Cable

Abstract

To provide a cable capable of achieving both proper fixing of a plurality of wires such as electric wires and reduction of manufacturing cost, weight, etc.SOLUTION: The cable 2 comprises a wire group 1. The wire group 1 includes a plurality of first wires 10 arranged side by side in an arrangement direction intersecting an axial direction of the cable 2, and a first bundling body 20 arranged at a plurality of positions of the cable 2 in the axial direction and bundling the plurality of first wires 10. The cable 2 includes a first binding body 20 and a second binding body 30 for collectively embedding and binding the plurality of first wires 10, the second wires 10, and the 10A in a state where the wire group 1, the other second wires 10, and the 10A are stacked in a thickness direction orthogonal to the axial direction and the arrangement direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cable comprising a group of wires. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, flat cables have been proposed in which a plurality of electric wires arranged in a planar shape are integrated by covering them with a resin, etc. For example, in one conventional flat cable, a plurality of electric wires are sandwiched between a pair of resin films coated with an adhesive, and then the films are heated and pressed together to integrate the plurality of electric wires and the films (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-115346 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional flat cable described above, the multiple electric wires are entirely covered with a film and an adhesive, which has the advantage of firmly fixing the multiple electric wires, but the disadvantage is that the use of a film and adhesive for fixing increases manufacturing costs and weight. In other words, with conventional flat cables, it has been difficult to achieve both proper fixing of the multiple electric wires and reductions in manufacturing costs, weight, etc.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a cable that can properly fix a plurality of wires such as electric wires while reducing manufacturing costs, weight, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the cable according to the present invention has the following features.

[0007] A cable comprising a group of wires, The wire group includes: The cable has a plurality of first wires arranged in an arrangement direction intersecting the axial direction of the cable, and first binders arranged at a plurality of locations on the cable in the axial direction to bundle the plurality of first wires together, The cable in question is: The wire group and other second wires are arranged so as to be stacked in a thickness direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the arrangement direction, and a second binder is provided which buries and bundles the first binder and the plurality of first wires and the second wires together. It's a cable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the cable of the present invention, multiple first wires (e.g., electric wires) are arranged side by side in the arrangement direction, and first binders (e.g., a resin molded body, adhesive, thread, etc.) arranged at multiple locations in the axial direction of the cable bundle the first wires. Furthermore, a wire group formed by bundling the first wires in this way and other second wires are arranged so as to be stacked in the thickness direction. Then, a second binder (e.g., a resin molded body, adhesive, etc.) buries and bundles the first binder, the wire group, and the second wires together. In this way, by distributing the first binders and second binders at multiple locations, the manufacturing cost and weight of the cable can be reduced compared to conventional flat cables in which the entire wire is covered with a film or the like. Furthermore, by bundling multiple first wires with the first binder to form a wire group and bundling such wire group and other second wires with the second binder, the multiple wires (i.e., the first wires and the second wires) can be properly bundled. Therefore, the cable of the present invention can achieve both proper fixing of multiple wires and reduction in manufacturing costs, weight, etc.

[0009] Furthermore, as another effect, the cable of the present invention does not require large-scale manufacturing equipment as compared with conventional flat cables, and therefore has excellent productivity and a small environmental impact.

[0010] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of the invention set forth below, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cable according to an 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 diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 in the first modified example. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 in the second modified example. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of part C in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 in the third modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] <Embodiment> A cable 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the cable 2 is a laminated flat cable formed by laminating wire groups 1, which are so-called flat cables each composed of a plurality of electric wires 10 arranged in a planar shape. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the plurality of electric wires 10 is formed, for example, of a rod-shaped conductor core wire 11 and a cylindrical resin insulating coating 12 covering the outer periphery of the conductor core wire 11. In this example, the electric wire 10 is exemplified as the "wire" used in each of the plurality of wire groups 1 constituting the cable 2. The "wire" may be, for example, an electric wire such as a twisted wire or a shielded wire, a communication cable, a hose, or a wire cable. Furthermore, the "wire" may be provided with an outer tube, a protector, a tape, or other components.

