EP3249762B1 - Device for a cable processing machine for the automatic loading and preferably unloading of connector housing recesses with corresponding connector housings - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for loading of connector housing receptacles with corresponding connector housings of at least one type, in particular for one or for use in a so-called cable processing machine, which is used for equipping prefabricated cable ends with connector housings, which are held in the male housing housings to be loaded. The invention further relates to a cable processing machine with such a loading device and a device for unloading the connector housing receptacles after assembly with pre-assembled cable ends.

From the publication EP 1 304 773 A1 an initially mentioned cable processing machine is known. This machine is designed in particular for the assembly and assembly of cable harnesses. In order to process harnesses with multiple connector housings, the plug housing to be populated are usually arranged in practice on so-called pallets. From EP 1 304 773 A1 Known cable processing machine has at least two housing pallets, wherein in each case a pallet is located in a cable placement position in which the prefabricated cable ends are inserted into corresponding cable receptacles of the connector housing. During the current loading process with this first pallet, a second pallet is in a loading / unloading position where the operator can remove the finished harness and load new plug housings on the pallet's plug housing holders or the plug housing receptacles provided in the plug housing holder. Is the assembly process complete and the second Pallet is ready, the operator triggers the pallet change, in which the two pallets are automatically exchanged, so that the first pallet moves to the unloading / loading position with the ready-equipped cable ends, while the second pallet with the unpopulated plug housings is inserted into the cable pallet. Placement position is transferred to be associated with prefabricated cable ends. However, this sometimes only manually performed loading and unloading process is often very time consuming and because of the staff is also very expensive.

DE 38 78 003 T2 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the present invention is therefore to reduce the cost and time required for a cable processing machine of the type described at least for loading, preferably also for unloading the plug housing or plug housing holder as far as possible.

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

In accordance with the invention, it has been recognized that, in particular when a cable harness has a plurality of identical or similar plug housings, it is technically easy to implement, in addition to the actual assembly process of the cable ends with plug housings, the assembly of the plug housing receptacles with corresponding plug housings and possibly even the removal of the plug housing to automate the finished wiring harness.

To realize an automated loading process, the device according to the invention comprises at least one storage device for storing and providing plug housings of at least one type. Furthermore, the invention is characterized Loading device by at least one loading device, which is adapted to introduce one or more connector housing from the at least one memory device in one or more corresponding connector housing receptacles.

According to the invention, a feeding device is arranged between the storage device and the loading device. This feeding device is designed to transfer plug housing, in particular sorted and / or in the correct position, from the storage device into the loading device.

For this purpose, the feed device according to the invention has a linear conveyor or a linear conveyor track. Linear conveyors are generally known from the prior art and serve for the vibration transport of workpieces along a guide element, such as a conveyor or guide rail or a transport chute. As a rule, an electromagnet in conjunction with spring assemblies generates a microwaving movement on the guide element in order to move the conveyed material - here plug housing from the storage device - in a certain direction - here in the direction of the placement device. In addition, a linear conveyor along its conveying path advantageously also serve as a buffer and accumulation section, so that even with incomplete or irregular supply by the upstream storage device connector housing for the subsequent assembly process are continuously available. Accordingly, the Zuführhreirichtung according to the invention comprises a vibrating conveyor. Furthermore, the guide rail can be advantageous in cross-section, at least partially adapted to the (cross-sectional) shape of the plug housing to be supplied, so that they can be sorted by advantage and positionally fed to the placement device.

Instead of an active linear conveyor line or vibratory conveyor device can be provided according to a non-claimed example, only a "passive" guide rail and / or a guide tube between storage device and placement device, are fed via the connector housing from a storage device in a lower placement equipment essentially only gravity driven ,

In order to control the feeding of plug housings from the storage device into the loading device, in particular to interrupt it, it is provided according to the invention that the feed device has a blocking device, in particular a slide or a closure.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one storage device has a vibrating pot, which is in particular designed to sort and position the plug housings accommodated therein in the correct position. "Sorted" in the sense of the present invention primarily refers to a piecewise provision of the plug housing, while "correctly positioned" refers to a defined position of the plug housing during the provision. In particular, for the placement device, it is advantageous when providing the connector housing of a certain type, if they are supplied to the placement device in a defined and always the same position or for recording / acquisition stand ready so that the equipment can continue to process the connector housing always in the same way, especially with regard to the desired position of the connector housing with respect to the connector housing receptacle. In this sense, the Rütteltopf not only serves as storage or supply for connector housing, but at the same time as a sorting device for the placement device or - if available - for the intermediate feeder.

