GB2219532A

GB2219532A - Electrical harness making apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2219532A
Application number: GB8911955A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hiromi Tanaka
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1988-06-07
Filing date: 1989-05-24
Publication date: 1989-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-24
Also published as: MY104089A; GB8911955D0; JP2670084B2; JPH01309214A; GB2219532B; KR940011576B1; KR900001071A

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a conductor-feeding device 12,13 for feeding insulated electrical conductors 23 along a path 11; a terminating device 16,18 at which leading ends of the conductors 23 are terminated to electrical contacts of an electrical connector 17; a taping unit 14 adjacent the conductor-feeding device for applying tape 24 onto the conductors at a position spaced from the terminating device 16,18 to maintain the conductors 23 in parallel spaced relationship; a cutting and stripping device 19,20 positioned forwardly of the terminating device; and a transfer device 21 for engagement with the conductors adjacent the connector 17 to move the connector and taped conductors into alignment with the cutting and stripping device which cuts the conductors at the tape 24 and strips insulation therefrom thereby exposing conductive cores whereby a cable assembly is completed with taped conductor trailing ends. <IMAGE>

Description

HARNESS MAKING APPARATUS The present invention relates to an electrical cable-making apparatus and more particularly to an electrical cable-making apparatus that makes an electrical cable assembly having one end of parallel discrete electrical conductors terminated to electrical contacts of an electrical connector whereas the other stripped ends of the conductors are taped thereby maintaining the conductors at the prescribed parallel pitch.

A cable-making apparatus for making a cable assembly by terminating one end of a group of parallel electrical conductors to electrical contacts of an electrical connector and stripping insulation from the other ends of the conductors is disclosed in Japanese First Publication Nos. 61-71575 and 61-71576. The stripped ends of the conductors are electrically connected to circuit components or to conductive areas of a printed circuit board whereas the connector is electrically connected to a complementary electrical connector.

However, a number of problems are associated with these cable assemblies. If the stripped ends are to be inserted into through holes of a printed circuit board and soldered to the conductive areas thereof, they had to be manually inserted into the through holes as the stripped ends were not maintained in a plane at specified distances, therefore they could move freely and randomly.

In order to resolve this problem, Japanese Patent Application No 62-293859, filed November 20, 1987 discloses an electrical cable-making apparatus which applies tape to the leading ends of electrical conductors that are fed from conductor supply means to maintain them coplanar and in spaced parallel relationship and the trailing ends of the conductors are cut from the conductor supply means and terminated to electrical contacts of an electrical connector thereby making a cable assembly having the electrical connector at one end of the conductors and the other ends of the conductors are taped so that they are properly spaced for subsequent termination to the electrical contacts of another electrical connector.

While this cable-making apparatus was effective in making cable assemblies, the location of the taping unit in the existing cable-making apparatus presented problems not only in modifying the apparatus to add the taping unit but the interrelation of the taping unit with the other operating units proved to be very complicated resulting in inefficient production of cable assemblies.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cable-making apparatus for making electrical cable assemblies which resolves the foregoing problems and a method for making electrical cable assemblies.

According to the present invention, a cable-making apparatus comprises a conductor-feeding device for feeding electrical conductors from conductor supply members to a conductor-terminating device at which leading ends of the conductors are terminated to contact termination sections of electrical contacts of an electrical connector, a taping unit between the conductor-feeding device and the conductor-terminating device applies tape onto the conductors at a position spaced from the connector thereby maintaining the conductors parallelly spaced with respect to one another, a transfer device engages the conductors adjacent the connector and moves the connector and conductors so that the taped conductors are in alignment with cutting and stripping blades which cut the conductors at the tape and strip insulation from the cut conductor ends exposing conductive core ends of the conductors thereby completing a cable assembly, clamping members clamp onto the conductors at a position between the taping unit and the terminating device and moving the new leading ends of the conductors into position at the terminating device which terminates the new leading ends in the contact termination sections of another electrical connector while the taping unit applies tape onto the conductors at a position spaced from the other connector.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the key parts of the cable-making apparatus of the present invention.

