Cutting mechanism for automobile wire harness

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of wire harness processing, and discloses an automobile wire harness cutting mechanism which comprises a guide piece and a clamping piece which are located at the end of a wire harness. The guide element is provided with a guide slope surface extending towards the radial outer side of the wire harness, and the guide slope surface is inserted into and acts on an interface between the braid layer and the insulating layer; an active deformation strategy of internal pressure and external expansion is adopted: a clamping and pressing piece acts on the inner side of the end part of the wire harness, and uniform pressure is applied to the center along the radial direction, so that an original circular section generates controllable local elliptical or flattened deformation. Due to basic conservation of the material volume, the inner side compression inevitably causes outward slight expansion of the outer side area, so that a continuous, annular and width-adjustable initial gap is formed at the interface of the braid layer and the insulating layer. The gap is not dependent on material relaxation, but is actively generated by mechanical force, and has high repeatability and process stability. The guide piece is smoothly wedged in through the gap, and structural damage caused by impact type insertion is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of wire harness processing technology, and specifically relates to a cutting mechanism for automotive wire harnesses. Background Technology

[0002] Existing automotive wiring harnesses generally use shielded cables, typically consisting of, from the inside out, multi-strand stranded conductors, an inner insulation layer, and a metal braided shielding layer. The shielding layer is usually made of tinned copper wire or bare copper wire braided in a spiral pattern to suppress external electromagnetic interference and prevent internal signal radiation, thus ensuring the vehicle's electromagnetic compatibility performance. However, in the automated production of automotive wiring harnesses, these multi-layered composite cables face significant technical challenges in cutting and subsequent end-effector processing.

[0003] First, the shielding braid is highly susceptible to "blooming" (i.e., the copper wires spread out, curl up, and radially turn outwards) after cutting due to the release of residual internal tension. This phenomenon not only disrupts the geometric consistency of the cable ends, severely affecting the accuracy of automated processes such as stripping, folding, and crimping, but may also cause loose copper wires to accidentally get mixed into the inner conductor area. Once shielding copper wires are trapped during terminal crimping, it will directly cause a short circuit risk between the conductor and the shielding layer, or cause abnormal filling of the crimping cavity, resulting in increased contact resistance and insufficient pull-out force. In severe cases, it can lead to electrical failure or even thermal runaway.

[0004] Secondly, the shielding braided layer itself is soft and lacks rigid support, and its continuous circumferential mesh structure makes it difficult to achieve stable and uniform folding or flipping operations. Traditional manual handling relies on operator experience, which easily leads to uneven folding, localized pulling, or copper wire breakage. On automated production lines, without high-precision visual guidance and flexible actuators, robotic arms or hooks often apply force only at a single point, easily damaging the integrity of the braided structure and resulting in localized "blooming" or poor adhesion even after folding. Furthermore, if the folded shielding layer is not effectively secured, it may spring back and loosen during handling or vibration, affecting the reliability of subsequent shielding ring crimping or connector assembly.

[0005] Finally, current end-processing typically separates shielding and insulation removal into steps; first, the outer sheath is removed, then the shielding is processed manually or semi-automatically, and finally the inner insulation is removed separately to expose the conductor. This serial, discrete operation mode is not only cumbersome and time-consuming, but also lacks coordination between workstations, making it prone to positioning deviations due to accumulated errors. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a cutting mechanism for automotive wiring harnesses to solve the problems existing in the background art described above.

[0007] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides a cutting mechanism for automotive wiring harnesses. The automotive wiring harness includes a braided layer, an insulating layer, and a conductor arranged sequentially from the outside to the inside. The mechanism includes a braided layer processing component, which comprises a guide and a clamping component located at the end of the wiring harness. The guide has a guide slope extending radially outward from the wiring harness. The guide slope inserts into and acts on the interface between the braided layer and the insulating layer. When the guide slides axially along the wiring harness, the guide slope gradually separates the braided layer from the insulating layer through a wedging action, causing the braided layer to expand outward while the insulating layer remains in place. After the braided layer and the insulating layer are separated, the clamping component simultaneously clamps the expanded braided layer to fix its position and provide an operational basis for subsequent outward turning operations. Furthermore, a cutting component is provided on the side of the guide facing the insulating layer. As the guide slides axially, the cutting component simultaneously cuts the exposed insulating layer, stripping it to expose the internal conductor, facilitating subsequent terminal crimping.

[0008] Preferably, the ends of the automotive wiring harness are divided into an outer side and an inner side; the braiding layer processing component further includes a clamping member, which acts on the inner side of the wiring harness, and the guide member acts on the outer side of the wiring harness; when separating the braided layer from the insulation layer, the clamping member first presses the inner side of the wiring harness radially inward, causing local deformation of the wiring harness cross-section, thereby causing the outer braided layer to open outward and form a gap; the formed gap provides an entry channel for the guide member located on the outer side of the wiring harness, allowing the guide member to smoothly wedge into the interface between the braided layer and the insulation layer, and achieve effective separation of the two during subsequent axial sliding.

[0009] Furthermore, the clamping component adopts a split structure, which includes clamping units arranged circumferentially. The clamping units together form an annular ring on the inner side. The annular ring is used to apply uniform radial pressure to the inner side of the end of the wire harness during the clamping process, avoiding local stress concentration that could lead to damage to the insulation layer or uneven deformation of the braided layer. At least the clamping unit located at the bottom of the annular ring is an independently detachable structure, which facilitates individual replacement after long-term pressure from the wire harness's own weight and frequent friction, reducing maintenance costs and improving equipment availability. Each clamping unit has circumferentially distributed balls on the side facing the wire harness. The balls roll in contact with the wire harness surface during axial movement or clamping, effectively reducing frictional resistance and achieving adaptive fitting and dynamic following for wire harnesses with different outer diameters.

