JP2003323958A - Cutting and crimping method for electric wire - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize a non-operating time of a cutting crimper following a change-over action of production lots. <P>SOLUTION: Respective change-over actions of an applicator 10 and a terminal fitting 13 in a first feeder 1A and a second feeder 1B, and a cutting and crimping action of the electric wire 4 by the cutting crimper 2 are operated in parallel. Production efficiency can be improved in comparison with prior art of stopping the action of the cutting crimper 2 and carrying out the change- over actions in the feeders 1A and 1B. Particularly in small lot multi-production, since there is a necessity of frequently carrying out the change-over actions per small lot, an improvement effect of production efficiency by parallel processing of the change-over actions becomes very effective, and a completed amount can be improved significantly. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cutting and crimping machine for cutting and crimping an electric wire with a predesigned circuit pattern, in which one end of the electric wire is cut and the applicator is supplied by a predetermined first supplying device. After crimping the terminal fitting supplied from the first supply device to the one end of the electric wire by using, the electric wire is paid out, and then the other end of the electric wire is cut, and the predetermined second supply device is used. The present invention relates to an electric wire cutting and crimping method in which a terminal fitting supplied from the second supply device is crimped to the other end of the electric wire using the supplied applicator to repeatedly cut and crimp a plurality of electric wires.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an electric wire is intermittently fed and cut, and a terminal portion cut off by this cutting is subjected to terminal treatment such as peeling or crimp connection of terminal fittings in order to obtain a desired wire. A cutting and crimping machine is known which is adapted to sequentially manufacture processed products.
In this cutting and crimping machine, the terminal metal fittings to be crimped on both ends and the applicator (mold) for cutting and crimping are different depending on the circuit pattern of the electric wire, so the terminal metal fittings and applicator are replaced every time the circuit pattern is changed. While doing the cutting and crimping work.

As described above, the applicator supply device is often used for the purpose of reducing the labor of the operator when the applicator is automatically replaced.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the cutting and pressing machine 2 in which the supply devices 1A and 1B are installed. This cutting and crimping machine 2
As shown in FIG. 6, the electric wire 4 fed from the supply stand (not shown) by the pre-feeder 3 is cut by the cutter 5 into a desired cutting length, and terminal fittings are attached to both ends of the electric wire 4 by the crimping machine 6,7. Then, the electric wire 4 is discharged onto the conveyor 8.

Here, the first crimping machine 6 crimps a terminal fitting to the tip of the electric wire 4 fed by the pre-feeder 3 in the traveling direction. Further, the second crimping machine 7 crimps a terminal fitting to the rear end of the electric wire 4 in a state where the rear end of the electric wire 4 discharged to the conveyor 8 side is fixed by the clamp 9.

Here, the first feeding device 1A automatically feeds and replaces the terminal fittings and the applicator 10 to the first crimping machine 6, and the second feeding device 1B uses the second crimping device. The supply and replacement of the terminal fittings and the applicator 10 to the machine 7 are automatically performed.

In each of the supply devices 6 and 7, the slide bases 11a and 11b as shown in FIG.
A plurality of the slide bases 11a,
As shown in FIG. 6, with the applicator 10 mounted and set on each of the terminals 11b, and the terminal reel 14 (FIG. 7) for sequentially feeding out the terminal fittings 13 installed.
Slide bases 11a and 11b on the mounts 12a and 12b
Slides in the directions of the arrows Qa and Qb, and the slide bases 11a and 11b move from the predetermined positions to the arrows Ra and Rb.
The structure is such that the desired applicator 10 is slidably moved in the direction to the position for cutting and crimping the electric wire 4.

[0008]

Conventionally, when the production lot of the circuit pattern of the electric wire to be produced is switched, the production of the current production lot is completed as shown in FIG. 9 as in step S1 in FIG. After one of the last electric wires (product or condition output wire) of the production lot is discharged to the conveyor 8, the cutting and crimping machine 2 is temporarily stopped (step S2 in FIG. 8), and 100% of the next production lot is reached. Information on manufacturing conditions covering 10 items (cutting length of electric wire, number of wires, supply number of the applicator 10 in the supplying devices 6 and 7, necessity / unnecessity of condition setting, electric wire peeling depth, etc.) Is received from a predetermined control device (not shown) via a network (LAN), or an input operation is performed to the control device by operating a predetermined operation panel (step S in FIG. 8).
3) Then, a predetermined replacement start switch (not shown)
By pressing (step S4 in FIG. 8) or the like, the applicator 10 used for the cutting and crimping operation up to that point is shown by the arrows Ra1, Rb1 together with the slide bases 11a, 11b.
Direction, and the slide bases 11a and 11b slide on the mounts 12a and 12b in the directions of the arrows Qa and Qb to move the other applicator 10 corresponding to the circuit pattern of the next lot as shown in FIG. The slide bases 11a and 11b were moved in the directions of arrows Ra2 and Rb2 to replace the applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13 (step S5 in FIG. 8).

