Stationary, fully automated wrapping and placing of holding parts

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) and a method for wrapping a cable assembly (110) and for placing a holding part (130) on the cable assembly (110). A wrapping means (140) with a hollow space (141) is designed to receive a segment (111) of the cable assembly (110) in the hollow space and to provide it with a cable protection means (120). A transfer gripper (170) takes an end of a segment (111) of the cable assembly (11) out of an intermediate carrier and transfers it through the hollow space (141) of the wrapping means (140) to a clamping gripper (150), which grips the end and pulls the segment of the cable assembly through the hollow space (141) of the wrapping means (140). A clamping device (160) on the opposite side of the hollow space (141) exerts a braking force on the segment (111) of the cable assembly (110), in order to clamp it in the hollow space and to allow the wrapping means to provide the segment with cable protection means. A supply unit (180) arranges a holding part (130) on the segment (111) of the cable assembly (110) provided with the cable protection means (120), and a securing unit (190) secures the holding part (130) to the segment (111) of the cable assembly (110) provided with the cable protection means (120).

Description

[0001] STATIONARY FULLY AUTOMATED BANDAGING AND RETAINING PART INSTALLING

[0002] Technical area

[0003] The present invention relates to a device for bandaging a cable set and for placing holding parts on the cable set.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] The fully automated bandaging of cable harnesses is not yet economically feasible given the current state of the art. Typically, the bundling and bandaging of a cable harness is done conventionally and thus manually using wrapping tape that is wound spirally around the cable harness. This requires a complex structure to be created before bandaging. Since laying out the wires on the construction board and thus structuring the wires is not yet possible in an automated manner, this results in a high demand for manual worker minutes. Following bandaging, retaining parts are attached to the wires or wound directly onto the wires during the winding process. This, too, is not economically feasible using automated means given the current state of the art.

[0006] In conventional, manual bandaging, the cable harness is laid out on a construction board, after which the segments of the cable harness are bandaged. Subsequently, retaining parts are mounted or wound on, and the finished cable harness is removed from the construction board.

[0007] In semi-automated production, the wiring harness is assembled on a placement machine and then transported to the semi-automatic machine responsible for taping. There, the wiring harness is taped segment by segment on the semi-automatic machine. The wiring harness is then laid out on a construction board, and the retaining parts are manually assembled or wound on.

[0008] There is therefore a need for an improved method and device for the automated bandaging of cable harnesses and for attaching retaining parts to the bandaged cable harnesses, which enable fully automated production without prior structuring.

[0009] Description of the invention

[0010] An object of the invention is therefore to provide a device and an improved method which can be carried out fully automatically and cost-effectively and which enables the bandaging of cable sets and the attachment of holding parts to the bandaged cable set.

[0011] The object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the description, and the accompanying figures.

[0012] The described embodiments apply equally to the device for bandaging a cable harness and for placing retaining parts on the cable harness. Synergistic effects can arise from various combinations of the embodiments, even if they are not described in detail.

[0013] Furthermore, it should be noted that all method-related embodiments of the present invention can be carried out in the described order of steps. Nevertheless, this need not be the only possible or required order of steps in the method. The methods described herein can be carried out in a different order of the disclosed steps without deviating from the corresponding method embodiment, unless expressly stated otherwise below.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, a device for bandaging a cable harness and for placing a retaining part on the cable harness is proposed. The device comprises a bandager with a cavity, wherein the bandager is designed to receive at least one segment of the cable harness in the cavity and, when a segment of the cable harness is located in the cavity, to provide the segment of the cable harness with a cable protector. Furthermore, the device comprises a tensioning gripper designed to grip an end of a segment of the cable harness and pull the segment of the cable harness through the cavity of the bandager, and a tensioning device arranged on a side of the cavity opposite the tensioning gripper and designed to exert a braking force on the segment of the cable harness in order to tension the segment of the cable harness in the cavity.The device comprises a transfer gripper designed to pick up an end of a segment of the cable harness from an intermediate carrier and transfer the end of the segment of the cable harness through the cavity of the taping device to the clamping gripper. The device also comprises a feed unit designed to arrange a holding part on a segment of the cable harness provided with cable protection, and a fastening unit designed to fasten the holding part to the segment of the cable harness provided with cable protection.

