EP0365137A1 - Method of making an electrical harness - Google Patents
Method of making an electrical harness Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0365137A1 EP0365137A1 EP89309343A EP89309343A EP0365137A1 EP 0365137 A1 EP0365137 A1 EP 0365137A1 EP 89309343 A EP89309343 A EP 89309343A EP 89309343 A EP89309343 A EP 89309343A EP 0365137 A1 EP0365137 A1 EP 0365137A1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- wire
- wires
- terminal
- discrete
- connector housing
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
- H01R43/04—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for forming connections by deformation, e.g. crimping tool
- H01R43/048—Crimping apparatus or processes
- H01R43/052—Crimping apparatus or processes with wire-feeding mechanism
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an automated method of making an electrical harness of the type having a plurality of discrete wires, one end of which, terminates in a connector.
- Machines of this type are capable of feeding only a single wire and are not capable of selecting a wire of a particular type from a plurality of available wires and feeding that selected wire.
- the feeding device accommodates six different wires, anyone of which may be selected and fed by a two belt feeding mechanism.
- the fed wire passes through a single wire passageway to a harness making machine for processing.
- the present invention relates to an automated method of making an electrical harness wherein a wire of a desired type is automatically selected from a plurality of wires of different types available for use.
- the wire is terminated with appropriate terminals and one end inserted into the appropriate cavity of a selected connector housing.
- the method includes selecting a wire from the plurality of wires and feeding the selected wire.
- the end of the wire is then terminated by attaching a terminal thereto, cutting the fed wire to form a segment of predetermined length, and terminating the cut end of the wire segment with a second terminal.
- the second terminal and wire end is moved to a connector loading zone and inserting into a selected cavity of a selecting connector housing.
- FIG. 1A An example of a harness 11, made by the present method is shown in Figure 1A.
- a plurality of discrete wire segments 12 including a discrete wire segment 14 that is of a different type, such as different color, gage, or insulation, than the wires 12 are shown inserted into cavities 16 of a connector housing 18.
- Each discrete wire segment 12, 14 has a selected terminal 20 crimped onto a first end and a selected terminal 22 crimped onto a second end.
- the terminals 22 and second ends of the wire segments are inserted into appropriate cavities 16 as shown.
- Such electrical harnesses are well known in the art.
- a plurality of discrete wires 24, some of which are of different type than others, are directed into a wire selection and feeding unit 26.
- Each of the wires 24 is pulled from a substantially endless source such as a barrel or reel 28. It will be understood that the wires 24 have been previously fed from the reels 28 into the wire selection unit 26 preparatory to harness making production. Initially, the first time that any of the plurality of wires is selected, its end is stripped of insulation as required by the terminals being used. Thereafter, when a wire segment is cut, the remaining wire is stripped and then retracted into the wire selection unit 26, thereby obviating the need to strip the wire upon subsequent selection.
- the first wire 30 to be processed is selected by the wire selection unit 26 and fed outwardly through a wire passageway 32 a specific distance.
- the wire selection unit 26 is then pivoted about a pivot point 34 until the end of the first wire 30 is presented to one of the terminal presses 36, 38.
- the wire selection unit 26 is shown in this pivoted position in phantom lines and indicated as B in Figure 1.
- the terminal presses 36, 38 are arranged to crimp terminals 40 and 42 respectively which are dispensed from the reels 44 in strip form.
- the press that is selected corresponds to the terminal that is desired.
- the selected press, 38 in this example, crimps a terminal 42 onto the end of the wire 30.
- the wire select unit 26 is then pivoted about the point 34 in the opposite direction to return to its starting position shown in solid lines and indicated as A in Figure 1.
- the wire 30 is then feed along a wire path 50, shown in Figure 1, to an extended position.
- the wire 30 has passed through a wire cutting and stripping station 52.
- the wire 30 is extended along the wire path 50 for a predetermined distance.
- the cutting and stripping station 52 is then actuated thereby severing a wire segment 31 from the wire 30.
- the insulation is stripped from both the severed end of the segment 31 and the stub end of the wire 30, as shown in Figure 2.
- the end of the wire segment 31 having the terminal 42 crimped thereto will be referred to as the first end while the newly severed end will be referred to as the second end.
