Binding head

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a binding head. A binding head for binding a wire harness, the binding head comprising a base plate having a mouth for receiving the wire harness. A tape dispenser is adapted to rotate a center of a tape roll around the mouth, and a clamping unit allows clamping a free end of the tape.

Description

Headband Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a binding head for binding wire harnesses. Background Technology

[0002] A binding head is known for binding wire harnesses with protective tape and / or adhesive tape. This binding head is used for manually or automatically winding the tape onto the wire bundle. In industrial applications, there is a need for automated application of tape to different wire harnesses or different sections of wire harnesses, which requires cutting and repositioning the tape supplied from the tape roll.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved binding head suitable for automatically winding the tape onto the wire harness. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides a binding head for binding wire harnesses with protective tape and / or adhesive tape of a tape roll. The binding head includes a base plate having a mouthpiece for receiving the wire harness and a rotatable tape dispenser having the mouthpiece. The rotatable tape dispenser is rotatably mounted on the base plate and adapted to rotate the tape roll around the center of the mouthpiece. A clamping unit is provided to clamp the free end of the tape, wherein the clamping unit includes an anvil fixedly mounted to the rotatable tape dispenser and a clamping element movably mounted to the base plate. The free end of the tape can be clamped between the anvil and the clamping element by the movable clamping element and the anvil, for positioning the free end in a desired position at the start of the binding process. Since the clamping unit is mounted on the base plate and the tape dispenser respectively, the binding head can be designed to be very compact and lightweight. The anvil is fixedly mounted to the rotatable tape dispenser, particularly rigidly connected to the rotatable tape dispenser. Therefore, the anvil cannot move relative to the rotatable tape dispenser, so that the tape can be securely held between the anvil and the clamping element. However, the anvil rotates together with the rotatable tape dispenser, while the clamping element does not rotate with the rotatable tape dispenser but is mounted on the substrate.

[0005] According to one embodiment, the clamping element includes a cutting blade. This provides the advantage that the free end of the belt can be cut and clamped using the same clamping unit. The cutting blade may include two cutting edges forming an obtuse angle, such as approximately 120°. This design allows the apex of the cutting blade to cut the belt at a location between the two outer edges of the belt, thus preventing lateral displacement of the belt during cutting.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the anvil includes a slot for receiving a cutting blade, which improves cutting and clamping of the free end of the belt. Since the anvil cannot move relative to the rotatable belt dispenser, the belt rests on the anvil and does not move as the cutting blade cuts the belt and enters the slot.

[0007] According to another embodiment, the clamping element moves between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position, the strip is released by the clamping unit, and in the closed position, the strip is cut and simultaneously clamped between the clamping element and the anvil. The clamping element may include a rotatable lever. The lever can rotate to abut the anvil to clamp and cut the end of the strip.

[0008] According to another embodiment, the lever is rotatable by at least approximately 180°. This allows the lever to rotate from one side of the substrate to the opposite side where the tape dispenser is rotatably mounted. Therefore, the space in front of the anvil is not obstructed by the clamping element, which facilitates operation of the binding head during binding. This promotes a compact design for the rotatable tape dispenser, as the mechanism for actuating the clamping element is fixed to the substrate rather than to the rotatable tape dispenser.

[0009] According to another embodiment, the clamping unit includes a gear lever and a gear for rotating the clamping element. This also facilitates a compact design because the gear lever can be actuated by a linear actuator, eliminating the need for an additional motor for rotating the clamping element.

[0010] According to another embodiment, the tape dispenser includes a spring-loaded container for receiving the wire harness. When the binding head is positioned on the wire harness, the harness can be received in the container, and the binding head can be pushed against the wire harness without causing significant deformation. This allows for good positioning of the wire harness at the center of the nozzle.

[0011] According to another embodiment, the container forms a gap or slot for the belt. This allows the belt to be fed through the container, enabling it to be positioned at the outer circumference of the harness when the binding process begins.

