Grid dimension modification for an electrical wiring machine

Abstract

A gripping system (100) for an electrical wiring machine (M) is presented, wherein the gripping system (100) comprises a lower gripper (110) and an upper gripper (120), the lower gripper (110) and the upper gripper (120) interacting to grip the wires (W) of a wire assembly (WA) between them in order to change the spacing of the wires (W) of the wire assembly (WA) from a feed grid dimension (FP) to a predefined collection grid dimension (CP). A grid dimension modification station (2000), an electrical wiring machine (M), and a method for overhauling an electrical wiring machine are also presented.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electrical wiring machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of pitch modification for changing the pitch of a wire assembly to be connected to a connector in an electrical wiring machine. State of the art

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of electrical wiring machines. These machines typically arrange a confusing group of cables into a ribbon-shaped wire assembly with a specific pitch, i.e., the distance between one wire and the adjacent wire, and electrically connect such a wire assembly with a mating connector, e.g., by crimping or soldering.

[0003] Today, many connectors meet international standards, for example, regarding dimensions and spacing—the distance between one electrical connection and the next—to eliminate mating and assembly issues, improve connection quality, reduce installation space, and increase compatibility with different systems. One example of such connectors is the RAST connector, which is used primarily in the home appliance industry, heating technology, and other industrial applications.

[0004] In general, each electrical wiring machine is capable of preparing a wire assembly for a specific connector and electrically connecting it to it. In particular, each wiring machine is designed to prepare a wire assembly with a specific pitch that is compatible with the pitch of the connector to which it is to be electrically connected. Generally, each machine is designed for a single specific connector.

[0005] In view of the above, it would be advantageous to be able to adapt an electrical wiring machine to different connectors suitable for accommodating wire harnesses with different pitches.

[0006] The present invention addresses this problem. Summary

[0007] The present invention is based on the idea of ​​providing a gripping system for an electrical wiring machine which is designed to vary the pitch of the wires of a wire assembly from a feed pitch to a predefined collection pitch.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a gripping system for an electrical wiring machine is provided, the gripping system comprising a lower gripper and an upper gripper, the lower gripper and the upper gripper cooperating with each other to grip the wires of a wire assembly between them to change the pitch of the wires of the wire assembly from a feed pitch to a predefined collection pitch. In this way, when an electrical wiring machine prepares a wire assembly with a feed pitch, the same wire assembly can be used both for wiring to a connector having connector terminals spaced at a pitch equal to the feed pitch and for wiring to another connector having connector terminals spaced at a predetermined pitch equal to the collection pitch.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the collection pitch is smaller than the feed pitch, e.g., the collection pitch is 1.5 mm and / or the feed pitch is 2.5 mm. The invention is not limited to such values, and both the feed pitch and the collection pitch can have any suitable value. It is also possible for the feed pitch to be smaller than the collection pitch.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the lower gripper comprises a lower gripping box surrounding a lower gripping structure, and the upper gripper comprises an upper gripping box surrounding an upper gripping structure. The lower gripping structure and the upper gripping structure enable the gripping system to grip the wires of the wire assembly. The upper gripping box receives, supports, and protects the upper gripping structure. The lower gripping box receives, supports, and protects the lower gripping structure.

[0011] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the lower gripping structure comprises a plurality of vertical plates and the upper gripping structure comprises a plurality of vertical plates, wherein a vertical plate of the lower gripping structure faces a corresponding vertical plate of the upper gripping structure to capture and hold a wire of the wire assembly between opposing vertical plates. In particular, the wires of the wire assembly are held between mutually facing side surfaces of the mutually facing vertical plates. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, each vertical plate of the lower gripping structure faces a corresponding vertical plate of the upper gripping structure to capture and hold a wire of the wire assembly between each pair of mutually facing vertical plates.The vertical plate system is particularly advantageous because by varying the mutual spacing between adjacent vertical plates, the spacing and thus the distance between the wires held between pairs of opposing vertical plates can be varied. Furthermore, the wires of the wire assembly can be easily gripped and held in position while varying the pitch.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the mutual spacing between the vertical plates of the lower gripping structure and / or the mutual spacing between the vertical plates of the upper gripping structure is variable. For example, the mutual spacing is variable between a maximum mutual spacing corresponding to the feed pitch and a minimum mutual spacing corresponding to the collection pitch.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the upper side surface of the vertical plates of the lower gripping structure facing the upper gripper and the lower side surface of the vertical plates of the upper gripping structure facing the lower gripper have a convex profile so that they conform to the profile of a wire of the wire assembly clamped between them. This facilitates gripping and holding the wires between opposing vertical plates.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the gripping system comprises stop means for limiting the maximum distance between adjacent vertical panels. The stop means comprise, for example, extended arms that protrude from one vertical panel and end in a stop that engages another vertical panel, for example, the adjacent vertical panel.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, each vertical plate comprises at least two elongated arms extending parallel to the X direction, projecting from the shorter side of the vertical plate and having a length D1 in the X direction corresponding to the maximum possible distance between the centers of two adjacent vertical plates; the elongated arms terminate in a stop extending parallel to the Y direction, which engages the preceding vertical plate.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, D1 is equal to the feed pitch.

