Electric wire processing apparatus and electric wire with terminal

Abstract

To provide an electric wire processing device capable of properly folding back a shield layer of an electric wire.SOLUTION: An electric wire processing device M for folding back a shield layer 54 exposed by peeling an outer layer 55 from an electric wire 50 toward an outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 50 includes a first processing part 23,25 arranged movably in a crossing direction crossing an axial direction, and a second processing part having an inner cylinder part 31 and an outer cylinder part 26 which have a cylindrical shape and are coaxially arranged relatively movably in the axial direction. The first machining unit 23,25 presses the shield layer 54 in the intersecting direction to deform the shield layer 54 such that the diameter of the end portion of the shield layer 54 is increased. The second processing unit folds back the shield layer 54 toward the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 50 by inserting the inner cylinder portion 31 into the inner diameter side of the shield layer 54 in the axial direction from the end portion of the diameter-expanded shield layer 54, expanding the shield layer 54, moving the outer cylinder portion 26 toward the shield layer 54 in the axial direction, and inserting the shield layer 54 into the cylinder of the outer cylinder portion 26.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric wire processing device for folding back an exposed shield layer, which is formed by peeling an outer layer from an electric wire, toward the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire, and to an electric wire with a terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] Various processing devices have been proposed for use in attaching terminals and the like to coaxial electric wires. A coaxial electric wire generally includes a conductor core, an inner insulator surrounding the conductor core, a shield layer (e.g., a braided conductor) surrounding the inner insulator, and an outer insulator surrounding the braided conductor. When attaching a terminal to the end of a coaxial electric wire, for example, one or more processing devices are used to perform the following steps: stripping the outer insulator from the end of the coaxial electric wire to expose the shield layer; folding back the exposed shield layer toward the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire; and crimping a terminal to the folded back shield layer.

[0003] One conventional processing device is used in a step of folding back a shield layer (specifically, a braided conductor) toward the outer periphery of an electric wire. This processing device performs this step (i.e., folding back the braided conductor) by inserting a cylindrical processing tool into the inner diameter side of the braided conductor to spread the braided conductor toward the outer diameter side, and then using a block-shaped processing tool to push down the spread braided conductor toward the outer periphery of the electric wire (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-009784 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the conventional processing device described above, when the expanded braided conductor is pushed down, depending on the degree of expansion of the braided conductor, the processing surface (plate surface) of the block-shaped processing tool may strongly abut against the end of the braided conductor, causing buckling or other problems in the braided conductor, which may result in the braided conductor not being pushed down properly and not being folded back into the designed shape. If the braided conductor is not folded back properly, the braided conductor may interfere with the terminal during the subsequent process of crimping the terminal, causing the braided conductor to be cut, preventing the terminal from being properly crimped to the braided conductor. Furthermore, the cut braided conductor may be scattered around, potentially causing an unintended short circuit or other problem in the electrical circuit. As is clear from this description, similar problems may occur not only in braided conductors but also in the process of folding back the shielding layer of a coaxial electric wire. For these reasons, a processing device capable of properly folding back the shielding layer of a coaxial electric wire is desired.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an electric wire processing device capable of properly folding back the shielding layer of an electric wire, and an electric wire with a terminal using an electric wire processed in this manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the electric wire processing device and the electric wire with terminal according to the present invention have the following features.

[0008] An electric wire processing device for folding back an exposed shield layer formed by peeling an outer layer from an electric wire toward an outer peripheral surface of the electric wire, a first processing unit disposed movably in a direction intersecting a predetermined axial direction; a second processing unit having a cylindrical shape and including an inner cylindrical portion and an outer cylindrical portion coaxially arranged so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction; The first processing unit is The shield layer is pressed in the intersecting direction to deform the shield layer so that an end portion of the shield layer expands in diameter, The second processing unit is The inner tube portion is inserted in the axial direction through the inner diameter side of the expanded terminal portion and into the inner diameter side of the shielding layer to expand the shielding layer, and the outer tube portion is moved in the axial direction toward the expanded shielding layer to insert the shielding layer into the tube of the outer tube portion while pushing down the shielding layer, thereby deforming the shielding layer so as to fold it back toward the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire. It is a wire processing device.

