Connector support device

Abstract

To provide a connector support device having a connector-receiving jig suitable for automation.SOLUTION: A connector support device 1 is a device for supporting a connector 13 provided at a terminal of an electric wire 110, comprising a base 2 and a connector-receiving jig 30 rotatably provided at the base 2. The connector-receiving jig 30 has a recessed connector-accommodating part 302 for accommodating the connector 13, and in a state where the connector 13 is accommodated in the connector-accommodating part 302, a drawing direction X1 of the electric wire 110 follows the rotational-axis direction X of the connector-receiving jig 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector support device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Automobiles and the like are equipped with various electronic devices, and wire harnesses are arranged to transmit power from a power source such as a battery, control signals from an inspection unit, and the like to the electronic devices.

[0003] Wire harnesses are generally assembled on a wiring board in a harness production line that has a conveyor device installed in a factory and a plurality of wiring boards that are transported by the conveyor device.

[0004] When manufacturing such a wire harness, the wire harness is placed on a wiring board, and the connectors located at the ends of the wire harness are supported by a connector receiving jig to assemble the wire harness. That is, the wire harness is supported by the connector receiving jig and assembled by shaping it into the same shape as the shape to be installed in a vehicle (sometimes referred to as the "vehicle assembly shape") (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0005] 8(A) and 8(B) are conceptual diagrams showing examples of conventional connector receiving jigs. Conventional connector receiving jig A shown in Fig. 8(A) and conventional connector receiving jig B shown in Fig. 8(B) are connector receiving jigs A and B for supporting connectors 101 having the same shape, and support connector 101 so that mating surfaces 101A and 101B of connector 101 face in different directions when installed in a vehicle.

[0006] As described above, even when conventional connector receiving jigs A and B support connectors 101 having the same shape, two types of connector receiving jigs A and B are prepared as shown in Figures 8(A) and 8(B) to accommodate cases where the orientation of the mating surfaces 101A and 101B of the connector 101 differs when installed in a vehicle, and wire harnesses 101WA and 101WB are assembled using these jigs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-141641 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, when manufacturing wire harnesses 101WA and 101WB using two types of connector receiving jigs A and B, if a robot arm is used to support connector 101 on connector receiving jigs A and B, it is necessary to control the robot arm so that the orientation of connector 101 corresponds to the orientation of connector receiving jigs A and B, which makes the operation and control of the robot arm complicated. In other words, conventional connector receiving jigs A and B were not suitable for automation.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a connector support device suitable for automation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problem and achieve the object, the invention described in claim 1 is a connector support device for supporting a connector attached to the end of an electric wire, comprising a base and a connector receiving jig rotatably attached to the base, the connector receiving jig having a concave connector accommodating portion for accommodating the connector, and when the connector is accommodated in the connector accommodating portion, the drawing direction of the electric wire is along the direction of the rotation axis of the connector receiving jig. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the invention as set forth in claim 1, it is possible to provide a connector supporting device having a connector receiving jig suitable for automation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a connector support device according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state in which a connector receiving portion (connector receiving jig) is in an initial position. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the connector support device, illustrating a state in which the connector receiving portion is in a rotated position. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a first wire harness manufactured using the connector support device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a second wire harness manufactured using the connector support device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2A is a conceptual diagram showing the connector receiving portion in the initial position, and FIG. 2B is a conceptual diagram showing the connector receiving portion in the rotated position. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining the manufacturing process of the first wire harness, in which (A) is a plan view showing the first wire harness when the connector receiving portion is in the initial position, and (B) is a plan view showing the first wire harness when the connector receiving portion is in the rotated position, in a process subsequent to (A). [Figure 7] 5(A) and 5(B) are diagrams illustrating a process of manufacturing the second wire harness. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are conceptual diagrams showing an example of a conventional connector receiving jig. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 7. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector support device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state in which a connector receiving portion 30 (connector receiving jig) is in an initial position 30P1. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the connector support device 1, illustrating a state in which the connector receiving portion 30 is in a rotational position 30P2 rotated from the initial position 30P1. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a first wire harness 10A (10) manufactured using the connector support device 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a second wire harness 10B (10) manufactured using the connector support device 1.