[0015] With this device, cable harnesses can advantageously be bandaged fully automatically, whereas with previous semi-automated bandaging of cable harnesses, the cable segments had to be manually guided through a banding device such as a rotor. One or more grippers can be mounted on linear axes on one side of the banding device, pulling the cable harness through the banding device while the segment is bandaged with cable protection. Taps of the cable harness can be bandaged first, followed by the main winding section or the main segment of the cable harness. The device according to the invention allows the previously manual tasks to be carried out automatically.For this purpose, a transfer gripper is used, which removes a housing positioned at one end of a tap of the cable harness or the end of the segment from an intermediate support or construction board, transports it through the taping device and transfers it to a tensioning gripper. The tensioning gripper then pulls the segment of the cable harness through the taping device, while a tensioning device exerts a braking force counter to the tensile force, so that the segment of the cable harness is tensioned in the taping device and can be taped with pretension. In one embodiment, the device can advantageously have a second tensioning device which drives the cable harness in the winding direction by means of a rotational movement. This allows the tensioning force on contact parts to be reduced. After the segment has been taped, it is taken over from the tensioning gripper by the transfer gripper, guided back through the taping device and hung back in its position in the intermediate support.The next tap can then be bandaged. This process can be repeated until the entire cable set is fully bandaged.

[0016] Furthermore, the device according to the invention is designed to automatically fasten holding parts to the segment of the cable harness provided with cable protection and thus bandaged. The holding parts to be attached in the next process step can also be attached fully automatically in the same system. When a segment of the cable harness is bandaged, on which segment a holding part is to be attached at a predetermined position, a feed unit can feed the holding part to the bandaged cable harness, and a fastening unit can fasten the holding part thereto. The feeding and fastening of the holding part preferably takes place when the predetermined position of the bandaged cable harness has been pulled by the bandager and is located at the position of the fastening unit. The bandaging process can thus stop precisely when the holding part position is below a holding part setter.This means that only a single-value, one-dimensional movement is required to place and secure the retaining part. The retaining parts can be fed in and secured from opposite sides of the cable harness. Automated retaining part placement can utilize a so-called dFix application, which describes retaining parts that can be easily attached to the cable harness in an automated process.

[0017] The device according to the invention provides a space-saving, efficient, and fully automated solution for bandaging cable harnesses and subsequently attaching the retaining parts. This offers a highly efficient and economical option for cable harness assembly.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the transfer gripper is designed to take the end of the segment of the cable harness provided with cable protection from the tensioning gripper and insert the end into the intermediate carrier. The transfer gripper can therefore not only transfer the segments of the cable harness from the intermediate carrier through the cavity of the taping device to a tensioning gripper, but can also take the segment of the cable harness from the tensioning gripper after the segment of the cable harness has been taped and insert the end back into an intermediate carrier. In one embodiment of the invention, the device has a plurality of tensioning grippers which are designed to move independently of one another. If two taps are to be combined to form a main segment, two tensioning grippers can pull both taps through the taping device simultaneously so that they can be provided with cable protection together and thus wound together.

[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, the taping device has a recess designed to allow the transfer gripper to pass through the cavity. The taping device can be designed as a winder, which winds a winding tape around the cable harness in a rotating movement. For this purpose, this assembly, which applies the winding, is designed as a closed ring in known devices. In the device according to the invention, this ring of the winder is preferably open, resulting in a C-shape, whereby the transfer gripper can move through the opening of the winder to transfer the segment of the cable harness to the clamping gripper.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the taper is configured to apply one end of the cable protection to a segment of the cable harness. The taper has a rotor configured to perform a circular movement around the cavity to wrap the cable harness with the cable protection. The taper is configured to separate the wrapped cable protection from a supply. The winder is preferably capable of automatically applying a wrapping tape as cable protection, wrapping the cable harness, and cutting it off. Alternatively, other forms of cable protection can be applied that do not require traversing the cable harness. This could, for example, be longitudinal winding.

[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, the device is designed to provide the segment of the wiring harness with wire protection and to fasten the holding part to the segment of the wiring harness provided with wire protection while the clamping gripper pulls the segment of the wiring harness through the bandaging device. Preferably, the bandaging of the wiring harness and the attachment of the holding part take place in the same work step. Alternatively, the bandaging process can be stopped briefly when the predetermined position of the segment of the wiring harness is at the position of the fastening unit for the holding part, so that the holding part can be attached in a linear movement. In one embodiment of the invention, the holding part is designed to be fastened in a vehicle in order to fasten the wiring harness in the vehicle. Thus, the holding part can have a structure with which the holding part can be inserted into a body element of a vehicle.This allows the wiring harness to be securely attached in the vehicle.

[0022] In one embodiment of the invention, the fastening unit is an ultrasonic welding unit. The fastening of the holding part to the cable harness provided with cable protection can be achieved by plastic welding, preferably by ultrasonic welding. This allows for efficient, secure fastening of the holding part. It is also possible to feed the holding part from one side of the cable harness, while the sonotrode of an ultrasonic welding unit, acting as the fastening unit, welds the holding part to the cable harness from the opposite side of the cable harness.

