Wire harness and method for manufacturing wire harness

Abstract

To provide a wire harness capable of improving workability of work for arranging a plurality of wiring materials in a flat shape, and a manufacturing method of the wire harness.SOLUTION: The wire harness WH includes the plurality of wiring materials W extending along the axial direction X, the flat plate 10 that supports the plurality of wiring materials W, and the tape 20 that fixes the plurality of wiring materials W to the flat plate 10, the flat plate 10 is provided with the plurality of insertion holes 13 that are aligned along the axial direction X and the width direction Y intersecting with the axial direction X and into which the jig 30 is inserted, and the plurality of wiring materials W are wired between the two insertion holes 13 adjacent to each other in the width direction Y in the flat plate 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] As an example of a conventional technology relating to wire harnesses, Patent Document 1 discloses a wire harness including a plurality of wiring materials extending along the axial direction, a support plate that supports the plurality of wiring materials, and an adhesive tape that fixes the plurality of wiring materials to the support plate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-134958 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the wire harness described in Patent Document 1 has room for further improvement in terms of, for example, improving the workability of wiring a plurality of wiring materials in a flat state.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a wire harness and a method for manufacturing a wire harness that can improve the workability of wiring multiple wiring materials in a flat state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the wire harness of the present invention comprises a plurality of wiring materials extending along an axial direction, a flat plate supporting the plurality of wiring materials, and tape fixing the plurality of wiring materials to the flat plate, wherein the flat plate is provided with a plurality of insertion holes into which jigs are inserted, aligned along the axial direction and a width direction intersecting the axial direction, and the plurality of wiring materials are arranged between two of the insertion holes adjacent to each other in the width direction of the flat plate.

[0007] In addition, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the manufacturing method of the wire harness according to the present invention includes a first step of inserting a jig into a plurality of insertion holes provided in a flat plate and aligned along an axial direction and a width direction intersecting the axial direction; a second step of routing a plurality of wiring materials along the axial direction while leveling them between the jigs inserted into two of the insertion holes adjacent to each other in the width direction; a third step of fixing the plurality of wiring materials to the flat plate with tape; and a fourth step of removing the jig from the plurality of insertion holes in the flat plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In the wire harness and the manufacturing method of the wire harness according to the present invention, for example, it is possible to arrange a plurality of wiring materials evenly between two adjacent insertion holes in a flat plate, and further between jigs inserted into the two insertion holes. As a result, the wire harness and the manufacturing method of the wire harness have the effect of improving the workability of the work of wiring a plurality of wiring materials in a flat state. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of a wire harness according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exemplary perspective view showing a state before a jig is inserted in the first step of the method for manufacturing a wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view showing a state after the insertion of the jig in the first step of the method for manufacturing the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing a state in the middle of inserting a plurality of wiring materials in the second step of the manufacturing method of the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exemplary cross-sectional view showing a state after a plurality of wiring materials have been inserted in the second step of the method for manufacturing a wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exemplary perspective view showing a state after inserting a plurality of wiring materials in the second step of the manufacturing method of the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an exemplary perspective view showing a third step of the method for manufacturing the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an exemplary flowchart of the method for manufacturing the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an exemplary plan view of a wire harness according to a first modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an exemplary perspective view of a flat plate of a wire harness according to a first modified example. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an exemplary plan view of the wire harness according to the first modified example in a state before the tape is wound around it. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an exemplary side view of the wire harness according to the first modified example. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an exemplary plan view of a wire harness according to a second modified example. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an exemplary side view of a wire harness according to a second modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments and modifications of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and modifications. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments and modifications include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially identical.

[0011] Furthermore, the embodiments and modifications disclosed below include similar components. Therefore, in the following, the similar components are given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. Note that in this specification, ordinal numbers are used only to distinguish between parts, members, portions, positions, directions, etc., and do not indicate order or priority.

[0012] [Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wire harness WH according to an embodiment. The wire harness WH of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is installed in a vehicle such as an automobile. Here, the wire harness WH is, for example, a bundle of wiring materials W used for power supply and signal communication to connect various devices installed in the vehicle, and the wiring materials W are connected to each device using connectors or the like. The wire harness WH of this embodiment includes multiple conductive wiring materials W, a flat plate 10 supporting the multiple wiring materials W, and a tape 20 fixing the multiple wiring materials W to the flat plate 10. The wire harness WH is installed in the vehicle with the flat plate 10 and the multiple wiring materials W integrated by the tape 20, for example. Note that the wire harness WH may further include a protector, a fixing device, a grommet, etc.

