ces connecteurs est une opération longue et délicate.It is already known to use long flat cables to make electrical connections inside a motor vehicle. These flat cables have the advantage of having a restricted thickness and therefore of being able to slide behind the internal trim of the vehicle without destroying its aesthetics. In addition, flat cables are lighter than round cables and less expensive. Of course, as for the round cables (which they replace), they are provided with connectors at the end of each of their branches. Crimping these connectors is a long and delicate operation.
Pour des raisons de complexité des torons de câbles, ce sertissage est souvent fait de manière manuelle. La mise en place de la branche à sertir dans le poste de sertissage est ainsi couramment réalisée par une opératrice. Ceci conduit à des erreurs de montage inévitables, et très peu de torons de câbles sont réalisés correctement du premier coup. Un tel processus de réalisation du sertissage nécessite la mise en place de contrôles systématiques de chaque toron, ce qui augmente d'autant le temps de fabrication.For reasons of complexity of the cable strands, this crimping is often done manually. The establishment of the branch to be crimped in the crimping station is thus commonly carried out by an operator. This leads to inevitable mounting errors, and very few cable strands are made correctly the first time. Such a crimping process requires the establishment of systematic checks of each strand, which increases the manufacturing time accordingly.
Le but de la présente invention est de créer une unité de sertissage dans laquelle la mise en place de la branche à sertir dans le poste de sertissage est réalisée automatiquement. On cherche également à garantir que les branches mises en place dans un poste de sertissage sont toujours les bonnes. Ceci permet de diminuer les contrôles à effectuer et réduit le temps de fabrication de la nappe de câbles plats.The object of the present invention is to create a crimping unit in which the setting up of the crimping branch in the crimping station is carried out automatically. We also try to guarantee that the branches installed in a crimping station are always the right ones. This makes it possible to reduce the checks to be carried out and reduces the manufacturing time of the ribbon of flat cables.
A cet effet, la présente invention concerne une unité de sertissage automatique de nappes de câbles plats flexible, la dite nappe comportant au moins une branche sur laquelle un connecteur est à sertir, la dite unité étant caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte :To this end, the present invention relates to an automatic crimping unit for flexible flat cable plies, the said ply comprising at least one branch on which a connector is to be crimped, the said unit being characterized in that it comprises:
- un plateau de guidage sur lequel circule la nappe de câbles plats,- a guide plate on which the ribbon of flat cables flows,
- une pluralité de postes de sertissage disposés de manière verticalement décalée à l'aplomb du plan du plateau de guidage et adaptés pour sertir un connecteur à l'extrémité d'une branche, eta plurality of crimping stations arranged vertically offset vertically above the plane of the guide plate and adapted to crimp a connector at the end of a branch, and
- une pluralité de rampes basculantes présentant une première extrémité au niveau du plan du plateau de guidage lorsqu'elles sont à l'état basculé, et une seconde extrémité au niveau d'un poste de sertissage, la dite rampe étant disposée en sens inverse du déplacement de la nappe, chaque rampe étant adaptée pour basculer, sur commande, vers le plateau de guidage de telle sorte qu'une branche prédéterminée de la nappe suive la rampe qu'elle rencontre sur son trajet lors de son déplacement et se dirige vers un des postes de sertissage pour y recevoir un connecteur.- A plurality of tilting ramps having a first end at the plane of the guide plate when they are in the tilted state, and a second end at a crimping station, said ramp being arranged in the opposite direction from displacement of the ply, each ramp being adapted to tilt, on command, towards the guide plate so that a predetermined branch of the ply follows the ramp that it meets on its way during its displacement and goes towards one of the crimping stations to receive a connector there.
De manière avantageuse, le basculement de la rampe permet de garantir que seule la branche de la nappe se trouvant en face de cette rampe sera amenée vers le poste de sertissage correspondant. Selon l'invention, il n'est pas nécessaire de prévoir un moyen d'entraînement spécifique de la branche à sertir. En effet, la nappe est suffisamment rigide pour que la branche à sertir soit entraînée en même temps que la nappe elle-même.Advantageously, the tilting of the ramp makes it possible to guarantee that only the branch of the ply located opposite this ramp will be brought to the corresponding crimping station. According to the invention, it is not necessary to provide a specific drive means for the branch to be crimped. Indeed, the ply is rigid enough for the branch to be crimped to be driven at the same time as the ply itself.