Alternatively or additionally, the storage device according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one magazine, in particular a rod magazine, drum magazine, disc magazine, curve magazine, tube magazine or screw magazine, have to sorted and accommodated the correct position in the plug housing accommodated therein.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the placement device may comprise a placement robot, in particular a so-called pick-and-place robot, which is set up, preferably with the aid of a gripping device, provided by the memory device or - if present - supplied by the feeder connector housing to transfer to corresponding connector housing recordings and bring in it. In this case, provision may be made in particular for the placement robot to have position detection means in order to determine the position of each individual one of the plug housings received by the gripping device from the storage device or the feed device. Furthermore, the placement robot can have position changing means, for example a rotatable and / or pivotable gripping device, in order to adapt the position of the accommodated plug housings for insertion into the plug housing receptacle to the desired position with respect to the plug housing receptacle. In particular, it can be provided that the placement robot has a multi-axis, in particular 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-axis robot arm or a robot arm with 2, 3, 4 or 5 degrees of freedom of movement.

Furthermore, according to an advantageous embodiment, the placement device can have a conveying or dispensing device which is designed to introduce plug housing provided by the storage device or, if present, supplied by the feed device into corresponding plug housing receptacles. Specifically, the conveyor or dispenser may include an ejection piston or the like to convey a plug housing into a corresponding plug housing receptacle. The ejection piston can be, for example, a pneumatically actuated or magnetically actuated or by means of spring actuated ejection piston. When conveying or advancing the connector housing, the connector housing are preferably guided by means of guide means, for example on or in a guide rail or in a barrel.

In addition, it can be provided that the placement device has at least one temporary store in order to temporarily store the plug housing supplied to the placement device. As a result, plug housings for the subsequent assembly process can be continuously available even if there is an incomplete or irregular feed through the upstream storage device or feed device. Advantageously, the previously mentioned guide means for guiding the connector housing during advancement or removal from the loading device serve as a buffer, are arranged or lined up in series on the several connector housing in series. Here, the ejection piston when ejecting or inserting a connector housing in each case the entire series of successively arranged in series plug housing by the length of a plug housing in the direction of connector housing receptacle and then withdrawn, so that in the row at förderstromaufwertigen end of the row space for a new connector housing is created, which then from the storage device or the feeder is provided to occupy the vacant place.

In order to bring at least the placement device, preferably the entire loading device relative to the plug housing receptacles to be populated, in particular the loading device into a corresponding loading position for each or each of the plug housing receptacles to be populated, the loading device according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention one at least one dimensional, preferably at least two-dimensionally, more preferably at least three-dimensionally movable displacement device. Preferably, the at least one loading device can be moved back and forth in the direction of insertion of the plug housing into the corresponding plug housing receptacles or in the direction of the inlet of the plug housing receptacles. In addition, it can be provided that at least the mounting device in a plane perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the connector housing in the corresponding connector housing receptacles or perpendicular to the direction of the inlet of the connector housing receptacles in at least a first direction, in particular in addition to a second direction, preferably perpendicular to the first direction particularly preferably be moved freely in the aforementioned plane. In addition, provision can be made for the placement device to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the direction of insertion of the plug housing into the corresponding plug housing receptacles or parallel to the direction of the inlet of the plug housing receptacles, in order to determine the position of the plug Adapt plug housing for insertion to the desired position with respect to the plug housing receptacle. As already explained above, it may be provided in particular for this purpose that the placement robot has position detection means in order to determine the position of each individual one of the plug housings to be inserted.

The loading device according to the invention has at least one storage device for plug housings of at least one type and at least one mounting device. It is also conceivable that the loading device is designed according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention for the loading of different connector housing receptacles with corresponding connector housings of different types. For this purpose, it is advantageous for each plug housing type in each case a memory device, a feeder - if provided - and preferably also a loading device available. It is also conceivable, however, that a smaller number of equipping devices is provided than storage devices are available. In particular, if the placement device comprises a placement robot, in particular a multi-axis robot arm, preferably with a rotatable and / or pivotable gripping device, which can grip plug housing with different shapes and sizes, only a single placement device can be provided, depending on Assembly plan selectively receives different connector housing of different storage devices and brings in corresponding connector housing receptacles.