[0014] The connector support device 1 of this embodiment is incorporated into a wire harness manufacturing device (not shown) for manufacturing the wire harness 10 and is used when manufacturing the wire harness 10, and is configured to have a checker fixture (C / F). The wire harness manufacturing device uses the connector support device 1 to assemble the wire harness 10 to be mounted on a vehicle and to perform a continuity test on the wire harness 10 in its completed form. In this embodiment, the "completed wire harness 10" refers to the wire harness 10 in a state where it has been shaped into the same shape as the state in which it is wired in a vehicle, and is configured to have a plurality (a pair) of connectors 12, 13 at its terminals, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, a pair of connector support devices 1 (the same number as the connectors 12, 13) is provided.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a completed wire harness 10 includes a harness main body 110 (electric wires) having a trunk portion 11 formed by bundling a plurality of electric wires and a branch portion (not shown) branching from the trunk portion 11, a plurality (a pair) of connectors 12, 13 provided at the terminal portion of the harness main body 110, a fixing member 14 for fixing the harness main body 110 to a vehicle body, and cable ties 15, 15 provided on both sides of the fixing member 14 for fixing the fixing member 14 to the harness main body 110. The branch portion is omitted in FIGS. 3 and 4. Hereinafter, one of the pair (plural) connectors 12, 13 may be referred to as the "first connector 12" and the other as the "second connector 13." In the connector support device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second connector 13 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "connector 13") is supported by a connector receiving portion 30.

[0016] This connector support device 1 is driven by power supplied by a power supply unit (not shown) and is controlled by a control unit (not shown). A robot arm is provided near the connector support device 1, and this robot arm holds the connector 13 so that it can be placed in a connector receiving portion 30 provided in the connector support device 1.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the connector support device 1 comprises a base 2 that is installed on a wiring board (not shown), a rotation support part 3 that is rotatably supported on the base 2 and has a connector receiving part 30 that accommodates the connector 13 of the wire harness 10, a drive part 4 that rotates the rotation support part 3, and an inspection block 5 that moves in and out of contact with the connector 13 supported by the connector receiving part 30.

[0018] In this embodiment, the arrows X, Y, and Z are perpendicular to one another. The arrow X is the rotation axis direction of the rotation support part 3, and is the direction (front-rear direction X) in which the inspection block 5 approaches and moves away from the connector receiving part 30. One side of the front-rear direction X (the side toward the connector receiving part 30) may be referred to as "front X1," and the opposite direction away from the connector receiving part 30 may be referred to as "rear X2."

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the base 2 includes legs 20 mounted on a wiring board, a plate-shaped base body 21 attached to the legs 20 and extending on a plane including the front-to-back direction X and the left-to-right direction Y, a front support body 22F (base support body) and a rear support body 22B erected upward Z1 from the base body 21 and arranged opposite each other to rotatably support the rotation support unit 3, and a pillar 23 erected in a columnar shape from the base body 21 to support the drive unit 4.

[0020] 1 and 2, the base body 21 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate with its longitudinal direction in the front-to-rear direction X, and is configured to have a rectangular hole 210 in its center. The base body 21 is installed by the legs 20 in a substantially horizontal position spaced apart above the wiring board Z1.

[0021] 1 and 2, the front support body 22F is provided in a plate-like upright position at the front end of the base main body 21, and is configured to have a base-side arcuate surface 220 formed by cutting out an arc-shaped portion at the upper end. A receiving-side arcuate surface 301B (sliding surface) of the connector receiving portion 30 of the rotation support part 3, which will be described later, is configured to slide on this base-side arcuate surface 220.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rear support body 22B comprises an upright plate portion 221 provided in a plate-like upright position at the rear end of the base body 21, and a tube support portion 223 provided continuously above Z1 of the upright plate portion 221, having an insertion hole 222 for inserting the drive receiving portion 32 of the rotation support portion 3 described later, and rotatably supporting the rear end side of the drive receiving portion 32.

[0023] 1 and 2, the support pillar 23 is provided on the base 2 at a position adjacent to the left side Y1 of the rear support body 22B. The support pillar 23 includes a square pillar-shaped support body 231 extending upward Z1, and a support-side guide part 232 that is provided on the support pillar body 231 and engages with a drive unit body 41 of the drive unit 4 (described later) to guide the drive unit body 41 in the up-down direction Z.

[0024] The pillar-side guide portion 232 is provided on a surface 231a of the pillar body 231 facing a drive receiving portion 32 of the rotation support portion 3, which will be described later, and is provided continuously from the upper end to the lower end of the pillar body 231.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rotation support part 3 is integrally provided with a rotating part main body 31 having a connector receiving part 30, and a drive receiving part 32 that is meshed with a gear part 42 of the drive part 4 described later and transmits the driving force of the drive part 4 to the rotating part main body 31.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rotating unit main body 31 includes a rectangular support plate 311 located above the hole 210 in the base 2 in the Z1 direction, a connector receiving portion 30 provided at the front X1 end of the support plate 311, a rear side erect portion 312 provided at the rear X2 end of the support plate 311 and facing the connector receiving portion 30, and a guide rod 313 that guides the inspection block 5 to move in the forward and backward directions X.

