Protector cover automatic installation device

Abstract

To provide a protector cover automatic mounting device capable of automatically mounting a protective cover on a protector body.SOLUTION: A protector cover automatic mounting device 1 includes: a protector holding section 2 that holds a protector body 7 in which electric wires of a wire harness are stored; an operation section 3 that assembles a protector cover 8 to the protector body 7; moving means such as a robot arm that moves the operation section 3; and a control unit. The operation section 3 includes: a pusher 4 that presses the protector cover 8 placed on the protector body 7 toward the protector body 7 side; a base portion 31 to which the pusher 4 is attached so as to be capable of projecting and retracting; and a sensor 37 that detects an amount of protrusion of a rod 41 of the pusher 4 from the base portion 31 on the side opposite to the protector holding section 2. The control unit stops the pressing operation by the pusher 4 when the amount of protrusion of the rod 41 on the opposite side reaches a certain level or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic protector cover attachment device for assembling a protector cover to a protector body. [Background technology]

[0002] One example of a wire harness arranged in a vehicle includes electric wires and a protector. The protector protects the electric wires passed through it and is fixed to the vehicle body to regulate the wiring path of the electric wires. The protector includes a gutter-shaped protector body and a protector cover that closes the opening of the protector body (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The protector body is provided with a locking portion, and the protector cover is provided with a locking receiving portion. The protector cover is assembled to the protector body by being placed on the protector body and pressed against the protector body so that the locking receiving portion locks with the locking portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-58059 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The protector cover was assembled to the protector body by hand, and automatic installation by machine was not performed. This was because it was difficult to adjust the amount of pressure applied to the protector cover when automatic installation by machine was performed. In other words, if the amount of pressure was too small, the locking receiving part would not lock onto the locking part, and if the amount of pressure was too large, there was a risk of applying excessive load to the protector, and it was difficult to adjust the amount of pressure.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to enable automatic attachment of a protector cover to a protector body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention is an automatic protector cover installation device comprising a protector holding portion that holds a protector body that houses electric wires of a wire harness, an operating portion that assembles a protector cover to the protector body, and a moving means for relatively moving the protector holding portion and the operating portion, wherein the operating portion comprises a pressurizer that presses the protector cover that is placed on the protector body toward the protector body, a base to which the pressurizer is attached so that it can be protruded and retracted, and a sensor that detects the amount of protrusion of the pressurizer from the base on the side opposite the protector holding portion, and is characterized in that the operating portion outputs a pressing stop signal to stop the pressing operation by the pressurizer when the amount of protrusion of the pressurizer on the opposite side reaches or exceeds a certain level. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the protector cover can be automatically attached to the protector body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an automatic protector cover attachment device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1. FIG. 2 is a view of the operation unit of FIG. 1 seen from a different angle. [Diagram 3] 2 is a diagram showing a protector that is assembled by the protector cover automatic installation device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the protector of FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a protector body is held by the protector holding portion in FIG. 1 and an operation portion is transporting a protector cover. FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the operation unit in FIG. 5 places the protector cover on the protector body. [Figure 7]7 is a diagram showing a state in which the operating portion in FIG. 6 presses the protector cover toward the protector main body. [Figure 8] 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the protector cover in FIG. 7 is attached to the protector body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An "automatic protector cover attachment device" according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs.

[0011] The protector cover automatic attachment device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is for attaching a protector 6 shown in FIGS.

[0012] The protector 6 is a wire bundle in which a corrugated tube is placed over a bundle of multiple electric wires, and protects the wire bundle and the corrugated tube, and is fixed to the vehicle body to regulate the wiring path of the wire bundle and the corrugated tube. The protector 6, together with the wire bundle and the corrugated tube, constitutes an automobile wire harness. The protector 6 includes a protector body 7 formed in a gutter shape from synthetic resin, and a protector cover 8 made of synthetic resin and closing an opening of the protector body 7.

[0013] The protector body 7 includes a bottom wall 71, side walls 72, 73 standing from both ends of the bottom wall 71 in the width direction, a bracket 75 fixed to the vehicle body, and a vehicle body locking portion 76 that locks to the vehicle body. One longitudinal end of the protector body 7 is provided with a plurality of ribs 77 that fit into the grooves of the corrugated tube. A plurality of locking projections 74 are provided on the outer surfaces of the side walls 72, 73. In detail, five locking projections 74 are provided, and the first locking projection 74 is provided at one longitudinal end of the side wall 72. The second locking projection 74 is provided at the other longitudinal end of the side wall 72. The third locking projection 74 is provided at one longitudinal end of the side wall 73. The fourth locking projection 74 is provided at the other longitudinal end of the side wall 73. The fifth locking projection 74 is provided at the longitudinal center of the side wall 73. These locking projections 74 are provided on the upper ends of the side walls 72 and 73 .