[0013] In the following description, of the first, second, and third directions that intersect with each other, the first direction will be referred to as the "axial direction X," the second direction will be referred to as the "width direction Y," and the third direction will be referred to as the "height direction Z." Here, the axial direction X, width direction Y, and height direction Z are approximately perpendicular to each other. The axial direction X typically corresponds to the axial direction (extension direction) of the multiple wiring materials W, the longitudinal direction of the flat plate 10, etc. The width direction Y typically corresponds to the radial direction of the multiple wiring materials W, the width direction (short direction) of the flat plate 10, etc. The height direction Z typically corresponds to the radial direction of the multiple wiring materials W, the height direction (up-down direction, plate thickness direction) of the flat plate 10, etc. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, each direction used in the following description will be described as the direction when the multiple wiring materials W are assembled to the flat plate 10.

[0014] 2 is a cross-sectional view of a wire harness WH. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multiple wiring materials W include, for example, an electric wire Wa and multiple electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3. The electric wire Wa has a conductor portion (core wire) made of multiple conductive metal wires covered with an insulating coating. The electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 are aggregates in which multiple (two or more) electric wires Wa are densely arranged. In this embodiment, during the manufacturing of the wire harness WH, the multiple electric wires Wa are arranged evenly between any two insertion portions 33 adjacent in the width direction Y of a jig 30 (see FIGS. 3 and 4 ) described later, thereby forming the multiple electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3.

[0015] The plurality of electric wires Wa are each formed to extend linearly along the axial direction X and to extend with approximately the same diameter in the axial direction X (extension direction). Furthermore, the plurality of electric wires Wa are formed, for example, such that the cross-sectional shape of the conductor portion (cross-sectional shape intersecting the axial direction X) is approximately circular and the cross-sectional shape of the insulating coating portion is approximately annular, and thus have an approximately circular cross-sectional shape overall. The plurality of electric wires Wa may be configured to include, for example, a plurality of first electric wires having a first outer diameter and a plurality of second electric wires having a second outer diameter that is smaller or larger than the first outer diameter.

[0016] The flat plate 10 supports, for example, a plurality of wiring materials W, i.e., an electric wire Wa and a plurality of groups of electric wires Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3. The flat plate 10 is formed, for example, in a flat plate shape extending along a direction (XY plane) perpendicular to the height direction Z. The flat plate 10 is provided with a plurality of insertion holes 13 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) into which insertion portions 33 of a jig 30, which will be described later, are inserted. The plurality of insertion holes 13 are through holes that penetrate the flat plate 10 along the height direction Z and are configured in the shape of a circular hole. The flat plate 10 is formed, for example, from a flexible synthetic resin or the like.

[0017] The multiple insertion holes 13 are aligned in the axial direction X and the width direction Y in the flat plate 10. In this embodiment, for example, four insertion holes 13 are arranged in the flat plate 10 at equal intervals along the width direction Y, and six or more insertion holes 13 are arranged in the flat plate 10 at equal intervals along the axial direction X. For convenience, both ends of the flat plate 10 in the axial direction X are not shown in Figures 1 to 8. The arrangement of the multiple insertion holes 13 is not limited to this example, and, for example, they may be arranged only at positions in the axial direction X where two jigs 30, which will be described later, are inserted. The multiple insertion holes 13 may also be arranged in, for example, two rows, three rows, or five or more rows along the width direction Y.

[0018] The tape 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ) fixes, for example, multiple wiring materials W, i.e., electric wires Wa and multiple groups of electric wires Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3, to the flat plate 10. The tape 20 is, for example, an adhesive tape or the like, and includes a tape body that binds the multiple wiring materials W together and an adhesive portion applied to the surface of the tape body. In this embodiment, the tape 20 is spirally wound around a central axis extending along the axial direction X with respect to the multiple wiring materials W and the flat plate 10, thereby fixing the multiple wiring materials W and the flat plate 10 together. That is, in this embodiment, the multiple wiring materials W are fixed by a single tape 20 over a range between one end and the other end of the multiple wiring materials W in the axial direction X. Note that the tape 20 is not limited to this example, and for example, multiple tapes 20 may be provided at intervals from each other along the axial direction X. In this case, the tape 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape.