According to the invention, the loading device is an independent unit, in particular as a retrofit module or supplementary assembly in an existing cable processing machine - such as from EP 1 304 773 A1 known cable processing machine - be integrated later can be made to automate the previously manually made loading from now on.

In principle, the loading device can also be part of a cable processing machine of the type described above. In this sense, the present invention further relates to a cable processing machine for loading plug housings held in male housing receptacles with prefabricated cable ends. The cable processing machine according to the invention comprises at least one plug housing holder which has at least one plug housing receptacle, and at least one cable fitting device for introducing at least one prefabricated cable end into a corresponding cable receptacle of a plug housing which can be held in the at least one plug housing receptacle. According to the invention, the cable processing machine has at least one device according to the invention for loading the at least one plug housing receptacle with a corresponding plug housing.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the at least one plug housing holder is arranged on a plug housing pallet, in particular on a displaceable plug housing pallet for selectively moving the plug housing holder between a cable placement position in which the one or more prefabricated cable ends in corresponding cable receptacles of one or more plug housings are inserted, and a loading position in which the plug housing receptacles are loaded with corresponding plug housings. The displaceability can be realized by a simple reciprocating movement / mobility of the plug housing pallet along a guide path, in particular if the cable processing machine has only one plug housing pallet. For this purpose, a simple mechanical, preferably driven displacement device, such as a linear guide, can be provided.

Advantageously, however, the cable processing machine has a plurality of plug housing pallets for simultaneously connecting plug housings, which are held in plug housing holders on one of the plug housing pallets, to cable ends in the cable loading position and, on the other hand, initially discharging plug housing receivers in plug housing holders on a different plug housing pallet in an unloading position ( Removal of connected with cable ends plug housings) and then loaded in a loading position with new connector housings again. In the case of several connector housing pallets used simultaneously in the machine, a so-called pallet changer, such as for example, is advantageously suitable as a displacement device EP 1 304 773 A1 is known. The unloading and loading position can also coincide locally or be identical.

In order to realize the respective positioning of the placement device relative to the male housing receptacles to be loaded, it may alternatively or additionally be provided for the above described displaceability of the placement device, that the at least one male housing holder for displacing the at least one male housing holder relative to the placement device is arranged on a displaceable plug housing pallet , In particular, it may be provided in an advantageous manner, at the same time to use the displacement device for moving the plug housing pallet between the cable loading position and the loading position to bring the at least one plug housing receptacle of the at least one plug housing holder in a corresponding loading position with the loading device.

As discussed below, it may be desirable or necessary for compressed air, vacuum and / or power to be available on the slidable connector housing pallet, i. in the moving system of the sliding plug housing pallet. In order to simultaneously ensure the displaceability of the plug housing pallet, the compressed air, vacuum and / or power supply may include flexible supply lines between the plug housing pallet and the corresponding compressed air, vacuum and / or power source. However, it is also conceivable that the compressed air, vacuum and / or power supply for realizing the displaceability of the plug housing pallet is interrupted and in particular that a connection to the corresponding compressed air, vacuum and / or power source only approximately at certain positions along the displacement the plug housing pallet is given. Accordingly, it is provided according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention that the cable processing machine has at least one ent / coupled, in particular automatically decoupling / decoupling compressed air, vacuum and / or power supply for providing compressed air, negative pressure or electrical energy. In particular, it can be provided that the displaceable plug housing pallet for the decoupled / compressed air, vacuum and / or power supply has a, in particular automatically decoupling / coupling coupling with a corresponding stationary counter-coupling in the loading position and / or unloading interacts.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one plug housing holder for the at least one plug housing receptacle holding means for releasably holding a in the at least one plug housing receptacle having received plug housing. The holding means prevent, on the one hand, that the plug housing received in the plug housing receptacle, in particular during the displacement of the plug housing pallet, accidentally gets out of the plug housing receptacle again. On the other hand, the holding means allow a tensile test to be carried out after the prefabricated cable ends have been fitted with plug housings and the plug housings are still held in the plug housing receptacles. The tensile test is used to check whether the connection between the connector housing and the assembled cable end defines and withstands the required minimum tensile loads.