- a clamp 54 retains the second end of the wire segment 31 in position on the wire path 50 during the cutting and stripping operations.
- the wire segment 31 is then fed along the wire path 50, from left to right as seen in Figure 2, until the second end is presented to one of the terminal presses 60, 62.
- the terminal presses 60, 62 are similar to the terminal presses 36, 38 in that terminals in strip form, in this case terminals 64 and 66, are dispensed from the reels 44 for crimping on the second end of the wire segments.
- the second end of the wire segment 31 is presented to the press 60 where a terminal 64 is crimped thereto.
- the wire segment 31 is then moved further along the wire path 50, from left to right as viewed in Figure 3, until the second end and the attached terminal 64 enter the connector loading station 68 and are presented to a selected cavity of a previously selected connector housing 70.
- the terminal 64 is then inserted into the selected cavity.
- a pair of housing trays 72 and 74 containing a supply of connector housings 70 and 76 respectively are suitably arranged so that a connector housing from either of the trays may be selected and loaded into an X-Y robot 80 by a loader 82. This is preferably done prior to the first wire segment 31 being moved into the connector loading station, or concurrently therewith.
- another wire 30 is selected by the wire selection unit 26 from the plurality of wires 24, and fed outwardly through the wire passageway 32.
- this selected wire 30 may or may not be of a different type than that of the previously selected wire 30.
- the present wire 30 is presented to one of the presses 36, 38 for receiving a selected terminal 40, 42, extended to its desired length and cut into a wire segment.
- the cut end then receives a desired terminal from one of the presses 60, 62 which is then moved to the connector loading station and inserted into a selected cavity of the connector housing 70. This process is repeated until all of the desired wire segments 31 have been cut to length, properly terminated, and inserted into appropriate cavities in the selected connector housing.
- the connector housing 70 is then ejected from the X-Y robot 80 and the completed harness 90 placed in a collector tray 84. This process may be repeated to produce any desired number of similar electrical harnesses 90. It will be appreciated that any desired number of terminal presses 36, 38 and 60, 62 may be utilized to accommodate the number of different terminations required without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
- the movement of the wire segment 31 is along the wire path 50 which is in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the segment 31.
- the harness making machine 10 of Figures 1, 2, and 3 may be arranged to move the wire segment 31 in a direction other than axially. See, for example, Figures 4, 5, and 6, which schematically depict a harness making machine 100 for making the harness 90 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
- the machine elements of the machine 100 having the same identifying numbers as the machine elements of the machine 10, are substantially identical in form and operation.
- the machine 100 includes a wire selection and feeding unit 26 and an adjacent pair of terminal presses 36 and 38.
- a connector loading station 68, X-Y robot 80, loader 82, connector housing trays 72 and 74, and a collector tray 84 are located to the right side of the machine 100, as viewed in Figures 4, 5, and 6.
- a pair of terminal presses 60 and 62 are disposed between the unit 26 and the connector loading station 68.
- the wire selection and feeding unit 26 is oriented so that the wire passageway 32 directs the selected wire 30 downwardly, as viewed in Figures 4, 5, and 6, along a wire path 50 that passes through a wire cutting and stripping station 52.
- the wire 30 is terminated with a selected terminal 42, then extended along the wire path 50, and cut and stripped to form a wire segment 31 of a desired length.
- the wire segment 31, being held by the gripper 54, is then moved laterally in a direction indicated by the arrow C, as shown in Figure 5, to present the cut end, or second end, to the press 60 to crimp a terminal 64 thereon, the wire segment 31 is then again moved laterally to the connector loading station 68 where the terminal 64 is inserted into a selected cavity of the connector housing 70, see Figure 6.
- the above steps are repeated until all of the desired wire segments 31 have been properly terminated and inserted into their respective cavities in the connector housing 70.
- the completed harness 90 is then ejected into the collector tray 84 as shown in Figure 6. It is therefore seen that the method of the present invention can be practiced so that the wire segment 31 is moved in any of a variety of ways.
