MXPA00010352A - Wire harness manufacturing apparatus and method and time controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

A wire harness manufacturing apparatus capable of reducing the occurrence of intermediate stocks to the utmost is provided. The apparatus also can cope with the change of design of wire harness or the change in manufacturing line itself. The wire harness manufacturing apparatus includes plural manufacturing lines L1, L2, ..., Ln for respectively manufacturing sub-wire harnesses and plural devices A to F constituting each manufacturing line. The apparatus further includes plural line control devices P1, P2, ..., Pn each connected with the devices A to F in the manufacturing line through a signal transmitting circuit (1) and a system control device P adapted so as to construct a signal transmitting network (2) together with the line control devices P1, P2, ..., Pn, for controlling manufacturing loads among the plural manufacturing lines L1, L2,..., Ln.

Description

"APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF WIRE HARNESS AND METHOD OF TIME CONTROL" TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a wire harness and the method of automatically manufacturing a wire harness to be installed in an automotive vehicle, especially sub wire harnesses as constituents of a wire harness, and a method to control a period of "touch time" in the wire harness manufacturing apparatus, likewise.

ANTECEDENTS OF THE TECHNIQUE In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (okai) Number 6-5132, there is disclosed a prior art wire harness manufacturing apparatus wherein a wiring board is transferred from one device, such as a module to the other device in order, while a wire harness is continuously assembled on the movable cabling plate. Then, each modular device is constituted by a base, a processing mechanism mounted on the base and a transport unit set to the base.

Note, in the adjacent modular devices, that the base of the modular device is adapted to be able to connect to the base of the adjacent modular device. In addition, the transport unit is provided with a portion for transporting the wiring board at the base and a projecting portion. When it is required to connect the base of a modular device with the base of the adjacent molding device, the projecting portion of the transport unit is inserted into the base of the other device. In this way, since the conventional wire harness manufacturing apparatus has multiple modular devices that are provided for processes respectively and that are connected to each other, it is possible to increase or decrease the number of modular devices, corresponding to the constitution. of the wire harness to be manufactured. In addition, by placing the modular devices in order in the designated number, it is also possible to adjust the production capacity in an optional process to deal with the wire harness that is being manufactured, corresponding also in this way to the design change of the wire harness . In the conventional wire harness manufacturing apparatus, however, since the devices As multiple modules for processes are controlled independently of each other, it is difficult to balance the manufacturing loads between the constituent devices properly and, therefore, there is a problem of intermediate materials occurring between the processes. In addition, if the wire harness undergoes a design change or is manufactured by another manufacturing line, it is necessary not only to alter the control data of each of the devices, but also to rearrange the constituent devices of the manufacturing line with a charge for the operator. In conclusion, the conventional wire harness manufacturing apparatus has a waste time problem in order to establish a new manufacturing line.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION Under this circumstance, therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wire harness manufacturing apparatus and a touch time control method thereof, both of which are capable of reducing the occurrence of materials mostly intermediate and also facilitating a measure against the design change of the wire harness or the change in the manufacturing line itself, by which it is possible establish the manufacturing line in a remarkably short period of time if this change occurs. The object of the present invention described above can be achieved by a wire harness manufacturing apparatus comprising multiple manufacturing lines for making multiple sub-wire harnesses respectively as constituents of a wire harness to be produced , each of the manufacturing lines of multiple constituent devices consisting of the order of manufacture of each sub-wire harness; multiple line control devices that are provided to control the operating processes of the manufacturing lines respectively, each of the line control devices being connected to the constituent devices of each of the manufacturing lines through a circuit signal transmitter; and at least one system control device adapted to construct a signal transmitting network together with line control devices, to control the manufacturing loads between the multiple manufacturing lines. With the aforementioned constitution, the wire harness is manufactured by manufacturing lines manifolds that manufacture sub-wire sands as the constituents of the wire harness. During the operation, the multiple manufacturing lines are controlled by the corresponding line control devices, while the manufacturing loads between the manufacturing lines are balanced by the control device of a single system. Consequently, it is possible to operate the multiple manufacturing lines while reducing the so-called "intermediate" materials that exist between the respective manufacturing lines up to the maximum. Meanwhile, the manufacturing loads between the constituent devices in each manufacturing line are balanced by a line control device, whereby it is possible to operate the devices while reducing the intermediate materials that exist between the respective devices to the maximum. In the present invention, preferably, each of the line control devices comprises: a variable data recording unit for recording the variable data in the constituent devices and the variable data subsequently altered; a central line processing unit to judge the constitution of the constituent devices in the manufacturing line it is appropriate comparing the production reserve data admitted from the system control device with the variable data, the central line processing unit judging also if the manufacturing line modified on the basis of the first trial is or not appropriate a line presentation unit to present both the registered variable data and the variable data recording unit as a result of the judgment obtained by the central line processing unit; a line input unit for admitting an operation initiation signal and the altered variable data obtained by modifying the manufacturing line in accordance with a judgment result by the central line processing unit; and a production control unit for admitting the production reserve data generated from the central line processing unit as a result of the admission to the line input unit of the operation initiation signal, sending in sequence the unit of production control the production control signal based on the production reserve data to each of the constituent devices, and wherein the system control device comprises: a data base for the wire harness to be produced; a common data record unit to record the common data in common with the multiple manufacturing lines and the following common data added later; a system input unit to support the data of the wire harness product and the added common data; a central processing unit of the system for preparing a list of the article numbers of the sub-harness constituting the wire harness by comparing the data of the product with the data registered in the database; comparing the data of the sub-wire harnesses of respective article numbers with the aforementioned common data of the variable data in the respective data recording units in the line control devices, in order to determine the manufacturing line that is in charge of each sub-wire harness with the item number; Y produce the production reserve data for each determined manufacturing line, on the basis of the product data; a unit of presentation of system to present the data of the product, the common data, the variable data, the list of the numbers of the article, the lines of manufacture determined for charge and the data of reserve of production; and a reserve data transmitting unit for transmitting the production reserve data to the central line processing unit of the line control device of the manufacturing line that is being determined. In the aforementioned apparatus, when the product data of the wire harness that is produced through the input unit of the system is admitted, when the list of article numbers of the wire harnesses constituting the wire harness is formed by the system control device. In addition, by means of the control device of the system, the manufacturing line in charge of the sub-wire harness of each item number is determined and the production reserve data is formed in each of the manufacturing lines. Since the production reserve data is being formed while balancing the loads of manufacturing between the manufacturing lines, it is possible to reduce the intermediate materials that exist between the respective manufacturing lines up to the maximum. The production reserve data is sent from the system control device and is supported by the line control device of each manufacturing line. In the line control device, it is judged whether the constitution of the devices in the manufacturing line is appropriate to manufacture the sub-armor harness of the specified article number, such as the object to be produced, on the basis of the reservation data of production. When it is judged that the constitution is appropriate, subsequently, it is maintained. If not appropriate, the existing constitution of the devices is accommodated and altered to produce the sub-wire harness of the article number. The rearrangement for the appropriate constitution can be carried out on the basis of the outcome of the judgment by the line control device with ease. Therefore, it is possible to provide the constitution of the device by allowing the intermediate materials between the devices to be reduced to the maximum.

