JP7706852B2 - Exterior unit and exterior method - Google Patents

Description

It relates to an exterior unit and exterior method for attaching exterior material to a bundle of electric wires with a connector.

Conventionally, a unit is known that attaches exterior materials to a bundle of connector-equipped electric wires placed on a wiring board in the manufacture of wire harnesses with connectors at the ends (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The unit described in Patent Document 1 circulates the wiring board while workers perform various tasks, including attaching exterior materials, at each work position on the circulation route.

JP 2017-98130 A

Among bundles of electric wires with connectors, those for use in, for example, high-voltage power supply harnesses, often have a simple shape with no branching, with connectors attached to both ends of a bundle of multiple electric wires. For such simple bundles of electric wires with connectors, there is a demand for automation with minimal manual labor involved in the attachment of exterior materials. On the other hand, the attachment method may differ depending on the type of exterior material. Due to such differences in attachment methods, even if the attachment of a certain exterior material to a bundle of electric wires with connectors on a wiring board can be automated without any problems, the wiring board may get in the way and make the attachment difficult without manual labor for another exterior material.

Therefore, the present invention focuses on the above problems and aims to provide an exterior unit and an exterior method that can attach exterior materials to a bundle of electrical wires with connectors in various ways while reducing manual labor.

To solve the above problem, the exterior unit is characterized by having a first exterior mechanism that holds a vertical holding section that holds a connector-attached electric wire bundle, in which connectors are attached to both ends of a bundle of multiple electric wires, in a vertical position along the vertical direction, so that the vertical holding section can be circulated between a vertical set position and a vertical removal position, and performs a first exterior treatment to attach a first exterior material to the connector-attached electric wire bundle moving in the vertical position from the vertical set position to the vertical removal position, and a second exterior treatment that holds a horizontal holding section that holds the connector-attached electric wire bundle in a horizontal position along the horizontal direction, so that the horizontal holding section can be circulated between a horizontal set position and a horizontal removal position, and performs a second exterior treatment to attach a second exterior material to the connector-attached electric wire bundle moving in the horizontal position from the horizontal set position to the horizontal removal position.

In order to solve the above problem, the exterior packaging method includes a vertical setting step of positioning a vertical holding part capable of holding a connector-attached electric wire bundle, in which connectors are attached to both ends of a bundle of multiple electric wires, in a vertical position along the vertical direction at the vertical setting position on a vertical circulation route that passes through a vertical setting position and a vertical removal position, and setting the connector-attached electric wire bundle in the vertical holding part in the vertical position; a first exterior packaging step of performing a first exterior packaging process in which the vertical holding part on which the connector-attached electric wire bundle is set is circulated along the vertical circulation route and a first exterior packaging step of attaching a first exterior material to the connector-attached electric wire bundle moving in the vertical position from the vertical setting position to the vertical removal position; The method includes a vertical/horizontal transfer step of positioning a horizontal holding part capable of holding a bundle in a horizontal position along a horizontal direction at the horizontal set position in a horizontal circulation route that passes through a horizontal set position and a horizontal removal position, removing the connector-attached electric wire bundle that has been subjected to the first exterior treatment from the vertical holding part at the vertical removal position, and setting it in the horizontal position on the horizontal holding part at the horizontal set position; and a second exterior treatment step of moving the horizontal holding part on which the connector-attached electric wire bundle is set in a circular manner along the horizontal circulation route, and performing a second exterior treatment to attach a second exterior material to the connector-attached electric wire bundle that is moving in the horizontal position from the horizontal set position to the horizontal removal position.

The above-mentioned exterior unit and exterior method allow the exterior material to be attached to a bundle of electrical wires with connectors in a variety of ways while minimizing manual labor.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an exterior unit according to one embodiment. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of a first exterior mechanism, a vertical setting mechanism, and a vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a process flow in a first exterior processing by a first exterior processing mechanism in accordance with the contents shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a plurality of vertical placement holding parts are circulated in the vertical placement setting mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 ; FIG. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the vertical setting mechanism and the vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram showing a second exterior mechanism, a vertical/horizontal transport mechanism, and a dispensing mechanism shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a plurality of horizontal holding parts are circulated in the vertical setting mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . FIG. 7A and 7B are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the vertical and horizontal transport mechanism and the dispensing mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 . 9 is a schematic flowchart showing the flow of processing of an exterior mounting method executed by the exterior mounting unit shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 .

The following describes one embodiment of the exterior unit and exterior method.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an exterior unit according to one embodiment.

In the exterior unit 1 of this embodiment, as an example, a simple connector-attached electric wire bundle W1, which does not have a branch shape and has a connector W11 attached to both ends of a bundle W12 of multiple electric wires, is to be exteriorized, and is used for high-voltage power supply harnesses mounted and wired in vehicles, etc. The exterior unit 1 is a work unit that attaches various exterior materials to such a simple connector-attached electric wire bundle W1. In this exterior unit 1, a first exterior material W13 suitable for attachment in a vertical position and a second exterior material W14 suitable for attachment in a horizontal position are attached to the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1, and the exteriorized electric wire bundle W2 is paid out as an output. In the exterior unit 1, such exterior work can be performed sequentially for multiple connector-attached electric wire bundles W1. This exterior unit 1 includes a first exterior mechanism 11, a second exterior mechanism 12, a vertical setting mechanism 13, a vertical and horizontal transfer mechanism 14, and a payout mechanism 15.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of the first exterior mechanism, vertical setting mechanism, and vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of processing in the first exterior processing in the first exterior mechanism in accordance with the contents shown in Figures 1 and 2. Also, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the circular movement of multiple vertical holding parts in the vertical setting mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The first exterior mechanism 11 is a mechanism that performs the first exterior processing in which the connector-equipped electric wire bundle W1 is set and the first exterior material W13 is attached, and includes multiple (six in this embodiment) vertical holding parts 111, a circulating movement rail 112, and a mechanism frame 113.