[0013] In each wire group 1, the multiple electric wires 10 arranged in a plane are bundled at multiple locations in the axial direction of the cable 2 (corresponding to the front-to-back direction in Figure 1; hereinafter referred to as the "axial direction") by first binders 20 so that they are lined up in a row in an arrangement direction (corresponding to the left-to-right direction in Figures 1 and 2; hereinafter referred to as the "arrangement direction") that intersects with the axial direction of the cable 2. Note that the electric wires 10 may be enameled wires that do not have a resin insulating coating 12. For ease of explanation, the direction perpendicular to the axial direction and arrangement direction of the cable 2 will be referred to as the "thickness direction" (corresponding to the up-down direction in Figures 1 and 2), one side of the thickness direction will be referred to as the "upper" side, and the other side of the thickness direction will be referred to as the "lower" side.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2 , the first binder 20 is specifically configured with a fastening portion 23. The fastening portion 23 fastens the plurality of electric wires 10 to bundle them so that they are aligned in a line in the arrangement direction, and is specifically configured with a resin molded body such as an insert mold, an adhesive, or the like. In this example, the fastening portion 23 bundling the plurality of electric wires 10 has an outer shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that is elongated in the arrangement direction. Because the first binder 20 bundles the plurality of electric wires 10 in this manner, the wire group 1 does not have a resin coating that covers the entire plurality of electric wires 10 as in conventional flat cables. Note that the spacing between the first binders 20 is not particularly limited and may be determined based on the degree of bundling of the electric wires 10 required for the cable 2, the ease of bending, and the like. The same applies to the spacing between the second binders 30, which will be described later.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , in cable 2, multiple wire groups 1 having the above-described structure are stacked in the thickness direction, and the stack of wire groups 1 is bundled by second bundles 30 at each of multiple axial locations where the first bundles 20 of each wire group 1 are stacked. The second bundles 30 collectively embed and bundle the first bundles 20 of each stacked wire group 1 and the multiple electric wires 10 bundled by each first bundle 20. Specifically, the second bundles 30 are formed of a resin molded body such as an insert mold, an adhesive, or the like. The melting point of the material constituting the second bundles 30 is lower than the melting point of the material constituting the fastening portions 23. In this example, the second bundles 30 have a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is elongated in the arrangement direction. In this way, by distributing the first binder 20 and the second binder 30 at multiple locations in the axial direction, the cable 2 does not have a resin coating that covers the entire stack of wire groups 1.

[0016] <Actions and Effects> As described above, according to the cable 2 of this embodiment, a plurality of first wires 10 (e.g., electric wires) are arranged side by side in the arrangement direction, and first binders 20 (e.g., a resin molded body, an adhesive, etc.) arranged at a plurality of locations in the axial direction of the cable 2 bundle the first wires 10. Furthermore, a plurality of wire groups 1 formed by bundling the first wires 10 in this manner are arranged so as to be stacked in the thickness direction. Then, a second binder 30 (e.g., a resin molded body, an adhesive, etc.) buries and bundles the first binder 20 of each stacked wire group 1 and the plurality of electric wires 10 bundled by each first binder 20. In this way, by distributing the first binders 20 and the second binders 30 at a plurality of locations, the manufacturing cost and weight of the cable 2 can be reduced compared to conventional flat cables in which the entire wire is covered with a resin film or the like. Furthermore, by bundling a plurality of first wires 10 with a first bundling body 20 to form a wire group 1, and bundling such a plurality of wire groups 1 with a second bundling body 30, the plurality of wires 10 can be properly bundled. Therefore, the cable 2 according to this embodiment can achieve both proper fixing of the plurality of wires and reduction in manufacturing cost, weight, etc.

[0017] Furthermore, as another effect, the cable 2 according to this embodiment does not require large-scale manufacturing equipment compared to conventional flat cables, and therefore has excellent productivity and a small environmental impact.

[0018] Furthermore, in cable 2 according to this embodiment, first binder 20 has fixing portions 23 that bundle multiple first wires 10. By distributing fixing portions 23 at multiple locations, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost and weight of the cable compared to conventional flat cables in which the entire wire is covered with a resin film or the like.

[0019] <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.

[0020] For example, in the above embodiment, a stack of wire groups 1, in which a plurality of wire groups 1 are stacked in the thickness direction, is bundled by the second binder 30. In other words, each of the multiple layers constituting the stack bundled by the second binder 30 is composed of a plurality of electric wires 10 bundled by the first binder 20 so as to be aligned in the arrangement direction. In contrast, as in the second modified example shown in FIG. 3 , some of the multiple layers constituting the stack bundled by the second binder 30 may be composed of a plurality of unbound electric wires 10A arranged so as to be aligned in the arrangement direction and not bundled by the first binder 20.