Likewise, when the rearrangement of the constitution is carried out, the variable data due to the rearrangement is admitted to the line input unit and registered in the variable data recording unit.

In each of the manufacturing lines, preferably the line control device includes a touch time recording unit for recording the touch time of the corresponding manufacturing line that has been admitted by the line input unit; the central line processing unit is constituted with a function to calculate the waiting time that is admitted through the system control device and the touch time in this way to determine the cycle time of the corresponding manufacturing line and another function for transmitting the cycle time to the production control unit during the entry of an operation initiation signal; and the production control unit is constituted when a function to send signals so that the corresponding manufacturing line works in accordance with the cycle time; and preferably, the central processing unit of the system is constituted with a function to comparatively calculate the respective touch time recorded in the touch time recording units of the multiple line control devices in order to determine the time of respective wait of the multiple manufacturing lines and another function to transmit the respective waiting time to the reservation data transmitting unit; and the reserve data transmitting unit is constituted with a function to transmit each waiting time to the central line processing unit and the corresponding line control device. In the arrangement mentioned above, since the respective manufacturing lines are adapted to operate in accordance with the cycle time calculated by the waiting time and the touch time, it is possible to reduce the intermediate materials that exist between the respective manufacturing lines. , to the maximum. According to the invention, there is also provided a method for controlling the touch time of the aforementioned wire harness manufacturing apparatus, the method consisting of the steps of: measuring the touch time for each of the manufacturing lines making to preliminarily operate the manufacturing line prior to its practical operation; allow the line control device of the manufacturing line to admit the touch time for registration; calculate the waiting time for the manufacturing line by means of the system control device, based on the touch time recorded in the line control device; transmitting the calculated waiting time to the line control device of the manufacturing line; and both calculate the cycle time of the manufacturing line in charge as well as control the operation of the manufacturing line in accordance with the calculated cycle time, by means of the line control device. In accordance with the method, since the touch time is measured by actually running the manufacturing line and then, the waiting time and the cycle time are obtained on the basis of the touch time, it is possible to obtain the time of cycle with great accuracy. Therefore, the manufacturing lines are controlled in order to reduce the intermediate materials between the production lines due to manufacturing loads up to the maximum, by means of the respective cycle time with great accuracy. In the aforementioned method, it is preferred that the line control device automatically measures the touch time of the practical operation after finishing the operation of the corresponding manufacturing line during the constant cycles and replaces the recorded touch time with time. of touch of practical operation for registration; the system control device calculates the new waiting time for each of the manufacturing lines on the basis of the tact time of the practical operation recorded in the line control device and transmits the new waiting time to the line control device of the manufacturing line; and that the line control device calculates the new cycle time of the manufacturing line and controls the operation of the manufacturing line in accordance with the new cycle time. In this case, since the touch time, the waiting time and the cycle time are checked for correction after the actual operations of the constant number of cycles, it is possible to manage the respective cycle time of the manufacturing lines with great accuracy According to the invention, there is also provided a method of manufacturing wire harness, comprising the steps of: admitting the product data of the wire harness to be manufactured with an input unit of the system; register the registration data of a database to the central processing unit of the system when the product data is admitted, and make a list of the article number of the sub-wire harnesses that constitute the wire harness that goes to manufactured, comparing the data of the record with the data of the product; read the common data from a common data record unit to the central processing unit of the variable data system from the variable data recording units of the line control devices, and determine in the central processing unit of the system which of the manufacturing lines will be responsible for manufacturing the wire harness of each article number by comparing both the common data and the variable data with the harness data of the sub-wire of each article number in the list of the number of Article; providing in the central processing unit of the system, the production reserve data for each manufacturing line determined in the aforementioned manner on the basis of the product data; transmitting the production reserve data for each of the manufacturing lines from the central processing unit of the system through a reserve data transmission unit to a central line processing unit of a corresponding line control device; read the variable data from the variable data record unit to the central line processing unit, compare the variable data with the production reserve data in the central line processing unit to judge whether or not a constitution is appropriate the constituent devices in an existing manufacturing line, and change the constitution of the devices of the present manufacturing line on the basis of a result of a judgment of the central line processing unit, transmitting the production reserve data from the central line processing unit to a production control unit during receipt of the operation initiation signal from a line input unit, and transmitting a production control signal based on the production reserve data from the production control unit to each of the constituent devices, and activate the respective constituent devices in the manufacturing line to manufacture corresponding sub-wire harnesses in accordance with the production reserve data. In the method mentioned above, since the production reserve data is being formed while the manufacturing loads are balanced between the manufacturing lines, it is possible to reduce the intermediate materials that exist between the respective manufacturing lines until the maximum. These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and the appended claims which are taken together with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a systematic diagram of a wire harness fastening apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the constitution; Figure 2 is a functional diagram showing a control system of the wire harness manufacturing apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a functional diagram showing another control system of the wire harness manufacturing apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a flow chart of the processes carried out by the control system of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a graph of the flow of the processes carried out by the control system of Figure 3; and Figure 6 is a flow chart of the other procedures carried out by the control system of Figure 3.

BEST WAY TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION The embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a systematic constitution of a wire harness manufacturing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The wire harness manufacturing apparatus comprises multiple manufacturing lines Ll, L2, ..., Ln to manufacture multiple sub-wire harnesses that constitute the wire harness, the multiple line control devices Pl, (P2,. .., Pn) each connected to the constituent devices A, B, ... of each manufacturing line Ll (L2, ..., Ln) through a signal line 1, to control the working process of the manufacturing line and at least one control device of the system P that constructs the line control devices Pl, P2, ..., Pn and a signal network 2s to control the manufacturing loads between the multiple manufacturing lines Ll, L2, ..., Ln. Each of the manufacturing lines Ll, L2, ..., Ln is constituted by a variety of devices required in order to manufacture the wire harness to be produced. Normally, each of the lines of manufacture Ll, L2, ..., Ln is composed of integrated devices characterized by the constitution of the wire harness, between a measuring device A to measure the length of a wire and cut it in sequence and a device F pickup to send the sub-harnesses completed to the next process in order to manufacture the required harness by stirring the sub-harnesses completed with other sub-harnesses. For example, in the case of the wire harness having a waterproof housing, then a device B for penetrating a wire plug through the wire is constructed in advance of a detaching device C to expose the wire core lines (eg. the production lines Ll, L2, ..., Ln.Meanwhile, in the case that the wire harness has several terminals or several wires in different diameters, a plurality of pressure adjusting devices DI, D2 can be provided. , ..., Dn to adjust the terminal in the pressurized core lines, in accordance with each processing capacity (eg, the manufacturing lines Ll, L2, ..., Ln). wire harness has several housings, a plurality of insertion devices El, E2 can be provided to insert the terminals into the housings, in accordance with each processing capability (eg, the manufacture L2). 0 again, in case the wire harness has at least one branch part extending from a trunk line, one or more of the branch devices (not shown in the figure) can be integrated into the manufacturing line , to simply bend the wire or form the branch part by means of a joint terminal. In addition, the manufacturing line can be equipped with an indispensable inspection device (not shown). For example, there is a case where the detachment inspection device (not shown) is placed between the detachment device C and the pressure adjusting device DI, to inspect whether an appropriate detachment has been carried out on the device. of previous detachment C.