The vertical holding portion 111 is a mechanism capable of holding the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 in a vertical position along the vertical direction D11, and includes an upper holding portion 111a, a lower holding portion 111b, and a support portion 111c. The upper holding portion 111a is a portion that holds the upper connector W11a of the connectors W11 at both ends of the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 in the vertical position, and the lower holding portion 111b is a portion that holds the lower connector W11b. The support portion 111c is a portion that supports the lower holding portion 111b so that the mutual distance between the lower holding portion 111b and the upper holding portion 111a can be adjusted. Furthermore, the vertical holding portion 111 includes an exterior mechanism (not shown) that performs a first exterior treatment on the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 held in the vertical position by the upper holding portion 111a and the lower holding portion 111b.

The circulating movement rail 112 is a section that holds the six vertical holding parts 111 so that they move in a circular manner in a line along the long, circular vertical circulation route R11. The circulating movement rail 112 includes a first longitudinal rail 112a, a second longitudinal rail 112b, a first movement rail 112c, and a second movement rail 112d.

The mechanism frame 113 supports the circulating movement rail 112 and the six vertical holding parts 111, and is equipped with a drive mechanism for moving the vertical holding parts 111 along the circulating movement rail 112 and operating the vertical holding parts 111.

Here, in the first exterior mechanism 11, a vertical setting position P11 is provided at one end of the long, annular circulating rail 112 in the longitudinal direction D12, where the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 is set in a vertical position. And, at the other end of the circulating rail 112 in the longitudinal direction D12, a vertical removal position P12 is provided at which the partially-exposed electric wire bundle W1a that has undergone the first exterior processing is removed for transfer to the second exterior mechanism 12.

The first longitudinal rail 112a of the circulating rail 112 extends from the vertical set position P11 to the vertical removal position P12 along a first vertical longitudinal route R111, which is one of a pair of longitudinal routes of the long, annular circulating rail 112. When the vertical holder 111 moves the first longitudinal rail 112a from the vertical set position P11 to the vertical removal position P12, it applies a first exterior treatment to the moving connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 to obtain an intermediately exteriorized electric wire bundle W1a.

2 and 3, the first exterior processing in this embodiment is a process of attaching a corrugated tube W131, a twisted tube W132, and a tape material W133 to the bundle of electric wires W12 as the first exterior material W13. Here, the corrugated tube W131 is a leading member that is passed through the bundle of electric wires W1 with connectors before the bundle of electric wires W1 with connectors is set to the vertical holding portion 111. However, before this setting stage, the corrugated tube W131 is not fixed and is in a state in which it can move in the length direction of the bundle of electric wires W1 with connectors. In the example shown in FIG. 2 and 3, two corrugated tubes W131 are provided, and in the first exterior processing, one twisted tube W132 is attached and these two corrugated tubes W131 are fixed. First, the twist tube W132 is attached to the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 in a side mounting direction D131 at a position adjacent to the upper connector W11 in the vertical direction D11, and fixed with a tape material W133. Next, the upper corrugated tube W131 is pulled up in the lifting direction D133, aligned to a fixed position in the length direction of the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1, and fixed with the tape material W133. In the illustrated example here, no work is performed in the next work area, and in the next work area, the lower corrugated tube W131 is pulled up in the lifting direction D133, aligned to a fixed position, and fixed with the tape material W133. Depending on the manufacturing object, some exterior work may be performed in all work areas, or non-work areas may be appropriately set according to the manufacturing object.

When the first exterior processing is completed and the vertical holder 111 reaches the vertical removal position P12, the intermediately exteriorized wire bundle W1a obtained by the first exterior processing is removed from the vertical holder 111. The first moving rail 112c in the circulating moving rail 112 is located at the vertical removal position P12 so as to extend continuously to the first longitudinal rail 112a when removed. The vertical holder 111 that has completed the first exterior processing moves from the first longitudinal rail 112a to the first moving rail 112c at the vertical removal position P12, and the intermediately exteriorized wire bundle W1a is removed on the first moving rail 112c. When the vertical holder 111 becomes empty as a result of this removal, the first moving rail 112c moves to a position continuous with the second longitudinal rail 112b while carrying the empty vertical holder 111. This movement occurs along the first vertical short route R112, which is one of a pair of short routes on the long, circular circulating rail 112.

The second longitudinal rail 112b extends approximately parallel to the first movable rail 112c along the second longitudinal route R113, which is the other of the pair of longitudinal routes in the circulating movable rail 112. The empty vertical holder 111 carried to an adjacent position of the second longitudinal rail 112b by the first movable rail 112c moves from the first movable rail 112c to the second longitudinal rail 112b, and further moves the second longitudinal rail 112b toward the vertical set position P11 side. When the vertical holder 111 reaches the end of the second longitudinal rail 112b on the vertical set position P11 side, the second movable rail 112d is positioned so as to extend continuously to the end of the second longitudinal rail 112a. At this stage, the vertical holder 111 moves to the second movable rail 112d. The second moving rail 112d moves to the vertical setting position P11, which is continuous with the first longitudinal rail 112a, while carrying the vertical holding part 111. This movement is performed along the second vertical short route R114, which is the other of the pair of short routes on the circulating moving rail 112. This movement of the second moving rail 112d positions the empty vertical holding part 111 at the vertical setting position P11, and receives the set of the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 before sheathing.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, six vertical holders 111, numbered 1 to 6, undergo the first exterior treatment while moving in a circular manner while lined up in a row. In the first exterior treatment, the twisted tube W132, which is part of the first exterior material W13, is attached and fixed with the tape material W133, and the pre-passed corrugated tube W131 is fixed with the tape material W133. In the example of FIG. 4, the first vertical holder 111, which has completed the first exterior treatment and from which the intermediately sheathed electric wire bundle W1a has been removed, is transported by the first moving rail 112c from the vertical removal position P12 along the first vertical short route R112 to the second long rail 112b. After that, the first vertical holder 111 moves along the second long rail 112b along the second vertical long route R113 to reach the second moving rail 112d.

