Twist tube automatic attachment device

Abstract

To enable a twist tube to be automatically attached to an electric wire.SOLUTION: A twist tube automatic attachment device 1 comprises: a diameter-enlarging jig 2 for diameter-enlarging a twist tube 9; a push-out part 3 and a feed belt 6 for conveying the twist tube 9 covered on one end side in a longitudinal direction of the diameter-enlarging jig 2 onto the other end side in the longitudinal direction; a rotation roller 4 that is positioned at an intermediate part in the longitudinal direction of the diameter-enlarging jig 2, for rotating the twist tube 9 made to be in an open state along an outer peripheral face of the diameter-enlarging jig 2; and a sensor 5 for detecting positions of a winding start end and a winding finish end of the rotated twist tube 9. The rotation roller 4 stops rotating when the winding start end and the winding finish end of the twist tube 9 each are located at a predetermined position, and the push-out part 3 and the feed belt 6 subsequently convey the twist tube 9 in a state where the winding start end and the winding finish end each are maintained at the predetermined position toward an electric wire located on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the diameter-enlarging jig 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic twist tube attachment device for covering an electric wire with a twist tube. [Background technology]

[0002] One example of a wire harness arranged in a vehicle is one in which electric wires are covered with a twist tube (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The twist tube is a wire protection material in which a resin sheet is wound into a tube shape and formed.

[0003] A connector that is larger than the inside diameter of the twist tube is attached to the end of the electric wire of the wire harness, and this connector cannot be passed through the inside of the twist tube. Therefore, when covering the electric wire with the twist tube, the twist tube is opened against the elastic force in the closing direction, and the electric wire is inserted into the gap between the winding start end and the winding end end. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-254076 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The twist tube is manually fitted onto the electric wire, and automatic installation by machine has not been implemented because it is difficult to align the gap between the winding start and end of the twist tube with the electric wire in the automatic installation by machine.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to enable automatic attachment of a twist tube to an electric wire. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a diameter expansion tool that expands a twisted tube, which is a resin sheet wound into a tube shape and formed into a shape, from a tube state in which the start end and the end end of the winding overlap to an open state in which the start end and the end end of the winding are spaced apart in the circumferential direction; a conveying means that conveys the twisted tube in the tube state, which is covered on one end side of the longitudinal direction of the diameter expansion tool, along the diameter expansion tool to the other end side in the longitudinal direction; and a rotating means that is positioned in the longitudinal middle part of the diameter expansion tool and that rotates the twisted tube in the open state along the outer circumferential surface of the diameter expansion tool. and a sensor that detects the positions of the start and end winding ends of the twist tube being rotated by the rotating means, wherein the rotating means stops rotating when the start and end winding ends of the twist tube are positioned at predetermined positions, and then the conveying means conveys the twist tube, with the start and end winding ends maintained in the predetermined positions, toward an electric wire positioned on the other longitudinal end side of the expansion jig. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a twist tube can be automatically attached to an electric wire. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an automatic twist tube installation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the diameter expansion jig of FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a twisted tube is supplied to the automatic twisted tube attachment device of FIG. 1 and the twisted tube is placed over a small diameter portion of a diameter expansion jig. [Figure 4] 4 is a bottom view of the twist tube and diameter expansion jig in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 6]4 is a diagram showing a state in which the tip end of the twist tube in FIG. 3 is positioned in a large diameter portion of a diameter expansion jig. [Figure 7] 7 is a bottom view of the twist tube and diameter expansion jig in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 9] 7 is a diagram showing how the rotating roller in FIG. 6 rotates the twist tube. [Figure 10] 10 is a bottom view of the twist tube and diameter expansion jig in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the tip end of the twist tube in FIG. 9 is positioned in an open state maintaining portion of a diameter expansion jig. [Figure 13] 13 is a bottom view of the twist tube and diameter expansion jig in FIG. 12. FIG. [Figure 14] 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the twist tube of FIG. 12 is conveyed by a feed belt. FIG. [Figure 15] 15 is a bottom view of the twist tube and diameter expansion jig in FIG. 14. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 shows a twisted tube. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An "automatic twist tube attaching device" according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs.

[0011] The automatic twist tube attachment device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is for covering a twist tube 9 shown in FIG. 17 onto a bundle of electric wires of a wire harness.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 17, twist tube 9 is a wiring protection material in which a resin sheet is wound into a tube shape and formed. In its natural state, in which no external force is applied, twist tube 9 is in a tube state in which inner winding start end 9a overlaps with outer winding end 9b. Twist tube 9 is placed over a bundle of electric wires to form an automobile wire harness together with the bundle of electric wires. In this example, an example in which a twist tube 9 with an axial length of about 5 cm and a diameter of about 1 to 2 cm is placed over a bundle of electric wires will be described below.