The line control devices Pl, P2, ..., Pn and the control device of the system P are constituted by respective personal computers each having the functions shown in Figure 2. Since each of the control devices of line Pl, P2, ..., Pn is constituted in the same functions, we now describe those of the control device Pl in favor of the devices Pl, P2, ..., Pn.

That is, the line control device Pl includes a variable data recording unit 3, a central processing unit (CPU) of line 4, a line presentation unit 5, a line input unit 6 and a unit of production control 7. In the device Pl, the variable data recording unit 3 registers the variable data in the constituent devices A, B, ..., F and the variable data subsequently altered. The line 4 CPU judges whether the constitution of the devices A to F in the manufacturing line Ll is appropriate by comparing the allowed production reserve data of the system control device P with the variable data. The CPU 4 line also judges whether the manufacturing line modified on the basis of the aforementioned judgment is or is not appropriate. The line presentation unit 5 presents both variable data recorded in the variable data recording unit 3 and the judgment result obtained by the line 4 CPU. The line 6 input unit admits an operation start signal and the altered variable data obtained by modifying the manufacturing line Ll in accordance with the result of the trial by means of the CPU of line 4. The admission of the aforementioned production reserve data generated from the CPU of line 4 admitting the signal of initiation of operation, the control unit production 7 sends the production control signal based on the production reserve data to each of the constituent devices A, B, ..., F. The control device of the system P comprises a data base of harness 8, a common data register unit 9, a system input unit 10, a central processing unit of the system (CPU) 11, a system presentation unit 12 and a reserve data transmitting unit 13. In the device of control P, the common data register unit 9 registers the common data in common with the multiple manufacturing lines Ll, L2, ..., Ln and the following common data added later. The input unit of the system 10 admits the product data of the wire harness to be manufactured and the added common data. The CPU of the system 11 lists the item numbers of the sub-harnesses that constitute the wire harness to be manufactured, comparing the data of the product with the registered data and the database 8. The CPU 11 also compares the data of the sub-wire harnesses of the respective article numbers with the aforementioned common data and the variable data in the respective data recording units 3, ..., 3 in the line control devices Pl, P2 , ..., Pn in order to determine the manufacturing line Ll, L2, ..., or Ln in charge of each subnet harness wire with the item number. Furthermore, on the basis of the product data, the CPU 11 produces the production reserve data for each manufacturing line Ll, L2, ..., or Ln which is determined as above. The unit of presentation of the system 12 presents the data of the product, the common data, the variable data, the list of the numbers of the article, the production lines determined to be charged and the production reserve data. The reserve data transmitting unit 13 transmits the CPU production reserve data to line 4 of the line control device Pl, P2, .... or Pn of the manufacturing line Ll, L2, ..., or Ln that is being determined. So far, the line presentation unit 5 and the system presentation unit 12 are constituted by respective presentation units of the personal computers, while the input unit of line 6 and the input unit of system 10 are constituted by the respective keyboards of personal computers. The variable data recorded in the variable data record unit 3 contains the classes of constituent devices of the corresponding manufacturing line, the numbers of the devices, the order of placement, the mechanical parameters of the devices and so on.

For example, in the manufacturing line Ll having a measuring device A, a plug device B, a release device C, the multiple pressure adjustment devices (n) SI, D2, ..., Dn, a insertion device E and a catchment device F placed in accordance with the order and process of the classes of these devices, the numbers of the devices and the order of placement are recorded as the variable data. As for the mechanical parameters such as the variable data, in the case of the measuring device A, they can be constituted by the position for exchanging a nozzle allowing the passage of the wire, the "waiting" position of a spindle to retain the wire in the cutting, and nozzle directions on each cartridge when multiple nozzles (eg, 12 pieces) are assembled at the nozzle base, color, size, etc., of each wire contained in the cartridge and so on. Alternatively, the standby position of an insertion spindle, the standby position of a "supply" spindle, etc. may be constituted by the article number of a rubber plug. in the case of a plug device B. Or again, in the case of the pressure adjusting device DI, D2, ..., or Dn, the article number of a terminal in use, the direction of adjustment under pressure, the Pressure adjustment height, etc., can be considered as the mechanical parameters. Similarly, the article number of a housing, an insertion direction, an insertion section, etc. it can be taken into account in the insertion device E, while the "wait" and acceptance positions, etc. can be considered as the mechanical parameters in the pickup device F.

