Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means to assemble electrical device
Patent
1997-01-23
1998-12-29
Vo, Peter
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means to assemble electrical device
29 33M, 29755, 29861, 72442, 7245307, H01R 4304, B23P 1902
Patent
active
058528687
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a machine for preparing or fabricating electrical harnesses for fitting to motor vehicles or domestic appliances, for example.
The technical field of the invention is that of manufacturing electrical harnesses.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
Various types of machine are already known for preparing or fabricating electrical harnesses, which machines include a plurality of modules for crimping terminals on previously-stripped ends of lengths of wire.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,229 (Mikami et al.) describes a machine for preparing lengths of electrically conductive wire and that is controlled by an automatic control device. That machine includes a plurality of modules disposed on a first side of a conveyor, with lengths of electric wire in the form of loops being displaced by the conveyor on a second side thereof. The machine comprises, disposed in succession along the conveyor: an electric wire feed device; a wire cutting device to form lengths of electric wire; a device for looping back one end of each length so that the lengths form loops, with both ends of each length being held by clamps that are displaced by the conveyor; downstream from those first elements, the machine includes devices for stripping the ends of the lengths of wire; a sensor for monitoring stripping; and then a plurality of devices or presses for crimping terminals onto the ends of the lengths of wire being displaced by the conveyor.
Similar machines are also known in which two parallel conveyors are provided, each length of wire being held in the vicinity of each of its two ends by a clamp located on a respective one of the two conveyors, the central portion of the wire hanging freely (under its own weight) in a loop between the two conveyors, e.g. as described in European patent application EP 7 681 (Utilux).
The present invention consists in an improvement in machines of those types for preparing lengths of wire for fabricating electrical harnesses.
The advantage of the machine described in the above-referenced Mikami patent and resulting from the presence of a plurality of crimping stations disposed along the conveyor is that it enables different types of terminal to be crimped onto the lengths of wire being displaced by the conveyor without it being necessary to stop the machine to replace crimping tools (or a portion of a crimping tool sometimes known as a "applicator"), given that each tool is specifically adapted to a determined type of terminal and needs replacing by other tools adapted to terminals of other types.
The use of an automatic machine of that type is particularly advantageous when the machine is used on a continuous basis, and is given characteristics that enable it to manufacture different lengths of wire, fitted with different terminals, for making up various types of electrical harness.
It can thus be necessary to multiply the number of crimping stations located along the conveyor, and that can give rise to machines for preparing lengths of wire that are very bulky and very expensive.
The problem posed consists in obtaining machines for preparing lengths of wire fitted with terminals for fabricating electrical harnesses, and enabling terminals of several different types to be crimped onto the lengths of wire, while limiting the size of such machines and also their cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The solution to the problem posed consists in providing a machine for preparing (or fabricating) electrical harnesses and including a plurality of devices (or stations) for crimping terminals onto the stripped ends of lengths of electrically conductive wire, in which said crimping stations are situated along a horizontal linear conveyor that moves clamps holding the ends of lengths of wire; each of said crimping devices essentially includes a tool that is fed with terminals taken from a strip wound on a reel, which tool includes a fixed matrix and a punch that is movable, e.g. vertically; and said machine for manufacturing electrical harnesse
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4581796 (1986-04-01), Fukuda et al.
patent: 4611484 (1986-09-01), Mackissinger, Jr. et al.
patent: 4715099 (1987-12-01), Yoshida
patent: 4831861 (1989-05-01), Hofmann et al.
patent: 4835855 (1989-06-01), Eaton et al.
patent: 4896419 (1990-01-01), Jurgenhake et al.
patent: 5127159 (1992-07-01), Kudo et al.
patent: 5152162 (1992-10-01), Ferraro et al.
patent: 5208977 (1993-05-01), Ricard
patent: 5210942 (1993-05-01), Emmerich et al.
patent: 5323528 (1994-06-01), Baker
patent: 5456005 (1995-10-01), Satoh et al.
patent: 5491994 (1996-02-01), Baldyga
PCT International Search Report (see PCT Publication).
Chang Rick Kiltae
Nina Driscoll A.
The Whitaker Corporation
Vo Peter
LandOfFree
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