[0019] The jig 30 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) is used to form electric wires Wa and multiple groups of electric wires Wa1, Wa2, Wa3, etc. by dividing multiple wiring materials W along the width direction Y, for example, during the manufacture of a wire harness WH. The jig 30 is configured to include, for example, a base portion 31, a connecting portion 32, and multiple insertion portions 33. The base portion 31 extends in a rod shape along the height direction Z. The connecting portion 32 is provided at one end (upper end) of the base portion 31 in the height direction Z, and extends in a rod shape along the width direction Y. The connecting portion 32 connects the multiple insertion portions 33 to the base portion 31.

[0020] The multiple insertion portions 33 extend in a rod-like shape from the connecting portion 32 along the height direction Z toward the opposite side from the base portion 31. In this embodiment, the jig 30 is provided with four insertion portions 33 spaced apart from each other along the width direction Y, corresponding to the multiple insertion holes 13 in the flat plate 10. The multiple insertion portions 33 support the multiple wiring materials W along the width direction Y when inserted into the multiple insertion holes 13 in the flat plate 10. In this embodiment, for example, two jigs 30 are provided spaced apart from each other in the axial direction X. Note that the number of jigs 30 is not limited to this example; for example, one jig 30 may be provided in the center of the axial direction X, or three or more jigs 30 may be provided spaced apart from each other in the axial direction X.

[0021] Next, an example of a manufacturing method for the wire harness WH having the above configuration will be described. Fig. 33 is a perspective view showing a state before the insertion of the jig 30 in the first step S1 of the manufacturing method for the wire harness WH, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a state after the insertion of the jig 30 in the first step S1. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state during the insertion of multiple wiring materials W in the second step S2 of the manufacturing method for the wire harness WH, Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state after the insertion of multiple wiring materials W in the second step S2, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a state after the insertion of multiple wiring materials W in the second step S2. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a third step S3 of the manufacturing method for the wire harness WH, and Fig. 9 is a flowchart of the manufacturing method for the wire harness WH.

[0022] First, in the first step S1, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 9, jigs 30 are inserted into a plurality of insertion holes 13 provided in the flat plate 10. In this case, for example, an operator arranges a plurality of jigs 30 on the floor 100 at intervals along the axial direction X, and assembles the flat plate 10 on the jigs 30 so that the four insertion holes 13 aligned along the width direction Y of the flat plate 10 are inserted into the respective insertion portions 33 of the jigs 30.

[0023] 5 to 7 and 9, in the process of the second step S2, a plurality of wiring materials W are arranged along the axial direction X while being leveled between the insertion portions 33 of the jig 30 inserted into two insertion holes 13 adjacent in the width direction Y. In this case, for example, an operator arranges a pile of the wiring materials W on the jig 30, and then levels the pile of the wiring materials W from above, so that each wiring material W enters a groove between any two insertion portions 33 adjacent in the width direction Y, and a plurality of flat groups of electric wires Wa1, Wa2, Wa3 are formed.

[0024] In this embodiment, the multiple wiring materials W may be configured to include an electric wire Wa that does not enter a groove between any two insertion portions 33 adjacent in the width direction Y and exits to the outside during the process of leveling the piles of the multiple wiring materials W from above. This electric wire Wa is a wiring material W that does not constitute the flat electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, Wa3 among the multiple wiring materials W, and is routed outside the insertion holes 13 and insertion portions 33 at both ends in the width direction Y. As such, in this embodiment, it is not necessary for all electric wires Wa of the multiple wiring materials W to be routed between any two adjacent insertion holes 13 (insertion portions 33).

[0025] Next, in the process of the third step S3, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the plurality of wiring materials W are fixed to the flat plate 10 with the tape 20. In this case, for example, an operator spirally winds the tape 20 around a central axis extending along the axial direction X with respect to the plurality of wiring materials W and the flat plate 10, thereby integrally fixing the plurality of wiring materials W and the flat plate 10 over a range between one end and the other end of the plurality of wiring materials W in the axial direction X. In addition, the tape 20 integrally fixes, for example, the electric wire Wa and the plurality of electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 that are routed outward relative to the insertion hole 13 and the insertion portion 33 at both ends in the width direction Y described above.

[0026] 1, 2, and 9, the jig 30 is removed from the plurality of insertion holes 13 of the flat plate 10. In this case, for example, an operator lifts the flat plate 10 and the plurality of wiring materials W fixed together by the tape 20 onto the jig 30 and removes them. In this embodiment, the first step S1 to the fourth step S4 allow the plurality of flat wiring materials W to be routed on the flat plate 10, thereby manufacturing the wire harness WH.

