Apparatus for conveying electric wire and method for manufacturing electric wire

Abstract

An apparatus (100) for transferring an electric wire to which an outer sleeve (S) is attached includes a front chuck (10) and a rear chuck (20) configured to grip the electric wire W, and a sleeve chuck (30) configured to grip the outer sleeve (S). The front chuck (10) is opened in a state where the front chuck (10) and the rear chuck (20) sandwich the electric wire (W). The sleeve chuck (30) clamps the outer sleeve S and slides the outer sleeve S to a predetermined position on the distal end side of the electric wire. The front chuck (10) then grips the wire again and transfers the wire to the next step.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for conveying electric wires, the device being arranged in a device for crimping an outer sleeve passing through the outer periphery of the electric wires, and also relates to a method for manufacturing the electric wires. Background Art

[0002] When a terminal is attached to an end of a shielded electric wire, a shielded terminal obtained by combining an inner terminal and an outer terminal is used. Among such shielded terminals, there is a type in which a barrel of the terminal is crimped and attached to the electric wire by an applicator (also referred to as a terminal crimping unit). Patent document 1 discloses a technology related to an apparatus for crimping such a shielded terminal to an electric wire.

[0003] When this type of shield terminal is attached to the end of the electric wire by an automatic machine, the outer sleeve can be crimped and attached to the outer periphery of the electric wire. In a state where the outer sleeve passes loosely through the outer periphery of the electric wire, the outer sleeve is conveyed from the previous step to the next crimping step by the automatic machine. Therefore, in the crimping step, it is necessary to position the outer sleeve in a state where it passes loosely through the outer periphery of the electric wire at a predetermined position and crimp the outer sleeve onto the electric wire.

[0004] Reference List

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent document 1: JP3456422B2 Summary of the invention

[0007] Technical issues

[0008] However, since the outer sleeve passes loosely over the circumference of the wire, when the wire is fed forward, the outer sleeve may slide and move relative to the rear side of the wire due to acceleration, and in the crimping step, the outer sleeve cannot be crimped at a desired position, and the outer sleeve needs to be easily positioned.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for conveying electric wires and a method for manufacturing electric wires, which can easily position an outer sleeve.

[0010] Solution to the problem

[0011] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an apparatus for conveying an electric wire and a method for manufacturing an electric wire according to the present invention have the following features.

[0012] According to an illustrative aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for conveying an electric wire to which an outer sleeve is attached includes: a front chuck and a rear chuck configured to clamp the electric wire conveyed from a previous step; and a sleeve chuck configured to clamp the outer sleeve. The front chuck is opened from a state where the electric wire is clamped by the front chuck and the rear chuck. The sleeve chuck clamps the outer sleeve and slides the outer sleeve to a predetermined position on the distal end side of the electric wire. Then, the front chuck clamps the electric wire again and conveys the electric wire to the next step.

[0013] According to another illustrative aspect of the present disclosure, a method for manufacturing an electric wire includes: clamping an electric wire attached with an outer sleeve by a front chuck and a rear chuck; clamping the outer sleeve by the sleeve chuck; opening the front chuck from a state of clamping the electric wire together with the rear chuck, clamping the outer sleeve by the sleeve chuck and sliding the outer sleeve to a predetermined position on the distal end side of the electric wire, and then clamping the electric wire again by the front chuck; conveying the electric wire to an applicator, the applicator including a guide space for guiding the distal end portion of the electric wire, a positioning portion for positioning the outer sleeve, and a crimping portion for crimping the outer sleeve to the electric wire; and inserting the distal end portion of the electric wire into the guide space, and crimping the outer sleeve to the electric wire by the crimping portion.

[0014] Advantageous Effects of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, the electric wire can be conveyed even in a state where the outer sleeve is not crimped, avoiding a situation where the outer sleeve moves from a predetermined crimping position to the rear end side when the electric wire is conveyed forward.