- the wire 30 be automatically selected from a plurality of wires 24 which are usually of different type, such as different color, gage, or kind of insulation. While a particular harness may be composed of wire segments 31 of the same type wire, the method of the present invention permits the making of a harness having discrete wire segments of varying type and varying kinds of terminations on their ends. Further, the method of the present invention permits the automatic selection of the terminals and of the connector housing desired.
- the mechanism utilized to practice the teachings of the present invention are known in the art, but, heretofore have not been brought together to form a harness making machine that is capable of performing the present method.
- the general arrangement of the machine may be in accordance with that disclosed in the above referenced U.S. Patent Number 4,628,600 which discloses the functions, feeding, cutting and stripping, and terminating discrete wire segments.
- the mechanisms described therein or any suitable similar mechanisms known in the industry may be used to perform such functions
- the above referenced U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 107, 147 discloses a wire selecting and feeding unit which may be utilized for the wire selection and feeding functions of the present invention.
- the ′147 patent application discloses a device for selectively feeding any of a plurality of wires arranged in pairs, each pair having a first wire and a second wire.
- Each wire pair has a feeding unit associated therewith comprising a driver belt and two idler belts.
- the idler belts are movable between a feeding position and a non-feeding position.
- a specific wire is fed by moving its associated feeding belt to its feeding position and actuating the driven belt so that the wire is fed by the two belts.
- a wire guide is provided and has convergent passageways which extend to a wire outlet. After a wire segment has been cut, the wire stub can be retracted by reversing the direction of the driven belt.
- Connector housing loader devices for pick-up of a connector housing from a tray or other dispenser of such housings and transfer and placement of the connector housing to an X-Y robotic holder including the X-Y robot are commonly known in the industry. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,650,391 which issued March 17, 1987 to Adlon et al. and U.S. Patent No. 4,611,846 which issued September 16, 1986 to Feiber et al. Both Adlon and Feiber disclose devices which pick-up a connector from a tray and place it on a work piece.
- a typical X-Y robot device that can be suitably utilized in the practice of the present invention, see U.S. Patent No.
- a typical control system 108 for the harness making machine exemplified herein is depicted in the block diagram of Figure 7.
- a computer 110 which in the present example is an IBM PC XT, includes a memory 112 for storage of harness making information.
- An input and display unit 114 is the primary interface between the operator and the control system 108.
- the computer 110 includes a series of output channels 116 which connect to and drive various instrumentalities 118 of the harness making machines 10 and 100. Since such control systems are well known in the computer art, no attempt will be made here to show this system in more detailed form. It will be understood that each of the instrumentalities 118, while shown in functional form, include the necessary driver circuitry and associated control devices to permit their operation and control.
- the wire select and feed function 120 includes the wire selection and feeding mechanisms described above as well as the survo motors, control and power circuitry, and sense switches needed to effect positive control of the mechanisms by the computer.
- the operator by manipulating the input and display unit 114, defines in the computer's memory, the parameters of the electrical harness that is desired. Also defined are the types of wires which are available to the wire selection and feeding unit 26, the types of terminals in each of the presses 36, 37, 60 and 62, and the types of connector housings in each of the trays 72 and 74.
- a control program within the computer,s memory initiates operation of and maintains control of the various instrumentalities 118 in the making of the electrical harness by the method of the present invention.
- control system 108 is by way of example of a typical control system that could be used.
- Various hardwire control systems that do not utilize a computer, and that are well known in the industry, can also be utilized in the practice of the present invention.
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- Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)
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Abstract
The present invention is an automateo method of making an electrical harness (11) of the type having a plurality of discrete wires (12). One end of some or all of the wires terminates in a connector (18). A wire (30) of a desired type is automatically selected from a plurality of wires (24) that are available for use. The wire (30) is terminated with selected terminals (40,42,64,66) and one end inserted into an appropriate cavity of a selected connector housing (70). Of the selected wires, at least one is of a different type than the others.
Description
- The present invention relates to an automated method of making an electrical harness of the type having a plurality of discrete wires, one end of which, terminates in a connector.