[0021] 3, below the wire group 1 in the uppermost layer, a plurality of unbound electric wires 10A that are not bound by a first binder 20 are arranged in two rows, one above the other, in the arrangement direction, and the second binder 30 buries and bundles together the first binder 20 of the wire group 1 in the uppermost layer, the plurality of electric wires 10 bundled by the first binder 20 of the wire group 1 in the uppermost layer, and the plurality of electric wires 10A that are lined up in two rows, one above the other, in the arrangement direction below the wire group 1 in the uppermost layer. This allows the shape of the cable 2 to be properly maintained even when the cable 2 has a plurality of unconstrained electric wires 10A that are not bound by the first binder 20.

[0022] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each of the plurality of wire groups 1 included in the laminate bundled by the second binder 30 is composed of a plurality of electric wires 10 bundled by a first binder 20 constituted by a fixing portion 23. In contrast to this, as in a second modified example shown in Fig. 4, the laminate bundled by the second binder 30 may include a wire group 1 in which a plurality of electric wires 10 are bundled by a first binder 20 constituted by an upper thread 21 and a lower thread 22 (details will be described later), and a wire group 1 in which a plurality of electric wires 10 are bundled by a first binder 20 constituted by a sheet-like member 24. The sheet-like member 24 fixes the plurality of electric wires 10 to one surface thereof by adhesion, welding, etc., thereby bundling the plurality of electric wires 10 so as to be aligned in a row in the arrangement direction.

[0023] In a second modified example shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of unconstrained electric wires 10A that are not bound by a first binder 20 are arranged side by side in the arrangement direction so as to be sandwiched between a (top layer) wire group 1 in which a plurality of electric wires 10 are bundled by an upper thread 21 and a lower thread 22, and a (bottom layer) wire group 1 in which a plurality of electric wires 10 are bundled by a sheet-like member 24. The second binder 30 collectively buries and bundles the first binder 20 made of the upper thread 21 and the lower thread 22 of the wire group 1 in the top layer, the plurality of electric wires 10 bundled by the first binder 20 made of the upper thread 21 and the lower thread 22, the first binder 20 made of the sheet-like member 24 of the wire group 1 in the bottom layer, the plurality of electric wires 10 bundled by the first binder 20 made of the sheet-like member 24, and the plurality of electric wires 10A located between the wire group 1 in the top layer and the wire group 1 in the bottom layer and aligned in the arrangement direction.

[0024] In the second modified example shown in FIG. 4 , the first bundling body 20 consisting of the upper thread 21 and the lower thread 22 of the wire group 1 in the top layer is specifically composed of the upper thread 21 contacting the outer peripheral surface of the upper side of the plurality of electric wires 10 aligned in the arrangement direction, and the lower thread 22 contacting the outer peripheral surface of the lower side of the plurality of electric wires 10 aligned in the arrangement direction. The upper thread 21 and the lower thread 22 are independent threads (separate threads). The first bundling body 20 consisting of the upper thread 21 and the lower thread 22 bundles the plurality of electric wires 10 in a so-called machine stitching manner that can be performed using a "sewing machine device of a general configuration using an upper thread and a lower thread." The upper thread 21 and the lower thread 22 are preferably the same type of thread, but may be different types of thread.

[0025] 5, the upper thread 21 extends over the entire area in the arrangement direction of the plurality of electric wires 10 such that, for example, wire covering portions 21a curved convexly upward along the outer peripheral surfaces of the upper sides of the electric wires 10 and engaging portions 21b curved convexly downward and positioned between adjacent electric wires 10 are alternately continuous along the arrangement direction. The lower thread 22 extends over the entire area in the arrangement direction of the plurality of electric wires 10 such that, for example, wire covering portions 22a curved convexly downward along the outer peripheral surfaces of the lower sides of the electric wires 10 and engaging portions 22b curved convexly upward and positioned between adjacent electric wires 10 are alternately continuous along the arrangement direction. Then, at each of a plurality of locations corresponding to the spaces between adjacent electric wires 10 in the arrangement direction, the engaging portions 21b of the upper thread 21 and the engaging portions 22b of the lower thread 22 engage with each other in a pulling manner in the thickness direction, whereby the first binding body 20 bundles the plurality of electric wires 10 so as to be aligned in a line in the arrangement direction. Depending on the magnitude relationship between the tensions applied to the upper thread 21 and the lower thread 22, the position where the engaging portions 21b and 22b engage with each other may vary in the thickness direction in Fig. 5. As a result, the position where the engaging portions 21b and 22b engage with each other is not necessarily between adjacent electric wires 10, and may be located above or below the electric wire 10. The type, material, thickness, color, stretch rate, and tensile strength properties of the upper thread 21 and the lower thread 22 are not particularly limited as long as they are selected so as to be suitable for fastening the electric wire 10. Furthermore, the upper thread 21 and the lower thread 22 may have the same properties or different properties.