However, with this method, the production had to be completely stopped (non-operating state) while the production lot switching operation was being performed. The switching operation of the production lots requires an average time of about 15 seconds, and particularly in a small lot production for high-mix low-volume production, the switching operation is performed with respect to the non-operating time of the cutting / bonding machine 2. It took a long time to operate, which had a great influence on the yield of electric wire products. Therefore, it has been desired to shorten the non-operation time of the cutting / bonding machine 2 associated with the production lot switching operation as much as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method for cutting and crimping an electric wire, which can shorten the non-operation time of the cutting and crimping machine associated with the production lot switching operation.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems,
The invention according to claim 1 is a cutting and crimping machine for cutting and crimping an electric wire with a pre-designed circuit pattern, using one end of the electric wire and using an applicator supplied by a predetermined first supply device. After crimping the terminal fitting supplied from the first supply device to the one end of the electric wire, the electric wire is fed out, and then the other end of the electric wire is cut, and the electric wire is supplied by a predetermined second supply device. A wire crimping method for crimping a terminal fitting supplied from the second supply device to the other end of the electric wire using an applicator to repeatedly cut and crimp a plurality of electric wires. When the circuit pattern is switched, immediately after the first supply device crimps the terminal metal fitting to one end of the last electric wire of the previous circuit pattern, the applicator and the applicator according to the switching of the circuit pattern. Or to start the switching of the terminal fitting, at least the cutting crimping machine is concurrently with the operation of feeding the wire, it switches the applicator and / or the terminal fitting.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, in a cutting and crimping machine for cutting and crimping an electric wire with a predesigned circuit pattern, one end of the electric wire is cut to a predetermined first
Using the applicator supplied by the supply device of
After crimping the terminal metal fitting supplied from the supply device to the one end of the electric wire, the electric wire is fed out, and then the other end of the electric wire is cut, and the applicator supplied by the predetermined second supply device is attached. A wire crimping method for crimping a terminal fitting supplied from the second feeding device to the other end of the electric wire to repeatedly cut and crimp a plurality of electric wires, wherein a circuit pattern of the electric wire is switched. In this case, immediately after the second supply device crimps the terminal metal fitting to the other end of the last electric wire of the previous circuit pattern, the applicator and / or the terminal metal fitting of the applicator and / or the terminal metal fitting is changed according to the switching of the circuit pattern. The switching is started, at least the first electric wire of the next circuit pattern is cut, and the first electric wire is further cut.
Using the applicator supplied by the supply device of
In parallel with the series of operations of crimping the terminal fitting supplied from the supply device to the one end of the electric wire, the applicator and / or the terminal fitting is switched.

The invention according to claim 4 is the method for cutting and crimping an electric wire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the method for cutting and crimping the electric wire is based on information on predetermined manufacturing conditions. It is executed under the control of a predetermined control device, and at the time when the circuit pattern of the electric wire is switched, the control device holds at least the new circuit pattern and the manufacturing condition information about the next circuit pattern. , Information on the manufacturing conditions is given to the control device.

In this specification, "immediately after crimping"
In that case, not only the point of time after the crimping is completed, but also the point of time after the end of a certain time in consideration of the mechanical operation timing error and time loss of the cutting and crimping machine and each supply device. Shall be included.

[0015]

1 is a flow chart showing a method of cutting and crimping an electric wire according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
5 is a state transition plan view when this cutting and pressing method is carried out. In FIGS. 2 to 5 and the description of this embodiment, elements having the same functions as those of the conventional technology are designated by the same reference numerals, and the configurations of the supply devices 1A and 1B and the cutting and crimping machine 2 are as follows. This is similar to the conventional technique.

