JP6109027B2 - Insertion work auxiliary device and insertion work auxiliary method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an insertion assisting device that assists an operation (insertion operation) of inserting a terminal-attached electric wire into a cavity of a connector housing.

  Conventionally, for example, in a manufacturing process of a wire harness, an operator may be instructed to insert an electric wire with a terminal into a correct cavity when performing an insertion operation.

  As this instruction, for example, a method is known in which a diagram in which a connector housing and a terminal-attached electric wire (for example, the color of the electric wire) to be inserted into each cavity are associated with each other is arranged on a work table. As another method, there is known a method of displaying, on a display device, a terminal-attached electric wire to be taken and the position of a cavity into which the electric wire is inserted, according to the work order.

  However, an operator may insert the electric wire with a terminal into the wrong cavity only by the above method. For this reason, in recent years, a method has been adopted in which power is supplied to an inserted electric wire with a terminal and current is detected through a conductor provided on the cavity side to identify the cavity in which the electric wire with a terminal is inserted. And when an electric wire with a terminal is inserted in the wrong cavity, the operator is notified to that effect.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, a plurality of sensor plates are arranged around the connector housing, the strength of the voltage of the electric wire with terminal is detected by the sensor plate, and the electric wire with terminal is inserted based on the detected strength of the voltage. A method for identifying an open cavity is disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 4351032

  By the way, the terminal and the connector housing are provided with a locking mechanism in order to prevent the terminal and the connector housing from coming off after insertion. This locking mechanism is configured by a snap fit or the like, and once locked, the terminal cannot be removed simply by pulling. In order to remove the terminal from the connector housing, special tools and work are required, and the terminal may be damaged during this work. Therefore, it is preferable to prevent the electric wire with terminal from being inserted into the wrong cavity and locked (hereinafter, misalignment).

  However, when inserting an electric wire with a terminal into the cavity, the insertion amount is usually about several tens of millimeters (about 1 second in time), so even if the operator is notified that it has been inserted into the wrong cavity, It is considered that the terminal has already been locked. Even if the locking has not been completed, it is difficult to immediately stop the electric wire with the terminal once it has been inserted, and it is preferable to request this from the worker because it increases the stress on the worker. Absent.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a main object thereof is to provide an insertion operation assisting device that reliably prevents misalignment.

Means and effects for solving the problems

  The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above. Next, means for solving the problems and the effects thereof will be described.

  According to the 1st viewpoint of this invention, the following structures are provided in the insertion assistance apparatus which assists the insertion operation which inserts the electric wire with a terminal in the cavity of a connector housing. In other words, the insertion work assisting device includes an insertion detection unit, a determination unit, and an insertion prevention unit. The insertion detection unit is arranged for each cavity of the connector housing, and moves together with the terminal-attached electric wire when pressed by the inserted electric wire with the terminal. The said determination part determines whether the electric wire with a terminal was inserted in the correct cavity, or was inserted in the wrong cavity. When the determination unit determines that the insertion prevention unit has been inserted into the wrong cavity, the insertion prevention unit prevents the insertion detection unit from moving and prevents the insertion of the terminal-attached electric wire.

  Thereby, since insertion of the electric wire with a terminal is blocked physically, misalignment can be surely prevented. Therefore, even if the operator makes a mistake, it can be immediately started again, so that the work efficiency can be improved. In addition, misalignment can be prevented without stressing the operator.

  In the insertion assisting device, the insertion preventing unit waits at a position where the insertion of the electric wire with terminal is blocked, and the electric wire with terminal can be inserted when the determining unit determines that the electric wire is inserted into the correct cavity. It is preferable to move to a position.

  As a result, it takes about 1 second until the operator inserts the terminal into the cavity and engages it, so that the insertion prevention unit can stand by at the position where the insertion of the electric wire with the terminal is prevented, thereby preventing erroneous arrangement. .