During this time, the first moving rail 112c, which has handed over the first vertical holder 111 to the second longitudinal rail 112b, returns to the vertical removal position P12 along the route R112a opposite to the first vertical short route R112. Then, in parallel with the movement of the first vertical holder 111, the sixth vertical holder 111 on the second moving rail 112d receives the set of the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 at the vertical set position P11. Furthermore, the second to fifth vertical holders 111 move along the first longitudinal rail 112a along the first vertical longitudinal route R111, while performing the first exterior processing on the set connector-attached electric wire bundle W1. The processed vertical holder 111 moves from the second to the first moving rail 112c at the vertical removal position P12, and receives the removal of the in-exterior electric wire bundle W1a at this vertical removal position P12. In addition, as the second vertical holder 111 moves, the third to sixth vertical holders 111 also move along the first longitudinal route R111 on the first longitudinal rail 112a. Then, the second moving rail 112d, which has handed over the sixth vertical holder 111 to the first longitudinal rail 112a, returns to the side of the second longitudinal rail 112b along the route R114a opposite to the second vertical short route R114.

On the other hand, the first vertical holder 111 on the second moving rail 112d is carried by the second moving rail 112d along the second vertical short route R114 to the vertical set position P11 opened by the movement of the sixth vertical holder 111. After that, the first to sixth vertical holders 111 are circulated and the process is repeated until the processing of the pre-specified number of connector-attached electric wire bundles W1 is completed.

Then, the vertical setting mechanism 13 and the vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism 14 set the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 on the vertical holding part 111 at the vertical setting position P11, and remove the partially sheathed electric wire bundle W1a from the vertical holding part 111 at the vertical removal position P12.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the vertical setting mechanism and the vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 5(A) shows the vertical setting mechanism, and Figure 5(B) shows the vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism.

The vertical setting mechanism 13 is a mechanism for setting the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 in a vertical position in the vertical holding portion 111 at the above-mentioned vertical setting position P11. The vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism 14 is a mechanism for removing the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 that has been subjected to the first exterior treatment, i.e., the intermediately exteriorized electric wire bundle W1a, from the vertical holding portion 111 at the above-mentioned vertical removal position P12, and transferring and setting it to the second exterior mechanism 12. Figure 5 (B) shows only the removal operation of the intermediately exteriorized electric wire bundle W1a for the vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism 14.

The vertical setting mechanism 13 and the vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14 are both multi-joint robot arms, and are equipped at their tips with wire holders for holding the connector-attached wire bundle W1 and the sheathed wire bundle W1a in a U-shaped bent state. The first wire holder 131 equipped in the vertical setting mechanism 13 has an upper wire holder 131a and a lower wire holder 131b. The upper wire holder 131a is a portion that holds the upper connector W11a when the connector-attached wire bundle W1 is in a vertical position, and the lower wire holder 131b is a portion that holds the lower connector W11b. The second wire holder 141 equipped in the vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14 also has an upper wire holder 141a and a lower wire holder 141b similar to the first wire holder 131.

When the vertical setting mechanism 13 sets the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1, the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 is first held in a U-shaped bent state by the first electric wire holder 131. Next, the upper electric wire holding portion 131a of the first electric wire holder 131 passes the upper connector W11a to the upper holding portion 111a of the vertical holding portion 111. Finally, the lower electric wire holding portion 131b of the first electric wire holder 131 passes the lower connector W11b to the lower holding portion 111b of the vertical holding portion 111.

Here, in the vertical holding portion 111, as described above, the lower holding portion 111b is supported by the support portion 111c so that the mutual distance between the lower holding portion 111b and the upper holding portion 111a can be adjusted. As shown in FIG. 2, when the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 is set on the vertical holding portion 111, the lower holding portion 111b is moved as follows. First, before the setting, the lower holding portion 111b is pushed up in the shortening direction D141, and the mutual distance between the lower holding portion 111b and the upper holding portion 111a is shortened to a distance shorter than the electric wire length of the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 to be set. After that, when the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 is set in the first setting direction D15 by the vertical setting mechanism 13 as described above, the lower connector W11b is pulled down by the lower holding portion 111b in the expansion direction D142 to a position corresponding to the above-mentioned electric wire length. This downward movement widens the distance between the upper connector W11a and the lower connector W11b, pulling the previously loosened connector-attached wire bundle W1, applying tension to the connector-attached wire bundle W1 suitable for the first exterior treatment in the vertical position.

When the intermediate sheathing electric wire bundle W1a is removed by the vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14, the intermediate sheathing electric wire bundle W1a is removed in the removal direction D17 by the vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14. At this time, the intermediate sheathing electric wire bundle W1a is bent into a U-shape in the bending direction D18. This removal while bending is performed as shown in FIG. 5(B). First, the upper wire holding portion 141a of the second wire holder 141 in the vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14 removes the upper connector W11a from the upper holding portion 111a of the vertical holding portion 111. Next, while holding the upper connector W11a, the second wire holder 141 is moved toward the lower connector W11b of the lower holding portion 111b, thereby bending the intermediate sheathing electric wire bundle W1a into a U-shape. When the lower wire holding portion 141b of the second wire holder 141 reaches the lower connector W11b, the lower wire holding portion 141b removes the lower connector W11b from the lower holding portion 111b. This removal causes the mid-sheathing wire bundle W1a to be held by the vertical and horizontal transfer mechanism 14 in a U-shaped bent state via the second wire holder 141. After this, the vertical and horizontal transfer mechanism 14 sets the mid-sheathing wire bundle W1a in the second sheathing mechanism 12, which then performs the second sheathing process.