[0027] As described above, the wire harness WH of this embodiment includes a plurality of wiring materials W, the flat plate 10 supporting the plurality of wiring materials W, and the tape 20 fixing the plurality of wiring materials W to the flat plate 10. The flat plate 10 is provided with a plurality of insertion holes 13 aligned along the axial direction X and the width direction Y and into which the jigs 30 are inserted. At least a portion of the plurality of wiring materials W is routed between two insertion holes 13 adjacent to each other in the width direction Y in the flat plate 10. With this configuration, the wire harness WH can route the plurality of wiring materials W evenly, for example, between two insertion holes 13 adjacent to each other in the width direction Y among the plurality of insertion holes 13 provided in the flat plate 10, and further between the jigs 30 inserted into the two insertion holes 13. As a result, the wire harness WH can improve the workability of routing the plurality of wiring materials W in a flat state.

[0028] In the wire harness WH of this embodiment, the plurality of wiring materials W are each routed between two insertion holes 13 adjacent to each other in the width direction Y, and each includes a plurality of electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, Wa3 each composed of an aggregate of two or more electric wires Wa. With this configuration, the wire harness WH can be formed relatively easily into a plurality of flat electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, Wa3 by, for example, routing the plurality of wiring materials W evenly between the jigs 30 inserted into the two insertion holes 13 adjacent to each other in the width direction Y.

[0029] In the wire harness WH of this embodiment, the tape 20 is spirally wound around the plurality of wiring materials W and the flat plate 10 to integrally fix the plurality of wiring materials W and the flat plate 10. With this configuration, the wire harness WH can relatively easily fix the plurality of wiring materials W and the flat plate 10 together over a range between one end and the other end of the plurality of wiring materials W in the axial direction X by using the spirally wound tape 20, for example.

[0030] The manufacturing method of the wire harness WH of this embodiment includes a first step S1 of inserting jigs 30 into the plurality of insertion holes 13, a second step S2 of routing the plurality of wiring materials W evenly between the jigs 30 inserted into two insertion holes 13 adjacent in the width direction Y, a third step S3 of fixing the plurality of wiring materials W to the flat plate 10 with tapes 20, and a fourth step S4 of removing the jigs 30 from the plurality of insertion holes 13. With this configuration, the manufacturing method of the wire harness WH can, for example, route the plurality of wiring materials W evenly between the jigs 30 inserted into two insertion holes 13 adjacent in the width direction Y, thereby improving the workability of routing the plurality of wiring materials W in a flat state.

[0031] [First Modification] Fig. 10 is a plan view of a wire harness WH1 according to a first modified example. The wire harness WH1 shown in Fig. 10 has a configuration similar to that of the wire harness WH of the above embodiment. Therefore, the wire harness WH can obtain the same functions and effects as those of the above embodiment based on the similar configuration.

[0032] However, this modified example differs from the above embodiment in that the wire harness WH1 is provided with a main wire portion W1 and branch wire portions W2, as shown in Fig. 10. The main wire portion W1 is a main portion of the wire harness WH1 and extends along the axial direction X. The main wire portion W1 includes, for example, three electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 that are spaced apart from one another along the width direction Y. Each of the electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 is formed by an assembly in which a plurality of (two or more) electric wires Wa are densely arranged. The main wire portion W1 may include, for example, a portion of the wire harness WH1 in which the largest number of electric wires Wa are bundled, or may include a portion of the wire harness WH1 having the largest outer diameter.

[0033] The branch wire portion W2 is a sub-harness portion of the wire harness WH1 and branches off from the main wire portion W1 along the width direction Y. The branch wire portion W2 includes, for example, three electric wire groups Wa4, Wa5, and Wa6 that are spaced apart from one another along the axial direction X. Each of the electric wire groups Wa4, Wa5, and Wa6 is formed by an assembly of a plurality of (two or more) electric wires Wa that are densely arranged. The plurality of electric wire groups Wa4, Wa5, and Wa6 that constitute the branch wire portion W2 are formed, for example, by branching off along the width direction Y from at least one of the plurality of electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 that constitute the main wire portion W1 and extend along the axial direction X.

