Cable processing system and cable manufacturing method

Abstract

The invention comprises a plurality of processing devices (1-10) arranged in order from step A to step E, and a linear conveyor module (30) conveying the cable to be processed. The linear conveyor module (30) has a first slider pair comprising two sliders (S1, S2) which move in a reciprocating manner in a first section (LH1) and which hold the two ends of a cable, respectively, and a second slider pair comprising two sliders (S1, S2) which move in a reciprocating manner in a second section (LH2), the second slider pair comprises two sliders (S3, S4) moving in a reciprocating manner in the second section (LH2) and holding the two ends of one cable, respectively. The range of the first section (LH1) and the second section (LH2) is set based on the processing time in each section.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire processing system, which includes a plurality of processing devices arranged in the order of steps for processing the end of the wire, and a unit for conveying a workpiece (the end of the wire) along the plurality of processing devices. The present invention also relates to a wire manufacturing method. Background Art

[0002] A wire processing system that automatically performs end processing of wires used in vehicle wiring harnesses, etc., generally includes a plurality of processing devices arranged in the order of steps for processing the end of the wires, and a unit for conveying a workpiece (end of the wire) along the plurality of processing devices.

[0003] In the related art, in this type of electric wire processing system, as a unit for conveying the electric wire to be processed, a unit for pitch conveying the electric wire is used (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0004] Citation List

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent Document 1: JP2001-357960A Summary of the invention

[0007] Technical issues

[0008] However, in the case of pitch conveying of electric wires, it is necessary to design and arrange processing equipment according to the conveying pitch, and there is a problem that equipment efficiency is reduced due to design restrictions.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric wire processing system capable of increasing the degree of freedom in design and arrangement of a processing device and improving equipment efficiency.

[0010] Technical Solution

[0011] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the electric wire processing system and the electric wire manufacturing method according to the present invention are characterized as follows.

[0012] (1) A wire processing system comprising:

[0013] A plurality of processing devices arranged in a row in the order of the steps of processing the end of the wire; and a linear conveyor module in which a plurality of slides are configured to move on a guide rail provided along the plurality of processing devices to convey the wire to be processed, wherein,

[0014] The linear conveyor module comprises

[0015] a first slider pair including two sliders configured to reciprocate in a first section and hold two ends of one wire, and

[0016] a second slider pair including two sliders configured to reciprocate in a second section adjacently located behind the first section and to hold the two ends of the one electric wire, and

[0017] The ranges of the first section and the second section are set based on the processing time of the processing device in each section.

[0018] (2) A method for manufacturing an electric wire using an electric wire processing system,

[0019] The wire processing system includes

[0020] a plurality of processing devices arranged in a row in the order of steps of end processing of the electric wire, and a linear conveyor module in which a plurality of slides are configured to move on a guide rail provided along the plurality of processing devices to convey the electric wire to be processed,

[0021] The linear conveyor module comprises

[0022] a first slider pair including two sliders configured to reciprocate in a first section and hold two ends of one wire, and

[0023] a second slider pair including two sliders configured to reciprocate in a second section adjacently located behind the first section and to hold the two ends of the one electric wire, and

[0024] The ranges of the first section and the second section are set based on the processing time of the processing device in each section,

[0025] The method comprises:

[0026] The first pair of slides holds the two ends of the electric wire and conveys the two ends to a processing device in the first section;

[0027] Processing the two ends by a processing device in the first section;

[0028] The processed two ends of the electric wire are held by the second pair of slides, and the processed two ends are conveyed to the processing device in the second section; and

[0029] The two ends are processed by a processing device in the second section.

[0030] Advantageous Effects of the Invention

[0031] According to the present invention, since a linear conveyor module including a guide rail and a plurality of slide blocks is used as a unit for conveying the end of the wire to be processed, the stop position of the slide block holding the wire can be optionally set. Therefore, compared with the case of pitch conveying, the degree of freedom in designing and arranging the processing device can be increased, and the equipment efficiency can be improved.

[0032] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention can be clarified by reading the following modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an electric wire processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 2 is a schematic plan view showing the operation of the electric wire processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 Schematic plan view of the operation following the operation shown.

[0036] Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 Schematic plan view of the operation following the operation shown.

[0037] Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 Schematic plan view of the operation following the operation shown.

[0038] Figure 6 It shows Figure 5 Schematic plan view of the operation following the operation shown.

[0039] Figure 7 It shows Figure 6 Schematic plan view of the operation following the operation shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a wire processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 2 to 7 Each is a schematic plan view showing the operation of the wire processing system.