[0013] The twist tube automatic attachment device 1 includes a frame 10, a diameter expanding jig 2, a push-out section 3 and a feed belt 6 as conveying means, two rotating rollers 4 as rotating means, a sensor 5, driving means 30, 40, 60, and a control section (not shown). The control section is connected to the sensor 5 and controls the driving means 30, 40, 60.

[0014] The diameter expansion jig 2 expands the twist tube 9 from a tube state in which the winding start end 9a and the winding end 9b overlap to an open state in which the winding start end 9a and the winding end 9b are spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The diameter expansion jig 2 is fixed to the frame 10 with one end in the longitudinal direction disposed upstream of the twist tube 9 in the conveying direction and the other end in the longitudinal direction disposed downstream of the twist tube 9 in the conveying direction. As shown in Figs. 2, 5, 8, 11, and 16, the diameter expansion jig 2 has a small diameter section 21, an expanding section 22, a large diameter section 23, and an open state maintaining section 24, which are arranged in this order from one end side to the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the diameter expansion jig 2. The large diameter section 23 forms the longitudinal middle section of the diameter expansion jig 2.

[0015] The small diameter section 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a smaller diameter than the twist tube 9 in a tube state. The expanded diameter section 22 is connected to the small diameter section 21 and is formed in a cone shape with a gradually expanding diameter as it moves away from the small diameter section 21. The large diameter section 23 is connected to the expanded diameter section 22 and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a circumferential length greater than the length from the winding start end 9a to the winding end end 9b of the twist tube 9 in an unfolded state. The open state maintaining section 24 is connected to the large diameter section 23.

[0016] The open state maintaining section 24 is provided with a main body 25 having an oval cross section and a rib 26 protruding from the bottom surface of the main body 25. As shown in Fig. 16, the main body 25 is positioned inside the twist tube 9 in the open state. The rib 26 is positioned between the winding start end 9a and the winding end end 9b of the twist tube 9. In this example, the main body 25 is formed to have an oval cross section (rectangle with rounded corners), but the cross section of the main body 25 may be an elliptical shape other than an oval shape.

[0017] The push-out unit 3 is disposed upstream in the transport direction of the twisted tube 9, and transports the twisted tube 9 along the diameter expansion jig 2 toward the open state maintaining unit 24 by pushing out the rear end of the twisted tube 9 in a tube state that is placed over the small diameter portion 21 of the diameter expansion jig 2. The push-out unit 3 is driven by a driving means 30 attached to the frame 10.

[0018] The feed belt 6 is disposed downstream of the push-out section 3 in the conveying direction, and conveys the open twist tube 9 covering the main body section 25 of the diameter expansion jig 2 toward the wire bundle positioned downstream of the diameter expansion jig 2. The feed belt 6 is driven by a driving means 60 attached to the frame 10. The main body section 25 has a flat upper surface 25a for positioning the twist tube 9 between it and the feed belt 6.

[0019] The two rotating rollers 4 face the large diameter portion 23 that forms the longitudinal middle portion of the diameter expansion jig 2. As shown in Figs. 9 to 11, the two rotating rollers 4 rotate the twist tube 9, whose tip portion is positioned on the large diameter portion 23 of the diameter expansion jig 2 and put into an open state, along the outer circumferential surface of the diameter expansion jig 2. The two rotating rollers 4 rotate in the direction of arrow R1 shown in Fig. 11, and the twist tube 9 is rotated in the direction of arrow R2 that is opposite to R1. The two rotating rollers 4 are driven by a driving means 40 attached to the frame 10.

[0020] The sensor 5 is fixed to the frame 10, and is disposed below the large diameter portion 23 of the diameter expansion jig 2. The sensor 5 detects the positions of the winding start end 9a and the winding end 9b of the twist tube 9 rotated by the two rotating rollers 4, and transmits a detection signal to the control unit when the winding start end 9a and the winding end 9b reach predetermined positions.

[0021] In addition, the sensor 5 in this example irradiates light toward the underside of the large diameter portion 23 and detects the positions of the winding start end 9a and the winding end end 9b from the amount of reflected light. In this example, the diameter expansion jig 2 is white compared to the black twist tube 9, thereby increasing the sensitivity of the sensor 5.

[0022] When the control unit receives a detection signal from the sensor 5, it controls the drive means 40 to stop the rotation of the rotating roller 4. In this example, as shown in Fig. 11, the rotation of the rotating roller 4 is stopped when the slit S, which is the gap between the winding start end 9a and the winding end 9b, is located directly below the large diameter portion 23. In this state, the twist tube 9 is transported downstream, so that the rib 26 of the diameter expansion jig 2 is positioned at the slit S.