[0009] An electric wire with a terminal, comprising an electric wire and a terminal crimped to the electric wire, The electric wire is a shielding layer and an outer layer disposed so as to surround the shielding layer, the outer layer being peeled off at an end of the electric wire, and the exposed shielding layer being folded back toward an outer peripheral surface of the electric wire; The terminal is a crimping portion that is crimped to the folded-back shield layer to be connected to the shield layer, and a cylindrical contact portion into which a portion of the electric wire that is located on the tip side beyond the folded-back shield layer is inserted, The shielding layer is a folded portion of the shielding layer does not have a cut mark formed by the shielding layer being cut by contact with the terminal when the portion is inserted into the tube of the contact portion of the terminal; The wire must have a terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the electric wire processing device of the present invention, after the first processing unit deforms the shield layer (e.g., a braided conductor) so as to expand the diameter of the distal end portion of the shield layer, the inner tube portion of the second processing unit spreads the shield layer, and the outer tube portion of the second processing unit pushes down the shield layer while inserting it into the outer tube portion, thereby folding the shield layer back toward the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire. When the outer tube portion pushes down the expanded shield layer, it is inserted into the inner diameter side of the shield layer. This prevents the outer tube portion from hitting the distal end of the shield layer. Furthermore, because the outer tube portion has a cylindrical shape, the open end face of the tube end of the outer tube portion contacts the shield layer sequentially from the proximal end side to the distal end side, exerting an external force on the shield layer and pushing down the shield layer. This allows the shield layer to be deformed smoothly as a whole without applying an excessive external force to a single point on the shield layer. As a result, problems such as buckling or the like occurring in the shield layer, causing the shield layer to not fold back into the designed shape, are suppressed. Therefore, the electric wire processing apparatus having this configuration can properly fold back the shielding layer of the electric wire.

[0011] Furthermore, by using an electric wire in which the shield layer has been properly folded back by the above-mentioned electric wire processing device, in the electric wire with terminal of the present invention, the portion where the crimping portion of the terminal is crimped (i.e., the folded back portion of the shield layer) does not have any cut marks where the shield layer came into contact with the terminal and was cut when the electric wire was inserted into the tube of the contact portion of the terminal. As a result, the crimping portion of the terminal is properly crimped to the shield layer, improving the reliability of the electrical connection and suppressing short circuits and the like caused by broken pieces of the shield layer.

[0012] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the detailed description of the invention below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1]1(a) to 1(h) are diagrams for sequentially explaining the steps of manufacturing an electric wire with a terminal using an electric wire to be processed by the electric wire processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the entire wire processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which three opening / closing blocks provided in the electric wire processing device shown in FIG. 3 are opened radially outward and arranged to surround the end portion of the electric wire in the state shown in FIG. 1(c). [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the three opening / closing blocks are closed radially inward from the state shown in FIG. 4, and the ring-shaped claw portions of the three opening rollers are pressed against the braided conductor of the electric wire. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of part D in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view for explaining a process of reciprocating the rotor in the circumferential direction of the electric wire while maintaining the state shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7, showing a state in which the distal end of the braided conductor is loosened and expanded in diameter by the reciprocating motion of the rotor shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a state in which the braid-spreading tube has advanced from the state shown in FIG. 9 and is inserted radially inside the end portion of the expanded braided conductor. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of part E in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a state in which the three opening / closing blocks (opening rollers) are opened radially outward from the state shown in FIG. [Figure 13]FIG. 13 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a state in which the end portion of the braided conductor is pushed open by further advancement of the braid-spreading tube from the state shown in FIG. 12, and the end portion of the braided conductor is folded back toward the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire by advancement of the braid-folding tube. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of part F in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a state in which the braid-opening tube and the braid-folded-back tube have been retracted from the state shown in FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an electric wire processing device M according to an embodiment of the present invention and an electric wire with terminal 100 using an electric wire 50 to be processed by the electric wire processing device M will be described. The electric wire with terminal 100 shown in Fig. 16 is manufactured by sequentially performing the manufacturing steps shown in Figs. 1(a) to (h).

[0015] To manufacture the electric wire with terminal 100, first, an electric wire 50 is prepared as shown in Fig. 1(a). As shown in Fig. 2, the electric wire 50 is a so-called coaxial electric wire that is composed of a rod-shaped conductor core wire 51, a cylindrical internal insulator 52 that covers the outer periphery of the conductor core wire 51, a cylindrical aluminum foil 53 that covers the outer periphery of the internal insulator 52, a cylindrical braided conductor 54 that covers the outer periphery of the aluminum foil 53, and a cylindrical insulating sheath 55 that covers the outer periphery of the braided conductor 54.