[0017] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the lower gripping box surrounding the lower gripping structure and the upper gripping box surrounding the upper gripping structure comprise horizontal guide cavities in which the extended arms of the vertical plates of the lower gripping structure and the upper gripping structure can slide along the X-direction, respectively, to guide the widening and narrowing of the vertical plates of the lower gripping structure and the upper gripping structure with respect to each other, respectively.

[0018] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the lower gripping box surrounding the lower gripping structure is open on the side facing the upper gripping structure, and the upper gripping box of the upper gripping structure is open on the side facing the lower gripping structure, so that each vertical plate of the lower gripping structure and each corresponding vertical plate of the upper gripping structure can grasp and hold a wire of the wire assembly.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, each vertical plate of the lower gripping structure and the upper gripping structure has a corresponding through-hole suitable for receiving a lower rod and an upper rod, respectively, wherein the upper rod and the lower rod make it possible to change accordingly the mutual distance between the centers of two adjacent vertical plates of the lower gripping structure and the upper gripping structure.

[0020] The present invention further relates to a pitch modification station for an electrical wiring machine comprising a gripping system according to the present invention, at least a portion of a transport rail, a comb sliding on the portion of the transport rail to feed and / or collect the wire assembly to / from the gripping system, and an actuation system configured to actuate the gripping system. The portion of the transport rail accommodates the comb so that the comb can approach the pitch modification station when the wire assembly is transported at the feed pitch, and the comb can leave the pitch modification station when the wire assembly is transported at the collection pitch.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the comb comprises a feed section adapted to receive and support the wire assembly with the feed pitch, and a collection section adapted to receive and support the wire assembly with the collection pitch. The comb is therefore advantageously suitable for both feeding the wire assembly to the pitch modification station and retrieving it from the pitch modification station.

[0022] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the feed section and the collection section comprise comb receptacles. Each comb receptacle of the comb has a length corresponding to the feed pitch or the collection pitch and can accommodate a wire of the wire assembly. The number of comb receptacles can be equal to or greater than the number of wires in the wire assembly.

[0023] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, each comb receptacle is defined by a pair of adjacent teeth. Elastic springs, e.g., helical tension springs, are configured to dynamically adjust the distance between each pair of teeth defining each comb receptacle. In this way, thanks to the elasticity of the tension coil spring, electrical wires with different cross-sections can be accommodated and held in the comb receptacles.

[0024] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the adjacent teeth in the feed section of the comb have a mutual spacing d1 corresponding to the feed pitch, and the adjacent teeth in the collection section of the comb have a mutual spacing d2 corresponding to the collection pitch. A single comb is therefore suitable for transporting the wire assembly with both the feed and collection pitches.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the feed section comprises comb receptacles, and the collection section comprises two parallel horizontal plates 430 that can close onto the wire assembly with the collection pitch. In this embodiment, the collection section of the comb uses an alternative solution consisting of two parallel plates to receive and hold the wire assembly with the collection pitch during transport.

[0026] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the actuation system comprises at least two actuators, each connected to the lower gripper and the upper gripper, wherein each actuator is suitable for enabling the independent movement of the lower gripper and the upper gripper along the horizontal and / or vertical directions. The actuators can be, for example, electric motors. The actuators do not necessarily have to be connected to the lower and upper grippers.

[0027] For example, one actuator could enable vertical movement of both the lower and upper grippers, and another actuator could enable their horizontal movement. Alternatively, a single actuator could provide the movement of all grippers, or more than two actuators could be provided, each enabling horizontal or vertical movement of the lower and upper grippers.