[0010] Furthermore, the cutting component includes a longitudinal cutter and a circumferential cutter; the longitudinal cutter is used to longitudinally cut the insulation layer along the axial direction to form an opening that facilitates peeling; the circumferential cutter is used to perform a circumferential cut on the insulation layer at a preset position at the end of the wire harness to limit the peeling length and achieve a neat cut on the end face of the insulation layer; the longitudinal cutter and the circumferential cutter work together to sequentially complete the longitudinal and circumferential cuts on the insulation layer during the axial sliding of the guide, thereby achieving the peeling of the insulation layer and exposing the complete and undamaged conductor.

[0011] Furthermore, the guide component includes a guide block and a rotating frame. The guide slope, the longitudinal cutter, and the circumferential cutter are all disposed on the guide block. The guide blocks are installed on the rotating frame in a circumferential array. During operation, the rotating frame moves axially, driving the guide blocks to advance synchronously, causing the longitudinal cutter to cut into the insulation layer and slide axially, thereby completing the longitudinal sectioning of the insulation layer. Subsequently, the rotating frame rotates around the wire harness axis, driving the circumferential cutter to move circumferentially along the outer periphery of the insulation layer, realizing the circumferential cutting of the insulation layer. Through the combined motion of the axial movement and circumferential rotation of the rotating frame, the guide component can sequentially or collaboratively complete the separation of the braided layer and the insulation layer, the longitudinal sectioning of the insulation layer, and the circumferential cutting.

[0012] Furthermore, the clamping component includes a clamping block and a mounting frame. The clamping block is slidably mounted on the mounting frame along the radial direction of the wire harness to achieve clamping and releasing of the inner side of the wire harness end. Both the mounting frame and the rotating frame can slide independently or synchronously along the axial direction of the wire harness, thereby performing clamping positioning and guiding cutting actions at different process stages. Both the mounting frame and the rotating frame adopt a ring structure design, forming a through-channel at the center, allowing the wire harness to pass through smoothly and providing a structural foundation and movement space for subsequent operations.

[0013] Furthermore, the clamping member and the guide member are equipped with a pushing member, which can slide along the axial direction of the wire harness. The pushing member and the clamping block are respectively provided with mutually cooperating trapezoidal slopes, and both the pushing member and the guide member are provided with blocks. When the pushing member moves axially towards the clamping member, the trapezoidal slope of the pushing member contacts and slides relative to the corresponding slope of the clamping block, forcing the clamping block to move radially inward, thereby applying pressure to the inner side of the wire harness end, causing controllable local deformation of the wire harness cross section, and causing the outer braided layer to open. As the pushing member continues to advance, when the horizontal sections of the trapezoidal slopes are in contact with each other, the clamping block reaches its maximum clamping stroke and stops radial movement. At this time, the clamping force remains stable, ensuring that the braided layer is fully opened. During the process of the horizontal sections of the trapezoidal slopes being in contact, the blocks on the pushing member abut against the blocks on the guide member, thereby transferring the subsequent axial thrust to the guide member, driving the guide member to move axially synchronously to perform the separation of the braided layer and the insulation layer and the cutting and peeling of the insulation layer.

[0014] Furthermore, the braided layer processing component includes a frame, and the clamping member and guide member are integrated and installed on the frame. The clamping member is connected to the frame through a limiting structure, and the guide member is installed on the frame through a sliding groove and a protrusion structure. The limiting structure includes a locking block, which fixes the clamping member on the frame in the initial state to ensure positional stability during clamping operations. When it is necessary to avoid the outward-turned braided layer, the locking block is released, allowing the clamping member to slide along the axial direction of the wire harness on the frame, thereby providing space for subsequent outward-turning operations and avoiding interference. The movement of the guide member on the frame is first to slide along the axial direction of the wire harness to achieve separation of the braided layer and the insulation layer and longitudinal cutting of the insulation layer. Subsequently, after completing axial advancement, the guide member achieves radial rotation around the wire harness axis through the sliding groove and protrusion structure between it and the frame, thereby driving the ring cutter to complete the circumferential ring cutting of the insulation layer.

[0015] Furthermore, the pusher is provided with a protrusion and a push block. When the pusher moves axially to a preset position, the protrusion acts on the locking block to release the locking block from the clamping member, allowing the clamping member to slide along the axial direction of the wire harness on the frame, thereby providing clearance space for the braided layer to turn outward. Inclined surfaces are connected to both sides of the horizontal section of the trapezoidal slope. During the continuous advancement of the pusher, in the initial stage, the front inclined surface of the pusher cooperates with the clamping block, driving the clamping block to move radially inward, achieving clamping of the wire harness end. When the pusher continues to advance to… When the horizontal sections of the trapezoidal slope are aligned, the clamping block remains at the maximum clamping stroke position, with its radial position unchanged, maintaining a stable clamping state. Subsequently, the pusher advances further, and its rear inclined surface begins to contact the clamping block. Under the synergistic action of the return spring, the clamping block is forced to retract radially outward, achieving active release. After the clamping release is completed, the pusher continues to move axially with the pusher, abutting against and pushing the unlocked clamping component to slide axially along the frame, moving it away from the wire harness end area, thereby providing sufficient operating space for the outward turning of the braided layer and subsequent processing procedures.