• wiederlösbare, formschlüssig wirkende Haltemittel, insbesondere mit korrespondierenden Gegenrastmittel an dem auszunehmenden Steckergehäuse zusammenwirkende Rastmittel, vorzugswiese wenigstens einen Rasthaken oder wenigstens eine federbelastete Rastkugel; und/oder
• wiederlösbare reib- und/oder kraftschlüssig wirkende Haltemittel, insbesondere wenigstens ein federbelastetes oder elastisch verformbares oder pneumatisches Klemmmittel, und/oder
• eine schaltbare Ansaugeinrichtung zum Halten eines Steckergehäuses in der Steckergehäuseaufnahme mittels Unterdruck; und/oder
• ein schaltbares magnetisches Haltemittel.

The holding means for the at least one plug housing receptacle may have the following according to various preferred embodiments of the invention:

• releasable, positively acting holding means, in particular with corresponding counter-locking means on the male connector housing cooperating locking means, preferably at least one latching hook or at least one spring-loaded detent ball; and or
• releasable friction and / or non-positively acting holding means, in particular at least one spring-loaded or elastically deformable or pneumatic clamping means, and / or
• a switchable suction device for holding a plug housing in the plug housing receptacle by means of negative pressure; and or
• a switchable magnetic holding means.

In order to automate in addition to the loading of the connector housing receptacles and the unloading of the connector housing receptacles in the context of the object of the present invention, it may be provided that the holding means for removing the fitted with cable ends connector housing from the connector housing receptacles are automatically detachable and / or that the plug housing holder a Device for automatically discharging the at least one plug housing receptacle, which comprises means for automatically releasing the holding means. By means of an automated release of the holding means, the time and effort required for the unloading process are significantly reduced. Because the hitherto manually performed release of the holding means is very time consuming, especially in wiring harnesses, the cable ends were equipped with multiple connector housings, since the connector housing must be successively detached from their respective connector housing recordings and removed. With the automated release of the holding means, however, the plug housing is directly removed freely and thus needs in the simplest case only to be pulled out of the plug housing receptacle or dumped. If the plug housing holder has a plurality of plug housing receptacles or if a plurality of plug housing holders with one or more plug housing receptacles are provided in a cable processing machine, then the means for automated release of the holding means can be designed such that the holding means for all plug housing receptacles are released simultaneously, so that advantageously all equipped with connector housings cable ends in one or as a whole can be removed simultaneously.

In this case, the means provided according to the invention for the automated release of the holding means can be achieved, for example, by the switchability or corresponding switching means of the suction device, be realized the pneumatic clamping means or the magnetic holding means. These switching means may be at least one controllable or switchable fluid or air valve, at least one controllable or switchable vacuum source, at least one controllable or switchable compressed air source, at least one controllable or switchable current or voltage source and / or at least one controllable or switchable electrical or electronic switch for interrupting an electrically conductive connection.

Furthermore, the means provided according to the invention for the automated release of the holding means can have at least one, preferably mechanically acting, actuator. It is conceivable that the actuator solves the form-fitting with positively acting holding means, such as the locking of locking and counter-locking means, for example by bending or bending a latching hook or a detent clip. It is also conceivable that the actuator solves the frictional or frictional connection in frictionally and / or non-positively acting holding means by exerting on the connector housing a force which is opposite and greater than the friction or adhesion corresponding holding force of friction and / or non-positively acting holding means.

In order to further develop the discharging of the plug housing holder or plug housing receptacles in the sense of the automation task, the at least one plug housing holder according to a further embodiment for the at least one plug housing receptacle can have output means for outputting a plug housing held in the plug housing receptacle. The dispensing means are designed such that they actively convey a plug housing held in the plug housing receptacle out of the plug housing receptacle, in particular ejecting or ejecting it. Here, the dispensing means for the at least one plug housing receptacle a Austosskolben, in particular a pneumatically actuated or magnetically actuated or actuated by spring discharge piston, and / or compressed air means for directly applying the held in the at least one plug housing receptacle or accommodated plug housing. If the plug housing holder has a plurality of plug housing receptacles, then it is conceivable that the plug housing holder for at least two of the plurality of plug housing receptacles, in particular for each plug housing receptacle each having a separate dispensing means, for example depending on a separately pneumatically actuated Austosskolben.