  The insertion work assisting device preferably has the following configuration. That is, this insertion work auxiliary device includes an electrode part and a cavity specifying part. The electrode unit contacts the insertion detection unit moved by being pressed by the inserted terminal-attached electric wire, and causes a current to flow through the insertion detection unit. The cavity specifying unit specifies a cavity into which a terminal-attached electric wire is inserted based on a current flowing through the electrode unit.

  Thereby, the cavity where the electric wire with a terminal was inserted can be specified, without flowing an electric current through the electric wire with a terminal.

  In the insertion work assisting device, it is preferable that the insertion prevention portion has conductivity and also has a function as the electrode portion.

  Thereby, since the number of parts can be reduced, the configuration of the insertion work assisting device can be simplified.

  In the insertion work assisting device, the insertion blocking portion is formed by a blocking element for blocking the movement of the insertion detecting portion corresponding to the plurality of cavities, and the plurality of blocking elements move integrally. It is preferable to do.

  As a result, a plurality of blocking elements can be moved together by a single drive mechanism, so that the drive mechanism is simplified and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced. Furthermore, since the control can be simplified as compared with the configuration in which the blocking element is selected and moved, the insertion blocking portion can be moved quickly.

  In the said insertion operation | work assistance apparatus, it is preferable to provide the electric wire specific part which specifies the electric wire with a terminal inserted in a cavity.

  As a result, even if the operator did not take the terminal-attached wire as instructed, it was determined whether or not it was inserted into the correct cavity based on the detected terminal-attached wire (the wire with the terminal actually taken) can do.

  The insertion work assisting device preferably has the following configuration. That is, this insertion work auxiliary device includes an electric wire holding unit and an electric wire detection unit. The said electric wire holding part hold | maintains the electric wire with a terminal before insertion. The said electric wire detection part detects whether the electric wire with a terminal is hold | maintained at the said electric wire holding part. The said electric wire specific | specification part specifies the electric wire with a terminal inserted based on the detection result of the said electric wire detection part.

  Thereby, an electric wire can be specified without making a mistake, without increasing the process which an operator performs.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the following insertion work assisting method is provided. That is, this insertion work assisting method includes a determination step and an insertion prevention step. In the determination step, it is determined whether the electric wire with terminal is inserted into a correct cavity or an incorrect cavity. In the insertion blocking step, when the determination step determines that the inserted terminal-attached electric wire is incorrect, the insertion detection unit that is pressed and moved by the terminal-attached wire is prevented from moving, and the terminal-attached electric wire To prevent insertion.

  Thereby, since insertion of the electric wire with a terminal is blocked physically, misalignment can be surely prevented. Therefore, even if the operator makes a mistake, it can be immediately started again, so that the work efficiency can be improved. In addition, misalignment can be prevented without stressing the operator.

Explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the insertion work assistance apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Side surface sectional drawing which shows a mode immediately after the electric wire with a terminal was inserted in the cavity. The figure explaining a mode that an electrode plate opens and closes when it sees from the spring probe side. Side surface sectional drawing which shows a mode immediately after the electric wire with a terminal contacts the 1st plunger. Side surface sectional drawing which shows a mode immediately after the protrusion of a 1st plunger contacted the electrode plate. Side surface sectional drawing which shows a mode that an electrode plate moves from a prevention position to a retracted position. Side surface sectional drawing which shows a mode that the terminal was latched by the connector housing. The figure which shows the modification which made the insertion prevention part and the electrode part separate.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an outline of the insertion work auxiliary device 1, the connector housing 40, and the terminal-attached electric wire 50 will be described with reference mainly to FIGS.

  The insertion work auxiliary device 1 is a device that assists the insertion work of the terminal-attached electric wire that is a part of the manufacturing process of the wire harness. Specifically, the insertion work assisting apparatus 1 instructs the worker on the work process and inspects the worker's insertion work. As shown in FIG. 1, the insertion work assisting device 1 includes a work table 10, an electric wire holding table 20, and a control device 30.

