Sheathing unit and sheathing process

Abstract

It is provided to eliminate manual operations and to attach a sheathing material to a connectored electrical cable bundle (W1) by various fastening methods. A sheathing unit (1) is characterized in that it comprises a first sheathing mechanism (11) configured to hold a vertical placement holding section (111) that holds a connectored electrical cable bundle (W1) in a vertical placement position to allow it to move in a circulation, and a first sheathing operation for applying a first sheathing material (13) with respect to the connectored electrical cable bundle (W1) during movement in the vertical placement position, and a second sheathing mechanism (12) configured to hold a horizontal placement holding section (121).holding an electrical cable bundle (W1a) located in the sheathing, on which the first sheathing operation has been carried out, in a horizontal placement position, and carrying out a second sheathing operation in which a second sheathing material (W14) is applied in relation to the electrical cable bundle (W1a) located in the sheathing while moving in the horizontal placement position.

Description

[TECHNICAL FIELD]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheathing unit and a sheathing method for attaching a sheathing material to an electrical cable harness provided with a connector. [STATE OF THE ART]

[0002] A device is known for applying a sheathing material to an electrical cable harness equipped with a connector and mounted on a printed circuit board, for the production of cable harnesses with connectors at their ends (see, for example, patent document 1). The device described in patent document 1 is a configuration in which an operator performs various tasks involving a sheathing material at each work position along a circular path while the printed circuit board rotates. [QUOTATION LIST][Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-98130A [SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION][Technical Problem]

[0004] For example, among electrical cable bundles equipped with connectors, those for high-voltage power supply cable harnesses and the like often lack branching and have a simple form where the connectors are attached to both ends of a bundle consisting of numerous electrical cables. For such simple electrical cable bundles equipped with connectors, there is a desire to automate the application of the sheathing material and to minimize manual work steps as much as possible. On the other hand, the process can vary depending on the type of sheathing material.Due to such differences in the processes, the fastening of a certain sheathing material to a bundle of electrical wires with connectors on a printed circuit board can be easily automated, whereas with other sheathing materials the printed circuit board presents an obstacle, so the fastening can only be done manually.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention focuses on the problems mentioned above, and one objective of the present invention is to provide a sheathing unit and a sheathing method in which the sheathing materials are attached to the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle using various fastening methods, while reducing manual work steps. [Solution to the problem]

[0006] To solve the problem described above, a sheathing unit has a first sheathing mechanism configured to: hold a vertical placement holding section; the vertical placement holding section holds a connectored electrical cable bundle, in which connectors are attached to both ends of a bundle consisting of a plurality of electrical cables, in a vertical placement position along a vertical direction, so that it can be moved in a circulation via a vertical placement setting position and a vertical placement removal position; and perform a first sheathing operation to apply a first sheathing material with respect to the connectored electrical cable bundle during the movement from the vertical placement setting position to the vertical placement removal position in the vertical placement position;and a second sheathing mechanism configured to: hold a horizontal placement holding section, wherein the horizontal placement holding section holds the connectored electrical cable bundle, on which the first sheathing operation was performed, in a horizontal placement position along a horizontal direction, so that it can move in a circulation over a horizontal placement setting position and a horizontal placement removal position, and to perform a second sheathing operation to apply a second sheathing material with respect to the electrical cable bundle connected to the electrical connectors during the movement from the horizontal placement setting position to the horizontal placement removal position in the horizontal placement position.

[0007] To solve the problem described above, a sheathing method is characterized by a vertical placement setting step for positioning a vertical placement holding section, wherein the vertical placement holding section is able to hold a connector-equipped electrical cable bundle, in which connectors are attached to both ends of a bundle consisting of a plurality of electrical cables, in a vertical placement position along a vertical direction at a vertical placement setting position in a vertical placement circulation route via the vertical placement setting position and a vertical placement removal position; a first sheathing step in which the vertical placement holding section, at which the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle is set, is caused to move in a circulation along the vertical placement circulation route,during an initial sheathing operation, in which an initial sheathing material is applied to the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle in the vertical placement position during movement from the vertical placement setting position to the vertical placement removal position; a vertical-horizontal transport step in which a horizontal placement holding section is positioned, wherein the horizontal placement holding section is capable of holding the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle in a horizontal placement position along a horizontal direction, wherein the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle on which the initial sheathing operation has been performed is removed from the vertical placement holding section at the vertical placement removal position,while the electrical cable bundle equipped with the connector is positioned in the horizontal placement position against the horizontal placement holding section at the horizontal placement setting position, and a second sheathing step in which the horizontal placement holding section, to which the electrical cable bundle equipped with connectors is positioned, is caused to move along the horizontal placement circulation route while a second sheathing operation is performed in which a second sheathing material is applied to the electrical cable bundle equipped with connectors in the horizontal placement position during the movement from the horizontal placement setting position to the horizontal placement removal position. [Effect of the invention]

[0008] According to the sheathing unit and sheathing method described above, it is possible to attach the sheathing materials to the electrical cable bundle equipped with connectors using various fastening methods, thereby reducing manual work steps. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a sheathing unit according to one embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic view showing a first sheathing mechanism, a vertical placement adjustment mechanism, and a vertical-horizontal transport mechanism according to Fig. Figure 1 shows an enlarged scale. Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic view showing a processing sequence in a first cladding operation at the first cladding mechanism according to the one described in Fig. 1 and Fig. The content shown is 2. Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic representation showing a state in which a multitude of vertical placement hold sections are located in the Fig. 1 and Fig. Move the vertical placement adjustment mechanism shown in 2 cycles. Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic representation showing the functions of the vertical placement adjustment mechanism and the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism, which are described in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are shown. Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic representation showing the second sheathing mechanism, the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism, and the one in Fig. Figure 1 shows the dispensing mechanism on an enlarged scale. Fig. Figure 7 is a schematic representation showing a state in which a multitude of horizontal holding sections are located in the Fig. 1 and Fig. The vertical placement adjustment mechanism shown in the second image is in a circular motion. Fig. Figure 8 is a schematic view showing the functions of the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism and the one in Fig. 1 and Fig. The metering mechanism shown in section 6 is shown. Fig. 9 is a schematic flowchart showing the processing sequence of a cladding process, which is carried out by the in Fig. 1 to Fig. The cladding unit shown in section 8 is executed. [DESCRIPTION OF EXECUTION FORMS]

[0009] The following describes an embodiment of a sheathing unit and a sheathing method.

[0010] Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a sheathing unit according to one embodiment.