[0028] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the lower gripping structure and the upper gripping structure comprise a plurality of vertical plates with a variable mutual distance D, wherein each vertical plate of the lower gripping structure and each corresponding vertical plate of the upper gripping structure can grasp and hold a wire of the wire assembly.

[0029] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the comb comprises a feeder section adapted to receive and support the wire assembly having the feeder pitch, and a collecting section adapted to receive and support the wire assembly having the collecting pitch.

[0030] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the feed section and the collecting section comprise comb receptacles.

[0031] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, each seat is defined by a pair of adjacent teeth.

[0032] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the adjacent teeth in the feed section of the comb are at a mutual distance d1 corresponding to the feed pitch, and the adjacent teeth in the collection section of the comb are at a mutual distance d2 corresponding to the collection pitch.

[0033] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the feed section comprises comb receptacles and the collection section comprises two parallel horizontal plates 430 which can close with the collection pitch on the wire assembly.

[0034] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the actuation system comprises at least two actuators each connected to the lower gripper and the upper gripper, each actuator being suitable for enabling the independent movement of the lower gripper and the upper gripper along the horizontal direction and / or the vertical direction.

[0035] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the actuation system comprises a lower rod and an upper rod, each housed in the through holes of the vertical plates, wherein the lower rod and the upper rod make it possible to change accordingly the mutual distance D between the center of two adjacent vertical plates of the lower gripping structure and the upper gripping structure.

[0036] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the support station comprises horizontal and vertical drive guides for guiding the movement of the lower gripper and the upper gripper of the gripping system along the vertical Z-direction and / or the horizontal X-direction, an actuation system housing for accommodating the actuation system that drives the gripping system, and a rail holder for holding the section of the transport rail.

[0037] The present invention also relates to an electrical wiring machine comprising at least one pitch modification station according to the present invention and a preparation station suitable for collecting the wires to be wired to a connector, e.g., twenty-one wires or more, and organizing them to form a wire assembly in the form of a tape having the feed pitch.

[0038] The present invention also relates to a method for modifying the pitch of a wire assembly from a feed pitch to a collection pitch using a pitch modification station according to the present invention. The method enables the use of an existing electrical wiring machine to connect a wire assembly to various terminals with different spacing.

[0039] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises the following steps: - collecting the wires to be wired with a connector, e.g. twenty-one wires or more, in a preparation station and arranging them so as to form a wire assembly in the form of a tape with the feed pitch; - Transporting the wire assembly with the feed pitch to the pitch modification station where the pitch of the wire assembly is changed from the feed pitch to the collection pitch.

[0040] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the following step: - Transport the wire assembly with the collective pitch to the wiring station to connect it with a suitable connector.

[0041] The present invention also relates to a method for retrofitting an electrical wiring machine comprising at least one preparation station and one wiring station, the method comprising adding a pitch modification station according to the present invention to the machine. Short description of the drawings

[0042] The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals and / or characters designate the same part and / or similar and / or corresponding parts of the machine. Fig. 1A shows a 3D view of a gripping system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1B shows a side view of a gripping system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2A shows the Fig. 1A, which comprises a feed section and a collection section. Fig. 2B shows the Fig. 1A having a wire assembly with a feed pitch carried on the feed section of the comb. Fig. 2C shows the Fig. 1A having a wire assembly with a collecting pitch supported on the collecting portion of the comb. Fig. Figure 3A shows an upper gripping structure according to an embodiment of the present invention in the feed position. Fig. Figure 3B shows an enlarged group of vertical plates of the Fig. 3A shown upper gripping structure. Fig. Figure 3C shows an enlarged view of Fig. 3B. Fig. Figure 4A shows an upper gripping structure according to an embodiment of the present invention in the collecting position. Fig. Figure 4B shows an enlarged group of vertical plates of the Fig. 4A shown upper gripping structure. Fig. Figure 5A shows the wire assembly with a feed pitch inserted into the feed section of the comb approaching the pitch modification station. Fig. Figure 5B shows the gripping system closing on the wire assembly. Fig. Figure 5C shows how the gripping system lifts and releases the wire assembly from the feed section of the comb using a feed pitch. Fig. Figure 5D shows the gripping system acting on the wire assembly to change its pitch from the feed pitch to the collection pitch. Fig. Figure 5E shows the gripping system moving to the collecting part of the comb. Fig. Figure 5F shows the gripper system lowering and depositing the wire assembly onto the collecting section of the comb. Fig. 5G shows the gripper system opening to release the wire assembly. Fig. Figure 5H shows the wire assembly with the collection pitch inserted into the collection section of the comb moving away from the pitch modification station. Detailed description

