JPH06100630B2 - Harness manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention is capable of automatically inspecting a connection part of a harness formed by connecting ends of a plurality of electric wires to a connector, and distinguishing between good and bad. The present invention relates to a harness manufacturing device including a harness connection part inspection device.

(Prior Art) A harness formed by connecting one end of a plurality of electric wires to a connector is used for various purposes, and various proposals have been made regarding an apparatus for automatically manufacturing the harness. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 197708/1982, a plurality of electric wires are arranged in a plane along an electric wire feeding path extending through a wire cutting portion, and a tip of each electric wire is inserted into a connector block. A plurality of electric wires having different lengths, each of which is provided with a reciprocating shuttle which is passed along the electric wire feeding path and is retracted along the electric wire feeding path, and an electric wire feeding means which selectively pays out the plurality of electric wires after the shuttle is retracted. A harness manufacturing apparatus having the above is disclosed.

Harnesses can be mass-produced by using such a device, but in this case it is difficult to guarantee that all harnesses are good products, and the connection between the connector and wiring is incomplete due to some operation error of the device. Can happen. Since it takes a great deal of time and cost to individually check such defective products one by one, a harness manufacturing apparatus provided with a device capable of automatically inspecting such defective products is desired.

(Object of the invention) In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides an apparatus capable of automatically inspecting a good / defective harness by inspecting a connection portion between a connector and an electric wire in the harness in a short time and easily. An object of the present invention is to provide a harness manufacturing device having the same.

(Structure of the Invention) The present invention is a harness that sequentially supplies an insulated wire and a connector, continuously manufactures a harness in which an electrical terminal of the connector is connected to at least one end of the insulated wire, and discharges the harness along a guide rail. In the manufacturing apparatus, two guide rails are provided in a substantially parallel row, and each connector of the harness in which the connectors are connected to both ends is provided on each of the guide rails so that the insulated wire extends between the two guide rails. And a harness connection part inspection device having a plurality of checking members for contacting the electric terminals of the connector and inspecting the connection state of the insulated wire and the electric terminals, respectively, in the vicinity of the two guide rails. To provide a connection between the connectors at both ends of the completed harness discharged from the guide rail. It is an feature.

(Examples) Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a harness manufacturing apparatus including a harness connection section automatic inspection apparatus (harness connection section inspection apparatus) according to the present invention. According to the present manufacturing apparatus, connectors are provided at both ends of a plurality of electric wires. The harness can be automatically manufactured, and after the manufacturing, the harness connection can be automatically inspected for defects.

As shown in FIG. 1, the harness manufacturing apparatus includes a wire feeding means 10, a first wire processing portion 20, a second wire processing portion 30, and a tip of the wire fed from the wire feeding means 10 on a base 50. Shuttle 40 leading to the first wire processing unit 10, connector housing boxes 51a, 51b housing connectors connected to both ends of the wires, and guide rails 52 for sending out the connectors in the connector housing boxes 51a, 51b.
a, 52b, feed rollers 41a, 41b that feed the electric wire to which the connector is connected by the required length, and guide rails 52
The first wire processing unit 20 and the second
A pair of harness connection part automatic inspection device for inspecting the connection part of the harness in which both ends of the electric wire are connected to the electric wire processing part 30
It consists of 60, 60.

First, manufacturing of the harness will be described. The connector is
A plurality of electric terminals 1 shown in FIG. 2 are arranged in parallel, and the ends of the electric wires are pressed against each of the electric terminals 1 to form a harness. The electric terminal 1 includes an engaging portion 1d that engages with the mating terminal when the connector is used, an electric wire receiving portion 1a into which the electric wire is press-fitted, and a clip portion 1c that holds the press-in electric wire so as not to come off. The portion 1a is provided with slots 1b on both sides for making electrical connection. To connect an electric wire to this connector 2, place the electric terminal 1 on the lower molds 2a, 2b (which will be a part of the connector) for receiving the connector 2 as shown in FIG. The ends of the wire are press-fitted into the wire receiving portion 1a and the clip portion 1c by the rams 3a and 3b in the direction perpendicular to the wire central axis. As a result, the electric wire 4 is press-fitted into the electric wire receiving portion 1a, and at the same time, the insulating coating 4a is torn in the slot 1b as shown in FIG.
Is sandwiched by the metal of the slot 1b and directly contacts with it for electrical connection. Further, the clip portion 1c is wound around the electric wire 4 and holds it, and the electric terminal 1 and the electric wire 4 are connected as shown in FIG. The wire harness is formed by connecting a plurality of electric wires to a connector formed by arranging a plurality of electric terminals 1 in parallel. In the device of FIG. 1, a plurality of electric terminals 1 are provided at both ends of each of the electric wires. It is possible to automatically manufacture a harness in which the existing connectors are simultaneously connected and a plurality of electric wires having a predetermined length are connected between a pair of connectors.