[0011] According to a sheathing unit 1 according to the present embodiment, for example a simple electrical cable bundle W1 with connectors without branches, comprising an electrical cable bundle W12 consisting of a plurality of electrical cables with connectors W11 attached to both ends and used in a high-voltage power supply cable harness that is mounted and laid in a vehicle and the like, becomes a sheathing object.

[0012] The sheathing unit 1 is an operating unit that applies various sheathing materials to a simple electrical cable bundle W1 equipped with a connector. In the present sheathing unit 1, a first sheathing material W13, suitable for application in a vertical position, and a second sheathing material W14, suitable for application in a horizontal position, are applied to the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle W1, and a sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 is output.

[0013] Then, according to the sheathing unit 1, such sheathing processes can be carried out successively on the plurality of electrical cable bundles W1 equipped with a connector. This sheathing unit 1 has a first sheathing mechanism 11, a second sheathing mechanism 12, a vertical placement adjustment mechanism 13, a vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14, and a dispensing mechanism 15.

[0014] Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic view showing an enlarged view of the first sheathing mechanism, the vertical placement adjustment mechanism, and the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism. Fig. 1 shows, and Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic view showing a process flow in the first coating process in the first coating mechanism according to the one described in Fig. 1 and Fig. The content shown is 2. Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic view showing a state in which the multitude of vertical placement hold sections in the Fig. Move the vertical placement adjustment mechanism shown in 1 in one cycle.

[0015] The first sheathing mechanism 11 is a mechanism for performing a first sheathing operation in which the cable bundle W1 provided with a connector is positioned and the first sheathing material W13 is applied, and it is equipped with a plurality (according to the present embodiment there are six) vertical holding sections 111, a circulation movement rail 112 and a mechanism frame 113.

[0016] The vertical placement retaining section 111 is a mechanism that can hold the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle W1 in a vertical position along the vertical direction D11 and comprises an upper retaining section 111a, a lower retaining section 111b, and a support section 111c. The upper retaining section 111a is a section that holds an upper connector W11a or connectors W11 at both ends of the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle W1 in the vertical position, and the lower retaining section 111b is a section that holds the lower connector W11b. The support section 111c is a section for supporting the lower retaining section 111b, so that a distance between the lower retaining section 111b and the upper retaining section 111a is adjustable.Furthermore, the vertical placement retaining section 111 has a sheathing mechanism (not shown) that performs an initial sheathing operation on the electrical cable bundle W1 connected to the connector, which is held in the vertical arrangement position by the upper retaining section 111a and the lower retaining section 111b.

[0017] The circulation motion rail 112 is a section that holds the six vertical placement holding sections 111 such that they move circularly in a state in which they are arranged in a line along the elongated annular vertical orbit R11. The circulation motion rail 112 has a first longitudinal rail 112a, a second longitudinal rail 112b, a first motion rail 112c, and a second motion rail 112d.

[0018] The mechanism frame 113 is a section configured to support the circulation motion rail 112 and the six vertical placement holding sections 111, and is provided with a drive mechanism to move the vertical placement holding sections 111 along the circulation motion rail 112 and to operate the vertical placement holding sections 111.

[0019] In the first sheathing mechanism 11, a vertical placement position P11 is provided at one end in longitudinal direction D12 of an elongated, annular circulation rail 112, where the electrical cable bundle W1, equipped with a connector, is positioned vertically. A vertical placement removal position P12 is then provided at the other end in longitudinal direction D12 of the circulation rail 112, where a sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a, which has undergone the first sheathing process, is removed for transport to the second sheathing mechanism 12.

[0020] The first longitudinal rail 112a of the circulation motion rail 112 extends from the vertical placement setting position P11 to the vertical placement removal position P12 along a first vertical placement longitudinal route R111, which is one of two longitudinal paths of the annular longitudinal circulation motion rail 112. When the vertical placement holding unit 111 moves the first longitudinal rail 112a from the vertical placement setting position P11 to the vertical placement removal position P12, it performs a first sheathing operation on the moving, connector-equipped electrical cable bundle W1 to obtain a sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a in progress.

[0021] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. In the three examples shown, the first sheathing operation according to the present embodiment is an operation for attaching a corrugated tube W131, a twisted tube W132, and a strip material W133 as the first sheathing material W13 to the electrical cable bundle W12. Here, the corrugated tube W131 is a previously inserted element that was guided through the electrical cable bundle W1, which is fitted with a connector, before the vertical placement holding section 111 was set. Before this setting phase, however, the corrugated tube W131 is not fixed and is in a state in which it is movable in the longitudinal direction of the electrical cable bundle W1, which is fitted with a connector. In the examples shown Fig. 2 and Fig. In the three examples shown, two corrugated tubes W131 are provided, and in the first sheathing operation, a twisted tube W132 is attached, and the fastening operation of these two corrugated tubes W131 is carried out. First, in the position adjacent to the upper connector W11 in the vertical direction D11, the twisted tube W132 is attached to the electrical cable bundle W1, which is fitted with a connector, in a lateral fastening direction D131 and secured with tape W133. Next, the corrugated tube W131 is pulled upwards at the top in the upward direction D133 to align it in a fixed position longitudinally with the electrical cable bundle W1 connected to the connector, and secured with tape W133.In the example shown in the drawings, no operation is performed in the next work area, and in the following work area, the lower corrugated tube W131 is pulled upwards in the direction of pull D133, aligned at the fixed position, and secured with the strip material W133. Additionally, depending on the manufactured object, there are cases in which a sheathing operation is performed in all work areas, or cases in which a non-work area can be appropriately defined according to the manufactured object.

[0022] When this first sheathing operation is complete and the vertical placement holding section 111 reaches the vertical placement removal position P12, the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a, which was processed during the first sheathing operation, is removed from the vertical placement holding section 111. The first movement rail 112c in the circulation movement rail 112 is positioned at the vertical placement removal position P12 so that it extends continuously to the first longitudinal rail 112a during removal. After completion of the first sheathing operation, the vertical placement holder 111 moves from the first longitudinal rail 112a to the first movement rail 112c at the vertical placement removal position P12, and the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a, which was being processed, is removed on the first movement rail 112c.Due to this distance, when the vertical placement hold section 111 becomes free, the first motion rail 112c moves into a position that is continuous with the second longitudinal rail 112b, while supporting the vertical placement hold section 111 in its free state. At this point, the movement occurs along the first vertical placement short-side route R112, which is one of the two short-side paths in the longitudinally oriented annular circulation motion rail 112.

