ancillary tool

Abstract

An auxiliary tool for securing a free end of an adhesive tape wrapped around a wire bundle, the auxiliary tool comprising a base plate and a rotatable ring with a tape receptacle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aid for securing a free end of an adhesive tape that has been wrapped around a wire harness. BACKGROUND

[0002] Tape applicators for taping a wire harness or a wire harness with protective and / or adhesive tape are generally known. Such tape applicators are used to manually or automatically wrap tape around a bundle of wires. In industrial applications, it is necessary to automatically apply tape to different wire harnesses or different sections of a wire harness, which requires cutting and positioning of the tape supplied from a tape roll.

[0003] In applying tape to a wire harness, the process initially involves adhering the free end of the tape to the wire harness, wrapping the tape around the branching section and cutting the tape at the desired length. Thereafter, due to the cutting process, the free end of the tape can not be adhered to the wire harness. This (loose) free end is also referred to as a flag.

[0004] The flag that is not closed (adhered to the wire harness) will require manual handling and can lead to quality issues.

[0005] It is therefore desirable to provide an aid for securing the free end of an adhesive tape that has been wrapped around a wire harness. SUMMARY

[0006] The present disclosure provides an aid for securing the free end of an adhesive tape that has been wrapped around a wire harness (stranded wire, filament), wherein the aid comprises a base plate with ports for receiving the wire harness being wrapped and a rotatable ring with ports adapted to rotate around an axis through the center of the ports. Furthermore, spring-loaded receptacles are provided to accommodate the wire harness, wherein the receptacles are mounted to the movable ring. The openings of the receptacles can be aligned with the ports for receiving the wire harness. If the ring is rotated, the receptacles rotate around the wire harness due to the rotating ring. The aid further comprises a coupling for coupling the aid to a rotatable fixture or a manipulator such as a robot arm.

[0007] Using the above aid, the flag of the adhesive tape that has been wrapped around the wire harness can be closed by rotating the receptacles around the wire harness such that the free end of the tape is also adhered to the wire harness, thereby closing the flag. The coupling allows the aid to be coupled to a robot. Thus, the aid can be automatically manipulated after the tape applicator has finished the wrapping job and has been removed. Because the present disclosure provides a unique tool for securing the flag of an adhesive tape, there is no necessity to redesign the automatic tape applicator in order to provide the required functionality, which increases the complexity and overall bulk of the tape applicator.

[0008] When the auxiliary tool is positioned on the wire harness, the rotatable ring and the mouth of the base plate can be placed on the wire harness and the tool can be further pressed against the wire harness without significantly deforming it. This allows the wire harness to be well positioned in the center of the mouth and the receptacle. When the auxiliary tool is further forced against the wire harness, the receptacle will move against the spring force. Thus, the central axis of the wire harness can be aligned with the center of the mouth. Thereafter, the rotatable ring can be rotated and the receptacle will rotate around the wire harness, thereby closing the flag.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the auxiliary tool can not comprise a tape roll, a cutting device or a tape roll holder. This means that such an auxiliary tool is exclusively used for closing a flag and not for wrapping tape around a wire harness.

[0010] According to a further embodiment, the receptacle can comprise a single continuous pressing surface. Such a surface without intermediate gaps or slits allows for a smooth pressing of the flag against the wire harness when the rotatable ring is rotated.

[0011] According to a further embodiment, the pressing surface can be concavely curved and extend at least 90°, at least 120° or at least 180° around a center of the concavity. The receptacle can have a generally semicircular cross section. Thereby, the wire harness is well received in the receptacle and the flag can be smoothly applied to the wire harness.

[0012] According to a further embodiment, the receptacle is displaceably mounted on two parallel guide rods to enable a smooth linear movement of the receptacle when the auxiliary tool is pressed against the wire harness.

[0013] According to a further embodiment, the coupling of the auxiliary tool is configured as a simple adapter plate which can be mounted to a robot arm. According to a further embodiment, the coupling is configured as a quick-fit coupling which allows for a quick release of the auxiliary tool from the robot arm for maintenance or replacement.

[0014] According to a further embodiment, the coupling can comprise a male part and a female part and a locking element for interlocking the parts, such as a screw, bolt or the like.

[0015] According to a further embodiment, the coupling can comprise a first part which is displaceably inserted into a second part. In this embodiment, the two parts can be interlocked by means of a form lock. In order to fix the tool at the robot arm or to release the tool from the robot arm, it is only necessary to apply or remove a locking element which interconnects the two parts.

[0016] According to a further embodiment, the first part can have a protrusion which is V-shaped when viewed from above and has a dovetail-like cross section. Such a design provides a form lock and a secure connection between the first and second part. By means of the V-shaped protrusion, an alignment of the two parts is achieved when the protrusion is fully inserted into the complementary counter part.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, the protrusion can have a curved circumferential wall. This is advantageous if the coupling piece has an overall disc shape.