[0023] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for bandaging a cable harness and for placing a retaining part on the cable harness using a device according to one of the preceding embodiments is proposed. The method comprises the following steps: picking up an end of a segment of the cable harness from an intermediate carrier using the transfer gripper, and transferring the end of the segment of the cable harness through the cavity of the bander to the tensioning gripper. The method further comprises the steps of gripping the end of the segment of the cable harness and pulling the segment of the cable harness through the cavity of the bander using the tensioning gripper, as well as exerting a braking force on the segment of the cable harness using the tensioning device in order to tension the segment of the cable harness in the cavity.The method comprises the step of providing the segment of the cable harness with cable protection by the bandager, as well as the steps of feeding a holding part and arranging the holding part on the segment of the cable harness provided with cable protection, and fastening the holding part to the segment of the cable harness provided with cable protection. In the next step of the method, the end of the segment of the cable harness provided with cable protection is taken from the tensioning gripper by the transfer gripper and inserted into the intermediate carrier. According to this method, a cable harness can be provided with cable protection in a fully automated manner. A segment of the cable harness is picked up at one end from an intermediate carrier and guided by a transfer gripper through a bandager and transferred to a tensioning gripper. This pulls the segment of the cable harness through the bandager, while the bandager provides the segment with cable protection.A braking device ensures the necessary pre-tension on the segment, enabling efficient banding. The segment of the cable harness is pulled by the tensioning gripper in the same movement past a holding part setting unit, where a holding part is fed and fastened to the bandaged cable harness. For this purpose, the pulling movement of the tensioning gripper can be stopped briefly to allow the holding part to be fastened. Alternatively, the holding part can be set while the segment of the cable harness is pulled past the holding part setting unit at a constant speed. After bandaging, the end of the segment of the cable harness is transferred from the tensioning gripper back to the transfer gripper, from where it is guided back through the banding machine and placed back into the intermediate carrier. In the next step, another segment of the cable harness can be bandaged in the same way.The main section of the cable harness can then be bandaged.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the retaining part is designed to be mounted in a vehicle to secure the wiring harness within the vehicle. The retaining part is preferably attached to the wiring harness by ultrasonic welding. The retaining part can then be clipped or screwed into the vehicle.

[0025] Thus, the benefits offered by one of the above-mentioned aspects apply equally to all other aspects and vice versa.

[0026] Essentially, the invention relates to a device and a method for bandaging a cable harness and for placing a retaining part on the cable harness. A bandager with a cavity is designed to receive a segment of the cable harness in the cavity and to provide it with cable protection. A transfer gripper receives one end of a segment of the cable harness from an intermediate carrier and transfers it through the cavity of the bandager to a tensioning gripper, which grips the end and pulls the segment of the cable harness through the cavity of the bandager. A tensioning device on the opposite side of the cavity exerts a braking force on the segment of the cable harness in order to tension it in the cavity and enable the bandager to provide the segment with cable protection.A feed unit arranges a holding part on the segment of the wiring harness provided with line protection, and a fastening unit fastens the holding part to the segment of the wiring harness provided with line protection.

[0027] Further features, advantages and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of advantageous embodiments and the accompanying figures.

[0028] Short character description

[0029] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a device for bandaging a cable set and for placing a holding part on the cable set according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a device for bandaging a cable set and for placing a holding part on the cable set in a cross section through the bandaging device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0032] The figures are merely schematic representations and serve only to illustrate the invention. Identical or equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals throughout.

[0033] Detailed description

[0034] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a device 100 for bandaging a cable harness 110 and for placing a holding part 130 on the cable harness 110 according to one embodiment of the invention. A transfer gripper 170 takes an end of a segment 111 of a cable harness 110 from an intermediate carrier 171 and transfers it through the cavity 141 of a bandager 140 to a tensioning gripper 150. The tensioning gripper 150 grasps the end of the segment 111 of the cable harness 110 and pulls the segment 111 through the cavity 141 of the bandager 140. In doing so, a tensioning device 160 tensions the segment 111 of the cable harness 110 and creates a pretension so that the bandager 140 can provide the segment 111 of the cable harness 110 with a cable protector 120.An advantageous second tensioning device on the right side of the taping device 140, which drives the cable harness in the winding direction through a rotational movement and can thus reduce the tensioning force acting on contact points, is not shown in the present figure. A feed unit 180 feeds a holding part 130 to the segment 111 provided with cable protection 120, and a fastening unit 190, for example a sonotrode of an ultrasonic welding device, fastens the holding part 130 to the segment 111 of the cable harness 110. Subsequently, the tensioning gripper 170 takes over the end of the segment 111 of the cable harness 110 and reinserts it into the intermediate carrier 171.