[0023] The second longitudinal rail 112b extends substantially parallel to the first motion rail 112c along a second vertical placement longitudinal route R113, which is the other of the two longitudinal routes in the circulation motion rail 112. The empty vertical placement hold section 111, which is transported from the first motion rail 112c to a position adjacent to the second longitudinal rail 112b, moves from the first motion rail 112c to the second longitudinal rail 112b and further moves the second longitudinal rail 112b toward the side of the vertical placement setting position P11. At the stage where the vertical placement hold section 111 reaches the end section of the second longitudinal rail 112b on the side of the vertical placement setting position P11, the second motion rail 112d is positioned so that it extends continuously to the end section of the second longitudinal rail 112a.At this stage, the vertical placement hold section 111 moves to the second longitudinal rail 112d. The second longitudinal rail 112d moves to the vertical placement setting position P11, which is continuous with the first longitudinal rail 112a, while carrying the vertical placement hold section 111. This movement occurs along a second vertical placement short-path route R114, which is the other of the two short paths on the circulation movement rail 112. The movement of this second movement rail 112d positions the empty vertical placement hold section 111 at the vertical placement setting position P11 to receive the set of electrical cable bundles W1, equipped with the electrical connector, prior to sheathing.

[0024] According to the present embodiment, as in Fig. Figure 4 shows the six vertical placement holding sections 111, numbered 1 to 6, undergoing the first sheathing operation while moving in a circular motion in a line. According to the first sheathing operation, the twisted tube W132 is applied as part of the first sheathing material W13 and fixed by the strip material W133, as is the previously applied corrugated tube W131, also by the strip material W133. In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 4, the first vertical placement holding section 111, at which the first sheathing operation has been completed and the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a under processing has been removed, is transported by the first motion rail 112c along the first vertical placement short-side route R112 from the vertical placement removal position P12 to the second longitudinal rail 112b. The first vertical placement holding section 111 then moves the second longitudinal rail 112b along the second vertical placement longitudinal route R113 to reach the second motion rail 112d.

[0025] During this time, the first motion rail 112c, which transferred the first vertical placement hold section 111 to the second longitudinal rail 112b, returns to the vertical placement pick-up position P12 along a reversal route R112a with respect to the first vertical placement short-side route R112. Then, the sixth vertical placement hold section 111 on the second motion rail 112d, parallel to the movement of the first vertical placement hold section 111, picks up the set of connected electrical cable bundles W1 at the vertical placement setting position P11. Furthermore, the second through fifth vertical placement hold sections 111 perform the first sheathing operation on the set of connector-equipped electrical cable bundles W1 while moving the first longitudinal rail 112a along the first vertical placement longitudinal route R111.Starting with the second vertical placement hold section 111, which has completed processing, the vertical placement hold sections 111 move to the first motion rail 112c at the vertical placement pick-up position P12 and pick up the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a currently being processed at this vertical placement pick-up position P12. Along with the movement of the second vertical placement hold section 111, the third to sixth vertical placement hold sections 111 also move the first longitudinal rail 112a along the first vertical placement longitudinal route R111. Then, the second motion rail 112d, which transferred the sixth vertical placement hold section 111 to the first longitudinal rail 112a, returns along a reverse route R114a, opposite to the second vertical placement short-side route R114, to the position adjacent to the second longitudinal rail 112b.

[0026] On the other hand, the first vertical placement hold section 111 is transported from the second motion rail 112d along the second vertical placement short-side route R114 to the vertical placement setting position P11, which is free due to the movement of the sixth vertical placement hold section 111. Afterwards, the first to sixth vertical placement hold sections 111 are moved in a cycle, and the process is repeated until the processing is completed with respect to the predetermined number of electrically fitted cable bundles W1.

[0027] Subsequently, the insertion of the electrical cable bundles W1 equipped with connectors into the vertical placement holding section 111 at the vertical placement setting position P11 and the removal of the sheathed electrical cable bundles W1a in progress from the vertical placement holding section 111 at the vertical placement removal position P12 are carried out by the vertical placement setting mechanism 13 and the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14.

[0028] Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic representation showing the operation of the vertical placement adjustment mechanism and the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism, which are shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are shown. The field (A) in Fig. Figure 5 shows the vertical placement adjustment mechanism, and the field (B) in Fig. Figure 5 shows the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism.

[0029] The vertical placement adjustment mechanism 13 is a mechanism for positioning the electrical cable bundle W1, equipped with an electrical connector, in a vertical position on the vertical placement holding section 111 at the vertical placement adjustment position P11. The vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 is a mechanism for removing the electrical cable bundle W1, equipped with a connector and undergoing the first sheathing operation (i.e., the sheathed cable bundle W1a in progress), from the vertical placement holding section 111 at the horizontal placement removal position P12 described above, and for transporting and setting it in the second sheathing mechanism 12. In Figure (B) of Fig. Figure 5 shows only the removal process of the electrical cable bundle W1a located in the sheathing in relation to the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14.

[0030] Both the vertical placement adjustment mechanism 13 and the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 are multi-jointed robot arms, and electrical wire holding tools are provided at their end sections to hold the electrical cable bundle W1 with a connector and the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a in a U-shaped bent state.

[0031] The first electrical wire holding tool 131, provided in the vertical placement adjustment mechanism 13, has an upper wire holding section 131a and a lower wire holding section 131b. The upper wire holding section 131a is a section for holding the upper connector W11a when the electrical cable bundle W1, fitted with a connector, is placed in the vertical position, and the lower wire holding section 131b is a section for holding the lower connector W11b. The second electrical wire holding tool 141, provided in the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14, also has an upper electrical wire holding section 141a and a lower electrical wire holding section 141b, similar to the first electrical wire holding tool 131.

[0032] Regarding the positioning of the electrical cable bundle W1, which is fitted with a connector, by the vertical placement adjustment mechanism 13, the electrical cable bundle W1 is first held in a U-shaped bent position by the first electrical wire holding tool 131. Next, the upper electrical wire holding section 131a of the first electrical wire holding tool 131 transfers the upper connector W11a to the upper holding section 111a of the vertical placement holding section 111. Finally, the lower wire holding section 131b of the first electrical wire holding tool 131 transfers the lower connector W11b to the lower holding section 111b of the vertical placement holding section 111.