Figure 6 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the second exterior mechanism, vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism, and payout mechanism shown in Figure 1, and Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the cyclic movement of multiple horizontal holding parts in the vertical setting mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The second exterior mechanism 12 is a mechanism for performing a second exterior treatment in which the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 that has been subjected to the first exterior treatment, i.e., the intermediately exteriorized electric wire bundle W1a, is set and the second exterior material W14 is attached. The second exterior mechanism 12 includes multiple (seven in this embodiment) horizontal holders 121, a circulation support table 122, two member exterior arms 123, and one member supply arm 124.

The horizontal holding portion 121 is a mechanism capable of holding the intermediate sheathed electric wire bundle W1a in a horizontal position along the horizontal direction D19, and includes a one-end holding portion 121a, an other-end holding portion 121b, a rectangular main body portion 121c, a grooved cover receiving portion 121d, and a lid-shaped cover receiving portion 121e. The one-end holding portion 121a is a portion that holds the upper connector W11a in the above-mentioned vertical position, and the other-end holding portion 121b is a portion that holds the lower connector W11b. The rectangular main body portion 121c is a rectangular plate-shaped portion to which the one-end holding portion 121a and the other-end holding portion 121b are fixed, and the grooved cover W141a and the lid-shaped cover W141b that constitute the protector W141, which is a part of the second sheath material W14, are supplied and held by the grooved cover receiving portion 121d and the lid-shaped cover receiving portion 121e between them.

The circulation support base 122 is a part that holds the seven horizontal holding parts 121 so that they move in a circular manner in a line along a long, circular horizontal circulation route R12 that passes through the horizontal set position P13 and the horizontal removal position P14. The horizontal circulation route R12 has a first horizontal long route R121, a first horizontal short route R122, a second horizontal long route R123, and a second horizontal short route R124. The first horizontal long route R121 is a route that moves the horizontal holding parts 121 from the horizontal set position P13 to an end point adjacent to the horizontal removal position P14. The first horizontal short route R122 is a route that moves the horizontal holding parts 121 from the end point of the first horizontal long route R121 to the horizontal removal position P14. The second horizontal long route R123 is a route for moving the horizontal holding part 121 from the horizontal removal position P14 to an end point adjacent to the horizontal set position P13. The second horizontal short route R124 is a route for moving the horizontal holding part 121 from the end point of the second horizontal long route R123 to the horizontal set position P13. The circulation support base 122 is provided with a drive mechanism for moving the seven horizontal holding parts 121 along such a horizontal circulation route R12.

7, when one horizontal holding portion 121 is located at the horizontal set position P13, four horizontal holding portions 121 are lined up along the first horizontal longitudinal route R121. At this stage, the horizontal holding portion 121 at the horizontal set position P13 has the grooved cover W141a and the lid-shaped cover W141b supplied to and held by the grooved cover receiving portion 121d and the lid-shaped cover receiving portion 121e. The vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14 sets the mid-sheathing wire bundle W1a removed from the first sheathing mechanism 11 in the second set direction D21 so that the connectors W11 at both ends are held by the one-end holding portion 121a and the other-end holding portion 121b and the mid-sheathing portion fits into the grooved cover W141a. At this time, the three horizontal holding sections 121 adjacent to each other in the traveling direction of the first horizontal longitudinal route R121 already have the mid-exterior electric wire bundles W1a set therein. Various winding members W142, which are part of the second exterior material W14, are attached to the mid-exterior electric wire bundles W1a in each of the second and third horizontal holding sections 121 counting from the horizontal set position P13 by the member exterior arm 123. Band clamps and tape clamps of the winding members W142 are attached to the mid-exterior electric wire bundle W1a of the second horizontal holding section 121, and cable ties of the winding members W142 are attached to the mid-exterior electric wire bundle W1a of the third horizontal holding section 121. The lid-like cover W141b picked up from the lid-like cover receiving portion 121e by the member sheathing arm 123 is attached to the groove-like cover W141a of the intermediate sheathing electric wire bundle W1a, which is in the fourth horizontal holding portion 121 adjacent to the above and to which the winding member W142 has already been attached, to assemble the protector W141. The protector W141 is assembled by pressing the lid-like cover W141b from above in the pressing direction D22 (Figure 6) onto the groove-like cover W141a with the intermediate sheathing electric wire bundle W1a set inside.

Here, the horizontal holding portion 121 to which the lid-like cover W141b is attached is located at the end point of the first horizontal long route R121. After the lid-like cover W141b is attached, this end point horizontal holding portion 121 moves from the end point of the first horizontal long route R121 to the horizontal removal position P14 along the first horizontal short route R122 during the second exterior processing of the other horizontal holding portion 121. Then, at the horizontal removal position P14, the discharging mechanism 15 removes the armored wire bundle W2 from the horizontal holding portion 121 in the discharging direction D23 and carries it to a predetermined discharging position. At this time, since the end point of the first horizontal longitudinal route R121 is free, the other three horizontal holding parts 121 of the first horizontal longitudinal route R121 slide sideways along the first horizontal longitudinal route R121 by the distance of one horizontal holding part 121.