[0043] The present invention will now be described with reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the figures. Rather, the described embodiments merely illustrate various aspects of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

[0044] Further modifications and variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this description is intended to encompass all modifications and / or variations of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

[0045] For the sake of simplicity, identical or corresponding components in the figures are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0046] Fig. Figure 1A shows a 3D view of a gripping system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A more detailed description of its components can be found below in the description of Fig. 2A to 5H. To simplify the description, reference to Fig. 1A defines an orthogonal reference system XYZ. In particular, the horizontal direction X is defined as the direction in which the comb 400 moves, the vertical direction Z is defined as the direction in which the gripping system 100 closes on the wire assembly WA, and the direction Y is defined as the direction perpendicular to the two previous directions.

[0047] Fig. Figure 1B shows a side view of a gripping system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A more detailed description of its components can be found below in the description of Fig. 5A to 5H.

[0048] The electrical wiring machine M according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises at least three work stations: a preparation station 1000 (not shown in the figures), a pitch modification station 2000 (e.g. in the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B) and a wiring station 3000 (not shown in the figures). The pitch modification station 2000 according to the present invention can be added to existing machines that already have a preparation station 1000 and a wiring station 3000.

[0049] The preparation station 1000 collects the wires, at least two or more, to be wired to a connector 500, e.g., twenty-one wires or more, and arranges them to form a wire assembly WA in the form of a ribbon with a predetermined feeding pitch FP. The feeding pitch FP, i.e., the distance in the X direction between two adjacent wires of the wire assembly WA, can be, for example, 2.5 mm. The wire assembly WA with the feeding pitch FP is then placed parallel to the XY plane onto the feeding section 410 of a comb 400 arranged parallel to the Y direction.

[0050] The comb 400 slides along a transport rail 600 along the X direction, so that the wire assembly WA enters the pitch modification station 2000. In the pitch modification station 2000, the pitch of the wire assembly WA is changed from the feed pitch FC to a desired different collecting pitch CP. The collecting pitch CP, i.e., the distance in the X direction between two adjacent wires W of the wire assembly WA after the pitch modification station 2000, can be, for example, 1.5 mm.

[0051] Later, the wire assembly WA with the collection pitch CP is placed on the collection section 410 of the comb 400. Therefore, the comb 400 slides along the X direction to bring the wire assembly WA to the wiring station 3000, where it is wired to a connector 500 suitable for receiving the wire assembly WA with the collection pitch CP.

[0052] Fig. 2A shows a comb 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The comb 400 can slide on a transport rail 600 extending parallel to the X direction and comprises a frame 401, a feed section 410, and a collecting section 420. The feed section 410 is adapted to receive and support the wire assembly WA with the feed pitch FP. The collecting section 420 is adapted to receive and support the wire assembly WA with the collecting pitch CP. Both the feed section 410 and the collecting section 420 can have comb receptacles 412, 422 formed along the sliding direction X. Each comb receptacle 412, 422 is substantially V-shaped to receive the corresponding wire forming the wire assembly WA from above.Both the feed section 410 and the collection section 420 can comprise a plurality of receptacles 412, 422, each defined by a pair of adjacent teeth 415, 425, for example, twenty-one teeth or more. In the feed section 410, the teeth 415 are arranged at a distance d1 from one another that corresponds to the feed pitch FP. In the collection section 420, the teeth 425, if present, are arranged at a distance d2 from one another that corresponds to the collection pitch CP. In the embodiment shown, the spacing d1 of the teeth 415 in the feed section 410 is greater than the spacing d2 of the teeth 425 in the collection section 420. For this reason, the feed pitch FP of the wire assembly before entering the pitch modification station 2000 in the example shown is greater than the collection pitch CP of the wire assembly WA after entering the pitch modification station 2000.

[0053] However, the invention is not limited to such a design and the feed pitch FP of the wire assembly WA can be smaller than the collection pitch CP, so that d1 can also be smaller than d2.

[0054] Both the feed section 410 and the collecting section 420 of the comb 400 can be provided with elastic springs (not shown in the figures), e.g., helical tension springs, configured to dynamically adjust the distance between each pair of teeth 415, 425 defining each comb receptacle 412, 422, and thus the width of each comb receptacle 412, 422. In this way, thanks to the elasticity of the tension spring, electrical wires W with different cross-sections can be received and held in the comb receptacles 412, 422 without the risk of deformation and / or damage to the teeth 415, 425.