[0042] like Figures 1 to 7As shown, the wire processing system M according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of processing devices 1 to 10 arranged in a row in the order of steps A to E of the end processing of the wire, and a linear conveyor module 30 for conveying the end (workpiece) of the wire to be processed. In the linear conveyor module 30, a plurality of slides S1 to S6 move on a guide rail 31 provided along the plurality of processing devices 1 to 10 to convey the end WT1 and WT2 of the wire to be processed to a predetermined position corresponding to each processing device 1 to 10.

[0043] The linear conveyor module 30 according to the present embodiment is implemented by a linear motor, which includes a single guide rail 31 and six sliders S1 to S6 moving on the guide rail 31. Since the six sliders S1 to S6 move on the same single guide rail 31, the arrangement order thereof cannot be changed, but the sliders S1 to S6 can be moved to and stopped at any desired position. In fact, the movable range of each of the sliders S1 to S6 is preset by a control program executed by the control unit 40, and the control unit 40 controls each of the sliders S1 to S6 as described below. Each of the sliders S1 to S6 can return to the initial position set for each slider S1 to S6 whenever a reciprocating operation is completed or at each predetermined timing.

[0044] Each of the sliders S1 to S6 is equipped with a wire chuck (wire clamp) (not shown) that holds the ends WT1 and WT2 of the wires. Each of the sliders S1 to S6 is provided with a necessary number of wire chucks to accommodate wires including a plurality of core wires, such as a twisted wire including two core wires in one wire. Figure 2 etc., an example is shown in which each of the sliders S1 to S6 is equipped with two wire chucks.

[0045] When processing both ends of a single electric wire, two sliders are paired and clamp both ends of a single electric wire bent into a U shape. In the present embodiment, slider S1 and slider S2 constitute a first pair (first slider pair), slider S3 and slider S4 constitute a second pair (second slider pair), slider S5 and slider S6 constitute a third pair (third slider pair), and sliders S1 to S6 are each controlled in pairs. In the system according to the present embodiment, since six sliders S1 to S6 are provided, six ends of three products can be processed simultaneously.

[0046] In a larger classification, five steps A to E are prepared for the end processing of the electric wire. Some of the steps A to E include a plurality of steps of a smaller classification. Each of the steps A to E is provided with a bracket (the reference numerals are omitted because some are not shown), and a processing device 1 to 10 for performing the content of each step is mounted on the bracket. The processing devices 1 to 10 are provided to perform, for example, the following processing. Here, the content of the processing itself does not need to be particularly explained, and is represented in a simplified manner for distinction.

[0047] Processing device 1 = Wire setting 1

[0048] Processing device 2 = Wire setting 2

[0049] Processing device 3 = trimming 1

[0050] Processing device 4 = trimming 2

[0051] Processing device 5 = peeling

[0052] Processing device 6 = Ultrasonic single-line conversion

[0053] Processing device 7 = crimping 1

[0054] Processing device 8 = crimping 2

[0055] Processing device 9 = end cutting

[0056] Processing device 10 = Wire unloading

[0057] Although the term "processing device" is used as a name, some of them, such as processing devices 1 and 2 (wire setting 1 and 2) and processing device 10 (wire unloading), do not necessarily perform "processing" (simply "delivering" the wire), but for convenience, they are all referred to as "processing devices". Processing devices 1 to 5 (wire setting, trimming and stripping) are arranged to perform the larger classification of step A, while processing device 6 (ultrasonic single-wire conversion) is arranged to perform the larger classification of step B. Processing devices 7 and 8 (crimping) are arranged to perform the larger classification of steps C and D, while processing devices 9 and 10 (end cutting, unloading) are arranged to perform the larger classification of step E.

[0058] Steps B, C and D, which are respectively provided with processing device 6 (ultrasonic single-wire conversion), processing device 7 (crimping 1) and processing device 8 (crimping 2), are respectively provided with wire transfer devices 21, 22 and 23, which are used to transfer the ends WT1 and WT2 of the wire to and from sliders S1 to S6 during processing.

[0059] In addition, since only one processing device 6 (ultrasonic single-wire conversion) is provided in step B, a temporary placement chuck (intermediate chuck) 20 is provided in step B for temporarily placing the other end of the wire when processing one end of the wire. The temporary placement chuck 20 is usually retracted to a retracted position lower than the end of the wire conveyed by the slide so as not to contact the end of the wire. When another wire to be temporarily placed is conveyed by the slide, the temporary placement chuck 20 is raised to clamp the end of the wire.