[0016] Furthermore, the mold frame is equipped with a lead screw drive component, which includes a drive lead screw and a threaded movable nut. The movable nut is connected to the pusher and is used to drive the pusher to slide precisely along the wire harness axial direction on the mold frame when the drive lead screw rotates. A drive gear is coaxially fixed to the drive lead screw, and a corresponding transmission gear is provided on the rotating frame. The two form a meshing gear pair, which is used to transmit the rotational motion of the drive lead screw to the rotating frame to achieve its circumferential rotation. The movable nut is provided with a transmission groove extending axially, and the pusher is provided with a transmission pin, which is slidably mounted on the pusher. The pusher is inserted into the transmission groove in the initial stage, so that the pusher moves axially synchronously with the moving nut. The frame is also provided with an axial limiting block. When the screw drive component drives the pusher to the position of the limiting block, the limiting block applies a lateral force to the transmission pin, forcing the transmission pin to disengage from the transmission groove. At this time, the transmission relationship between the pusher and the moving nut is released, and the moving nut continues to rotate axially with the drive screw and remain stationary or idle. The drive screw transmits the rotational power to the rotating frame through the meshing of the drive gear and the transmission gear, thereby driving the rotating frame to rotate around the wire harness axis to complete the annular cutting action of the insulation layer.

[0017] The main technical effects of this invention are reflected in the following aspects: In traditional shielded wire end processing, the braided layer and insulation layer are tightly bonded due to manufacturing tension and material adhesion, leaving almost no natural gap. This makes it difficult to insert tools, and forced wedging can easily cause copper wire breakage, fraying, or scratches on the insulation layer. This invention employs an "inner pressure, outer expansion" active deformation strategy: a clamping element acts on the inner side of the wire harness end, applying uniform pressure radially towards the center, causing the originally circular cross-section to undergo controllable local ellipticization or flattening deformation. Since the material volume is essentially conserved, inner compression inevitably leads to a slight outward expansion of the outer region, thus forming a continuous, circumferential, and adjustable initial gap at the interface between the braided layer and insulation layer. This gap is not dependent on material relaxation but is actively generated by mechanical force, exhibiting high repeatability and process stability. The guide element smoothly weds in through this gap, avoiding structural damage caused by impact insertion.

[0018] The pusher and clamping block employ a specially designed trapezoidal slope structure, whose cross-section consists of a front inclined surface, a middle horizontal section, and a rear inclined surface. During the axial advancement of the pusher, this structure sequentially triggers three mechanical states: (Clamping stage) The front inclined surface contacts the clamping block, decomposing the axial thrust into a radial component, overcoming the resistance of the return spring, and driving the clamping block to move inward, completing reliable clamping of the inner side of the wire harness; (Pressure stabilization stage) When the horizontal section of the trapezoidal slope is fully in contact with the clamping block, the radial displacement stops, the clamping force remains constant, ensuring stable wire harness deformation and full opening of the braided layer, providing optimal conditions for separation; (Active release stage) The pusher continues to advance, the rear inclined surface intervenes, and with the cooperation of the return spring, the axial movement is converted back into a reverse radial force, forcing the clamping block to retract outward, achieving rapid and complete release.

[0019] This invention utilizes a three-dimensional linkage mechanism of "transmission pin, transmission groove, and limiting block." In the initial stage, the transmission pin is inserted into the axial transmission groove of the moving nut, and the pushing component moves axially synchronously with the moving nut to complete clamping, separation, and longitudinal cutting. When it reaches the preset position, the limiting block on the frame applies a lateral force to the transmission pin, forcing it to laterally disengage from the transmission groove and cutting off the axial transmission chain. At this time, the drive screw continues to rotate, and its torque is transmitted to the transmission gear on the rotating frame through the coaxially fixed drive gear, initiating the rotation mode and driving the ring cutter to complete the circumferential cutting. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a partial structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the fit between the guide component and the clamping component; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the structure of the guide block; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the cooperation between the clamping component and the pushing component in this invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the cooperation between the guide and the pusher in this invention; In the diagram: 1. Guide component; 11. Guide slope; 12. Guide block; 13. Rotating frame; 2. Cutting component; 21. Longitudinal cutter; 22. Circular cutter; 3. Clamping component; 31. Clamping block; 32. Mounting frame; 33. Locking block; 34. Trapezoidal slope; 35. Protrusion; 36. Push block; 4. Pushing component; 41. Drive screw; 42. Moving nut; 43. Transmission groove; 44. Transmission pin; 45. Axial limiting block. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so as to make the technical solution of the present invention easier to understand and master. In the embodiments, it should be understood that the terms "middle," "upper," "lower," "top," "right side," "left end," "above," "back," "center," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. In addition, unless otherwise specified in this specific embodiment, the connection or fixing method between components can be achieved by bolt fixing, pin fixing, or pin connection commonly used in the prior art, etc., and therefore will not be described in detail in this embodiment.

[0022] The automotive wiring harness cutting mechanism provided by this invention is mainly applied to the automated end-processing of shielded multilayer composite cables in the automotive manufacturing field. It is particularly suitable for scenarios with stringent requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and connection reliability, such as high-voltage wiring harnesses for new energy vehicles, intelligent driving sensor cables, and vehicle communication wiring harnesses. However, this is not a limitation. The design concept and mechanical linkage logic of this mechanism can also be extended to the end-processing of other cables or tubular materials with similar multilayer flexible structures, such as aerospace cables, medical equipment wires, flexible cables for industrial robots, coaxial cables, or fiber optic composite cables. As long as their structure includes an outer braided / wound shielding layer, an intermediate insulation layer, and an inner conductor / core wire, and requires non-destructive separation, precise stripping, and reliable folding, it can be applied or adapted accordingly.

