JP2010257778A - Electric wire, method of processing electric wire and processing device of electric wire - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide: an electric wire capable of easily restraining spread of a coloring material or unevenness of its spreading way on a coated part, and improving visibility and design properties of coloring design; a method of processing an electric wire; and a processing device of an electric wire. <P>SOLUTION: The electric wire 1 includes conductive core wires, and an insulating coated part structured of a polyolefin-based resin composition and coating the core wires. By wiping off an outer surface of the coated part, that is, an outer surface of the electric wire 1, or by heating the electric wire 1, a surface tension γ of the outer surface of the electric wire 1 is to be set at 20 mN/m or more and 35 mN/m or less. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric wire, an electric wire processing method, and an electric wire processing apparatus, each including an electrically conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion that is made of a polyolefin resin composition and covers the core wire.

  Various electronic devices are mounted on automobiles or the like as moving bodies. For this reason, in order to transmit the electric power from power sources, such as a battery, the control signal from a computer, etc., the said motor vehicle etc. has wired the wire harness. The wire harness includes a plurality of electric wires and connectors attached to ends of the electric wires.

  The electric wire is a so-called covered electric wire, and includes a conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion that covers the core wire. The coating | coated part is comprised with the resin composition of various types according to the intended purpose etc. which the electric wire mentions later. The resin composition contains a base resin and an additive added to the base resin. Examples of the base resin include polyvinyl chloride resins and polyolefin resins. Examples of the additive include an antioxidant and a copper damage inhibitor.

  The above-mentioned antioxidant is deposited on the outer surface of the covering part, that is, on the outer surface of the electric wire immediately after the electric wire is manufactured by extrusion molding, so that the coating part is oxidized. Deterioration due to is prevented. Moreover, although the copper damage prevention agent has prevented deterioration of the coating | coated part by the influence of the core wire of an electric wire, after an electric wire is manufactured by extrusion molding, it deposits on the outer surface of an electric wire gradually with time. Other additives also gradually deposit on the outer surface of the electric wire over time.

  By the way, the electric wire of the wire harness mentioned above needs to identify the thickness of the core wire, the material of the covering (such as the presence or absence of heat resistance), the purpose of use, and the like. The purpose of use is, for example, a vehicle system (system) in which an electric wire is used, such as an air bag, an ABS (Antilock Brake System), a control signal such as vehicle speed information, and a power transmission system.

  Therefore, a mark (colored design) is formed on the outer surface of the electric wire in order to identify the purpose of use described above. A mark is formed by coloring the outer surface of the electric wire after manufacture. Such coloring of the electric wires is performed, for example, by using a coloring device for electric wires (see, for example, Patent Document 1) by spraying (dropping) the coloring material toward the outer surface of the electric wires. The colorant is one in which a dye is dissolved or dispersed or a pigment is dispersed in a solvent.

  However, as described above, additives such as an antioxidant and a copper damage inhibitor are deposited on the outer surface of the electric wire. For this reason, if an additive having high compatibility with the solvent of the colorant is deposited, the colorant sprayed (dropped) on the coating portion spreads to spread the mark, and the mark visibility and design properties There has been a problem of lowering. Furthermore, if the type and content of the additive differ depending on the type of wire, or even if the same type of wire is used in different production lots or storage conditions, the amount of additive deposited will differ, and the colorant will spread. There was a problem that there was variation in the direction. On the other hand, when an additive having low compatibility with the solvent of the coloring material is deposited, there is a problem that the coloring material on the coating portion is repelled and is difficult to be colored.

  For example, when the base resin of the resin composition is a polyvinyl chloride resin, there is no problem because the colorant easily penetrates. However, in recent years, halogen-free resin compositions in which the base resin is a polyolefin resin have been frequently used in consideration of environmental problems. When the base resin is a polyolefin-based resin, there is a problem that the coloring material is difficult to permeate, the degree of variation in how the coloring material spreads increases, and the visibility and design of the mark are lowered.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to apply the methods described in Patent Documents 2 and 3. In Patent Documents 2 and 3, a fluorine-based resin and a paint are used in order to reliably hold a paint such as a colored paint (coloring material) or a functional paint on a covering portion in a fluorine-based resin having high water and oil repellency. The functional groups that react with each other are introduced into both of them, and the reaction of these functional groups is advanced by heating, so that the paint is reliably attached to the fluororesin.

JP 2005-346939 A JP 2006-328344 A JP 2007-84780 A

  However, in order to apply the methods described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, functional groups that react with each other must be introduced into both the polyolefin-based resin and the colorant, which is problematic. .

  The present invention aims to solve such problems. That is, the present invention is an electric wire, an electric wire processing method, and an electric wire processing apparatus that can easily suppress the spread of the coloring material on the covering portion and the variation in the spreading method, and improve the visibility and design of the colored design. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion formed of a polyolefin resin composition and covering the core wire. In the provided electric wire, the surface tension of the outer surface of the covering portion is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less.

  The invention described in claim 2 is an electric wire processing method for processing an electric wire provided with a conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion formed of a polyolefin-based resin composition and covering the core wire. The wire processing method is characterized in that the outer surface of the covering portion is wiped off so that the surface tension of the outer surface of the covering portion is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less.

  The invention described in claim 3 is an electric wire processing apparatus for processing an electric wire comprising an electrically conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion that is made of a polyolefin resin composition and covers the core wire. An electric wire processing apparatus comprising wiping means for wiping the outer surface of the covering portion so that the surface tension of the outer surface of the covering portion is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less. .