Incidentally, with respect to the aforementioned variable data altered subsequently it should be noted that if the corresponding manufacturing line does not have sufficient processing capacity due to the difference in the constitution of the sub-wire harness being manufactured and / or the change in the production output, then the line 4 CPU judges that this manufacturing line is not appropriate to produce the sub-wire harness, so that there would be a need to alter the constitution of the devices in the manufacturing line to achieve the processing capacity required. The altered variable data is subsequently represented by the classes, numbers and the order of the devices that will be added or suppressed in order to deal with the aforementioned need and also the mechanical parameters of the devices, etc. For example, when the number of terminals (or housings) in the sub wire harness that is being manufactured changes, the number of the pressure adjusting devices and / or the insertion devices is changed accordingly to adjust the processing capacity of the corresponding manufacturing line. In data base 8, the constitution of the different sub-wire harnesses that are accompanied by respective article numbers is recorded. Then, the constitution of the sub-wire harness is represented by the class, size and length of the wires, the article number of a wire plug, the same as the terminals, the address of the terminals, the article number of the accommodation, the address of the accommodation and so on. In addition, if the wire harness to be manufactured has to include a new sub-wire harness that has not been registered in the data base 8 yet, it is carried out to admit the article number of the harness constitution. aforementioned sub-wire, through the input unit of the system 10. The common data recorded in the common data recording unit 9 consists of the wire size for each of the wire classes, a wedging amount, the direction for wedging, the kind of wire suitable for each article number of the rubber plug, an insertion amount, a return leg of plug, a detachment depth for each of the wire classes, a wire return stretch during the detachment, the wire size for each of the article numbers of the terminals, and a press fit depth, etc. . In addition, in case of using a new material (e.g., a new type of wire, rubber plugs or terminal), the common data added subsequently is similar to the aforementioned common data about the new material. The product data of the wire harness being manufactured is expressed by the kind, size and length of the wires, the article number of the wire plug, the same of terminals, the terminal address, the article number of the housing , the address of the accommodation, etc. in view of displaying the constitution. The wire harness manufacturing apparatus constructed in this manner operates in accordance with the flow chart of Figure 4. First, the product data of the wire harness being manufactured is admitted by the system input unit 10. During the input of the product data, the system CPU 11 carries out the reading of the registration data in the data base 8 and makes a list of the number of the Article of the sub-wire harnesses that constitute the wire harness that is being manufactured by comparing the registration data with the aforementioned product data. Both the article number list and the product data can be presented in the presentation unit of the system 12, while the wire harness manufactured from sub-wire harnesses in the list can be simulated by the system presentation device for confirmation . Then, during the reading of the common data in the common data register unit 9 and the variable data in the variable data register units 3, 3, ...., 3 of the line control devices Pl, P2 , .... Pn, the system CPU 11 determines which of the manufacturing lines Ll, L2, ..., and Ln will be responsible for the manufacture of the sub-wire harness of each article number, comparing both data with the data of the sub-wire harness of each article number in the list of the item number. The common data in the common registration unit 9, the variable data in the variable data recording units 3 and the determination of the manufacturing line that is in charge can be presented in the presentation unit of the system 12. In addition, the System CPU 11 makes production reservation for each manufacturing line Ll, L2, ..., or Ln which is determined in the manner mentioned above on the basis of the product data. This production reserve data can be presented in the presentation unit of the system 12. This production reserve data for each of the production lines is sent from the reserve data transmitting unit 13 to the line CPU of the device corresponding line control Pl. For example, the production reserve data of the manufacturing line Ll is sent to the line 4 CPU of the line control device Pl. The line 4 CPU takes the registration data in the variable data recording unit 3 and compares the registration data with the production reserve data in order to judge whether the constitution of the constituent devices A to F in the line of