  The work table 10 is a table on which an operator works. A connector housing arrangement part 11 and a display device 12 are arranged on the work table 10.

  The connector housing placement portion 11 is formed with a frame that is approximately the same as the outer shape of the connector housing 40. An operator arranges (sets) the connector housing 40 inside the frame and performs an insertion operation.

  The display device 12 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like and is connected to a control device. The display device 12 displays a work procedure, and displays a warning when the insertion work is wrong.

  The electric wire holding base 20 holds the electric wire 50 with a terminal manufactured by a device for crimping the terminal. The electric wire holding base 20 includes an electric wire holding part 21 and an electric wire detection part 22.

  The electric wire holding portion 21 is a columnar protruding portion, and the electric wire 50 with a terminal is suspended from the electric wire holding portion 21. The electric wire holding base 20 includes a plurality of electric wire holding portions 21. Different types of terminal-attached electric wires 50 are suspended from each electric wire holding portion 21. Note that which electric wire 50 with a terminal is hung on which electric wire holding portion 21 is predetermined.

  The electric wire detection part 22 is formed inside the electric wire holding part 21 and detects whether the electric wire 50 with a terminal is suspended from the electric wire holding part 21 by detecting the weight of the electric wire 50 with a terminal. be able to. The result detected by the electric wire detection unit 22 is transmitted to the control device 30.

  The control device 30 controls the display device 12 and gives instructions to the worker. Moreover, the control apparatus 30 is provided with the electric wire specific | specification part 31, the cavity specific | specification part 32, and the determination part 33 (details are mentioned later).

  Next, the connector housing 40 will be described. A plurality of cavities 41 are formed in the connector housing 40 as shown in FIG. It is necessary to attach a predetermined terminal-attached electric wire 50 to each cavity 41. As shown in FIG. 2, a locking projection 42 for locking the terminal-attached electric wire 50 is formed inside each cavity 41.

  Next, the electric wire 50 with a terminal is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal-attached electric wire 50 includes an electric wire 51 and a terminal 52. The electric wire 51 includes a conductor part 51a and a covering part 51b.

  The terminal 52 includes an insulation barrel 53, a wire barrel 54, a locking hole 55, and a fitting portion 56.

  The wire barrel 54 is for crimping the terminal 52 against the conductor portion 51a of the electric wire 51, whereby the electric wire 51 and the terminal 52 are electrically connected. The insulation barrel 53 is for fixing the terminal 52 to the covering portion 51 b of the electric wire 51.

  The locking hole 55 is formed in the upper part of the terminal 52, and the connector housing 40 and the terminal 52 are locked by the above-described locking protrusion 42 entering. The fitting portion 56 engages with a mating terminal (in this embodiment, a male terminal) after locking the terminal-attached electric wire 50 to the connector housing 40.

  Next, the structure arrange | positioned at the back of the connector housing arrangement | positioning part 11 is demonstrated. In the following description, the back side of the terminal-attached electric wire 50 in the insertion direction may be simply referred to as “back side”, and the opposite side may be simply referred to as “front side”. A spring probe 60 and an electrode plate (insertion prevention portion, electrode portion) 70 are arranged on the back side of the connector housing arrangement portion 11. The spring probe 60 is installed for each cavity 41.

  The spring probe 60 includes a first plunger (insertion detection unit) 61, a sleeve 62, a spring 63, a second plunger 64, and a detection unit 65.

  The first plunger 61 is an elongated member having conductivity, and a part thereof is located inside the cavity 41. Further, a current flows through the first plunger 61 by bringing the fed member into contact with the first plunger 61. The control device 30 can detect the current flowing through the first plunger 61 and grasp that the member is in contact with the first plunger 61. The first plunger 61 is formed with a protruding portion 61a that protrudes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

  The sleeve 62 is a cylindrical member. A spring 63 is disposed inside the sleeve 62. The spring 63 biases the first plunger 61 toward the front side.