This harness manufacturing process will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6F. These sequentially illustrate one operating process in which one harness is manufactured.

FIG. 6A shows a state in which one operation process is started, the shuttle 40 is in the second electric wire processing unit 30, that is, in the retracted position, and the pair of feed rollers 41a and 41b are in positions separated from each other.
Further, the rams 21 and 31 that move up and down in the first and second electric wire processing units 20 and 30 are at the top dead center position, and the guide rails 52a and 52b below the rams have the connectors sent from the connector storage box. The electric wire feeding means 10 in which 2 and 2'are respectively positioned is a capstan 11 for pulling the electric wire 4 from an electric wire source (not shown), a guide roller 12, and an electric wire clamp 1
3 and electric wire length measuring rollers 14 and 15 for feeding the electric wire 4 by a predetermined length in the axial direction, and the electric wire is wound around the capstan 11 at least once. Although the capstan 11 is constantly rotating, the electric wire 4 is not pulled in from the electric wire source unless the electric wire 4 downstream of the capstan is pulled and a load is applied to the capstan.

In FIG. 6A, the length measuring roller 14 is separated from the electric wire, and the shuttle 40 holding the electric wire is also in a stationary state, so that the capstan 11 is not performing the electric wire pulling operation. In FIG. 6B, the shuttle 40 moves from the second electric wire processing unit 30 to the first electric wire processing unit 20 by the operation of the shuttle drive device, the electric wire 4 is passed over the connector 2, and then the press ram 21 descends. The state which inserted and connected the end part of an electric wire in each electric terminal 1 of a connector is shown.

When the shuttle 40 moves from the position shown in FIG. 6A to the position shown in FIG. 6B, that is, the position of the first electric wire processing section, the electric wire downstream of the capstan is pulled and a load is applied to the capstan 11. The electric wire is sent from the electric wire source toward the downstream of the capstan by the moving amount.

FIG. 6C shows that the shuttle 40 is at the original position along the electric wire which is connected to the connector 2 of the first electric wire processing section 20 and extends in tension between the first electric wire processing section 20 and the capstan 11, that is, the second electric wire processing. After retreating to the portion 30, the length measuring roller 14, the idler roller 15, and the feed rollers 41a and 41b approach each other to show the position where each electric wire 4 is sandwiched between the rollers. One length measuring roller 14 and one idler roller 15 are arranged for each electric wire 4, and each length measuring roller 14 is controlled by the control means.

At this position, the press ram 21 of the first electric wire processing unit 20 is still in the lowered state, and the electric wire coupled to the connector 2 is pressed into the terminal by the pressing blade of the press ram 21. The press ram 21 keeps this position until the rear end of the electric wire is connected to the connector in the second electric wire processing section 30.

At the position shown in FIG. 6D, each length-measuring roller 14 is actuated by the control means, each electric wire is fed in the direction of the predetermined major axis, and at the same time, the feed rollers 41a and 41b are actuated, and each electric wire is moved to the first
And it is sent out in a loop between the second electric wire processing units. The feed rollers 41a and 41b continue to rotate while the length measuring rollers 14 and 15 feed out the electric wires 4 for a predetermined length,
It acts so as to always give tension to the electric wire 4 fed out from 14, 15. The length measuring rollers 14 and 15 stop rotating when the electric wire of a predetermined length is fed out, and as a result, the feed rollers 41a and 41
b also receives the load from the wire and stops rotating.