existing manufacture is or is not appropriate. For example, in the measuring device A, it is judged by the production reserve data whether the size and color of the wire in each nozzle direction are identical or not identical to those of the harness of the sub-wire being manufactured. Or, in the pressure adjustment devices DI, D2, ..., and Dn, it is judged by the production reserve data if the class and number of appropriate terminals have been selected corresponding to both the number and the direction of the terminals of the sub-wire harness that is being manufactured. When it is judged that the manufacturing line is appropriate, the present manufacturing line can maintain the constitution of the devices. On the other hand, if this is not the case, there is a need to change the constitution of the devices of the present manufacturing line. In this case, the constitution of the device on the line will be modified by manually rearranging the constituent devices. The variable data recorded in the variable data recording unit 3 and the judgment can be presented in the presentation unit of line 5. When the devices are rearranged, the new result of the variable data of the provision is admitted as the variable data "subsequently altered" through a line 6 input unit and then registered in the variable data record unit 3. Then, after confirming that the manufacturing line is appropriate by the aforementioned judgment, the line CPU 4 sends the production reserve data to the production control unit 7 during the reception of the operation initiation signal from the line input unit 6. Note in the modification, that the signal of initiation of operation by manipulating a switch of "button type" "push" (not shown) placed on the outside of the personal computer that constitutes the line control device During the input of the production reserve data, the production control unit 7 also transmits to each of the constituent devices A to F the production control signal based on the production reserve data.Subsequently, the respective devices A to F in the line Ll are activated to manufacture the corresponding sub-wire harnesses in accordance with the production reserve data. this way, in accordance with the modality, comparing the variable data recorded in the variable data record units 3, 3 ..., 3 in the multiple line control devices Pl, P2, ..., Pn one with the another, the production reserve data is formed in a way in which the manufacturing loads are well balanced between the manufacturing lines Ll, L2, ..., and Ln. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the items in the material between the respective manufacturing lines Ll, L2, ..., Ln to the maximum. In addition, in accordance with the modality, since the manufacturing line can easily be rearranged in the constitution of the appropriate devices on the Based on the judgment in the line control device, it is possible to establish the manufacturing line for a short period of time at its maximum and also build the constitution of the devices to reduce the intermediate material between the constituent devices up to the maximum. Figure 3 shows another control system of the wire harness manufacturing apparatus. The control system is constituted so that the line control device has a touch time recording unit to record the touch time. The remaining constitution of the modality is similar to that of the modality mentioned above. That is, each line control device Pl displays a touch time register unit 14 to record the touch time of the corresponding manufacturing line that is being admitted by the line 6 input unit, while the CPU of line 4 is constituted with a function to calculate both the waiting time that is being admitted through the system control device P and the touch time to thereby determine the cycle time of the corresponding manufacturing line and another function to transmit the cycle time to the production control unit 7 during the input of an operation start signal and the Production control unit 7 is constituted with a function to send signals so that the corresponding manufacturing line works in accordance with the cycle time. The system CPU 11 is constituted with a function for comparatively calculating the respective touch time recorded in the touch time register units 14, 14, ..., 14 of the multiple line control devices Pl, P2,. .., Pn to thereby determine the respective wait time of the multiple manufacturing lines and another function to transmit the respective timeout to the reserve data transmitting unit 13, while the reserve data transmitting unit 13 it is constituted with a function to transmit each waiting time to the line 4 CPU of the corresponding line control device. So far, based on the manufacturing line that has the maximum touch time in the respective manufacturing lines, the waiting time is defined as a difference between the maximum touch time and the touch time of the other line of touch. manufacturing. The cycle time is equal to the total time from the start of a manufacturing cycle to the start of the next manufacturing cycle including the waiting time.