[0060] The linear conveyor module 30 sequentially conveys the ends WT1 and WT2 of the wire to predetermined positions corresponding to the processing devices 1 to 10. The moving sections LS1 to LS6 of the sliders S1 to S6 are predetermined. When used as a pair, the moving section of the sliders S1 and S2 constituting the first slider pair (first pair) is roughly set to the first section LH1. In addition, the moving section of the sliders S3 and S4 constituting the second slider pair (second pair) is roughly set to the second section LH2. In addition, the moving section of the sliders S5 and S6 constituting the third slider pair (third pair) is roughly set to the third section LH3. From Figures 2 to 7 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , since the corresponding slides sequentially transport the ends WT1 and WT2 of the wires to an adjacent step or a further adjacent step, each of the sections LH1 , LH2 and LH3 is arranged to span a plurality of steps (a plurality of processing devices).

[0061] The ranges of the first, second and third sections LH1, LH2 and LH3 are set based on the machining time of the machining devices 1 to 10 in each section. For example, the ranges of the first to third sections LH1 to LH3 are determined so that the working times of the first to third sections LH1 to LH3 are substantially the same.

[0062] Next, the operation will be described.

[0063] Here, a case where both end portions WT1 and WT2 of the electric wire bent into a U shape are simultaneously processed will be described as an example. In the following description, “linear transport” means that the slides S1 to S6 are linearly driven by the linear motor control performed by the control unit 40 .

[0064] First, if Figure 2 As shown, the processing devices 1 and 2 (wire settings 1 and 2) respectively set the ends WT1 and WT2 of the wire on the sliders S1 and S2 located at the initial positions. That is, the ends WT1 and WT2 of the wire are clamped by the wire chucks of the sliders S1 and S2, respectively.

[0065] Next, the two clamped ends WT1 and WT2 of the electric wire are linearly conveyed to predetermined positions corresponding to the processing devices 3 and 4 (trimming 1 and 2), at which predetermined positions, the two ends WT1 and WT2 of the electric wire are trimmed by the processing devices 3 and 4, and then linearly conveyed to the processing device 5 (stripping) to perform stripping. Next, the two stripped ends WT1 and WT2 of the electric wire are linearly conveyed to the position of step B, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown, one end WT2 of the electric wire is placed in the electric wire transfer device 21 for ultrasonic single-wire conversion by the processing device 6. The other end WT1 is placed on the temporary placement chuck 20. Therefore, both the sliders S1 and S2 constituting the first pair become free, so that the sliders S1 and S2 can be moved to the initial position and prepared for the next work.

[0066] The term "ultrasonic single wire conversion" means that when the conductor of the core wire comprises a large number of thin metal wires, they are combined by ultrasonic waves to form a single conductor.

[0067] After completing the ultrasonic single-line conversion process, such as Figure 4 As shown, the slider 4 receives one end WT2 of the wire from the wire transfer device 21, and the slider 3 receives the other end WT1 of the wire from the temporary placement chuck 20. Then, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, in steps C and D where processing devices 7 and 8 (crimping 1 and 2) are provided, the slider S3 and the slider S4 linearly convey the received ends WT1 and WT2 of the wire, respectively, and place the ends WT1 and WT2 in the wire transfer devices 22 and 23. Then, the end crimping is performed by the processing devices 7 and 8.

[0068] like Figure 6 As shown, the ends WT1 and WT2 of the electric wires that have undergone the end crimping process are received by the sliders 5 and 6 from the electric wire transfer devices 22 and 23, and as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown, the wire is linearly transported to the next step E. After the end WT2 of the wire is unloaded by the processing device 10 (wire unloading), the slide 6 moved to the position of step E moves to the retracted position, and the slide 5 transfers the end WT2 of the wire to the processing device 10. When the end cutting process is required, the wire is subjected to the end cutting process (end cutting) by the processing device 9 and then transferred to the processing device 10 (wire unloading).

[0069] As described above, according to the wire processing system M of the present embodiment, since the linear conveyor module 30 including the guide rail 31 and the plurality of sliders S1 to S6 is used as a unit for conveying the end portions WT1 and WT2 of the wire to be processed, the positions of the sliders S1 to S6 holding the wires can be optionally set. Therefore, the design of the steps becomes easier compared to the case of pitch conveying. That is, the arrangement of the processing devices 1 to 10 can be freely determined without considering the conveying pitch, and the moving positions of the sliders S1 to S6 of the linear conveyor module 30 can be determined according to the arrangement, which leads to improved equipment efficiency.