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electric wire processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the wiping means is provided so as to be able to come in contact with and separate from each other, and a pair of clamping members that sandwich the electric wire between each other; A first moving means for moving at least one of the pair of clamping members to move the pair of clamping members toward and away from each other; and a first moving means for moving the pair of clamping members along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire. Two moving means, and a control means for controlling the first moving means and the second moving means so as to move the pair of holding members sandwiching the electric wire between each other along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire, It is the processing apparatus of the electric wire characterized by comprising.

  The invention described in claim 5 is an electric wire processing method for processing an electric wire provided with a conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion that is made of a polyolefin resin composition and covers the core wire. The wire processing method is characterized in that the wire is heated so that a surface tension of an outer surface of the covering portion is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less.

  The invention described in claim 6 is an electric wire processing apparatus for processing an electric wire comprising an electrically conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion that is made of a polyolefin resin composition and covers the core wire. An electric wire processing apparatus comprising heating means for heating the electric wire so that a surface tension of an outer surface of the covering portion is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less.

  According to the invention described in claim 1, since the surface tension of the outer surface of the covering portion is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less, when the coloring material is sprayed on the outer surface of the covering portion, The coloring material adheres to the outer surface of the covering portion without bleeding or being repelled. For this reason, the spreading method of the coloring material on the covering portion is stabilized. Therefore, the visibility and designability of the colored design can be improved.

  According to the invention described in claims 2 and 3, the surface tension of the outer surface of the covering portion can be easily set to 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less by wiping the outer surface of the covering portion. . And, when the surface tension of the outer surface of the covering portion is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less, when the coloring material is sprayed on the outer surface of the covering portion, the coloring material does not bleed and is not repelled. It adheres to the outer surface of the coating. For this reason, the spreading method of the coloring material on the covering portion is stabilized. Therefore, the visibility and designability of the colored design can be improved.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the outer surface of the covering portion can be reliably wiped off by moving the pair of holding members sandwiching the electric wire between each other along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire.

  According to the invention described in claims 5 and 6, by heating the electric wire, the surface tension of the outer surface of the covering portion can be easily set to 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less. And, when the surface tension of the outer surface of the covering portion is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less, when the coloring material is sprayed on the outer surface of the covering portion, the coloring material does not bleed and is not repelled. It adheres to the outer surface of the coating. For this reason, the spreading method of the coloring material on the covering portion is stabilized. Therefore, the visibility and designability of the colored design can be improved.

(A) It is a perspective view which shows the colored state of the electric wire concerning the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. (B) It is a side view of the electric wire shown by (a). It is explanatory drawing explaining the process of the wire harness manufacturing system using the wiping apparatus concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the apparatus used at each process of the wire harness manufacturing system shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the structure of the wiping apparatus shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which pinched the electric wire with a pair of roller shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which a pair of roller shown by FIG. 5 moved along the longitudinal direction of an electric wire. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows the principal part of the wiping apparatus shown by FIG. It is a graph which shows the change of the width | variety of the mark at the time of coloring the electric wire which changed surface tension using the wiping apparatus shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the process of the wire harness manufacturing system using the heating apparatus concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the apparatus used at each process of the wire harness manufacturing system shown by FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the heating part of the heating apparatus shown by FIG. It is a graph which shows the change of the surface tension of an electric wire at the time of changing the heating time of the electric wire by the heating part shown by FIG.

  Hereinafter, the electric wire 1 concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention and the wiping apparatus 2 as an electric wire processing apparatus are demonstrated with reference to FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. The electric wire 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is for coloring the outer surface 1a by attaching a coloring material to the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 (that is, for coloring).

  The electric wire 1 is a so-called covered electric wire and is manufactured by extrusion molding. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the electric wire 1 includes a conductive core wire 11 and an insulating covering portion 12 that covers the core wire 11. The core wire 11 is formed by twisting a plurality of strands 11a. The strand 11a is comprised with electroconductive metal materials, such as copper, for example. In addition, the core wire 11 may be comprised from the one strand 11a.

  The covering portion 12 is made of an insulating synthetic resin and is made of a polyolefin resin composition. The covering portion 12 covers the core wire 11. For this reason, the outer surface of the covering portion 12 forms the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1, and the outer surface of the covering portion 12 corresponds to the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1. At the end portion of the electric wire 1, the covering portion 12 is peeled off and removed, and the core wire 11 is exposed.

  The polyolefin resin composition contains a polyolefin resin as a base resin, an antioxidant as an additive, and a copper damage inhibitor as an additive. Examples of the polyolefin resin include polypropylene resin and polyethylene resin. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. In addition, base resin is not limited only to these, Polyolefin resin other than these may be sufficient.

  Examples of the antioxidant include trade name Irganox 1010 (manufactured by Ciba Japan), trade name ADK STAB AO series (manufactured by ADEKA), and the like. Examples of the copper damage preventive agent include trade name Irganox MD1024 (manufactured by Ciba Japan), trade name Adeka Stub CDA series (manufactured by ADEKA), and the like. In addition, an antioxidant and a copper damage inhibitor may respectively use 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together. Moreover, an additive is not limited only to these, Additives other than these may be sufficient.

  The melting point of the antioxidant exemplified above is lower than the temperature (about 200 ° C.) at the time of extrusion when the electric wire 1 is manufactured. And the said antioxidant deposits very slightly (to an extent which cannot be visually observed) on the whole outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 immediately after the electric wire 1 is manufactured. Moreover, the melting point of the copper damage inhibitor exemplified above is higher than the melting point of the antioxidant. And the said copper damage inhibitor deposits on the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 gradually with time after the electric wire 1 is manufactured.