Therefore, since the respective manufacturing lines Ll, L2, ..., Ln are adapted to operate in accordance with the cycle time obtained by calculating the waiting time and the touch time, it is possible to reduce the intermediate material remaining between the manufacturing lines as a result of the manufacturing loads of the respective manufacturing lines, as far as possible. In accordance with the embodiment, a touch time control method is carried out in the following manner. That is, the touch time for each manufacturing line Ll (L2, ..., Ln) is measured by making preliminary operation of each manufacturing line Ll (L2, ..., Ln) prior to the practical operation. Then, the so-called touch time is admitted to the line control device Pl (P2, ..., Pn) of the manufacturing line Ll (L2, ..., Ln) for recording. Then, the system control device P calculates the waiting time for each manufacturing line Ll (L2, ..., Ln) on the basis of the touch time recorded in the line control device Pl (P2, .. ., Pn) and transmits the calculated waiting time to the line control device Pl (P2, ..., Pn) of the manufacturing line Ll (L2, ..., Ln). In the line control device Pl (P2, ... Pn), the operation is performed to calculate the cycle time of the manufacturing line that is in charge and to control the operation of the manufacturing line in accordance with the cycle time calculated in this way . In detail, the method for controlling the touch time is carried out in accordance with a flow chart shown in Figure 5. First of all, repeatedly, the touch time of the manufacturing line Ll (L2, ... , Ln) is measured by making preliminary operation of each manufacturing line Ll (L2, ..., Ln) before the practical operation. For each line control device Pl (P2, ... Pn), the actually measured touch time is admitted from the line input unit 6 and is recorded in the touch time recording unit 14. The CPU of the system 11 reads the touch time recorded in the touch time register unit 14 of the line control device Pl (P2, ..., Pn) and determines the waiting time for each manufacturing line Ll (L2, ..., Ln) comparing the previous touch time with the subsequent touch time. The waiting time is transmitted to the CPU of line 4 of each line control device t Pl (P2, ..., Pn), through the reserve data transmitting unit 13. The line 4 CPU calculates the waiting time allowed and the touch time read from the unit touch time register 14 to determine the cycle time of the corresponding manufacturing line. Then, the cycle time is transmitted to the production control unit 7 since the operation initiation signal is admitted. The production control unit 7 sends signals so that the corresponding manufacturing line operates in accordance with the cycle time. In accordance with the touch time control method mentioned above, since the touch time is measured by operating the manufacturing line Ll (L2, ..., Ln) in reality and subsequently, the waiting time and cycle time are obtained on the basis of touch time, and it is possible to obtain the cycle time with great precision. Therefore, the production lines Ll, L2, ..., Ln are controlled in order to reduce the intermediate materials between the manufacturing lines due to manufacturing loads up to the maximum, through the respective cycle time with great accuracy .