- A commonly known type of harness making machine is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,628,600 which issued December 16, 1986 to Gordon et al. and which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth verbatim herein. The machine of Gordon feeds a single wire, taken from a so-called "endless source," such is a reel of wire, to a cutting station for cutting into segments. Each segment receives a terminal on one end, which is crimped in place in the usual manner, and the other end is inserted into a cavity of a connector housing. When the desired number of discrete wire segments are prepared and inserted into the connector housing, the completed assembly is ejected and the process repeated for the desired number of times. Machines of this type are capable of feeding only a single wire and are not capable of selecting a wire of a particular type from a plurality of available wires and feeding that selected wire. U.S. Patent Application, Serial No. 107,147, filed October 8, 1987 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth verbatim herein, discloses such a selective wire feeding device. The feeding device accommodates six different wires, anyone of which may be selected and fed by a two belt feeding mechanism. The fed wire passes through a single wire passageway to a harness making machine for processing.
- When a wire segment of the desired length is severed, the stub remaining on the source side of the wire is retracted back into the single wire passageway so that one of the other wires may be subsequently selected and fed. Neither of these references teach an automated method of making an electrical harness wherein each wire of the harness is automatically selected from a plurality of available wires. The present invention discloses such an automated method.
- The present invention relates to an automated method of making an electrical harness wherein a wire of a desired type is automatically selected from a plurality of wires of different types available for use. The wire is terminated with appropriate terminals and one end inserted into the appropriate cavity of a selected connector housing. The method includes selecting a wire from the plurality of wires and feeding the selected wire. The end of the wire is then terminated by attaching a terminal thereto, cutting the fed wire to form a segment of predetermined length, and terminating the cut end of the wire segment with a second terminal. The second terminal and wire end is moved to a connector loading zone and inserting into a selected cavity of a selecting connector housing.
- Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the major functional components of a harness making machine which ilustrates the teachings of the present invention wherein a selected wire has been terminated;
- Figure 1A is an isometric view of an electrical harness produced by said machine;
- Figure 2 is a schematic similar to that of Figure 1 showing the cut wire segment terminated at both ends;
- Figure 3 is a schematic similar to that of Figure 1 showing a connector housing having an end of the selected wire inserted therein;
- Figures 4, 5 and 6 are schematic representations similar to those of Figures 1, 2 and 3 respectively showing another embodiment of the present invention; and
- Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the control function of the harness making machines of Figures 1 and 4.
- The major functional elements of an electrical
harness making machine 10 required in the making of a harness in accordance with the teachings of the present invention are schematically depicted in Figures 1, 2 and 3. An example of aharness 11, made by the present method is shown in Figure 1A. A plurality ofdiscrete wire segments 12 including adiscrete wire segment 14 that is of a different type, such as different color, gage, or insulation, than thewires 12 are shown inserted intocavities 16 of aconnector housing 18. Eachdiscrete wire segment selected terminal 20 crimped onto a first end and a selectedterminal 22 crimped onto a second end. Theterminals 22 and second ends of the wire segments are inserted intoappropriate cavities 16 as shown. Such electrical harnesses are well known in the art. - In the practice of the present invention, a plurality of
discrete wires 24, some of which are of different type than others, are directed into a wire selection andfeeding unit 26. Each of thewires 24 is pulled from a substantially endless source such as a barrel orreel 28. It will be understood that thewires 24 have been previously fed from thereels 28 into thewire selection unit 26 preparatory to harness making production. Initially, the first time that any of the plurality of wires is selected, its end is stripped of insulation as required by the terminals being used. Thereafter, when a wire segment is cut, the remaining wire is stripped and then retracted into thewire selection unit 26, thereby obviating the need to strip the wire upon subsequent selection. - To begin the operation, the
first wire 30 to be processed is selected by thewire selection unit 26 and fed outwardly through a wire passageway 32 a specific distance. Thewire selection unit 26 is then pivoted about a pivot point 34 until the end of thefirst wire 30 is presented to one of theterminal presses wire selection unit 26 is shown in this pivoted position in phantom lines and indicated as B in Figure 1. Theterminal presses crimp terminals reels 44 in strip form. The press that is selected corresponds to the terminal that is desired. The selected press, 38 in this example, crimps aterminal 42 onto the end of thewire 30. The wireselect unit 26 is then pivoted about the point 34 in the opposite direction to return to its starting position shown in solid lines and indicated as A in Figure 1. - The