[0012] According to another embodiment, a guide roller is located near the gap to guide the belt, wherein the guide roller is rotatable about a first axis to feed the belt into the gap along a substantially straight path. The guide roller is pivotable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The first axis can be oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable belt distributor. This design results in the correct orientation and guidance of the belt if the binding head is moved along a section of the harness.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the container has at least one wall that is concave and curved. This profile corresponds to the outer profile of the wire harness and allows the binding head to be securely positioned close to the wire harness.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the contact surface of the anvil is located near the inlet of the nozzle of the dispenser. This allows the end of the belt to be clamped in a position laterally displaced from the center of the nozzle, thus avoiding any unwanted interference between the free end of the belt and the wire harness.

[0015] According to another embodiment, the anvil and clamping element include protrusions and slits for clamping the belt therebetween. The anvil may include protrusions, and the clamping element may include slits, or vice versa. Both variations improve the clamping of the belt between the anvil and the clamping element.

[0016] According to another embodiment, at least one rotatable support lever is provided for supporting the wire harness received in the mouthpiece. Since the wire harness to be bound is not always fully stretched, the support lever can improve the support of the wire harness to provide a substantially straight construction of the wire harness in the section to be bound.

[0017] According to one implementation, two support levers are provided, which can rotate independently, for example by means of an actuator.

[0018] According to another embodiment, the support lever may include a support roller that reduces friction between the support lever and the wire harness as the binding head moves along a section of the wire harness.

[0019] In another embodiment, two support rods are positioned near the opposite sides of the substrate. This type of support lever eliminates the need for any additional clamping devices for tensioning the wire harness, reducing weight and improving the compactness of the binding head.

[0020] According to another embodiment, the clamping element moves between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position, while the harness is at the center of the nozzle, the clamping element secures the free end of the tape, and wherein in the open position, the clamping element releases the tape before the tape dispenser rotates.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the tape dispenser rotates in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction. The tape dispenser rotates in the first rotational direction to wrap the free end of the tape around the wire harness, thereby securely attaching the tape to the wire harness. The tape dispenser rotates in the second rotational direction while the binding head moves along a section of the wire harness to wrap the desired section of the wire harness with the tape.

[0022] According to another embodiment, after wrapping the desired section of the wire harness with the tape, the binding head is removed from the wire harness to position the tape against the anvil, thereby clamping and cutting the tape with the clamping element.

[0023] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method for winding a tape around a bundle of wire in its length direction is disclosed. In this method, a binding head is used comprising a base plate with a tape spout and a rotatable tape dispenser for the spout, wherein the rotatable tape dispenser is rotatably mounted on the base plate and adapted to rotate the tape roll around the center of the spout. The binding head also includes a clamping unit adapted to clamp the free end of the tape. The tape dispenser may include one or more features disclosed in this application.

[0024] According to the disclosed method, the following steps are performed, specifically in the indicated order: First, the free end of the tape is clamped by the clamping unit. Then, the binding head is manipulated so that the bundle is positioned inside the nozzle and the tape adheres to a circumferential section of the bundle. Then, the clamping element is released, and for a period of time, a rotatable tape dispenser is rotated in a first direction to secure the free end of the tape to the bundle by wrapping it around the bundle. While the free end of the tape is secured and wrapped around the bundle, the rotatable tape dispenser rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, while the binding head moves parallel to the bundle to wrap the tape around the bundle in the longitudinal direction.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the substrate does not move when the rotatable tape dispenser rotates in a first direction. This allows the relatively short free end of the tape to be securely attached to the bundle.

[0026] According to another embodiment, the time period is selected such that a section of the tape that initially extends between the bundle and the free end of the tape is completely wrapped around the bundle.