  Furthermore, the compatibility of the antioxidant to the solvent of the coloring material described later (acetone in this embodiment) is higher than the compatibility of the copper damage inhibitor. In addition, the compatibility of the antioxidant is high enough to bleed the coloring material adhering to the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1. In addition, the compatibility of the copper damage inhibitor is low enough to repel the coloring material that is sprayed (dropped) on the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1.

  For this reason, the surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 immediately after manufacture is increased to such an extent that the adhering coloring material is blotted by the antioxidant deposited on the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1. Therefore, when the electric wire 1 immediately after manufacture is colored, the coloring material is blotted by the antioxidant and spreads more than the desired shape.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the antioxidant deposited by wiping the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 using the wiping device 2 is removed, and the surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 is 20 mN / m or more. And 35 mN / m or less. If the surface tension γ is greater than 35 mN / m (the removal of the antioxidant is not sufficient), there is a possibility that the coloring material will bleed. On the other hand, when the surface tension γ is smaller than 20 mN / m (the antioxidant is removed too much), the polarity of the polyolefin-based resin composition constituting the covering portion 12 is low, and the coloring material may be repelled. The surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 is a value measured by a measuring method based on JIS K6768 using, for example, a commercially available liquid mixture for wet tension (surface tension) test.

  Depending on the type of antioxidant, copper damage inhibitor and colorant solvent used, the antioxidant may play the colorant and the copper damage inhibitor may cause the colorant to bleed. Further, for example, it is conceivable that two kinds of antioxidants are used, one antioxidant plays the coloring material, and the other antioxidant soaks the coloring material. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the coloring material is smeared or repelled due to the compatibility of the additive other than the antioxidant or the copper damage inhibitor and the solvent of the coloring material. Even in these cases, in the present embodiment, the outer surface 1a of the uncolored electric wire 1 is wiped so that the surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the coloring material from spreading or being repelled regardless of the kind of the additive that has precipitated.

  The covering portion 12 is a single color N. The covering portion 12 may contain a desired colorant as an additive in the polyolefin resin composition to give a single color N, or the color of the polyolefin resin composition itself may have a single color N without containing a colorant. . And the outer surface 1a of this electric wire 1 is colored, and the mark 13 as a coloring design as shown in FIG. 1 is formed in the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1, for example.

  The mark 13 is formed in a ring shape (or a C shape with the lower portion interrupted in FIG. 1) over the entire circumference of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1, and a plurality (two in the illustrated example) are spaced apart from each other. Is provided. The plurality of marks 13 are formed in a color A (indicated by parallel oblique lines in FIG. 1) different from the single color N. Further, the mark 13 is sprayed with a coloring material from a coloring nozzle 51 (not shown in FIG. 1), which will be described later, disposed above in FIG. 1, and the coloring material travels along the outer surface 1a in FIG. It is formed to hang downward. For this reason, the mark 13 is formed so that the upper side is wide in FIG. 1 and the lower side is narrow in FIG.

  As described above, when the coloring material oozes, the interval T between the wide portions of the adjacent marks 13 becomes narrow, and the visibility and design of the marks 13 may be deteriorated. In this embodiment, when there is no bleeding of the coloring material, the interval T between the wide portions is 1.0 mm, and the width (design width) W of the wide portions is 2.6 mm.

  The wires 1 can be distinguished from each other by variously changing the color, the number, and the like of the mark 13 described above. The color, the number, and the like of the mark 13 are marks for identifying the line type of the electric wire 1 of the wire harness, the system (system) to be used, and the like. Thus, the mark 13 of the electric wire 1 is used to identify the usage application of each electric wire 1 of the wire harness.

  The above-described electric wire 1 is colored after the long one wound around the reel 10 is cut to a predetermined length, the outer surface 1a near the cut end is wiped off, and the end is peeled off. Then, the terminal fitting is crimped. Thereafter, the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing, and the connector is attached to the end of the electric wire 1. A plurality of electric wires 1 are bundled to manufacture a wire harness. In the wire harness thus manufactured, the connector is coupled to the connector of various electronic devices such as automobiles, and transmits various signals and electric power to each electronic device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the wire harness manufacturing system for manufacturing the above-described wire harness includes an electric wire cutting process P1, a wiping process P2, a coloring process P3, a terminal crimping process P4, and the like. The wire cutting step P1, the wiping step P2, the coloring step P3, and the terminal crimping step P4 are sequentially performed in this order.

  In the electric wire cutting process P1, electric wire selection, length measurement, cutting, and the like are performed. The electric wire cutting process P1 includes an electric wire creation device 41 shown in FIG. The electric wire creation device 41 creates a fixed-length electric wire 1 by cutting a long and uncolored electric wire 1 wound around the reel 10 (the mark 13 is not formed) into a predetermined length. The electric wire 1 is formed into a U shape in the electric wire rod 6 used in each step described above, and each end of the electric wire 1 is locked.

  The electric wire rod 6 includes a long rod body 61 and a plurality of wire clips 62 provided on the rod body 61. The plurality of electric wire clips 62 are juxtaposed along one direction at intervals. The electric wire clip 62 includes a pair of clamps that sandwich the electric wire 1 therebetween.

  The electric wire creation device 41 described above causes a portion near both ends of the electric wire 1 to be clamped between a pair of clamps, that is, the electric wire clip 62 in a state where the tip end portion of the electric wire 1 is bent into a U shape using a U-turn turning head. . The electric wire rod 6 is conveyed to the wiping process P2 by the conveyance apparatus 42 mentioned later provided over several processes. The wire rod 6 in this embodiment holds a portion of 30 mm from the end of the wire 1 with the wire clip 62. Moreover, the electric wire clip 62 is provided at intervals of 20 mm, and the interval between the adjacent electric wires 1 is 20 mm.