[0016] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention can be clarified by reading the following mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiment") described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing a state in which an electric wire clamped by a feeding chuck is lifted by a front chuck and a rear chuck in a conveying apparatus according to an embodiment;

[0018] Figure 2 is a schematic side view showing a state in which an outer sleeve is clamped by a sleeve chuck in a transfer apparatus according to an embodiment;

[0019] Figure 3 is a schematic side view showing a state in which an outer sleeve clamped in the transfer apparatus according to the embodiment is moved forward by a sleeve chuck;

[0020] Figure 4 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the electric wires are again held by the front chuck and the rear chuck in the conveying apparatus according to the embodiment;

[0021] Figure 5is a schematic side view showing a state in which the electric wires clamped by the front chuck and the rear chuck are to be returned to the conveying chuck in the conveying apparatus according to the embodiment;

[0022] Figure 6 is a schematic side view showing a state before an electric wire to which an outer sleeve is attached is inserted into a crimp applier by a conveying chuck in a conveying device according to an embodiment;

[0023] Figure 7 is a schematic side view showing a state in which an electric wire to which an outer sleeve is attached is inserted into a crimp applicator by a conveying device;

[0024] Figure 8 It is shown Figure 7 an enlarged view of portion A in FIG. 1 ; and

[0025] Fig. 9 1 is a schematic side view showing a state where the outer sleeve is crimped. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the electric wire clamped by the conveying chuck is lifted by the front chuck and the rear chuck in the conveying device 100 according to the present embodiment, Figure 2 is a schematic side view showing a state in which an outer sleeve is clamped by a sleeve chuck in the transfer device 100 according to the present embodiment, Figure 3 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the outer sleeve clamped in the transfer device 100 according to the present embodiment is moved forward by the sleeve chuck, Figure 4 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the electric wires are again held by the front chuck and the rear chuck in the conveying device 100 according to the present embodiment, Figure 5 1 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the electric wires clamped by the front chuck and the rear chuck are to be returned to the feed chuck in the conveying apparatus 100 according to the embodiment.

[0028] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the device 100 for conveying electric wires according to the present embodiment is a device for conveying electric wires W having an outer sleeve S pre-loosely passed through the outer periphery of the electric wires W. The electric wires W are used for, for example, a wire harness. The conveying device 100 includes a front chuck 10 and a rear chuck 20, which clamp and lift the electric wires W conveyed by a conveying chuck 1. The conveying chuck 1 is a chuck for conveying the electric wires W to be processed between a plurality of processing devices including the conveying device 100. Therefore, each processing device clamps the electric wires W conveyed by the conveying chuck 1 using the chuck of each device, and when the electric wires W are processed, the electric wires W are returned to the conveying chuck 1 again.

[0029] The front chuck 10 includes a chuck portion 11 that opens and closes at 180°, and a lifting mechanism 12 that lifts and lowers the chuck portion 11. The rear chuck 20 includes a chuck portion 21 that opens and closes in parallel, and a lifting mechanism 22 that lifts and lowers the chuck portion 21. The front chuck 10 clamps the distal end side of the wire near the end of the wire W, and the rear chuck 20 clamps the wire W at a rear position of the front chuck 10 (on the side opposite to the distal end side of the wire). The types of the chuck portions 11 and 21 of the front chuck 10 and the rear chuck 20 can be freely selected as long as the chuck portions 11 and 21 do not interfere with other components. For example, the chuck portion 11 of the front chuck 10 may be a chuck portion of a parallel opening and closing type, and the chuck portion 21 of the rear chuck 20 may be a chuck portion of a 180° opening and closing type.

[0030] like Figure 2 As shown, the transfer device 100 includes a sleeve chuck 30, which clamps the outer sleeve S that has passed through the outer periphery of the wire W in advance in the previous step. Figure 3 As shown, when the rear chuck 20 clamps the wire W, the front chuck 10 is opened, the sleeve chuck 30 clamps the outer sleeve S without interfering with the opened front chuck 10, and the outer sleeve S can slide to a predetermined position on the distal end side of the wire. That is, the sleeve chuck 30 includes a chuck portion 31 that clamps the outer sleeve S and a moving mechanism 32 that slides the outer sleeve S in the length direction of the wire W to a predetermined position.

[0031] After the outer sleeve S slides to a predetermined position, Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the front chuck 10 is closed, and the wire W is clamped by the front chuck 10 and the rear chuck 20 again. Figure 5 As shown, the front chuck 10 and the rear chuck are lowered to transfer the wire W to the transport chuck 1 for the next step.