When the armored wire bundle W2 is removed at the horizontal removal position P14, four horizontal holding parts 121, including the one at the horizontal removal position P14, are lined up on the second horizontal long route R123. At this time, the member supply arm 124 supplies and holds the groove-shaped cover W141a and the lid-shaped cover W141b corresponding to the second armoring process to the groove-shaped cover receiving part 121d and the lid-shaped cover receiving part 121e of the horizontal holding part 121 next to the horizontal removal position P14. At this stage, the three horizontal holding parts 121 slide sideways on the first horizontal long route R121, leaving the horizontal setting position P13 empty. The horizontal holding part 121 at the end of the second horizontal long route R123 moves along the second horizontal short route R124 to this horizontal setting position P13. Furthermore, the other three horizontal holding parts 121 slide sideways along the second horizontal longitudinal route R123 by one horizontal holding part 121 to the end point vacated by this movement. After that, the process is repeated with the seven horizontal holding parts 121 moving in a circular manner until a pre-specified number of armored wire bundles W2 are obtained.

Then, the vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism 14 and the payout mechanism 15 set the partially sheathed electric wire bundle W1a on the horizontal holding part 121 at the horizontal setting position P13, and remove the sheathed electric wire bundle W2 from the horizontal holding part 121 at the horizontal removal position P14.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the vertical and horizontal transport mechanism and the dispensing mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 6. Figure 8 (A) shows the vertical and horizontal transport mechanism, and Figure 8 (B) shows the dispensing mechanism.

As described above, the vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14 is a mechanism that removes the in-between-sheathing electric wire bundle W1a from the vertical holding portion 111 at the vertical removal position P12 of the first sheathing mechanism 11, transports it to the second sheathing mechanism 12, and sets it in the horizontal holding portion 121 at the horizontal set position P13. The payout mechanism 15 is a mechanism that removes the sheathed electric wire bundle W2 from the horizontal holding portion 121 at the horizontal removal position P14 and carries it to a predetermined payout position. Figure 8 (A) shows only the setting operation of the in-between-sheathing electric wire bundle W1a for the vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14, and Figure 8 (B) shows only the removal operation of the sheathed electric wire bundle W2 for the payout mechanism 15.

The vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14 and the payout mechanism 15 are both multi-joint robot arms, and are equipped at their tips with wire holders for holding the in-between-sheathing wire bundle W1a and the sheathed wire bundle W2 in a U-shaped bent state. As described above, the second wire holder 141 provided on the vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14 holds the upper connector W11a in the vertical position with the upper wire holder 141a, and holds the lower connector W11b with the lower wire holder 141b. By holding the connectors W11 at both ends with the second wire holder 141, the vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14 holds the in-between-sheathing wire bundle W1a in a U-shaped bent state. In this held state, the vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14 transfers the in-between-sheathing wire bundle W1a to the second sheathing mechanism 12 and sets it in the horizontal holder 121 at the horizontal set position P13.

When the mid-sheathing wire bundle W1a is set by the vertical and horizontal transfer mechanism 14, as shown in FIG. 8(A), first, the lower wire holding portion 141b of the second wire holder 141 transfers the lower connector W11b to the other end side holding portion 121b of the horizontal holding portion 121. Next, while extending the mid-sheathing wire bundle W1a, the mid-sheathing wire bundle W1a is placed inside the grooved cover W141a on the horizontal holding portion 121. Finally, the upper wire holding portion 141a of the second wire holder 141 transfers the upper connector W11a to the one end side holding portion 121a of the horizontal holding portion 121. Through this series of processes, the mid-sheathing wire bundle W1a is set in the horizontal holding portion 121 with a portion of it placed inside the grooved cover W141a.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the removal of the armored wire bundle W2 by the payout mechanism 15 is performed while bending the armored wire bundle W2 into a U-shape via the third wire holder 151 provided in the payout mechanism 15. First, the other end side wire holding portion 151b of the third wire holder 151 in the payout mechanism 15 removes the lower connector W11b from the other end side holding portion 121b of the horizontal holding portion 121. Next, while holding the lower connector W11b, the third wire holder 151 is moved toward the upper connector W11a of the one end side holding portion 121a, thereby bending the armored wire bundle W2 into a U-shape. When the one end side wire holding portion 151a of the third wire holder 151 reaches the upper connector W11a, the one end side wire holding portion 151a removes the upper connector W11a from the one end side holding portion 121a. As a result of this removal, the armored wire bundle W2 is bent into a U-shape and held by the payout mechanism 15 via the third wire holder 151. The payout mechanism 15 then carries the armored wire bundle W2 to the payout position, where the armored wire bundle W2 is removed from the third wire holder 151.

Next, the exterior method executed by the exterior unit 1 of this embodiment will be explained below with reference to Figures 1 to 8 and Figure 9 below, although some of the explanation overlaps with what has been explained so far.

Figure 9 is a schematic flow chart showing the process flow of the exterior mounting method executed by the exterior mounting unit shown in Figures 1 to 8.

The process of the packaging method shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 starts upon receiving a predetermined start operation. When the process starts, first, a vertical setting process S101 is executed in the first packaging mechanism 11. In the vertical setting process S101, one of the six vertical holding sections 111 in the first packaging mechanism 11 is positioned at the vertical setting position P11 in the vertical circulation route R11. In this state, the vertical setting mechanism 13 sets the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1, which is bent and held in a U-shape by the first electric wire holder 131, in the vertical holding section 111 at the vertical setting position P11 while extending it into a vertical position. Next, the first packaging process S102 is executed. In the first packaging process S102, the vertical holding section 111 on which the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 is set is circulated along the vertical circulation route R11. Then, in the first exterior process S102, a first exterior process is performed to attach a first exterior material W13 to the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 that is moving in a vertical position from the vertical setting position P11 to the vertical removal position P12. When the vertical holding unit 111 holding the processed connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 reaches the vertical removal position P12, the vertical/horizontal transfer process S103 is executed.