  The conveyance device 42 includes a conveyance band such as a belt or a chain that circulates over the plurality of steps described above, a drive motor that drives the conveyance band, and a control unit that controls driving of the drive motor. The electric wire rod 6 is conveyed to each process according to the drive of the drive motor by control of a control part. Moreover, the control part in this embodiment is carrying the several electric wire 1 intermittently by driving a drive motor intermittently according to the period which the terminal crimping machine 43 mentioned later crimps | bonds.

  In the wiping process P2, the antioxidant which wiped off the outer surface 1a of the both ends of the electric wire 1 hold | maintained at the electric wire rod 6 conveyed from the electric wire cutting process P1, and deposited on the said outer surface 1a from the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 The surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 is set to 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less. The wiping process P2 includes the wiping device 2 of the present invention described later.

  In the coloring step P3, a coloring material is attached to the wiped outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 held by the electric wire rod 6 conveyed from the wiping step P2, and the above-described mark 13 is formed on the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1. . The coloring step P3 includes a coloring device 5 shown in FIG.

  The coloring device 5 includes a plurality of coloring nozzles 51, a plurality of valves 52, a coloring material supply source 53, a pressurized gas supply source 54, a control unit 55, and the like. The coloring nozzles 51 are each formed in a cylindrical shape, and are arranged along the longitudinal direction L of the electric wire 1 (indicated by an arrow L in FIG. 3 and the like). The longitudinal direction L of the electric wire 1 is a direction orthogonal to a direction M (indicated by an arrow M in FIG. 3 and the like) in which the conveying device 42 conveys the electric wire rod 6. Each coloring nozzle 51 has a tip facing the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1. The valve 52 is provided in each coloring nozzle 51 and is connected to the coloring nozzle 51. The valve 52 is connected to the control unit 55.

  The coloring material supply source 53 is connected to each valve 52. The coloring material supply source 53 accommodates the coloring material therein and supplies the coloring material to the coloring nozzle 51. The pressurized gas supply source 54 is connected to the coloring material supply source 53 and supplies pressurized gas to the coloring material supply source 53. In FIG. 3, a plurality of coloring nozzles 51 are connected to one coloring material supply source 53 through a valve 52, respectively. However, different coloring material supply sources 53 (containing colored coloring materials) are used. Of course, they may be connected.

  In the coloring device 5 described above, the valve 52 is opened for a predetermined time by a signal from the control unit 55, and coloring is performed from the coloring material supply source 53 into the coloring nozzle 51 by the pressurized gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source 54. A material is supplied, and this coloring material is sprayed toward the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1. In addition, the coloring device 5 closes the valve 52 by a signal from the control unit 55 to stop the spraying of the coloring material. In this way, the coloring device 5 attaches the coloring material to the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1 to form the mark 13 and colors the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1.

  The colorant mentioned above is a liquid substance in which a colorant (industrial organic substance) is dissolved and dispersed in a solvent. Examples of the color material include dyes and pigments (mostly organic substances and synthetic products). Sometimes dyes are used as pigments and pigments are used as dyes. As a more specific example, the colorant is a coloring liquid or a paint.

  The coloring liquid indicates that the dye is dissolved or dispersed in the solvent, and the paint indicates that the pigment is dispersed in the dispersion. For this reason, when the coloring liquid adheres to the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1, the dye soaks into the covering portion 12, and when the paint adheres to the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1, the pigment adheres to the outer surface 1a without penetrating into the covering portion 12. To do. That is, the coloring device 5 dyes a part of the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1 with a dye, or applies a pigment to the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1. For this reason, coloring the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 means dyeing (dying) a part of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 and applying a pigment to a part of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 ing.

  In addition, the solvent and the dispersion described above are preferably those having an affinity for the resin composition constituting the covering portion 12. In this case, the dye surely soaks into the covering portion 12, and the pigment adheres securely to the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1. In the present embodiment, the above-described coloring liquid is used as the coloring material, and acetone is used as the solvent.

  In the terminal crimping process P4, stripping, sorting, applicator setup, crimping, inspection, and magic (marking, etc.) are performed. That is, after stripping the end of the electric wire 1, the electric wires 1 are sorted for each type of terminal fitting. The applicator setup is to replace the applicator of the terminal crimping machine 43 described later according to the type of the terminal fitting or to adjust the crimping height. The applicator includes a liftable upper mold (crimper) and a fixed lower mold (anvil) as a crimping tool. After crimping the terminal fitting to the end of the electric wire 1, the crimped state is inspected visually or with a television camera or the like, and the terminal fitting is marked with magic ink for identification when the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing. The terminal crimping process P4 includes a terminal crimping machine 43 shown in FIG.

  The terminal crimping machine 43 crimps different terminal fittings, and the configuration of the device itself is known. The terminal crimping machine 43 crimps the terminal fitting to the electric wire 1 held by the electric wire rod 6 conveyed from the coloring step P3 using the aforementioned crimping tool.

  Hereinafter, the wiping device 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the wiping device 2 includes a base part 21, a movable part 22, a pair of first air cylinders (corresponding to first moving means) 23A and 23B attached to the base part 21, A pair of second air cylinders (corresponding to second moving means) 24A and 24B respectively attached to the movable portion 22 and the first air cylinder 23B, and rollers (clamping members) attached to the second air cylinders 24A and 24B. 25A and 25B, and a control unit (corresponding to control means) 26. The first air cylinders 23 </ b> A and 23 </ b> B, the second air cylinders 24 </ b> A and 24 </ b> B, the rollers 25 </ b> A and 25 </ b> B, and the control unit 26 constitute a wiping portion (corresponding to wiping means) 20.