[0026] At each of the ends of the first bundle 20 in the arrangement direction, the end 21c of the upper thread 21 and the end 22c of the lower thread 22 are fixed to each other so as not to separate, as shown in FIG. 6. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the end 21c of the upper thread 21 and the end 22c of the lower thread 22 are tied together and fixed to each other so as not to separate. The end 21c of the upper thread 21 and the end 22c of the lower thread 22 may be fixed to each other so as not to separate using a fastener (not shown), or may be fixed to each other so as not to separate by welding or adhesive. By fixing the upper thread 21 and the lower thread 22 to each other at the ends in the arrangement direction in this way, the work of fixing the upper thread 21 and the lower thread 22 from the outside of the wire group 1 can be easily performed.

[0027] 4 and 5, the upper thread 21 in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the upper side of the electric wire 10 and the lower thread 22 in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower side of the electric wire 10 are different filament-like bodies. In contrast, the upper thread 21 in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the upper side of the electric wire 10 and the lower thread 22 in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower side of the electric wire 10 may be the same filament-like body, as long as the engaging portion 21b of the upper thread 21 and the engaging portion 22b of the lower thread 22 are engaged with each other so as to attract each other in the thickness direction. In other words, the bundle may bundle multiple electric wires in the form of a single-thread type "sewing machine stitch."

[0028] 7, in a laminate bound by a second binder 30, a conductor 25 having a plate shape bound together with the wire group 1 by the second binder 30 may be arranged along (in the arrangement direction of) the wire group 1. Specifically, the conductor 25 is made of a metal foil or the like, and functions as a shielding layer for blocking electromagnetic noise.

[0029] In a third modified example shown in Fig. 7, a plurality of unbound electric wires 10A that are not bound by the first binder 20 are arranged above a wire group 1 in the bottom layer, in which a plurality of electric wires 10 are bundled by a first binder 20 formed of a sheet-like member 24. Furthermore, a wire group 1 (in the top layer), in which a plurality of electric wires 10 are bundled by an upper thread 21 and a lower thread 22, is arranged above the plurality of unbound electric wires 10A. In addition, conductors 25 are arranged between the wire group 1 in the bottom layer and the plurality of unconstrained electric wires 10A, and above the wire group 1 in the top layer. A drain wire 26 is provided along one surface of the conductor 25 located between the wire group 1 in the bottom layer and the plurality of unconstrained electric wires 10A. The second binder 30 buries and bundles together the first binder 20 formed by the sheet-like member 24 of the wire group 1 in the lowest layer, the plurality of electric wires 10 bundled by the first binder 20 formed by the sheet-like member 24, the plurality of electric wires 10A arranged in the arrangement direction above the wire group 1 in the lowest layer, the first binder 20 formed by the upper thread 21 and lower thread 22 of the wire group 1 in the top layer, the plurality of electric wires 10 bundled by the upper thread 21 and lower thread 22, the two conductors 25, and the drain wire 26. This reliably ensures the function of the conductor 25 as a shielding layer. In addition to the above, a ground wire or the like may be provided.

[0030] Here, the features of the embodiment of the cable 2 according to the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [5].

[0031] [1] A cable (2) comprising a group of wires (1), The wire group (1) is The cable (2) includes a plurality of first wires (10) arranged in an arrangement direction intersecting the axial direction of the cable (2), and first binders (20) arranged at a plurality of locations on the cable (2) in the axial direction to bundle the plurality of first wires (10), The cable (2) is The wire group (1) and other second wires (10, 10A) are arranged so as to be stacked in a thickness direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the arrangement direction, and a second bundling body (30) is provided which buries and bundles the first bundling body (20) and the plurality of first wires (10) and the second wires (10, 10A) together. Cable(2).

[0032] According to the cable having the configuration [1] above, a plurality of first wires (e.g., electric wires) are arranged in a line in the arrangement direction, and first binders (e.g., a resin molded body, adhesive, thread, etc.) arranged at a plurality of locations in the axial direction of the cable bundle the first wires. Furthermore, a wire group formed by bundling the first wires in this manner and other second wires are arranged so as to be stacked in the thickness direction. Then, a second binder (e.g., a resin molded body, adhesive, etc.) buries and bundles the first binder, the wire group, and the second wires together. By distributing the first binders and second binders at a plurality of locations, the manufacturing cost and weight of the cable can be reduced compared to conventional flat cables in which the entire wire is covered with a film or the like. Furthermore, by bundling a plurality of first wires with the first binder to form a wire group and bundling the wire group and other second wires with the second binder, the plurality of wires (i.e., the first wires and the second wires) can be properly bundled. Therefore, the cable of this configuration can properly fix multiple wires while reducing manufacturing costs, weight, etc.

