Wire harness, manufacturing apparatus of wire harness and manufacturing method of wire harness

Abstract

To provide a wire harness, a manufacturing apparatus of a wire harness and a manufacturing method of a wire harness, capable of appropriately disposing a molding part covering a wiring material.SOLUTION: A wire harness WH includes: a wiring material W having an electric conductivity; and a molding member 1 integrally formed with the wiring material W covering the wiring material W. The molding member 1 is structured to have a taper part 12 tapering off toward an outermost end part 13 at an edge part in an extension direction X. The molding member 1 can be appropriately disposed preventing a leakage of a molding material 41 from the taper part 12 at molding.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire harness, a manufacturing apparatus for the wire harness, and a manufacturing method for the wire harness. [Background technology]

[0002] An exterior material is essential for a wire harness to protect the electric wires from external structures such as steel plates of a vehicle. Conventional wire harnesses use various types of exterior materials to protect the electric wires. For example, the wire harness described in Patent Document 1 includes a bundle of electric wires and a molded body integrally provided on a mounting portion that is a part of the axial direction of the bundle of electric wires, and the molded body is made of a thermoplastic resin. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-160568 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When this type of wire harness is installed in a vehicle, it is often routed between on-board components, and therefore the wire harness is required to be appropriately manufactured in a desired shape and size, including a molded body.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a wire harness, a wire harness manufacturing apparatus, and a wire harness manufacturing method that can appropriately provide a molded portion that covers a wiring material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] That is, the wire harness of the present invention comprises a conductive wiring material and a molded member that covers the wiring material and is formed integrally with the wiring material, and the molded member is configured to have a tapered portion at the end in the extension direction that tapers toward the extreme end. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The wire harness, the wire harness manufacturing apparatus, and the wire harness manufacturing method according to the present invention can appropriately provide a molded portion that covers a wiring material. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wire harness according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the wire harness manufacturing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of a forming die of the wire harness manufacturing apparatus taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the wire harness manufacturing method according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] As shown in Fig. 1, a wire harness WH according to this embodiment is used by being routed in a vehicle, and electrically connects devices, components, etc. mounted on the vehicle. The wire harness WH is configured with a routing material W and a molded member 1. The wire harness WH may further include various components such as exterior members such as a corrugated tube, a resin tape, and a protector, an electrical connection box, and a fixture.

[0011] The wiring material W is a conductive linear member, and is composed of, for example, a metal rod, an electric wire, etc. A metal rod is a rod-shaped member that is conductive. An electric wire is a conductor member (core wire) made up of multiple conductive metal wires. The wiring material W may be covered with an insulating coating. Multiple wiring materials W are provided, and each is arranged facing the same direction. Multiple wiring materials W may be provided, for example, in a bundled state. For example, the wiring material W is used by attaching connecting parts such as terminals and connectors to its end.

[0012] The molded member 1 is a member that covers the wiring material W and is formed integrally with the wiring material W, and functions as an exterior member that covers the outer periphery of the wiring material W. The molded member 1 covers the wiring material W along the extension direction X in which the multiple wiring materials W extend, and is formed around the multiple wiring materials W. The molded member 1 allows the wiring material W to extend from both ends, enabling connection to equipment, etc.

[0013] The molded member 1 is formed from a flexible or elastic insulating molding material, such as resin, rubber, or elastomer, specifically, thermoplastic elastomer, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), or the like. The molded member 1 is integrally formed around the wiring materials W by molding the molding material so as to cover the wiring materials W. This allows the wire harness WH to have flexibility together with the molded member 1. The molded member 1, for example, covers a portion of the wiring materials W collectively. Note that while the covering portion constituting the wiring material W is an insulating covering member provided over the entire length of the wiring material W, the molded member 1 is a protective member partially provided on the wiring material W at a necessary location outside the covering member for protecting the wiring material W, regulating the route, etc.

[0014] The molded member 1 has a body portion 11 and a tapered portion 12. The body portion 11 extends along the extension direction X of the molded member 1 and is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape. A cylindrical shape also includes a shape that is approximately cylindrical. The tapered portion 12 is provided adjacent to the end of the body portion 11. That is, the tapered portion 12 is provided at the end of the molded member 1 and is formed to taper toward the end portion 13. For example, the tapered portion 12 is formed in a truncated cone shape with a smaller diameter on the end portion 13 side than on the body portion 11 side. In this case, the outer peripheral surface 12A of the tapered portion 12 is a tapered surface. By providing the tapered portions 12 on both ends of the molded member 1, leakage of molding material from the end portions can be prevented when the molded member 1 is formed by injection molding.