[0016] Next, as shown in FIG. 1( b), a predetermined length of the sheath 55 is stripped from the distal end of the electric wire 50, thereby exposing the distal end of the braided conductor 54. Next, as shown in FIG. 1( c), a cylindrical metal sleeve 60 is crimped onto the proximal end of the exposed braided conductor 54. Next, as shown in FIG. 1( d), the exposed braided conductor 54 located distal to the sleeve 60 is folded back toward the proximal end toward the distal end of the sheath 55 and the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 60. Next, as shown in FIG. 1( e), the distal end of the aluminum foil 53 exposed by the folded back braided conductor 54 and the distal end of the inner insulator 52 located therein are stripped off, thereby exposing the distal end of the conductor core wire 51. Next, as shown in FIG. 1( f), an elongated cylindrical metal inner terminal 70 is crimped onto the conductor core wire 51 so as to cover the exposed conductor core wire 51. Next, as shown in Fig. 1(g), a substantially cylindrical insulating inner housing 80 is attached to the inner terminal 70 so as to cover the inner terminal 70. Then, as shown in Fig. 1(h), a substantially cylindrical metal outer terminal 90 is attached to the inner housing 80 so as to cover the folded-back braided conductor 54 and the inner housing 80, and a pair of crimping pieces 91, 92 provided on the base end side of the outer terminal 90 are crimped and fixed to the braided conductor 54 located on the outer periphery of the distal end of the sheath 55 and the braided conductor 54 located on the outer periphery of the sleeve 60, respectively. In this manner, the electric wire with terminal 100 shown in Fig. 16 is manufactured.

[0017] Each manufacturing step shown in Figures 1(a) to 1(h) is performed using a predetermined processing device. In particular, the manufacturing step shown in Figure 1(d) (i.e., the step of folding back the exposed braided conductor 54 from the electric wire 50 in the state shown in Figure 1(c)) is performed using an electric wire processing device M described below. Note that, among the manufacturing steps shown in Figures 1(a) to 1(h), the manufacturing steps other than Figure 1(d) may be performed manually by an operator.

[0018] Hereinafter, the configuration of the electric wire processing device M will be described first with reference to Figs. 3 to 15. The electric wire processing device M is a device for processing the end portion of the electric wire 50, and as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it functions to fold back the exposed braided conductor 54 at the end portion of the electric wire 50, which is in the state shown in Fig. 1(c), toward the proximal end toward the end portion of the sheath 55 and the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 60, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. For convenience of explanation, the "front-rear direction," "up-down direction," "left-right direction," "front," "rear," "up," "down," "left," and "right" are defined below as shown in Fig. 3 etc. The "front-rear direction," "up-down direction," and "left-right direction" are perpendicular to one another. The front-rear direction coincides with the "axial direction" in the present invention.

[0019] As shown in Figure 3 etc., the electric wire processing device M includes a base plate 1, a unit base 2 erected on the base plate 1, a slide plate 3 mounted on the unit base 2 so as to be able to slide linearly in the front-to-rear direction, a unit body 4 mounted on the slide plate 3, and a unit body drive mechanism (not shown) that moves the unit body 4 forward and backward in the front-to-rear direction. Here, "forward" refers to movement in a direction approaching the end of the electric wire 50 (forward movement), and "backward" refers to movement in a direction away from the end of the electric wire 50 (rear movement). The unit body drive mechanism is composed of a reciprocating air cylinder (air-driven actuator).

[0020] The end portion of the electric wire 50 to be processed, which is in the state shown in Figure 1(c), is transported by a transport mechanism (not shown) and held in a fixed position by a support device 5 for the electric wire processing device M to work on.

[0021] The unit body 4 has a working axis L (see Figures 3 and 4) that coincides with the axis of the end of the electric wire 50 held in a fixed position for work, and the sliding direction of the unit body 4 is set in a direction (front-to-back direction) parallel to the working axis L. A stay plate 8 made of a vertical plate is fixed to the top of the slide plate 3.

[0022] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the wire processing device M further includes a rotating body 11 and its rotation drive mechanism 10, a plurality of opening / closing blocks 23 and their opening / closing drive mechanisms 20, and a plurality of opening rollers 25 attached to each opening / closing block 23.

[0023] The main body of the air-driven rotary actuator serving as the rotary drive mechanism 10 is fixed to the front surface of the stay plate 8 of the unit body 4. The rotating body 11 is provided as the rotating part of the rotary actuator, and is driven to rotate around the working axis L.

