Pitch modification for electrical wiring machines

Abstract

A gripper system (100) for an electrical wiring machine (M) is proposed, the gripper system (100) comprising a lower gripper (110) and an upper gripper (120), where the lower gripper (110) and the upper gripper (120) interact with each other to grip wires (W) of a wire assembly (WA) therebetween, so as to change the pitch of the wires (W) of the wire assembly (WA) from a feed pitch (FP) to a predetermined collection pitch (CP). A pitch modification station (2000), an electrical wiring machine (M) and a method of conditioning an electrical wiring machine are also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electrical wiring machines. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of pitch modification for changing the pitch of a wire assembly to be connected to a connector in an electrical wiring machine. Background Art

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of electrical wiring machines. These machines generally organize a disorderly group of cables into a conductor assembly formed into a strip with a defined pitch, i.e. the distance between a conductor and its adjacent conductors, and these machines electrically connect such a conductor assembly to a fitting connector, for example by crimping or welding.

[0003] Today, many connectors meet international standards, for example in terms of size and pitch, i.e. the distance between an electrical connection and the next, in order to eliminate mating and installation problems, improve the quality of the connection, reduce the installation space and increase compatibility with different systems. An example of such a connector is the RAST connector, which is mainly used in the household appliance market, heating technology and other industrial applications.

[0004] Typically, each electrical wiring machine is adapted to prepare and electrically connect a wire assembly for a specific connector. In particular, each wiring machine is configured to prepare wire assemblies having a determined pitch that is compatible with the pitch of the connector to which it must be electrically connected. Typically, each machine is adapted for a single specific connector.

[0005] In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to be able to adapt an electrical wiring machine to different connectors suitable for receiving wire assemblies having different pitches.

[0006] The present invention faces this problem. Summary of the invention

[0007] The present invention is based on the concept of providing a gripper system for an electrical wiring machine, the gripper system being configured to change the pitch of wires of a wire assembly from a supply pitch to a predetermined collection pitch.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a clamp system for an electrical wiring machine is provided, the clamp system comprising a lower clamp and an upper clamp, wherein the lower clamp and the upper clamp interact with each other to clamp the wires of a wire assembly between the lower clamp and the upper clamp so as to change the pitch of the wires of the wire assembly from a supply pitch to a predetermined collection pitch. In this way, if the electrical wiring machine prepares a wire assembly with a supply pitch, the same wire assembly can be used to be wired to a connector having a connector terminal at a distance equal to the supply pitch, and the same wire assembly can also be wired to a different connector having a connector terminal at a predetermined distance equal to the collection pitch.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the collection spacing is smaller than the supply spacing, for example, the collection spacing is 1.5 mm and / or the supply spacing is 2.5 mm. The present invention is not limited to these values, and both the supply spacing and the collection spacing can have any suitable value. The supply spacing can also be smaller than the collection spacing.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the lower clamp includes a lower clamp box surrounding the lower clamp structure, and the upper clamp includes an upper clamp box surrounding the upper clamp structure. The lower clamp structure and the upper clamp structure allow the clamp system to clamp the wires of the wire assembly. The upper clamp box accommodates the upper clamp structure, supports and protects the upper clamp structure. The lower clamp box accommodates the lower clamp structure, supports and protects the lower clamp structure.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the lower clamp structure comprises a plurality of vertical plates, and the upper clamp structure comprises a plurality of vertical plates, wherein the vertical plates of the lower clamp structure face the corresponding vertical plates of the upper clamp structure, so that the wire of the conductor assembly is captured and maintained between the facing vertical plates. In particular, the wire of the conductor assembly is maintained between the facing side surfaces of the facing vertical plates. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, each vertical plate of the lower clamp structure faces the corresponding vertical plate of the upper clamp structure, so that the wire of the conductor assembly is captured and maintained between each pair of facing vertical plates. The vertical plate system is particularly advantageous because the mutual distance between adjacent vertical plates is changed, so that the distance between the wires maintained between the facing vertical plates can be changed and the spacing is therefore changed. In addition, while changing the spacing, the wire of the conductor assembly is easily clamped and maintained in place.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the invention, the mutual distance between the vertical plates of the lower gripper structure and / or the mutual distance between the vertical plates of the upper gripper structure is variable. For example, the mutual distance is variable between a maximum mutual distance corresponding to the supply spacing and a minimum mutual distance corresponding to the collection spacing.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the upper side surface of the vertical plate of the lower clamp structure facing the upper clamp and the lower side surface of the vertical plate of the upper clamp structure facing the lower clamp have a convex profile to match the profile of the wire of the wire assembly captured between them. This helps to clamp and hold the wire between the facing vertical plates.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the invention, the clamp system comprises a stopper for limiting the maximum distance between adjacent vertical plates. For example, the stopper comprises an extension arm that protrudes from a vertical plate and ends with a stopper that engages with another vertical plate (e.g., an adjacent vertical plate).