Figures 2-5 are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the apparatus of Figure 1 in making an electrical cable assembly.

Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sectional enlarged views showing the cutting and stripping of the taped ends of the electrical conductors.

Figure 8A is a perspective view showing an electrical cable assembly that has been made by the apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 8B is a part perspective view showi the taped and partly-stripped ends of the conductors of another type of cable assembly made by the apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 8C is a view similar to Figure B showing the taped and stripped ends of the conductors f the cable assemblies of Figures 8A and 8B.

Figures 9-11 are schematic diagrams showing-how the taping intervals are regulated by movirg the taping unit along the direction of movement of the conductors.

The schematic diagrams illustrate an electrical cable-making apparatus CMA for may;g an electrical cable assembly 25 of the type shown in Figures 8A-C whereby one end of discrete electrical conductors 23 are terminated to electrical contacts of a conventional electrical connector 17 whereas the other ends of conductors 23 are maintained in coplanar parallel alignment via tape 24 and insulation 23b of the conductors 23 are stripped from the conductor ends exposing conductive cores 23a. The various components that form the cable-making apparatus of Figures 1-5 are conventional and need not be illustrated and described in detail.

As shown in Figure 1, the cable-making apparatus CMA includes conductor supply rolls 10, conductor-spacing roller 22, feed rollers 12, 13, taping units 14, movable clamp members 15, conductor stuffer member 16, connector support member 18, conductor-cutting blades 19a, 19b, insulation-stripping blades 20a, 20b and cable transfer members 21.

Insulated electrical conductors 23 are supplied from conductor supply rolls 10 into respective grooves of conductor-spacing roller 22 to maintain conductors 23 spaced and parallel relative to each other as they are fed along a path 11 in the direction of arrow A via feed rollers 12, 13 which operate forwardly and rearwardly to feed and withdraw the conductors. Taping units 14 include a tape supply mechanism, a pair of pressure-applying members and a cutting blade. A specific length of tape is applied by the pressure-applying members onto the upper and lower surfaces of spaced conductors 23 from the tape supply mechanism across the path 11 whereafter the cutting blade cuts the tape. Clamping arms 15a of clamp members 15 are movable into engagement with the conductors 23, and clamping members 15 are movable back and forth along path 11.Stuffer member 16 descends at the same time that connector support member 18 rises so that stuffer member 16 stuffs the leading ends of conductors 23 into termination sections of electrical contacts secured in a dielectric housing of electrical connector 17. Support member 18 is supplied from the side with connectors 17 in order to continuously make cable assemblies.

Cutting blades 19a, l9b and stripping blades 20a, 20b are mounted on support members 24a, 24b so as to be positioned opposite one another and operate simultaneously toward and away from each other to cut the trailing ends of conductors 23 and strip insulation from these ends.

Cutting blades 19a, 19b and stripping blades 20a, 20b can be mounted independently and also operated independently, if desired. Connector transfer members 21 move along path 11 and clamping arms 21a thereof engage the conductors 23 behind connector 17 and transfer the connector 17 and taped conductors 23 along path 11 positioning the tape on conductors 23 in alignment with the cutting and stripping blades 19a, 19b; 20a, 20b.

The operation of the cable-making apparatus of Figure 1 will now be described by reference to Figures 2-5.

Conductors 23 are fed along path 11 via feed rollers 12, 13 until the leading ends are positioned in alignment with the contact termination sections of connector 17. Stuffer member 16 and support member 18 along with taping unit 14 operate to terminate conductors 23 to the electrical contacts effecting electrical connections therebetween and strips of tape 24 are applied onto and adhered to conductors 23 at a specified distance from connector 17.

They return to their normally inoperative positions.

Members 21 move from their broken line position to the position between stuffer member 16 and support member 18 and clamping arms 21a engage conductors 23 behind connector 17 as shown in Figure 2, and clamp members 15 remain in an unclamped position.