[0027] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method for cutting tape wound on a wire bundle using a binding head is disclosed. The binding head includes a base plate having a mouth and a rotatable tape dispenser having a mouth, wherein the rotatable tape dispenser is rotatably mounted on the base plate and adapted to rotate a tape roll around the center of the mouth. Furthermore, the tape dispenser includes a clamping unit adapted to clamp the free end of the tape. The rotatable tape dispenser may include one or more features as disclosed herein.

[0028] The method for cutting the tape includes the following steps, specifically in the indicated order: First, the binding head is removed from the wound bundle of wire, so that a section of the tape extends between the nozzle and the wound bundle of wire. This allows for slight tension of the tape between the tape roll and the clamping unit. Then, the binding head is manipulated so that the clamping unit contacts a section of the tape at a position between the nozzle and the wound bundle of wire. The tape can then be clamped and cut by the clamping unit.

[0029] According to the embodiment, the belt is simultaneously clamped and cut, for example by a clamping and cutting device.

[0030] According to another embodiment, the belt is tensioned before being clamped and cut. Attached Figure Description

[0031] This document describes exemplary embodiments and functions of the present disclosure in conjunction with the following schematically illustrated figures:

[0032] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of the head bandage;

[0033] Figure 2 is a three-dimensional view showing the details of the head binding in Figure 1;

[0034] Figure 3 is a plan view showing the details of the binding head in Figures 1 and 2;

[0035] Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the binding head;

[0036] Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the binding head; and

[0037] Figures 6A and 6B are perspective views detailing another embodiment of the binding head. Detailed Implementation

[0038] Figures 1 to 4 show a binding head 10 for binding a wire harness W (Figure 3), wherein the binding head 10 includes a base plate 12 having a nozzle 14 for receiving the wire harness W. The nozzle 14 has the shape of a wide slit extending to the outer edge of the base plate 12, the inner end of the slit having a semi-circular shape. In other words, the nozzle 14 forms a generally U-shaped groove in the base plate 12. A tape dispenser 16 is adapted to rotate a roll 17 of tape, such as adhesive tape, about the center C (Figure 3) of the nozzle 14. The tape dispenser 16 also includes a nozzle 15 having the same overall shape as the nozzle 14 of the base plate 12. The tape dispenser 16 is rotated about the center C by a motor M (Figure 4), the motor M driving a pulley, and the rotation of the drive pulley is transmitted to the tape dispenser 16 via a toothed belt 11 (Figure 1). It is understood that other mechanisms may also be used to rotate the tape dispenser 16. When the tape dispenser 16 rotates, the roll 17 of tape also rotates about the center C. If the wire harness W is positioned at the center C of the nozzles 14 and 15, the tape 19 from the tape reel 17 can be wound around the wire harness W by rotating the tape distributor 16 relative to the substrate 12.

[0039] The tape distributor 16 can be mounted onto the base plate 12 using a quick-change mounting kit, allowing the operator to easily replace the tape distributor 16 with another tape distributor 16 when the tape roll 17 becomes empty or requires maintenance.

[0040] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the free end of belt 19 unfolds from belt coil 17, which is rotatably supported on belt distributor 16. The free end of belt 19 is guided by guide roller 34, which is pivotally supported on roller retainer 35 mounted on belt distributor 16. Guide roller 34 rotates about axis A3 and is loosely supported on roller retainer 35.

[0041] To support and accommodate the wire harness W in the mouthpieces 14 and 15, a spring-loaded container comprising two members 30 and 32 is provided. Due to the two members 30 and 32, the container forms a gap or slot 43 (FIG. 3) for the passage of the feed belt 19. The members 30 and 32 of the container can be linearly displaced along corresponding rods 31 and 33. Rods 31 and 33 are arranged parallel to each other, and the respective members 30 and 32 of the container are spring-loaded by springs S1 and S2. Therefore, if the binding head 10 is positioned near the wire harness W and pushed against it, the members 30 and 32 of the container will be pushed against the forces of springs S1 and S2 until the wire harness W is located at the center C of the mouthpieces 14 and 15.