  A second plunger 64 is connected to the back side of the first plunger 61. The second plunger 64 moves together with the first plunger 61. A detection unit 65 is disposed on the back side of the spring probe 60. The control device 30 can detect that the second plunger 64 has contacted the detection unit 65.

  The electrode plate 70 is a conductive plate material connected to the power source 80. The electrode plate 70 stands by at a position (blocking position) where the first plunger 61 is prevented from moving to the back side. The electrode plate 70 can move to the position (retracted position) where the first plunger 61 can move to the back side by moving vertically along the guide rail 73 in the terminal insertion direction by the driving unit 72 ( (See FIG. 6 below). The driving unit 72 is controlled by the control device 30. Moreover, as the drive part 72, a solenoid, a piezo drive part, etc. are employable, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of blocking elements 71 that block the movement of the first plunger 61 are formed on the electrode plate 70 (for each cavity 41). Since the blocking element 71 is a part of a single plate, the plurality of blocking elements 71 move together.

  Thereby, since the several blocking element 71 can be moved collectively by the one drive part 72, the cost of the insertion operation | work assistance apparatus 1 can be reduced. Furthermore, since the control can be simplified as compared with the configuration in which the blocking element 71 is selected and moved, the electrode plate 70 can be moved quickly. The present invention can also be realized by a configuration in which the insertion blocking portions arranged in the cavities 41 are individually moved. However, since the cavities 41 are small, it is preferable to move them together.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, the operation and control of the insertion work assisting apparatus 1 when the worker performs the insertion work will be described.

  The worker first places the connector housing 40 in the connector housing placement portion 11. The control device 30 displays the color and length of the electric wire 51, the type of the terminal 52, the suspended position, and the like on the display device 12, and instructs the electric wire 50 with a terminal to be inserted first.

  The worker removes the designated terminal-attached electric wire 50 from the electric wire holding unit 21. The electric wire detection unit 22 outputs to the control device 30 that the electric wire with terminal 50 has been removed. In response to this, the electric wire specifying unit 31 of the control device 30 can specify the electric wire with terminal 50 to be inserted.

  The control device 30 determines whether or not the identified terminal-attached electric wire 50 is the same as that instructed earlier. When the erroneous terminal-attached electric wire 50 is removed, the control device 30 warns the operator to that effect. Even when the erroneous electric wire with terminal 50 is removed, it is not necessary to give a warning when it is determined that there is no problem in the insertion work.

  Next, the control device 30 illustrates the cavity 41 into which the removed electric wire 50 with a terminal is inserted in the display device 12. The operator inserts the terminal-attached electric wire 50 into the cavity 41 according to the instruction. When the operator inserts the terminal-attached electric wire 50, the tip of the terminal 52 comes into contact with the first plunger 61 (FIG. 4).

  When the operator further inserts the terminal-attached electric wire 50, the first plunger 61 moves integrally with the terminal-attached electric wire 50, and the protruding portion 61a of the first plunger 61 contacts the electrode plate 70 (blocking element 71) ( FIG. 5). As a result, a current flows through the spring probe 60 via the power supply 80 and the electrode plate 70. The cavity specifying unit 32 of the control device 30 specifies the cavity 41 in which the terminal-attached electric wire 50 is inserted based on the spring probe 60 through which the current flows.

  The control apparatus 30 can grasp | ascertain the electric wire 50 with a terminal which the operator removed, and the cavity 41 which the operator inserted. Based on these, the determination unit 33 of the control device 30 determines whether the terminal-attached electric wire 50 is inserted into the correct cavity 41 or the wrong cavity 41.

  When the determination unit 33 determines that the wrong cavity 41 is inserted, the control device 30 does not move the electrode plate 70. Therefore, even if the operator inserts the electric wire 50 with a terminal, the electrode plate 70 becomes an obstacle and cannot be inserted any more. Further, the control device 30 warns the display device 12 that it has been inserted into the wrong cavity 41. The operator inserts the terminal-attached electric wire 50 into the correct cavity 41 displayed on the display device 12 again. Thus, in this embodiment, an abnormality can be detected before the terminal-attached electric wire 50 is locked to the connector housing 40.