As for the aforementioned touch time control method, it is preferred to carry out the same while the revised control is included after actually making the manufacturing line work. The revision control after the practical operation is carried out in accordance with a flow chart of Figure 6. First, the line control device Pl (P2, ..., Pn) automatically measures the touch time of the practical operation after finishing the operation of the corresponding manufacturing line Ll (L2, ..., Ln) during constant cycles and replaces the previously recorded touch time with the previous touch time of the practical operation for recording. The automatic measurement of the touch time due to the practical operation is carried out by the line 4 CPU that is driven in accordance with the line control program stored in the line control devices Pl (P2, ..., Pn). Therefore, the measured touch time due to the practical operation is used to correct the pre-registered touch time, so that the corrected one is recorded in the touch time recording unit 14. Then, the system control P calculates the new touch time for each manufacturing line based on the record touch time practical in the line control device Pl (P2, ..., Pn). That is, the system CPU 11 reads the corrected touch time recorded in the touch time register unit 14 of the line control device Pl (P2)., ..., Pn) and calculates the new waiting time for each production line, in accordance with the control program of the system stored in the control device of the system P. In this way, the waiting time determined in the previous cycle is corrected. It is then carried out to transmit the new waiting time to the line control device Pl (P2, ..., Pn) of the manufacturing line. In this way, the new waiting time is transmitted to the line 4 CPU of the line control device Pl (P2, ..., Pn) via the reserve data transmitting unit 13. In addition, the Line control Pl (P2, ..., Pn) calculates the new cycle time of the corresponding manufacturing line and controls the operation of the manufacturing line in accordance with the cycle time. The cycle time determined in the previous cycle is corrected by calculating the new cycle time.

In this way, the line CPU 4 calculates the new cycle time of the corresponding manufacturing line on the calculation of the new admitted waiting time and the corrected touch time from the touch time recording unit 14. This new cycle of time is transmitted to the production control unit 7 by the operation initiation signal admitted in the next cycle. The production control unit 7 sends signals so that the corresponding production line operates in accordance with the new cycle time. The revision control (check) after the actual operation is repeated after the actual operations of the constant number of cycles. In accordance with the touch time control method including the revision control, since the touch time, the waiting time and the cycle time are checked for correction after the actual operations of the number of constant cycles, it is possible to manage the respective cycle time of the manufacturing lines Ll, L2, ... Ln with great precision. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the intermediate materials between the manufacturing lines in addition to managing the cycle time of the entire system with great accuracy whereby productivity can be further improved. Finally, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description is related to some preferred embodiments of the wire harness manufacturing apparatus disclosed and the touch time control method, and that various changes can be made and changed. modifications in the present invention without deviating from the spirit and scope thereof.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY It is provided with a wire harness manufacturing apparatus and a touch time control method thereof, both of which are capable of reducing the occurrence of intermediate materials to the maximum and also facilitating a measurement against the design change of the harness. wire or the change in the manufacturing line itself, whereby it is possible to establish the manufacturing line in a remarkably short time if a change occurs.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS:

1. A wire harness manufacturing apparatus comprising: multiple manufacturing lines for making multiple sub-wire harnesses respectively as constituents of a wire harness to be produced, each of the manufacturing lines consisting of multiple constituent devices placed in order of manufacture of each sub-wire harness; multiple line control devices that is provided to control the operation processes of the manufacturing lines respectively, each of the line control devices is connected to the constituent devices of each of the manufacturing lines through a circuit of signal transmission; and at least one system control device adapted to build a signal transmitting network together with the line control devices, to control the manufacturing loads between the multiple manufacturing lines.

2. A wire harness manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the line control devices comprises: a variable data recording unit for recording the variable data in the constituent devices and the variable data subsequently altered; a line central processing unit to judge whether the constitution of the constituent devices in the manufacturing line is appropriate by comparing the production reserve data admitted from the system control device with the variable data, the central processing unit of the line also judges whether the modified manufacturing line based on the previous judgment is appropriate or not; a line presentation unit to present both the variable data recorded in the variable data record unit and the judgment result obtained by the central line processing unit; a line input unit for admitting an operation initiation signal and the altered variable data obtained by modifying the manufacturing line in accordance with a judgment result by the central line processing unit; and a production control unit to support the production reserve data generated from the central line processing unit as a result of the admission of the line input unit of an operation initiation signal, sending in sequence the production control unit the production control signal based on the production reserve data to each of the constituent devices; and wherein the control device of the system comprises: a database for the wire harness to be produced; a common data record unit to record the common data in common with the multiple manufacturing lines and the following common data added later; an input unit of the system to admit the product data of the wire harness and the added common data; a central processing unit of the system for preparing a list of the article numbers of the sub-harness constituting the wire harness by comparing the data of the product with the data registered in the database; compare the harness data of the sub wire of the respective article numbers with the common data previously cited and the variable data in the respective data recording units in the line control devices in order to determine the manufacturing line in charge of each harness of the sub-wire with the item number; and prepare the production reserve data for each determined manufacturing line, on the basis of the product data; a unit of presentation of the system to present the data of the product, the common data, the variable data, the list of the numbers of the article, the determined production lines that are in charge and the data of reservation of production; and a spare data transmitting unit for transmitting the production reserve data to the central line processing unit of the line control device of the manufacturing line being determined.