[0032] Figure 6 1 is a schematic side view showing a state before the electric wire to which the outer sleeve is attached is inserted into the crimp applicator by the conveying chuck in the conveying device 100 according to the present embodiment, Figure 7 is a schematic side view showing a state in which an electric wire to which an outer sleeve is attached is inserted into a crimping applicator by a conveying device 100, Figure 8 It is shown Figure 7 Magnified view of part A in FIG. Fig. 9 1 is a schematic side view showing a state where the outer sleeve is crimped.

[0033] like Figures 6 to 9As shown, the conveying device 100 includes a wire conveying chuck 40, which receives the wire W to which the outer sleeve S is attached from the conveying chuck 1. The wire conveying chuck 40 is a device that receives the wire W from the conveying chuck 1 and places the wire W in the applicator 50. The wire conveying chuck 40 includes a temporary stop guide 41, which prevents the outer sleeve S from sliding and moving toward the rear side of the wire W due to inertia when the distal end of the wire W is conveyed toward the inside of the applicator 50, and the temporary stop guide 41 is used to push the outer sleeve S forward. After performing the temporary stop, the temporary stop guide 41 automatically returns to the initial position.

[0034] The applicator 50 has the function of crimping the outer sleeve S after positioning the outer sleeve S. Figure 8 As shown, the applicator 50 includes a guide space 51 for guiding the distal end portion of the wire, a positioning portion 52 for positioning the outer sleeve S, and a crimping portion 53 for crimping the outer sleeve S. The distal end side of the upper wall 51a of the guide space 51 is lower than the opening side. When the distal end portion of the wire W is inserted into the guide space 51, the outer sleeve S is positioned by the positioning portion 52. The positioning portion 52 can protrude and retract between a protruding position and a retracted position. In the protruding position, when the distal end portion of the wire W is inserted into the guide space 51, the positioning portion 52 protrudes toward a position where the wire W extends. In the retracted position, when the wire W moves to a position along the surface of the crimping portion 53, the positioning portion 52 does not contact the wire, as shown in FIG. Fig. 9 shown.

[0035] Then, if Fig. 9 As shown, when the positioning portion 52 is retracted and the electric wire W becomes horizontal, the outer sleeve S is crimped to the electric wire W through the crimping portion 53 at this position. Figure 8 The reference symbol T in FIG. 1 denotes a terminal.

[0036] The operations of all components of the above-described conveying apparatus 100 are controlled by a control unit (not shown), and thus a series of step operations are automatically performed.

[0037] Next, the flow of a series of operations will be described.

[0038] like Figure 1 As shown, first, the electric wire W having the outer sleeve S loosely passed through the outer periphery in the previous step is conveyed by the conveying chuck 1 to a position below the front chuck 10 and the rear chuck 20. Then, the front chuck 10 and the rear chuck 20 clamp the front and rear positions of the electric wire W clamped by the conveying chuck, and lift the electric wire W.

[0039] Next, if Figure 2 As shown, only the front chuck 10 is opened, and the sleeve chuck 30 clamps the outer sleeve S. Then, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown, the sleeve chuck 30 causes the outer sleeve S to slide forward.

[0040] Next, if Figure 4 As shown, the front chuck 10 is closed, and the wire W is clamped by the front chuck 10 and the rear chuck 20. At this time, the outer sleeve S is located Figure 4 Next, Figure 5 As shown, the wire W returns to the delivery line. That is, when the front chuck 10 and the rear chuck 20 are opened, the delivery chuck 1 is opened and then closed, and the delivery chuck 1 receives the wire W.

[0041] Next, if Figure 6 As shown, the wire W is delivered to the wire delivery chuck 40. That is, the wire delivery chuck 40 receives the wire W from the conveying chuck 1. Then, the wire delivery chuck 40 presses the outer sleeve S using the temporary stop guide 41 so that the outer sleeve S does not slide backward. Next, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown, in this state, the wire delivery chuck 40 inserts and places the distal end of the wire W into the applicator 50. At this time, the temporary stop guide 41 protrudes forward so that the outer sleeve S does not move due to inertia force.

[0042] When the distal end of the electric wire W is inserted into the applicator 50, the electric wire W is guided downward by the guide space 51. At this time, the outer sleeve S is positioned by the positioning portion 52 because the positioning portion 52 protrudes to the protruding position.

[0043] Next, if Fig. 9 As shown, the positioning portion 52 is retracted to the retracted position, and in this state, the outer sleeve S is crimped to the electric wire W at the positioning position by the action of the clamp and the anvil of the crimping portion 53 .