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, each vertical plate comprises at least two extension arms parallel to the X direction, the at least two extension arms protruding from the shorter sides of the vertical plates and having a length D1 along the X direction, the length D1 corresponding to the maximum possible distance between the centers of two adjacent vertical plates; the extension arms terminate at a stopper, parallel to the Y direction, engaging with the vertical plate in front of it.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the present invention, D1 is equal to the supply spacing.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the lower clamp box surrounding the lower clamp structure and the upper clamp box surrounding the upper clamp structure include a horizontal guide cavity, and the extension arms of the corresponding vertical plates of the lower clamp structure and the upper clamp structure can slide along the X direction in the horizontal guide cavity to correspondingly guide the widening and narrowing of the vertical plates of the lower clamp structure and the upper clamp structure relative to each other.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the lower clamp box surrounding the lower clamp structure is open on the upper side facing the upper clamp structure, and the upper clamp box of the upper clamp structure is open on the lower side facing the lower clamp structure, so as to allow each vertical plate of the lower clamp structure and each corresponding vertical plate of the upper clamp structure to capture and hold the wires of the wire assembly.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the present invention, each vertical plate of the lower clamp structure and the upper clamp structure includes a through hole, which is suitable for receiving a lower rod and an upper rod, respectively, wherein the upper rod and the lower rod allow changing the mutual distance between the centers of two adjacent vertical plates of the lower clamp structure and the upper clamp structure, respectively.

[0020] The invention also relates to a pitch modification station for an electrical wiring machine, the electrical wiring machine comprising a gripper system according to the invention, at least a portion of a conveying track, a comb sliding on the portion of the conveying track to feed the wire assembly to the gripper system and / or collect the wire assembly from the gripper system, and an actuator system configured to actuate the gripper system. The portion of the conveying track receives the comb so that the comb can approach the pitch modification station when the wire assembly is fed at the feed pitch and can leave the pitch modification station when the wire assembly is fed at the collection pitch.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the comb comprises a supply section adapted to receive and carry the wire assembly at a supply pitch and a collection section adapted to receive and carry the wire assembly at a collection pitch. Thus, the comb is advantageously adapted to both supply the wire assembly to the pitch modification station and to collect it from the pitch modification station.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the supply section and the collection section include comb seats. Each comb seat of the comb member has a length equal to the supply spacing and the collection spacing, respectively, and can receive the wires of the wire assembly. The number of comb seats can be equal to or greater than the number of wires in the wire assembly.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the invention, each seat is defined by a pair of adjacent teeth. An elastic spring, such as a helical traction spring, is configured to dynamically adjust the distance between each pair of teeth defining each comb seat. In this way, wires with different cross-sections can be accommodated and retained in the comb seat due to the elasticity of the helical traction spring.

[0024] According to another embodiment of the present invention, adjacent teeth included in the supply section of the comb are at a mutual distance d1 corresponding to the supply pitch, and adjacent teeth included in the collection section of the comb are at a mutual distance d2 corresponding to the collection pitch. Thus, a single comb is suitable for conveying wire assemblies at both the supply pitch and the collection pitch.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the supply section includes a comb seat, and the collection section includes two parallel horizontal plates 430, which can be closed on the wire assembly at a collection interval. In this embodiment, the collection section of the comb uses an alternative solution including two parallel plates to capture and hold the wire assembly at a collection interval during delivery.

[0026] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the actuator system includes at least two actuators, each of which is connected to the lower clamp and the upper clamp respectively; each actuator is suitable for allowing the lower clamp and the upper clamp to move independently along the horizontal direction and / or the vertical direction. The actuator can be, for example, an electric motor. The actuator does not have to be connected to the lower clamp and the upper clamp respectively. For example, an actuator can allow vertical movement of both the lower clamp and the upper clamp, and another actuator can allow their horizontal movement. Alternatively, the actuator can be only one, ensuring that all clamps move, or the actuator can be more than two, and each of them can allow the lower clamp and the upper clamp to move horizontally or vertically separately.

[0027] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the lower clamp structure and the upper clamp structure include a plurality of vertical plates with a variable mutual distance D, wherein each vertical plate of the lower clamp structure and each corresponding vertical plate of the upper clamp structure can capture and hold the wire of the wire assembly.