[0055] In an alternative embodiment, the collecting section 420 of the comb 400 may include two horizontal plates 430 (not shown in the figures) that can close around the wire assembly WA with the collecting pitch CP along the vertical direction Z and hold it in place while the comb 400 moves to the wiring station 3000.

[0056] Fig. 2B shows the Fig. 1A having a wire assembly WA with a feed pitch FC carried on the feed section 410 of the comb 400.

[0057] Fig. 2C shows the Fig. 1A having a wire assembly WA with a collecting pitch CP carried on the collecting portion 420 of the comb 400.

[0058] Fig. 3A shows an upper gripping structure 201 according to an embodiment of the present invention in the feed position D1.

[0059] The Fig. The gripping system 100 shown in Figure 1A comprises a lower gripper 110 and an upper gripper 120. The lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120 each comprise a lower gripping box 210 and an upper gripping box 220, which each surround a lower gripping structure 201 and an upper gripping structure 202. Fig. 3A shows an upper gripping structure 202. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lower gripping structure 201 is exactly like an upper gripping structure 202. In this case, everything described for the upper gripping structure 202 also applies to the lower gripping structure 201.

[0060] The upper gripping structure 202 comprises a plurality of vertical plates 232 with a variable mutual distance D. Each vertical plate 232 comprises two extended arms 252 which run parallel to the X-direction and protrude from the shorter side of the vertical plate 232 and end in a stop 242, ie a hook structure, parallel to the Y-direction, as in Fig. 3B. The length of the extended arms 252 corresponds to the feed pitch FP of the wire assembly WA approaching the gripping system 100. The stops 242 engage the preceding vertical plate 232 and ensure that the center of each vertical plate 232 cannot deviate by more than D1 from the center of the preceding vertical plate 232, i.e., by a distance corresponding to the feed pitch FP. The number of vertical plates 232 is equal to or greater than the number of wires W in the wire assembly WA.

[0061] Each vertical plate 231, 232 of both the lower gripping structure 201 and the upper gripping structure 202 includes a through-hole 271, 272 suitable for receiving a lower rod 310 and an upper rod 320, respectively. The lower rod 310 and the upper rod 320 of an actuation system, described in more detail below, enable the variation of the mutual distance D between the center of two adjacent vertical plates 231, 232 of the lower gripping structure 201 and the upper gripping structure 202, respectively.

[0062] The lower gripping box 210, which surrounds the lower gripping structure 201, and the upper gripping box 220, which surrounds the upper gripping structure 202, have horizontal guide cavities 221, 222 in which the extended arms 251, 252 of the vertical plates 231, 232 of the lower gripping structure 201 and the upper gripping structure 202, respectively, can slide along the X direction to guide the widening and narrowing of the vertical plates 231, 232 of the lower gripping structure 201 and the upper gripping structure 202, respectively, relative to each other. The lower gripping box 210, which surrounds the lower gripping structure 201, is open on the upper side opposite the upper gripping structure 202, and the upper gripping box 220 of the upper gripping structure 202 is open on the lower side opposite the lower gripping structure 201.

[0063] In this way, each vertical plate 231 of the lower gripping structure 201 and each corresponding vertical plate 232 of the upper gripping structure 202 can catch and hold a wire W of the wire assembly WA that reaches the pitch modification station 2000. In particular, the first vertical plate 232 on the left side (see Fig. 3A) the upper gripping structure 202 of the first vertical plate 231 on the left side of the lower gripping structure 201, the second of the second and so on.

[0064] To better grasp and hold the wires W of the wire assembly WA, the upper surface of the vertical plates 231 of the lower gripping structure 201 and the lower surface of the vertical plates 232 of the upper gripping structure 202 may have a convex profile to conform to the round profile of a wire W of the wire assembly WA, creating a hollow space between them. Any other suitable profile may be used within the scope of the present invention.

[0065] The upper gripping structure 202 is shown in its wider configuration, i.e., the configuration in which the center of each vertical plate 232 is spaced a distance D1 from the center of the adjacent vertical plate 232 along the X direction. According to the embodiment shown, the upper gripping structure 202 is configured such that D1 corresponds to the feed pitch FP of the incoming wire assembly WA. In such a configuration, the upper gripping structure 202 is ready to grasp and hold the incoming wire unit WA by cooperating with the lower gripping structure 201 of the same configuration.