[0044] As described above, since the crimping of the outer terminal and the like and the crimping of the outer sleeve can be performed by the same mechanism, the work can be performed accurately and easily. In addition, since the outer sleeve S can be crimped while being positioned with high precision simply by setting the wire W to which the outer sleeve S is attached in the applicator 50, a special positioning mechanism is not required, and crimping defects can be prevented.

[0045] The outer sleeve is adopted in electric wires of various communication standards, such as shielded electric wires and coaxial electric wires, and can be crimped while simply positioning by using an existing applicator.

[0046] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be appropriately modified, improved, etc. In addition, the materials, shapes, sizes, quantities, arrangement positions, etc. of the respective constituent elements in the above-described embodiments are optional and not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

[0047] For example, the positioning portion 52 may be fixed in the protruding position without protruding and retracting between the protruding position and the retracted position. In this case, the positioning portion 52 is formed by a plate-like member, and a U-shaped groove is formed downward from the approximate center of the upper portion of the plate-like member. Fig. 9 As shown, the bottom of the groove extends to a position where the inserted wire W can be in a horizontal state. In addition, the groove passes through the plate-like member in the direction of the plate thickness and is wider than the outer diameter of the distal end of the wire W and narrower than the outer diameter of the outer sleeve S. The positioning portion 52 is installed so that the plate direction is parallel to the projection line of the insertion direction of the wire on the horizontal plane. Therefore, when the wire W is inserted into the applicator 50, the positioning portion 52 allows the distal end of the wire W to pass through the groove and enter the guide space 51. On the other hand, since the outer diameter of the outer sleeve S is larger than the outer diameter of the groove, the groove prevents the outer sleeve S from entering the guide space 51, and therefore, the outer sleeve S is positioned by the positioning portion 52.

[0048] With such a configuration of the positioning portion 52 , the outer sleeve S can be easily positioned not only when the positioning portion 52 is used in an automatic machine but also when an operator grips the electric wire and inserts the electric wire into the applicator 50 .

[0049] Although the above embodiment describes the case where the outer sleeve S passes through the wire W in advance, the conveying device 100 can also convey the wire W in the same manner when an annular member such as a rubber plug, a terminal cover and a stopper passes through the wire W in advance in addition to the outer sleeve S.

[0050] Here, features of the apparatus 100 for conveying an electric wire and the method for manufacturing an electric wire according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention are briefly summarized and listed in the following first to fourth aspects.

[0051] According to a first aspect, an apparatus (100) for conveying an electric wire to which an outer sleeve (S) is attached comprises: a front chuck (10) and a rear chuck (20), the front chuck and the rear chuck being configured to clamp the electric wire (W) conveyed from a previous step; and a sleeve chuck (30) configured to clamp the outer sleeve. The front chuck (10) is opened from a state where the front chuck (10) and the rear chuck (20) clamp the electric wire (W). The sleeve chuck (30) clamps the outer sleeve (S) and slides the outer sleeve (S) to a predetermined position on the distal end side of the electric wire. Then, the front chuck (10) clamps the electric wire (W) again and conveys the electric wire (W) to the next step.

[0052] According to the apparatus (100) for conveying electric wires in the first aspect described above, the electric wire (W) can be conveyed even when the outer sleeve (S) is not crimped, avoiding the situation where the outer sleeve (S) moves from a predetermined crimping position to the rear end side when the electric wire (W) is conveyed forward.

[0053] According to a second aspect, in the device (100) for conveying an electric wire according to the above-mentioned first aspect, the device (100) further includes: an applicator (50) configured to crimp an outer sleeve (S) to the electric wire (W). The applicator (50) includes a guide space (51) for guiding the distal end of the electric wire (W), a positioning portion (52) for positioning the outer sleeve (S), and a crimping portion (53) for crimping the outer sleeve (S). The distal end side of the guide space (51) is lower than the opening side of the guide space (51). When the distal end of the electric wire (W) is inserted into the guide space (51), the outer sleeve (S) is positioned by the positioning portion (52), and is crimped to the electric wire (W) at this position by the crimping portion (53).

[0054] According to the apparatus (100) for conveying electric wires in the above second aspect, simply by inserting and setting the distal end of the electric wire (W) into the applicator (50), the outer sleeve (S) can be crimped to the electric wire while being positioned in an appropriate position.