[0015] Next, the wire harness manufacturing device according to this embodiment will be described.

[0016] 2, the wire harness manufacturing apparatus 2 is an apparatus for manufacturing a wire harness WH by molding a molded member 1 around a wiring material W, and includes, for example, a molding die 3 and an injection unit 4. The wire harness manufacturing apparatus 2 is an apparatus for manufacturing a wire harness WH by injection molding, and is configured as an injection molding machine. The molding die 3 includes a fixed die 31 and a movable die 32, and a molding space 33 is formed by abutting the movable die 32 against the fixed die 31 and clamping the mold.

[0017] The injection unit 4 is a material injection section that injects the molding material 41 into the molding space 33. The injection unit 4 injects the molten molding material 41 into the molding die 3 through a flow path 34, forming the molded member 1 so as to cover the wiring material W. The flow path 34 constitutes the sprue, runner, and gate of the molding die 3. The molding material 41 is a material such as resin, rubber, or elastomer, and is heated to a high temperature and injected into the molding die 3 in a molten state, filling the molding space 33.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3 , the molding space 33 is formed according to the shape of the molded member 1. The molding space 33 has a tapered space 332 at the end of a body space 331. The body space 331 is a space portion that forms the body portion 11 of the molded member 1 and is formed in the center of the molding space 33. The body space 331 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The tapered space 332 is a space portion that forms the tapered portion 12 of the molded member 1 and is formed at both ends of the molding space 33 in the extension direction X. The tapered space 332 has a shape that tapers toward the extreme end of the molding space 33, for example, a cylindrical trapezoid shape.

[0019] The molding space 33 has open ends, allowing the wiring material W to be placed by extending it to the outside of the molding die 3. That is, the molding space 33 has openings 333 formed at both ends, and is configured so that the wiring material W can be placed as an insert part in a state where the wiring material W extends to the outside of the molding die 3 through the openings 333.

[0020] Formation of opening 333 in molding space 33 raises concerns that when molten molding material 41 is filled into molding space 33 during molding of molded member 1, molding material 41 may leak from opening 333. However, formation of tapered space 332 at the end of molding space 33 reduces the gap between wiring material W and opening 333, thereby preventing molding material 41 from leaking from opening 333.

[0021] Next, a method for manufacturing a wire harness according to this embodiment will be described.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a wire harness manufacturing method according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, in manufacturing a wire harness WH, an arrangement process is first performed (S10). The arrangement process is a process of arranging a wiring material W in the molding space 33 of the molding die 3. For example, the molding die 3 is opened, and the movable die 32 is separated from the fixed die 31. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the wiring material W is arranged in the molding space 33. The wiring material W is arranged so that its end extends from the opening 333 of the molding space 33. FIG. 4 shows, for example, a simplified representation of multiple wiring materials W as one wiring material W.

[0023] Then, the process proceeds to S12 in FIG. 4, where the molding process is performed. In the molding process, molding material 41 is injected into the molding space 33 in which the wiring material W is placed, and the molded member 1 is molded to cover the wiring material W. In the molding process, first, the mold 3 is clamped, and as shown in FIG. 2, the movable mold 32 is fitted into the fixed mold 31. Then, the molten molding material 41 is injected into the molding space 33. For example, the molding material 41 is injected from the body space 331 of the molding space 33, fills the body space 331, and flows into the tapered space 332. The tapered space 332 tapers toward the end, and the cross-sectional area becomes smaller as it approaches the end. Therefore, at the position of the opening 333, the gap between the opening 333 and the wiring material W is narrowed, and leakage of the molding material 41 from the opening 333 is suppressed.

[0024] Then, once the molding material 41 has hardened, the mold 3 is opened, and the wire harness WH is removed from the mold 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the wire harness WH is removed from the mold 3 in a state in which the molded member 1 is formed so as to cover the periphery of the wiring material W. This wire harness WH is subjected to deburring, attachment of exterior parts and component parts, etc. as necessary, and the manufacture of the wire harness WH is completed.

[0025] As described above, in the wire harness WH according to this embodiment, the molded member 1 has the tapered portion 12 that tapers toward the outermost end 13, which can prevent the molding material 41 from leaking from the molding die 3 during molding of the molded member 1. Therefore, the molded member 1 can be appropriately provided in the wire harness WH according to this embodiment.