[0023] Furthermore, as common knowledge in this industry, the screw drive, gear meshing drive, groove-protrusion 35 guiding fit, trapezoidal slope 34 force conversion mechanism, return spring return mechanism, ring clamping structure, longitudinal and ring cutting blade configuration 22, and vacuum / pneumatic clamping unit mentioned above are all conventional technical means in the field of mechanical automation. In the implementation of this invention, the operating mechanism of the locking block 33 is a conventional mechanical limiting and unlocking technology well known to those skilled in the art. Specifically, the locking block 33 achieves axial locking of the clamping member 3 through elastic elements (such as springs), and automatically unlocks under the action of the protrusion 35 set on the pushing member 4, thereby allowing the clamping member 3 to slide axially to avoid the outward flipping space. Using moving parts such as cams, inclined planes, levers, or protrusions 35 to trigger the release action of the latch, locking pin, or stop is a standard means to realize process switching, tooling avoidance, or module reset. Its working principle, force analysis, material selection, and fatigue life assessment are all supported by mature design specifications and engineering experience. Therefore, this manual will not elaborate on the specific shape, installation method, reset spring parameters, and cooperation details between the locking block 33 and the protrusion 35 of the pusher 4, but will only use it as a conventional technical unit to realize the "locking-unlocking-avoidance" function of the clamping component 3.

[0024] Regarding the division of automotive wiring harness ends into outer and inner sides: the outer side mainly refers to the area where the braided layer is located and its external space; the inner side mainly refers to the area inside the insulation layer and close to the conductor. In clamping or deformation operations, it often specifically refers to the stress area near the inner surface of the insulation layer or the outer periphery of the conductor.

[0025] Example 1 This embodiment provides a cutting mechanism for automotive wiring harnesses. Addressing common pain points in the end-processing of shielded cables, such as "braid blooming," uncontrollable folding, and process disruption, it proposes a highly integrated, coordinated, and structurally adaptive mechanical solution. This mechanism is suitable for multi-layered composite shielded cables with a braided layer, insulation layer, and multi-strand stranded conductor from the outside in. It can be seamlessly integrated into fully automated wiring harness processing equipment, achieving integrated operations from clamping, separation, cutting, to obstacle avoidance.

[0026] See Figures 1 to 5The cutting mechanism uses a frame as its core support platform, on which all functional modules (braiding layer processing components) are integrated and installed. These functional modules specifically include a guide 1, a clamping component, a pressing component 3, a cutting component 2, and a pushing component 4. The guide 1 is located on the outer region of the wire harness end, and its core function is to achieve controllable separation of the braided layer and the insulation layer. The clamping component is located near the guide 1 and is mainly used to stably hold the braided layer after it has expanded. Mature technologies such as annular flexible grippers (e.g., silicone finger arrays) or pneumatic / vacuum adsorption clamping units can be used for the clamping component. The former achieves uniform clamping force through circumferential flexible clamping, while the latter gathers the copper wires through negative pressure, avoiding any mechanical contact. Given the maturity of these technologies, their specific structures will not be described in detail in this embodiment. The pressing component 3 acts on the inner side of the wire harness end, and its main function is to induce cross-sectional deformation of the wire harness through radial pressure, creating conditions for actively opening the braided layer. Cutting component 2 is integrated onto guide component 1, facing the insulation layer, and is used to precisely peel off the inner insulation layer to expose the conductor. Pushing component 4 is the central actuator and power transmission hub of the entire mechanism, and can slide along the wire harness axis on the frame.

[0027] Preferred, see Figure 2 , Figure 3 A guide member 1 is provided to achieve controllable separation of the braided layer and the insulation layer. The guide member 1 has a guide slope 11 extending radially outward towards the wire harness. The guide slope 11 is inserted into and acts on the interface between the braided layer and the insulation layer. When the guide member 1 slides along the axial direction of the wire harness, the guide slope 11 gradually separates the braided layer and the insulation layer through a wedging action, causing the braided layer to expand outward while the insulation layer remains in place. After the braided layer and the insulation layer are completely separated, the clamping member operates synchronously to clamp the expanded braided layer, thereby fixing its position and providing an operational basis for subsequent outward turning operations. In addition, a cutting member 2 is provided on the side of the guide member 1 facing the insulation layer. When the guide member 1 slides axially, the cutting member 2 simultaneously cuts the exposed insulation layer, thereby peeling off the insulation layer and exposing the internal conductor, which facilitates subsequent terminal crimping.

[0028] Operating process of guide component 1: As guide component 1 slides along the axial direction of the wire harness, the guide slope 11 gradually weds in, pushing the originally tightly fitted braided layer outward and expanding it, while the inner insulation layer remains in place, thus achieving physical separation between the two. After separation, the clamping component immediately clamps and fixes the expanded braided layer to prevent it from springing back or scattering. During the axial advancement of guide component 1, the cutting component 2 on it simultaneously cuts the exposed insulation layer; the longitudinal cutter 21 forms a longitudinal opening along the axial direction, and the circumferential cutter 22 then completes the circumferential cut, ultimately achieving complete peeling of the insulation layer, exposing a clean, undamaged conductor, providing a reliable foundation for subsequent terminal crimping.

[0029] Preferably, to enable the guide 1 to smoothly and reliably enter the interface between the braided layer and the insulation layer, a clamping member 3 is provided to actively induce controllable deformation of the wire harness cross-section, thereby artificially creating an initial separation gap in the outer braided layer area, solving the key problem of "no entry point and difficult wedging". Before the guide 1 intervenes, the clamping member 3 first presses the inner side of the wire harness radially inward, causing the circular cross-section to undergo controllable local elliptic deformation, thus forming a small gap on the outer side. This gap provides the necessary channel for the subsequent smooth insertion of the guide 1 between the braided layer and the insulation layer, avoiding structural damage caused by forced wedging.