[0018] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided comprising an auxiliary tool and a tape application head as described above, both mounted to a rotatable fixture having a rotation axis, wherein the longitudinal axis of the tape application head and the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary tool are oriented at the same angle relative to the rotation axis. When such a system is mounted to a robot arm, only the rotation of the rotatable fixture is required to bring the tape application head on the one hand and the auxiliary tool on the other hand into an operating position. Thereby, a very fast tool change can be provided.

[0019] According to a further embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the tape application head and the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary tool are oriented at an angle of 120° as seen along the rotation axis of the rotatable fixture. This helps to reduce the time required for changing the tool. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] Exemplary embodiments and functions of the present disclosure are described herein in conjunction with the appended drawings, of which:

[0021] Figure 1 is a side view of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, comprising an auxiliary tool and a tape application head mounted to a rotatable fixture;

[0022] Figure 2 and Figure 3 is a perspective view of an auxiliary tool according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 4 is a perspective view of Figure 2 with an open auxiliary tool housing;

[0024] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of Figure 4 ;

[0025] Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5 ;

[0026] Figure 7 is a diagram of Figure 6 with a wire harness received in the receptacle;

[0027] Figure 8 is a perspective view of two components of a coupling piece; and

[0028] Figure 9 is a side view of Figure 8 ; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Figures 1 to 4 An auxiliary tool 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown for applying adhesive tape 17 ( Figure 6 and 7 The free end F of the wire harness is fixed to the wire harness W, such as a wire wire harness. The auxiliary tool 10 includes a base plate 12 with an opening 14 for receiving the wire harness W. The opening 14 has a longitudinal axis A3 ( Figure 1 A wide slit shape extends to the outer edge of the substrate 12, and the closed end of the slit has a semi-circular shape. The rotatable ring 16 is adapted to wrap around the center C of the opening 14. Figure 6 The rotatable ring 16 also includes an opening 15 having the shape of an opening 14 on a substrate 12, and the rotatable ring 16 is rotated by means of a motor 11. Figure 4 The motor 11 rotates about center C, causing the bevel drive gear 40, which meshes with further gears 42, 44 and 46, to rotate the rotatable ring 16 with a toothed outer circumference.

[0030] To support and receive the wound wire harness W in the openings 14 and 15, an integral spring-loaded receiver 30 is provided, the receiver 30 having an opening on its circumference to receive the wire harness W. The opening of the receiver 30 is aligned with the opening 15 of the rotatable ring 16. The receiver 30 can be linearly displaced along corresponding rods 31 and 33 mounted on the rotatable ring 16 near two opposite ends of the opening 15. The rods 31 and 33 are arranged parallel to each other, and the receiver 30 is spring-loaded by means of two springs S1 and S2 surrounding the rods 31 and 33. Thus, if the auxiliary tool 10 is positioned on the wire harness W ( Figure 6 ) and forced to rest against the wire harness ( Figure 7 If the force of the springs S1 and S2 is applied, the seat 30 will be pushed against the force of the springs S1 and S2 until the center of the wire harness W is located at the center C of the openings 14 and 15.

[0031] As shown, the receiver 30 includes a single, continuous pressing surface 32 without gaps or slits. In the disclosed embodiment, the pressing surface 32 is concave and curved, and has a generally semi-circular cross-section. Thus, the pressing surface 32 generally extends 180° about its center of curvature. Figure 5 The corners of the housing 30 are rounded to prevent damage to the tape already wrapped around the wire harness W.

[0032] In order to install auxiliary tool 10 into such as robot 52 ( Figure 1 On a control mechanism such as a ), a connecting part 13 is provided at the upper end of the auxiliary tool 10. It is generally disc-shaped and... Figure 8 and 9More details are shown in the figures. The coupling of the disclosed embodiments is configured as a quick-fit coupling and comprises a male part 56 and a female part 54, which are generally disc-shaped and have a similar diameter. The female part 54 is fixed to the auxiliary tool 10 by means of screws or bolts, the male part 56 of the coupling 13 is fixed to the robot 52 Figure 1 ) or the rotatable fixture 50.

[0033] In order to connect the two parts 54 and 56, the male part 56 comprises a protrusion 58, which is V-shaped in a top view and has a dovetail cross-section (see Figure 9 ). The peripheral wall 59 of the protrusion 58 is curved and the protrusion 28 can be slidably inserted into a complementary receiving slot 60 of the female part 54.

[0034] When the protrusion 58 of the male part 56 is fully inserted into the slot 60 of the female part 54, a fixing screw (not shown) can be inserted into a radial hole 62 in the female part 54 and can be screwed into a threaded portion 64 in the protrusion 58 of the male part 56 Figure 8 ). When the two parts 54 and 56 are connected to each other in this way, the coupling has an overall disc-like outer contour (see Figures 2-4 ).