3. A wire harness manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in each of the manufacturing lines, the line control device includes a touch time recording unit to record the touch time of the corresponding manufacturing line which is being admitted through the line input unit; the central line processing unit is constituted with a function to calculate the waiting time that is allowed through the system control device and the touch time to thereby determine the cycle time of the corresponding manufacturing line and of another function for transmitting the cycle time to the production control unit during the input of the operation initiation signal; and wherein the production control unit is constituted with a function to output the signals so that the corresponding manufacturing line works in accordance with the cycle time; and wherein the central processing unit of the system is constituted with a function to comparatively calculate the respective touch time recorded in the touch time recording units of the multiple line control devices in order to determine the waiting time respective of the multiple manufacturing lines and another function for transmitting the respective waiting time to the reservation data transmitting unit; and the reserve data transmission unit is constituted with a function to transmit each time of Wait for the central line processing unit of the corresponding line control device.

4. A method for controlling the touch time of a wire harness manufacturing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: measuring a touch time for each of the manufacturing lines by preliminarily running the manufacturing line prior to its practical operation; allow a line control device of the manufacturing line to admit the touch time for registration; calculating a waiting time for the manufacturing line by means of a system control device based on the touch time recorded in the line control device; transmitting the calculated waiting time to the line control device of the manufacturing line; And both calculate the cycle time of the manufacturing line that is in charge of it and control the operation of the manufacturing line in accordance with the cycle time calculated by the line control device.

5. A method for controlling the touch time according to claim 4, wherein, in the method, the line control device automatically measures the touch time of the practical operation after finishing the operation of the corresponding manufacturing line during constant cycles and replaces the recorded touch time with the touch time of the practical operation to register the system control device calculates the new waiting time for each of the manufacturing lines on the basis of the touch time of the practical operation registered in the line control device and transmits the new waiting time to the line control device of the manufacturing line; and the line control device calculates the new cycle time of the manufacturing line and controls the operation of the manufacturing line in accordance with the new cycle time.

6. A method of manufacturing wire harness, comprising the steps of: admitting the product data of the wire harness to be manufactured with an input unit of the system; read the data from the register of a database to a central processing unit of the system when the product data is admitted, and make a list of the item number of the sub-wire harnesses that constitute the wire harness that goes to manufactured, comparing the data of the record with the data of the product; read the common data from a common data record unit to the central processing unit of the system and the variable data of the variable data recording units of the line control devices, and determine in the central processing unit of the system which of the manufacturing lines is responsible for the manufacture of the sub-wire harness of each article number, comparing both the common data and the variable data with the harness data of the sub-wire of each item number in the list of the article number; carry out in the central processing unit of the system the production reserve data for each production line that is determined in the manner mentioned above on the basis of the product data; transmitting the production reserve data for each of the manufacturing lines of the central processing unit of the system through a transmitter unit is reserved data to the processing unit line central of a corresponding line control device; read the variable data from the variable data record unit to the central line processing unit, comparing the variable data with the production reserve data in the central line processing unit to judge whether a constitution is appropriate or not the constituent devices in an existing manufacturing line, and changing the constitution of the devices of the present manufacturing line on the basis of a judgment result of the central line processing unit; transmitting the production reservation data from the central line processing unit to a production control unit during receipt of the production initiation sigfrom a line input unit, and transmitting a production control sigbased on the production reserve data from the production control unit to each of the constituent devices; and activating the respective constituent devices in the production line to manufacture the corresponding sub-wire harnesses in accordance with the production reserve data.

7. A wire harness manufacturing method according to claim 6, wherein when judging that the manufacturing line is appropriate in the central line processing unit, maintaining the constitution of the constituent devices in a present manufacturing line, and when it is judged that the manufacturing line is not appropriate in the central line processing unit, change the constitution of the constituent devices in the line of manufacture presnete; and when a change of the constitution of the constituent devices is carried out, admitting a new variable data resulting from the change as a variable data subsequently altered with the line input unit, and registering the new variable data in the register unit of variable data.