In the vertical/horizontal transport step S103, one of the seven horizontal holders 121 in the second exterior mechanism 12 is positioned at the horizontal set position P13 in the horizontal circulation route R12. With this positioning, the mid-exterior-sheathing electric wire bundle W1a that has been subjected to the first exterior treatment is removed from the vertical holder 111 at the vertical removal position P12 in the first exterior mechanism 11. The removed mid-exterior-sheathing electric wire bundle W1a is set in a horizontal position in the horizontal holder 121 at the horizontal set position P13. The removal and setting of the mid-exterior-sheathing electric wire bundle W1a is performed by the vertical/horizontal transport mechanism 14 while bending the mid-exterior-sheathing electric wire bundle W1a into a U-shape and holding it during transport via the second electric wire holder 141, as described above.

Then, in the second sheathing mechanism 12, the second sheathing process S104 is performed on the in-sheathing electric wire bundle W1a thus transported. In the second sheathing process S104, the horizontal holding unit 121 on which the in-sheathing electric wire bundle W1a is set is circulated along the horizontal circulation route R12. Then, in the second sheathing process S104, a second sheathing process is performed in which a second sheathing material W14 is attached to the in-sheathing electric wire bundle W1a moving in a horizontal position from the horizontal setting position P13 to the horizontal removal position P14. When the horizontal holding unit 121 holding the processed sheathed electric wire bundle W2 reaches the horizontal removal position P14, the dispensing process S105 is performed.

In the unloading step S105, the armored wire bundle W2 that has been subjected to the second armoring process is removed from the horizontal holding portion 121 at the horizontal removal position P14 in the second armoring mechanism 12. The removed armored wire bundle W2 is transported to a predetermined unloading position and unloaded. As described above, the unloading mechanism 15 bends the armored wire bundle W2 into a U-shape and holds it via the third wire holder 151.

After this, a judgment step S106 is executed to judge whether to end the exterior processing or to continue the exterior processing of the unexposed connector-attached electric wire bundle W1. If the exterior processing is to be ended (YES judgment), the processing of the exterior processing method shown in FIG. 9 ends. On the other hand, if the exterior processing of the unexposed connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 is to be continued (NO judgment), the processing from the vertical setting step S101 onwards is repeated.

According to the above-described embodiment of the exterior unit 1 and the exterior method, the following effects can be achieved. That is, according to this embodiment, the first exterior mechanism 11 holds the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 in a vertical position that allows access from various directions around the axis. By holding it in this vertical position, the first exterior mechanism 11 can perform a first exterior process in which an exterior material suitable for installation from a direction around the axis is attached as the first exterior material W13. In addition, the second exterior mechanism 12 holds the intermediately-exteriored electric wire bundle W1a in a horizontal position that allows stable holding. By holding it in this horizontal position, the second exterior mechanism 12 can perform a second exterior process in which an exterior material suitable for press-attachment is attached as the second exterior material W14. Thus, according to this embodiment, it is possible to attach exterior materials to the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 in various ways while reducing manual labor.

Here, in this embodiment, the first exterior mechanism 11 holds the multiple vertical holding parts 111 so that they move in a circular manner while lined up in a row, and the second exterior mechanism 12 holds the multiple horizontal holding parts 121 so that they move in a circular manner while lined up in a row. With this configuration, by moving the multiple vertical holding parts 111 and the multiple horizontal holding parts 121 in a circular manner, the attachment of the exterior material to the multiple connector-attached wire bundles W1 can be performed continuously, thereby improving the efficiency of the attachment of the exterior material.

In addition, in this embodiment, a vertical setting mechanism 13 that sets the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 in a vertical position and a vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism 14 that removes the in-process sheathed electric wire bundle W1a and sets it in a horizontal position are provided. With this configuration, the setting of the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 to the vertical holding portion 111 of the first sheathing mechanism 11 and the transfer of the in-process sheathed electric wire bundle W1a to the horizontal holding portion 121 of the second sheathing mechanism 12 are also automated, further reducing manual work.

In this embodiment, the vertical setting mechanism 13 holds and sets the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 in a U-shaped bent state via the first electric wire holder 131. The vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism 14 removes and sets the mid-sheathed electric wire bundle W1a in a U-shaped bent state via the second electric wire holder 141. With this configuration, the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 and the mid-sheathed electric wire bundle W1a are set and removed while being held in a U-shaped bent state by the first electric wire holder 131 and the second electric wire holder 141, so that each operation can be performed efficiently while saving space.

In addition, in this embodiment, a dispensing mechanism 15 is provided that removes the armored wire bundle W2 from the horizontal holding portion 121 at the horizontal removal position P14 and carries it to a predetermined dispensing position. With this configuration, the dispensing of the armored wire bundle W2 from the horizontal holding portion 121 in the second armoring mechanism 12 is also automated, further reducing manual work.

In this embodiment, the vertical holder 111 includes an upper holder 111a, a lower holder 111b, and a support 111c that supports one of them so that the distance between them and the other can be adjusted. With this configuration, the distance between the upper holder 111a and the lower holder 111b can be adjusted according to the length of the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 to be set, so that the exterior material can be attached to connector-attached electric wire bundles W1 of various lengths.

In this embodiment, the first exterior treatment is performed in the first vertical longitudinal route R111 of the vertical circulation route R11 in the first exterior mechanism 11. The second exterior treatment is performed in the first horizontal longitudinal route R121 of the horizontal circulation route R12 in the second exterior mechanism 12. At least a portion of the first exterior material W13 and the second exterior material W14 are supplied in the second vertical longitudinal route R113 in the vertical circulation route R11 and the second horizontal longitudinal route R123 in the horizontal circulation route R12. With this configuration, the exterior treatment and the exterior material supply process are performed simultaneously, so that the installation of the exterior material for multiple connector-attached electric wire bundles W1 can be efficiently performed.