[0033] As described above, in the vertical placement holding section 111, the lower holding section 111b is supported by the support section 111c in such a way that the distance between it and the upper holding section 111a is adjustable. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the lower retaining section 111b is moved as follows when the electrical cable bundle W1, fitted with the connector, is inserted into the vertical placement retaining section 111. First, in the stage prior to adjustment, the lower retaining section 111b is pushed upwards in a shortening direction D141, and the distance between it and the upper retaining section 111a is reduced to a distance shorter than the electrical wire length of the electrical cable bundle W1, fitted with a connector, as the adjustment target. Then, when the electrical cable bundle W1, fitted with a connector, is adjusted by the vertical placement adjustment mechanism 13 as described above in the first adjustment direction D15, the lower connector W111b is pulled downwards by the lower retaining section in the extension direction D142 to a position corresponding to the electrical wire length described above.By pulling downwards, the mutual distance between the upper connector W11a and the lower connector W11b is increased, and the loosely lying electrical cable bundle W1, fitted with a connector, is pulled, exerting a tension suitable for the first sheathing processing in the vertical arrangement position on the electrical cable bundle W1 fitted with a connector.

[0034] Regarding the removal of the electrical cable bundle W1a located in the sheathing by the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14, the electrical cable bundle W1a located in the sheathing is removed by the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 in the removal direction D17. At this point, the electrical cable bundle W1a located in the sheathing is bent into a U-shape in the bending direction D18.

[0035] This distance during bending is taken as in field (B) in Fig. The process is carried out as shown in Figure 5. First, the upper electrical wire holding section 141a of the second electrical wire holding tool 141 in the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 removes the upper connector W11a from the upper holding section 111a of the vertical placement holding section 111. Next, while holding the upper connector W11a, the second electrical wire holder 141 is guided toward the lower connector W11b of the lower holding section 111b, so that the sheathed electrical wire bundle W1a under processing is bent into a U-shape. When the lower wire holding section 141b of the second electrical wire holding tool 141 reaches the lower connector W11b, it removes the lower connector W11b from the lower holding section 111b.Due to this distance, the electrical cable bundle W1a being processed is held by the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 in the state in which it is bent into a U-shape by the second electrical wire holding tool 141. The vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 then brings the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a being processed to the second sheathing mechanism 12, and the second sheathing operation is carried out by the second sheathing mechanism 12.

[0036] Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the second cladding mechanism, the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism, and the one in Fig. The dispensing mechanism shown in 1 is enlarged, and Fig. 7 is a schematic view showing the movement of the multitude of horizontal placement hold sections in circulation in the in Fig. 1 and Fig. The vertical placement adjustment mechanism shown in Figure 2 is shown.

[0037] The second sheathing mechanism 12 is a mechanism for carrying out a second sheathing operation in which the electrical cable bundle W1, fitted with a connector and subjected to the first sheathing operation, i.e. the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a under operation, is inserted and a second sheathing material W14 is applied to it.

[0038] The second sheathing mechanism 12 has a plurality (according to the present embodiment there are seven) horizontal placement holding sections 121, a rotating support stand 122, two element sheathing arms 123 and a feed arm 124.

[0039] The horizontal placement retaining section 121 is a mechanism that can hold the electrical cable bundle W1a under processing in a horizontal position along the horizontal direction D19, and has a retaining section 121a at one end, a retaining section 121b at the other end, a rectangular main body section 121c, a groove-shaped cover receiving section 121d, and a lid-like cover receiving section 121e. One end retaining section 121a is a section that holds the upper connector W11a in the aforementioned vertical position, and the other end retaining section 121b is a section that holds the lower connector W11b.The rectangular main body section 121c is a rectangular plate-shaped section to which the one-sided retaining section 121a and the other end retaining section 121b are attached, and the groove-shaped cover W141a and the lid-shaped cover W141b, which form the protector W141, which is part of the second sheathing material W14, are inserted and held in the groove-shaped cover receiving section 121d and the lid-shaped cover receiving section 121e between them.

[0040] The circulation support stand 122 holds the seven horizontal placement holding sections 121 in such a way that they move in a state in which they are arranged in a line along an annular horizontal placement circulation route R12, which passes through a horizontal placement setting position P13 and a horizontal placement removal position P14.

[0041] The horizontal placement loop route R12 has a first horizontal placement longitudinal route R121, a first horizontal placement short-side route R122, a second horizontal placement longitudinal route R123, and a second horizontal placement short-side route R124. The first horizontal placement longitudinal route R121 is a path for moving the horizontal placement stop section 121 from the horizontal placement setting position P13 to an endpoint adjacent to the horizontal placement pickup position P14. The first horizontal placement short-side route R122 is a path for moving the horizontal placement stop section 121 from an endpoint of the first horizontal placement longitudinal route R121 to the horizontal placement pickup position P14.The second horizontal placement longitudinal route R123 is a route for moving the horizontal placement hold section 121 from the horizontal placement removal position P14 to an endpoint next to the horizontal placement setting position P13.

[0042] The second horizontal placement short route R124 is then a route for moving the horizontal placement stop section 121 from the endpoint of the second horizontal placement long route R123 to the horizontal placement setting position P13. The rotating support stand 122 is equipped with a drive mechanism for moving the seven horizontal placement stop sections 121 along the horizontal placement circular route R12.

[0043] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the four horizontal placement hold sections 121 are in the stage where one horizontal placement hold section 121 is located at the horizontal placement setting position P13, in a state where they are aligned along the first horizontal placement longitudinal route R121. In this stage, the horizontal placement hold section 121 at the horizontal placement setting position P13 is in a state where the groove-shaped cover W141a and the lid-like cover W141b are fed to and held by the groove-shaped cover receiving section 121d and the lid-like cover receiving section 121e, respectively.The vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 inserts the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a, which has been removed from the first sheathing mechanism 11 and is currently being processed, in the second setting direction D21 such that the connectors W11 are held at both ends by the holding section 121a for one end and by the holding section 121b for the other end, and the middle section is contained in the groove-shaped cover W141a. At this point, the sheathed electrical cable bundles W1a, which are currently being processed, are already arranged in the three horizontal placement holding sections 121, which are located next to each other in the direction of movement of the first horizontal placement longitudinal route R121.Various winding elements W142, which are part of the second sheathing material W14, are attached to the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a under processing in each of the second and third horizontal placement holding sections 121, counted from the horizontal placement setting position P13, by the element sheathing arm 123. A band clamp and a tape clamp in the winding elements W142 are attached to the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a under processing in the second horizontal placement holding section 121, and a cable tie in the winding elements W142 is attached to the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a under processing in the third horizontal placement holding section 121.Furthermore, in the electrical cable bundle W1a located in the sheathing, in the fourth horizontal placement holding section 121, which is adjacent to it and to which the winding element W142 has already been attached, the lid-shaped cover W141b, which was received by the element sheathing arm 123 from the lid-shaped cover receiving section 121e, is attached to the groove-shaped cover W141a in order to assemble the protector W141. The protector W141 is assembled at this point by removing the lid-shaped cover W141b from above in the pressure direction D22 (see figure). Fig. 6) is pressed onto the groove-shaped cover W141a, with the electrical cable bundle W1a under processing being arranged on the inside.