[0027] An inspection block 5 (to be described later) is provided on a surface 311a of the support plate 311 in the direction in which a rear side erected portion 312 (to be described later) erects from the support plate 311.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the connector receiving portion 30 comprises a semicircular plate portion 301 having a semicircular (arcuate) plate shape, and a connector accommodating portion 302 provided in the semicircular plate portion 301 to accommodate and support the connector 13.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the semicircular plate portion 301 is provided at the front X1 end of the support plate 311 and extends in a plane direction perpendicular to the support plate 311 (plane direction including the vertical direction Z and the horizontal direction Y).

[0030] The end face of this semicircular plate portion 301 is configured to have a flat surface 301A and arc-shaped receiving-side arcuate surfaces 301B that are continuous with both ends of the flat surface 301A in the left-right direction Y. The curvature of the receiving-side arcuate surface 301B is formed to be substantially the same as the curvature of the base-side arcuate surface 220 of the front-side support body 22F provided on the base 2, and the receiving-side arcuate surface 301B is configured to be able to slide against the base-side arcuate surface 220. In addition, the front end of a guide rod 313, which will be described later, is fixed to the rear surface of the semicircular plate portion 301.

[0031] 1 and 2, the connector accommodating section 302 is provided in the center of the flat surface 301A in the left-right direction Y. The connector accommodating section 302 includes a recess 303 formed by cutting out a rectangular portion of the flat surface 301A, a base 304 installed at the bottom of the recess 303 and capable of mounting the connector 13, and a pair of clamping plates 305, 305 installed on both sides of the base 304 for sandwiching and supporting the connector 13, and has an opening 306 at a position facing the base 304.

[0032] 1 and 2, the pair of clamping plates 305, 305 are each provided in the shape of a rectangular plate, and are provided opposite each other in the left-right direction Y. The pair of clamping plates 305, 305 are provided so as to protrude rearward X2 from the semicircular plate portion 301 (in the direction opposite to the direction in which the electric wires are drawn out).

[0033] When accommodating the connector 13 in such a connector accommodating section 302, the connector 13 is held by the robot arm, and the connector 13 is brought close to the opening 306 of the connector accommodating section 302 and placed on the base 304 between a pair of clamping plates 305, 305.

[0034] As a result, the connector 13 held by the robot arm is placed on the base 304, the connector 13 is positioned between the pair of clamping plates 305, 305, and the connector 13 is accommodated and supported in the connector accommodating portion 302. In other words, the connector 13 is supported by the connector receiving portion 30. With the connector 13 supported by the connector receiving portion 30, the connector 13 is sandwiched between the pair of clamping plates 305, 305, and movement in the left-right direction Y is restricted.

[0035] 1 and 2, the rear side standing portion 312 is formed in a rectangular plate shape, and is provided standing on the rear end portion of the support plate 311, facing the semicircular plate portion 301 of the connector receiving portion 30. A rear end 313b of a guide rod 313, which will be described later, is fixed to a front surface 312a of the rear side standing portion 312.

[0036] 1 and 2, the guide rod 313 is formed in a rod shape with a constant diameter from one end to the other. The front end of this guide rod 313 is fixed to the rear surface of the semicircular plate portion 301 of the connector receiving portion 30, and the rear end 313b is fixed to the front surface 312a of the rear-side standing portion 312. Such a guide rod 313 is inserted into an insertion hole 530 provided in a guide portion 53 of the inspection block 5, which will be described later, and moves and guides the guide portion 53 in the direction in which the guide rod 313 extends (the front-rear direction X).

[0037] 1 and 2, the drive receiving portion 32 is configured to have a receiving portion main body 321 formed in a cylindrical shape, and a gear receiving portion 322 provided on a peripheral surface 321c (cylindrical surface) of the receiving portion main body 321 and capable of meshing with a gear portion 42 of the drive portion 4, which will be described later. The gear receiving portion 322 is provided on the entire peripheral surface 321c of the receiving portion main body 321. The receiving portion main body 321 is provided coaxially with the connector receiving portion 30.

[0038] Such a rotation support part 3 is configured so that the driving force of the drive part 4 described later is transmitted to the rotation part main body 31 via the drive receiving part 32, and the rotation support part 3 is rotated between an initial position 30P1 (shown in Figure 1) and a rotation position 30P2 (shown in Figure 2) rotated 180 degrees from the initial position 30P1.

[0039] Also, as shown in Figure 1, when the rotation support portion 3 is in the initial position 30P1, the connector receiving portion 30 is arranged so that the base 304 of the connector accommodating portion 302 is located close to the base 2 and the opening 306 of the connector accommodating portion 302 is located away from the base 2.