Bien entendu, en fonction de la configuration de la nappe de câbles plats à réaliser, les rampes, permettant d'amener chacune des branches à sertir vers un poste de sertissage, présentent une plus moins grande largeur. En effet, parfois la branche à sertir ne contient que deux pistes, parfois elle en contient un grand nombre (une dizaine ou plus). Dans ce cas, la largeur de la rampe est chaque fois adaptée pour diriger la totalité des pistes constituant la branche à sertir vers le poste de sertissage. En conséquence, les rampes selon l'invention ne présentent pas toutes la même largeur. En outre, la largeur de chaque rampe est modifiable en fonction de la nappe à réaliser. A cet effet, chaque poste de sertissage possède un jeu de rampes de diverses largeurs. A chaque fois qu'une série de nappe est à réaliser, les rampes appropriées sont placées devant chaque poste de sertissage.Of course, depending on the configuration of the ribbon of flat cables to be produced, the ramps, making it possible to bring each of the branches to be crimped towards a crimping station, have a narrower width. Indeed, sometimes the branch to be crimped contains only two tracks, sometimes it contains a large number (ten or more). In this case, the width of the ramp is each time adapted to direct all of the tracks constituting the branch to be crimped towards the crimping station. Consequently, the ramps according to the invention do not all have the same width. In addition, the width of each ramp can be modified depending on the layer to be produced. For this purpose, each crimping station has a set of ramps of various widths. Whenever a series of plies is to be produced, the appropriate ramps are placed in front of each crimping station.
Avantageusement, le basculement d'une rampe est programmable dans le temps. Les divers connecteurs peuvent être placés l'un après l'autre sur chacune des branches ou être sertis en même temps.Advantageously, the tilting of a ramp is programmable over time. The various connectors can be placed one after the other on each of the branches or be crimped at the same time.
D'autres objets, caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront d'ailleurs de la description qui suit, à titre d'exemple non limitatif, en référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
- les figures 1a et 1b sont des vues schématiques montrant une nappe de câbles plats sur laquelle des connecteurs sont à sertir,FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic views showing a sheet of flat cables on which connectors are to be crimped,
- la figure 2 est une vue schématique de coté d'une unité de sertissage selon l'invention, etFIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a crimping unit according to the invention, and
- la figure 3 est une vue schématique de dessus de l'unité de sertissage selon la figure 2.FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the crimping unit according to FIG. 2.
Les figures 1a et 1b montrent une nappe 10 de câbles plats à sertir. Pour les besoins de la description, cette nappe de câbles plats est extrêmement simple puisqu'elle est constituée de quatre pistes maintenues ensemble dans un connecteur commun 11 (à gauche sur le dessin). Cette nappe se partage en deux branches 12 de longueurs différentes constituées chacune de deux pistes. Un connecteur 13 est placé à l'extrémité de chacune de ces branches. Comme le montre la figure 1b, ces branches sont destinées à prendre des directions différentes par pliage et à alimenter des accessoires placés dans le véhicule en des endroits distincts.FIGS. 1a and 1b show a ply 10 of flat cables to be crimped. For the purposes of the description, this ribbon of flat cables is extremely simple since it consists of four tracks held together in a common connector 11 (on the left in the drawing). This layer is divided into two branches 12 of different lengths each consisting of two tracks. A connector 13 is placed at the end of each of these branches. As shown in Figure 1b, these branches are intended to take different directions by folding and to supply accessories placed in the vehicle in separate locations.
L'unité 20 de sertissage de connecteurs permettant de réaliser une telle nappe 10 est représentée aux figures 2 et 3.The connector crimping unit 20 making it possible to produce such a ply 10 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
Cette unité comporte trois postes de sertissage 14a, 14b, 14c (dans le cas particulier de la réalisation de la nappe représentée à la figure 2). Il est bien entendu que le nombre de postes de sertissage peut varier en fonction de la configuration des branches à sertir. L'unité de sertissage comporte également un plateau de guidage 15 sur lequel est posée la nappe de câbles plats 10. Cette nappe de câbles plats est entraînée en déplacement le long d'un rail de guidage 16. Les moyens de déplacement de la nappe sont constitués par des rouleaux 17 pouvant être entraînés en rotation selon deux sens de rotation (sens horaire et anti-horaire). L'entraînement de la nappe se fait par frottement des rouleaux contre la nappe, ce qui a pour conséquence d'entraîner celle-ci vers la droite ou la gauche (sur le dessin), c'est à dire selon deux sens de déplacement opposés.This unit comprises three crimping stations 14a, 14b, 14c (in the particular case of the production of the ply shown in FIG. 2). It is understood that the number of crimping stations can vary depending on the configuration of the branches to be crimped. The crimping unit also includes a guide plate 15 on which is laid the ribbon of flat cables 10. This ribbon of flat cables is driven in displacement along a guide rail 16. The means of displacement of the ribbon are constituted by rollers 17 which can be rotated in two directions of rotation (clockwise and counterclockwise). The tablecloth is driven by friction of the rollers against the tablecloth, which has the consequence of driving the latter to the right or to the left (in the drawing), that is to say in two opposite directions of movement. .