wire 30 is then feed along awire path 50, shown in Figure 1, to an extended position. Note that thewire 30 has passed through a wire cutting andstripping station 52. Thewire 30 is extended along thewire path 50 for a predetermined distance. The cutting andstripping station 52 is then actuated thereby severing awire segment 31 from thewire 30. During the severing process, the insulation is stripped from both the severed end of thesegment 31 and the stub end of thewire 30, as shown in Figure 2. The end of thewire segment 31 having theterminal 42 crimped thereto will be referred to as the first end while the newly severed end will be referred to as the second end. Aclamp 54 retains the second end of thewire segment 31 in position on thewire path 50 during the cutting and stripping operations. Thewire segment 31 is then fed along thewire path 50, from left to right as seen in Figure 2, until the second end is presented to one of theterminal presses terminal presses case terminals reels 44 for crimping on the second end of the wire segments. In the present example, the second end of thewire segment 31 is presented to thepress 60 where aterminal 64 is crimped thereto. - The
wire segment 31 is then moved further along thewire path 50, from left to right as viewed in Figure 3, until the second end and the attachedterminal 64 enter theconnector loading station 68 and are presented to a selected cavity of a previously selectedconnector housing 70. Theterminal 64 is then inserted into the selected cavity. A pair ofhousing trays connector housings X-Y robot 80 by aloader 82. This is preferably done prior to thefirst wire segment 31 being moved into the connector loading station, or concurrently therewith. - To continue the operation, another
wire 30 is selected by thewire selection unit 26 from the plurality ofwires 24, and fed outwardly through thewire passageway 32. Note that this selectedwire 30 may or may not be of a different type than that of the previously selectedwire 30. Thepresent wire 30 is presented to one of thepresses selected terminal presses connector housing 70. This process is repeated until all of the desiredwire segments 31 have been cut to length, properly terminated, and inserted into appropriate cavities in the selected connector housing. Theconnector housing 70 is then ejected from theX-Y robot 80 and the completedharness 90 placed in acollector tray 84. This process may be repeated to produce any desired number of similarelectrical harnesses 90. It will be appreciated that any desired number ofterminal presses - As is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the movement of the
wire segment 31 is along thewire path 50 which is in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of thesegment 31. However, theharness making machine 10 of Figures 1, 2, and 3, may be arranged to move thewire segment 31 in a direction other than axially. See, for example, Figures 4, 5, and 6, which schematically depict aharness making machine 100 for making theharness 90 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. - The machine elements of the
machine 100 having the same identifying numbers as the machine elements of themachine 10, are substantially identical in form and operation. As is shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, themachine 100 includes a wire selection and feedingunit 26 and an adjacent pair of terminal presses 36 and 38. Aconnector loading station 68,X-Y robot 80,loader 82,connector housing trays collector tray 84 are located to the right side of themachine 100, as viewed in Figures 4, 5, and 6. A pair of terminal presses 60 and 62 are disposed between theunit 26 and theconnector loading station 68. Note that in this arrangement the wire selection and feedingunit 26 is oriented so that thewire passageway 32 directs the selectedwire 30 downwardly, as viewed in Figures 4, 5, and 6, along awire path 50 that passes through a wire cutting and strippingstation 52. As described above for themachine 10, thewire 30 is terminated with a selectedterminal 42, then extended along thewire path 50, and cut and stripped to form awire segment 31 of a desired length. Thewire segment 31, being held by thegripper 54, is then moved laterally in a direction indicated by the arrow C, as shown in Figure 5, to present the cut end, or second end, to thepress 60 to crimp a terminal 64 thereon, thewire segment 31 is then again moved laterally to theconnector loading station 68 where the terminal 64 is inserted into a selected cavity of theconnector housing 70, see Figure 6. The above steps are repeated until all of the desiredwire segments 31 have been properly terminated and inserted into their respective cavities in theconnector housing 70. The completedharness 90 is then ejected into thecollector tray 84 as shown in Figure 6. It is therefore seen that the method of the present invention can be practiced so that thewire segment 31 is moved in any of a variety of ways. What is important is that thewire 30 be automatically selected from a plurality ofwires 24 which are usually of different type, such as different color, gage, or kind of insulation. While a