JPH0261765B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a fully automated wiring harness manufacturing apparatus.

(Prior art) JP-A-197708 discloses a connector block in which a plurality of electric wires are arranged in a plane along a wire transmission path extending through a wire cutting section, and the tip of each electric wire is inserted into the connector block. a reciprocating shuttle that delivers the electric wires to a loading section of the electric wire and then retreats along the wire feeding path, and a wire feeding means that selectively feeds out the plurality of electric wires after the shuttle has retreated, the wires having different lengths. A harness manufacturing apparatus having an electric wire is disclosed.

The wire feeding means includes an axial wire feed having one feed roller means for each wire, and a control means for controlling each feed roller means, and the control means connects each wire to a connector by means of the shuttle. After being passed to the block loading section, the feed roller means is selectively actuated to feed out the wires in different lengths in a loop to the feeding section between the connector block and the cutting section.

However, in such a device, each wire whose length is accurately measured by a feed roller is provided in a main body portion having a wire convergence member, a wire clamp, telescopic inner and outer guide tubes, and a tip end of the guide tube. Since the wire is fed to the feeding section via an axially long shuttle consisting of a header and a header, the wire may buckle or bend while passing through the shuttle, and the wire may be fed out to the correct length. It may not be sent to the department. This phenomenon is particularly likely to occur when the electric wire is a thin wire that bends easily, and is a problem in obtaining a harness with an accurate length.

For this reason, in Japanese Patent Application No. 59-135020 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-18881), the present applicant provided a tensioning means for constantly applying tension to each electric wire fed out in the axial direction through the shuttle by a wire feeding roller. proposed an electric wire feeding device that accurately feeds each electric wire whose length has been measured by a feeding roller to a feeding section.

In the above-mentioned harness manufacturing equipment, the connectors forming both ends of the harness are arranged under two wire connection presses placed opposite each other, and one end of the wire is carried onto one connector by a shuttle. After that, one end of the wire is connected to the connector using one press, and then the wire is fed out to a predetermined length, and then the wire is connected to the other connector using the other press to manufacture a harness. There is. In this case, since two presses are used to connect the connectors and the electric wires at both ends of the harness, there is a limit to how close the presses can be to each other, and there is a problem that the length of the electric wires of the harness cannot be made very short. Furthermore, since the electric wire is carried onto one connector by reciprocation of the shuttle, time is required for the reciprocation of the shuttle, and there is a problem in that it is difficult to increase the production speed.

(Objective of the Invention) In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a harness manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing a harness with a short electric wire length and increasing the manufacturing speed.

(Structure of the Invention) The harness manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus that connects the ends of a plurality of electric wires of a predetermined length to connectors that are sequentially fed, and continuously manufactures a harness having connectors at both ends of the electric wires. A polygonal columnar index rotor is rotatable around the central axis of the column, and a connector holding means provided on one side of the index rotor allows the terminal end of the first harness to be attached to the one side. The side connector and the distal end connector of the second harness are held such that the terminal end connector is located forward of the distal end connector in the rotational direction of the rotor, and after holding each of the connectors by this connector means, the rotor is is rotated by a predetermined index angle to face each connector to a wire connection press, and the wire connection press connects the terminal end of the electric wire forming the first harness to the terminal side connector,
The present invention is characterized in that the harness is manufactured by connecting the distal end portions of the electric wires constituting the second harness to the distal end connector.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, FIGS. 10A and 10B show a harness manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. The electrical harness of FIG. 10A has identical connectors 2 at each end of an insulated wire 1, each connector 2 having a plurality of electrical terminals (not shown) with wire receiving slots within its insulated housing. The ends of each wire 1 are pressed into the wire receiving slot of the electrical terminal in a direction perpendicular to the wire's longitudinal axis to establish positive electrical contact between the terminal and the wire.

FIG. 10B shows an example of an electrical harness having one connector 2 at one end of the electric wire 1 and a plurality of connectors 2a, 2b, 2c at the other end.

In the device of the present invention, typically 20 separate electric wires 1 are connected to a connector, each having a different length.

Next, the harness manufacturing apparatus of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire device, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the part of this device where electric wires and connectors are connected. First, the configuration and operation of this device will be explained using both figures together. do.

A large number of connectors 2 forming both ends of the harness are inserted into a pair of parts feeders 11, and the directions of these connectors 2 are aligned by vibrations in the parts feeder 11, and the connectors 2 are connected to a pair of linear feeders 12.
and is sent onto the connector holding stand 20. This connector holding stand 20 includes a pusher 24 that slides in the direction of arrow A between a pair of guides 22, 22 fixed to a base plate 21 by the operation of a first cylinder 23. The above pair of guides 22, 22
A connector stop plate 25 having a plurality of holes is provided on the top, and connector stop pins 26 are inserted into the holes at predetermined positions corresponding to the length in the feeding direction of the connectors 2 at both ends of the harness to be manufactured. . FIG. 2 is a cross-section of this part along the arrow -, and as can be seen from this figure, it is near the end of the pusher 24 that is integrally connected to the rod of the first cylinder 23 and slides in the direction of arrow A, and also near the connector. The connector 2 is fed from the linear feeder 12 to the underside of the stop plate 25 and is stopped in a predetermined position by a connector stop pin 26. A fiber phototube 26 is provided at the end of the stop plate 25 on the side of the linear feeder 12, which photoelectrically counts the number of contacts of the connector 2 sent from the linear feeder 12, and selects a predetermined connector. 2 is checked to see if it has been completely sent.