[0070] With regard to the linear conveyor module 30, since the positions of the sliders S1 to S6 can be optionally set, it is possible to easily perform fine adjustment of the moving positions of the electric wires according to the respective processing devices 1 to 10. Since it is easy to extend the guide rail 31 of the linear conveyor module 30 and increase the number of the sliders S1 to S6, it is also easy to cope with the increase in the processing devices.

[0071] Since the range of the sections LH1 to LH3 in which the slider pair reciprocates is set based on the processing time in each of the sections LH1 to LH3, for example, the waiting time of the sliders S1 to S6 can be reduced by making the working time of the sections LH1 to LH3 equal (i.e., by setting the range of the sections LH1 to LH3 so that the working time is equal). That is, when there is a processing time difference between the first section LH1 and the second section LH2 or between the second section LH2 and the third section LH3, a waiting time may occur for the slider in the section with a shorter processing time, but by setting the range of the section so that the processing time difference does not become larger, the waiting time of the slider can be reduced as much as possible. As a result, the tact time of the entire wire processing can be shortened.

[0072] Since the temporary placement chuck 20 is provided in the second section LH2 immediately after the first section LH1, both ends of the electric wire can be placed in the second section LH2 immediately after the work in the first section LH1 is completed without providing a waiting time. Therefore, the first slider pair (sliders S1 and S2) can be released without wasting time and can be freely moved to the next work, and the tact time can be further shortened.

[0073] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and may be appropriately modified, improved, etc. Furthermore, the materials, shapes, sizes, numbers, arrangement positions, etc. of the components in the above-described embodiments are freely selectable and are not limited as long as the present invention can be implemented.

[0074] For example, the case where the sliders S1 to S6 reciprocate within the range of the predetermined reciprocating sections LH1 to LH3 has been described. Therefore, when a delay occurs in another section, the slider in the next section waits for the delivery of the electric wire from the previous section. Therefore, when a delay temporarily occurs in one of the sections, if the sliders in the other sections can be moved to the section where the delay occurs to recover from the delay, the tact time can be further shortened.

[0075] Here, the features of the electric wire processing system and the electric wire manufacturing method according to the embodiments of the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [3].

[0076] [1] A wire processing system (M), comprising:

[0077] A plurality of processing devices (1 to 10) arranged in a row in the order of steps (A to E) of processing the end of the electric wire; and a linear conveyor module (30) in which a plurality of slides (S1 to S6) are configured to move on a guide rail (31) provided along the plurality of processing devices (1 to 10) to convey the electric wire to be processed, wherein

[0078] The linear conveyor module (30) comprises

[0079] a first slider pair including two sliders (S1, S2) configured to reciprocate in a first section (LH1) and hold two ends (WT1, WT2) of one wire, and

[0080] a second slider pair including two sliders (S3, S4) configured to reciprocate in a second section (LH2) adjacently located after the first section (LH1) and to hold the two ends (WT1, WT2) of the one wire, and

[0081] The ranges of the first section (LH1) and the second section (LH2) are set based on the processing time of the processing devices (1 to 8) in each section (LH1, LH2).

[0082] According to the construction of [1] above, since the linear conveyor module (30) is used as a unit for conveying a workpiece (the end of the wire to be processed), the position of the slider (S1 to S6) holding the wire can be set optionally. Therefore, the design of the step becomes easier compared to the case of spacing conveying. That is, the layout of the processing device can be freely determined without considering the conveying spacing, and the moving position of the slider (S1 to S6) of the linear conveyor module (30) can be determined according to the layout. Regarding the linear conveyor module (30), since the position of the slider (S1 to S6) can be set optionally, it is easy to perform fine adjustment of the moving position of the wire according to each processing device (1 to 10). Since it is easy to extend the guide rail (31) of the linear conveyor module (30) and increase the number of sliders (S1 to S6), it is also easy to cope with the increase in processing devices.

[0083] Since the range of the sections (LH1, LH2) in which the slider pair reciprocates is set based on the processing time in each section, for example, the waiting time of the sliders (S1 to S6) can be reduced by making the working time of the sections (LH1, LH2) equal (i.e., by setting the range of the sections so that the working time is equal). That is, when there is a processing time difference between the first section (LH1) and the second section (LH2), the slider may have a waiting time in the section with a shorter processing time, but by setting the range of the sections (LH1, LH2) so that the processing time difference does not become larger, the waiting time of the slider can be reduced as much as possible. As a result, the tact time of the entire wire processing can be shortened.