[0028] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the comb member includes a supply section adapted to receive and carry the wire assembly at a supply pitch and a collecting section adapted to receive and carry the wire assembly at a collecting pitch.

[0029] According to another embodiment of the invention, the supply section and the collection section comprise a comb seat.

[0030] According to another embodiment of the invention, each seat is defined by a pair of adjacent teeth.

[0031] According to another embodiment of the invention, adjacent teeth comprised in the feed section of the comb are at a mutual distance d1 corresponding to the feed pitch, and adjacent teeth comprised in the collection section of the comb are at a mutual distance d2 corresponding to the collection pitch.

[0032] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the supply section includes a comb seat, and the collecting section includes two parallel horizontal plates 430, which can be closed on the wire assembly at a collecting interval.

[0033] According to another embodiment of the invention, the actuator system comprises at least two actuators, each actuator being connected to the lower gripper and the upper gripper, respectively; each actuator being adapted to allow independent movement of the lower gripper and the upper gripper in horizontal and / or vertical directions.

[0034] According to another embodiment of the invention, the actuator system comprises a lower rod and an upper rod respectively received in through holes of the vertical plates, wherein the lower rod and the upper rod allow to change the mutual distance D between the centers of two adjacent vertical plates of the lower and upper clamp structures respectively.

[0035] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the support station includes: horizontal and vertical drive guides for guiding the movement of the lower clamp and the upper clamp of the clamp system along the vertical Z direction and / or the horizontal X direction; an actuator system housing for accommodating the actuator system for driving the clamp system; and a track holder for holding a portion of the conveying track.

[0036] The invention also relates to an electrical wiring machine comprising at least a pitch modification station according to the invention, a preparation station adapted to collect wires to be wired to a connector, for example twenty-one or more wires, and to organize them so as to form a wire assembly in the form of a strip having a supplied pitch.

[0037] The invention also relates to a method for modifying the pitch of a wire assembly from a supply pitch to a collection pitch using the pitch modification station according to the invention. The method allows connecting the wire assembly to different connectors with different distances using existing electrical wiring machines.

[0038] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises the following steps:

[0039] In the preparation station, the wires to be routed to the connector, for example twenty-one wires or more, are collected and organized into a wire assembly having a supply pitch in the form of a tape;

[0040] The wire assembly having the supply pitch is conveyed to the pitch modification station, where the pitch of the wire assembly is modified from the supply pitch to the collection pitch.

[0041] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the following steps:

[0042] The wire assembly having the collection pitch is delivered to the wiring station to be wired to a mounting connector.

[0043] The invention also relates to a method of refurbishing an electrical wiring machine comprising at least a preparation station and a wiring station, the method comprising adding to the machine a spacing modification station according to the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals and / or symbols represent like parts and / or similar and / or corresponding parts of the machine. In the drawings:

[0045] Figure 1A A 3D view of a gripper system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0046] Figure 1B A side view of a gripper system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0047] Figure 2A Shows Figure 1A The comb shown in , comprises a supply section and a collection section.

[0048] Figure 2B Shows Figure 1A A comb element is shown in , wherein a conductor assembly with a supply spacing is carried on a supply section of the comb element.

[0049] Figure 2C Shows Figure 1A The comb-shaped element shown in , wherein the wire assembly with a collecting spacing is carried on the collecting section of the comb-shaped element.

[0050] Figure 3A An upper gripper structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in a feeding position.

[0051] Figure 3B Shows Figure 3A An enlarged set of vertical plates of the upper clamp structure shown in .

[0052] Figure 3C Shows Figure 3B Magnified image of .

[0053] Figure 4A A portion holder structure is shown in a collection position according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 4B Shows Figure 4A An enlarged set of vertical plates of the upper clamp structure shown in .

[0055] Figure 5A A wire assembly with a feed pitch inserted into a feed section of a comb, close to a pitch modification station, is shown.

[0056] Figure 5B The clamp system is shown closed onto a wire assembly.

[0057] Figure 5C The gripper system is shown lifting and separating a wire assembly having a feed pitch from a feed section of a comb.

[0058] Figure 5D A gripper system is shown acting on a wire assembly to change its pitch from a supply pitch to a collection pitch.

[0059] Figure 5E The gripper system is shown moving towards the collecting section of the comb.

[0060] Fig. 5F The gripper system is shown lowering and placing the wire assembly onto the collection section of the comb.

[0061] Figure 5G The gripper system is shown opened to release the wire assembly.