[0030] Regarding the structural details of clamping component 3: It adopts a split structure, which includes clamping units arranged circumferentially. The clamping units together form an annular ring on the inner side. The annular ring is used to apply uniform radial pressure to the inner side of the end of the wire harness during the clamping process, avoiding local stress concentration that could lead to insulation layer damage or uneven deformation of the braided layer. At least the clamping unit located at the bottom of the annular ring in clamping component 3 is an independently detachable structure, which facilitates individual replacement after long-term pressure from the wire harness's own weight and frequent friction, reducing maintenance costs and improving equipment availability. Each clamping unit has circumferentially distributed balls on the side facing the wire harness. The balls roll in contact with the wire harness surface during axial movement or clamping, effectively reducing frictional resistance. This not only enables adaptive fitting to different wire diameters but also allows for rapid release after deformation induction, preventing permanent indentations in the insulation layer or conductor displacement caused by prolonged pressure.

[0031] Preferably, in order to cut the inner insulation layer while the braided layer is being prepared for outward turning, the cutting component 2 is directly integrated onto the guide component 1 and positioned facing the insulation layer, thereby achieving process integration and spatial coordination of shielding layer separation and insulation layer peeling. Specifically, the cutting component 2 includes a longitudinal cutting blade 21 and a ring cutting blade 22; the longitudinal cutting blade 21 and the ring cutting blade 22 are equipped with driving elements to achieve precise control and flexible execution of the cutting action. The longitudinal cutting blade 21 extends axially with its cutting edge facing the surface of the insulation layer. During the axial sliding of the guide component 1, it first cuts into the insulation layer and performs a longitudinal slit along its length, forming an axial opening that extends through a predetermined peeling length; this not only provides a release path for subsequent insulation layer peeling but also effectively prevents tensile deformation of the insulation material or conductor damage caused by overall tearing. The ring cutting blade 22 is positioned at the front end of the guide block 12 and is used to perform a circumferential ring cut on the insulation layer at a predetermined peeling endpoint at the end of the wire harness.

[0032] In terms of working sequence, the longitudinal cutter 21 and the circumferential cutter 22 work together and execute sequentially: when the guide 1 is driven by the pusher 4 to advance axially, the longitudinal cutter 21 first completes the longitudinal slicing; subsequently, with the guide 1 continuing to advance or with the assistance of the rotation of the rotating frame 13, the circumferential cutter 22 completes the circumferential cutting. The two work together to completely "open" the insulation layer, exposing the internal multi-strand stranded conductor, and the conductor surface is free of scratches, indentations, and copper wire contamination, providing a clean and reliable electrical connection foundation for subsequent terminal crimping.

[0033] Furthermore, to meet the process requirements of the circumferential cutting blade 22 performing circumferential cutting on the insulation layer, the structure and movement of the guide component 1 are optimized, enabling it not only to have axial propulsion capability but also to achieve precise circumferential rotation at specific process stages, thereby meeting the requirements of composite cutting actions. Specifically, The guide component 1 includes a guide block 12 and a rotating frame 13. The guide slope 11, the longitudinal cutter 21, and the circumferential cutter 22 are all disposed on the guide block 12. The guide blocks 12 are mounted on the rotating frame 13 in a circumferential array. The rotating frame 13 moves smoothly along the axial direction of the wire harness under the drive of the pusher 4, driving all the guide blocks 12 to move forward synchronously. During this process, the guide slope 11 on the guide block 12 first wedges into the interface between the braided layer and the insulation layer, realizing the controllable separation of the two. At the same time, the longitudinal cutter 21 follows closely and cuts into the exposed insulation layer, and slides along the axial direction to complete the longitudinal sectioning of the insulation layer, forming an opening that runs through the predetermined peeling length. When the axial advance is in place, the system uses a transmission switching mechanism (such as the limit block triggering the transmission pin 44 to disengage) to convert the output of the main drive source from axial translation to rotational motion. At this time, the rotating frame 13 rotates uniformly around the wire harness axis for one revolution, driving the ring cutters 22 on each guide block 12 to perform continuous circumferential ring cuts along the outer periphery of the insulation layer, accurately cutting off the end of the insulation layer, ensuring consistent peeling length and a smooth, burr-free end face. Through the combined motion of the axial movement and circumferential rotation of the rotating frame 13, the guide member 1 can sequentially or collaboratively complete the separation of the braided layer and the insulation layer, the longitudinal slicing of the insulation layer, and the ring cut.

[0034] Furthermore, to achieve precise execution of the clamping action and space avoidance for subsequent outward turning processes, and to ensure that the guide component 1 can smoothly transition into rotation mode after axial separation and cutting, the installation structure and motion constraints of the clamping component 3 and the guide component 1 are optimized. Specifically, the clamping component 3 includes a clamping block 31 and a mounting frame 32. The clamping block 31 is slidably mounted on the mounting frame 32 along the radial direction of the wire harness, and its radial displacement is controlled by a return spring or a drive mechanism, thereby achieving reliable clamping and timely release of the inner side of the wire harness end. Both the mounting frame 32 and the rotating frame 13 adopt a ring structure design, forming a through-channel at the center, allowing the wire harness to pass through smoothly and providing a structural foundation and movement space for subsequent operations. More importantly, both the mounting bracket 32 ​​and the rotating bracket 13 can slide independently or synchronously along the axial direction of the wire harness, thereby performing clamping and positioning and guiding and cutting actions at different process stages. In the initial stage, the mounting bracket 32 ​​remains fixed, and the rotating bracket 13 is driven forward by the pusher 4 to perform guiding and cutting. During the clamping operation, the mounting bracket 32 ​​serves as the support base for the clamping block 31, ensuring stable transmission of radial clamping force. When the braided layer needs to be turned outward, the mounting bracket 32 ​​can be moved back axially as a whole to make room for the turning operation.