[0044] Here, the horizontal placement hold section 121, to which the lid-shaped cover W141b is attached, is positioned at the endpoint of the first horizontal placement longitudinal route R121.

[0045] After the lid-shaped cover W141 b is attached, this horizontal placement holding section 121 moves at the endpoint during the second sheathing operation for the other horizontal placement holding sections 121 along the first horizontal placement short-side route R122 from the endpoint of the first horizontal placement long-side route R121 to the horizontal placement removal position P14. At the horizontal placement removal position P14, the dispensing mechanism 15 then removes the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 from the horizontal placement holding section 121 in the dispensing direction D23 and transports it to a predetermined dispensing position.Since the endpoint of the first horizontal placement longitudinal route R121 is clear at this time, the other three horizontal placement stop sections 121 of the first horizontal placement longitudinal route R121 slide sideways and move along the first horizontal placement longitudinal route R121 by the distance of one horizontal placement stop section 121.

[0046] Even when the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 is removed at the horizontal placement removal position P14, the four horizontal placement holding sections 121, including the one at the horizontal placement removal position P14, are lined up on the second horizontal placement longitudinal route R123. At this point, the element feeder arm 124 delivers the groove-shaped cover W141a and the lid-shaped cover W141b, corresponding to the second sheathing operation, to the groove-shaped cover receiving section 121d and the lid-shaped cover receiving section 121e of the two adjacent horizontal placement holding sections 121 at the horizontal placement removal position P14 and ensures that they are held therein.At this stage, the three horizontal placement hold sections 121 slide laterally along the first horizontal placement longitudinal route R121, leaving the horizontal placement setting position P13 clear. The horizontal placement hold section 121 at the endpoint of the second horizontal placement longitudinal route R123 moves along the second horizontal placement short-side route R124 to this horizontal placement setting position P13. Furthermore, the other three horizontal placement hold sections 121 slide laterally along the second horizontal placement longitudinal route R123 by the distance of one horizontal placement hold section 121 from the endpoint that is now clear. The process is then repeated as the seven horizontal placement hold sections 121 move in a cycle until a predetermined number of sheathed electrical cable bundles W2 have been obtained.

[0047] Subsequently, the placement of the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a, which is currently being processed, onto the horizontal placement holding section 121 at the horizontal placement setting position P13, and the removal of the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 from the horizontal placement holding section 121 at the horizontal placement removal position P14 are carried out by the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 and the dispensing mechanism 15.

[0048] Fig. Figure 8 is a schematic representation illustrating the operation of the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism and the dispensing mechanism according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 shows. The field (A) in Fig. Figure 8 shows the vertical-horizontal transport, and field (B) in Fig. Figure 8 shows the delivery mechanism.

[0049] As described above, the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 is a mechanism that removes the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a being processed from the vertical placement holding section 111 at the vertical placement removal position P12 of the first sheathing mechanism 11 and transports it to the second sheathing mechanism 12 to place it in the horizontal placement holding section 121 at the horizontal placement setting position P13. Furthermore, the discharge mechanism 15 is a mechanism that removes the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 from the horizontal placement holding section 121 at the horizontal placement removal position P14 and transports it to a predetermined discharge position. The field (A) in Fig. Figure 8 shows only the adjustment process of the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a under processing by the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14, and the field (B) in Fig. Figure 8 shows only the removal process of the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 by the dispensing mechanism 15.

[0050] Both the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 and the dispensing mechanism 15 are multi-jointed robot arms and are equipped at their front end with an electrical wire holding tool for holding the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a or W2 under processing in a U-shape, respectively. As described above, the second electrical wire holding tool 141, provided in the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14, holds the upper connector W11a in a vertical position in the upper electrical wire holding section 141a and holds the lower connector W11b in the lower electrical wire holding section 141b. By holding the connectors W11 at both ends with the second wire holding section 141, the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 holds the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a under processing in a U-shaped bent state.In this holding state, the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 transports the electrical cable bundle W1a located in the sheathing to the second sheathing mechanism 12 and places it in the horizontal placement holding section 121 at the horizontal placement setting position P13.

[0051] Regarding the positioning of the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a under processing by the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14, as shown in Figure (A) in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, first, the lower wire holding section 141b of the second electrical wire holding tool 141 transfers the lower connector W11b to the holding section 121b for the other end of the horizontal placement support section 121. Next, as the electrical cable bundle W1a being processed is withdrawn, the middle portion is received in the groove-shaped cover W141a on the horizontal placement support section 121. Finally, the upper electrical wire holding section 141a of the second electrical wire holding tool 141 transfers the upper connector W11a to one end section 121a of the horizontal placement support section 121. Through this sequence of processing steps, the electrical cable bundle W1a being processed is inserted into the horizontal placement support section 121, with a portion of it contained in the groove-shaped cover W141a.

[0052] As shown in Figure (B) in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 is removed by the dispensing mechanism 15, while the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 is bent into a U-shape over the third electrical wire holding tool 151 provided in the dispensing mechanism 15. First, the other-end wire holding section 151b of the third wire holding section 151 in the dispensing mechanism 15 removes the lower connector W11b from the other-end holding section 121b of the horizontal placement holding section 121. Next, while holding the lower connector W11b, the third electrical wire holding tool 151 is guided toward the upper connector W11a of the one-sided holding section 121a, so that the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 is bent into a U-shape.When the single-sided wire holding section 151a of the third electrical wire holding tool 151 reaches the upper connector W11a, the single-sided wire holding section 151a removes the upper connector W11a from the single-sided holding section 121a. As a result of this removal, the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 is held in a U-shaped bent position over the third electrical wire holding tool 151 by the dispensing mechanism 15. The dispensing mechanism 15 then transports the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 to a dispensing position, and at this dispensing position, the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 is removed from the third electrical wire holding tool 151.

[0053] Next, although there is some overlap with the description above, the sheathing method performed by the sheathing unit 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 8 and the following Fig. 9 described.

[0054] Fig. 9 is a schematic flowchart that illustrates the processing sequence of the process from the in Fig. 1 to Fig. The 8 shown cladding unit demonstrates the cladding process used.