[0014] The protector cover 8 includes a ceiling wall 81 and side walls 82, 83 that hang down from both ends of the ceiling wall 81 in the width direction. A plurality of ribs 87 that fit into the grooves of the corrugated tube are provided at one end of the longitudinal direction of the protector cover 8. A plurality of locking holes 84 are provided in the protector cover 8. In detail, five locking holes 84 are provided, and the first locking hole 84 is formed through the corner portion between the ceiling wall 81 and the side wall 82 at one end of the longitudinal direction of the protector cover 8. The second locking hole 84 is formed through the corner portion between the ceiling wall 81 and the side wall 82 at the other end of the longitudinal direction of the protector cover 8. The third locking hole 84 is formed through the corner portion between the ceiling wall 81 and the side wall 83 at one end of the longitudinal direction of the protector cover 8. The fourth locking hole 84 is formed through the corner portion between the ceiling wall 81 and the side wall 83 at the other end of the longitudinal direction of the protector cover 8. The fifth locking hole 84 is formed through the corner between the ceiling wall 81 and the side wall 83 in the longitudinal center of the protector cover 8. These locking holes 84 are engaged with the locking projections 74 provided on the protector body 7, respectively.

[0015] The protector cover 8 is placed on the protector body 7 and pressed toward the protector body 7 by the pressing element 4 of the protector cover automatic attachment device 1, so that the locking holes 84 are locked with the locking protrusions 74 and the protector cover is assembled to the protector body 7. Although the wire bundle and the corrugated tube are not shown in Figs. 3 to 8, the protector cover 8 is actually assembled to the protector body 7 with the wire bundle and the corrugated tube housed in the protector body 7. When the locking holes 84 are completely locked with the locking protrusions 74, the locking protrusions 74 can be seen when viewed from above (when viewed from the ceiling wall 81 side to the bottom wall 71 side).

[0016] The automatic protector cover installation device 1 comprises a protector holding unit 2 that holds a protector main body 7, an operation unit 3 that assembles a protector cover 8 to the protector main body 7, a moving means such as a robot arm that moves the operation unit 3, and a control unit (not shown).

[0017] The protector holding part 2 has a recess 21 that corresponds to the outer shape of the protector body 7, and is fixed to the frame. The protector holding part 2 holds the protector body 7 by fitting the protector body 7 into the recess 21. The protector body 7 is held by the protector holding part 2 with the electric wire bundle and the corrugated tube housed inside, but the electric wire bundle and the corrugated tube are omitted from illustration in Figs. 5 to 8.

[0018] The operating unit 3 includes a plate-shaped base 31, a connecting plate 33 connected to the moving means, a connecting rod 32 connecting the base 31 and the connecting plate 33, a pair of adsorption portions 35 and suction means, a plurality of guide rods 34, a presser 4, a sensor 37, and a camera.

[0019] As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pair of suction parts 35 is for picking up the protector cover 8 and transporting it to the protector holding part 2 that holds the protector main body 7. The pair of suction parts 35 is provided on the lower surface side of the base part 31. The pair of suction parts 35 is connected to the suction means, and the protector cover 8 is attached to the ceiling wall 81 by sucking air by the suction means while in contact with the ceiling wall 81 of the protector cover 8. In this state, the movement means moves the operation part 3, so that the protector cover 8 is transported. When the protector cover 8 is transported to the protector holding part 2, the suction means sends air to the pair of suction parts 35, so that the protector cover 8 is separated from the pair of suction parts 35. In this manner, the protector cover 8 is stacked on the protector main body 7.

[0020] A plurality of guide rods 34 hang down from the underside of base 31 and position protector cover 8 by moving along side walls 82, 83 when pair of suction portions 35 pick up and transport protector cover 8.

[0021] The pressing element 4 presses the protector cover 8, which is placed on the protector body 7, toward the protector body 7 as shown in Fig. 7. In this example, the pressing element 4 presses three points P1, P2, and P3 (see Fig. 4) on the top wall 81 of the protector cover 8. The pressing order is as follows: first, P1, which is a point where a rib 87 that fits into the groove of the corrugated tube is provided, is pressed, then P2 is pressed, and finally P3 is pressed. The pressing element 4 includes a cylindrical rod 41, a pressing head 42 provided at the lower end of the rod 41, a metal part 44 provided at the upper end of the rod 41, a flange part 43 connected to the upper end of the pressing head 42, and a coil spring 45.

[0022] The rod 41 is held on the base 31 by the mounting part 36 attached to the upper surface of the base 31. The mounting part 36 includes a cylindrical part 36b and a flange part 36a connected to the cylindrical part 36b and fixed to the base 31. A through hole is formed in the base 31, and the cylindrical part 36b communicates with this through hole. The rod 41 is inserted through the inside of the cylindrical part 36b and the through hole of the base 31, and can protrude and retract (can rise and fall) from the cylindrical part 36b and the base 31. The metal part 44 is of a size that cannot be inserted into the cylindrical part 36b, and is arranged above the cylindrical part 36b. The coil spring 45 is arranged on the outer periphery of the rod 41 and between the base 31 and the flange part 43, and urges the flange part 43 and the pressing head 42 downward, i.e., toward the protector holding part 2.