[0040] Also, as shown in Figure 2, when the rotation support portion 3 is in the rotation position 30P2, the connector receiving portion 30 is configured so that the base 304 of the connector accommodating portion 302 is located away from the base 2 and the opening 306 of the connector accommodating portion 302 is located close to the base 2.

[0041] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drive unit 4 has a locking portion 40 that locks the support side guide portion 232 provided on the support 23, and comprises a drive unit main body 41 that is guided to move in the vertical direction Z, and a gear portion 42 that is provided on the drive unit main body 41 and can mesh with a gear receiving portion 322 provided on the drive receiving portion 32.

[0042] 1 and 2, the drive unit body 41 is provided so as to be movable between a lower position 4P1 and an upper position 4P2 on the support body 231. As shown in FIG. 1, when the drive unit body 41 is in the lower position 4P1, the rotation support part 3 is in the initial position 30P1, and as shown in FIG. 2, when the drive unit body 41 is in the upper position 4P2, the rotation support part 3 is in the rotation position 30P2.

[0043] When the driving unit 4 rotates the rotation support unit 3 from the initial position 30P1 (shown in FIG. 1) to the rotation position 30P2 (shown in FIG. 2), as shown in FIG. 1, the gear unit 42 provided on the driving unit 4 and the gear receiver 322 provided on the rotation support unit 3 are engaged with each other, and as a result, the driving unit main body 41, which is at the lower position 4P1, is moved upward Z1 by the supply of driving force (electric power) from the power supply unit, and the gear unit 42 moves upward Z1 together with the driving unit main body 41. As the gear unit 42 moves upward Z1, the gear receiver 322 provided on the rotation support unit 3 rotates, and accordingly, the rotation unit main body 31 rotates. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2, the driving unit main body 41 reaches the upper position 4P2, and the rotation support unit 3 is positioned at the rotation position 30P2.

[0044] Furthermore, when the rotation support part 3 is rotated from the rotation position 30P2 (shown in FIG. 2) to the initial position 30P1 (shown in FIG. 1), as shown in FIG. 2, a driving force (electric power) is supplied from the power supply part, and the drive part body 41, which is at the upper position 4P2, is moved downward Z2, and the gear part 42 is moved downward Z2 together with the drive part body 41. As the gear part 42 moves downward Z2, the gear receiver 322 provided on the rotation support part 3 rotates, and as a result, the rotation part body 31 rotates. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the drive part body 41 reaches the lower position 4P1, and the rotation support part 3 is positioned at the initial position 30P1.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the inspection block 5 includes a rectangular parallelepiped inspection block main body 51, inspection terminals 52 supported by the inspection block main body 51 and electrically connected to connector terminals (not shown) provided on the connector 13, and a guide part 53 having an insertion hole 530 through which a guide rod 313 provided on the rotation support part 3 is inserted, and which guides the inspection block main body 51 to slide in the forward and backward directions X.

[0046] The inspection block 5 is installed on a surface 311a of the support plate 311 between the connector receiving portion 30 and the drive receiving portion 32 in the front-rear direction X. The inspection block 5 is also provided so as to be movable between a close position approaching the front X1 (toward the connector receiving portion 30) and a distant position away from the rear X2 (in the direction away from the connector receiving portion 30) in response to control by the control unit.

[0047] 1, the inspection block main body 51 has a pair of end faces 51F, 51B located at both ends in the front-rear direction X and a side face 51C continuous with the peripheries of the pair of end faces 51F, 51B, and has a generally rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. Of the pair of end faces 51F, 51B, the end face 51F on the front X1 side (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "front end face 51F") is provided with a recessed portion 54 formed in the front end face 51F to allow the connector 13 to enter. An inspection terminal 52, which will be described later, is provided to protrude from the bottom surface of the recessed portion 54 toward the front X1 side.

[0048] The inspection terminal 52 is electrically connected to the control unit, and the inspection terminal 52 is electrically connected to a connector terminal provided on the connector 13, so that the control unit can perform a continuity test between the connectors 12 and 13 that make up the wire harness 10.

[0049] When such an inspection block 5 is in the approach position, the connector 13 supported by the connector receiving portion 30 is inserted into the recessed portion 54, and the inspection terminal 52 and the connector terminal are electrically connected.

[0050] Furthermore, when the inspection block 5 is in the separated position, the connector 13 supported by the connector receiving portion 30 comes out from inside the recessed portion 54, and the electrical connection between the inspection terminal 52 and the connector terminal is released.