When it is confirmed by the count of the fiber phototube 26 that the specified connector 2 has been reliably fed, the first cylinder 23 is actuated to advance the pusher 24 and move the connector 2 to a position where it contacts the stopper 27. . In addition, in this figure, only one connector holding stand 20 was explained, but this device is provided with two connector holding stands 20 symmetrically on the left and right, and the two connectors 2, 2 forming both ends of the harness are provided. are sent at the same time. However, these two connectors 2, 2 are not connectors forming both ends of one harness, but the harness that is manufactured first among the harnesses that are successively manufactured by this device (hereinafter referred to as the first harness). (hereinafter referred to as the second harness) and the distal end connector of the harness to be manufactured next (hereinafter referred to as the second harness).

When the connector 2 is sent to the position where it contacts the stopper 27, the second cylinder 28 is activated.
The cylinder pin 29 pushes the connector 2 along the guide groove 30 in the direction of arrow B, and the index rotor 4
Send it above 0. The index rotor 40 is a rotatable 6
It has a prismatic shape, and connector holding means 41 for holding the two connectors 2, 2 pushed out by the cylinder pin 29 is provided on each side. The cylinder pin 29 returns to its original position after pushing out the connector 2 to a position where it is held by the connector holding means 41.

When the cylinder pin 29 returns, the swing cylinder 51
A clutch 52 built into a shaft driven by a belt is engaged, and the index rotor 40 is rotated by a predetermined indexing angle (60 degrees in the device shown in the figure) by driving the swing cylinder 51. The connector 2 held by the connector holding means 41 is moved to a position facing the wire connection press 60. When the index rotor 40 is rotated by a predetermined index angle, the locator pin 5 of the locator device 53
4 fits into a locator hole formed in the index rotor 40, and fixes and holds the rotor 40 in that position.

Next, the wire end portion is sent onto the terminal end connector 2 of the first harness by a known wire feeding device 70 having a capstan motor 71, a measuring motor 72, a guide roller 73, etc., and the wire 1 is connected to the connector. The connection is made, but wire 1
The operation of connecting the connector 2 and the connector 2 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9.

4 to 9 show the index rotor 40
It is a figure which shows the harness manufacturing process in order when seen from the front. A connector holding means 41 is provided on each side surface 40a to 40f of the hexagonal columnar index rotor 40, and the connector 2a is inserted and held in the holding means 41 in a position facing upward in the figure, and then the rotor 40 Figure 4 shows the state in which it has been rotated 60 degrees clockwise. At the beginning of the harness manufacturing process, the connector 2a is not inserted into the terminal connector holding part 41a of the connector holding means 41, but the connector 2a is inserted only into the tip connector holding part 41b, and at this position, the locator of the locator device 53 is inserted. The pin 54 fits into the locator hole 55 and fixes the index rotor 40. At this time, the tips of the plurality of electric wires 1 extending from the wire clamp 75 and the wire guide plate 74 (see FIG. 3) are connected to the connector 2 held by the tip connector holding part 41b.
The tip side ram 62 is moved downward by the drive of the press motor 61 located above and shown in FIG. 2a and the plurality of electric wires 1 are joined. Furthermore, at this time,
The terminal end connector 2b of the first harness and the distal end connector 2c of the second harness are inserted into the connector holding means 41 on the side surface 40b facing upward in the figure as described above.

Next, the locator pin 54 is inserted from the locator hole 55.
is removed, and the index rotor 40 is moved clockwise.
The side surface 40a, which is rotated by 60 degrees and has a connector holding means 41 for holding the distal end connector 2a of the first harness as shown in FIG.
The side surface 40b that holds the adjacent connectors 2b and 2c faces the wire connection press 60. When the index rotor 40 is rotated, the wire clamp 75 and the wire guide plate 7
4 rotates counterclockwise around the upper end, and the wire guide plate 74, which is supported by two rods 78a, 78b (see FIG. 3) extending vertically on both sides of the wire clamp 75, rotates counterclockwise around the upper end. Springs 76a and 76b placed above (see Figure 3)
The electric wire is moved downward (forward) by the urging force of and guides the electric wire onto the terminal end connector 41a of the connector holding means 41. Also in the position shown in FIG. 5, the rotor 40 is fixedly held by the locator device 53.