[0066] In alternative embodiments, the maximum distance D1 between the centers of two adjacent vertical plates 231, 232 along the X direction may also be equal to or greater than the feed pitch FP.

[0067] Fig. Figure 3B shows an enlarged group of vertical plates 232 of the Fig. 3A shown upper gripping structure 202.

[0068] Fig. Figure 3C shows an enlarged view of Fig. 3B. In particular, Fig. 3C the extended arms 252 and the stop 242 of the Fig. 3B shown group of vertical plates 232.

[0069] Fig. 4A shows an upper gripping structure 202 according to an embodiment of the present invention in the collection position.

[0070] Fig. Figure 4B shows an enlarged group of vertical plates of the Fig. 4A shown upper gripping structure.

[0071] In this case, the upper gripping structure 202 is shown in its narrower configuration, i.e., the configuration in which the center of each vertical plate 232 is at a distance D2 from the center of its adjacent vertical plate 232 along the X direction. According to the embodiment shown, the upper gripping structure 202 is configured such that D2 corresponds to the collection pitch CP of the wire assembly WA. In such a configuration, the upper gripping structure 202 is ready to grasp and hold the wire assembly WA with the collection pitch by cooperating with the lower gripping structure 201 in the same configuration. D2 is the smaller distance that the two centers of the vertical plates 231, 232 of the lower gripping structure 201 and the upper gripping structure 202 can have along the X direction, since the vertical plates 231, 232 are in contact with each other at such a distance.

[0072] Fig. 5A shows the wire assembly WA with a feed pitch FC, which is inserted into the feed section 410 of the comb 400 and approaching the pitch modification station 2000. The wire assembly WA, comprising, for example, twenty-one wires, has been prepared in the preparation station 1000 in the form of a wire ribbon in which the wires have a pitch corresponding to the feed pitch FC, e.g., 2.5 mm. The comb 400 slides along the X direction on the transport rail 600.

[0073] The pitch modification station 2000 includes a section of the transport rail 600, the comb 400 described above, a gripping system 100, an actuation system 300, and a carrier system 700.

[0074] The part of the transport rail 600 which is included in the pitch modification station 2000 is designed such that the pitch modification station 2000 can be installed simultaneously in an existing electrical wiring machine M and enables the transport of the comb 400.

[0075] The gripping system 100 includes a lower gripper 110 and an upper gripper 120. The upper gripper 120 is opposite the lower gripper 120 in the Z direction. Both the lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120 are mounted on the support system 700 so that they can slide along the Z direction, moving away from and approaching each other.

[0076] When the comb 400 approaches the pitch modification station 2000, the gripping system 100 is open. Specifically, the lower gripper 110 is located below the XY plane of the wire assembly WA in the Z direction, and the upper gripper 120 is located above the XY plane of the wire assembly WA in the Z direction. When the comb 400 reaches the pitch modification station 2000, the cable assembly CA is located between the lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120 along the Z direction.

[0077] The actuation system 300 comprises at least two actuators 331, 332, each connected to the lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120. Each actuator 331, 332 enables independent movement along the horizontal direction X and / or the vertical direction Z of the lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120.

[0078] The support station 700 includes horizontal and vertical drive guides 730 for guiding the movement of the lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120 of the gripping system 100 along the vertical Z and / or horizontal X directions. The support system 700 further includes an actuation system housing 740, which houses the at least two actuators 331, 332 of the actuation system 300 that drive the gripping system 100.

[0079] Fig. 5B shows the gripping system 100 closing on the wire assembly WA. The lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120 slide toward each other along the Z direction, respectively, so that they close on the wire assembly WA. Specifically, each pair of corresponding vertical plates 231, 232 closes around a wire of the wire assembly WA to catch and hold it. Each pair of vertical plates 231, 232 is spaced apart in the X direction from the following pair by a distance D1 corresponding to the feed pitch FP of the wire assembly WA as it approaches the pitch modification station 2000.

[0080] Fig. Figure 5C shows the gripping system 100 lifting and detaching the wire assembly WA from the feed section 410 of the comb 400 at a feed pitch FC. At this time, both the lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120, which hold the wire assembly WA, move upward together in the Z direction and detach the wire assembly WA from the comb 400.