particular harness may be composed ofwire segments 31 of the same type wire, the method of the present invention permits the making of a harness having discrete wire segments of varying type and varying kinds of terminations on their ends. Further, the method of the present invention permits the automatic selection of the terminals and of the connector housing desired. - The mechanism utilized to practice the teachings of the present invention are known in the art, but, heretofore have not been brought together to form a harness making machine that is capable of performing the present method. The general arrangement of the machine may be in accordance with that disclosed in the above referenced U.S. Patent Number 4,628,600 which discloses the functions, feeding, cutting and stripping, and terminating discrete wire segments. The mechanisms described therein or any suitable similar mechanisms known in the industry may be used to perform such functions, The above referenced U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 107, 147 discloses a wire selecting and feeding unit which may be utilized for the wire selection and feeding functions of the present invention. The ′147 patent application discloses a device for selectively feeding any of a plurality of wires arranged in pairs, each pair having a first wire and a second wire. Each wire pair has a feeding unit associated therewith comprising a driver belt and two idler belts. The idler belts are movable between a feeding position and a non-feeding position. A specific wire is fed by moving its associated feeding belt to its feeding position and actuating the driven belt so that the wire is fed by the two belts. A wire guide is provided and has convergent passageways which extend to a wire outlet. After a wire segment has been cut, the wire stub can be retracted by reversing the direction of the driven belt. A reading of the ′147 patent application will provide a more detailed explanation of the construction and operation of the wire selecting a feeding unit.
- Connector housing loader devices for pick-up of a connector housing from a tray or other dispenser of such housings and transfer and placement of the connector housing to an X-Y robotic holder including the X-Y robot are commonly known in the industry. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,650,391 which issued March 17, 1987 to Adlon et al. and U.S. Patent No. 4,611,846 which issued September 16, 1986 to Feiber et al. Both Adlon and Feiber disclose devices which pick-up a connector from a tray and place it on a work piece. For an example of a typical X-Y robot device that can be suitably utilized in the practice of the present invention, see U.S. Patent No. 3,042,171 which issued July 3, 1962 to Rose. All of these devices are well known in the art and therefore will not be described here. Apparatus for inserting the
terminals 64 and second ends of thewire segments 31 into the cavities of theconnector housing 70 is illustrated in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 154,745, filed February 10, 1988 and is incorporated herein by reference and is assigned to the assignee of the present application. This insertion apparatus comprises two sets of closable jaws which are normally in mutual alignment and movable relative to each other. In operation, the first set of jaws is closed onto the wire adjacent the terminal and the second set is closed into surrounding and confining relationship with the terminal. The second set of jaws does not grip the terminal. The first set of jaws then moves toward the connector housing thereby inserting the terminal into the cavity using the second set of jaws as a guide. While this insertion apparatus can be utilized advantageously in the practice of the present invention, other suitable insertion apparatus may also be used. - A
typical control system 108 for the harness making machine exemplified herein is depicted in the block diagram of Figure 7. Acomputer 110, which in the present example is an IBM PC XT, includes amemory 112 for storage of harness making information. An input anddisplay unit 114 is the primary interface between the operator and thecontrol system 108. Thecomputer 110 includes a series ofoutput channels 116 which connect to and drivevarious instrumentalities 118 of theharness making machines instrumentalities 118, while shown in functional form, include the necessary driver circuitry and associated control devices to permit their operation and control. For example, the wire select and feedfunction 120 includes the wire selection and feeding mechanisms described above as well as the survo motors, control and power circuitry, and sense switches needed to effect positive control of the mechanisms by the computer. The operator, by manipulating the input anddisplay unit 114, defines in the computer's memory, the parameters of the electrical harness that is desired. Also defined are the types of wires which are available to the wire selection and feedingunit 26, the types of terminals in each of thepresses trays various instrumentalities 118 in the making of the electrical harness by the method of the present invention. - It will be understood that the
control system 108, set forth above, is by way of example of a typical control system that could be used. Various hardwire control systems that do not utilize a computer, and that are well known in the industry, can also be utilized in the practice of the present invention.
