JP6762200B2 - Manufacturing equipment for connectors with electric wires - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a connector with an electric wire.

Conventionally, it has been known to attach various accessory members (for example, corrugated tube, vinyl tape, clamp, etc.) to the electric wire when manufacturing a connector with an electric wire in which the connector is connected to the end of the electric wire (for example, See Patent Documents 1 to 3). For example, in attaching such an accessory member, one of the conventional methods is to attach a corrugated tube having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the electric wire to the electric wire (in particular, refer to Patent Document 1). ..

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-232347 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-37349 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-122829

By the way, not only the outer diameter of the electric wire described above, but also the corrugated to be attached to the electric wire depending on the type of the connector with the electric wire (for example, the application of the connector with the electric wire, the number of electric wires included in the connector with the electric wire, the thickness of the electric wire, etc.). The form of the tube (eg, length, material, etc.) may be different. In this case, for example, a shelf in which various corrugated tubes are stored in advance is provided near a workbench for manufacturing a connector with an electric wire, and an operator appropriately selects an appropriate corrugated tube corresponding to the type of the connector with an electric wire from this shelf. Can be considered.

However, selection of such an appropriate corrugated tube requires the skill of an operator, and it is difficult to improve the work efficiency of manufacturing a connector with an electric wire. Furthermore, even a skilled worker may in some cases select a (wrong) corrugated tube that does not correspond to the type of connector with wire. It should be noted that such a problem may occur not only in the corrugated tube but also in the attachment of various accessory members attached to the connector with an electric wire. From the viewpoint of improving the productivity of the connector with electric wire, it is desirable to construct a method for selecting a corrugated tube different for each type of connector with electric wire as easily and accurately as possible regardless of the skill level of the operator.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device for manufacturing a connector with an electric wire, which can easily and accurately attach different accessory members to the electric wire for each type of the connector with an electric wire. To provide.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the apparatus for manufacturing a connector with an electric wire according to the present invention is characterized by the following (1) to (3).
(1)
A device for manufacturing electric wires, connectors, and connectors with electric wires having one or more accessories.
A workbench for an operator to perform the work of attaching the electric wire to the connector and the work of attaching the accessory member to the electric wire, and a feeder adjacent to the workbench and supplying the accessory member to the workbench. With
The workbench
It has a holding part that can hold the connector,
The feeder
The accessory member has a plurality of movable storage boxes that can be stored separately for each type, identifies the type of the connector held by the holding portion, and corresponds to the identified type of the connector. The storage box containing the accessory member is moved to a position closer to the worker than the storage box containing the accessory member which does not correspond to the identified type of the connector.
Must be a manufacturing device for connectors with electric wires.
(2)
The manufacturing apparatus according to (1) above.
The workbench
As the holding portion, there are a plurality of recesses having different shapes depending on the type of the connector, and each of the recesses has a plurality of recesses provided with a sensor for detecting the insertion of the connector.
The feeder
The type of the connector held in the holding portion is identified based on the output of the sensor.
Must be a manufacturing device for connectors with electric wires.
(3)
In the manufacturing apparatus according to (1) or (2) above.
The accessory member
A corrugated tube attached to the wire,
Must be a manufacturing device for connectors with electric wires.

According to the manufacturing device for the connector with an electric wire having the configuration of (1) above, the feeder that supplies the accessory members to the workbench has a plurality of movable storage boxes that can accommodate various accessory members by type. Provided. Then, when the operator holds the connector in the holding portion of the workbench, the feeder automatically identifies the type of the connector. Further, the feeder is a storage box (appropriate storage box) containing accessories corresponding to the identified connector type, and a storage box containing accessories not corresponding to the identified connector type (not suitable storage box). Move it closer to the worker than the appropriate containment box). As a result, the operator can select the accessory member corresponding to the connector (and by extension, the connector with the electric wire) only by selecting the accessory member in the storage box located near the operator. In other words, it is possible to easily and accurately select an appropriate accessory member regardless of the skill level of the operator.

Therefore, according to the electric wire-attached connector manufacturing apparatus having the above configuration, it is possible to easily and accurately attach different accessory members to the electric wire for each type of the electric wire-attached connector.