[0042] Components 30 and 32 of the container each include inner walls 36 and 38, which are concave and curved such that the shape of the walls corresponds to the outer shape of the wire harness W. Furthermore, in the region of the gap 43, both components 30 and 32 include rounded edges for slidingly guiding the guide strip 19.

[0043] A clamping unit 18 is provided to clamp and cut the free end of the tape 19. The clamping unit 18 includes an anvil 20 and a clamping element 22. The anvil 20 is a block-shaped element fixedly mounted to a rotatable tape dispenser 16, and the clamping element 22 includes a rotatable lever mounted to a substrate 12. Specifically, the anvil 20 is rigidly connected to the rotatable tape dispenser 16 and cannot move relative to it. Therefore, when the rotatable tape dispenser 16 rotates relative to the substrate 12, the anvil 20 rotates relative to the clamping element 22 mounted on the substrate 12. The free end of the tape 19 can be clamped between the anvil 20 and the clamping element 22, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The rotatable lever can rotate about an axis A1 extending parallel to the extension of the substrate 12, and the clamping element 22 can rotate from the position shown in Figure 1 (open position) to the position shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4 (closed or clamped position).

[0044] To rotate the clamping element 22, a gear lever 26 (FIG. 1) is provided, which can be linearly displaced by an actuator 27. The linear motion of the gear lever 26 is converted into rotational motion by a gear 28 disposed on the clamping element 22, such that if the actuator 27 is actuated to displace the gear lever 26, the clamping element 22 rotates about axis A1.

[0045] As shown in Figure 1, the clamping element 22 includes a generally triangular cutting blade 24 and a slit 42, while the anvil 20 includes a slot 21 (as shown in Figure 5) for receiving the cutting blade 24 and a protrusion 40 for clamping the band 19. When the clamping element 22 is in the closed position, the protrusion 40 is received in the slit 42 (Figure 1) of the clamping element 22. The band 19 is held and clamped between the protrusion 40 of the anvil 20 and the slit 42 of the clamping element 22. However, the band 19 is not cut by the protrusion 40. Cutting is achieved by the cutting blade 24 received in the slot 21 of the anvil 20. The protrusion 40 and the slit 42 are positioned closer to the mouth portions 14 and 15, while the slot 21 and the cutting blade 24 are positioned further away from the mouth portions 14 and 15, such that when the clamping element 22 is in the closed position, the band 19 is cut, but the free end of the band 19 is held and clamped between the protrusion 40 and the slit 42.

[0046] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the contact surface 23 of the anvil 20 (Figures 3 and 5) is positioned near the entrance of the nozzle 15 of the dispenser 16, so that the free end of the belt 19 is fixed away from the nozzle 15 to avoid interference with the wire harness W.

[0047] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment. This embodiment corresponds to the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3, but includes two optional support levers 44 and 46, which are rotatable about an axis A2 extending parallel to the axis of the tape roll 17 of the tape 19. Both support levers 44 and 46 can be rotated independently about axis A2 by their respective actuators. Each of the support levers 44 and 46 includes a support roller 48 (Figure 4), which can be located on the underside of the tape W after the wire harness W has been positioned in the nozzles 14 and 15. The wire harness W can slide on the support roller 48 as the binding head 10 moves along a section of the wire harness W.

[0048] Because the substrate 12 is provided with a quick-mounting device 13 for mounting the substrate 12 onto the robot arm, the positioning of the binding head 10 can be efficiently manipulated by the robot. Furthermore, the binding head 10 can be moved along a section of the wire harness W during the binding process, so that the desired portion of the wire harness W is wrapped with the tape 19.