In this wire cutting and crimping method, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the wire cutting and crimping is performed for each of a plurality of circuit patterns by the automatic operation of the cutting and crimping machine 2. 4 is intermittently sent out and cut,
By sequentially performing terminal treatments such as peeling and crimp connection of terminal fittings (reference numeral 13 in FIG. 7) on the terminal portions separated by this cutting, products sequentially subjected to desired processing are manufactured. To do. In this cutting and crimping machine 2, since the terminal fitting 13 crimped to both ends and the applicator (mold) 10 for cutting and crimping are different depending on the circuit pattern of the electric wire, the terminal fitting 13 is changed every time the circuit pattern is changed.
The cutting and crimping work is performed while automatically replacing the or applicator 10 with the supply devices 1A and 1B.

The cutting and crimping machine 2 and the feeding devices 1A, 1
B is connected to a control device 23 and stores information on various manufacturing conditions such as circuit patterns in a database stored in a central server (computer) 21 through a network (LAN) 22 as a control device (cutting and crimping management computer). ) 23, and the control device 23 controls the cutting and crimping machine 2 and each of the supply devices 1A and 1B based on the information on the given manufacturing conditions.

In the central server 21, for example, the production sequence in one day is planned in advance, and the circuit pattern (that is, the information such as the cut length of the electric wire and the type of the terminal fitting to be crimped at both ends) is designed in accordance with the production sequence. ) Is transmitted to the control device 23 at a predetermined timing described later.

The control device 23 is a general computer having a CPU, a hard disk device, a main memory and a display device, and operates according to a software program stored in advance in the hard disk device. The operation described below is defined by this software program.

Next, using the applicators 10 and the terminal fittings 13 supplied by the supply devices 1A and 1B,
The operation of the supply devices 1A and 1B when cutting and crimping the electric wire 4 by the cutting and crimping machine 2 will be described.

First, the cutting and crimping of electric wires is repeatedly executed by the cutting and crimping machine 2 for a circuit pattern of a certain production lot. Then, after cutting and stripping the leading end (A end) of the final electric wire of the production lot, at step T1 in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG.
Using the applicator 10 mounted on A, the terminal fitting 1
Crimp 3 to the A end of the wire.

At this point, the first lot of the production lot is
The applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13 provided in the feeding device 1A are unnecessary. Therefore, in step T2 in FIG. 1, the control device 23 controls the first supply device 1A.
On the basis of the information of the applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13 required for the electric wire of the next production lot, and according to such control, the first supply device 1A is required for the electric wire of the next production lot. Applicator 10 and terminal fitting 1
The switching operation for the exchange of No. 3 is started.

That is, in this step T2, the applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13 on the first feeding device 1A, which have been used for the cutting and crimping operation until then, are set as shown in FIG.
Retract the slide base 11a in the direction of the arrow Ra1 together,
Further, slide the slide base 11a on the pedestal 12a with the arrow Qa
The applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13 for the A end of the electric wire are exchanged by sliding in one direction.

During this time, the cutting and crimping machine 2 does not stop, and at step T3 in FIG. 1, while measuring the length of the electric wire, the electric wire is discharged to the conveyor 8 side as shown in FIG. When the rear end portion (B end) of the electric wire reaches the cutting and crimping position, the B end of the electric wire is fixed to the clamp 9, and the cutter 5 cuts the electric wire.
The crimping of the terminal fitting 13 is performed using the applicator 10 installed in the feeding device 1B (step T4).

When the cutting and crimping of the B-end side of the electric wire is completed in this way, the applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13 on the B-end side are no longer necessary.
The second supply device 1B on the end side starts the switching operation for replacing the applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13, as shown in FIG.

That is, in this step T5, the applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13 on the second feeder 1B, which have been used for the cutting and crimping operation until then, are set as shown in FIG.
Retract the slide base 11b in the direction of the arrow Rb1 together,
Further, slide the slide base 11b on the mount 12b with the arrow Qb.
It is slid in one direction, and the applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13 for the B end of the electric wire are replaced.

While the second supply device 1B is performing the switching operation in this way, the switching operation is continued by the first supply device 1A started in step T2, and as shown in FIG. The first supply device 1A moves the slide base 11a of the other applicator 10 corresponding to the A end side of each electric wire of the next lot in the direction Ra2 shown by the arrow to replace the applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13. Is completed, and the terminal fitting 13 is crimped to the A end of the first electric wire of the next lot using the applicator 10 on the first supply device 1A.