According to the device for manufacturing a connector with an electric wire having the configuration of (2) above, the type of connector can be changed by holding (inserting) the connector in a holding portion (recess unique to each type of connector) provided on the workbench. Be recognized. In other words, holding the connector on the workbench and identifying the type of connector are performed collectively (at the same time). Therefore, the productivity of the connector with an electric wire can be improved as compared with the case where these are performed independently. Further, as compared with other complicated methods (for example, a method of identifying the type of connector by image recognition based on a photograph of the connector), the type of connector can be easily and reliably identified.

According to the manufacturing apparatus for the connector with an electric wire having the configuration of (3) above, the manufacturing apparatus having the configurations (1) and (2) above is applied to a corrugated tube generally used as an accessory member attached to the connector with an electric wire. it can.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a connector with an electric wire, which can easily attach an accessory member different for each type of the connector with an electric wire to the electric wire without error.

The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a schematic view conceptually showing a manufacturing apparatus for a connector with an electric wire according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view for explaining details of a corrugated tube. is there. In FIG. 2, the storage box containing the corrugated tube corresponding to the identified connector type is moved to a position closer to the operator, and the worker takes out the corrugated tube corresponding to the type from the storage box and turns it into an electric wire. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 1 for demonstrating the state of attachment. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the workbench for explaining the connector insertion holes and switches provided in the workbench, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3A. is there.

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the apparatus for manufacturing a connector with an electric wire (hereinafter, simply referred to as “manufacturing apparatus 1”) according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is an apparatus for manufacturing a connector 30 with an electric wire (see FIG. 2) having a plurality of types. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector 30 with an electric wire has an electric wire 31, a terminal 32 attached (for example, crimped) to the end of the electric wire 31, and a terminal 32 attached (for example, a terminal). It includes a connector 33 (accommodated in the corresponding terminal accommodating chamber) and a corrugated tube 34 attached to the wire 31. In this example, the connector 30 with electric wires has three electric wires 31, but the number of electric wires 31 included in the connector 30 with electric wires is not particularly limited.

In this example, depending on the type of the connector 30 with an electric wire, the form of the connector 33 attached to the electric wire 31 (outer shape, etc.) and the form of the corrugated tube 34 attached to the electric wire 31 (inner diameter size, length, material, etc.). Is different. In other words, the connector 30 with an electric wire is attached with a connector 33 and a corrugated tube 34 having a unique form different for each type.

In this example, as an example, three types of the connector 30 with an electric wire, type A, type B, and type C, are assumed. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the connector 33 and the corrugated tube 34 (connectors and corrugated tubes selected corresponding to each type) corresponding to the types A, B and C are referred to as the connector 33a, the corrugated tube 34a and the connector 33b, respectively. And the corrugated tube 34b, and the connector 33c and the corrugated tube 34c.

As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a workbench 10 for an operator to perform various operations necessary for manufacturing a connector 30 with an electric wire, a feeder 20 for supplying a corrugated tube 34 to the workbench 10, and a feeder 20. To be equipped.

First, the workbench 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the workbench 10 is on the front side (left side in FIG. 1) with respect to the horizontal direction in order to facilitate various operations by a worker standing on the front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the workbench 10. It is arranged at a predetermined height from the floor 41 while being inclined to. On the workbench 10, the worker at least attaches the terminal 32 attached to the electric wire 31 to the connector 33 and attaches the corrugated tube 34 to the electric wire 31 to which the connector 33 is attached, in this order. The terminal 32 may be attached to the end of the electric wire 31 in advance by using another device (applicator or the like), or may be attached to the end of the electric wire 31 in the workbench 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a plurality of connector insertion holes 11 (holding portions), which are recesses for inserting and holding the connector 33, are provided on the surface (working surface) of the workbench 10. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, specifically, as the connector insertion holes 11, the connector 33a, the connector 33b, and the connector 33c are inserted into the connector insertion hole 11a and the connector insertion hole 11b, respectively. And the connector insertion holes 11c are provided side by side in a row at intervals from each other. Each connector insertion hole 11 has a hole shape corresponding to an outer shape peculiar to the corresponding connector 33.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a switch 12 (sensor) for detecting the insertion of the connector 33 is provided on the bottom surface of each connector insertion hole 11. Specifically, on the bottom surfaces of the connector insertion hole 11a, the connector insertion hole 11b, and the connector insertion hole 11c, a switch 12a, a switch 12b, and a switch 12c for detecting the insertion of the connector 33a, the connector 33b, and the connector 33c are provided, respectively. ing. Each switch 12 is in the OFF state when the connector 33 corresponding to the corresponding connector insertion hole 11 is not inserted, and is pressed by the connector 33 to be in the ON state when the connector 33 is inserted. The output of each switch 12 (a value indicating whether it is in the ON state or the OFF state) is transmitted to the control device 26 included in the feeder 20 as will be described later.