[0049] Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of a binding head similar to the one described above. In this embodiment, the guide roller 34 rotates about axis A3 and pivots about a second axis A4 that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis A3. As the tape distributor 16 winds the tape 19 onto the harness W, the guide roller 34 can pivot about the second axis A4 to position the tape 19. In one embodiment, the guide roller 34 and the roller retainer 35 are positioned such that axis A3 and axis A4 intersect. In another embodiment, the guide roller 34 and the roller retainer 35 are positioned such that axis A3 is offset from axis A4, such that axis A3 and axis A4 do not intersect. The roller retainer 35 is mounted on the rotatable tape distributor 16 and serves as a bearing for a shaft 37 that defines axis A4. An L-shaped bracket 39 is provided on one side of the shaft 37, at which the guide roller 34 is mounted. A nut 41 is provided at the other end of the shaft 37 for securing the shaft 37 to the roller retainer 35.

[0050] In this embodiment, the various components 30, 32 of the container are guided by a corresponding pair of rods 31A, 31B and 33A, 33B. Similar to the first embodiment, the various components 30, 32 of the container are spring-loaded by springs disposed at the circumference of the respective rods 31A, 31B, 33A, 33B. It is understood that the springs may be disposed on one of the rods 31A, 31B and one of the rods 33A, 33B.

[0051] According to another embodiment, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the container is not composed of two separate parts, but is formed as a single unit. In this embodiment, a gap or slot 43 for guiding the strap 19 is still formed between members 30 and 32. However, in this embodiment, both members 30 and 32 are connected by a recessed curved web 50 having curved walls 52 coplanar with the inner walls 36 and 38 of members 30 and 32. The web 50 connects the two members 30 and 32, wherein the gap or slot 43 may extend slightly into the web 50. As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the surfaces on both sides of the gap or slot 43 are curved to allow the strap 19 to slide smoothly on these surfaces during binding.

[0052] When the binding process begins, the clamping element 22 is in the closed position, such that the free end of the strap 19 is held between the clamping element 22 and the anvil 20 (see, for example, FIG. 5). The binding head 10 is positioned above and moves toward the cable harness W, such that the cable harness W contacts the walls 36, 38 of the container members 30, 32 (see FIG. 3). As the binding head 10 moves further downward against the cable harness W, members 30 and 32 are pushed upward against the forces of springs S1 and S2, such that the strap 19 contacts the cable harness W. After the cable harness W is fully received in the mouthpieces 14 and 15, the actuator 27 is actuated to rotate the clamping element 22 from the closed position shown in FIG. 2 to the open position shown in FIG. 1, thereby releasing the free end of the strap 19. The strap dispenser 16 then rotates about the center C in a first rotational direction (clockwise in FIG. 3), thereby winding the free end of the strap 19 around the cable harness W in the first rotational direction. During this rotation, the inner wall 38 of the container presses the free end of the tape 19 onto the wire harness W while simultaneously winding the free end around the wire. In this processing step, the binding head 10 does not move, or substantially does not move, along its length (parallel to the wire harness W). When the free end of the tape 19 has been wound sufficiently around the wire harness W to secure the tape 19 to the wire harness W, the rotation of the tape distributor 16 in the first rotation direction stops. Then, the tape distributor 16 rotates about its center C in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3), thereby winding the tape 19 around the wire harness W in the second rotation direction. While the tape distributor 16 rotates in the second rotation direction, the binding head 10 moves along a segment of the wire harness W, such that the desired segment of the wire harness W is wound with the tape 19.

[0053] After the desired section of the wire harness W has been wrapped with tape 19, the binding head 10 moves away from the wire harness W, causing a section of tape 19 to extend between the wire harness W and the binding head 10. The binding head 10 is then moved to a position where the tape 19 is guided on the contact surface 23 of the anvil 20, while the tape 19 is slightly tensioned to prevent loops or fluctuations. Thereafter, the clamping element 22 is rotated about axis A1 by actuator 27, and the tape 19 is cut and simultaneously clamped between the clamping element 22 and the anvil 20.

[0054] The aforementioned binding head is very compact and lightweight. It can be used with standard binding rollers, where the tape is adhesive on one or both sides, and the binding process can be automated by a robot. Tape clamping and cutting are performed automatically.