[0024] The main body of the air-driven air chuck serving as the opening / closing drive mechanism 20 is fixed on a rotating body 11. An opening / closing block support frame 22 is provided at the front end of the main body of the air chuck, and a plurality of opening / closing blocks 23 (three in this embodiment) are provided on the opening / closing block support frame 22 at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction centered on the working axis L. Note that the rotating body 11, which is the rotating part of the rotary actuator, the main body of the air-driven air chuck serving as the opening / closing drive mechanism 20, and the opening / closing block support frame 22 rotate integrally, and therefore the entire assembly may also be referred to as a rotating body.

[0025] The three opening / closing blocks 23 are supported on the opening / closing block support frame 22 so as to be slidable in the radial direction of a circle centered on the work axis L. The main body of an air-driven air chuck serving as the opening / closing drive mechanism 20 synchronously opens the multiple opening / closing blocks 23 radially outward and closes them radially inward.

[0026] The opening rollers 25 are attached to the radially inner end of each opening / closing block 23 so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the working axis L. Each opening roller 25 has a ring-shaped claw portion 25a serving as an opening claw on its outer periphery. Here, the opening / closing block 23 and the opening rollers 25 correspond to the "first processing portion" of the present invention.

[0027] A fixed member 21 is fixed on the opening / closing block support frame 22 in a manner that does not interfere with the opening / closing block 23, and a substantially cylindrical braided folded tube 26 extending in the front-rear direction is fixed to this fixed member 21 so as to be positioned coaxially with the working axis L. The rear end side of the braided folded tube 26 protrudes radially outward, and this protruding portion is inserted into and fixed in an attachment hole provided in the fixed member 21 so as to be positioned coaxially with the working axis L. The inner diameter of the central hole extending in the front-rear direction of the braided folded tube 26 is set to a dimension slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sheath 55 of the electric wire 50. The outer periphery of the front end of the braided folded tube 26 has a tapered portion 26a in which the thickness of the tube wall becomes thinner as it approaches the front open end.

[0028] 3 to 5, the electric wire processing device M further includes a slide rod 30 that passes through the rotors (the rotation drive mechanism 10, the opening / closing drive mechanism 20, the opening / closing block support frame 22, etc.) and is arranged slidably on the working axis L while being guided by the rotors, a braid opening cylinder 31 provided at the front end of the slide rod 30, and a slide drive mechanism (not shown) that moves the slide rod 30 forward and backward. The slide rod 30 also passes through the stay plate 8, and a reciprocating air cylinder serving as a slide drive mechanism is arranged behind the stay plate 8.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 6 and other figures, the rear end of the braid-spreading tube 31 is solid, and this solid portion is fixed to the front end of the slide rod 30 with a set screw. The inner diameter of the center hole extending in the front-rear direction of the braid-spreading tube 31 is set to a size that allows the aluminum foil 53 of the electric wire 50 to be inserted therein, and the outer diameter of the braid-spreading tube 31 is set to a size that allows the braid-spreading tube 31 to pass through the center hole of the braid-folded tube 26. The outer periphery of the front end of the braid-spreading tube 31 has a tapered portion 31a in which the thickness of the tube wall decreases toward the front open end (see FIG. 11). The braid-spreading tube 31 is disposed coaxially with the braid-folded tube 26, and while inserted into the center hole of the braid-folded tube 26, it is movable relative to the braid-folded tube 26 in the axial direction. Here, the braid-spreading tube 31 and the braid-folded tube 26 correspond to the "inner tube portion" and the "outer tube portion," respectively, of the present invention.

[0030] As described above, in the electric wire processing apparatus M, the rotation drive mechanism 10, the opening / closing drive mechanism 20, the slide drive mechanism (not shown), and the unit main body drive mechanism (not shown) are all configured with air-driven actuators. The configuration of the electric wire processing apparatus M has been described above.

[0031] Next, the operation of the wire processing device M when using the wire processing device M to perform the manufacturing process shown in Figure 1(d) (i.e., the process of folding back the exposed braided conductor 54 from the wire 50 in the state shown in Figure 1(c)) will be described.

[0032] 1(d) using the electric wire processing device M, first, as shown in FIG. 4, the end portion of the electric wire 50 in the state shown in FIG. 1(c) is held in a fixed position by a support device 5 (see FIG. 3) for operation by the electric wire processing device M. All of the various movable members provided in the electric wire processing device M are in their initial positions. At this stage, the three open / close blocks 23 are opened radially outward and are arranged to surround the end portion of the electric wire 50 in the state shown in FIG. 1(c).