[0023] The moving means moves the operating unit 3 downward, i.e., toward the protector holding unit 2, a predetermined distance, causing the pressing head 42 to press the ceiling wall 81 of the protector cover 8 toward the protector body 7. When the pressing head 42 presses the protector cover 8, the coil spring 45 is compressed, and the amount of projection of the rod 41 upward (to the opposite side to the protector holding unit 2) from the base 31 increases. Thus, in this example, the amount of pressure with which the pressing head 42 presses the protector cover 8 is adjusted to an appropriate value by the amount of vertical movement of the operating unit 3 by the moving means and the elasticity of the coil spring 45. The amount of pressure can be changed as appropriate by changing the amount of movement of the operating unit 3 or by changing the coil spring 45.

[0024] The sensor 37 is a proximity sensor that detects the approach of a detection object without contact, and is fixed to the upper surface side of the base 31 by a fixing part 38. When the pressing head 42 is not pressing the protector cover 8, the sensor 37 is disposed above the metal part 44, which is the detection object. When the pressing head 42 presses the protector cover 8, the metal part 44 approaches the sensor 37. When the pressing amount of the pressing head 42 reaches a certain level or more, the amount of the rod 41 protruding upward from the base 31 also reaches a certain level or more, and the sensor 37 detects this and sends a pressing stop signal to the control unit to stop the pressing operation.

[0025] When the control unit receives a pressing stop signal (a signal indicating that the pressing amount of the pressing head 42 has exceeded a certain level) from the sensor 37, it issues an alert and controls the driving of the moving means to stop the pressing action of the pressing element 4. This makes it possible to prevent the pressing element 4 from applying an excessive load to the protector cover 8. Normally, the pressing amount of the pressing head 42 does not exceed a certain level, but the pressing amount may exceed a certain level when, for example, the alignment of the protector body 7 and the protector cover 8 is not performed correctly.

[0026] When the protector cover 8 is pressed and assembled to the protector body 7 as described above, the camera provided in the operation unit 3 captures an image of the protector 6 from above. This image data is processed by the control unit, and it is automatically determined whether or not each of the locking holes 84 is completely locked with each of the locking protrusions 74. If it is determined that the locking is complete, the finished product is dispensed, and if it is determined that the locking is incomplete, the control unit issues an alert.

[0027] As described above, the protector cover automatic attachment device 1 has a simple configuration, but can automatically attach the protector cover 8 to the protector body 7 by pressing the protector cover 8 with an appropriate pressing force. In addition, it is possible to prevent the application of an excessive load from the pressing element 4 to the protector cover 8.

[0028] In the above-described embodiment, the amount of protrusion of the pressing member 4 on the side opposite the protector holding portion 2 is detected by the proximity sensor 37. However, in the present invention, it is also possible to use an optical sensor, a microswitch, etc. instead of the proximity sensor.

[0029] In the above-described embodiment, the protector holding portion 2 is fixed to the frame, and the operating portion 3 is moved relative to the protector holding portion 2 by a moving means, but in the present invention, the protector holding portion 2 may be moved relative to the operating portion 3 by a moving means.

[0030] The above-described embodiment merely shows a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the present invention can be embodied in various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as the configuration of the present invention is still provided even with such modifications, it is of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 Protector cover automatic installation device 2 Protector holding part 3 Control section 4 Presser 6 Protector 7 Protector body 8 Protector cover 31 Base 37 Sensors 41 Rod 42 Pressing head 45 Coil spring

Claims

1. a protector holding section that holds a protector body that houses electric wires of a wire harness; an operating section that assembles a protector cover onto the protector body; and a moving means that moves the protector holding section and the operating section relatively, The operation unit includes: a pressing element that presses the protector cover, which is placed on the protector body, toward the protector body; A base to which the pressing member is attached so as to be capable of projecting and retracting; a sensor that detects a protrusion amount of the pressing member from the base portion on a side opposite to the protector holding portion, When the protruding amount of the pressing piece on the opposite side reaches a certain amount or more, a pressing stop signal is output to stop the pressing operation of the pressing piece.

1. An automatic protector cover attachment device comprising:

2. the pressing element includes a rod inserted into the base so as to be capable of projecting and retracting, a pressing head provided at an end of the rod, and a coil spring disposed on an outer periphery of the rod and between the base and the pressing head, When the pressing head presses the protector cover, the coil spring is compressed, and the amount of protrusion of the rod from the base on the side opposite to the protector holding portion increases.

2. The protector cover automatic attachment device according to claim 1, wherein the protector cover automatic attachment device is a device for attaching a protector cover to a vehicle.

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