[0062] Figure 5H A wire assembly is shown with a collecting pitch inserted into a collecting section of a comb, which is moved away from a pitch modification station. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] Hereinafter, the present invention is described with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in the following detailed description and shown in the accompanying drawings, but the described embodiments simply illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0064] Further modifications and variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this specification must be considered to include all modifications and / or variations of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

[0065] For simplicity, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0066] Figure 1A A 3D view of a gripper system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. A more detailed description of its components can be found below. Figures 2A to 5H For ease of description, refer to Figure 1A , an orthogonal reference system XYZ is defined. More specifically, the horizontal direction X is defined as the direction along which the comb 400 moves, the vertical direction Z is defined as the direction in which the clamp system 100 closes onto the wire assembly WA, and the direction Y is defined as a direction perpendicular to the first two directions.

[0067] Figure 1B 1 shows a side view of a gripper system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A more detailed description of its components can be found below. Figures 5A to 5H can be found in the description.

[0068] The electrical wiring machine M according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises at least three workstations: a preparation station 1000 (not shown in the figure), a spacing modification station 2000 (e.g. Figure 1A and 1B The pitch modification station 2000 according to the present invention can be added to an existing machine that already includes the preparation station 1000 and the routing station 3000.

[0069] The preparation station 1000 collects at least two or more wires to be wired to the connector 500, for example, twenty-one wires or more, and organizes them into a wire assembly WA with a predetermined supply pitch FP in the form of a strip. The supply pitch FP, i.e., the distance between two adjacent wires of the wire assembly WA along the X direction, can be, for example, 2.5 mm. The wire assembly WA with the supply pitch FP is then placed parallel to the XY plane on the supply section 410 of the comb 400, which is arranged parallel to the Y direction.

[0070] The comb 400 slides on the conveying track 600 along the X direction, so that the wire assembly WA enters the pitch modification station 2000. In the pitch modification station 2000, the pitch of the wire assembly WA is modified from the supply pitch FC to a desired different collection pitch CP. The collection pitch CP, i.e., the distance along the X direction between two adjacent wires W of the wire assembly WA after the intervention of the pitch modification station 2000, can be, for example, 1.5 mm.

[0071] Afterwards, the wire assembly WA having the collecting pitch CP is placed on the collecting section 410 of the comb 400. Thus, the comb 400 slides in the X direction to bring the wire assembly WA to the routing station 3000 to be routed to the connector 500 adapted to receive the wire assembly WA at the collecting pitch CP.

[0072] Figure 2A A comb 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The comb 400 can slide on a conveying track 600 extending parallel to the X direction, and includes a frame 401, a supply section 410 and a collection section 420. The supply section 410 is suitable for receiving and carrying a wire assembly WA at a supply pitch FP, and the collection section 420 is suitable for receiving and carrying a wire assembly WA at a collection pitch CP. Both the supply section 410 and the collection section 420 may include comb seats 412, 422 formed along the sliding direction X. Each comb seat 412, 422 is substantially V-shaped to accommodate corresponding wires forming the wire assembly WA from above. Both the supply section 410 and the collection section 420 may include a plurality of seats 412, 422, each seat 412, 422 being defined by a pair of adjacent teeth 415, 425, for example, twenty-one teeth or more. In the supply section 410, the teeth 415 are placed at a distance d1 from each other corresponding to the supply pitch FP. In the collecting section 420, the teeth 425 (if any) are placed at a distance d2 from each other corresponding to the collecting pitch CP. In the embodiment shown, the distance d1 of the teeth 415 in the supply section 410 is greater than the distance d2 of the teeth 425 in the collecting section 420. This is why the supply pitch FP of the wire assembly before entering the pitch modification station 2000 is greater than the collecting pitch CP of the wire assembly WA after it enters the pitch modification station 2000 in the example shown.

[0073] However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the supply pitch FP of the wire assembly WA may be smaller than the collection pitch CP, and thus d1 may also be smaller than d2.

[0074] Both the supply section 410 and the collection section 420 of the comb 400 may be provided with an elastic spring (not shown in the figure), such as a helical traction spring, which is configured to dynamically adjust the distance between each pair of teeth 415, 425 defining each comb seat 412, 422, thereby dynamically adjusting the width of each comb seat 412, 422. In this way, due to the elasticity of the helical traction spring, wires W having different cross-sections can be accommodated and retained in the comb seats 412, 422 without the risk of deforming and / or damaging the teeth 415, 425.