[0034] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the flat plate 10 of the wire harness WH1, and FIG. 12 is a plan view of the wire harness WH1 before the tape 20 is wound thereon. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , in this modification, the flat plate 10 includes, for example, a first flat plate 11 and a second flat plate 12. The first flat plate 11 supports the above-described main wire portion W1 of the flat plate 10. The first flat plate 11 is formed, for example, in a flat plate shape extending laterally along the axial direction X. The first flat plate 11 is provided with a plurality of insertion holes 13 into which the insertion portions 33 of the jig 30 are inserted. The plurality of insertion holes 13 are aligned in the axial direction X and the width direction Y in the first flat plate 11. The above-described plurality of groups of electric wires Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 constituting the main wire portion W1 are routed between any two insertion holes 13 adjacent to each other in the width direction Y in the first flat plate 11.

[0035] The second flat plate 12 supports the branch wire portion W2 of the flat plate 10. The second flat plate 12 is formed, for example, in a flat plate shape extending horizontally along the width direction Y. The second flat plate 12 is provided with a plurality of insertion holes 13 into which the insertion portions 33 of the jig 30 are inserted. The plurality of insertion holes 13 are aligned in the axial direction X and the width direction Y in the second flat plate 12. The plurality of electric wire groups Wa4, Wa5, and Wa6 constituting the branch wire portion W2 are routed between any two insertion holes 13 adjacent to each other in the axial direction X in the second flat plate 12. The second flat plate 12 is connected to the first flat plate 11 so as to have a substantially T-shaped outer shape when viewed from the height direction Z, for example.

[0036] In this modification, the first pitch L1 (see FIG. 12) of each insertion hole 13 in the first flat plate 11 and the second flat plate along the axial direction X is configured to be the same as the second pitch L2 along the width direction Y. The first pitch L1 is the distance between two insertion holes 13 adjacent to each other in the axial direction X, and the second pitch L2 is the distance between two insertion holes 13 adjacent to each other in the width direction Y. Therefore, in this modification, the second flat plate 12 can be stacked on the first flat plate 11 so that the insertion holes 13 overlap each other in the height direction Z. In this modification, a jig 30 (see FIG. 11) is inserted into each of the insertion holes 13 overlapping each other in the height direction Z of the first flat plate 11 and the second flat plate 12.

[0037] The jig 30, for example, divides the plurality of wiring materials W along the width direction Y and the axial direction X during the manufacture of the wire harness WH1 to form the above-described groups of electric wires Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 of the main wire portion W1 and groups of electric wires Wa4, Wa5, and Wa6 of the branch wire portion W2. The jig 30 includes, for example, a base portion 31, connecting portions 32 and 34, and a plurality of insertion portions 33. The connecting portion 34 is provided at one end (upper end) of the base portion 31 in the height direction Z and extends in a rod-like shape along the axial direction X. The connecting portions 32 are provided on the upper surface of the connecting portion 34 at intervals from each other along the axial direction X and extend in a rod-like shape along the width direction Y. The connecting portions 32 and 34 connect the plurality of insertion portions 33 to the base portion 31.

[0038] The multiple insertion portions 33 extend in a rod shape from each connecting portion 32 along the height direction Z toward the opposite side from the base portion 31. In this modified example, the jig 30 is provided with sixteen insertion portions 33 spaced apart from one another along the width direction Y and the axial direction X, corresponding to the multiple insertion holes 13 in the overlapping portions of the first flat plate 11 and the second flat plate 12 in the height direction Z. When inserted into the multiple insertion holes 13 in the first flat plate 11 and the second flat plate 12, the multiple insertion portions 33 support the groups of electric wires Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 of the main wire portion W1 along the width direction Y, and support the groups of electric wires Wa4, Wa5, and Wa6 of the branch wire portion W2 along the axial direction X.

[0039] In this modified example, for example, during manufacturing of the wire harness WH1, a jig 30 similar to that of the above-described embodiment may be provided at each of both end portions in the axial direction X of the first flat plate 11 (see FIG. 12 ) and one end portion in the width direction Y of the second flat plate 12 (the end portion opposite the first flat plate 11). Then, between the jig 30 of this modified example and the jig 30 of the above-described embodiment, the electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 of the main wire portion W1 are routed along the axial direction X, and the electric wire groups Wa4, Wa5, and Wa6 of the branch wire portion W2 are routed along the width direction Y.