[0055] According to a third aspect, in the device (100) for conveying electric wires according to the above-mentioned second aspect, the positioning portion (52) is formed by a plate-like member, and the plate-like member is formed with a groove whose width is wider than the outer diameter of the distal end portion of the electric wire (W) and narrower than the outer diameter of the outer sleeve (S).

[0056] According to the apparatus (100) for conveying electric wires in the third aspect, since the positioning portion (52) can be retracted, the positioning portion (52) does not interfere with other components when the outer sleeve (S) is crimped. Therefore, the positioning of the outer sleeve and the crimping of the outer sleeve along a straight line can be performed at the same position.

[0057] According to a fourth aspect, a method for manufacturing an electric wire comprises: clamping an electric wire (W) attached with an outer sleeve (S) by a front chuck (10) and a rear chuck (20); clamping the outer sleeve by a sleeve chuck (30); opening the front chuck (10) from a state where the electric wire (W) is clamped by the front chuck (10) and the rear chuck (20), clamping the outer sleeve (S) by the sleeve chuck (30) and sliding the outer sleeve (S) to a predetermined position on the distal end side of the electric wire, and then clamping the electric wire (W) again by the front chuck (10); conveying the electric wire (W) to an applicator (50), the applicator comprising a guide space (51) for guiding the distal end portion of the electric wire (W), a positioning portion (52) for positioning the outer sleeve (S) and a crimping portion (53) for crimping the outer sleeve (S) to the electric wire (W); and inserting the distal end portion of the electric wire (W) into the guide space (51), and crimping the outer sleeve (S) to the electric wire (W) by the crimping portion (53).

[0058] This application is based on Japanese patent application (No. 2022-144780) filed on September 12, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0059] Reference numerals list

[0060] W Wire

[0061] S outer sleeve

[0062] 1 Conveyor chuck

[0063] 10 Front chuck

[0064] 20 Rear chuck

[0065] 30 Sleeve chuck

[0066] 40 Wire transfer chuck

[0067] 50 Applicator

[0068] 51 Boot Space

[0069] 51a Top wall

[0070] 52 Positioning unit

[0071] 53 Crimping section

[0072] 100 Transmission equipment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for conveying an electric wire, the electric wire having an outer sleeve attached thereto, the apparatus comprising: a front chuck and a rear chuck configured to clamp the wire delivered from the previous step; and a sleeve chuck configured to clamp the outer sleeve, wherein The front chuck is opened from the state where the front chuck and the rear chuck clamp the wire, the sleeve chuck clamps the outer sleeve and slides the outer sleeve to a predetermined position on the distal side of the wire, and then the front chuck clamps the wire again and transfers the wire to the next step.

2. The apparatus for conveying electric wires according to claim 1, further comprising: an applicator configured to crimp the outer sleeve to the wire, wherein The applicator includes a guide space for guiding the distal end of the electric wire, a positioning portion for positioning the outer sleeve, and a crimping portion for crimping the outer sleeve, and The distal end side of the guide space is lower than the opening side of the guide space, and when the distal end portion of the electric wire is inserted into the guide space, the outer sleeve is positioned by the positioning portion and is crimped to the electric wire by the crimping portion at the positioned position.

3. The apparatus for conveying electric wires according to claim 2, wherein The positioning portion is formed of a plate-like member formed with a groove having a width wider than an outer diameter of the distal end portion of the electric wire and narrower than an outer diameter of the outer sleeve.

4. A method for manufacturing an electric wire, the method comprising: Clamping the wire with the outer sleeve attached thereto by the front chuck and the rear chuck; Clamping the outer sleeve by a sleeve chuck; Opening the front chuck from a state where the electric wire is clamped by the front chuck and the rear chuck, clamping the outer sleeve by the sleeve chuck and sliding the outer sleeve to a predetermined position on the distal end side of the electric wire, and then clamping the electric wire again by the front chuck; The wire is conveyed to an applicator, wherein the applicator comprises a guide space for guiding a distal end portion of the wire, a positioning portion for positioning the outer sleeve, and a crimping portion for crimping the outer sleeve to the wire; and The distal end portion of the electric wire is inserted into the guide space, and the outer sleeve is crimped to the electric wire by the crimping portion.

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