[0055] The processing of the flowchart of Fig. The sheathing process shown in Figure 9 begins in response to a predetermined start operation. When processing begins, a vertical placement adjustment step S101 is first performed in the first sheathing mechanism 11. In the vertical placement adjustment step S101, one of the six vertical placement holding sections 111 in the first sheathing mechanism 11 is positioned at a vertical placement adjustment position P11 on the vertical orbit R11. In this state, the vertical placement adjustment mechanism 13 places the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle W1, which is bent into a U-shape and held by the first electrical wire holding tool 131, into the vertical placement adjustment position P11 as it is extended into the vertical placement hold in the vertical placement holding section 111. Next, the first sheathing step S102 is performed.In the first sheathing step S102, the vertical placement holding section 111, on which the electrical cable bundle W1 equipped with a connector is arranged, is moved along the vertical placement circulation route R11. Then, in the first sheathing step S102, with respect to the moving electrical cable bundle W1 equipped with a connector in the vertical placement position, the first sheathing operation to apply the first sheathing material W13 is performed from the vertical placement setting position P11 to the vertical placement removal position P12. When the vertical holding section 111, which holds the processed electrical cable bundle W1 equipped with a connector, reaches the vertical placement removal position P12, a vertical-horizontal transport step S103 is executed.

[0056] In the vertical-horizontal transport step S103, one of the seven horizontal placement holding sections 121 in the second sheathing mechanism 12 is positioned at the horizontal placement setting position P13 in the horizontal placement circulation route R12. With this positioning, the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a, which has undergone the first sheathing process, is removed from the vertical placement holding section 111 at the vertical placement removal position P12 in the first sheathing mechanism 11. The removed sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a is then moved into the horizontal position in the horizontal placement holding section 121 at the horizontal placement setting position P13.As described above, the removal and positioning of the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a in process are carried out as described above, while the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 bends the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a in process into a U-shape and holds it over the second electrical wire holding tool 141 during transport.

[0057] Subsequently, in the second sheathing mechanism 12, a second sheathing step S104 is performed on the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a, which is transported in this manner and is currently being processed. In the second sheathing step S104, the horizontal placement holding section 121, on which the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a is placed, is moved circulating along the horizontal placement circulation route R12. Then, in the second sheathing step S104, a second sheathing process is performed to apply the second sheathing material W14 to the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a, which is currently being processed and has been moved from the horizontal placement setting position P13 to the horizontal placement removal position P14.When the horizontal placement holding section 121, which holds the processed sheathed electrical cable bundle W2, reaches the horizontal placement removal position P14, a discharge step S105 is performed.

[0058] In discharge step S105, the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2, which has undergone the second sheathing process, is removed from the horizontal placement holding section 121 at the horizontal placement removal position P14 in the second sheathing mechanism 12. The removed sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 is transported to a predetermined discharge position for dispensing. The removal and dispensing of the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2, as described above, is carried out while the dispensing mechanism 15 holds the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 bent into a U-shape over the third electrical wire holding tool 151.

[0059] A determination step S106 is then executed to determine whether the sheathing process should be terminated or continued for the electrical cable bundle W1, which is fitted with a connector and not sheathed. If the sheathing process is to be terminated (YES decision), the process ends in Fig. 9. Sheathing processing shown. If, however, the sheathing processing is to be continued for the electrical cable bundle W1 with a connector, on which no sheathing is carried out (NO decision), the processing is repeated from the step for setting the vertical placement S101.

[0060] According to the sheathing unit 1 and the sheathing method in the embodiment described above, the following effects can be achieved. That is, according to the present embodiment, the first sheathing mechanism 11 holds the electrical cable bundle W1, which is provided with a connector, in a vertical position that allows access from various directions around the axis. Because of this vertical position, the first sheathing mechanism 11 can perform the first sheathing operation by applying the sheathing material suitable for fastening as the first sheathing material W13 from one direction around the axis. In the second sheathing mechanism 12, the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a, which is being processed, is held in a horizontal position that allows for stable holding.This holder in this horizontal positioning position allows the second sheathing mechanism 12 to perform a second sheathing operation to apply a sheathing material suitable for pressure fastening or the like as a second sheathing material W14. In this way, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to attach the sheathing materials to the electrical cable bundle W1, which is provided with a connector, using different fastening methods, while simultaneously reducing the number of manual work steps.

[0061] Here, according to the present embodiment, the first sheathing mechanism 11 holds the plurality of vertical placement retaining sections 111 so that they move in a circulating state arranged in a line, and the second sheathing mechanism 12 holds the plurality of horizontal placement retaining sections 121 so that they move in a circulating state arranged in a line. According to this configuration, the respective movement of the plurality of vertical placement retaining sections 111 and the plurality of horizontal placement retaining sections 121 in a circular path allows the sheathing materials to be continuously attached to the plurality of cable bundles W1 equipped with connectors, thus enabling efficient fastening of the sheathing materials.

[0062] According to the present embodiment, a vertical placement adjustment mechanism 13, which secures the electrical cable bundle W1 equipped with an electrical connector in a vertical position, and a vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14, which removes the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a under processing and secures it in a horizontal position, are provided. According to this configuration, both the placement of the cable bundle W1 equipped with a connector into the vertical placement holding section 111 of the first sheathing mechanism 11 and the transport of the sheathed cable bundle W1a under processing to the horizontal placement holding section 121 of the second sheathing mechanism 12 are performed automatically, in order to further reduce manual operations.

[0063] According to the present embodiment, the vertical placement adjustment mechanism 13 is a mechanism for holding and placing the electrical cable bundle W1, equipped with a connector, in a U-shaped bent state over the first electrical wire holding tool 131. The vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 is a mechanism for removing and adjusting the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a, which is in process, in a U-shaped bent state over the second electrical wire holding tool 141. According to this configuration, the cable bundle W1, equipped with a connector, and the sheathed cable bundle W1a, which is in process, can be held, adjusted, or removed in a U-shaped bent state by the first electrical wire holding tool 131 and the second electrical wire holding tool 141, respectively, so that each operation is efficient and requires minimal space.

[0064] According to the present embodiment, the dispensing mechanism 15 is provided, which removes the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 from the horizontal placement holding section 121 at the horizontal placement removal position P14 and transports it to a predetermined dispensing position. According to this configuration, the dispensing of the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 from the horizontal placement holding section 121 in the second sheathing mechanism 12 is also carried out automatically in order to further reduce manual operations.

[0065] According to the present embodiment, the vertical placement retaining section 111 has an upper retaining section 111a, a lower retaining section 111b, and a support section 111c, which supports one of them in such a way that the distance between them and the other can be adjusted. According to this configuration, the distance between the upper retainer 111a and the lower retainer 111b can be adjusted according to the length of the electrical cable bundle W1 with a connector, so that the sheathing material can be applied to electrical cable bundles W1 of different lengths with a connector.