Chaque poste de sertissage est placé au-dessus de la nappe (de manière verticalement décalée), de telle sorte qu'une rampe basculante 18a, 18b, 18c qui lui est associée soit située à l'aplomb des pistes de la branche sur laquelle elle doit poser un connecteur.Each crimping station is placed above the ply (vertically offset), so that a tilting ramp 18a, 18b, 18c associated therewith is located directly above the tracks of the branch on which it must install a connector.
A l'état de repos, les rampes basculantes 18a, b et c sont dans la position représentée en traits pleins à la figure 2. La nappe est donc entraînée par les rouleaux 17 et se déplace sans encombre en dessous des postes de sertissage 14a, b, c.In the idle state, the tilting ramps 18a, b and c are in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. The ply is therefore driven by the rollers 17 and moves unhindered below the crimping stations 14a, b, c.
Le procédé de pose de sertissage automatique selon l'invention est décrit ci-après.The automatic crimping method according to the invention is described below.
Le connecteur commun 11 est tout d'abord serti. Pour ce faire, la nappe 10 est amenée à l'aide des rouleaux 17 de telle sorte que son extrémité gauche soit disposée à droite de la rampe basculante 18a. Le basculement (traits pointillés, figure 2) de la rampe 18a vers le plateau de guidage est alors commandé. Ainsi, une première extrémité de cette rampe est disposée au niveau du plateau de guidage 15 (en contact avec ce plateau), tandis qu'une seconde extrémité de la rampe 18a est disposée au niveau du poste de sertissage 14a. Les rouleaux 17 sont alors entraînés en rotation de telle sorte que la nappe 10 soit entraînée vers la gauche. Comme la rampe 18a est inclinée dans le sens inverse du déplacement de la nappe, celle ci est déviée et dirigée vers le poste de sertissage. Dès que la nappe 10 est détectée comme étant en place dans le poste de sertissage 14a, le connecteur commun 11 est serti sur l'extrémité de la nappe. Une fois le connecteur serti, les rouleaux 17 entraînent la nappe 10 en sens inverse (c'est-à-dire vers la droite sur le dessin) de telle sorte que la nappe redescende du poste de sertissage 14a. Dès que la nappe repose totalement sur le plateau de guidage 15, la rampe basculante 18a est relevée en position de repos.The common connector 11 is firstly crimped. To do this, the sheet 10 is brought using the rollers 17 so that its left end is disposed to the right of the tilting ramp 18a. The tilting (dotted lines, Figure 2) of the ramp 18a towards the guide plate is then controlled. Thus, a first end of this ramp is disposed at the level of the guide plate 15 (in contact with this plate), while a second end of the ramp 18a is arranged at the crimping station 14a. The rollers 17 are then rotated so that the ply 10 is driven to the left. As the ramp 18a is inclined in the opposite direction of movement of the ply, the latter is deflected and directed towards the crimping station. As soon as the ply 10 is detected as being in place in the crimping station 14a, the common connector 11 is crimped on the end of the ply. Once the connector is crimped, the rollers 17 drive the ply 10 in the opposite direction (that is to say to the right in the drawing) so that the ply descends from the crimping station 14a. As soon as the ply completely rests on the guide plate 15, the tilting ramp 18a is raised to the rest position.
Les connecteurs 13 à placer à l'extrémité des branches 12 sont ensuite mis en place de manière analogue, en commandant le basculement des rampes 18b puis 18c, et en entraînant la nappe dans le sens approprié grâce aux rouleaux 17. On notera que lorsque la nappe 10 est munie d'au moins un connecteur et qu'il est nécessaire de la déplacer, certains rouleaux 17 pourraient endommager le(s) connecteur(s) déjà posé(s). Pour éviter cela, les rouleaux 17 sont effaçables verticalement. Cet effacement peut être programmé. Ainsi, les rouleaux 17 n'endommagent pas les connecteurs déjà posés lorsqu'ils entraînent la nappe en déplacement.The connectors 13 to be placed at the end of the branches 12 are then put in place in a similar manner, by controlling the tilting of the ramps 18b then 18c, and by driving the sheet in the appropriate direction using the rollers 17. It will be noted that when the tablecloth 10 is provided with at least one connector and it is necessary to move it, certain rollers 17 could damage the connector (s) already installed. To avoid this, the rollers 17 can be erased vertically. This erasure can be programmed. Thus, the rollers 17 do not damage the already installed connectors when they drive the moving web.