Conversely, the plug housing holder but also in the case that it comprises a plurality of plug housing receptacles, advantageously for at least two of the plurality, preferably for all the plug housing receptacles have a common output means for the common output of held in the at least two plug housing receptacles or recordable plug housing. This reduces the technical complexity for the automated unloading of housing receivers in a special way. According to a preferred embodiment, the common dispensing means for the at least two plug housing receptacles, for example, each have a dispensing piston for each of the at least two plug housing receptacles, which are jointly actuated by a common confirmation mechanism, in particular pneumatically or magnetically or by spring force. Particularly preferably, the common dispensing means can each have an ejection piston for each of the at least two plug housing receptacles which are connected to one another mechanically, in particular via a connecting carrier element, and by a common confirmation mechanism, in particular pneumatically or magnetically or by means of spring force, can be actuated together. Alternatively, however, the common dispensing means may also comprise compressed air means for the common, direct application of the plug housing held or receivable in the at least two plug housing receptacles.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the dispensing means or the common dispensing means is adapted to release the holding means before or when dispensing a plug housing held in the plug housing receptacle so that the automatic dispensing simultaneously causes the automatic release or release of the connector housing from the holding means , Thus, the dispensing means can simultaneously represent a possible realization of the inventively provided means for automatically releasing the holder means. If the holding means are designed such that they hold the plug housing frictionally and / or non-positively in the plug housing receptacle, then the dispensing means or the common dispensing means for releasing the holding means can advantageously be designed such that when dispensing onto a plug housing receptacle held plug housing exerts a dispensing force that is greater than the friction or adhesion corresponding holding force of frictionally and / or non-positively acting holding means.

Furthermore, a receiving device for receiving at least one equipped with a plug housing cable end during or after dispensing held in the plug housing receptacle plug housing may be provided, in particular for simultaneously receiving a plurality of plugged with plug housings cable ends during or after the simultaneous dispensing of the connector housing. According to an advantageous embodiment, the receiving device may have at least one at least two-pronged collection fork or a collection comb. Also, for the Recording device, a displacement device may be provided in order to position these in the discharge position or unloading / loading position in the dispensing direction of the plug housing receptacles before and possibly below the plug housing receptacles.

Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention and with reference to the accompanying figures.

Fig. 1

perspektivische Ansicht eines möglichen Ausführungsbeispiels einer Kabelverarbeitungsmaschine mit einer erfindungsgemässen Beladevorrichtung;

Fig. 2

perspektivische Ansicht einer Kabelbestückungseinrichtung sowie eines Steckergehäusehalters gemäss eines möglichen Ausführungsbeispiels einer Kabelverarbeitungsmaschine;

Fig. 3

perspektivische Ansicht des Palettenwechslers der Kabelverarbeitungsmaschine gemäss Fig. 1;

Fig. 4-8

perspektivische Ansicht eines möglichen Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemässen Beladevorrichtung;

Fig. 9

perspektivische Ansicht eines möglichen Ausführungsbeispiels einer Steckergehäusepalette mit Steckergehäusehalter;

Fig. 10

Querschnitt durch Steckergehäusepalette mit Steckergehäusehalter gemäss Fig. 9; und

Fig. 11-15

perspektivische Darstellung eines Entladevorgangs gemäss der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

perspective view of a possible embodiment of a cable processing machine with a loading device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

Perspective view of a cable assembly and a plug housing holder according to a possible embodiment of a cable processing machine;

Fig. 3

perspective view of the pallet changer of the wire processing machine according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4-8

perspective view of a possible embodiment of a loading device according to the invention;

Fig. 9

perspective view of a possible embodiment of a plug housing pallet with plug housing holder;

Fig. 10

Cross section through plug housing pallet with plug housing holder according to Fig. 9 ; and

Fig. 11-15

perspective view of a discharge process according to the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a cable processing machine 1 with a possible implementation of a loading device 100 according to the invention. The cable processing machine 1 described below by way of example is designed in particular for the assembly and assembly of cable harnesses. In order to be able to process harnesses with a plurality of connector housings, the connector housings 300 to be populated are held in plug housing receptacles 200 of a plug housing holder 210, which is arranged on a so-called plug housing pallet 220. The cable processing machine 1 shown here has two plug housing pallets 220, wherein in each case a pallet 220 is located in a cable loading position (see right side of FIG Fig. 1 and particularly Fig. 2 ), in the terminated cable ends 400 (in Fig. 1 not shown) by means of a cable fitting device 10 in corresponding cable receptacles 310 of the connector housing 300 are introduced. During the current loading process with this first pallet, a second pallet 220 is in a loading / unloading position (see the left side of FIG Fig. 1 ), where the finished wire harness - preferably automatically - is removed and the arranged on the pallet connector housing receivers 200 are provided by means of the loading device 100 with new connector housings 300. Once the loading process has been completed and the second pallet has been prepared, the pallet change is triggered, in which the two pallets 220 are automatically exchanged by means of a so-called pallet changer 260, so that the first pallet 220 is filled with the finished pallets Leaves the cable ends in the unload / loading position, while the second pallet 220 is brought with the unpopulated connector housings 300 in the cable loading position to be connected there with pre-assembled cable ends 400.