Then, as shown in FIG.
While discharging to the side, the second supply device 1B causes the other applicator 10 corresponding to the B end side of each electric wire of the next lot.
The slide base 11b is moved in the direction of the arrow Rb2 to complete the operation of exchanging the applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13, and for the B end of the first electric wire of the new lot,
The terminal fitting 13 is crimped using the applicator 10 on the second supply device 1B.

In this way, the applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13 by the first and second feeders 1A and 1B are, as much as possible, while the cutting and crimping machine 2 is mechanically operating automatically. By continuously performing the production of a plurality of lots while changing the circuit pattern one after another while performing the exchange operation, the non-operation time of the cutting and crimping machine 2 is reduced as compared with the conventional one, and the efficient production is performed. I do.

Here, every time the production of each production lot is completed, information on the production conditions of the next production lot held in the central server 21 (for example, the cut length of the electric wire, the number of wires, and the supply devices 1A, 1B). The identification number of each applicator 10 according to the above, the necessity / unnecessity of condition setting, the stripping depth of the electric wire, etc.) are transmitted to the control device 23. You will have to put it into operation and wait. In order to avoid this, in this embodiment, when the production lot in the cutting / bonding machine 2 is finished, the cutting / bonding machine 2 is operated instead of inputting the information on the manufacturing conditions of the next production lot. While continuing the state, the control device 23, for example, at the timing of step T6 in FIG. 1, manufactures a production lot one more ahead (that is, two more) than the next production lot at that time. The condition information is received from the central server 21, and when each production lot ends and the next production lot starts, not only the production conditions of the production lot to be newly started, but also one more The control device 23 retains the information on the manufacturing conditions of the production lot. In this way, at the time of starting production of a certain production lot, by always retaining the information on the production conditions of at least two production lots, the next production lot can be carried out concurrently during the operation state of the cutting and crimping machine 2. Even if the applicator 10 and terminal fitting 13 for the
In, there will be no shortage of information on manufacturing conditions.

In this way, each time the current production lot is completed and the production of the next production lot is started in step T7, the production of the final electric wire of the next production lot is reached, and step T1 is reached. The subsequent operation may be repeated.

As described above, since the switching operation of the applicator 10 and the terminal fitting 13 by the supply devices 1A and 1B and the cutting and crimping operation of the electric wire by the cutting and crimping machine 2 can be performed in parallel, the cutting and crimping machine can be operated. The production efficiency can be improved as compared with the conventional technique in which the operation of No. 2 is stopped and the switching operation is performed in the supply devices 1A and 1B. Particularly in high-mix low-volume production, since it is necessary to frequently perform the switching operation for each small lot, the effect of improving the production efficiency by the parallel processing of the switching operations is very effective, and the yield can be greatly improved.

In the above embodiment, the central server 2
Although the information is given to the control device 23 by always sending the information of the production conditions for two production lots to the control device 23 from the first to the network 22 from 1 to the control device 23. In the case where the bar code described in the so-called production instruction sheet is read in order and the information of the circuit pattern of each production lot is given to the control device 23, the control device 23 always produces two products. The bar code may be pre-read up to two production lots ahead so that the production conditions for the lot are held.

[0034]

According to the invention described in claims 1 to 3, the switching operation of the applicator and the terminal fitting by each of the first and / or second supply devices and the cutting and crimping of the electric wire by the cutting and crimping machine are performed. Since the operation is performed in parallel with the operation, the production efficiency can be improved as compared with the conventional technique in which the operation of the cutting and crimping machine is stopped and the switching operation is performed in the supply device. Particularly in high-mix low-volume production, since it is necessary to frequently perform the switching operation for each small lot, the effect of improving the production efficiency by the parallel processing of the switching operations is very effective, and the yield can be greatly improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when both the feeding device and the cutting and crimping machine are operated under the control of the control device, at the time when the circuit pattern of the electric wire is switched, the control device is at least new. Since the control device is provided with the manufacturing condition information so as to retain the manufacturing condition information for the circuit pattern and the next circuit pattern, it is possible to carry out the next operation while the cutting and crimping machine is operating. Even if the applicator and the terminal fitting for the production lot are replaced, the control device will not run out of information on the manufacturing conditions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an electric wire cutting and crimping method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a state transition plan view when the cutting and crimping method of the electric wire according to the embodiment of the present invention is performed.