  The base part 21 is formed in a box shape and installed on a floor of a factory or the like. The upper surface of the base 21 is formed flat in the horizontal direction. The movable part 22 is formed in a thick plate shape and is disposed along the horizontal direction. The movable part 22 is disposed above the base part 21 and is attached to the base part 21 via the first air cylinder 23A.

  Each of the first air cylinders 23A and 23B includes a cylinder body 23c and a rod 23d that can be expanded and contracted from the cylinder body 23c. Each cylinder main body 23c is arranged along the vertical direction and is erected from the base portion 21. Each rod 23d extends upward from the upper end of the cylinder body 23c and contracts downward.

  A movable portion 22 is attached to the tip of the rod 23d of the first air cylinder 23A. One first air cylinder 23A moves the movable portion 22 along the vertical direction by expanding and contracting the rod 23d, and the movable portion 22 can be freely moved toward and away from (becoming to or away from) the base portion 21. To do.

  A cylinder body 24c (described later) of the second air cylinder 24B is attached to the tip of the rod 23d of the other first air cylinder 23B. The other first air cylinder 23B expands and contracts the rod 23d to move the second air cylinder 24B along the vertical direction, thereby making the second air cylinder 24B freely movable toward and away from the base portion 21.

  Each of the second air cylinders 24A and 24B includes a cylinder body 24c and a rod 24d that can be extended and contracted from the cylinder body 24c. The cylinder body 24c of one second air cylinder 24A is attached to the movable portion 22, and the cylinder body 24c of the other second air cylinder 24B is attached to the rod 23d of the first air cylinder 23B. Each cylinder body 24c is arranged in parallel with each other along the horizontal direction and in parallel with the longitudinal direction L of the electric wire 1 held by the electric wire cage 6.

  The rod 24 d extends from the cylinder body 24 c toward the electric wire rod 6 and contracts in a direction away from the electric wire rod 6. Rollers 25A and 25B are attached to the tips of the rods 24d of the second air cylinders 24A and 24B, respectively. The second air cylinders 24A and 24B move the rollers 25A and 25B along the longitudinal direction L of the electric wire 1 by expanding and contracting the rod 24d.

  The rollers 25A and 25B are made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, and are formed in a disk shape. Each of the rollers 25A and 25B is attached to the tip of the rod 24d so that the center axis thereof coincides with the center axis of the rod 24d. A pair of rollers 25A and 25B are attached to the rods 24d of the second air cylinders 24A and 24B. One roller 25A is attached to the movable portion 22 via the second air cylinder 24A. The other roller 25B is attached to the base portion 21 via the second air cylinder 24B and the first air cylinder 23B.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pair of rollers 25 </ b> A and 25 </ b> B described above is configured such that the first air cylinder 23 </ b> A expands and contracts the rod 23 d to move the movable portion 22 and moves the second air cylinder 24 </ b> A to the movable portion 22. The first air cylinder 23B extends and contracts the rod 23d to move the second air cylinder 24B, and the other roller 25B attached to the second air cylinder 24B is moved. By moving the, move away from each other. As described above, the pair of rollers 25A and 25B are provided so as to be able to contact and separate from each other, and the first air cylinders 23A and 23B contact and separate the pair of rollers 25A and 25B from each other. And a pair of roller 25A, 25B approaches mutually, and pinches the electric wire 1 between each other.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pair of rollers 25A and 25B are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 1 by the second air cylinders 24A and 24B contracting the rod 24d with the electric wire 1 sandwiched as described above. It moves along L and wipes the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1. That is, the second air cylinders 24 </ b> A and 24 </ b> B move the pair of rollers 25 </ b> A and 25 </ b> B along the longitudinal direction L of the electric wire 1. At this time, since the electric wire 1 is held between the electric wire clips 62 of the electric wire cage 6, it does not move in the longitudinal direction L of the electric wire 1.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, cloth or paper wastes 27 are detachably attached to the outer peripheral surfaces of the rollers 25A and 25B across the electric wire 1 as shown in FIG. The waste cloth 27 is in close contact with the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 when the pair of rollers 25A and 25B sandwich the electric wire 1 therebetween, and when the pair of rollers 25A and 25B moves in the longitudinal direction L of the electric wire 1, The surface 1a is wiped off, and the antioxidant deposited on the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 is removed.

  In addition, the adhesion degree of the waste cloth 27 to the electric wire 1 can be appropriately changed by adjusting the pressure of the pressurized gas supplied to the first air cylinders 23A and 23B. In the present embodiment, the degree of close contact is that the rollers 25A and 25B are elastically deformed so that the cloth 27 adheres over the entire outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 and wipes the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 over the entire periphery. It is set to be possible. Moreover, the said adhesion degree is set so that the surface tension (gamma) of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 after wiping may be 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less.

  The control unit 26 is a computer including a known RAM, ROM, CPU, and the like. The control unit 26 is connected to the first air cylinders 23A and 23B and the pair of second air cylinders 24A and 24B. When the electric wire 1 conveyed to the conveying device 42 is positioned between the pair of rollers 25A and 25B, the control unit 26 outputs a signal for contracting the rod 23d to the first air cylinder 23A, and the rod to the first air cylinder 23B. A signal for extending 23d is output, and the electric wire 1 is sandwiched between the pair of rollers 25A and 25B. Next, the control unit 26 outputs a signal for contracting the rod 24d to the second air cylinders 24A and 24B, and moves the pair of rollers 25A and 25B sandwiching the electric wire 1 between them to move the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1. Wipe off. In this way, the control unit 26 moves the pair of rollers 25A and 25B with the electric wire 1 between them along the longitudinal direction L of the electric wire 1 and moves the first air cylinders 23A and 23B and the second air. The cylinders 24A and 24B are controlled.