[0026] Furthermore, in the wire harness WH according to this embodiment, the molded member 1 has a tapered portion 12 that tapers toward the end portion 13, which increases the flow resistance of the molding material 41 that flows toward the end portion 13 at the tapered portion 12 during molding of the molded member 1. This facilitates filling of the molding material 41 into the molding space 33. Therefore, the wire harness WH according to this embodiment can reduce molding defects of the molded member 1 and properly provide the molded member 1. In particular, when multiple wiring materials W are provided, the molding material 41 can be filled between the wiring materials W, and properly provide the molded member 1.

[0027] Furthermore, in the wire harness WH according to this embodiment, outer peripheral surface 12A of tapered portion 12 of molded member 1 is tapered, which makes outer peripheral surface 12A a smooth surface and increases the fluidity of molding material 41 when molding molded member 1. Therefore, in the wire harness WH according to this embodiment, molding defects in molded member 1 can be reduced and molded member 1 can be properly provided.

[0028] In the wire harness production apparatus 2 according to this embodiment, the molding die 3 used to mold the molded member 1 forms a tapered space 332 in the molding space 33, thereby making it possible to reduce the opening 333 of the molding space 33. Therefore, in the wire harness WH according to this embodiment, leakage of the molding material 41 from the molding die 3 during molding of the molded member 1 can be suppressed, and the molded member 1 can be properly provided.

[0029] In the wire harness manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, in the molding step of the molded member 1, the molded member 1 is molded so that the end of the molded member 1 in the extension direction X tapers toward the end 13. Therefore, in the wire harness manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, in the molding step of the molded member 1, leakage of the molding material 41 from the molding die 3 can be suppressed, and the molded member 1 can be appropriately provided.

[0030] Although the wire harness WH, the wire harness manufacturing apparatus 2, and the wire harness manufacturing method according to the present embodiment have been described above, the wire harness, the wire harness manufacturing apparatus, and the wire harness manufacturing method according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The wire harness WH, the wire harness manufacturing apparatus 2, and the wire harness manufacturing method according to the present embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the embodiments described above.

[0031] For example, in the wire harness WH, the wire harness manufacturing apparatus 2, and the wire harness manufacturing method according to the above-described embodiments, the outer peripheral surface 12A of the tapered portion 12 of the molded member 1 and the wall surfaces of the tapered space 332 of the molding space 33 are tapered. However, the outer peripheral surface 12A of the tapered portion 12 of the molded member 1 and the wall surfaces of the tapered space 332 of the molding space 33 may not be tapered. For example, the outer peripheral surface 12A of the tapered portion 12 of the molded member 1 and the wall surfaces of the tapered space 332 of the molding space 33 may be tapered in a stepwise manner. That is, the outer peripheral surface 12A of the tapered portion 12 of the molded member 1 and the wall surfaces of the tapered space 332 of the molding space 33 may be stepped, tapering in a stepwise manner. Even in this case, as with the wire harness WH, wire harness manufacturing apparatus 2, and wire harness manufacturing method according to the above-described embodiments, leakage of molding material 41 from the molding die 3 during molding of the molded member 1 can be suppressed, and the molded member 1 can be properly provided.

[0032] Furthermore, the wire harness WH, wire harness manufacturing apparatus 2, and wire harness manufacturing method according to the above-described embodiments have been described as being applied to a wire harness WH to be mounted on a vehicle, but may also be applied to a wire harness that is not mounted on a vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1: Molded parts 2: Wire harness manufacturing equipment 3: Molding mold 4: Injection unit (material injection section) 12: Tapered section 12A: Outer surface 13: Endmost part 33: Molding space 41: Molding material 332: Tapered space X: Extending direction W: Routing material WH: Wire harness

Claims

1. A conductive wiring material; A molded member that covers the wiring material and is integrally formed with the wiring material, The molded member has a tapered portion at an end in the extension direction that tapers toward the end. Wire harness.

2. The tapered portion has a tapered outer circumferential surface. The wire harness according to claim 1 .

3. a molding die having a molding space in which a wiring material can be placed; a material injection section that injects a molding material into the molding space in which the wiring material is placed to form a molded member so as to cover the wiring material; The molding space forms a tapered space portion such that the end portion in the extension direction of the molded member tapers toward the outermost end portion. Wire harness manufacturing equipment.

4. an arrangement step of arranging the wiring material in a molding space of the molding die; a molding step of injecting a molding material into the molding space in which the wiring material is arranged to mold a molded member so as to cover the wiring material, The molding step includes molding the molded member so that the end portions in the extension direction of the molded member are tapered toward the outermost end portions. Wire harness manufacturing method.

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