FIG. 3 is a state transition plan view in the case of performing the electric wire cutting and crimping method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a state transition plan view when a method of cutting and crimping an electric wire according to an embodiment of the present invention is carried out.

FIG. 5 is a state transition plan view when the cutting and crimping method of the electric wire according to the embodiment of the present invention is performed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a cutting and crimping machine and a supply device used in a general electric wire cutting and crimping method.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a supply device used in a general electric wire cutting and crimping method.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a conventional method for cutting and crimping an electric wire.

FIG. 9 is a state transition plan view when a conventional electric wire cutting and crimping method is performed.

FIG. 10 is a state transition plan view when a conventional wire cutting and crimping method is performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 cutting and crimping machine 4 electric wires 5 cutter 10 Applicator 11a, 11b slide base 12 mounts 13 terminal fittings 1A First feeding device 1B Second feeding device 21 Central Server 22 network 23 Control device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cutting and crimping machine for cutting and crimping an electric wire with a circuit pattern designed in advance, cuts one end of the electric wire, and uses the applicator supplied by a predetermined first feeding device to cut the first wire. After crimping the terminal metal fitting supplied from the supply device to the one end of the electric wire, the electric wire is fed out, and then the other end of the electric wire is cut, and the applicator supplied by the predetermined second supply device is attached. A wire crimping method for crimping a terminal fitting supplied from the second feeding device to the other end of the electric wire to repeatedly cut and crimp a plurality of electric wires, wherein a circuit pattern of the electric wire is switched. If the first
Immediately after the supply device crimps the terminal fitting to one end of the last electric wire of the previous circuit pattern, the switching of the applicator and / or the terminal fitting is started in accordance with the switching of the circuit pattern, and at least the A method for cutting and crimping an electric wire, characterized in that the cutting and crimping machine switches the applicator and / or the terminal fitting in parallel with the operation of feeding the electric wire. 2. In a cutting and crimping machine for cutting and crimping an electric wire with a circuit pattern designed in advance, one end of the electric wire is cut and the first applicator supplied by a predetermined first feeding device is used. After crimping the terminal metal fitting supplied from the supply device to the one end of the electric wire, the electric wire is fed out, and then the other end of the electric wire is cut, and the applicator supplied by the predetermined second supply device is attached. A wire crimping method for crimping a terminal fitting supplied from the second feeding device to the other end of the electric wire to repeatedly cut and crimp a plurality of electric wires, wherein a circuit pattern of the electric wire is switched. In the case of the second
Immediately after the supply device crimps the terminal fitting to the other end of the last electric wire of the previous circuit pattern, switching of the applicator and / or the terminal fitting is started in accordance with the switching of the circuit pattern, and at least Cutting the first electric wire of the next circuit pattern and crimping the terminal fitting supplied from the first supplying device to the one end of the electric wire using the applicator supplied from the first supplying device. A method for cutting and crimping an electric wire, characterized in that the applicator and / or the terminal fitting is switched in parallel with a series of operations. 3. The method of cutting and crimping an electric wire according to claim 1, wherein when the circuit pattern of the electric wire is switched, the second wire
Immediately after the supply device crimps the terminal fitting to the other end of the last electric wire of the previous circuit pattern, switching of the applicator and / or the terminal fitting is started in accordance with the switching of the circuit pattern, and at least Cutting the first electric wire of the next circuit pattern and crimping the terminal fitting supplied from the first supplying device to the one end of the electric wire using the applicator supplied from the first supplying device. A method for cutting and crimping an electric wire, characterized in that the applicator and / or the terminal fitting is switched in parallel with a series of operations. 4. The electric wire cutting and crimping method according to claim 1, wherein the electric wire cutting and crimping method is controlled by a predetermined control device based on information of a predetermined manufacturing condition. Is executed by the above, at the time when the circuit pattern of the electric wire is switched, the control device, at least, a new circuit pattern, so as to hold the information of the manufacturing conditions for the next circuit pattern, the information of the manufacturing conditions, A method for cutting and crimping an electric wire, which is applied to the control device.