Le procédé de sertissage selon la présente invention consiste à :The crimping process according to the present invention consists in:
- entraîner en déplacement une nappe de câbles plats le long d'un plateau de guidage,- moving a ribbon of flat cables along a guide plate,
- commander le basculement d'au moins une rampe basculante, de sorte qu'au moins une branche de la nappe suive la rampe basculée et soit dirigée vers un poste de sertissage correspondant, et- controlling the tilting of at least one tilting ramp, so that at least one branch of the ply follows the tilted ramp and is directed towards a corresponding crimping station, and
- sertir un connecteur sur la branche lorsque la présence de celle-ci est détectée dans un poste de sertissage.- crimp a connector on the branch when its presence is detected in a crimping station.
Bien entendu, la présente invention n'est pas limitée au mode de réalisation précédemment décrit. Ainsi, l'unité de sertissage selon la présente invention peut comporter une pluralité de postes de sertissage et une pluralité de rampes basculantes associées, ceci en fonction de la configuration des branches à sertir. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Thus, the crimping unit according to the present invention may comprise a plurality of crimping stations and a plurality of associated tilting ramps, this depending on the configuration of the branches to be crimped.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Unité (20) de sertissage automatique de nappes de câbles plats flexible (10), la dite nappe comportant au moins une branche (12) sur laquelle un connecteur (11 , 13) est à sertir, la dite unité étant caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte : - un plateau de guidage (15) sur lequel circule la nappe de câbles plats (10),1. Unit (20) for automatic crimping of plies of flexible flat cables (10), said ply comprising at least one branch (12) on which a connector (11, 13) is to be crimped, said unit being characterized in that that it comprises: - a guide plate (15) on which the ribbon of flat cables (10) flows,
- une pluralité de postes de sertissage (14a, 14b, 14c) disposés de manière verticalement décalée à l'aplomb du plan du plateau de guidage (15) et adaptés pour sertir un connecteur (11 , 13) à l'extrémité d'une branche (12), et - une pluralité de rampes basculantes (18a, 18b, 18c) présentant une première extrémité au niveau du plan du plateau de guidage lorsqu'elles sont à l'état basculé, et une seconde extrémité au niveau d'un poste de sertissage, la dite rampe étant disposée en sens inverse du déplacement de la nappe, chaque rampe étant adaptée pour basculer sur commande vers le plateau de guidage de telle sorte qu'une branche prédéterminée (12) de la nappe suive la rampe qu'elle rencontre sur son trajet lors de son déplacement et se dirige vers un des postes de sertissage pour y recevoir un connecteur (11 , 13).- A plurality of crimping stations (14a, 14b, 14c) arranged vertically offset above the plane of the guide plate (15) and adapted to crimp a connector (11, 13) at the end of a branch (12), and - a plurality of tilting ramps (18a, 18b, 18c) having a first end at the plane of the guide plate when they are in the tilted state, and a second end at a crimping station, said ramp being arranged in the opposite direction to the movement of the ply, each ramp being adapted to tilt on command towards the guide plate so that a predetermined branch (12) of the ply follows the ramp that it meets on its way during its displacement and goes towards one of the crimping stations to receive a connector there (11, 13).
2. Unité de sertissage selon la revendication 1 , caractérisée en ce que chaque rampe basculante (18a, 18b, 18c) est associée à un poste de sertissage déterminé (14a, 14b, 14c) vers lequel elle dirige une branche (12) de la nappe de câbles plats à sertir.2. Crimping unit according to claim 1, characterized in that each tilting ramp (18a, 18b, 18c) is associated with a determined crimping station (14a, 14b, 14c) to which it directs a branch (12) of the flat cables to crimp.
3. Unité de sertissage, selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce que le plateau de guidage (15) entraîne la nappe selon deux directions de déplacement opposées. 3. Crimping unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide plate (15) drives the ply in two opposite directions of movement.