Claims (11)
1. In an automated method of making an electrical harness (11) of the type comprising a plurality of discrete wires (12,14), each wire having a first end and a second end, the second end of some of the wires being connected to a terminal (22) in a multi-contact electrical connector (18) selected from a plurality of such connectors, wherein said plurality of discrete wires (12,14) includes a wire of one type and a wire of another type, characterized by the steps:
(a) selecting a wire (30) from said plurality of wires, the proximate end of said selected wire (30) being said first end and feeding said selected wire (30) through a wire passageway (32) so that said first end projects therefrom; then
(a1) pivoting a portion of said selected wire (30) until said first end is presented to a press (36,38);
(b) terminating said first end by operating said press to attach a first discrete terminal (42) thereto while said first end projects from said wire passageway (32); then
(c) cutting a wire segment (31) of predetermined length from said selected wire (30), the cut end of said wire segment being said second end;
(d) terminating said second end of said wire segment (31) by attaching a second discrete terminal (64) thereto; and
(e) moving said second end of said wire segment (31) to a connector loading zone (68) and inserting said second end and attached terminal into a selected cavity in a selected connector housing (70).
2. The method of Claim 1 further characterized by the step of:
(f) repeating steps (a) through (e) for a plurality of selected wires (30).
3. The method of Claim 2 characterized in that step (a) includes determining the desired type of the wire to be selected and identifying which of said plurality of wires (24) is that desired type.
4. The method of Claim 3 characterized in that said repeating of steps (a) through (e) includes selecting a wire of a different type than that selected in one of the preceding steps (a).
5. The method of Claim 4 characterized in that said inserting of step (e) comprises moving said selected connector housing (70) until said selected cavity is in a particular position then inserting said second end and attached terminal (64) thereinto.
6. The method of Claim 5 characterized in that step (f) includes determining the desired type of connector housing (70) to be selected and loading it into an X-Y robot (80).
7. The method of Claim 6 characterized in that said repeating of step (f) is continued until at least two connector housings (70) have been selected and each has said second end of at least one wire segment (31) inserted therein.
8. The method of Claim 7 characterized in that step (b) includes selecting a first press (36,38) containing said first discrete terminal (40,42) from a plurality of presses containing different terminals, and wherein step (d) includes selecting a second press (60,62) containing said second discrete terminal (64,66) from said plurality of presses.
9. The method of Claim 8 characterized in that said moving said selected connector housing (70) includes actuating said X-Y robot (80).
10. The method of Claim 9 characterized in that step (c) includes stripping the cut end of said selected wire (30), then reverse-feeding said selected wire (30) until said stripped cut end is retracted a predetermined distance.
11. An automated method of making an electrical harness (11) having a plurality of discrete wires (12), one end of some or all of the wires terminating in a connector (18); characterized in that a wire (30) of a desired type is automatically selected from a plurality of wires (24) that are available for use, said wire (30) is terminated with selected terminals (40,42,64,66) and one end thereof is inserted into an appropriate cavity of a selected connector housing (70), at least one of the selected wires being of a different type from the others.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US26238388A | 1988-10-18 | 1988-10-18 | |
US262383 | 1988-10-18 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP0365137A1 true EP0365137A1 (en) | 1990-04-25 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP89309343A Ceased EP0365137A1 (en) | 1988-10-18 | 1989-09-14 | Method of making an electrical harness |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0365137A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH02170310A (en) |
KR (1) | KR900007143A (en) |
BR (1) | BR8905246A (en) |
PT (1) | PT92011A (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0794597A1 (en) * | 1996-03-09 | 1997-09-10 | Friedrich Riempp | Device for the automatic manufacturing of cables with terminals crimped to them at least at one end |