[0051] Incidentally, there are two types of wire harnesses 10 manufactured using the connector support device 1: a first wire harness 10A (10) shown in Fig. 3 and a second wire harness 10B (10) shown in Fig. 4. The first wire harness 10A and the second wire harness 10B have mating surfaces 130A and 130B that face in different directions.

[0052] 3, in the completed state of the first wire harness 10A (10), a mating surface 120A of the one-side connector 12A faces one side (left direction Y1) of the width direction (left-right direction Y) of the first wire harness 10A, and a mating surface 130A of the other-side connector 13A faces the other side (right direction Y2) of the width direction of the first wire harness 10A. That is, in the first wire harness 10A, the orientation of the mating surface 120A of the one-side connector 12A (12) and the orientation of the mating surface 130A of the other-side connector 13A (13) are opposite to each other.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, in the completed form of the second wire harness 10B (a state in which the wire harness 10 is shaped into the same shape as when it is installed in a vehicle), the orientation of the mating surface 120B of the one-side connector 12B and the orientation of the mating surface 130B of the other-side connector 13B are the same.

[0054] Next, a procedure for assembling the first wire harness 10A (10) into a completed form using a pair of connector support devices 1 configured as described above and performing a continuity test on the completed first wire harness 10A will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Hereinafter, one of the pair of connector support devices 1, which supports the one-side connector 12A (12), may be referred to as the "one-side connector support device," and the other, which supports the other-side connector 13A (13), may be referred to as the "other-side connector support device 1." The connector receiving portion 30 of each of the pair of connector support devices 1 is positioned at an initial position 30P1.

[0055] First, the one-side connector 12A located at one end of the first wire harness 10A is held by a robot arm, and the one-side connector 12A is inserted from above Z1 into the opening 306 of the connector accommodating portion 302 provided in the connector receiving portion 30. As a result, the one-side connector 12A is accommodated and supported in the connector accommodating portion 302.

[0056] Similarly, the other-side connector 13A located at the other end of the first wire harness 10A is held by the robot arm, and the other-side connector 13A is inserted from above Z1 into the opening 306 of the connector accommodating portion 302 provided in the connector receiving portion 30. As a result, the other-side connector 13A is accommodated and supported in the connector accommodating portion 302, as shown in Figures 5(A) and 6(A).

[0057] As a result, the one-side connector 12A is supported in the connector receiving portion 30 of the one-side connector support device, and the other-side connector 13A is supported in the connector receiving portion 30 of the other-side connector support device 1, and the main part 11, i.e., the harness main body 110, is arranged in a straight line.

[0058] Next, in accordance with the control of the control unit, the inspection block 5 of the one-side connector support device is moved from the separated position in a direction approaching the one-side connector 12A, and the inspection block 5 of the other-side connector support device 1 is moved from the separated position in a direction approaching the other-side connector 13A.

[0059] As the movement of the inspection block 5 of the one-side connector support device progresses, the guide portion 53 is guided by the guide rod 313 of the rotation support portion 3, and the inspection block main body 51 approaches the one-side connector 12A. As the movement progresses, the recessed portion 54 of the inspection block main body 51 approaches the one-side connector 12A, and the one-side connector 12A is inserted into the recessed portion 54. As a result, the inspection block main body 51 is positioned at the approach position, and the inspection terminals 52 protruding from the recessed portions 54 are electrically connected to the connector terminals of the one-side connector 12A.

[0060] Similarly, as the movement of the inspection block 5 of the other-side connector support device 1 progresses, the recessed portion 54 of the inspection block main body 51 approaches the other-side connector 13A, and the other-side connector 13A is inserted into the recessed portion 54. As a result, the inspection block main body 51 is positioned at the approach position, and the inspection terminals 52 protruding from the recessed portion 54 are electrically connected to the connector terminals of the other-side connector 13A.

[0061] Thereafter, in the other-side connector support device 1, the drive unit main body 41 is moved from the lower position 4P1 to the upper Z1 in accordance with the control of the control unit, and the gear unit 42 is moved to the upper Z1 together with the drive unit main body 41. As the gear unit 42 moves to the upper Z1, the gear receiving portion 322 provided on the rotation support unit 3 rotates, causing the rotation unit main body 31 to rotate. The drive unit main body 41 reaches the upper position 4P2, and the rotation support unit 3 is positioned at a rotation position 30P2 (shown in FIG. 5(B)), which is rotated 180 degrees from the initial position 30P1 (shown in FIG. 5(A)).

[0062] By positioning the rotation support part 3 at the rotation position 30P2, the harness main body 110 is twisted and formed in a state where the mating surface 130A of the other connector 13A faces rightward Y2. After this, the fixing member 14 is fixed to the trunk part 11 and the branch part constituting the harness main body 110 using a pair of cable ties 15, 15. In this way, the first wire harness 10A is in a completed form.