[0081] Fig. Figure 5D shows the gripping system acting on the wire assembly WA to change its pitch from the feed pitch to the desired collection pitch. At this time, the actuation system 310 simultaneously moves the vertical plates 231, 232 of the lower gripping structure 201 and the upper gripping structure 202 of the lower gripper 110 and the upper gripper 120, respectively. In this way, the distance D1 between a pair of vertical plates 231, 232 is changed to D2, i.e., to a distance corresponding to the desired collection pitch CP of the wire assembly WA. The wire assembly CA now has the desired collection pitch CP.

[0082] Fig. 5E shows the gripping system 100 moving toward the collecting section of the comb 400. Now, driven by the actuation system 300, the gripping system 100 moves in the X direction so that the wire assembly WA is now located above the collecting section 420 of the comb 400.

[0083] Fig. 5F shows the gripper system 100 lowering and depositing the wire assembly WA onto the collection section 420 of the comb 400. The gripper system 100, driven by the actuation system 300, now moves in the vertical Z direction so that the wire assembly WA is placed in the collection section 420 of the comb 400.

[0084] Fig. 5G shows the gripping system 100 opening to release the wire assembly WA. Finally, the gripping system 100 opens again to release the wire assembly WA and leave it in the collection section of the comb 400.

[0085] Fig.5H shows the wire assembly WA with the collection pitch CP inserted into the collection section 420 of the comb 400 and moving away from the pitch modification station 2000. The wire assembly WA with the desired collection pitch CP can now be moved through the comb 400 to the wiring station 4000, where it can be connected to a suitable connector 500.

[0086] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is possible to make various modifications to the present invention in light of the teachings described above and in the appended claims without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0087] For example, the number of wires comprising the wire package can vary. Furthermore, the feeder pitch does not have to be 2.5 mm and the collector pitch does not have to be 1.5 mm. In particular, both the feeder pitch and the collector pitch can have any suitable and desired value, and it can also result in the feeder pitch being smaller than the collector pitch.

[0088] Furthermore, the actuators can be, for example, electric motors or other suitable motors. The actuators do not necessarily have to be connected to the lower and upper grippers. For example, one actuator could enable the vertical movement of both the lower and upper grippers, and another actuator could enable their horizontal movement. Alternatively, there could be a single actuator that ensures the movements of all grippers, or there could be more than two actuators, each of which enables horizontal or vertical movement of the lower and upper grippers.

[0089] Finally, those aspects which are considered to be known to the person skilled in the art have not been described in order not to unnecessarily complicate the description of the invention.

[0090] Consequently, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but is limited only by the scope of the appended claims. Reference symbol 100 gripping system 110 Lower gripper 120 Upper gripper 201 Lower gripping structure 202 Upper gripping structure 210 Lower grab box 220 Upper grab box 221, 222 guide cavities 231, 232 Vertical plate 241, 242 stop 251, 252 Extended arm 271, 272 through hole 300 actuation system 310 Lower bar 320 Upper bar 331, 332 Actuators 400 comb 401 comb frame 410 feed section 420 collection section 412, 422 comb holder 415, 425 teeth 430 Horizontal Plate 500 connectors 501 connector terminals 600 transport rail 700 carrier system 730 drive guide 740 actuation system housing 1000 preparation stations 2000 grid modification station 3000 Wiring Station 4000 W Wire WA wire assembly FP feed pitch CP collective grid dimension M Electrical wiring machine