[0075] In an alternative embodiment, the collecting section 420 of the comb 400 may include two horizontal plates 430 (not shown in the figure), which can be closed on the wire assembly WA along the vertical direction Z at a collecting spacing CP and keep the wire assembly WA stable when the comb 400 moves toward the wiring station 3000.

[0076] Figure 2B Shows Figure 1A The comb element 400 shown in FIG. 4 has a conductor assembly WA with a feed spacing FC carried on a feed section 410 of the comb element 400 .

[0077] Figure 2C Shows Figure 1A The comb member 400 shown in FIG. 4 , wherein the wire assembly WA having a collecting pitch CP is carried on the collecting section 420 of the comb member 400 .

[0078] Figure 3A The upper gripper structure 201 is shown in a feeding position D1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] Figure 1A The gripper system 100 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a lower gripper 110 and an upper gripper 120. The lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120 respectively comprise a lower gripper box 210 and an upper gripper box 220, each of which surrounds a lower gripper structure 201 and an upper gripper structure 202, respectively. Figure 3A An upper clamp structure 202 is shown. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lower clamp structure 201 is identical to the upper clamp structure 202. Therefore, in this case, everything described for the upper clamp structure 202 also applies to the lower clamp structure 201.

[0080] The upper gripper structure 202 comprises a plurality of vertical plates 232 with a variable mutual distance D. Each vertical plate 232 comprises two extension arms 252 parallel to the X direction, which protrude from the shorter sides of the vertical plate 232 and terminate at a stopper 242, i.e. a hook structure, parallel to the Y direction, such as Figure 3B . The length of the extension arm 252 corresponds to the feed pitch FP of the wire assembly WA approaching the gripper system 100. The stopper 242 engages the vertical plate 232 in front of it and ensures that the center of each vertical plate 232 cannot move away from the center of the vertical plate 232 in front of it by a distance greater than D1, which is equal to the feed pitch FP. The number of vertical plates 232 is equal to or greater than the number of wires W in the wire assembly WA.

[0081] Each vertical plate 231, 232 of both the lower clamp structure 201 and the upper clamp structure 202 comprises a through hole 271, 272 adapted to receive respectively a lower rod 310 and an upper rod 320. The lower rod 310 and the upper rod 320 of the actuator system better described below allow to vary the mutual distance D between the centers of two adjacent vertical plates 231, 232 of the lower clamp structure 201 and the upper clamp structure 202, respectively.

[0082] The lower clamp box 210 surrounding the lower clamp structure 201 and the upper clamp box 220 surrounding the upper clamp structure 202 include horizontal guide cavities 221, 222, and the extension arms 251, 252 of the corresponding vertical plates 231, 232 of the lower clamp structure 201 and the upper clamp structure 201 can slide in the horizontal guide cavities 221, 222 along the X direction to guide the vertical plates 231, 232 of the lower clamp structure 201 and the upper clamp structure 202 to widen and narrow relative to each other. The lower clamp box 210 surrounding the lower clamp structure 201 is open on the upper side facing the upper clamp structure 202, and the upper clamp box 220 of the upper clamp structure 202 is open on the lower side facing the lower clamp structure 201.

[0083] In this manner, each vertical plate 231 of the lower gripper structure 201 and each corresponding vertical plate 232 of the upper gripper structure 202 can capture and hold the wire W of the wire assembly WA arriving at the pitch modification station 2000. More specifically, referring to Figure 3A , the first vertical plate 232 on the left side of the upper clamp structure 202 corresponds to the first vertical plate 231 on the left side of the lower clamp structure 201, the second vertical plate corresponds to the second vertical plate, and so on.

[0084] In order to better capture and hold the wire W of the wire assembly WA, the upper surface of the vertical plate 231 of the lower clamp structure 201 and the lower surface of the vertical plate 232 of the upper clamp structure 202 may have a convex profile so as to fit the circular profile of the wire W of the wire assembly WA therebetween. Any other suitable profile may be adopted according to the present invention.

[0085] The upper gripper structure 202 is shown in its wider configuration, i.e., in a configuration in which the center of each vertical plate 232 is a distance D1 from the center of its adjacent vertical plate 232 along the X direction. According to the illustrated embodiment, the upper gripper structure 202 is manufactured so that D1 corresponds to the supply pitch FP of the arriving wire assemblies WA. In this configuration, the upper gripper structure 202 is ready to capture and hold the arriving wire assemblies WA, working in combination with the lower gripper structure 201 in the same configuration.

[0086] In an alternative embodiment, the maximum distance D1 between the centers of two adjacent vertical plates 231 , 232 along the X direction may also be equal to or greater than the supply pitch FP.