  When the determination unit 33 determines that the correct cavity 41 is inserted, the control device 30 controls the drive unit 72 to move the electrode plate 70 to the retracted position (FIG. 6). Here, since there is a time lag between the contact of the first plunger 61 and the electrode plate 70 until the electrode plate 70 moves to the retracted position, there is a concern that the working speed becomes slow. However, it is not necessary for the control device 30 to determine whether or not the wrong cavity 41 is energized, and it is only necessary to determine whether or not the correct cavity 41 is energized, so that the determination by the determination unit 33 can be performed quickly. . Therefore, since the electrode plate 70 can be moved immediately, it is considered that there is almost no influence on the working speed.

  In the electrode plate 70, the retracted position can be set as the standby position, but the blocking position is preferably set as the standby position from the viewpoint of reliably preventing misalignment.

  Thereafter, the operator further inserts the terminal-attached electric wire 50, whereby the engaging protrusion 42 enters the engaging hole 55, and the terminal-attached electric wire 50 is engaged with the connector housing 40 (FIG. 7).

  In addition, the positional relationship is defined so that the 2nd plunger 64 may contact the detection part 65 when the electric wire 50 with a terminal is latched. Accordingly, the control device 30 can detect that the terminal-attached electric wire 50 is locked.

  Thereafter, as described above, the control device 30 displays the terminal-attached electric wire 50 to be inserted next on the display device 12. By repeating the above steps, the insertion operation is completed.

  In the present embodiment, the inserted cavity 41 can be specified by feeding the electrode plate 70 without feeding the terminal-attached electric wire 50. However, when the other terminal 52 is inserted after the one terminal 52 of the electric wire 50 with a terminal is locked, power may be supplied from the inserted terminal 52. In this case, since the inserted cavity 41 can be specified at the timing when the terminal 52 in the middle of insertion contacts the first plunger 61, the electrode plate 70 is retracted before the first plunger 61 contacts the electrode plate 70. It can be moved to a smooth and easy workability. On the other hand, when this energization is not performed, the work sense can be kept the same.

  As described above, the insertion operation assisting apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes the first plunger 61, the determination unit 33, and the electrode plate 70. The 1st plunger 61 is arrange | positioned for every cavity 41 of the connector housing 40, and moves with the said electric wire 50 with a terminal by being pressed by the inserted electric wire 50 with a terminal. The determination unit 33 determines whether the terminal-attached electric wire 50 is inserted into the correct cavity 41 or the wrong cavity 41. When the determination unit 33 determines that the electrode plate 70 has been inserted into the wrong cavity 41, the electrode plate 70 prevents the movement of the first plunger 61 and prevents the insertion of the terminal-attached electric wire 50.

  Thereby, since insertion of the electric wire 50 with a terminal is physically blocked | prevented, a misalignment can be prevented reliably. Therefore, even if the operator makes a mistake, it can be immediately started again, so that the work efficiency can be improved. In addition, misalignment can be prevented without stressing the operator.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the above configuration can be modified as follows, for example.

  In the above embodiment, the electrode plate 70 has the functions of both the insertion prevention part and the electrode part, but both may be separated as shown in FIG. The insertion work assisting device 1 in FIG. 8 includes an insertion prevention unit 74 and an electrode unit 75. The insertion prevention part 74 does not need to be a conductor. Moreover, the electrode part 75 is arrange | positioned rather than the insertion prevention part 74 at the connector housing 40 side, and is set as the structure which does not block the movement of the 1st plunger 61 as shown in FIG. Before coming into contact with the insertion preventing portion 74, the insertion preventing portion 74 can be moved to the retracted position. Thereby, smooth workability | operativity is realizable.