[0066] According to the present embodiment, the first sheathing operation is performed on the first vertical placement longitudinal route R111 of the vertical placement circulation route R11 in the first sheathing mechanism 11. The second sheathing operation is performed on the first horizontal placement longitudinal route R121 of the horizontal placement circulation route R12 in the second sheathing mechanism 12. Furthermore, at least a portion of the first sheathing material W13 and the second sheathing material W14 are fed along the second vertical arrangement longitudinal route R113 in the vertical placement circulation route R11 and along the second horizontal placement longitudinal route R123 in the horizontal placement circulation route R12.According to this configuration, the sheathing processing and the sheathing material feeding processing are carried out simultaneously, so that the fastening of the sheathing material to the multitude of electrical cable bundles W1 equipped with electrical connectors can be carried out efficiently.

[0067] According to the present embodiment, part of the first sheathing material W13 is a corrugated tube W131, a tubular, pre-existing element that is guided through the electrical cable bundle W1, which is provided with a connector, before being inserted. During the first sheathing process, the corrugated tube W131 is aligned longitudinally with the electrical cable bundle W1 and fixed in a fixed position. This configuration is advantageous because it allows the corrugated tube W131 to be effectively positioned and fixed in the first sheathing mechanism 11 in a vertical arrangement relative to the electrical cable bundle W1, enabling access from various directions around the axis.

[0068] According to the present embodiment, part of the second sheathing material W14, used in the second sheathing operation, is the protector W141, and in the second sheathing operation, the lid-like cover W141b is pressed onto the groove-like cover W141a, with the electrical cable bundle W1a being processed being arranged on the inside. This configuration is preferable because the pressing of the lid-like cover W141b into the groove-like cover W141a for the electrical cable bundle W1a being encapsulated can be carried out effectively in the horizontal arrangement, which can be held stably in the second sheathing mechanism 12.

[0069] The embodiment described above merely shows a representative aspect of the encapsulation unit and the encapsulation process. The encapsulation unit and the encapsulation process are not limited to this and can be implemented in various modifications.

[0070] For example, according to the embodiment described above, the sheathing unit 1 and the sheathing method are illustrated as examples of the sheathing unit and the sheathing method, which perform the sheathing process on the electrical cable bundle W1, equipped with a connector, forming a wiring harness that is mounted and routed in a vehicle and the like. However, the sheathing unit and the sheathing method are not limited to this, and there is no limitation regarding the specific application goal.

[0071] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2, in which two corrugated tubes W131 and one twisted tube W132 are attached with adhesive tape, is cited as an example of the sheathed electrical cable bundle using the sheathing unit and the sheathing method. In this sheathed electrical cable bundle W2, the twisted tube W132 is attached between a corrugated tube W131 and the connector W11 at the end section. However, the sheathed electrical cable bundle is not limited to this, and the number and attachment positions of the corrugated tubes and twisted tubes can be freely determined.

[0072] According to the embodiment described above, the cladding unit 1, its specific shape and arrangement of the individual components, is shown as an example of the cladding unit and the cladding method. Fig.Figure 1 shows the encapsulation process using the encapsulation unit 1. However, the encapsulation unit and the encapsulation process are not limited to this, and the specific shape and arrangement of the components in the encapsulation unit are not particularly restricted.

[0073] According to the embodiment described above, the sheathing unit 1 and the sheathing method are illustrated as examples of the sheathing unit and the sheathing method, in which the positioning of the electrical cable bundle W1, equipped with a connector, on the vertical placement holding section 111 of the first sheathing mechanism 11 is carried out by the vertical positioning mechanism 13 without manual intervention. According to the present embodiment, the transport of the sheathed electrical cable bundle W1a in process from the first sheathing mechanism 11 to the second sheathing mechanism 12 and the removal of the sheathed electrical cable bundle W2 from the second sheathing mechanism 12 are also carried out by the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14 and the dispensing mechanism 15 without manual intervention.However, the sheathing unit and the sheathing process are not limited to this, and the positioning of the electrical cable bundle with a connector, the transport of the sheathed electrical cable bundle in process, and the ejection of the sheathed electrical cable bundle can be performed at least partially manually by the operator. As described above, however, the manual operations can be further reduced by providing the vertical positioning adjustment mechanism 13, the vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 14, and the dispensing mechanism 15. [LIST OF REFERENCE MARKS] 1 sheathing unit 11 First sheathing mechanism 12 second sheathing mechanism 13 vertical placement adjustment mechanism 14 vertical-horizontal transport mechanism 15 Delivery mechanism 111 vertical placement holding section 111a upper stopping section 111b lower stopping section 111c Support section 112 Circulatory motion splint 112a first longitudinal rail 112b second longitudinal rail 112c first motion rail 112d second motion rail 113 first mechanism frame 121 horizontal placement holding section 121a Stop section on one side 121b Stop section on the other side 121c rectangular main body section 121d groove-shaped cover receiving section 121e lid-shaped cover receiving section 122 Circular support stands 123 Element casing frame 124 element feed frames 131 first electrical wire holding tool 131a, 141a upper electrical wire holding section 131b, 141b lower electrical cable holding section 141 second electrical wire holding tool 151 third electrical wire holding tool 151a Single-sided electrical wire holding tool 151b other single-sided electrical wire holding tool D11 vertical direction D12 Longitudinal direction D15 first adjustment direction D17 Extraction direction D18 Bending direction D19 horizontal direction D21 second designated direction D22 Printing direction D23 Output direction D131 Mounting direction D133 direction of travel P11 vertical placement adjustment position P12 vertical placement removal position P13 horizontal placement setting position P14 horizontal placement removal position R11 vertical placement circuit R111 first vertical placement longitudinal route R112 first vertical placement short route R112a, R114a Return route R113 second vertical placement longitudinal route R114 second vertical placement short route R12 horizontal placement circuit R121 first horizontal placement longitudinal route R122 first horizontal placement short route R123 second horizontal placement longitudinal route R124 first horizontal placement short route S101 Step to adjust vertical placement S102 first sheathing step S103 vertical-horizontal transport step S104 second sheathing step S105 Delivery step S106 Determination step W1 electrical cable bundle with connector W1a sheathed electrical cable bundle currently being processed W2 sheathed electrical cable bundle W11, W11a, W11b connectors W12 Electrical cable bundle W13 first sheathing material W14 second sheathing material W131 Corrugated pipe W132 twisted pipe W133 tape material W141 Protector W141a grooved cover W141 b lid-shaped cover W142 winding element QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2017-98130A