[0033] Next, as shown in Fig. 5, by driving the opening / closing drive mechanism 20 toward the closing side, the opening roller 25 is closed as indicated by the white arrow in Fig. 5, and the ring-shaped claw 25a of the opening roller 25 is pressed against the base end of the braided conductor 54 exposed distally of the sleeve 60 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This suppresses misalignment of the electric wire 50 with respect to the working axis L. Next, as shown in Fig. 8, by controlling the air pressure of the opening / closing drive mechanism 20 to press the ring-shaped claw 25a against the base end of the braided conductor 54 with an appropriate pressing force, the rotation drive mechanism 10 is driven, whereby the ring-shaped claw 25a is reciprocated by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction of the electric wire 50 on the outer periphery of the exposed base end of the braided conductor 54 while pressing the base end of the braided conductor 54.

[0034] This promotes the release of the exposed braided conductor 54 from its braided state with the fine metal wires (i.e., the unraveling of the exposed braided conductor 54), causing the tip end portion of the exposed braided conductor 54 to open radially outward, as shown in FIG. 9. The pressing force applied by the ring-shaped claws 25a of the opening roller 25 is set so that the base end of the exposed braided conductor 54 is slightly pressed into the inner insulator 52 (through the aluminum foil 53). If the pressing force is too weak, the braided conductor 54 will not open, and if the pressing force is too strong, the braided conductor 54 may be damaged; therefore, the air pressure must be set appropriately. In addition, the tips of the ring-shaped claws 25a are formed smooth to prevent the braided conductor 54 from being scratched.

[0035] From this state, the opening / closing drive mechanism 20 may be driven to the opening side, then the unit main body drive mechanism (not shown) may be driven slightly forward or backward, and then the opening / closing drive mechanism 20 may be driven to the closing side while driving the rotation drive mechanism 10. This series of operations may be repeated one or more times so that the ring-shaped claws 25a of the opening roller 25 reciprocate by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction of the electric wire 50 while pressing the base end of the braided conductor 54 at multiple locations in the front-rear direction on the outer periphery of the base end of the exposed braided conductor 54. This further promotes the unraveling of the exposed braided conductor 54, making it easier for the tip end portion of the exposed braided conductor 54 to open radially outward.

[0036] Next, by driving the slide drive mechanism (not shown) forward, the braid spreading tube 31 moves forward as shown by the white arrow in Fig. 10 until the front end face of the slide rod 30 abuts against the rear end face of the braid folding tube 26. As a result, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the braid spreading tube 31 enters from the tip end side of the electric wire 50 radially inside the tip end portion of the braided conductor 54 in an open state so as to cover the outer periphery of the exposed aluminum foil 53. This allows the braid spreading tube 31 to further open the braided conductor 54. A tapered portion 31a (see Fig. 11) is formed on the tip end side of the outer periphery of the braid spreading tube 31 to prevent the braided conductor 54 from being damaged.

[0037] Next, by driving the opening / closing drive mechanism 20 toward the opening side, the opening roller 25 is retracted to the open position as shown by the white arrow in Fig. 12. Next, as shown by the white arrow in Fig. 13, by driving the unit body drive mechanism (not shown) forward while driving the slide drive mechanism (not shown) forward, the slide rod 30 (i.e., the braided opening tube 31 integral with the slide rod 30) advances, and the unit body 4 (i.e., the braided folding tube 26 integral with the unit body 4) advances.

[0038] The braid-spreading tube 31 advances until its front end surface abuts against the radially inner surface of the exposed base end of the braided conductor 54, and then the base end of the braided conductor 54 is kept pressed against the annular rear end surface of the sleeve 60 (see FIG. 14). This reliably spreads the base end of the braided conductor 54 radially outward.