[0087] Figure 3B Shows Figure 3A An enlarged set of vertical plates 232 of the upper holder structure 202 is shown in FIG.

[0088] Figure 3C Shows Figure 3B More specifically, Figure 3C Shows Figure 3B The extending arms 252 and the stoppers 242 of a set of vertical plates 232 are shown in FIG.

[0089] Figure 4A The upper gripper structure 202 is shown in a collection position according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0090] Figure 4B Shows Figure 4A An enlarged set of vertical plates of the upper clamp structure shown in .

[0091] In this case, the upper clamp structure 202 is shown in its narrower configuration, i.e., in a configuration in which the center of each vertical plate 232 is a distance D2 from the center of its adjacent vertical plate 232 in the X direction. According to the illustrated embodiment, the upper clamp structure 202 is made so that D2 corresponds to the collection pitch CP of the wire assemblies WA. In this configuration, the upper clamp structure 202 is ready to capture and hold the wire assemblies WA at the collection pitch, working in combination with the lower clamp structure 201 in the same configuration. D2 is the smaller distance that the centers of the vertical plates 231, 232 of the lower clamp structure 201 and the upper clamp structure 202 can have in the X direction because when at such a distance, the vertical plates 231, 232 are in contact with each other.

[0092] Figure 5A A wire assembly WA with a supply pitch FC is shown inserted into the supply section 410 of the comb 400, close to the pitch modification station 2000. The wire assembly WA, comprising, for example, twenty-one wires, has been prepared in the form of a wire strip by the preparation station 1000, wherein the wires are at a distance corresponding to the supply pitch FC, for example 2.5 mm. The comb 400 slides on the conveying track 600 in the X direction.

[0093] The pitch modification station 2000 comprises a portion of a conveyor track 600 , the above-mentioned comb 400 , a gripper system 100 , an actuator system 300 and a support system 700 .

[0094] The portion of the conveying track 600 included in the pitch modification station 2000 is implemented to simultaneously allow the pitch modification station 2000 to be included in an existing electrical wiring machine M and to allow the conveying of the comb 400 .

[0095] The gripper system 100 includes a lower gripper 110 and an upper gripper 120. The upper gripper 120 faces the lower gripper 120 in the Z direction. Both the lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120 are mounted on the support system 700 so that they can slide in the Z direction, move away from each other and approach each other.

[0096] When the comb 400 approaches the pitch modification station 2000, the clamp system 100 is opened, more specifically, the lower clamp 110 is below the XY plane of the wire assembly WA along the Z direction, and the upper clamp 120 is above the plane of the XY plane of the wire assembly WA along the Z direction. In this way, when the comb 400 reaches the pitch modification station 2000, the cable assembly CA is located between the lower clamp 110 and the upper clamp 120 along the Z direction.

[0097] The actuator system 300 includes at least two actuators 331, 332, each of which is respectively connected to the lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120. Each actuator 331, 332 allows independent movement of the lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120 along the horizontal direction X and / or the vertical direction Z.

[0098] The support station 700 includes horizontal and vertical drive guides 730 to guide the movement of the lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120 of the gripper system 100 along the vertical Z and / or horizontal X directions. The support system 700 also includes an actuator system housing 740 to accommodate at least two actuators 331, 332 of the actuator system 300 that drives the gripper system 100.

[0099] Figure 5B The clamp system 100 is shown closed onto the conductor assembly WA. The lower clamp 110 and the upper clamp 120 slide toward each other in the Z direction and toward the conductor assembly, respectively, so that they close onto the conductor assembly WA. More specifically, each pair of corresponding vertical plates 231, 232 closes around the conductor of the conductor assembly WA to capture and hold it. Each pair of vertical plates 231, 232 is arranged to be spaced a distance D1 from the next pair of vertical plates along the X direction, and the distance D1 corresponds to the supply pitch FP of the conductor assembly WA approaching the pitch modification station 2000.

[0100] Figure 5C The gripper system 100 is shown, which lifts and separates the wire assembly WA having the supply pitch FC from the supply section 410 of the comb 400. At this time, both the lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120 holding the wire assembly WA move upward together along the Z direction, thereby releasing the wire assembly WA from the comb 400.

[0101] Figure 5D The clamp system acting on the wire assembly WA to change its pitch from the supply pitch to the desired collection pitch is shown. At this time, the actuator system 310 simultaneously moves the vertical plates 231, 232 of the lower clamp structure 201 and the upper clamp structure 202 of the lower clamp 110 and the upper clamp 120, respectively. In this way, the distance D1 between the pair of vertical plates 231, 232 is changed to D2, that is, changed to a distance corresponding to the desired collection pitch CP of the wire assembly WA. The wire assembly CA now has the desired collection pitch CP.