The pallet changer 260 is shown in detail in FIG Fig. 3 shown, the pallet changer 260 during the change process. The pallet changer 260 has two horizontal rails 261, 262 on which the pallets 220, which are mounted on carriages 263, 264, can be moved. The movement takes place by means of toothed belts 265, which engage in toothed segments 266 which are respectively arranged at the top and bottom of the carriages 263, 264 (for details, see also FIG Fig. 9 ). So that the carriages 263, 264 can be brought from the upper rail 261 to the lower rail 262 and vice versa, the pallet changer has vertical lifts 267 to each of which a rail extension piece 268 is attached. Once a carriage 263, 264 has been fully moved by the timing belt 265 on an extension piece 268, the vertical movement can be performed. Usually, the pallet change takes place in a clockwise direction, as arranged with the arrows P. The lifts 267 are driven by servo axles and can thus approach any intermediate positions.

The Fig. 4-8 show in combination with Fig. 1 Details of a possible embodiment of a loading device 100 according to the invention, as present in the cable processing device according to Fig. 1 is used. According to the invention, the loading device 100 has at least one storage device 110 for storing and providing plug housings 300 of at least one type. Furthermore, the loading device according to the invention is characterized by at least one loading device 120, which is designed to have one or more plug housings 300 of the at least one Memory device 110 in one or more corresponding connector housing receptacles 200 introduce. In the embodiment shown here, the loading device 100 is designed for simultaneously loading a plug housing holder 210 with two different plug housing types (cf. Fig. 8 ). For this purpose, the memory device 110 comprises for each plug housing type each a so-called vibrating pot 111, 112, in which the corresponding plug housing 300 are stored and sorted for the further processing process and provided in the correct position. Accordingly, the loading device 100 for each of the plug housing types each have a loading device 120 which automatically fills the plug housing receivers 200 in the plug housing holder 210 on the plug housing pallet 220.

Between each of the placement devices 120 and the associated memory devices 110, a feed device 130 is provided in each case, which is formed in the present embodiment as a linear conveyor section 131, 132 for each one of the two different types of plug housings. The two types of housing are sorted in the vibrating pots 111, 112 and transferred in the correct position next to each other in the two linear conveyor sections 131, 132. In the present exemplary embodiment, the two linear conveyor sections 131, 132 have vibratory conveyors which allow continuous conveyance of plug housings 300 of both types along a guide rail.

At the end of each linear conveyor section 131, 132, a blocking device 133, consisting of a slide and a pneumatic cylinder, arranged with which the promotion controlled, in particular can be interrupted, for example by a connector housing 300 is clamped.

The two linear conveyor sections 131, 132 bring the respective plug housings 300 in the correct position to the respective loading devices 120. In the presently illustrated embodiment, each of the two loading devices 120 comprises a conveying or dispensing device 121, which is designed to plug housing 300 supplied from the respective feed device 130 in corresponding connector housing receptacles 200 introduce. For this purpose, each of the two conveying or dispensing devices 121 has a guideway 123, which can each accommodate a row of plug housings 300 lying one behind the other. The guideways 123 serve so far as a temporary storage 123 to the respective placement device 120 supplied connector housing 300 to store between. The guideways 123 are arranged at right angles to the linear conveyor sections 131, 132 and in extension of the plug housing receptacles 200 of the plug housing holder 210. Behind each guide track 123 is a pneumatic ejection piston 122, the stroke of which is at least a length of a plug housing 300, so that the entire row of the plug housing 300 is moved by the length of a plug housing 300 when the ejection piston is extended.

In the exemplary embodiment of the loading device 100 shown here, a displacement device 124 is furthermore provided in order to displace at least the two mounting devices 120 relative to the plug housing receptacles 200 to be populated, in particular for moving the mounting devices 120 into a corresponding loading position for each of the plug housing receptacles 200 to be populated is realized in the present embodiment with a carriage 125 which can be moved by a pneumatic linear axis.