  Thereafter, after wiping the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1, the control unit 26 outputs a signal for extending the rod 23d to the first air cylinder 23A and outputs a signal for contracting the rod 23d to the first air cylinder 23B. The pair of rollers 25A and 25B are moved away from each other. Next, the control unit 26 outputs a signal for extending the rod 24d to the second air cylinders 24A and 24B, and causes the pair of rollers 25A and 25B to protrude toward the wire rod 6 side.

  After the wiping device 2 has been operating for a predetermined time, the surface of the waste 27 that is in close contact with the electric wire 1 can be changed by rotating the rollers 25A and 25B around the central axis and then fixing them again. The electric wire 1 can be wiped off at a portion where the antioxidant is not attached. Since the waste cloth 27 is detachably attached to the rollers 25A and 25B, the waste cloth 27 can be replaced with an unused waste cloth 27 after the antioxidant adheres to the entire surface of the waste cloth 27.

  When wiping the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 using the wiping device 2 described above, first, the control unit 26 outputs a signal to the first air cylinders 23A, 23B and the second air cylinders 24A, 24B, and the first The rod 23d of the air cylinder 23A is extended and the rod 23d of the first air cylinder 23B is contracted to keep the pair of rollers 25A, 25B away from each other, and the rod 24d of the second air cylinders 24A, 24B is extended to the rollers 25A, 25B is projected to the electric wire rod 6 side.

  Then, when the electric wire rod 6 is conveyed from the electric wire preparation device 41 through the electric wire cutting step P1, the electric wire 1 held by the electric wire rod 6 is positioned between the pair of rollers 25A and 25B, and the conveying device 42 stops, the control unit 26 outputs a signal to the first air cylinders 23A and 23B to contract the rod 23d of the first air cylinder 23A and extend the rod 23d of the first air cylinder 23B to sandwich the electric wire 1 between the pair of rollers 25A and 25B. . Next, the control unit 26 outputs a signal to the second air cylinders 24A and 24B, and the rods 24d of the second air cylinders 24A and 24B are contracted in a state where the electric wire 1 is sandwiched between the rollers 25A and 25B, so that the rollers 25A and 25B are retracted. The wire 27 is moved along the longitudinal direction L of the electric wire 1, and the waste 27 is slid on the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1 to wipe the outer surface 1 a of the electric wire 1.

  Thereafter, the control unit 26 again extends the rod 23d of the first air cylinder 23A and contracts the rod 23d of the first air cylinder 23B to move the pair of rollers 25A and 25B away from each other, and the conveying device 42 is held by the wire rod 6. The electric wire 1 is conveyed to the coloring device 5. In addition, the control unit 26 extends the rods 24d of the second air cylinders 24A and 24B to project the rollers 25A and 25B toward the electric wire rod 6 side. The outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 is wiped off by repeating the above. After performing the wiping process P2 in this way, the coloring process P3 and the terminal crimping process P4 are sequentially performed.

  According to this embodiment, since the surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less, when the coloring material is sprayed on the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1, the coloring material Adheres to the outer surface 1a of the wire 1 without bleeding or being repelled. For this reason, the spreading method of the coloring material on the covering portion 12 is stabilized. Therefore, the visibility and design of the mark 13 can be improved.

  Further, by wiping the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 with the wiping device 2, the surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 is set to 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less. For this reason, compared with the method of introduce | transducing a functional group into the coating | coated part 12 and coloring material of a prior art example, for example, it can apply to various kinds of electric wires 1 easily.

  Moreover, the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 can be reliably wiped over the perimeter because a pair of clamping member which pinched | interposed the electric wire 1 between each other moves along the longitudinal direction L of the electric wire 1.

Example 1
Next, the inventors of the present invention created the electric wire 1 having various surface tensions γ by appropriately changing the pressure of the pressurized gas supplied to the first air cylinders 23A and 23B of the wiping device 2 described above. And the width W (degree of bleeding of a coloring material) of the mark 13 when these electric wires 1 were colored using the coloring device 5 described above was measured. The measurement results are shown in FIG.

  In addition, the measurement of the surface tension γ of the electric wire 1 was performed according to JIS K6768 using a mixed liquid for wet tension test (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.). The polyolefin resin composition constituting the covering portion 12 is made of a polypropylene resin (Sumitomo Nobrene U501E1 (propylene homopolymer), manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a base member, and Irganox 1010 as an antioxidant (Ciba Japan). Made by Irganox MD1024 (manufactured by Ciba Japan). The colorant was prepared by dissolving a dye in acetone as a solvent.

  As described above, when there is no bleeding of the colorant, the interval T between the wide portions is 1.0 mm, and the width W of the wide portions is 2.6 mm. For this reason, when the width W exceeds 3.5 mm due to bleeding of the coloring material, the interval T becomes smaller than 0.1 mm (1.0 mm− (3.5 mm−2.6 mm) / 2 × 2), and the two marks 13 approaches too much and the visibility of these marks 13 decreases. Therefore, the case where the width W is 2.6 mm or more and 3.5 mm or less is regarded as no bleeding of the coloring material.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the surface tension γ is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less, the width W is 3.5 mm or less, and the wiping device 2 can prevent bleeding of the coloring material. Further, if the surface tension γ is larger than 35 mN / m, the bleeding is large and the width W exceeds 3.5 mm and the visibility of the mark 13 is lowered. If the surface tension γ is smaller than 20 mN / m, the coloring material is sufficiently covered. 12 (confirmed by visual observation. In FIG. 8, the width W is expressed as 0).