[0102] Figure 5E The gripper system 100 is shown moved towards the collecting section of the comb 400 . The gripper system 100 , acted upon by the actuator system 300 , is now moved in the X direction so that the wire assembly WA is now located above the collecting section 420 of the comb 400 .

[0103] Fig. 5F The gripper system 100 is shown lowered and places the wire assembly WA on the collecting section 420 of the comb 400. Now, the gripper system 100, acted upon by the actuator system 300, moves in the vertical Z direction so that the wire assembly WA is placed in the collecting section 420 of the comb 400.

[0104] Figure 5G The gripper system 100 is shown opened to release the wire assembly WA. Finally, the gripper system 100 is opened again to release the wire assembly WA and leave it in the collecting section of the comb 400.

[0105] Figure 5H A wire assembly WA having a collection pitch CP is shown inserted into the collection section 420 of the comb 400, moving away from the pitch modification station 2000. Now, the wire assembly WA having the desired collection pitch CP can be brought by the comb 400 to the routing station 4000, where the wire assembly WA can be connected to the assembly connector 500.

[0106] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the present invention in accordance with the teachings above and in the appended claims without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0107] For example, the number of wires forming the wire assembly can vary. In addition, the supply pitch need not be 2.5 mm, and the collection pitch need not be 1.5 mm. More specifically, the supply pitch and the collection pitch can have any suitable and desired value, and can also result in the supply pitch being less than the collection pitch.

[0108] In addition, for example, the actuator can be, for example, an electric motor or any other suitable motor. The actuator does not have to be connected to the lower and upper clamps, respectively. For example, an actuator can allow vertical movement of both the lower and upper clamps, and another actuator can allow their horizontal movement. Alternatively, the actuator can be only one, ensuring that all clamps move, or the actuator can be more than two, and each of them can allow the lower and upper clamps to move horizontally or vertically separately.

[0109] Finally, those aspects that are considered known by those skilled in the art have not been described in order to avoid unnecessarily over-obscuring the description of the invention.

[0110] Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but is only limited by the scope of protection of the accompanying claims.

[0111] Reference 100 Gripper System

[0112] 110 Lower clamp

[0113] 120 upper clamp

[0114] 201 lower clamp structure 202 upper clamp structure 210 lower clamp box

[0115] 220 Upper holder box

[0116] 221, 222 guide cavity

[0117] 231, 232 vertical board

[0118] 241, 242 stopper

[0119] 251, 252 extension arm

[0120] 271, 272 through holes

[0121] 300 Actuator System

[0122] 310 downswing

[0123] 320 Backswing

[0124] 331, 332 actuator

[0125] 400 Comb pieces

[0126] 401 Comb Frame

[0127] 410 Supply section

[0128] 420 Collection Section

[0129] 412, 422 comb seat

[0130] 415, 425 teeth

[0131] 430 horizontal plate

[0132] 500 Connectors

[0133] 501 connection terminal

[0134] 600 conveyor track

[0135] 700 support system

[0136] 730 drive guide

[0137] 740 Actuator System Housing 1000 Preparation Station

[0138] 2000 Pitch Modification Station

[0139] 3000 Wiring Station 4000

[0140] W Wire

[0141] WA wire assembly

[0142] FP supply spacing

[0143] CP collection spacing

[0144] M Electrical Wiring Machine

Claims

1. A gripper system (100) for an electrical wiring machine (M), the gripper system (100) comprising a lower gripper (110) and an upper gripper (120), wherein: The lower clamp (110) and the upper clamp (120) interact with each other to clamp the wires (W) of the wire assembly (WA) located therebetween so as to change the pitch of the wires (W) of the wire assembly (WA) from a supply pitch (FP) to a predetermined collection pitch (CP).

2. The gripper system (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The collecting pitch (CP) is smaller than the supply pitch (FP), for example, the collecting pitch (CP) is 1.5 mm and / or the supply pitch (FP) is 2.5 mm.

3. The gripper system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The lower clamper (110) includes a lower clamper box (210) accommodating a lower clamping structure (201), and the upper clamper (120) includes an upper clamper box (220) accommodating an upper clamping structure (202).