Based on Fig. 4-8 An exemplary loading process or an exemplary loading method is described below: Starting from the starting position (cf. Fig. 4 ), the blocking devices 133 are actuated, so that the supply of connector housings 300 is interrupted in the respective placement devices 120. Subsequently, the carriage 125 moves in the longitudinal direction of the guideways 123 forward until the guideways 123 are in front of the plug housing receptacles 200 to be filled (see. Fig. 5 ). Next, the ejection pistons 122 are extended, whereby the respective foremost connector housing 300 is pushed by the guide rail 123 into the respective plug housing receptacles 200 in the plug housing holder 210 (see. Fig. 6 ). Thereafter, the carriage 125 moves back and the ejection pistons 122 are retracted (see. Fig. 7 ). Subsequently, the blocking devices 133 are released, whereby the respective next connector housing 300 is transported by the respective linear conveyor section 131, 132 in the guideway. The plug housing pallet 220 is removed from the lift 267 (see FIG. Fig. 3 ) are moved upward until the next plug housing receptacles 200 to be filled are located in front of the guideways 123 (cf. Fig. 8 ). These steps are repeated until all the plug housing receivers 200 of the plug housing holder 210 are loaded.

Fig. 9 shows, as already mentioned above, a plug housing pallet 220 disposed on a carriage 263 with a plug housing holder 210 having plug housing receivers 200 for two different types of plug housings arranged in two vertical rows. Fig. 10 is a section through the plug housing holder 210 according to Fig. 9 , The section shows the two plug housings 300 of different design, which are placed in respectively the outer shape of the plug housing 300 adapted or corresponding plug housing receptacles 200. In the Fig. 9 and 10 not shown holding elements ensure that the plug housings remain in the plug housing receptacles 200 during the assembly process. Depending on the material to be processed, the holding means may be simple frictional systems - such as ball thrusters. Alternatively, positive-locking elements such as pawls may be present, which must be actively opened to remove the housing. As Fig. 10 In addition, it can be seen, is for automatic discharge of the connector housing 300 per Steckergehäuseaufnahmen 200 a dispensing means 230, in this case a pneumatically actuated ejection piston 231 is present, which is held in the retracted position in the unpressurized state by a spring 232. If a pawl must be opened to remove the connector housing, the ejection piston may be formed so that it opens the pawl on the first portion of the ejection stroke.

Based on Fig. 11-15 In the following, an exemplary discharging process or an exemplary discharging process of ready-assembled plug housing 300 will be described. After completion of the assembly process of the assembled cable ends 400 with the arranged in the first plug housing 220 housing the plug housings 300 (see. Fig. 2 ) and after completion of the loading operation of the plug housing receptacles 200 on the second plug housing pallet 220, the second plug housing pallet 220 moves to the left to the loading position, while the fully loaded with housings first plug housing pallet 220 to the right to the cable loading position ( Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 ). In particular Fig. 11 2, in the present embodiment, the cable processing machine 1 on the left side of the pallet changer 260 in the loading position area is provided with a receiver 250 for receiving the cable ends 400 equipped with the one connector housings so as to be held at or after the output of the male housing 200 Plug housing 300 to safely receive the cable end and connector housing system. In the present embodiment, the receiving device 250 is designed in particular for simultaneously receiving a plurality of cable ends 400 equipped with plug housings 300. Specifically, the receiving device 250 in the present embodiment of two two-pronged forks 251, which can be moved vertically with a pneumatic lifting unit between two positions. Once the first left side plug housing pallet 220 has arrived, in the next step, the double fork 251 moves up so that cable ends 400 are caught by the double fork 251 (see FIG. Fig. 13 ). Subsequently, all the ejection pistons 231 of the plug housing holder 210 are extended together, whereby the plug housings 300 ejected and slide down along the double fork ( Fig. 14 ). To provide the compressed air for the ejection process, a pneumatic coupling (not shown here) extend, which is arranged fixed behind the plug housing pallet 220. In the next step, the double fork 251 moves down again. In this position, the operator has the opportunity to remove the cable ends 400 and the wiring harness at any time (see. Fig. 15 ). The receiving device 250, in particular the double fork 251 can be designed such that it can accommodate a plurality of harnesses, so that not just after each cycle of the just finished harness must be removed.