  Next, a heating apparatus 3 as an electric wire processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  When the inventors of the present invention leave the manufactured electric wire 1 for a long period of time (about six months to one year), both the antioxidant and the copper damage inhibitor described above precipitate moderately, and the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 becomes It was confirmed that the coloring material did not bleed and did not play well. This good state is a state in which the surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less. Therefore, in this embodiment, instead of leaving the electric wire 1 for a long period of time, it is heated by the heating device 3 so that both the antioxidant and the copper damage preventive agent are precipitated by accelerating time (aging). The surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a is set to 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the wire harness manufacturing system of the present embodiment includes a heating process P0, a wire cutting process P1, a coloring process P3, a terminal crimping process P4, and the like. The heating process P0, the wire cutting process P1, the coloring process P3, and the terminal crimping process P4 are sequentially performed in this order.

  In the heating step P0, the long and uncolored wire 1 wound around the reel 10 (where the mark 13 is not formed) is heated, and the surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the wire 1 is 20 mN / m or more. And 35 mN / m or less. The heating process P0 includes a heating device 3 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the heating device 3 is provided in the vicinity of the electric wire creation device 41. As shown in FIG. 11, the heating device 3 includes a heating unit (corresponding to a heating unit) 31. The heating unit 31 includes a shelf 32 and a heater 33. The shelf portion 32 includes a bottom plate 32a formed in an equal rectangular plate shape, two middle plates 32b and an upper plate 32c, and a column 32d that supports the bottom plate 32a, the middle plate 32b, and the upper plate 32c. It is formed in a stepped shelf.

  The bottom plate 32a is overlaid on the floor of a factory or the like. The middle plate 32b is disposed above the bottom plate 32a and is disposed along the horizontal direction. The two middle plates 32b are spaced apart from each other, and one middle plate 32b is disposed above the other middle plate 32b. The upper plate 32c is disposed above one middle plate 32b and is disposed along the horizontal direction. The bottom plate 32a, the two middle plates 32b, and the upper plate 32c are arranged at equal intervals. The support columns 32d extend from the respective corner portions of the bottom plate 32a along the vertical direction, and are connected to corresponding corner portions of the two middle plates 32b and the upper plate 32c.

  In the present embodiment, the length of the bottom plate 32a, the middle plate 32b and the upper plate 32c in the longitudinal direction is 180 cm, the length in the short direction is 71 cm, and each of the bottom plate 32a, the middle plate 32b and the upper plate 32c. The interval is 60 cm. The shelf 32 having such dimensions can accommodate 60 bundles of reels 10 on the bottom plate 32a and the two middle plates 32b, respectively, and can accommodate 180 bundles of reels 10 as a whole.

  The heater 33 is attached to the lower surfaces of the middle plate 32b and the upper plate 32c. The heater 33 is a light heating type halogen heater 33. The heater 33 may be a well-known heater 33 such as a far-infrared ray, a near-infrared ray, a heating wire type hot air heater 33, or a ceramic heater 33.

  The heating unit 31 described above accommodates the electric wire 1 wound around the reel 10 before being cut by the electric wire producing device 41 in the shelf portion 32, and is accommodated in the shelf portion 32, that is, in the shelf portion 32 by the heater 33. The heated electric wire 1 is heated. The temperature at which the electric wire 1 is heated (the temperature of the heated electric wire 1) is equal to or lower than the heat-resistant temperature of the polyolefin resin composition constituting the covering portion 12, and the copper damage inhibitor is likely to be deposited on the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1. It is said to be temperature.

  As temperature which heats the electric wire 1, Preferably it is 60 degreeC or more and 80 degrees C or less, More preferably, it is 60 degreeC or more and 70 degrees C or less. When the temperature exceeds 70 ° C., the electric wire 1 may be thermally deteriorated. Further, if the temperature is less than 60 ° C., it takes time for the copper damage preventing agent to precipitate, so the heating time must be lengthened. In this embodiment, the temperature which heats the electric wire 1 is 60 degreeC.

  In addition, the time for heating the electric wire 1 is set to be a time for the copper damage preventing agent to be deposited on the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 in an “appropriate amount”. The “appropriate amount” indicates an amount by which the surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less. As time for heating the electric wire 1, when the temperature which heats the electric wire 1 is 60 degreeC, 3 hours or more and 50 hours or less are preferable. When the said time exceeds 50 hours, while there exists a possibility that the electric wire 1 may be thermally deteriorated, there exists a possibility that a copper damage prevention agent may precipitate more than the said appropriate amount and to play a coloring material. Moreover, when the said time is less than 3 hours, there is a possibility that the copper damage inhibitor is deposited in less than the appropriate amount and the coloring material is spread.

  As described above, as an example, the surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 is set by setting the temperature for heating the electric wire 1 to 60 ° C. and the time for heating the electric wire 1 to 3 hours or more and 50 hours or less. Can be 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less.

  Such heating of the electric wire 1 is particularly effective in the electric wire 1 in which the covering portion 12 is made of a polyolefin resin composition. An electric wire (hereinafter referred to as a PVC electric wire) in which the covering portion 12 is composed of a polyvinyl chloride resin composition is easy to penetrate the covering portion 12 and the coloring material does not need to be heated like the polyolefin resin composition. . For this reason, the electric wire 1 and the PVC electric wire are not basically mixed in the shelf portion 32 (accommodated in another shelf portion or accommodated in another stage of the shelf portion 32). However, for example, the electric wire 1 and the PVC electric wire may be mixed and accommodated in one stage of the same shelf portion 32, and even if the electric wire 1 and the PVC electric wire are mixed, the electric wire 1 is usually provided in each reel 10. Since a recognition tag indicating one product type, size, date of manufacture, etc. is attached, each reel 10 can be easily distinguished.