[0035] Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a device 100 for bandaging a cable harness 110 in a cross-section through the bandaging device 140 according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the sectional view relates only to the part of the device responsible for bandaging. The transfer gripper 170 picks up a segment 111 of a cable harness 110 from an intermediate carrier 171 and pulls it through the cavity 141 of the bandaging device 140. For this purpose, the bandaging device 140 has a recess 142 so that the transfer gripper 170 can move through the recess 142. In this embodiment of the invention, a rotor 143 of the bandaging device 140 provides the segment 111 of the cable harness 110 with cable protection 120.

[0036] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, these drawings and descriptions are to be considered as illustrative or exemplary in nature and not as restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations of the disclosed embodiments may be understood and practiced by those skilled in the art to practice the claimed invention, based on the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims.

[0037] Additionally, it should be noted that "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

[0038] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0039] 100 Device 110 Cable set

[0040] 111 Segment of the wiring harness

[0041] 120 line protection

[0042] 130 Holding part

[0043] 140 Bandage 141 Cavity

[0044] 142 recess

[0045] 143 Rotor

[0046] 150 clamping grippers

[0047] 160 Clamping device 170 Transfer gripper

[0048] 171 intermediate carriers

[0049] 180 feeding unit

[0050] 190 fastening unit

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device (100) for bandaging a cable harness (110) and for placing a holding part (130) on the cable harness (110), comprising: a bandager (140) with a cavity (141), wherein the bandager is designed to receive at least one segment (111) of the cable harness (110) in the cavity and, when a segment of the cable harness is located in the cavity, to provide the segment of the cable harness with a cable protector (120); a clamping gripper (150) which is designed to grip one end of a segment (111) of the cable harness (110) and to pull the segment of the cable harness through the cavity (141) of the bandager (140); a tensioning device (160) which is arranged on a side of the cavity (141) opposite the tensioning gripper (150) and which is designed to exert a braking force on the segment (111) of the cable set (110) in order to tension the segment of the cable set in the cavity (141);a transfer gripper (170) designed to pick up an end of a segment (111) of the cable harness (110) from an intermediate carrier (171) and to transfer the end of the segment of the cable harness through the cavity (141) of the bandaging device (140) to the clamping gripper (150); a feed unit (180) designed to arrange a holding part (130) on a segment (111) of the cable harness (110) provided with cable protection (120); and a fastening unit (190) designed to fasten the holding part (130) to the segment (111) of the cable harness (110) provided with cable protection (120); 2. Device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the transfer gripper (170) is designed to take over the end of the segment (111) of the cable set (110) provided with cable protection (120) from the clamping gripper (150) and to insert the end into the intermediate carrier (171).

3. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the device (100) comprises a plurality of clamping grippers (150) which are designed to move independently of one another.

4. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bandaging device (140) has a recess (142) which is designed to allow the transfer gripper (170) to pass through the cavity (141).

5. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bander (140) is designed to attach one end of the line protection (120) to a segment (111) of the line set (110), wherein the bander (140) has a rotor (143) which is designed to carry out a circular movement around the cavity (141) in order to wrap the line set (110) with the line protection (120), and wherein the bander (140) is designed to separate the wrapped line protection (120) from a supply.

6. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (100) is designed to provide the segment (111) of the cable set (110) with cable protection (120) and to fasten the holding part (130) to the segment (111) of the cable set (110) provided with cable protection (120) while the clamping gripper (150) pulls the segment (111) of the cable set (110) through the bandaging device (140).

7. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding part (130) is designed to be fastened in a vehicle in order to fasten the cable set (110) in the vehicle.

8. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening unit (190) is an ultrasonic welding unit.

9. A method for bandaging a cable set (110) and for placing a holding part (130) on the cable set (110) with a device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprising the steps: Picking up, by means of the transfer gripper (170), one end of a segment (111) of the cable harness (110) from an intermediate carrier and transferring the end of the segment (111) of the cable harness (110) through the cavity (141) of the bandaging device (140) to the clamping gripper (150); Gripping, by means of the clamping gripper (150), the end of the segment (111) of the cable set (110) and pulling the segment (111) of the cable set (110) through the cavity (141) of the bandaging device (140); Exerting, by means of the tensioning device (160), a braking force on the segment (111) of the cable set (110) in order to tension the segment of the cable set in the cavity (141); Providing, by means of the bandaging device (140), the segment (111) of the cable set (110) with a cable protection (120); Supplying a holding part (130) and arranging the holding part (130) on the segment (111) of the cable set (110) provided with cable protection (120); Attaching the holding part (130) to the segment (111) of the cable set (110) provided with cable protection (120); and Taking over, by means of the transfer gripper (170), the end of the segment (111) of the cable set (110) provided with cable protection (120) from the clamping gripper (150) and inserting the end into the intermediate carrier.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the holding part (130) is designed to be fastened in a vehicle in order to fasten the wiring harness (110) in the vehicle.

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