In addition, in this embodiment, a part of the first exterior material W13 is a corrugated tube W131 that serves as a tube-shaped leading member that is passed through the connector-equipped electric wire bundle W1 before being set. In the first exterior processing, the corrugated tube W131 is aligned and fixed at a fixed position in the length direction of the connector-equipped electric wire bundle W1. This configuration is preferable because it allows the corrugated tube W131 to be aligned and fixed effectively in the first exterior mechanism 11 for the connector-equipped electric wire bundle W1 that is in a vertical position and accessible from various directions around the axis.

In addition, in this embodiment, a part of the second exterior material W14 used in the second exterior treatment is the protector W141, and in the second exterior treatment, the lid-shaped cover W141b is pressed and attached to the grooved cover W141a with the intermediate exterior wire bundle W1a set inside. This configuration is preferable because the lid-shaped cover W141b can be pressed and attached to the grooved cover W141a effectively for the intermediate exterior wire bundle W1a in a horizontal position that can be stably held in the second exterior mechanism 12.

The above-described embodiment merely shows a representative form of the exterior unit and exterior method. The exterior unit and exterior method are not limited to this, and can be implemented in various modifications.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, an exterior unit 1 and an exterior method for performing exterior processing on a bundle of electric wires with a connector W1 that constitutes a wire harness that is installed and routed in a vehicle or the like are exemplified as an example of an exterior unit and an exterior method. However, the exterior unit and the exterior method are not limited to this, and there is no question about the specific target of application.

In the above-described embodiment, an armored wire bundle W2 in which two corrugated tubes W131 and one twisted tube W132 are taped is given as an example of a wire bundle that has been armored using the armoring unit and armoring method. In this armored wire bundle W2, the twisted tube W132 is attached between one of the corrugated tubes W131 and the connector W11 at the end. However, the armored wire bundle is not limited to this, and the number and positions of the corrugated tubes and twisted tubes can both be set arbitrarily.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of an exterior unit and an exterior method, an exterior unit 1, the specific shape and arrangement of each component of which is illustrated in FIG. 1, and an exterior method using the exterior unit 1 are exemplified. However, the exterior unit and the exterior method are not limited to this, and the specific shape and arrangement of the components in the exterior unit are not important.

In the above-described embodiment, as an example of an exterior unit and an exterior method, an exterior unit 1 and an exterior method in which the setting of the connector-attached electric wire bundle W1 to the vertical holding portion 111 of the first exterior mechanism 11 is performed by the vertical setting mechanism 13 without manual work. In the present embodiment, the transfer of the intermediately-exteriored electric wire bundle W1a from the first exterior mechanism 11 to the second exterior mechanism 12 and the dispensing of the armored electric wire bundle W2 from the second exterior mechanism 12 are also performed by the vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism 14 and the dispensing mechanism 15 without manual work. However, the exterior unit and the exterior method are not limited to this, and the setting of the connector-attached electric wire bundle, the transfer of the intermediately-exteriored electric wire bundle, and the dispensing of the armored electric wire bundle may be performed at least in part by manual work by an operator. However, as described above, by providing the vertical setting mechanism 13, the vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism 14, and the dispensing mechanism 15, manual work can be further reduced.

1 Armor unit 11 First armoring mechanism 12 Second armoring mechanism 13 Vertical setting mechanism 14 Vertical and horizontal transfer mechanism 15 Discharge mechanism 111 Vertical holding section 111a Upper holding section 111b Lower holding section 111c Support section 112 Circulation movement rail 112a First longitudinal rail 112b Second longitudinal rail 112c First moving rail 112d Second moving rail 113 First mechanism frame 121 Horizontal holding section 121a One end side holding section 121b Other end side holding section 121c Rectangular main body section 121d Groove-shaped cover receiving section 121e Lid-shaped cover receiving section 122 Circulation support base 123 Component armoring arm 124 Component supply arm 131 First electric wire holder 131a, 141a Upper electric wire holding section 131b, 141b Lower wire holding portion 141 Second wire holding tool 151 Third wire holding tool 151a One end wire holding portion 151b Other end wire holding portion D11 Vertical direction D12 Longitudinal direction D15 First set direction D17 Removal direction D18 Bending direction D19 Horizontal direction D21 Second set direction D22 Pressing direction D23 Pulling direction D131 Installation direction D133 Lifting direction P11 Vertical set position P12 Vertical removal position P13 Horizontal set position P14 Horizontal removal position R11 Vertical circulation route R111 First vertical long route R112 First vertical short route R112a, R114a Reverse route R113 Second vertical long route R114 Second vertical short route R12 Horizontal circulation route R121 First horizontal long route R122 First horizontal short route R123 Second horizontal long route R124 Second horizontal short route S101 Vertical setting process S102 First exterior packaging process S103 Vertical and horizontal transport process S104 Second exterior packaging process S105 Discharge process S106 Judgment process W1 Wire bundle with connector W1a Wire bundle in the process of being exteriorized W2 Exhausted wire bundle W11, W11a, W11b Connector W12 Wire bundle W13 First exterior material W14 Second exterior material W131 Corrugated tube W132 Twisted tube W133 Tape material W141 Protector W141a Grooved cover W141b Lid-like cover W142 Winding member