Claims

1. A binding head (10) for binding a wire harness (W) with a tape (19) of a tape roll (17), the binding head (10) comprising: The substrate (12) has a nozzle (14) for receiving a wire harness (W), a rotatable tape dispenser (16) having a nozzle (15), the rotatable tape dispenser being rotatably mounted to the substrate (12) and adapted to rotate the tape roll (17) about the center (C) of the nozzle (14, 15), and a clamping unit (18) adapted to clamp the free end of the tape (19), wherein the clamping unit (18) includes an anvil (20) and a clamping element (22), the anvil being fixedly mounted to the rotatable tape dispenser (16) and the clamping element being movably mounted to the substrate (12).

2. The binding head according to claim 1, wherein, The clamping element (22) moves between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the band (19) is released by the clamping unit (18), and wherein in the closed position the band (19) is cut and simultaneously clamped between the clamping element (22) and the anvil (20).

3. The binding head according to claim 1, wherein, The clamping element (22) includes a rotatable rod.

4. The binding head according to claim 1, wherein, The clamping unit (18) includes a gear rod (26) and a gear (28) for rotating the clamping element (22).

5. The binding head according to claim 1, wherein, The belt distributor (16) includes a spring-loaded container (30, 32) for receiving the wire harness (W).

6. The binding head according to claim 5, wherein, The containers (30, 32) have at least one wall (36, 38), which is concave and curved.

7. The binding head according to claim 5, wherein, The containers (30, 32) form a gap (43) for the belt (19).

8. The binding head according to claim 7, further comprising a guide roller (34) located near the gap (43) to guide the belt (19), wherein, The guide roller (34) is rotatable about the first axis (A3).

9. The binding head according to claim 8, wherein, The guide roller (34) pivots about a second axis (A4), which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis (A1).

10. The binding head according to claim 9, wherein, The first axis (A3) is offset from the second axis (A4) such that the first axis (A3) and the second axis (A4) do not intersect.

11. The binding head according to claim 1, wherein, The contact surface (23) of the anvil (20) is positioned near the entrance of the mouth (15) of the dispenser (16).

12. The binding head according to claim 1, wherein, The anvil (20) and the clamping element (22) include a protrusion (40) and a slit (42) for clamping the band (19) therebetween.

13. The binding head according to claim 1, the binding head further comprising at least one rotatable support lever (44, 46) for supporting the wire harness (W) received in the mouth (14, 15).

14. The binding head according to claim 13, wherein, Two support levers (44, 46) are provided near the two opposite sides of the substrate (12).

15. A method for wrapping a strap around a bundle of wire in its length direction using a binding head, said binding head being a binding head according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the method comprising the following steps: Clamping the free end of the tape with the clamping unit (18), manipulating the binding head so that the bundle is located inside the mouth and the tape adheres to the circumferential section of the bundle, releasing the clamping element, rotating the rotatable tape dispenser in a first direction for a period of time to secure the free end of the tape to the bundle, and thereafter rotating the rotatable tape dispenser in a second direction opposite to the first direction while moving the binding head parallel to the bundle to wrap the tape around the bundle in the length direction.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, When the rotatable tape dispenser rotates along the first direction, the substrate does not move.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein, The time period is selected such that a section of the tape initially extending between the bundle and the free end of the tape is completely wrapped around the bundle.

18. A method for cutting a strip wrapped with a binding head, said binding head being a binding head according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the method comprising the following steps: Move the binding head away from the wrapped bundle of wire so that a section of the strap extends between the mouth and the wrapped bundle of wire. Manipulate the binding head so that the clamping unit contacts the section of the strap at a position between the mouth and the wrapped bundle of wire, and the clamping unit clamps and cuts the strap.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, The belt is simultaneously clamped and cut.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein, The belt is tensioned before it is clamped and cut.

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