4. Unité de sertissage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que la nappe de câbles plats (10) est entraînée en déplacement sur le plateau de guidage par des rouleaux (17) présentant deux sens de rotation.4. Crimping unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the ribbon of flat cables (10) is driven in displacement on the guide plate by rollers (17) having two directions of rotation.
5. Unité de sertissage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes caractérisée en ce que les rouleaux (17) entraînant la nappe en déplacement sont effaçables dans le sens vertical de manière à ne pas endommager les connecteurs (11 , 13) sertis sur la nappe.5. Crimping unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rollers (17) driving the moving ply are erasable in the vertical direction so as not to damage the connectors (11, 13) crimped on the ply .
6. Procédé de sertissage mettant en œuvre l'unité de sertissage (20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste à :6. Crimping method using the crimping unit (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of:
- entraîner en déplacement une nappe (10) de câbles plats le long d'un plateau de guidage (15), - commander le basculement d'au moins une rampe basculante (18), de sorte qu'au moins une branche (12) de la nappe suive la rampe basculée et soit dirigée vers un poste de sertissage correspondant, et- driving in displacement a sheet (10) of flat cables along a guide plate (15), - controlling the tilting of at least one tilting ramp (18), so that at least one branch (12) of the ply follows the tilted ramp and is directed towards a corresponding crimping station, and
- sertir un connecteur (11 , 13) sur la branche lorsque la présence de celle ci est détectée dans un poste de sertissage (14). - crimp a connector (11, 13) on the branch when the presence of the latter is detected in a crimping station (14).
EP99968805A 1998-12-23 1999-12-20 Unit for automatically crimping flexible flat cable layers and corresponding crimping method Expired - Lifetime EP1145389B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9816332 1998-12-23
FR9816332A FR2787937B1 (en) 1998-12-23 1998-12-23 AUTOMATIC CRIMPING UNIT FOR FLEXIBLE FLAT CABLE PATCHES AND CORRESPONDING CRIMPING METHOD
PCT/EP1999/010119 WO2000039899A1 (en) 1998-12-23 1999-12-20 Unit for automatically crimping flexible flat cable layers and corresponding crimping method

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1145389A1 true EP1145389A1 (en) 2001-10-17
EP1145389B1 EP1145389B1 (en) 2002-10-02

Family

ID=9534405

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99968805A Expired - Lifetime EP1145389B1 (en) 1998-12-23 1999-12-20 Unit for automatically crimping flexible flat cable layers and corresponding crimping method

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US (1) US6829821B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1145389B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69903353T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2185422T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2787937B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2000039899A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2884036B1 (en) * 2005-04-01 2007-05-18 Eurocopter France TOOLS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LARGE SECTIONS RIGID HARNESSES
CN111987570B (en) * 2020-07-13 2021-03-30 温州职业技术学院 Flat cable shearing test equipment and method

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4110880A (en) * 1977-02-25 1978-09-05 Amp Incorporated Cable harness assembly and electrical testing machine
US4126935A (en) * 1977-05-31 1978-11-28 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Method and apparatus for manufacturing wiring harnesses
US4217977A (en) * 1978-09-15 1980-08-19 The Silicon Valley Group, Inc. Conveyor system
US4403407A (en) * 1981-06-01 1983-09-13 Ark-Les Corporation Multiple wire terminal applying
IT1180997B (en) * 1984-07-11 1987-09-23 Inarca Spa AUTOMATIC WIRING STATION IN MACHINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS CUT TO SIZE AND PREPARED FOR ELECTRIC TERMINALS WITH POSSIBLE INSULATION
JPH0352600Y2 (en) * 1987-01-28 1991-11-14
CA2023131C (en) * 1989-08-17 1999-10-19 Mecanismos Auxiliares Industriales, S.A. Wire harness manufacture
DE9307220U1 (en) * 1993-05-12 1993-09-02 Ligmatech Maschinenbau GmbH, 09638 Lichtenberg Device for returning workpieces machined in a machining arrangement from the output side of the machining arrangement to its loading side
DE50002147D1 (en) * 1999-07-26 2003-06-18 Komax Holding Ag Dierikon Device for the linear feeding of cable ends to assembly units

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
See references of WO0039899A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1145389B1 (en) 2002-10-02
ES2185422T3 (en) 2003-04-16
FR2787937A1 (en) 2000-06-30
WO2000039899A1 (en) 2000-07-06
DE69903353D1 (en) 2002-11-07
US6829821B1 (en) 2004-12-14
FR2787937B1 (en) 2001-03-02
DE69903353T2 (en) 2003-09-04

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