When the length-measuring rollers 14 and 15 feed out the wire of the specified length and the rotation of the wire stops, as shown in Fig. 6E, the wire clamp
13 contacts guide roller 12 to fix the wire firmly. After this, the length measuring roller 14 is separated from the electric wire and returns to the original position. Next, the press ram 31 of the second electric wire processing unit 30 descends, and the electric wires 4 held between the shuttle 40 and the rollers 41a and 41b are inserted into the respective terminals of the connector 2'prepared directly under the press ram 31. The wires are connected and at the same time the wires are separated by the cutting blade.

When the rear end of the electric wire is connected to the connector in the second electric wire processing unit 30, the press rams 21 and 31 are respectively raised and returned to their original positions as shown in FIG. 6F, and at the same time, the feed rollers 41a and 41b are connected. Are also separated from each other, and the wire clamp 13 is also restored.

The harness manufactured as described above is sent to the harness connection section automatic inspection devices 60, 60 with the connectors 2, 2'along the guide rails 52a, 52b. This pair of inspection devices 6
Since 0 and 60 have exactly the same structure, only one of them will be described.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inspection device 60, which is fixed to the guide rail 52b as can be seen from FIG. This inspection device 6
0 is configured by integrating the mechanical connection inspection device 70 forming the upper half and the electrical connection inspection device 100 forming the lower half.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the mechanical connection inspection device 70, and FIG. 9 is a side view of the inspection device 70 seen from the direction indicated by arrow A. The apparatus will be described below with reference to both figures. In this device, the frames 71b, 71b are fixed on the fixed plate 71a,
The cylinder 72 is fixed to the frames 71b, 71b.
Further, a pin holding plate 82 is rotatably attached to the frames 71b, 71b via a rotary shaft 81. At the tip portion 84 of the pin holding plate 82, a plurality of press-fitting portion checking pins 85 and crimp portion checking pins that form a checking member together with a checking contact described later.
86 are slidably held up and down, and a rear end arm 87 extending obliquely upward is in contact with a plunger 73 of a cylinder 72 fixed to the frames 71b, 71b. The plurality of check pins 85 and 86 are located above the plurality of connecting portions of the collector 2 and the electric wire 4 of the harness sent on the guide rail 52b with a predetermined distance therebetween, and are located opposite to these. Specifically, the press-fitting portion check pin 85 is the electric wire receiving portion of the electric terminal 1.
The crimp check pin 86 faces the end held in the wire 1a, the crimp check pin 86 faces the portion held by the crimp 1c, and these check pins 85 and 86 connect all the electrical terminals 1 of the connector. A plurality of electric terminals 1 are arranged in the same direction as the electric terminals 1. Then, when the plunger 73 of the cylinder 72 is actuated and the rear end arm 87 is pushed, the pin holding plate 82 rotates about the rotation shaft 81 in the direction shown by the arrow B in FIG. It is moved down by a certain distance. At this time, the descending amount of the tip 84 depends on the check pins 85, 8
It is set to be equal to the distance between 6 and the end of the wire or the crimp part (connection part) 1c facing it, and the end of the wire is completely pressed into the wire receiving part (connection part) 1a, and the crimp part is
If 1c is completely wound around the electric wire, relative movement between the tip end portion 84 of the pin holding plate 82 and the check pins 85 and 86 does not occur. However, if the press-fitting and winding are incomplete and project upward, a check pin corresponding to this incomplete portion abuts against this portion and is pushed upward with respect to the tip portion 84. .

On the other hand, a detection plate 91 is mounted on the pin holding plate 82 via a rotary shaft 93, and the detection plate 91 is 93
The lower end of the front end 92 is in contact with the upper ends of the check pins 85 and 86, and the lower face of the operation plate 94 fixed to the rear end 95 is a limit switch fixed on the holding plate 82. It is in contact with the terminal of 83. For this reason,
The rear end 87 of the pin holding plate 82 is the plunger of the cylinder 72.
If the wire is pressed into the receiving portion 1a of the plurality of electric terminals 1 of the connector 2 or wound around the crimp portion 1c when it is pushed by 73 and is rotated in the direction of arrow B, even if there is an incomplete portion, Since the one of the check pins 85 and 86 facing the incomplete portion is pushed upward with respect to the front end 84 of the pin holding plate 82, the front end of the detection plate 91 that abuts the upper ends of the check pins 85 and 86. 92 is also pushed up. Therefore, the detection plate 91 rotates about the rotation shaft 93, and the operation plate 94 pushes the terminal of the limit switch 83 to operate it. By operating the limit switch 83, it is possible to detect a defect in the connector connecting portion, and in response to this, stop the operation of the manufacturing apparatus or send a signal indicating the defect.