Claims (10)

a first exterior mounting mechanism that holds a vertical holding section that holds a connector-attached electric wire bundle, in which connectors are attached to both ends of a bundle of a plurality of electric wires, in a vertical posture along a vertical direction so as to be capable of circular movement via a vertical setting position and a vertical removal position, and that performs a first exterior mounting process to mount a first exterior material on the connector-attached electric wire bundle that is moving in the vertical posture from the vertical setting position to the vertical removal position;
a second exterior treatment mechanism that holds the horizontal holding section, which holds the connector-attached electric wire bundle that has been subjected to the first exterior treatment, in a horizontal orientation along a horizontal direction so as to be capable of circulating movement via a horizontal setting position and a horizontal removal position, and performs a second exterior treatment to attach a second exterior material to the connector-attached electric wire bundle that is moving in the horizontal orientation from the horizontal setting position to the horizontal removal position;
An exterior unit comprising: The first exterior mechanism holds the plurality of vertically placed holding portions so as to move cyclically while being aligned in a row,
The exterior unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second exterior mechanism holds the plurality of horizontally placed holding sections so as to move cyclically while being aligned in a line. a vertical setting mechanism that sets the connector-attached electric wire bundle in the vertical setting position on the vertical holding portion;
a vertical/horizontal transfer mechanism that removes the connector-attached electric wire bundle that has been subjected to the first exterior treatment from the vertical holding portion at the vertical removal position and sets the connector-attached electric wire bundle in the horizontal holding portion at the horizontal setting position in the horizontal orientation;
The exterior unit according to claim 1 , further comprising: the vertical setting mechanism is a mechanism for holding the connector-attached electric wire bundle via a first electric wire holder that holds the connectors at both ends of the connector-attached electric wire bundle in a U-shaped state, and the U-shaped connector-attached electric wire bundle is stretched and set in the vertical holding section while removing each of the connectors from the first electric wire holder,
4. The exterior unit according to claim 3, wherein the vertical and horizontal transport mechanism is a mechanism for holding the bundle of electric wires with connectors via a second wire holder that holds the connectors at both ends of the bundle of electric wires with connectors in a state in which the bundle of electric wires with connectors is bent into a U-shape, and the mechanism transfers each of the connectors from the vertical holding portion to the second wire holder, holds the bundle of electric wires with connectors in a state in which the bundle of electric wires with connectors is bent into a U-shape, and transports the bundle of electric wires with connectors to the horizontal holding portion, and extends the U-shaped bundle of electric wires with connectors while removing each of the connectors from the second wire holder and sets it in the horizontal holding portion. The exterior unit according to claim 1, further comprising a dispensing mechanism that removes the bundle of electrical wires with connectors from the horizontal holding portion at the horizontal removal position and carries it to a predetermined dispensing position. The vertical placement holding portion is
an upper holding portion that holds an upper connector of the connector-attached electric wire bundle in the vertical position;
a lower holding portion that holds a lower connector;
a support portion that supports one of the upper holding portion and the lower holding portion in such a manner that a distance between the upper holding portion and the lower holding portion can be adjusted;
The exterior unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a vertical circulation route along which the vertical holding portion moves in the first exterior mechanism is a long circular route, the vertical setting position is provided on one end side in a longitudinal direction, and the vertical removal position is provided on the other end side;
a horizontally placed circulation route along which the horizontally placed holding portion moves in the second exterior mechanism is a long, annular route, the horizontally placed setting position is provided on one end side in a longitudinal direction, and the horizontally placed removing position is provided on the other end side;
The first exterior treatment is performed on a first vertical longitudinal route which is one of a pair of longitudinal routes of the vertical circulation route, and the second exterior treatment is performed on a first horizontal longitudinal route which is one of a pair of longitudinal routes of the horizontal circulation route,
The exterior unit described in claim 1, characterized in that in at least one of a second vertical longitudinal route in the vertical circulation route and a second horizontal longitudinal route in the horizontal circulation route, at least a portion of corresponding exterior materials among the first exterior material and the second exterior material are supplied to corresponding holding portions among the vertical holding portion and the horizontal holding portion. At least a part of the first exterior material used in the first exterior treatment is a tube-shaped tip-passing member that is passed through the connector-attached electric wire bundle before being set in the vertical holding portion,
2. The armor unit according to claim 1, wherein in the first armoring process, the tip-passing member is aligned with and fixed to a fixed position in the length direction of the bundle of electric wires with connector. At least a part of the second exterior material used in the second exterior treatment is a protector having a groove-shaped cover in which the connector-attached electric wire bundle in the horizontally placed position is set, and a lid-shaped cover that covers the groove-shaped cover,
2. The exterior unit according to claim 1, wherein in the second exterior treatment, the lid-like cover is pressed and attached to the groove-like cover with the connector-attached electric wire bundle set inside. a vertical setting process for positioning a vertical holding unit capable of holding a connector-attached electric wire bundle, in which connectors are attached to both ends of a bundle of a plurality of electric wires, in a vertical position along a vertical direction at a vertical setting position in a vertical circulation route that passes through a vertical setting position and a vertical removal position, and setting the connector-attached electric wire bundle in the vertical holding unit in the vertical position;
a first exterior treatment step of circulating the vertical holding portion on which the electric wire bundle with the connector is set along the vertical circulation route and attaching a first exterior material to the electric wire bundle with the connector that is moving in the vertical posture from the vertical setting position to the vertical removal position;
a vertical/horizontal transfer step of positioning a horizontal holding portion capable of holding the connector-attached electric wire bundle in a horizontally-oriented horizontal position at the horizontal setting position in a horizontal circulation route passing through a horizontal setting position and a horizontal removal position, removing the connector-attached electric wire bundle that has been subjected to the first exterior treatment from the vertical holding portion at the vertical removal position, and setting the connector-attached electric wire bundle in the horizontal position on the horizontal holding portion at the horizontal setting position;
a second exterior packaging process for performing a second exterior packaging process of circulating the horizontal holding section on which the electric wire bundle with the connector is set along the horizontal circulation route and attaching a second exterior material to the electric wire bundle with the connector that is moving in the horizontal posture from the horizontal setting position to the horizontal removal position;
An exterior packaging method comprising:

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