Claims (12)

1. A device (100) for loading connector housing mounts (200) with corresponding connector housings (300) of at least one type, particularly for use in a cable processing machine (1) for placing assembled cable ends (400) with connector housings (300) held in connector housing mounts (200), having at least one storage device (110) for storing and providing the connector housing (300) and at least one placement device (120), which is constructed for introducing one or more connector housings (300) from the at least one storage device (110) into one or more corresponding connector housing mounts (200),
   and also having a supply device (130) arranged between the storage device (110) and the placement device (120), which is constructed for transferring connector housings (300), particularly in a sorted and/or correctly positioned manner, from the storage device (110) to the placement device (120),
   characterized in that
   the supply device (130) has a linear conveyor section (131, 132) and an oscillating conveyor, wherein the supply device (130) has a locking device (133), and in particular a bolt or a lock, in order to control, particularly interrupt, the supplying of connector housings (300) from the storage device (110) to the placement device (120).
2. The device (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one storage device (110) has a vibrating bowl (111, 112), which is in particular constructed in order to provide the connector housings (300), which can be accommodated therein, in a sorted and correctly positioned manner.
3. The device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage device (110) has at least one magazine, particularly a bar magazine, drum magazine, disc magazine, curved magazine, tubular magazine or helical magazine, in order to provide the connector housings (300) accommodated therein in a sorted and correctly positioned manner.
4. The device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the placement device (120) comprises a placement robot, particularly a pick-and-place robot, which is set up, preferably with the aid of a gripping device, for accommodating connector housings provided by the storage device (110) or - if present - supplied by the supply device (130), transferring the connector housings to corresponding connector housing mounts (200) and introducing the connector housings into the connector housing mounts.
5. The device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the placement device (120) has a conveying device or dispensing device (121), particularly an ejector piston (122), which can in particular be actuated pneumatically or actuated magnetically or actuated by means of spring force and is constructed for introducing connector housings (300), provided by the storage device (110) or - if present - supplied by the supply device (130), into corresponding connector housing mounts (200).
6. The device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the placement device (120) has at least one temporary storage device (123) in order to temporarily store connector housings (300) supplied to the placement device (120).
7. The device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a displacement device (124), which can be moved at least one-dimensionally, preferably at least two-dimensionally, particularly preferably at least three-dimensionally, for displacing at least the placement device (120) relatively to the connector housing mounts (200) to be populated, particularly for displacing the placement device (120) into in a corresponding loading position for each of the connector housing mounts (200) to be populated.
8. A cable processing machine (1) for populating assembled cable ends (400) with connector housings (300) of at least one type held in connector housing mounts (200), having at least one connector housing holder (210), which has at least one connector housing mount (200), and having at least one cable placement device (10) for introducing at least one assembled cable end (400) into a corresponding cable mount (310) of a connector housing (300), which can be held in the at least one connector housing mount (200), characterized by at least one device (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, for loading the at least one connector housing mount (200) with a corresponding connector housing (300).
9. The cable processing machine (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the at least one connector housing holder (210) is arranged on a connector housing pallet (220), particularly on a displaceable connector housing pallet (220) for the optional displacement of the connector housing holder between a cable placement position, in which the one or the plurality of assembled cable ends (400) are introduced into corresponding cable mounts (310) of the one or more connector housings (300), and at least one loading position, in which the connector housing mounts (200) are loaded with corresponding connector housings (300); and/or in that the at least one connector housing holder (210) is arranged on a displaceable connector housing pallet (220) for displacing the at least one connector housing holder (210) relatively to the placement device (120) of the loading device (100), in order to bring the at least one connector housing mount (200) of the at least one connector housing holder (210) into in a corresponding loading position with the placement device (120).
10. The cable processing machine (1) according to Claim 9, characterized by at least one compressed-air supply, negative-pressure supply and/or power supply, which can be (un)coupled and in particular automatically (un)couples, for providing compressed air, negative pressure or electrical energy on the displaceable connector housing pallet (220).
11. The cable processing machine (1) according to Claim 10, characterized in that the displaceable connector housing pallet (220) has an, in particular automatically (un)coupling, coupling for the compressed-air supply, negative-pressure supply and/or power supply, which can be (un)coupled, which coupling interacts with a corresponding fixed mating coupling in the region of the loading position.
12. The cable processing machine (1) according to one of Claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the plug housing holder (210) for the at least one connector housing mount (200) has holding means for releasable holding of a connector housing (300), which can be accommodated in the connector housing mount, and preferably comprises a device for automatically unloading the at least one connector housing mount (200), which has means for automatically releasing the holding means.

Images