[0063] Thereafter, the control unit sends an inspection signal to the harness main body 110 of the wire harness 10 via, for example, the inspection terminal 52, to inspect the electrical conduction state of the harness main body 110. In this manner, the continuity inspection of the first wire harness 10A is performed.

[0064] Thereafter, in the other-side connector support device 1, the drive unit body 41, which is at the upper position 4P2, is moved downward Z2 under the control of the control unit, and the gear unit 42 is moved downward Z2 together with the drive unit body 41. As the gear unit 42 moves downward Z2, the gear receiver 322 provided on the rotation support unit 3 rotates, causing the rotation unit body 31 to rotate. The drive unit body 41 reaches the lower position 4P1, and the rotation support unit 3 is moved from the rotation position 30P2 (shown in FIG. 5(B)) to the initial position 30P1 (shown in FIG. 5(A)). As a result, the opening 306 of the connector accommodating unit is positioned away from the base 2.

[0065] Thereafter, the inspection block 5 of the one-side connector support device is moved in a direction away from the one-side connector 12A, and the inspection block 5 of the other-side connector support device 1 is moved in a direction away from the other-side connector 13A.

[0066] As a result, one-side connector 12A comes out of recess 54 of inspection block 5 of the one-side connector support device, and the electrical connection between inspection terminal 52 and the connector terminal of one-side connector 12A is released. Also, the other-side connector 13A comes out of recess 54 of inspection block 5 of the other-side connector support device 1, and the electrical connection between inspection terminal 52 and the connector terminal of the other-side connector 13A is released. In this way, the continuity test for first wire harness 10A is completed.

[0067] Next, a procedure for assembling the second wire harness 10B (10) into a completed form using a pair of connector support devices 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to Figures 7(A) and 7(B). Hereinafter, one of the pair of connector support devices 1, which supports the one-side connector 12B (12), may be referred to as the "one-side connector support device," and the other, which supports the other-side connector 13B (13), may be referred to as the "other-side connector support device 1." The procedure for conducting a continuity test on the second wire harness 10B is the same as the procedure for conducting a continuity test on the first wire harness 10A, and therefore its description will be omitted.

[0068] First, the one-side connector 12B located at one end of the second wire harness 10B is held by a robot arm, and the one-side connector 12B is inserted from above Z1 into the opening 306 of the connector accommodating portion 302 provided in the connector receiving portion 30. As a result, the one-side connector 12B is accommodated and supported in the connector accommodating portion 302.

[0069] Similarly, the other-side connector 13B located at the other end of the second wire harness 10B is held by the robot arm, and the other-side connector 13B is inserted from above Z1 into the opening 306 of the connector accommodating portion 302 provided in the connector receiving portion 30. As a result, the other-side connector 13B is accommodated and supported in the connector accommodating portion 302, as shown in FIG. 7(A).

[0070] As a result, the one-side connector 12B is supported in the connector receiving portion 30 of the one-side connector support device, and the other-side connector 13B is supported in the connector receiving portion 30 of the other-side connector support device 1, and the main part 11, i.e., the harness main body 110, is arranged in a straight line.

[0071] Thereafter, the fixing member 14 is fixed to the trunk portion 11 and the branch portion that constitute the harness main body 110 using a pair of cable ties 15, 15. The rotation support portion 3 of the other-side connector support device 1 does not rotate. In this way, the second wire harness 10B is in a completed form. The completed second wire harness 10B is formed with the mating surface 120B of the one-side connector 12B and the mating surface 130B of the other-side connector 13B facing leftward Y1.

[0072] According to the above-described embodiment, the connector support device 1 includes a base 2 and a connector receiving portion 30 (connector receiving jig) rotatably mounted on the base 2. The connector receiving portion 30 has a recessed connector accommodating portion 302 that accommodates the connector 13. When the connector 13 is accommodated in the connector accommodating portion 302, the drawing direction X1 of the harness main body 110 (electric wires) is configured to be along the front-rear direction X (rotation axis direction). Accordingly, when the connector 13 is accommodated in the connector accommodating portion 302, the connector receiving portion 30 is rotated, twisting the harness main body 110 drawn out from the connector 13. In this manner, twisting the harness main body 110 drawn out from the connector 13 by the connector receiving portion 30 eliminates the need to control a robot arm to orient the connector so that it corresponds to the connector receiving jig, as in the prior art, and simplifies the operation and control of the robot arm. This provides a connector support device 1 having a connector receiving portion 30 (connector receiving jig) suitable for automation.