Members 21 transfer connector 17 and taped conductors 23 along path 11 until tapes 24 are positioned between cutting and stripping blades 19a, 19b; 20a, 20b, as shown in Figure 3. Cutting and stripping blades 19a, 19b; 20a, 2Ob commence to cut conductors 23 and strip insulation from the trailing ends thereof while clamping arms 15a of clamp members 15 clamp onto conductors 23 at this time, and another connector 17' is in position on connector support member 18, as shown in Figure 21.

In Figure 5, stripping blades 20a, 20b cut notches in tapes 24 and in insulation 23b of conductors 23, members 21 move slightly away from the cutting and stripping members and cutting members l9a, 19b cut conductors 23 at the trailing ends of tapes 24 thereby separating the conductors at these new leading ends from the taped ends of cable assembly 25. At this time clamp members 15 clampingly engaged with conductors 23 via clamping arms 15a move rearwardly toward taping units 14 until the leading ends of conductors 23 are positioned in alignment with the contact termination sections of another connector 17' whereupon stuffer member 16, support member 18 and taping unit 14 operate to form a new cable assembly 25 while the just-completed cable assembly 25 is transferred via members 21 to a cable collection area (not shown).

Thus, as a cable assembly is being separated from conductors 23, another cable assembly is being made which goes on continuously. Feed rollers 12, 13 can operate in reverse manner to take up the slack of conductors 23 when clamp members 15 move rearwardly.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the stripping and cutting operations. As cutting blades 19a, l9b cut conductors 23 adjacent the rear ends of tapes 24, thereby severing the trailing ends of conductors 23 of cable assembly 25 from the supply of these conductors and forming new leading ends, stripping blades 20a, 20b cut through tapes 24 and the insulation 23b of conductors 23, as shown in Figure 6.

With clamping arms 15a of clamp members 15 clamped onto conductors 23, as shown in Figure 4 and moved in the direction of arrow B, members 21 move a distance S in the direction of arrow A, as shown in Figures 6, 7, causing tape sections 24' and insulation sections 23b' adhered thereto to be separated from tapes 24 and the insulation 23b of conductors 23 adhered thereto so that cores 23a of conductors 23 are partly exposed, as shown in Figures 7 and 8A. Further movement of members 21 in the direction of arrow A frees cores 23a from tape sections 24' and insulation sections 23b' thereby completely exposing the core ends 23a', as shown in Figure 8C and cable assembly 25 is transferred to the cable collection area.Clamp members 15 in moving in the direction of arrow B, cause the new leading ends of conductors 23 to be positioned in alignment with the contact termination sections of a newly-positioned connector 17' on support member 18 and stuffer 16 stuffs these leading ends into the termination sections and tape units 14 apply tapes 24 to the conductors 23, as shown in Figure 5, thereby forming another cable assembly 25 which is processed according to Figures 2-5 as previously described.

As shown in Figure 8B, the stripping blades 20a, 20b are positioned adjacent the trailing ends of the tapes 24 and they cut through the insulation 23b of conductors 23. After conductors 23 have been cut by cutting blades 19a, 19b and members 21 moved forwardly, insulation sections 23b' are removed exposing the ends of conductive cores 23a'.

The taped trailing ends of conductors 23 of cable assembly 25 permit exposed conductive cores 23a' to be disposed in plated through holes of a printed circuit board and soldered thereto.

As can be discerned from Figures 1-5, the length of the cable 25 is determined by the distance between taping units 14 and cutting blades 19a, 19b. In addition, taping units 14 are positioned between the feed rollers 12, 13 and the cutting blades 19a, 19b which increases the manufacturing efficiency of the cable-making apparatus.

Figures 9-11 illustrate making cable assemblies of varying lengths. As shown in Figure 9, taping units 14 are operated to apply tapes 24 at length L onto conductors 23 so that the cable assemblies when made by the cable-making apparatus will have lengths L. In the case of Figure 10, taping units 14 are moved from the broken-line positions to the solid line positions so that tapes 24 are applied onto conductors 23 at lengths 1 so that the cable assemblies made by the cable-making apparatus will have length 1; whereas in the case of Figure 11, the solid-line positions of taping units 14 will apply tapes 24 at lengths 1' onto conductors 23 resulting in cable assemblies of such lengths when made by the cable-making apparatus. Thus, the positioning of the taping units 14 with respect to the cutting blades 19a, 19b will determine the length of the cable assemblies that are made by the cable-making apparatus. Alternatively, the taping units can be stationary and the cutting and stripping blades moved relative thereto to provide cable assemblies of specified lengths.