[0035] To balance clamping stability and obstacle avoidance flexibility, the clamping component 3 is connected to the frame via a limiting structure. This limiting structure includes a locking block 33, which initially fixes the clamping component 3 to the frame to ensure positional stability during clamping operations. Once the braided layer has expanded and is fixed by the clamping component, if an outward flipping operation is required, the system triggers an unlocking mechanism (e.g., the protrusion 35 on the pusher 4 pushes the locking block 33), releasing the locking block 33 from the mounting frame 32 and allowing the entire clamping component 3 (including the mounting frame 32 and the clamping block 31) to slide freely along the frame axis. At this time, under the action of the pusher 36, the clamping component 3 retracts as a whole, actively avoiding the wire harness end area and preventing interference with the outward flipping tool or the already folded braided layer.

[0036] Meanwhile, the guide 1 is installed on the frame through the cooperation of the groove and the protrusion 35 structure, forming a composite guiding mechanism of "straight line first, then rotation": the movement of the guide 1 on the frame is first to slide along the axial direction of the wire harness to realize the separation of the braided layer and the insulation layer and the longitudinal cutting of the insulation layer; then, after completing the axial advance, the guide 1 realizes the radial rotation around the wire harness axis through the cooperation structure of the groove and the protrusion 35 between it and the frame, thereby driving the ring cutter 22 to complete the circumferential ring cut of the insulation layer; this not only limits the radial sway of the guide 1 in the axial movement stage and ensures the stability of the cutting trajectory, but also provides a precise rotation center and guiding constraint when switching to the rotation mode, effectively preventing the ring cut from not closing or the insulation layer from tearing due to shaking.

[0037] It is worth noting that, see Figure 4 , Figure 5 To achieve highly coordinated and automated execution of multiple processes such as clamping, separation, cutting, and avoidance during the processing of automotive wiring harness ends, a pusher 4 is set as the core action trigger unit, in conjunction with a precise mechanical structure design. Specifically: the clamping component 3 and the guide component 1 are equipped with the pusher 4, which can slide along the axial direction of the wiring harness; the pusher 4 and the clamping block 31 are respectively provided with mutually cooperating trapezoidal slopes 34 (the horizontal section of the trapezoidal slope 34 is connected to inclined surfaces on both sides). The trapezoidal slope 34 is composed of three parts: a front inclined surface, a middle horizontal section, and a rear inclined surface; and both the pusher 4 and the guide component 1 are provided with stops, which are used for the relay transmission of force. When the pusher 4 moves axially toward the clamping member 3 (initial clamping stage), the trapezoidal slope 34 of the pusher 4 contacts and slides relative to the corresponding slope of the clamping block 31, forcing the clamping block 31 to move radially inward, thereby applying pressure to the inner side of the wire harness end, causing controllable local deformation of the wire harness cross section, and causing the outer braided layer to open; (stable clamping stage) as the pusher 4 continues to advance, when the horizontal sections of the trapezoidal slope 34 are in contact with each other, the clamping block 31 reaches the maximum clamping stroke and stops radial movement. At this time, the clamping force remains stable, ensuring that the braided layer is fully opened; (force transmission to start separation) during the process of the horizontal sections of the trapezoidal slope 34 being in contact, the stop on the pusher 4 abuts against the stop on the guide 1, thereby transmitting the subsequent axial thrust to the guide 1, driving the guide 1 to move axially synchronously, so as to perform the separation of the braided layer and the insulation layer and the cutting and peeling action of the insulation layer.

[0038] To further support the outward turning of the braided layer, the pusher 4 is provided with a protrusion 35 and a push block 36 to unlock and retract the clamping member 3: when the pusher 4 moves axially to a preset position, the protrusion 35 acts on the locking block 33 to release the locking block 33 from locking the clamping member 3, allowing the clamping member 3 to slide along the axial direction of the wire harness on the frame, thereby providing clearance space for the outward turning of the braided layer; during the continuous advancement of the pusher 4, in the initial stage, the front inclined surface of the pusher 4 cooperates with the clamping block 31, driving the clamping block 31 to move radially inward, thereby clamping the end of the wire harness; when the pusher 4 advances... 4. When the process continues to advance until the horizontal section of the trapezoidal slope 34 is aligned, the clamping block 31 remains at the maximum clamping stroke position, with its radial position unchanged, maintaining a stable clamping state. Subsequently, the pusher 4 advances further, and its rear inclined surface begins to contact the clamping block 31. Under the synergistic action of the return spring, the clamping block 31 is forced to retract radially outward, achieving active release. After the clamping release is completed, the pusher 36 continues to move axially with the pusher 4, abutting against and pushing the unlocked clamping block 3 to slide axially along the frame, moving it away from the wire harness end area, thereby providing sufficient operating space for the outward turning of the braided layer and subsequent processing procedures.

[0039] To achieve complete stripping of the insulation layer, the cutting component 2 needs to switch to circumferential cutting mode after completing longitudinal cutting. Therefore, a lead screw drive component is introduced to transform a single rotational input into a composite motion of axial advance followed by circumferential rotation, thereby sequentially completing the longitudinal slitting and circumferential cutting of the insulation layer, avoiding reliance on multiple drive sources or complex electronic control systems. Specifically, the lead screw drive component includes a drive screw 41 and a threaded movable nut 42. The drive screw 41 serves as the main force input shaft and is driven to rotate by a servo motor. The movable nut 42 is connected to the pusher 4 and is used to drive the pusher 4 to slide precisely along the wire harness axis on the frame when the drive screw 41 rotates, thereby triggering preliminary processes such as clamping, separation, and longitudinal cutting.