[0023] Next, an example of a procedure for covering a bundle of electric wires of a wire harness with twist tube 9 using the above-mentioned automatic twist tube attachment device 1 will be described.

[0024] 3 to 5, a twist tube 9 is supplied from a twist tube supplying means (not shown) to the automatic twist tube attachment device 1, and the twist tube 9 is placed over the small diameter portion 21 of the diameter expansion jig 2. At this time, the winding start end 9a and the winding end 9b of the twist tube 9 are not positioned at predetermined positions, and therefore their positions cannot be specified.

[0025] Next, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the push-out section 3 pushes out the rear end of the twisted tube 9, so that the front end of the twisted tube 9 is positioned against the large diameter section 23 of the diameter expansion jig 2 and expanded in diameter, creating a slit S between the starting winding end 9a and the ending winding end 9b.

[0026] 9 to 11, the two rotating rollers 4 descend and rotate the open twist tube 9 along the outer circumferential surface of the diameter expansion jig 2. Then, when the sensor 5 detects that the slit S is positioned directly below the large diameter portion 23, the rotation of the rotating rollers 4 stops.

[0027] 12 and 13, the two rotating rollers 4 are retracted upward, and the pushing-out portion 3 pushes out the rear end of the twisted tube 9, so that the front end of the twisted tube 9 is positioned in the open state maintaining portion 24 of the diameter expansion jig 2. As a result, the rib 26 of the diameter expansion jig 2 is positioned in the slit S.

[0028] Next, as shown by 14 and 15, the feed belt 6 descends to transport the twist tube 9 toward the electric wire bundle positioned downstream of the diameter expansion jig 2, and the twist tube 9 is placed over the electric wire bundle.

[0029] As described above, automatic twist tube attachment device 1 can align slit S formed between winding start end 9a and winding end 9b of twist tube 9 with respect to the electric wire bundle, so that twist tube 9 can be automatically attached to the electric wire bundle.

[0030] The above-described embodiment merely shows a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the present invention can be embodied in various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as the configuration of the present invention is still provided even with such modifications, it is of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 Automatic twist tube installation device 2 Expansion tool 3 Push-out section (conveying means) 4 Rotating roller (rotating means) 5 Sensors 6. Feed belt (conveying means) 9 Twisted Tube 9a Winding start end 9b End of winding 21 Small diameter section 22 Expanded diameter part 23 Large diameter section 24 Open state maintenance section

Claims

1. a diameter expansion tool that expands a twist tube, which is a resin sheet wound into a tube shape and formed into a shape, from a tube state in which the winding start end and the winding end end are overlapped to a circumferentially spaced apart state in which the winding start end and the winding end end are open; a conveying means for conveying the twisted tube in the tube state covered with the one end side of the diameter expansion jig to the other end side in the longitudinal direction along the diameter expansion jig; a rotating means for rotating the twist tube in the opened state along an outer circumferential surface of the diameter expansion jig, the twist tube being positioned at a longitudinal intermediate portion of the diameter expansion jig; a sensor for detecting the positions of a winding start end and a winding end end of the twist tube rotated by the rotating means, The rotating means stops rotating when the winding start end and the winding end end of the twisted tube are positioned at predetermined positions, and the conveying means subsequently conveys the twisted tube with the winding start end and the winding end end held at the predetermined positions toward the electric wire positioned at the other end side of the longitudinal direction of the diameter expansion jig.

1. An automatic twist tube attachment device comprising:

2. The diameter expansion jig is a small diameter portion having a diameter smaller than that of the twisted tube in the tube state; an expanded diameter portion that is connected to the small diameter portion and that gradually expands in diameter as it moves away from the small diameter portion; a large diameter portion connected to the expanded diameter portion and having a circumferential length greater than the length from the winding start end to the winding end end of the twist tube in an expanded state; an open state maintaining portion having a rib connected to the large diameter portion and positioned between the winding start end and the winding end end of the twist tube, The small diameter portion, the expanded diameter portion, the large diameter portion, and the open state maintaining portion are arranged in this order from one end side to the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the diameter expanding jig, The large diameter portion forms a longitudinal intermediate portion of the diameter expansion jig.

2. The automatic twist tube attachment device according to claim 1 .

3. The open state maintaining portion is provided with a main body portion having an elliptical cross section and the rib protruding from an outer surface of the main body portion.

3. The automatic twist tube attachment device according to claim 2.

4. The rotating means includes two rotating rollers facing the longitudinal middle portion of the diameter expansion jig.

2. The automatic twist tube attachment device according to claim 1 .

5. The conveying means is a push-out section disposed upstream in a conveying direction of the twisted tube and configured to push out a rear end of the twisted tube; a feed belt disposed downstream of the push-out section in the conveying direction; 2. The automatic twist tube attachment device according to claim 1 .

Images