Claims

[1] Gripping system (100) for an electrical wiring machine (M), the gripping system (100) comprising a lower gripper (110) and an upper gripper (120), the lower gripper (110) and the upper gripper (120) cooperating with each other to grip the wires (W) of a wire assembly (WA) between them in order to change the spacing of the wires (W) of the wire assembly (WA) from a feed pitch (FP) to a predefined collection pitch (CP). [2] Gripping system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the collecting grid dimension (CP) is smaller than the feeding grid dimension (FP), for example the collecting grid dimension (CP) is 1.5 mm and / or the feeding grid dimension (FP) is 2.5 mm. [3] Gripping system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower gripper (110) comprises a lower gripping box (210) receiving a lower gripping structure (201), and the upper gripper (120) comprises an upper gripping box (220) receiving an upper gripping structure (202). [4] Gripping system (100) according to claim 3, wherein the lower gripping structure (201) comprises a plurality of vertical plates (231) and the upper gripping structure (202) comprises a plurality of vertical plates (232), wherein a vertical plate (231) of the lower gripping structure (201) faces a corresponding vertical plate (232) of the upper gripping structure to grasp and hold a wire (W) of the wire assembly (WA) between opposing vertical plates (231, 232), for example, each vertical plate (231) of the lower gripping structure (201) faces a corresponding vertical plate (232) of the upper gripping structure (202) to grasp and hold a wire (W) of the wire assembly (WA) between each pair of facing vertical plates (231, 232). [5] Gripping system (100) according to claim 4, wherein the mutual distance (D) between the vertical plates (231) of the lower gripping structure (201) and / or the mutual distance (D) between the vertical plates (232) of the upper gripping structure (202) is variable. [6] Gripping system (100) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the upper surface of the vertical plates (231) of the lower gripping structure (201) facing the upper gripping structure (202) and the lower surface of the vertical plates (232) of the upper gripping structure (202) facing the lower gripping structure (201) have a convex profile to adapt to the profile of a wire (W) of the wire assembly (WA) captured between them. [7] Gripping system (100) according to one of claims 4 to 6 with a stopping means for limiting the maximum distance (D1) between adjacent vertical plates. [8] Gripping system (100) according to claim 7, wherein the stopping means comprise elongated arms (251, 252) projecting from a vertical plate (231, 232) and terminating with a stop (251, 252) engaging another vertical plate (231, 232), for example the adjacent vertical plate (231, 232). [9] Gripping system (100) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the maximum distance (D1) is equal to the feed pitch (FP), for example the length of the extended arms (251, 252) is equal to the feed pitch (FP). [10] Gripping system (100) according to one of claims 4 to 9, wherein each vertical plate (231, 232) has a through-hole (271, 272) in which a rod (310, 320) is housed, the rod (310, 320) being configured to actuate the movement of the vertical plates (231, 232) to change the mutual distance between adjacent vertical plates (231, 232). [11] Pitch modification station (2000) for an electrical wiring machine (M), comprising a gripping system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, at least a portion of a transport rail (600), a comb (400) sliding on the portion of the transport rail (600) for feeding and / or collecting the wire assembly (WA) to / from the gripping system (100) and an actuating system (300) designed to actuate the gripping system (100). [12] Pitch modification station (2000) according to claim 11, wherein the comb (400) comprises a feed section (410) adapted to receive and support the wire assembly (WA) with the feed pitch (FP) and a collecting section (420) adapted to receive and support the wire assembly (WA) with the collecting pitch (CP). [13] The pitch modification station (2000) of claim 12, wherein the feed section (410) and the collection section (420) comprise comb receptacles (412, 422), each receptacle (412, 422) being defined by a pair of adjacent teeth (415, 425). [14] Pitch modification station (2000) according to claim 13, wherein the adjacent teeth (415) of the feed section (410) are at a mutual distance (d1) corresponding to the feed pitch (FP), and the adjacent teeth (425) of the collection section (420) are at a mutual distance (d2) corresponding to the collection pitch (CP). [15] Pitch modification station (2000) according to claim 12, wherein the feed section (410) comprises comb receptacles (412, 422) and the collecting section (420) comprises two parallel horizontal plates (430) which can be closed on the wire assembly (WA) with the collecting pitch (CP) to hold the wire assembly (WA). [16] Pitch modification station (2000) according to one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the actuation system (300) comprises at least two actuators (330, 340), the actuators (330, 340) being suitable for enabling the independent movement of the lower gripper (110) and the upper gripper (120) along the horizontal direction (X) and / or the vertical direction (Z). [17] A pitch modification station (2000) according to any one of claims 11 to 16 when dependent on claim 10, wherein the actuation system (300) is arranged to actuate the rod (310, 320). [18] An electrical wiring machine (M) comprising at least one gripping system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 or a pitch modification station (2000) according to any one of claims 11 to 17 and a preparation station (1000), the preparation station (1000) being arranged to collect wires (W) to be wired to a connector (500) and to organize them to form a wire assembly (WA) in the form of a tape having the feed pitch (FP), for example in the form of a tape having twenty-one wires or more. [19] Use of a gripping system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10 or a pitch modification station (2000) according to one of claims 11 to 17 for changing the pitch (P) of a wire assembly (WA) from a feed pitch (FP) to a collection pitch (CP). [20] A method for retrofitting an electrical wiring machine (M) comprising at least one preparation station (1000) and one wiring station (4000), the method comprising: adding a gripping system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 or a pitch modification station (2000) according to any one of claims 11 to 17 to the machine (M).

Images