[0033] Furthermore, as another effect, the cable of the present invention does not require large-scale manufacturing equipment as compared with conventional flat cables, and therefore has excellent productivity and a small environmental impact.

[0034] [2] In the cable (2) described in [1] above, The plurality of second wires (10) The wires are arranged in the arrangement direction and bundled at a plurality of locations in the axial direction of the cable to form another wire group (1) different from the wire group (1). Cable(2).

[0035] According to the cable of the configuration [2] above, the multiple second wires constitute other wire groups, which allows a cable in which multiple wire groups are stacked, to be obtained while achieving both proper fixing of the multiple wires and reduction in manufacturing cost, weight, etc.

[0036] [3] In the cable (2) described in [1] above, The first binding body (20) is The wire bundle has fixing portions (23, 24) configured to fix and bundle the plurality of first wires (10). Cable(2).

[0037] According to the cable having the configuration [3] above, the first binder has a fastening portion that bundles the plurality of first wires together, thereby enabling the plurality of first wires to be tightly bundled together.

[0038] [4] In the cable (2) described in [1] above, The first binding body (20) is The wire bundle includes a first bundling member (21) that contacts a portion of the outer circumferential surface of each of the plurality of first wires (10) and a second bundling member (22) that contacts another portion of the outer circumferential surface, and the first bundling member (21) and the second bundling member (22) are configured to engage with each other so as to attract each other in a thickness direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the arrangement direction, thereby bundling the plurality of first wires (10). Cable(2).

[0039] According to the cable of the configuration [4] above, the first binder has a first binder member that contacts a portion of the outer circumferential surface of each of the plurality of first wires and a second binder member that contacts another portion of the outer circumferential surface of each of the plurality of first wires. The first binder member and the second binder member engage with each other in a pulling manner in the thickness direction of the cable, thereby bundling the plurality of first wires. In other words, the first binder bundles the plurality of first wires in a so-called "sewing" manner. This allows the plurality of wires to be properly bundled. Furthermore, such a first binder is generally less expensive and lighter in weight than the resin film and adhesive used in the conventional flat cables described above.

[0040] [5] The cable (2) according to the above [1], The wire bundle further includes an attachment member (25) arranged along the wire group (1) and bundled together with the wire group (1) by the second bundling body (30). Cable(2).

[0041] According to the cable of the configuration [5] above, the accessory members (e.g., a metal shield plate for blocking electromagnetic noise, a resin sheet for suppressing noise caused by vibration, etc.) bundled together with the wire group by the second binder are arranged along the wire group, thereby improving the functionality of the cable. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 group of wires 2 Cables 10 Electric wire (first wire, second wire) 10A Electric Wire (Second Wire) 20 1st bundle 21 Upper thread (first binding member) 22 Lower thread (second binding member) 23 Fixation part 24 Sheet-like member (fixing part) 25 Conductors (accessories) 30 Second bundle

Claims

1. A cable comprising a group of wires, The wire group includes: a plurality of first wires arranged in an arrangement direction intersecting the axial direction of the cable; and first binders arranged at a plurality of locations on the cable in the axial direction to bundle the plurality of first wires together; The cable in question is: a second binder that buries and bundles the first binder and the plurality of first wires and the second wires together in a state in which the group of wires and other second wires are arranged so as to be stacked in a thickness direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the arrangement direction; cable.

2. 2. The cable of claim 1, The plurality of second wires are The wires are arranged in the arrangement direction and bundled together at a plurality of locations in the axial direction of the cable to form another group of wires different from the group of wires. cable.

3. 2. The cable of claim 1, The first binding body is a fixing portion configured to fix and bundle the plurality of first wires; cable.

4. 2. The cable of claim 1, The first binding body is The wire bundle has a first bundling member that contacts a part of the outer circumferential surface of each of the plurality of first wires and a second bundling member that contacts another part of the outer circumferential surface, and is configured such that the first bundling member and the second bundling member engage with each other so as to attract each other in a thickness direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the arrangement direction, thereby bundling the plurality of first wires. cable.

5. 10. The cable of claim 1, The wire bundle further includes an attachment member arranged along the wire group and bundled together with the wire group by the second bundling body. cable.

Images