EP0703646A3 (en) * | 1994-09-02 | 1997-12-29 | Brökelmann, Jaeger & Busse GmbH & Co | Process and device for wiring the terminals of components of electrical apparatus |
WO1998009357A1 (en) * | 1996-08-30 | 1998-03-05 | The Whitaker Corporation | Wire feed and positioning unit |
EP1775804A3 (en) * | 2005-10-12 | 2009-04-08 | K.M.I. Trade S.R.L. | Apparatus for producing an electrical wiring |
CN113922188A (en) * | 2020-07-09 | 2022-01-11 | 泰科电子(上海)有限公司 | Cable processing system |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP6081328B2 (en) * | 2013-09-13 | 2017-02-15 | 日本オートマチックマシン株式会社 | Electric wire terminal crimping system and electric wire terminal crimping method |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3766624A (en) * | 1969-08-13 | 1973-10-23 | Amp Inc | Automatic lead making and wiring machine |
US4347651A (en) * | 1979-07-18 | 1982-09-07 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | System for manufacturing connection wires |
EP0126842A2 (en) * | 1983-04-27 | 1984-12-05 | Grote & Hartmann GmbH & Co. KG | Crimping method and device for carrying out this method |
EP0147081A2 (en) * | 1983-11-29 | 1985-07-03 | Nippon Acchakutanshi Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha | A wire length varying device in combination with apparatus for making electrical harnesses |
DE3526900C1 (en) * | 1985-07-26 | 1987-01-22 | Grote & Hartmann | Method and device for automatically collecting crimped electrical connectors for fitting housings |
US4653160A (en) * | 1982-11-10 | 1987-03-31 | Artos Engineering Company | Apparatus for making finished wire harnesses or sub-assemblies therefor |
-
1989
- 1989-09-14 EP EP89309343A patent/EP0365137A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1989-10-16 KR KR1019890014839A patent/KR900007143A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1989-10-16 BR BR898905246A patent/BR8905246A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-10-17 PT PT92011A patent/PT92011A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1989-10-17 JP JP1268281A patent/JPH02170310A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3766624A (en) * | 1969-08-13 | 1973-10-23 | Amp Inc | Automatic lead making and wiring machine |
US4347651A (en) * | 1979-07-18 | 1982-09-07 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | System for manufacturing connection wires |
US4653160A (en) * | 1982-11-10 | 1987-03-31 | Artos Engineering Company | Apparatus for making finished wire harnesses or sub-assemblies therefor |
EP0126842A2 (en) * | 1983-04-27 | 1984-12-05 | Grote & Hartmann GmbH & Co. KG | Crimping method and device for carrying out this method |
EP0147081A2 (en) * | 1983-11-29 | 1985-07-03 | Nippon Acchakutanshi Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha | A wire length varying device in combination with apparatus for making electrical harnesses |
DE3526900C1 (en) * | 1985-07-26 | 1987-01-22 | Grote & Hartmann | Method and device for automatically collecting crimped electrical connectors for fitting housings |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0703646A3 (en) * | 1994-09-02 | 1997-12-29 | Brökelmann, Jaeger & Busse GmbH & Co | Process and device for wiring the terminals of components of electrical apparatus |
EP0794597A1 (en) * | 1996-03-09 | 1997-09-10 | Friedrich Riempp | Device for the automatic manufacturing of cables with terminals crimped to them at least at one end |
WO1998009357A1 (en) * | 1996-08-30 | 1998-03-05 | The Whitaker Corporation | Wire feed and positioning unit |
US5784770A (en) * | 1996-08-30 | 1998-07-28 | The Whitaker Corporation | Wire feed and positioning unit |
EP1775804A3 (en) * | 2005-10-12 | 2009-04-08 | K.M.I. Trade S.R.L. | Apparatus for producing an electrical wiring |
US7975372B2 (en) | 2005-10-12 | 2011-07-12 | K.M.I. Trade S.R.L. | Apparatus for producing electrical wiring |
CN113922188A (en) * | 2020-07-09 | 2022-01-11 | 泰科电子(上海)有限公司 | Cable processing system |
CN113922188B (en) * | 2020-07-09 | 2024-04-02 | 泰科电子(上海)有限公司 | Cable processing system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR900007143A (en) | 1990-05-09 |
JPH02170310A (en) | 1990-07-02 |
BR8905246A (en) | 1990-05-22 |
PT92011A (en) | 1990-04-30 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): BE DE ES FR GB IT NL |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19900927 |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19920702 |
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RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: THE WHITAKER CORPORATION |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN REFUSED |
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18R | Application refused |
Effective date: 19930923 |