4. The gripper system (100) according to claim 3, wherein: The lower clamp structure (201) includes a plurality of vertical plates (231), and the upper clamp structure (202) includes a plurality of vertical plates (232), wherein the vertical plates (231) of the lower clamp structure (201) face the corresponding vertical plates (232) of the upper clamp structure so as to capture and hold the wire (W) of the wire assembly (WA) between the facing vertical plates (231, 232), for example, each vertical plate (231) of the lower clamp structure (201) faces the corresponding vertical plate (232) of the upper clamp structure (202) so as to capture and hold the wire (W) of the wire assembly (WA) between each pair of facing vertical plates (231, 232).

5. The gripper system (100) according to claim 4, wherein: The mutual distance (D) between the vertical plates (231) of the lower holder structure (201) and / or the mutual distance (D) between the vertical plates (232) of the upper holder structure (202) are variable.

6. The gripper system (100) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The upper surface of the vertical plate (231) of the lower clamp structure (201) facing the upper clamp structure (202) and the lower surface of the vertical plate (232) of the upper clamp structure (202) facing the lower clamp structure (201) have a convex profile so as to match the profile of the wire (W) of the wire assembly (WA) captured therebetween.

7. The gripper system (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, comprising stop means for limiting the maximum distance (D1) between adjacent vertical plates.

8. The gripper system (100) according to claim 7, wherein: The stop means comprises an extension arm (251, 252) which protrudes from a vertical plate (231, 232) and ends in a stopper (251, 252) which engages with another vertical plate (231, 232), for example an adjacent vertical plate (231, 232).

9. The gripper system (100) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: The maximum distance (D1) is equal to the supply pitch (FP), for example, the length of the extension arm (251, 252) is equal to the supply pitch (FP).

10. The gripper system (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein: Each vertical plate (231, 232) includes a through hole (271, 272) for accommodating a rod (310, 320), wherein the rod (310, 320) is configured to actuate movement of the vertical plates (231, 232) so as to change the mutual distance between adjacent vertical plates (231, 232).

11. A spacing modification station (2000) for an electrical wiring machine (M), the electrical wiring machine (M) comprising: A gripper system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10; at least a portion of a conveyor track (600); a comb (400) that slides on a portion of the conveyor track (600) to feed the wire assembly (WA) to the gripper system (100) and / or collect the wire assembly (WA) from the gripper system (100); and an actuator system (300) configured to actuate the gripper system (100).

12. The spacing modification station (2000) according to claim 11, wherein: The comb member (400) comprises a supply section (410) and a collection section (420), wherein the supply section (410) is adapted to receive and carry the wire assembly (WA) at the supply pitch (FP), and the collection section (420) is adapted to receive and carry the wire assembly (WA) at the collection pitch (CP).

13. The spacing modification station (2000) according to claim 12, wherein: The supply section (410) and the collection section (420) include comb seats (412, 422), wherein each comb seat (412, 422) is defined by a pair of adjacent teeth (415, 425).

14. The spacing modification station (2000) according to claim 13, wherein: Adjacent teeth (415) of the supply section (410) are at a mutual distance (d1) corresponding to the supply pitch (FP), and adjacent teeth (425) of the collection section (420) are at a mutual distance (d2) corresponding to the collection pitch (CP).

15. The spacing modification station (2000) according to claim 12, wherein: The supply section (410) includes a comb seat (412, 422), and the collection section (420) includes two parallel horizontal plates (430), which can be folded on the wire assembly (WA) having the collection spacing (CP) so as to hold the wire assembly (WA).

16. The pitch modification station (2000) according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein: The actuator system (300) comprises at least two actuators (330, 340), wherein the actuators (330, 340) are adapted to allow the lower clamp (110) and the upper clamp (120) to move independently along the horizontal direction (X) and / or the vertical direction (Z).

17. A spacing modification station (2000) according to any one of claims 11 to 16 as appended to claim 10, wherein: The actuator system (300) is configured to actuate the rods (310, 320).

18. An electrical wiring machine (M) comprising at least a gripper system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 or a spacing modification station (2000) according to any one of claims 11 to 17, and a preparation station (1000), wherein The preparation station (1000) is configured to collect wires (W) to be routed to the connector (500) and organize them to form a tape-form wire assembly (WA) having the supply pitch (FP), for example a tape-form wire assembly (WA) having twenty-one or more wires.

19. Use of a gripper system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 or a spacing modification station (2000) according to any one of claims 11 to 17 for modifying the spacing (P) of a conductor assembly (WA) from a supply spacing (FP) to a collection spacing (CP).

20. A method for refurbishing an electrical wiring machine (M), the electrical wiring machine (M) comprising at least a preparation station (1000) and a wiring station (4000), the method comprising: A gripper system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 or a spacing modification station (2000) according to any one of claims 11 to 17 is added to the machine (M).

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