[0040] To further realize the subsequent circumferential cutting action, a drive gear is coaxially fixed on the drive screw 41, and a corresponding transmission gear is provided on the rotating frame 13. The two form a meshing gear pair, which is used to transmit the rotational motion of the drive screw 41 to the rotating frame 13 to realize its circumferential rotation. To ensure that the axial motion and rotational motion are strictly timed and do not interfere with each other, the moving nut 42 is provided with a transmission groove 43 extending along the axial direction, the pusher 4 is provided with a transmission pin 44, and the frame is also provided with an axial limiting block 45. The transmission pin 44 is slidably installed on the pusher 4 and is inserted into the transmission groove 43 in the initial stage. Therefore, in the initial stage of operation, the pusher 4 and the moving nut 42 form a rigid linkage and move axially synchronously with it to complete the clamping, guiding separation and longitudinal cutting of the longitudinal cutter 21. When the lead screw drive component drives the pusher 4 to the position of the limiting block, the axial limiting block 45 on the frame intervenes; the limiting block applies a lateral force to the transmission pin 44 (usually guided by an inclined plane or cam structure), forcing the transmission pin 44 to disengage from the transmission groove 43; once disengaged, the axial transmission relationship between the pusher 4 and the moving nut 42 is released, the pusher 4 stops moving forward and maintains its current position; at this time, the drive screw 41 continues to rotate, but the moving nut 42 is axially stationary or idle due to reaching the stroke limit or structural constraints; the rotational power of the drive screw 41 is then transmitted to the rotating frame 13 through the meshing of the drive gear and the transmission gear; the rotating frame 13 then rotates uniformly around the wire harness axis for one revolution, driving the ring cutter 22 on it to perform a closed circumferential ring cut on the end of the insulation layer, ensuring consistent peeling length and a flat end face without burrs.

[0041] Of course, the above are just typical examples of the present invention. In addition, the present invention may have many other specific embodiments. All technical solutions formed by equivalent substitution or equivalent transformation fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A cutting mechanism for an automobile wire harness, the automobile wire harness comprising, from the outside to the inside, a braided layer, an insulation layer and a conductor, characterized in that, the cutting mechanism comprises a braided layer processing component, the braided layer processing component comprising a guide member and a clamping member at the end of the wire harness; the guide member is provided with a guide slope surface extending towards the radial outside of the wire harness, the guide slope surface is inserted into and acts on the interface between the braided layer and the insulation layer; when the guide member slides along the axial direction of the wire harness, the guide slope surface gradually separates the braided layer and the insulation layer by wedge action, so that the braided layer expands outwardly while the insulation layer remains in place; after the braided layer and the insulation layer are completely separated, the clamping member acts synchronously to clamp the expanded braided layer, so as to fix the position of the braided layer and provide an operating basis for subsequent evert operation; in addition, the side of the guide member facing the insulation layer is provided with a cutting member, which synchronously cuts the exposed insulation layer during the axial sliding of the guide member, realizes the peeling of the insulation layer, and exposes the internal conductor, thereby facilitating the subsequent terminal crimping.

2. The trimming mechanism of claim 1, wherein, the end of the automobile wire harness is divided into an outer side and an inner side; the braided layer processing component further comprises a clamping and pressing member, the clamping and pressing member acts on the inner side of the wire harness, and the guide member acts on the outer side of the wire harness; when separating the braided layer and the insulation layer, the clamping and pressing member first presses the inner side of the wire harness radially inward, so that the cross section of the wire harness is locally deformed, thereby causing the braided layer on the outer side to open outwardly and form a gap; the gap formed provides an access for the guide member located on the outer side of the wire harness to wedge into the interface between the braided layer and the insulation layer, so that the guide member can smoothly wedge into the interface and effectively separate the braided layer and the insulation layer during subsequent axial sliding.

3. The cutting mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, the clamping and pressing member adopts a split structure, the split structure comprising clamping units arranged in the circumferential direction, the clamping units collectively forming an annular ring on the inner side, the annular ring being used to apply uniform radial pressure to the inner side of the end of the wire harness during clamping of the wire harness, so as to avoid local stress concentration causing damage to the insulation layer or uneven deformation of the braided layer; at least the clamping unit located at the bottom end of the annular ring in the clamping and pressing member is of a detachable structure, so as to facilitate individual replacement after long-term bearing of the weight of the wire harness and frequent friction, thereby reducing maintenance cost and improving equipment availability; each clamping unit is provided with a plurality of balls distributed in the circumferential direction on the side facing the wire harness, the balls roll on the surface of the wire harness during axial movement or clamping of the wire harness, effectively reducing the frictional resistance, and realizing adaptive fitting and dynamic following of wire harnesses with different outer diameters.

4. The cutting mechanism according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, the cutting member comprises a longitudinal cutter and a ring cutter; the longitudinal cutter is used to longitudinally cut the insulation layer in the axial direction to form an opening facilitating peeling; the ring cutter is used to circumferentially cut the insulation layer at a predetermined position of the end of the wire harness to limit the peeling length and realize neat cutting of the end face of the insulation layer. The longitudinal cutter and the ring cutter are cooperated to complete the longitudinal cutting and the ring cutting of the insulation layer in sequence during the axial sliding of the guide, so as to realize the stripping of the insulation layer and expose the complete and undamaged conductor.

5. The cutting mechanism of claim 4, wherein, The guide comprises a guide block and a rotating frame, and the guide slope, the longitudinal cutter and the ring cutter are arranged on the guide block; The guide block is circumferentially arranged on the rotating frame; During the operation, the rotating frame moves axially to drive the guide block to advance synchronously, so that the longitudinal cutter cuts into the insulation layer and slides axially to complete the longitudinal cutting of the insulation layer; then, the rotating frame rotates around the wire bundle axis to drive the ring cutter to move circumferentially along the outer periphery of the insulation layer to realize the ring cutting of the insulation layer; Through the combined motion of the axial movement and the circumferential rotation of the rotating frame, the guide can complete the separation of the braided layer and the insulation layer, the longitudinal cutting and the ring cutting of the insulation layer in sequence or cooperatively.