[0084] [2] The electric wire processing system (M) according to [1] above, further comprising:

[0085] A temporary placement chuck 20 is configured to temporarily place and hold the other end portion (WT1) of the wire during processing of the one end portion (WT2) of the wire in the second section (LH2) when the processing device (6) in the second section (LH2) processes only one end portion (WT2) of the wire.

[0086] According to the configuration of [2] above, since the temporary placement chuck (20) is provided in the second section (LH2) immediately after the first section (LH1), the two ends (WT1, WT2) of the electric wire can be placed in the second section (LH2) immediately after the work in the first section (LH1) is completed without providing a waiting time. Therefore, the first slider pair (S1, S2) can be released without wasting time and can be freely moved to the next work, and the tact time can be further shortened.

[0087] [3] A method for manufacturing an electric wire using an electric wire processing system (M),

[0088] The wire processing system (M) comprises

[0089] a plurality of processing devices (1 to 10) arranged in a row in the order of the steps (A to E) of the end processing of the electric wire, and

[0090] A linear conveyor module (30) in which a plurality of slide blocks (S1 to S6) are configured to move on a guide rail (31) arranged along the plurality of processing devices (1 to 10) to convey the wires to be processed,

[0091] The linear conveyor module (30) comprises

[0092] a first slider pair including two sliders (S1, S2) configured to reciprocate in a first section (LH1) and hold two ends (WT1, WT2) of one wire, and

[0093] a second slider pair including two sliders (S3, S4) configured to reciprocate in a second section (LH2) adjacently located after the first section (LH1) and to hold the two ends (WT1, WT2) of the one wire, and

[0094] The ranges of the first section (LH1) and the second section (LH2) are set based on the processing time of the processing devices (1 to 8) in each section,

[0095] The method comprises:

[0096] The two ends (WT1, WT2) of the electric wire are held by the first pair of slides, and the two ends (WT1, WT2) are transported to a processing device in the first section (LH1);

[0097] Processing the two ends (WT1, WT2) by a processing device in the first section (LH1);

[0098] The second pair of slides holds the processed two ends (WT1, WT2) of the electric wire, and transports the processed two ends (WT1, WT2) to a processing device in the second section (LH2); and

[0099] The two end portions (WT1, WT2) are processed by a processing device in the second section (LH2).

[0100] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these examples. Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications or amendments within the scope of the claims, and it should be understood that these modifications or amendments naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, the components described in the above embodiments can be freely combined.

[0101] This application is based on Japanese patent application (No. 2022-146415) filed on September 14, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0102] Reference numerals list

[0103] 1 to 10: Processing equipment

[0104] 20: Temporary placement of the chuck

[0105] 30: Linear conveyor module

[0106] 31: Guide rail

[0107] 40: Control unit

[0108] S1 to S6: Slider

[0109] LH1: First Segment

[0110] LH2: Second segment

[0111] WT1, WT2: Ends of wires

[0112] A to E: Steps.

Claims

1. A wire processing system, comprising: a plurality of processing devices arranged in a row in the order of steps for processing the end of the electric wire; and A linear conveyor module, in which a plurality of slides are configured to move on a guide rail arranged along the plurality of processing devices to convey the wires to be processed, wherein: The linear conveyor module comprises a first slider pair including two sliders configured to reciprocate in a first section and hold two ends of one wire, and a second slider pair including two sliders configured to reciprocate in a second section adjacently located behind the first section and to hold the two ends of the one electric wire, and The ranges of the first section and the second section are set based on the processing time of the processing device in each section.

2. The wire processing system according to claim 1, further comprising: A temporary placement chuck is configured to temporarily place and hold the other end portion of the electric wire during processing of the one end portion of the electric wire in the second section when the processing device in the second section processes only one end portion of the electric wire.

3. A method for manufacturing an electric wire using an electric wire processing system, The wire processing system includes a plurality of processing devices arranged in a row in the order of the steps of the end processing of the electric wire, and a linear conveyor module in which a plurality of slides are configured to move on a guide rail arranged along the plurality of processing devices to convey the wires to be processed, The linear conveyor module comprises a first slider pair including two sliders configured to reciprocate in a first section and hold two ends of one wire, and a second slider pair including two sliders configured to reciprocate in a second section adjacently located behind the first section and to hold the two ends of the one electric wire, and The ranges of the first section and the second section are set based on the processing time of the processing device in each section, The method comprises: The two ends of the electric wire are held by the first pair of slides and are transported to the processing device in the first section; Processing the two ends by the processing device in the first section; The processed two ends of the electric wire are held by the second pair of slides, and the processed two ends are transported to the processing device in the second section; and The two ends are processed by the processing device in the second section.

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