Next, the feeder 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the feeder 20 is arranged so as to be adjacent to the workbench 10 in the space below the workbench 10. The feeder 20 includes a mounting plate 21. The mounting plate 21 is arranged so as to be inclined so that the front side (left side in FIG. 1) is high and the back side (right side in FIG. 1) is low when viewed from the operator. A plurality of storage boxes 22 for accommodating the corrugated tube 34 are placed on the mounting plate 21.

Specifically, as the storage box 22, the storage box 22a, the storage box 22b, and the storage box 22c that house the corrugated tube 34a, the corrugated tube 34b, and the corrugated tube 34c, respectively, are placed independently of each other. Each storage box 22 has an opening on the front side (left side in FIG. 1) so that the operator can easily take out the corrugated tube 34 housed inside.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the corrugated tube 34 has a slit 35 extending in the axial direction at one position in the circumferential direction. The corrugated tube 34 has a bellows shape in which a plurality of concave portions 36 extending in the circumferential direction and convex portions 37 are alternately formed in the axial direction. The corrugated tube 34 is attached to the electric wire 31 by accommodating the electric wire 31 into the hollow portion through the slit 35 (see also FIG. 2). After the corrugated tube 34 is attached to the electric wire 31, the electric wire 31 and the corrugated tube 34 may be fixed so as not to be relatively movable with an adhesive tape or the like. The corrugated tube 34 is made of a soft synthetic resin or the like. The corrugated tube 34 protects the electric wire 31 housed in the hollow portion from external impact, friction, and the like.

Each storage box 22 is guided by a rail or the like (not shown) provided on the mounting plate 21, and is placed on the mounting plate 21 with the “supply position” on the front side (left side in FIG. 1) and the back side. It is possible to move relative to the "backward position" (on the right side in FIG. 1). 1 and 2 show a state in which the storage box 22a is in the supply position and the storage box 22b and the storage box 22c are in the retracted position.

The position of each storage box 22 is controlled by a corresponding air cylinder mechanism 23 provided on the mounting plate 21. Specifically, as the air cylinder mechanism 23, an air cylinder mechanism 23a, an air cylinder mechanism 23b, and an air cylinder mechanism 23c connected to the storage box 22a, the storage box 22b, and the storage box 22c are provided.

Each air cylinder mechanism 23 is connected to the air compressor 25 via a valve mechanism 24. By controlling the valve mechanism 24 and the air compressor 25, the position of each storage box 22 can be arbitrarily controlled to either the supply position or the retracted position independently of each other.

Further, the feeder 20 includes a control device 26 composed of a microcomputer. The control device 26 is connected to each switch 12, the valve mechanism 24, and the air compressor 25. The control device 26 controls the valve mechanism 24 and the air compressor 25 based on the input signals from the switches 12, so that the positions of the storage boxes 22 are independent of each other in either the supply position or the retracted position. It is designed to be controlled. At that time, specifically, the control device 26 controls the storage box 22 corresponding to the type of the connector 33 (and by extension, the connector 30 with an electric wire) corresponding to the switch 12 in the ON state to the supply position and turns it into the OFF state. The storage box 22 corresponding to the type of connector 33 corresponding to a certain switch 12 is controlled to the retracted position.

Therefore, when the worker inserts the connector 33 corresponding to the type of the connector 30 with an electric wire to be manufactured into the corresponding connector insertion hole 11, only the storage box 22 corresponding to the type is arranged at the supply position close to the worker. , The remaining storage box 22 is arranged in a retracted position far from the operator. As a result, the storage box 22 containing the corrugated tube 34 to be attached to the electric wire 31 is arranged closer to the operator than the remaining storage box 22. Therefore, the operator can easily recognize the corrugated tube 34 to be attached to the electric wire 31.