[0039] On the other hand, the braid folding tube 26 continues to move forward (i.e., moves further forward relative to the braid spreading tube 31) even after the braid spreading tube 31 has stopped moving forward due to contact with the base end of the braided conductor 54. As a result, the exposed braided conductor 54, which has already been spread outward in the radial direction, enters the braid folding tube 26, and the exposed braided conductor 54 is folded back toward the outer circumferential surface of the electric wire 50 (see FIG. 14 ). Here, because the braid folding tube 26 has a cylindrical shape, when the braid folding tube 26 folds back the braided conductor 54, the open end face at the front end of the braid folding tube 26 comes into contact with the braided conductor 54, which has been spread out by the braid spreading tube 31, from the base end side toward the distal end side, thereby exerting an external force on the braided conductor 54, and the braided conductor 54 enters the braid folding tube 26. This allows the braided conductor 54 to smoothly and effortlessly deform and enter the interior of the folded braid tube 26, preventing the braided conductor 54 from buckling and becoming difficult to enter the interior of the folded braid tube 26, and preventing the folded braided conductor 54 from expanding significantly in the radial direction. Furthermore, the tapered portion 26a is provided on the outer periphery of the front end of the folded braid tube 26, thereby reducing the contact area between the folded braid tube 26 and the braided conductor 54 (i.e., the area of ​​the open end face of the front end of the folded braid tube 26). This increases the stress generated in the braided conductor 54 due to contact with the folded braid tube 26, allowing the braided conductor 54 to be folded back more smoothly. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14 , a gap (lifting of the braided conductor 54) is not (is unlikely to) occur between the braided conductor 54 and the sleeve 60 at the folded portion of the braided conductor 54.

[0040] After the braided conductor 54 has been folded back as described above, as shown in FIG. 15, all of the various movable members of the wire processing device M are returned to their initial positions by, for example, driving the slide drive mechanism (not shown) backward while driving the unit body drive mechanism (not shown) backward. Thereafter, a process may be added in which the unit body drive mechanism (not shown) and the opening / closing drive mechanism 20 are driven to press the ring-shaped claw 25a of the opening roller 25 against the folded-back portion of the braided conductor 54. This further reduces the likelihood of a gap (lifting of the braided conductor 54) occurring between the braided conductor 54 and the sleeve 60 at the folded-back portion of the braided conductor 54. This completes the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 1(d) using the wire processing device M. After this manufacturing process, the electric wire 50 in the state shown in FIG. 1(d) is then subjected to the manufacturing processes shown in FIGS. 1(e) to 1(h).

[0041] 1(h) (i.e., the process of attaching the outer terminal 90 to the inner housing 80 so as to cover the folded-back braided conductor 54 and the inner housing 80), if the braided conductor 54 is not folded back sufficiently, the base end 90a (see FIGS. 1(h) and 16) of the outer terminal 90 may interfere with the folded-back portion of the braided conductor 54, causing the braided conductor 54 to break. Breaking the braided conductor 54 will impair the reliability of the electrical connection between the outer terminal 90 and the electric wire 50. Furthermore, if broken pieces of the braided conductor 54 are scattered around, it may cause a short circuit. In this regard, in the electric wire with terminal 100 manufactured through the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 1(d) (the process of folding back the exposed braided conductor 54) performed using the electric wire processing device M, as described above, at the end of the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 1(d), no gap (floating of the braided conductor 54) occurs between the braided conductor 54 and the sleeve 60 at the portion where the braided conductor 54 is folded back. Therefore, when the electric wire 50 is inserted into the cylindrical outer terminal 90, the base end 90a of the outer terminal 90 does not (is unlikely to) come into contact with the portion where the braided conductor 54 is folded back. As a result, the electric wire with terminal 100 does not have any cut marks where the braided conductor 54 is cut at the portion where the braided conductor 54 is folded back. This improves the reliability of the electrical connection between the braided conductor 54 and the crimping pieces 91, 92 of the outer terminal 90 and also prevents short circuits and the like caused by cut pieces of the braided conductor 54.

[0042] <Actions and Effects> As described above, according to the electric wire processing device M of this embodiment, the braided conductor 54 is deformed by the first processing unit (the opening / closing block 23 and the opening roller 25) so that the diameter of the end portion of the braided conductor 54 is expanded, and then the braid-spreading tube 31 of the second processing unit spreads out the braided conductor 54, and the braid-folding tube 26 of the second processing unit deforms the braided conductor 54 so as to fold it back toward the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 50. Here, because the braid-folding tube 26 has a cylindrical shape, when the braid-folding tube 26 folds back the braided conductor 54, the open end faces of the tube ends of the braid-folding tube 26 come into contact with the braided conductor 54 spread out by the braid-spreading tube 31 in order from the base end side to the distal end side, thereby exerting an external force on the braided conductor 54, and the braided conductor 54 enters the braid-folding tube 26. This allows the braided conductor 54 to smoothly enter the braided folding tube 26 while naturally deforming, thereby preventing the braided conductor 54 from buckling and making it difficult to enter the braided folding tube 26, and preventing the folded-back braided conductor 54 from expanding significantly in the radial direction. Therefore, the wire processing device M according to this embodiment can properly fold back the braided conductor 54.