In this position, the tension of the cylinder 80 that was pulling the arm 81 of the attachment roller 82 is released, and the tension of the spring 83 causes the attachment roller 82 to clamp the electric wire 1 and attach the length measuring roller 84. (in the direction of the arrow). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, the length measuring roller 84 is driven by the measuring motor 72, and the electric wire 1 is fed out by the length required for the harness. During this wire feeding operation, the connection checker 90 is operated and the pin 61 at the tip is connected to the contact of the connector 2a and the wire 1.
Check the joint height and check that each wire is properly engaged with each contact. Further, during the wire feeding operation, the terminal end connector 2d of the second harness and the distal end connector 2e of the third harness are inserted and held in the connector holding means 41 on the side surface 41c facing upward in the figure. (In addition,
Although they are referred to as a second harness and a third harness here, the second harness is a harness that is manufactured first, and the second harness here refers to the above-mentioned harness. The third harness corresponds to the second harness described above. ) When the electric wire 1 is fed out by a predetermined length, the length measuring roller 84 stops, and the press motor 61 is activated as shown in FIG.
moves downward, and the electric wire 1 is cut by a cutting blade provided on the terminal side ram 63 in parallel with the insertion blade, and the cut electric wire 1 is pushed by the insertion blade to connect the terminal side connector 2b. connected to each contact. At this time, the wire guide plate 74 is connected to the cylinder 7.
7 (see FIG. 3), the lever 79 is pulled back together with the rods 78a and 78b to return to the initial position.

Next, the end-side ram 63 rises as shown by the arrow in FIG. After the tip is transferred onto the tip end connector 2c of the second harness, the tip ram 62 descends (arrow) to connect the electric wire 1 to each connector of the tip connector 2c, and then rises (arrow). . Thereafter, the locator pin 54 of the locator device 53 is removed from the locator hole 55 (arrow), and the connection checker 90 is further raised (arrow), and the index rotor 40 rotates 60 degrees, completing one cycle.

By repeating the above operations, harnesses can be manufactured continuously as shown in FIG. 9. That is, the terminal side connector of the first harness and the tip side connector of the second harness are inserted and held in the connector holding means 41 in a position where the side surface of the index rotor 40 faces upward in the figure, and the rotor 40 is
The wires 1 are connected by the wire connection press 60 at the position rotated by 60 degrees, the connection checker 90 checks the connection status with the wires 1 at the position rotated by 120 degrees, and the wire is completed in this way at the position rotated by 180 degrees. The first harness is connected to the connector holding means 4.
It is discharged from 1. Note that during this discharge, the harness passes through a number checker 100 shown in FIG. 1 to check whether the number of electric wires connected to the connector is correct. When the number checker 100 fails to count a predetermined number of wires, or when the connection checker 90 detects a poor connection between the wire and the contact, an NG signal is issued and the operation of the device is stopped.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, each of the connector holding means provided on each side surface of the polygonal prism-shaped rotatable index rotor is connected to the terminal side connector of the first harness and the second harness. Harnesses are manufactured by holding the connectors on the leading end of the harness side by side and connecting the respective harness wires to both connectors using opposing wire connection presses by rotating the index rotor at a predetermined index angle. Therefore, the connectors forming both ends of each harness can be held close to each other on the index rotor, making it possible to manufacture harnesses with short wire lengths.

Furthermore, unlike conventional equipment, there is no need for a reciprocating shuttle that transports the wires between the connectors at both ends of the harness, which eliminates the time required for reciprocating the shuttle, increasing production speed. You can also do it.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a harness manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector holding stand of the apparatus along the arrow - in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIGS. 4 to 9 are front views sequentially showing the manufacturing process of the harness as seen from the front of the index rotor in the apparatus of the present invention; FIGS.
Figures A and 10B are perspective views showing a harness manufactured by the apparatus of the present invention. 11...Parts feeder, 20...Connector holding stand, 25...Connector stop plate, 30
... Guide groove, 40 ... Index rotor, 4
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Connector holding means, 51... Rocking cylinder, 60... Wire connection press, 70... Wire feeding device, 74... Wire guide plate, 84... Length measuring roller, 90... Connection checker, 100... ...Number of books.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for continuously manufacturing a harness formed by connecting a plurality of electric wires each having a predetermined length between two connectors, the apparatus comprising: a polygonal columnar harness rotatable around a central axis; an index rotor; and a first harness terminal connector and a second harness on one side parallel to the central axis of the index rotor.
connector holding means for holding a distal end connector of a harness such that the distal end connector is positioned forward in the rotational direction of the index rotor; and the connector holding means holds the distal end connector and the distal end connector. When the index rotor rotates by a predetermined index angle, the terminal end of the electric wire constituting the first harness is connected to the terminal side connector facing the connector holding means; A harness manufacturing apparatus comprising: a wire connection press that connects the tip end of the electric wire forming the harness to the tip side connector.