[0073] Furthermore, in the prior art, two types of connector receiving jigs were prepared when supporting connectors having the same shape but with different orientations of the mating surfaces when installed in a vehicle. However, in the present embodiment, even when supporting connectors 12, 13 having the same shape but with different orientations of the mating surfaces 130A, 130B of connectors 13A, 13B when installed in a vehicle, a single type of connector receiving portion 30 can be used by rotating the connector receiving portion 30. That is, a single type of connector receiving portion 30 can be used to support two types of wire harnesses 10A, 10B with different orientations of the mating surfaces 130A, 130B. This allows the connector receiving portion 30 to be standardized, thereby increasing the versatility of the connector receiving portion 30.

[0074] The connector receiving portion 30 (connector receiving jig) has a semicircular plate portion 301 (jig-side support portion) extending in a planar direction (planar direction intersecting the rotation axis) including the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y, the connector accommodating portion 302 is configured by cutting out a concave portion of the semicircular plate portion 301, the base 2 has a plate-shaped base main body 21 and a front-side support body 22F (base-side support portion) provided upright on the base main body 21 and rotatably supporting the semicircular plate portion 301, the front-side support body 22F has a base-side arcuate surface 220 formed by cutting out an arcuate portion of an edge remote from the base main body 21, and the semicircular plate portion 301 has an arcuate receiving-side arcuate surface 301B (sliding surface) that slides on the base-side arcuate surface 220. This makes it possible to obtain a configuration in which the connector receiving portion 30 is rotatable with respect to the base 2.

[0075] The connector accommodating portion 302 includes a recess 303 formed by cutting out the semicircular plate portion 301 (jig-side support portion), a base 304 installed at the bottom of the recess 303 and on which the connector 13 can be installed, and a pair of clamping plates 305, 305 installed on both sides of the base 304 to sandwich and support the connector 13, the pair of clamping plates 305, 305 being installed to protrude from the semicircular plate portion 301 in a direction opposite to the drawing-out direction of the electric wires. Thus, the pair of clamping plates 305, 305 restricts the connector 13 from moving in the opposing direction of the pair of clamping plates 305, 305 (left-right direction Y) while the connector 13 is accommodated and supported in the connector accommodating portion 302.

[0076] The connector receiving portion 30 also includes a rotation support portion 3 having a connector receiving portion 30 (connector receiving jig) and rotatably supported on the base 2, and a drive portion 4 that rotates the rotation support portion 3. The drive portion 4 includes a drive portion main body 41 that moves linearly in an up-down direction Z (intersecting direction) that intersects with the front-to-back direction X (rotation axis direction), and a gear portion 42 provided on the drive portion main body 41. The rotation support portion 3 includes a receiver main body 321 having a circumferential surface 321c (cylindrical surface) that is provided coaxially with the connector receiving portion 30, and a gear receiver 322 that is provided on the circumferential surface 321c and meshes with the gear portion 42. As the drive portion main body 41 moves, the gear portion 42 moves in the up-down direction Z, and the driving force of the gear portion 42 is transmitted to the gear receiver 322, and the connector receiving portion 30 rotates together with the receiver main body 321. As a result, as the drive unit main body 41 moves, the gear unit 42 moves in the vertical direction Z, and the driving force of the gear unit 42 is transmitted to the gear receiving unit 322, causing the connector receiving unit 30 to rotate together with the receiving unit main body 321, thereby obtaining a configuration in which the rotation support unit 3 rotates relative to the base 2.

[0077] The inspection block 5 is also provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction X (rotation axis direction) and move toward and away from the connector receiving portion 30 (connector receiving jig), and the inspection block 5 has inspection terminals 52 that protrude toward the connector receiving portion 30, and is configured so that when the inspection block 5 is at a close position close to the connector receiving portion 30, the inspection terminals 52 approach the connector terminals provided on the connector 13 and are electrically connected thereto, and when the inspection block 5 is at a separated position away from the connector receiving portion 30, the inspection terminals 52 separate from the connector terminals and are electrically disconnected therefrom. According to this, the inspection block 5 is supported by the rotation support portion 3 and is configured so as to be movable in the front-rear direction X and move toward and away from the connector receiving portion 30, so that the continuity inspection is performed by the inspection block 5 while the connector 13 remains supported by the connector receiving portion 30, and the wire harnesses 10A, 10B (10) can be produced while reducing the effort required to move the wire harness 10 and set it at a predetermined position. This makes it possible to improve the production efficiency of the wire harnesses 10A, 10B (10).