Next, the electrical connection inspection device 100 will be described. 10th
The drawing is a side view showing the device 100, as viewed from the same direction as FIG. In this inspection device 100, a body 101 is joined to the lower surface of a fixed plate 71a of the mechanical connection inspection device 70, and the body 101 is bolted to a guide rail 52b.
It is fixed by 102. Further, a cylinder 103 is fixed to the body 101, and a plunger 104 of the cylinder 103 is fixed.
Is connected to the contact holding plate 105 which is slidable on the body 101 in the arrow C direction in the figure, and the contact holding plate 105 can be moved in the arrow C direction by the plunger 104. The contact holding plate 105 faces the engaging portion 1d of each electric terminal 1 of the collector 2 sent on the guide rail 52b, and when the contact holding plate 105 is moved in the direction of arrow C, this engaging portion 1d. A plurality of check contacts 106, which form a check member together with the above-described check pins 85 and 86 that enter into and engage with the 1d, are arranged. As shown in FIG. 1, two automatic harness-connecting portion inspection devices 60 are provided to simultaneously inspect the connectors 2 and 2'at both ends of the electric wires forming the harness. For this reason, there are also two electrical connection inspection devices 100. For the engagement portions 1d of the electric terminals 1 of both the connectors 2 and 2 ',
The check contact 106 of each inspection device 100 is engaged with each other, and the electric wire 4 is inserted through the check contact 106.
The electric current is detected between the electric terminals connected by the. If even one does not energize, the harness is considered defective and the operation of the manufacturing apparatus is stopped or a caution signal is sent.

As described above, it is possible to detect a defect in the connection portion of the harness. When the above inspection is performed and there is no abnormality, the cylinders 72 and 103 are operated to return the check pins 85 and 86 and the check contact 106 to their original positions, and the tested harness is attached to the guide rails 52a and 52b. It sends it along and accepts the uninspected harness for the next inspection.

(Effects of the Invention) In the harness manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, two guide rails are provided in a substantially parallel row, and a harness connection portion inspection device for checking the connection state of the electric terminal and the insulated wire is provided near the guide rail, and the guide is provided. Since the configuration is such that the continuity between the connectors of the completed harness that moves along the rail can be inspected, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, the continuity between the connectors can be surely inspected after the harness is completed, and a highly reliable product can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a harness manufacturing apparatus equipped with a harness connection section automatic inspection apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an electric terminal held in a connector of a harness. The figure is a perspective view showing the operation of pressing the electric wire to the electric terminal, Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the slot portion when the electric wire is pressed to the electric terminal, and Fig. 5 shows the electric wire being pressed to the electric terminal. 6A to 6F are schematic views sequentially showing the manufacturing process by the harness manufacturing apparatus, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the harness connection part automatic inspection apparatus of the harness manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a mechanical connection inspection device that constitutes an automatic harness connection part inspection device of the harness manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a view of the mechanical connection inspection device viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. FIG. 10 is a side view and FIG. 10 is a Hahne according to the present invention. It is a side view showing an electrical connection testing device constituting the harness connecting section automatic inspection system of the manufacturing apparatus. 1 ... Electrical terminal 2,2 '... Connector 4 ... Insulated wire 52a, 52b ... Guide rail 60 ... Automatic inspection device for harness connection 85,86 ... Check pin 106 ... Check contact

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An insulated wire and a connector are sequentially supplied,
In a harness manufacturing apparatus for continuously manufacturing a harness in which an electric terminal of the connector is connected to at least one end of the insulated wire and discharging the harness along a guide rail, two guide rails are provided in a substantially flat row, and the guide rails are provided at both ends. Each of the connectors of the harness to which a connector is connected moves on each of the guide rails so that the insulated wire extends between the two guide rails, contacts the electrical terminal of the connector, and connects the insulated wire to the insulated wire. Each of the harness connection part inspection devices having a plurality of checking members for inspecting the connection state of the electric terminal is provided in the vicinity of the two guide rails, whereby the harness of the completed harness discharged from the guide rails. A harness manufacturing apparatus capable of inspecting continuity between connectors at both ends.