[0035] Figure 1 A system comprising an auxiliary tool 10 mounted to a rotatable fixture 50 having a rotation axis Al by means of a coupling 13 is depicted. Furthermore, a tape application head 60 is mounted to the rotatable fixture 50, wherein a longitudinal axis A2 of the tape application head 60 and a longitudinal axis A3 of the auxiliary tool 10 can be oriented at the same angle with respect to the rotation axis Al. As seen along the rotation axis Al, the longitudinal axis A2 of the tape application head 60 and the longitudinal axis A3 of the auxiliary tool 10 can be oriented at an angle of 120°. Advantageously, the coupling 13' connecting the tape application head 60 and the rotatable fixture 50 can be similar or identical to the above described coupling 13. In Figure 1 embodiments, the auxiliary tool 10 and the tape application head 60 are mounted to the rotatable fixture 50 via couplings 13 and 13', the rotatable fixture 50 is configured to be rotated by a robot 52.

[0036] After the adhesive tape 17 has been wrapped around the wire harness W by means of the tape application head 60, the rotatable fixture 50 will be rotated around the axis Al, for example, by about 120°. This has the effect that the mouth portions 14 and 15 of the auxiliary tool 10 will be moved to the previous position of the tape application head 60. Then, the robot 52 will move the auxiliary tool 10 towards the wire harness W in order to place the mouth portions 14 and 15 on the wire harness W or, in other words, to introduce the wire harness W into the mouth portions 14 and 15 Figure 6). At a certain point in time, the wire bundle wrapped with the tape 17 but leaving the flag F will contact the receptacle 30. The movement of the auxiliary tool 10 will continue until the centers of the mouth parts 14 and 15 coincide with the center of the wire bundle Figure 7

[0037] Thereafter, the motor 11 will be activated to rotate the gears 40-46 and thus the rotatable ring 16 (in the clockwise direction in Figure 7 . As a result, the flag F will be pressed against the wire bundle W by means of the rotating receptacle 30. Thereby, the flag is closed and the auxiliary tool 10 can be removed relative the wire bundle.

[0038] As shown, the disclosed embodiment of the auxiliary tool 10 is compact and has an overall cylindrical shape. The elements of the auxiliary tool 10 are housed in a housing with an openable lid 19.​

Claims

1. An auxiliary tool (10) for fixing a free end of an adhesive tape wound around a wire harness (W), the tool (10) comprising: - a base plate (12) with a mouth (14) for receiving the wire harness being wound, - a rotatable ring (16) with a mouth (15) and adapted to rotate around an axis of rotation extending through the center (C) of the mouth (14) of the base plate (12) and the mouth (15) of the rotatable ring (16), and - a spring-loaded receptacle (30) for receiving the wire harness (W), wherein the receptacle (30) is mounted to the rotatable ring (16), wherein the receptacle (30) comprises a single continuous pressing surface (32); and - a coupling (13) for connecting the tool (10) to a rotatable fixture (50).

2. The aid according to claim 1, characterized in that There is no tape roll or cutting device.

3. The aid according to claim 2, characterized in that The pressing surface (32) is concavely curved and extends around a center of curvature by at least 90°, at least 120° or at least 180°.

4. The aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The receptacle (30) has an overall semicircular cross section.

5. The aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The receptacle (30) is displaceably mounted to two parallel guide rods (31, 33).

6. The aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The coupling (13) is configured as a quick-fit coupling.

7. The aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The coupling (13) comprises a male part (56) and a female part (54) and a locking element for interlocking the parts.

8. The aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The coupling (13) comprises a first part (56) displaceably inserted into a second part (54).

9. The aid according to claim 8, characterized in that The first part (56) has a protrusion (58) which is V-shaped in plan view and has a dovetail cross section.

10. The aid according to claim 9, characterized in that The protrusion (58) has a curved circumferential wall (59).

11. A system comprising an auxiliary tool (10) according to any one of the preceding claims and a tape application head (60), both mounted to a movable fixture (50) having a rotational axis (Al), wherein, The longitudinal axis (A2) of the tape application head (60) and the longitudinal axis (A3) of the auxiliary tool (10) are oriented at the same angle with respect to the axis of rotation (Al).

12. The system of claim 11, wherein, The longitudinal axis (A2) of the tape application head (60) and the longitudinal axis (A3) of the auxiliary tool (10) are oriented at an angle of 120° as seen along the axis of rotation (Al).

13. The system of claim 11 or 12, wherein, One / two of the tape application head (60) and / or the auxiliary tool (10) is / are provided with a coupling configured as a quick-fit coupling.

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