It is to be appreciated that a cable-making apparatus and method have been disclosed whereby cable assemblies are made that have a prescribed length based on the positioning of the taping unit and the cutting and stripping device relative to one another and the trailing ends of the conductors are taped to maintain them at their spaced positions. The cable assemblies are automatically made and the various parts of the apparatus can be controlled and operated by conventional electrical, electronic and/or fluid equipment.

Claims

1. An electrical cable-making apparatus comprising: a conductor-feeding device (12, 13) for feeding insulated electrical conductors (23) from conductor supply members (10) along a path (11) in spaced relationship; a terminating device (16, 18) at which leading ends of the conductors (23) are terminated to termination sections of electrical contacts in a dielectric housing of an electrical connector (17); a taping unit (14) adjacent said conductor-feeding device (12, 13) for applying tape (24) onto the conductors (23) at a position spaced from the terminating device (16, 18) to maintain the conductors in parallel spaced relationship; a cutting and stripping device (19a, 19b; 20a, 20b) positioned forwardly of said terminating device (16, 18);; and a transfer device (21) for engagement with the conductors (23) adjacent the connector (17) to move the connector and taped conductors to position the taped conductors in alignment with the cutting and stripping device (19a, 19b; 20a, 20b) which cuts the conductors at the tape (24) and strips insulation from the conductors thereby exposing conductive cores thereof whereby a cable assembly is completed with taped conductor ends.

2. An electrical cable-making apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a clamping device (15) is positioned between the taping unit (14) and the terminating device (16, 18) for clamping engagement with the conductors when the cutting and stripping device (19a, 19b; 20a, 20b) cuts and strips the conductors and being movable toward the taping unit (14) to position the new leading ends of the conductors (23) in position at the terminating device (16, 18) so that these leading ends are terminated in contact termination sections of another electrical connector (17') by the terminating device (16, 18) while the taping unit (14) is applying tape (24) to the conductors (23).

3. An electrical cable-making apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the taping unit (14) is movable along said path (11) to vary the length of the cable assemblies.

4. An electrical cable-making apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting and stripping device (19a, 19b; 20a, 20b) comprises cutting blades (19a, 19b) and stripping blades (20a, 20b) mounted on suport members (24a, 24b).

5. A method of making electrical cable assemblies comprising the steps of: feeding insulated electrical conductors (23) along a path (11) to a terminating station (16, 18), terminating leading ends of the conductors (23) to electrical contacts of an electrical connector (17); applying tape (24) onto the conductors (23) at a taping station (14) spaced from the terminating station (16, 18); moving the connector (17) and conductors (23) until the taped conductors are positioned at a cutting and stripping station (19a, l9b; 20a, 20b); and cutting the conductors at the tape (24) and stripping insulation form the ends of the conductors exposing conductive cores (23a') whereby a cable assembly is completed with taped conductor trailing ends.

6. A method of making electrical cable assemblies as claimed in claim 5, comprising the further steps of clamping the conductors (23) between the taping station (14) and the terminating station (16, 18); moving the new leading ends of the cut conductors rearwardly; positioning the new leading conductor ends at the terminating station (16, 18); and terminating the new leading conductor ends to electrical contacts of another connector (17').

7. A method of making electrical cable assemblies as claimed in claim 5, comprising the further step of applying tape (24) to the conductors (23) at the same time that the new leading conductor ends are being terminated to the electrical contacts of the other connector (17').

8. A method of making electrical cable assemblies as claimed in claim 5, wherein the taping station (14) can be moved to vary the length of the cable assemblies.

9. An electric cable making apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of making electrical cable assemblies, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.