  The configuration for detecting the presence or absence of the terminal-attached electric wire 50 is arbitrary, and can be appropriately changed to a configuration using an optical sensor or the like. Moreover, you may specify the kind of the electric wire 50 with a terminal at the time of insertion instead of the presence or absence of the electric wire 50 with a terminal in the electric wire holding part 21. FIG.

  The terminal 52 of the electric wire 50 with a terminal is not limited to a female terminal, and may be a male terminal.

  In addition to the above, as long as the configuration of the present invention can be realized, the presence / absence, shape, arrangement, and the like of each member can be changed as appropriate. Moreover, the insertion work auxiliary | assistance apparatus demonstrated above can be used for the whole insertion work which inserts the electric wire with a terminal in the cavity of a connector housing besides the manufacturing process of a wire harness. Even in this case, a similar effect can be exhibited, such as reliably preventing misalignment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion work auxiliary | assistance apparatus 10 Worktable 20 Electric wire holding base 30 Control apparatus 31 Electric wire specific part 32 Cavity specific part 33 Determination part 40 Connector housing 41 Cavity 42 Locking protrusion 50 Electric wire with a terminal 51 Electric wire 52 Terminal 60 Spring probe 61 1st plunger (Insertion detector)
70 Electrode plate (insertion prevention part, electrode part)
74 Insertion prevention part 75 Electrode part

Claims (8)

In the insertion work auxiliary device for assisting the insertion work of inserting the electric wire with terminal into the cavity of the connector housing,
An insertion detection unit that is arranged for each cavity of the connector housing and moves together with the terminal-attached electric wire by being pressed by the inserted electric wire with the terminal,
A determination unit for determining whether the electric wire with terminal is inserted into the correct cavity or the wrong cavity;
When the determination unit determines that it has been inserted into an incorrect cavity, the insertion detection unit prevents movement of the insertion detection unit and prevents insertion of the terminal-attached electric wire,
An insertion work assisting device comprising: The insertion work assisting device according to claim 1,
The insertion prevention unit waits at a position where insertion of a terminal-attached electric wire is prevented, and moves to a position where insertion of a terminal-attached electric wire is possible when the determination unit determines that the insertion is in a correct cavity. Insertion work auxiliary device. The insertion work assisting device according to claim 1 or 2,
An electrode unit that is in contact with the inserted detection unit moved by being pressed by the inserted electric wire with a terminal, and flows an electric current through the insertion detection unit;
Based on the current that flows through the electrode part, a cavity specifying part that specifies the cavity into which the electric wire with terminal is inserted, and
An insertion work assisting device comprising: The insertion work assisting device according to claim 3,
The insertion work assisting device, wherein the insertion preventing portion has conductivity and also has a function as the electrode portion. The insertion work assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The insertion blocking part is formed by a blocking element for blocking the movement of the insertion detecting part corresponding to the plurality of cavities, and the plurality of blocking elements move integrally. apparatus. The insertion work assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An insertion work assisting device comprising an electric wire specifying part for specifying an electric wire with a terminal to be inserted into a cavity. The insertion work assisting device according to claim 6,
An electric wire holding part for holding the electric wire with the terminal before insertion;
An electric wire detection unit for detecting whether or not an electric wire with a terminal is held in the electric wire holding unit;
With
The said electric wire specific | specification part specifies the electric wire with a terminal inserted based on the detection result of the said electric wire detection part, The insertion work assistance apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the insertion work auxiliary method for assisting the insertion work of inserting the electric wire with terminal into the cavity of the connector housing,
A determination step of determining whether the electric wire with terminal is inserted into the correct cavity or the wrong cavity;
Insertion that prevents the insertion of the terminal-attached electric wire by preventing the movement of the insertion detection unit that moves when pressed by the electric wire with the terminal when it is determined in the determination step that the inserted electric wire with the terminal is incorrect A blocking process;
An insertion work assisting method characterized by comprising:

Images