[0003]

Claims

[1] A sheathing unit comprising: a first cladding mechanism that is configured: to hold a vertical placement holding section, the vertical placement holding section holds a connectored electrical cable bundle, in which connectors are attached to both ends of a bundle of multiple electrical cables, in a vertical placement position along a vertical direction, so that it can move in a circulation over a vertical placement setting position and a vertical placement removal position, and to perform an initial sheathing operation to apply an initial sheathing material to the electrical cable bundle fitted with connectors during movement from the vertical placement setting position to the vertical placement removal position in the vertical placement position; and a second sheathing mechanism that is configured: to hold a horizontal placement holding section, the horizontal placement holding section holds the connectored electrical cable bundle, on which the first sheathing operation has been carried out, in a horizontal placement position along a horizontal direction, so that it can move in a circulation over a horizontal placement setting position and a horizontal placement removal position, and to perform a second sheathing operation to apply a second sheathing material to the electrical cable bundle fitted with connectors during the movement from the horizontal placement setting position to the horizontal placement removal position in the horizontal placement position. [2] The sheathing unit according to claim 1, wherein the first sheathing mechanism holds a plurality of the vertical placement retaining sections in order to move in a circulation in a state in which they are arranged in a line, and The second sheathing mechanism holds a multitude of the horizontal placement holding sections in order to move in a circulation in a state where they are arranged in a line. [3] The sheathing unit according to claim 1, further comprising a vertical placement adjustment mechanism configured to position the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle in the vertical placement position relative to the vertical placement holding section at the vertical placement adjustment position; and a vertical-horizontal transport mechanism configured to remove the connectored electrical cable bundle, on which the first sheathing operation has been performed, from the vertical placement holding section at the vertical placement removal position and to position the connectored electrical cable bundle in the horizontal placement position to the horizontal placement holding section at the horizontal placement setting position. [4] The sheathing unit according to claim 3, wherein the vertical placement adjustment mechanism is a mechanism for holding the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle over a first electrical wire holding tool, wherein the first electrical wire holding tool holds the connectors at both ends in a state in which the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle is bent into a U-shape, and removes each connector from the first electrical wire holding tool while the U-shaped connector-equipped electrical cable bundle is stretched and adjusted to the vertical placement holding section, and The vertical-horizontal transport mechanism is a mechanism for holding the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle over a second electrical wire holding tool, wherein the second electrical wire holding tool holds the connectors at both ends in a state in which the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle is bent in a U-shape, transfers each connector from the vertical placement holding section to the second electrical wire holding tool, holds the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle in the U-shaped bent state and transports it to the horizontal placement holding section, and removes each connector from the second electrical wire holding tool while the U-shaped bent connector-equipped electrical cable bundle is stretched to position it at the horizontal placement holding section. [5] The sheathing unit according to claim 1, further comprising a dispensing mechanism configured to remove the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle from the horizontal placement holding section at the horizontal placement removal position and transport the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle to a predetermined dispensing position for dispensing. [6] The sheathing unit according to claim 1, wherein the vertical placement holding section comprises: an upper retaining section for holding an upper connector in the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle in the vertical placement position; a lower retaining section for holding a lower connector; and a support section to support either the upper holding section or the lower holding section, so that a distance between them can be adjusted. [7] The sheathing unit according to claim 1, wherein a vertical placement circulation route on which the vertical placement holding section in the first sheathing mechanism moves is an elongated annular route, wherein the vertical placement setting position is provided at one end side longitudinally therefrom and the vertical placement removal position is provided at the other end side, a horizontal placement circulation route, on which the horizontal placement holding section moves in the second sheathing mechanism, is an elongated ring-shaped route, wherein the horizontal placement setting position is provided at one end side in the longitudinal direction thereof and the horizontal placement removal position is provided at the other end side, The first sheathing operation is performed in a first vertical placement longitudinal route as one side between a pair of vertical placement circulation routes, while the second sheathing operation is performed in a first horizontal placement longitudinal route as one side between a pair of horizontal placement circulation routes, and In at least one of the second vertical placement longitudinal routes in the vertical placement circulation route and a second horizontal placement longitudinal route in the horizontal placement circulation route, at least a portion of the corresponding sheathing material is fed between the first sheathing material and the second sheathing material to a corresponding holding section between the vertical placement holding section and the horizontal placement holding section. [8] The sheathing unit according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the first sheathing material used in the first sheathing operation is a tubular, pre-passed element that is passed through the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle before it is set to the vertical placement holding section, and During the first sheathing process, the previously processed element is aligned in a longitudinal direction within the cable bundle equipped with electrical connectors and fixed in a fixed position. [9] The sheathing unit according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the second sheathing material used in the second sheathing operation is a protector with a groove-shaped cover, on the inside of which the electrical cable bundle fitted with connectors is attached in the horizontal placement position, and a lid-like cover for covering the groove-shaped cover, and During the second sheathing process, the lid-like cover is pressed onto the groove-shaped cover, on the inside of which the electrical cable bundle equipped with connectors is arranged. [10] A coating method comprising: a vertical placement adjustment step for positioning a vertical placement holding section, wherein the vertical placement holding section is able to hold a connector-equipped electrical cable bundle, in which connectors are attached to both ends of a bundle consisting of a plurality of electrical cables, in a vertical placement position along a vertical direction, at a vertical placement adjustment position in a vertical placement circulation route via the vertical placement adjustment position and a vertical placement removal position; a first sheathing step in which the vertical placement holding section, on which the connectored electrical cable bundle is positioned, is caused to move in a circulation along the vertical placement circulation route while a first sheathing operation is performed in which a first sheathing material is applied in respect of the connectored electrical cable bundle in the vertical placement position during the movement from the vertical placement setting position to the vertical placement removal position; a vertical-horizontal transport step in which a horizontal placement hold section is positioned, wherein the horizontal placement hold section is able to hold the electrical cable bundle fitted with connectors in a horizontal placement position along a horizontal direction, wherein the electrical cable bundle fitted with connectors, on which the first sheathing operation has been performed, is removed from the vertical placement hold section at the vertical placement removal position, while the electrical cable bundle fitted with connectors in the horizontal placement position is set against the horizontal placement hold section at the horizontal placement setting position, and a second sheathing step in which the horizontal placement holding section, to which the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle is positioned, is caused to move along the horizontal placement circulation route while a second sheathing operation is performed in which a second sheathing material is applied to the connector-equipped electrical cable bundle in the horizontal placement position during the movement from the horizontal placement setting position to the horizontal placement removal position.

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