6. The cutting mechanism of claim 5, wherein, The clamping member comprises a clamping block and a mounting frame, and the clamping block is arranged on the mounting frame to slide in the radial direction of the wire bundle to realize the clamping and releasing of the inner side of the wire bundle end; The mounting frame and the rotating frame can independently or synchronously slide in the axial direction of the wire bundle to respectively perform the clamping positioning and the guide cutting in different process stages; The mounting frame and the rotating frame are designed in a ring structure, and a through wire passage is formed in the center to enable the wire bundle to pass through smoothly and provide a structural basis and a motion space for subsequent operations.

7. The cutting mechanism of claim 6, wherein, The clamping member and the guide are provided with a push member which can slide in the axial direction of the wire bundle; the push member and the clamping block are respectively provided with trapezoidal slopes which match each other, and the push member and the guide are respectively provided with stop blocks; When the push member moves axially to the clamping member, the trapezoidal slopes of the push member and the clamping block are in contact and slide relative to each other to force the clamping block to move radially inward to apply pressure to the inner side of the wire bundle end to cause the local cross section of the wire bundle to deform controllably and promote the outer braided layer to open; As the push member continues to advance, when the horizontal sections of the trapezoidal slopes are in contact with each other, the clamping block reaches the maximum clamping stroke and stops the radial movement, and at this time the clamping pressure remains stable to ensure that the braided layer is fully opened; During the contact of the horizontal sections of the trapezoidal slopes, the stop blocks on the push member and the guide are in abutment, so as to transmit the subsequent axial thrust to the guide to drive the guide to move axially synchronously to perform the separation of the braided layer and the insulation layer and the cutting and stripping of the insulation layer.

8. The cutting mechanism of claim 7, wherein, The braided layer processing component comprises a mold frame, and the clamping member and the guide are integrally mounted on the mold frame; the clamping member is connected to the mold frame through a limiting structure, and the guide is mounted on the mold frame through a sliding groove and a protrusion structure. The limiting structure comprises a clamping block, which fixes the clamping piece on the mold in the initial state to ensure the position stability during the clamping operation; when it is necessary to avoid the woven layer turned outward, the clamping block is released, so that the clamping piece can slide on the mold in the axial direction of the wire bundle, thereby providing space for the subsequent outward turning operation and avoiding interference; The movement of the guide piece on the mold is first sliding in the axial direction of the wire bundle to realize the separation of the woven layer and the insulation layer and the longitudinal cutting of the insulation layer; then, after the axial advancement is completed, the guide piece is rotated radially around the axis of the wire bundle through the sliding groove and the protrusion matching structure between the guide piece and the mold, thereby driving the ring cutter to complete the circumferential ring cutting of the insulation layer.

9. The cutting mechanism of claim 8, wherein, The pushing piece is provided with a protrusion and a pushing block, the protrusion acts on the clamping block when the pushing piece moves axially to the preset position to release the locking of the clamping piece by the clamping block, so that the clamping piece can slide on the mold in the axial direction of the wire bundle, thereby providing an avoiding space for the woven layer turned outward; The horizontal section of the trapezoidal slope surface is connected with inclined surfaces on both sides; during the continuous advancement of the pushing piece, the front side inclined surface of the pushing piece cooperates with the clamping block in the initial stage to drive the clamping block to move radially inward to realize the clamping of the wire bundle end; when the pushing piece continues to advance to the alignment of the horizontal section of the trapezoidal slope surface, the clamping block remains at the maximum clamping stroke position with the radial position unchanged to maintain the stable clamping state; then, the pushing piece further advances, and the rear side inclined surface starts to contact the clamping block, which is forced to retreat radially outward under the cooperation of the return spring to realize the active release; After the clamping release is completed, the pushing block continues to move axially with the pushing piece, abuts against and pushes the unlocked clamping piece to slide axially on the mold, so that it is away from the wire bundle end region, thereby providing sufficient operation space for the outward turning of the woven layer and the subsequent processing procedures.

10. The cutting mechanism of claim 9, wherein, The mold is provided with a lead screw transmission component, the lead screw transmission component comprises a driving lead screw and a moving nut threadedly matched with the driving lead screw, the moving nut is connected with the pushing piece for accurately sliding the pushing piece on the mold in the axial direction of the wire bundle when the driving lead screw rotates; the driving lead screw is coaxially fixed with a driving gear, and the rotating frame is correspondingly provided with a transmission gear, which constitutes an engageable gear pair for transmitting the rotary motion of the driving lead screw to the rotating frame to realize the circumferential rotation of the rotating frame; The moving nut is provided with an axial transmission groove, and the pushing piece is provided with a transmission pin which is slidingly installed on the pushing piece and is inserted into the transmission groove in the initial stage, so that the pushing piece moves axially synchronously with the moving nut; the mold is further provided with an axial limiting block; when the lead screw transmission component drives the pushing piece to move to the position of the limiting block, the limiting block applies a lateral force to the transmission pin to force the transmission pin to be detached from the transmission groove; At this time, the transmission relationship between the pushing member and the moving nut is released, the moving nut continues to rotate with the driving screw and is axially stationary or idling, the driving screw transmits the rotating power to the rotating frame through the meshing of the driving gear and the transmission gear, so as to drive the rotating frame to rotate around the wire bundle axis, and the annular cutting action on the insulating layer is completed.

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