  When the electric wire 1 is heated using the heating device 3 described above, first, the electric wire 1 wound around the reel 10 before being cut by the electric wire creation device 41 is accommodated in the shelf portion 32. Then, after heating at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time as described above, the operator takes out the reel 10 from the shelf 32 and sets it on the wire creation device 41. Thus, after performing the heating process P0, the electric wire cutting process P1, the coloring process P3, and the terminal crimping process P4 are sequentially performed as described above.

  According to this embodiment, since the surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 can be set to 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less by heating the electric wire 1 with the heating device 3, When the coloring material is sprayed onto the surface 1a, the coloring material adheres to the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 without bleeding and being repelled. For this reason, the spreading method of the coloring material on the covering portion 12 is stabilized. Therefore, the visibility and design of the mark 13 can be improved.

  Furthermore, when compared with the case of wiping the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 with the wiping device 2, the following advantages are obtained. First, it is only necessary to provide a heating device 3 having a simpler structure than the wiping device 2, so that the equipment cost can be reduced. Further, since the replacement of the waste 27 is not required, the maintenance becomes easy, and it is not necessary to stop the production line for the replacement operation of the waste 27, thereby improving the production efficiency. Moreover, since the wiping unevenness assumed when wiping with the wiping device 2 does not occur, the surface tension γ of the outer surface 1a of the electric wire 1 can be more uniformly set to 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less.

(Example 2)
Next, the present inventors created the electric wire 1 having various surface tensions γ by appropriately changing the time for heating the electric wire 1 by setting the temperature for heating the electric wire 1 of the heating device 3 to 60 ° C. Then, the degree of color bleeding (the size of the mark 13) when these electric wires 1 were colored using the coloring device 5 described above was measured. The measurement results are shown in FIG. The measurement of the surface tension γ of the electric wire 1, the polyolefin resin composition and the colorant constituting the covering portion 12 were the same as in Example 1.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the heating time was 3 hours or more and 50 hours or less, the surface tension γ of the electric wire 1 was 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less. Further, when the heating time exceeded 50 hours, the surface tension γ was less than 20 mN / m, and when the heating time was less than 3 hours, the surface tension γ was greater than 35 mN / m.

  Although not shown, when the surface tension γ is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less, the width W of the wide portion of the mark 13 is 3.5 mm or less, and the heating device 3 prevents bleeding of the coloring material. I was able to. Further, if the surface tension γ is larger than 35 mN / m, the bleeding is large and the width W exceeds 3.5 mm and the visibility of the mark 13 is lowered. If the surface tension γ is smaller than 20 mN / m, the coloring material is sufficiently covered. 12 did not adhere (confirmed by visual observation).

  In the above-described embodiment, the heater 33 of the heating unit 31 is attached to the lower surfaces of the middle plate 32b and the upper plate 32c of the shelf 32. However, in this invention, the side plate and back plate which block | close the open side and back surface of the shelf part 32 may be provided, and the heater 33 may be attached to these side plates and back plate. Moreover, the side surface and the back surface of the shelf portion 32 may be covered with the side plate, the back plate, or a vinyl sheet, and the front surface of the shelf portion 32 may be covered with a vinyl sheet or the like so that the inside of the shelf portion 32 is substantially sealed. In particular, in this case, instead of the heater 33, a hot air blowing portion for supplying heated gas (blowing hot air) is provided in the sealed shelf portion 32 to heat the inside of the shelf portion 32, that is, the electric wire 1. May be.

  The above-described embodiments are merely representative examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 Electric wire 1a Outer surface 2 Wiping device (electric wire processing device)
3 Heating device (electric wire processing device)
11 Core wire 12 Covering part 20 Wiping part (wiping means)
23A, 23B First air cylinder (first moving means)
24A, 24B Second air cylinder (second moving means)
25A, 25B Roller (Nipping member)
26 Control unit (control means)
31 Heating part (heating means)
L Longitudinal direction of electric wire

Claims (6)

In an electric wire comprising a conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion that is made of a polyolefin resin composition and covers the core wire,
The electric wire characterized by the surface tension of the outer surface of the said coating | coated part being 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less. In an electric wire processing method for processing an electric wire provided with an electrically conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion formed of a polyolefin resin composition and covering the core wire,
A method of processing an electric wire, wherein the outer surface of the covering portion is wiped off so that the surface tension of the outer surface of the covering portion is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less. In an electric wire processing apparatus for processing an electric wire provided with an electrically conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion formed of a polyolefin resin composition and covering the core wire,
An electric wire processing apparatus comprising: a wiping means for wiping the outer surface of the covering portion so that the surface tension of the outer surface of the covering portion is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less. The wiping means is
A pair of clamping members provided so as to be able to contact and separate from each other, and sandwiching the electric wire between each other;
First moving means for moving at least one of the pair of clamping members to bring the pair of clamping members into and out of contact with each other;
Second moving means for moving the pair of clamping members along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire;
Control means for controlling the first moving means and the second moving means so as to move the pair of holding members sandwiching the electric wire between each other along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire. The electric wire processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein In an electric wire processing method for processing an electric wire provided with an electrically conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion formed of a polyolefin resin composition and covering the core wire,
A method of processing an electric wire, comprising heating the electric wire so that a surface tension of an outer surface of the covering portion is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less. In an electric wire processing apparatus for processing an electric wire provided with an electrically conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion formed of a polyolefin resin composition and covering the core wire,
An electric wire processing apparatus comprising heating means for heating the electric wire so that a surface tension of an outer surface of the covering portion is 20 mN / m or more and 35 mN / m or less.

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