[0040] In this modified example, the multiple wiring materials W constituting the main wire portion W1 do not include any electric wires Wa that are routed outward relative to the insertion holes 13 at both ends in the width direction Y, and all of the electric wires Wa are routed between any two of the insertion holes 13 adjacent in the width direction Y. In addition, the multiple wiring materials W constituting the branch wire portion W2 do not include any electric wires Wa that are routed outward relative to the insertion holes 13 at both ends in the axial direction X, and all of the electric wires Wa are routed between any two of the insertion holes 13 adjacent in the axial direction X.

[0041] Fig. 13 is a side view of the wire harness WH1. As shown in Fig. 13, in this modification, for example, the electric wire group Wa4 constituting the branch wire portion W2 is composed of a plurality of electric wires Wa branched along the width direction Y from the electric wire group Wa1 constituting the trunk portion W1 and extending along the axial direction X. Furthermore, the electric wire group Wa5 (see Fig. 12) constituting the branch wire portion W2 is composed of a plurality of electric wires Wa branched along the width direction Y from the electric wire group Wa2 constituting the trunk portion W1, and the electric wire group Wa6 constituting the branch wire portion W2 is composed of a plurality of electric wires Wa branched along the width direction Y from the electric wire group Wa3 constituting the trunk portion W1.

[0042] In this modification, the plurality of electric wire groups Wa4, Wa5, and Wa6 constituting the branch wire portion W2 are fixed integrally to the second flat plate 12 by a tape 20 (see FIG. 10 ) spirally wound around a central axis extending along the width direction Y. The plurality of electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 constituting the trunk wire portion W1 are fixed integrally to the first flat plate 11 by a tape 20 spirally wound around a central axis extending along the axial direction X. Note that the tape 20 may include an X-shaped cross-hatched portion when viewed from the height direction Z, for example. For example, from the viewpoint of reinforcement, the cross-hatched portion is preferably provided in a portion where the first flat plate 11 and the second flat plate 12 overlap each other along the height direction Z. The sashed portions can be arranged offset in the height direction Z without overlapping with the multiple insertion holes 13 (insertion portions 33 of the jig 30).

[0043] As described above, in the wire harness WH1 of this modified example, the plurality of wiring materials W include the trunk portion W1 extending along the axial direction X and the branch portions W2 branching from the trunk portion W1 along the width direction Y, the flat plate 10 includes the first flat plate 11 supporting the trunk portion W1 and the second flat plate 12 supporting the branch portions W2, the trunk portion W1 is routed between two insertion holes 13 adjacent to each other in the width direction Y in the first flat plate 11, and the branch portions W2 are routed between two insertion holes 13 adjacent to each other in the axial direction X in the second flat plate 12. With this configuration, the wire harness WH1 can be routed, for example, by evenly routing the plurality of wiring materials W between the jigs 30 inserted into the insertion holes 13 of the first flat plate 11 and the second flat plate 12, thereby improving the workability of routing each of the trunk portion W1 and the branch portions W2 in a flat state.

[0044] In the wire harness WH1 of this modified example, the second flat plate 12 is arranged in a stacked manner relative to the first flat plate 11 such that the insertion holes 13 of each plate overlap in the height direction Z. With this configuration, for example, the jig 30 can be inserted into each insertion hole 13 of the first flat plate 11 and the second flat plate 12 that overlap in the height direction Z, which may reduce the effort and cost required for manufacturing the wire harness WH1. Furthermore, for example, by arranging the first flat plate 11 and the second flat plate 12 in a stacked manner, the groups of electric wires Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 of the main wire portion W1 and the groups of electric wires Wa4, Wa5, and Wa6 of the branch wire portion W2 can be arranged flatly on approximately the same plane.

[0045] [Second Modification] Fig. 14 is a plan view of a wire harness WH2 according to a second modified example. The wire harness WH2 shown in Fig. 14 has a configuration similar to that of the wire harness WH1 according to the first modified example. Therefore, the wire harness WH2 can obtain the same functions and effects as the first modified example based on the similar configuration.

[0046] However, this modification differs from the first modification in that, as shown in Fig. 14, the second flat plate 12 of the flat plate 10 is disposed at a distance from the first flat plate 11 in the width direction Y. That is, in this modification, a gap portion is formed between the first flat plate 11 and the second flat plate 12 in the width direction Y. Only the plurality of electric wire groups Wa4, Wa5, and Wa6 constituting the above-mentioned branch wire portion W2 of the wire harness WH2 are disposed in this gap portion. The plurality of electric wire groups Wa4, Wa5, and Wa6 are flexible and bendable.