[0043] Furthermore, according to the electric wire processing device M of this embodiment, the braid folding tube 26 has a tapered portion 26a at the tube end, where the thickness of the tube wall becomes thinner as it approaches the open end of the braid folding tube 26. This reduces the contact area between the braid folding tube 26 and the braided conductor 54 (i.e., the area of ​​the open end face of the braid folding tube 26), thereby increasing the stress generated in the braided conductor 54 by contact with the braid folding tube 26, and therefore the braided conductor 54 can be folded back more smoothly.

[0044] Furthermore, according to the electric wire processing device M of this embodiment, the first processing unit (opening / closing block 23 and opening roller 25) is configured to move in the circumferential direction of the electric wire 50 while pressing the braided conductor 54 in the cross direction (radial direction of the electric wire 50). This promotes releasing the braided conductor 54 from the state in which it is braided with thin metal wires (i.e., loosening the braided conductor 54). This also facilitates folding back the braided conductor 54 by the second processing unit (braid folding back tube 26).

[0045] <Other aspects> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, etc. are possible as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as they can achieve the present invention, and are not limited thereto.

[0046] Here, the features of the embodiments of the electric wire processing device M and the electric wire with terminal 100 according to the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [4].

[0047] [1] An electric wire processing device (M) for folding back an exposed shield layer (54) formed by peeling an outer layer (55) from an electric wire (50) toward an outer peripheral surface of the electric wire (50), a first processing portion (23, 25) disposed so as to be movable in a direction intersecting a predetermined axial direction; a second processing section having an inner cylindrical portion (31) and an outer cylindrical portion (26) that are cylindrically shaped and coaxially arranged so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction, The first processed portion (23, 25) is The shield layer (54) is pressed in the transverse direction to deform the shield layer (54) so ​​that the end portion of the shield layer (54) expands in diameter, The second processing unit is The inner tubular portion (31) is inserted in the axial direction through the inner diameter side of the expanded end portion and into the inner diameter side of the shield layer (54), thereby expanding the shield layer (54), and the outer tubular portion (26) is moved in the axial direction toward the expanded shield layer (54), and the shield layer (54) is inserted into the outer tubular portion (26) while being pushed down, thereby deforming the shield layer (54) so ​​as to fold it back toward the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire (50). Electric wire processing equipment (M).

[0048] According to the electric wire processing device having the configuration [1] above, after the first processing unit deforms the shield layer (e.g., a braided conductor) so as to expand the diameter of the distal end portion of the shield layer, the inner tube portion of the second processing unit spreads the shield layer, and the outer tube portion of the second processing unit pushes down the shield layer while inserting it into the outer tube portion, thereby folding the shield layer back toward the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire. When the outer tube portion pushes down the expanded shield layer, it is inserted into the inner diameter side of the shield layer. This prevents the outer tube portion from hitting the distal end of the shield layer. Furthermore, because the outer tube portion has a cylindrical shape, the open end face of the tube end of the outer tube portion contacts the shield layer sequentially from the proximal end side to the distal end side, exerting an external force on the shield layer and pushing down the shield layer. This allows the shield layer to be deformed smoothly as a whole without applying an excessive external force to a single point on the shield layer. As a result, problems such as buckling of the shield layer, which causes the shield layer to not fold back into the designed shape, are suppressed. Therefore, the electric wire processing apparatus having this configuration can properly fold back the shielding layer of the electric wire.

[0049] [2] In the wire processing device (M) described in [1] above, The outer cylindrical portion (26) of the second processed portion is The outer cylindrical portion (26) has a tapered shape (26a) at its cylindrical end, in which the thickness of the cylindrical wall becomes thinner as it approaches the open end of the outer cylindrical portion (26). Electric wire processing equipment (M).

[0050] According to the electric wire processing device having the configuration [2] above, the outer tube has a tapered shape at the end of the tube, in which the thickness of the tube wall becomes thinner as it approaches the open end of the outer tube. This reduces the contact area between the outer tube and the shielding layer (i.e., the area of ​​the open end face of the outer tube), thereby increasing the stress generated in the shielding layer by contact with the outer tube, and allowing the shielding layer to be folded back more smoothly.

[0051] [3] In the wire processing device (M) described in [1] above, The first processed portion (23, 25) is The shield layer (54) is configured to move in the circumferential direction of the electric wire (50) while being pressed in the crossing direction. Electric wire processing equipment (M).