Hereinafter, an example of the manufacturing work of the connector 30 with an electric wire performed by the operator using the manufacturing apparatus 1 described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, first, a worker standing on the front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the workbench 10 stores the corresponding corrugated tube 34 in each storage box 22 in advance. At this point, since the connector 33 is not inserted into any of the connector insertion holes 11, all the storage boxes 22 are in the retracted position.

Next, the operator prepares the electric wire 31 (the terminal 32 is attached in advance) and the connector 33 corresponding to the type of the connector 30 with an electric wire to be manufactured on the workbench 10. Then, the operator inserts the connector 33 into the corresponding connector insertion hole 11, and attaches the terminal 32 at the end of the electric wire 31 to the connector 33.

At this time, only the storage box 22 corresponding to the type of the inserted connector 33 moves from the retracted position to the supply position. The remaining containment box 22 is still maintained in the retracted position. In the example shown in FIG. 1, since the connector 33a is inserted into the connector insertion hole 11a (the switch 12a changes from the OFF state to the ON state), only the storage box 22a is moved to the supply position. That is, the storage box 22a containing the corrugated tube 34a to be attached to the electric wire 31 is arranged closer to the operator than the remaining storage boxes 22b and 22c. Since such movement of the storage chamber 22a is automatically performed by the feeder 20, the operator can attach the terminal 32 to the connector 33 (insert it into the terminal storage chamber) while the storage chamber 22a is moving.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2A, the operator takes out the corrugated tube 34a from the storage box 22a at the supply position, attaches the taken out corrugated tube 34a to the electric wire 31, and pulls out the connector 33a from the connector insertion hole 11a. .. As a result, the type A connector 30 with an electric wire is completed. Since the connector 33a is pulled out from the connector insertion hole 11a (the switch 12a changes from the ON state to the OFF state), the storage box 22a returns from the supply position to the retracted position. That is, all the storage boxes 22 are arranged in the retracted position. As will be described later, even if the connector 33a is pulled out from the connector insertion hole 11a, the current state (the state in which the accommodation chamber 22a is in the supply position) may be maintained.

As described above, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 of the connector 30 with an electric wire according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the connector 33 is held in the connector insertion hole 11 of the workbench 10, the switch 12 of the feeder 20 The type of the connector 33 is identified by the input signal, and the storage box 22 containing the corrugated tube 34 corresponding to the identified connector 33 type is housed, and the corrugated tube 34 not corresponding to the identified connector 33 type is housed. Move to a position closer to the worker than the storage box 22.

As a result, the operator can easily recognize the corrugated tube 34 to be attached to the electric wire 31. Therefore, in this manufacturing apparatus 1, different corrugated tubes 34 can be easily attached to the electric wire 31 without any error for each type of the connector 30 with an electric wire.

Further, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1, the type of the connector 33 is recognized by holding (inserting) the connector 33 in the connector insertion hole 11 (having a recess unique to each type of connector) provided in the workbench. To. In other words, the holding of the connector 33 on the workbench and the identification of the type of the connector 33 are collectively (simultaneously) performed. Therefore, the productivity of the connector 30 with an electric wire can be improved as compared with the case where these are performed independently. Further, the type of the connector 33 can be easily and surely identified as compared with other complicated methods (for example, a method of specifying the type of the connector by image recognition based on a photograph of the connector 33 taken).

<Other aspects>
The present invention is not limited to each of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified, improved, and the like. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

For example, in the above embodiment, the control device 26 controls the storage box 22 corresponding to the type of the switch 12 in the ON state to the supply position, and the storage box 22 corresponding to the type of the switch 12 in the OFF state is retracted. It is designed to control. Therefore, even when the connector 30 with an electric wire of the same type is continuously manufactured, the storage box 22 corresponding to the type shifts the supply position and the retracted position as the connector 33 is inserted and removed. It will go back and forth.

On the other hand, the control device 26 moves the storage box 22 corresponding to the type of one switch 12 that has changed from the OFF state to the ON state among the plurality of switches 12 to the supply position, and then the other switches 12 are in the OFF state. The storage box 22 may be maintained in the supply position until the state changes from 1 to ON. In other words, the control device 26 returns the storage box 22 maintained in the supply position to the retracted position when the other switch 12 changes from the OFF state to the ON state, and the storage box corresponding to the other switch 12. 22 may be controlled to move to the supply position. In this case, when the connector 30 with an electric wire of the same type is continuously manufactured, the storage box 22 corresponding to the type is maintained at the supply position regardless of the insertion operation and the removal operation of the connector 33.