[0047] FIG. 15 is a side view of the wire harness WH2. As shown in FIG. 15, in this modification, the second flat plate 12 is configured to be movable relative to the first flat plate 11 between a first position P1 and a second position P2, with the gap portion serving as a fulcrum (rotation axis). The first position P1 is, for example, a position where the first flat plate 11 and the second flat plate 12 extend parallel to each other, and is also referred to as an initial position, a wiring material assembly position, or the like. The second position P2 is, for example, a position where the first flat plate 11 and the second flat plate 12 extend intersecting each other, and is also referred to as a movable position, a vehicle mounting position, or the like. Note that, for convenience, FIG. 15 illustrates a state in which the rotation angle of the second flat plate 12 relative to the first flat plate 11 at the second position P2 is approximately 90 degrees. However, this is not limiting and other angles, such as approximately 45 degrees or approximately 180 degrees, may be used.

[0048] As described above, in the wire harness WH2 of this modified example, the second flat plate 12 is disposed spaced apart from the first flat plate 11 in the width direction Y. With this configuration, for example, the mounting angle of the second flat plate 12 with respect to the first flat plate 11 can be changed in the wire harness WH2, which may improve mountability in a vehicle.

[0049] In the above embodiment and modified example, an example has been given in which three flat-shaped electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 are formed in the wire harness WH (main wire portion W1), but the number of electric wire groups Wa1, Wa2, and Wa3 is not limited to this example, and for example, one, two, or four or more flat-shaped electric wire groups may be formed in the wire harness WH (main wire portion W1).

[0050] While the above describes exemplary embodiments and modifications of the present invention, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments and modifications can be implemented in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, combinations, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the specifications of each configuration, shape, and the like (structure, type, direction, format, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, etc.) can be modified as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10 flat plate 13 Insertion hole 20 Tape 30 Jig S1 First step S2 Second step S3 Third step S4 Fourth step W Routing material Wa Electric Wire Wa1, Wa2, Wa3 wire group WH, WH1, WH2 wire harness W1 Main line W2 branch line part X-axis direction Y width direction Z height direction

Claims

1. A plurality of wiring materials extending along the axial direction; A flat plate supporting a plurality of the wiring materials; a tape for fixing the plurality of wiring materials to the flat plate; The flat plate is provided with a plurality of insertion holes into which jigs are inserted, the insertion holes being aligned along the axial direction and a width direction intersecting the axial direction, The plurality of wiring materials are arranged between two of the insertion holes adjacent to each other in the width direction of the flat plate. Wire harness.

2. The flat plate is provided with three or more insertion holes aligned along the width direction, The plurality of wiring materials are each wired between two of the insertion holes adjacent to each other in the width direction, and each wire includes a plurality of groups of electric wires each formed of an aggregate of two or more electric wires. The wire harness according to claim 1 .

3. The tape is spirally wound around the plurality of wiring materials and the flat plate to fix the plurality of wiring materials and the flat plate together. The wire harness according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The plurality of wiring materials are configured to include a trunk portion extending along the axial direction and a branch portion branching from the trunk portion along the width direction, the flat plate includes a first flat plate that supports the trunk line portion and is provided with a plurality of the insertion holes, and a second flat plate that supports the branch line portion and is provided with a plurality of the insertion holes, the trunk portion is disposed between two of the insertion holes adjacent to each other in the width direction in the first flat plate, the branch wire portion is arranged between two of the insertion holes adjacent to each other in the axial direction in the second flat plate; The wire harness according to claim 1 or 2.

5. the second flat plate is stacked on the first flat plate such that the insertion holes are overlapped along a height direction intersecting the axial direction and the width direction; The wire harness according to claim 4.

6. the second flat plate is disposed apart from the first flat plate along the width direction; The wire harness according to claim 4.

7. a first step of inserting jigs into a plurality of insertion holes provided in a flat plate and arranged in alignment along an axial direction and a width direction intersecting the axial direction; a second step of wiring a plurality of wiring materials along the axial direction while leveling the wiring materials between the jigs inserted into the two insertion holes adjacent in the width direction; a third step of fixing the plurality of wiring materials to the flat plate with tape; a fourth step of removing the jig from the plurality of insertion holes of the flat plate; A method for manufacturing a wire harness comprising:

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