[0052] According to the electric wire processing device having the configuration [3] above, the first processing unit is configured to move in the circumferential direction of the electric wire while pressing the shielding layer in the cross direction. This facilitates releasing the braided conductor from the state in which the braided conductor is braided with thin metal wires (i.e., unraveling the braided conductor), particularly when the shielding layer is configured with a braided conductor. This also makes it easier for the second processing unit to fold back the braided conductor.

[0053] [4] A terminal-attached electric wire (100) comprising an electric wire (50) and a terminal (90) crimped to the electric wire (50), The electric wire (50) The cable has a shield layer (54) and an outer layer (55) arranged to surround the shield layer, and the outer layer (55) is peeled off at an end of the electric wire (50), and the exposed shield layer (54) is folded back toward the outer circumferential surface of the electric wire (50), The terminal (90) is the wire (50) includes a crimping portion (91, 92) that is crimped to the folded-back shield layer (54) to be connected to the shield layer (54), and a cylindrical contact portion (90) into which a portion (51, 70, 80) of the electric wire (50) that is located on the tip side of the folded-back shield layer (54) is inserted, The shielding layer (54) the folded-back portion of the shield layer (54) does not have any cut marks formed by the shield layer (54) being cut by contact with the terminal (90) when the portion (51, 70, 80) is inserted into the cylindrical contact portion (90) of the terminal (90); Wires with terminals (100).

[0054] According to the electric wire with terminal having the configuration [4] above, the portion where the crimping portion of the terminal is crimped (i.e., the folded-back portion of the shield layer) does not have any cut marks where the shield layer was cut when the terminal came into contact with the shield layer when the electric wire was inserted into the tube of the contact portion of the terminal. This allows the crimping portion of the terminal to be properly crimped to the shield layer, improving the reliability of the electrical connection and preventing short circuits and the like caused by broken pieces of the shield layer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 23 Opening and closing block (first processing part) 25 Opening roller (first processing part) 26 Braided folded tube (outer tube) 26a Tapered section (Tapered section) 31 Braided open tube (inner tube) 50 Electric wire 54 Braided conductor (shield layer) 55 Sheath (outer layer) 90 Outer terminal (terminal, contact part) 91 Caulking piece (caulking part) 92 Caulking piece (caulking part) 100 Wires with terminals M Wire processing equipment

Claims

1. An electric wire processing device for folding back an exposed shield layer formed by peeling an outer layer from an electric wire toward an outer peripheral surface of the electric wire, a first processing unit disposed movably in a direction intersecting a predetermined axial direction; a second processing unit having a cylindrical shape and including an inner cylindrical portion and an outer cylindrical portion coaxially arranged so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction; The first processing unit is The shield layer is pressed in the cross direction to deform the shield layer so that an end portion of the shield layer expands in diameter, The second processing unit is The inner tube portion is inserted in the axial direction through the inner diameter side of the expanded end portion and into the inner diameter side of the shielding layer to expand the shielding layer, and the outer tube portion is moved in the axial direction toward the expanded shielding layer to insert the shielding layer into the tube of the outer tube portion while pushing down the shielding layer, thereby deforming the shielding layer so as to fold it back toward the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire. Electric wire processing equipment.

2. The wire processing apparatus according to claim 1, The outer cylindrical portion of the second processed portion is The outer cylindrical portion has a tapered shape at its end, in which the thickness of the cylindrical wall becomes thinner as it approaches the open end of the outer cylindrical portion. Electric wire processing equipment.

3. The wire processing apparatus according to claim 1, The first processing unit is The shield layer is configured to move in the circumferential direction of the electric wire while being pressed in the crossing direction. Electric wire processing equipment.

4. An electric wire with a terminal, comprising an electric wire and a terminal crimped to the electric wire, The electric wire is a shielding layer and an outer layer disposed so as to surround the shielding layer, the outer layer being peeled off at an end of the electric wire, and the exposed shielding layer being folded back toward an outer peripheral surface of the electric wire; The terminal is a crimping portion that is crimped to the folded-back shield layer to be connected to the shield layer, and a cylindrical contact portion into which a portion of the electric wire that is located on the tip side beyond the folded-back shield layer is inserted, The shielding layer is a folded portion of the shielding layer does not have a cut mark formed by the shielding layer being cut by contact with the terminal when the portion is inserted into the tube of the contact portion of the terminal; Wire with terminals.

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