Further, in the above embodiment, the type of the connector 33 is identified by the signal sent from the switch 12 to the feeder 20. However, the type of the connector 33 is not necessarily identified by this method, but may be performed by another method. For example, the connector held by the "holding portion" of the workbench 10 may be photographed from the upper part of the workbench, and the connector 33 may be identified through image recognition based on the image. Further, the workbench may be provided with a plurality of buttons corresponding to the type of the connector 33, and the type of the connector 33 may be identified by pressing the button corresponding to the connector 33 used by the operator.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the corrugated tube 34 is used as the "accessory member". However, as the "accessory member", a member other than the corrugated tube 34 may be used, and a member other than the corrugated tube 34 may be used in addition to the corrugated tube 34.

Here, the features of the above-described embodiments of the connector manufacturing apparatus with electric wires according to the present invention are briefly summarized and listed below (1) to (3), respectively.
(1)
A device (1) for manufacturing an electric wire (31), a connector (33), and a connector (30) with an electric wire having one or more accessory members (34).
A workbench (10) for an operator to perform the work of attaching the electric wire to the connector and the work of attaching the accessory member to the electric wire, and a supply that is adjacent to the workbench and supplies the accessory member to the workbench. Equipped with a machine (20)
The workbench (10)
It has a holding portion (11) capable of holding the connector, and has a holding portion (11).
The feeder (20)
It has a plurality of movable storage boxes (22) capable of storing the accessory member (34) separately for each type, and identifies and identifies the type of the connector held by the holding portion (11). The storage box (22a) in which the accessory member (34a in FIG. 1) corresponding to the type of the connector is housed is the accessory member (34b, 34c in FIG. 1) not corresponding to the identified type of the connector. Is moved to a position closer to the worker than the storage box (22b, 22c) in which the is housed.
Manufacturing equipment for connectors with electric wires.
(2)
The manufacturing apparatus according to (1) above.
The workbench (10)
As the holding portion (11), there are a plurality of recesses (11) having different shapes depending on the type of the connector, and a plurality of recesses (12) provided with sensors (12) for detecting the insertion of the connector in each of the recesses. Have,
The feeder (20)
Based on the output of the sensor (12), the type of the connector held by the holding unit (11) is identified.
Manufacturing equipment for connectors with electric wires.
(3)
In the manufacturing apparatus according to (1) or (2) above.
The accessory member (34)
A corrugated tube (FIG. 1 (b)) attached to the electric wire.
Manufacturing equipment for connectors with electric wires.

1 Manufacturing equipment for connectors with electric wires 10 Workbench 11 Connector insertion holes (holding part, recess)
12 switches (sensors)
20 Feeder 22 Storage box 30 Connector with electric wire 31 Electric wire 33 Connector 34 Corrugated tube (accessory)

Claims (3)

A device for manufacturing electric wires, connectors, and connectors with electric wires having one or more accessories.
A workbench for an operator to perform the work of attaching the electric wire to the connector and the work of attaching the accessory member to the electric wire, and a feeder adjacent to the workbench and supplying the accessory member to the workbench. With
The workbench
It has a holding part that can hold the connector,
The feeder
The accessory member has a plurality of movable storage boxes that can be stored separately for each type, identifies the type of the connector held by the holding portion, and corresponds to the identified type of the connector. The storage box containing the accessory member is moved to a position closer to the worker than the storage box containing the accessory member which does not correspond to the identified type of the connector.
Manufacturing equipment for connectors with electric wires. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1.
The workbench
As the holding portion, there are a plurality of recesses having different shapes depending on the type of the connector, and each of the recesses has a plurality of recesses provided with a sensor for detecting the insertion of the connector.
The feeder
The type of the connector held in the holding portion is identified based on the output of the sensor.
Manufacturing equipment for connectors with electric wires. In the manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
The accessory member
A corrugated tube attached to the wire,
Manufacturing equipment for connectors with electric wires.

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