[0078] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes other configurations that can achieve the object of the present invention, and the following modified examples are also included in the present invention.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the semicircular plate portion 301 of the connector receiving portion 30 is formed in a sector shape with a central angle of 180 degrees, but the present invention is not limited to this. The semicircular plate portion may be formed in a sector shape with a central angle of less than 180 degrees as long as it has an angle that allows it to support and rotate the connector 13.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the rotation support part 3 is controlled to rotate 180 degrees from the initial position 30P1 to the rotation position 30P2, but the present invention is not limited to this. The rotation angle of the rotation support part 3 may be any angle that corresponds to the orientation of the mating surface of the connector 12 (or 13) in the completed wire harness 10, and may be rotated by an angle smaller than 180 degrees or by an angle larger than 180 degrees.

[0081] In addition, in the above embodiment, the drive unit body 41 of the drive unit 4 is configured to move in the vertical direction Z, but the present invention is not limited to this. The drive unit body may be moved in any direction, and does not have to be moved in the vertical direction Z, as long as the gear portion 42 and the gear receiving portion 322 are kept meshed.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the connector support device 1 is configured to be driven by power supplied from a power supply unit (not shown), but the present invention is not limited to this. The connector support device may be configured to be driven by air drive or an external drive device other than electric power.

[0083] Although the best configurations and methods for carrying out the present invention have been disclosed above, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention has been particularly illustrated and described primarily with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the above-described embodiments in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departing from the scope of the technical idea and purpose of the present invention. Therefore, the above-disclosed descriptions limiting the shapes, materials, etc. are provided as examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, descriptions using names of components that are free from some or all of the limitations on the shapes, materials, etc. are included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1 Connector support device 2. Bass 21 Base body 22F Front support (base support) 220 Base side arc surface 3 Rotation support part 30 Connector receiving part (connector receiving jig) 301 Semicircular plate part (jig side support part) 301B Receiving side arc surface (sliding surface) 302 Connector housing 32 Drive receiving part 321c Circumferential surface (cylindrical surface) 322 Gear receiving part 4 Drive unit 41 Drive unit body 42 Gear section 5 Inspection Block 52 Inspection terminal 110 Harness body (electric wire) 13 Connectors X Front-rear direction (rotation axis direction) X1 Front (direction of wire extraction)

Claims

1. A connector support device for supporting a connector provided at an end of an electric wire, With the base, a connector receiving jig rotatably provided on the base, the connector receiving jig has a recessed connector accommodating portion that accommodates the connector, A connector support device characterized in that, when the connector is accommodated in the connector accommodation portion, the direction in which the electric wires are drawn out is along the direction of a rotation axis of the connector receiving jig.

2. the connector receiving jig has a jig-side support portion extending in a plane direction intersecting the rotation axis direction, The connector accommodating portion is formed by cutting out a recess in the jig support portion, the base includes a plate-shaped base body and a base-side support portion that is provided upright on the base body and rotatably supports the jig-side support portion; the base-side support portion has a base-side arcuate surface formed by cutting out an edge thereof away from the base body in an arcuate shape, 2. The connector supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the jig-side supporting portion has an arc-shaped sliding surface that slides on the base-side arc-shaped surface.

3. the connector accommodating portion has a recess formed by cutting out the jig-side support portion, a base that is installed at the bottom of the recess and on which the connector can be installed, and a pair of clamping plates that are installed on both sides of the base and that sandwich and support the connector, 3. The connector support device according to claim 2, wherein the pair of clamping plates are provided so as to protrude from the jig-side support portion in a direction opposite to the direction in which the electric wires are drawn out.

4. a rotation support portion having the connector receiving jig and rotatably supported on the base; a drive unit that rotates the rotation support unit, the drive unit includes a drive unit main body that moves linearly in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction, and a gear unit provided in the drive unit main body, the rotation support portion includes a receiving portion main body having a cylindrical surface provided coaxially with the connector receiving jig, and a gear receiving portion provided on the cylindrical surface and meshed with the gear portion, The connector support device of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gear portion moves in the intersecting direction as the drive unit main body moves, thereby transmitting the driving force of the gear portion to the gear receiving portion, and rotating the connector receiving portion together with the receiving portion main body.

5. an inspection block provided movably in the direction of the rotation axis and adapted to come into contact with and separate from the connector receiving jig; the inspection block has an inspection terminal provided so as to protrude toward the connector receiving jig, When the inspection block is at a position close to the connector receiving jig, the inspection terminals approach connector terminals provided on the connector, and the two are electrically connected to each other; 2. The connector support device according to claim 1, wherein when the inspection block is in a spaced position away from the connector receiving jig, the inspection terminals are spaced apart from the connector terminals, thereby disconnecting the electrical connection therebetween.

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