Boots – shoes – and leggings
Patent
1990-07-09
1993-03-30
Smith, Jerry
Boots, shoes, and leggings
29721, 29739, 29747, G06F 1546, B23P 1904
Patent
active
051989832
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to harness fabrication. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for semi-automating the termination of randomly selected harness conductors into a connector.
Although this invention is applicable for randomly installing various predetermined components into designated locations in an assembly unit, it has been found to be particularly useful in the environment of the termination of conductors in a harness into designated cavities in a connector. Therefore, without limiting the applicability of the invention to "the termination of conductors in a connector", the invention will be described in such environment. Although the invention may be practiced using various types of input and output devices, the invention will be described with a voice recognition device in the input and a voice synthesizer device in the output.
A harness is an assembly of multiple conductors which have been cut to appropriate lengths, laid out in a predetermined pattern, terminations provided on the ends of the conductors and the ends of the conductors terminated into predetermined cavities in connectors. The harness is bundled to provide a pre-assembled package of conductors for incorporation into a device such as a computer, aircraft, etc.
A harness which is fabricated manually results in the cost of fabrication being relatively high because the fabrication process is very labor intensive. The present process of termination of the harness conductors in a connector comprises an operator who first selects a bundle of conductors to be terminated The operator then finds the corresponding work aid, which is a sheet of paper that relates the conductors to a specific connector, and acquires the appropriate connector and associated hardware for termination. The operator then inserts moisture plugs in accordance with the work aid in all unused cavities. The operator then reads the identification number of a conductor and turns to the work aid to find that conductor's specific cavity in the connector. Upon correlation of the conductor and the connector cavity from the work aid, the operator picks up the connector and finds the cavity Before insertion of the conductor, the operator once again consults the work aid to verify the proper location of the cavity and the proper relation between the conductor and the cavity. This process is repeated until all cavities in a connector are filled This manual termination is labor intensive, fatiguing to the operator and allows many opportunities for error.
The present invention provides a computer-aided process of terminating randomly selected harness conductors into a connector to increase operator productivity and improve the quality of the harness This is accomplished by providing the operator with computer-aided identification, location and termination of conductors in a connector.
It will be appreciated that the present invention may also be used to install or assemble randomly selected predetermined components into predetermined locations in an assembly unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a method and apparatus for semi-automating the termination of randomly selected conductors of a harness into the correct cavity of the correct connector. The apparatus comprises a fixture to hold the connector, a light device for positioning a spot of light on a particular cavity which is to receive a moisture plug or a designated conductor for termination, a computer to provide control signals to move the spot of light from cavity to cavity and data input means including a bar code reader, a keyboard, a touch screen display and/or a voice data-link system connected to the computer to transfer information, including directions and confirmation, between the apparatus and an operator The computer has the capability to access an external data base which contains all the harness and connector information pertaining to the particular harnesses being terminated.
The method o
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Blake Evan E.
Newman Paul F.
Springer Dale W.
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
Gordon Paul
Smith Jerry
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