Wire harness manufacturing equipment

Abstract

To reduce the number of constituent elements and to transmit a content of errors to a user.SOLUTION: A manufacturing apparatus of a wire harness includes a lighting device 61a, an air injection device that includes air valves 24, 38, 39, and 40 and injects compressed air, and a control device 50 that controls the lighting device 61a and the air valves 24, 38, 39, and 40. A code storage unit 51 stores an error code consisting of a two or more-digit number. A code conversion unit 52 converts the number of the error code into a combination of lighting of the lighting device 61a and injection of compressed air based on a conversion rule for converting the digit of the error code and the number of the digit into lighting of the lighting device 61a and injection of compressed air from the air injection device. An operation control unit 53 controls the lighting device 61a and the air valves 24, 38, 39, and 40 based on the combination of the lighting of the lighting device 61a whose error code has been converted by the code conversion unit 52 and the injection of compressed air.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire harness manufacturing apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Wire harness manufacturing devices for manufacturing wire harnesses have been known for some time. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wire processing device (wire harness manufacturing device) including a wire drawing machine, a wire feeding device, a wire clamping device, a cutter device, a crimping machine, and a tray.

[0003] Some wire harness manufacturing devices further include a rubber plug supplying device as disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-057556 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2021 / 029177 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Various errors can occur in wire harness manufacturing devices. When an error occurs, the user needs to identify the type of error. For this reason, wire harness manufacturing devices are often provided with a display device that displays an error code corresponding to the type of error. However, providing such a display device increases the number of components of the wire harness manufacturing device, resulting in increased costs and an increase in size.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wire harness manufacturing device that has a small number of components and is capable of notifying the user of the contents of an error. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A wire harness manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes a lighting device that turns on and off, an air injection device that includes an air supply path to which compressed air is supplied and an air valve that opens and closes the air supply path and injects compressed air when the air valve is opened, and a control device that controls the lighting device and the air valve. The control device includes a code storage unit, a code conversion unit, and an operation control unit. The code storage unit stores an error code consisting of two or more digits. The code conversion unit converts the digits of the error code into a combination of lighting the lighting device and injection of compressed air based on a conversion rule that converts the digits of the error code and the digits into a combination of lighting the lighting device and injection of compressed air from the air injection device. The operation control unit controls the lighting device and the air valve based on the combination of lighting the lighting device and injection of compressed air into which the error code has been converted by the code conversion unit.

[0008] According to the above-described wire harness manufacturing device, an error code consisting of two or more digits can be displayed by a combination of the illumination of the lighting device and the sound of compressed air being sprayed. Therefore, the wire harness manufacturing device does not need to be equipped with a display device for displaying the error code. This makes it possible to communicate the content of the error to the user while reducing the number of components of the wire harness manufacturing device.

[0009] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the conversion rule is configured to represent a digit of the error code by a jet of compressed air and to represent the number of times the lighting device has been turned on. More specifically, the conversion rule is configured to inject compressed air when a predetermined specific digit is to be represented by the number of times the lighting device has been turned on, and to stop injecting compressed air when other digits are to be represented by the number of times the lighting device has been turned on.

[0010] According to this aspect, the digit of the error code can be identified, and the number of that digit can also be identified, making it easy to read the error code.

[0011] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the conversion rule is configured so that the separation between digits of the error code is represented by a jet of compressed air, and the number of digits is represented by the number of times the lighting device is turned on.

[0012] This configuration also makes it possible to identify the digits of the error code and the number of those digits, making it easy to read the error code.

[0013] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the conversion rule is configured so that a digit of the error code is represented by lighting the illumination device, and the number of the digit is represented by the number of jets of compressed air.

[0014] This configuration also makes it possible to identify the digits of the error code and the number of those digits, making it easy to read the error code.

[0015] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the wire harness production apparatus is divided into a plurality of functional blocks, the air injection device includes a plurality of injection devices provided for each of the plurality of functional blocks, and the operation control unit controls the injection device of the functional block in which an error has occurred to inject compressed air.

[0016] According to this aspect, compressed air is injected from the injection device of the functional block in which an error has occurred, so that the user can easily identify the functional block in which the error has occurred.

[0017] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the wire harness manufacturing apparatus includes a parts feeder for conveying wire harness parts, the parts feeder having a conveying path through which the parts pass, and the air injection device injects compressed air into the conveying path to move the parts within the conveying path.

[0018] According to this aspect, since the air injection device is used to move parts in the parts feeder, there is no need to provide a new air injection device for displaying the error code, which allows the number of components of the wire harness production device to be reduced.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the wire harness manufacturing apparatus, the components are rubber stoppers. The rubber stoppers are preferably conveyed by compressed air, and the parts feeder that conveys the rubber stoppers preferably includes an air injection device. Therefore, the above-described technology is suitable for a parts feeder (rubber stopper feeder) that conveys rubber stoppers.

[0020] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the lighting device is built into an illuminated switch that constitutes the start button. According to this aspect, the number of components of the wire harness production apparatus can be further reduced. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to the present invention, the content of an error can be notified to a user while reducing the number of components of a wire harness manufacturing device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wire harness manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic, partially cutaway front view of the rubber stopper feeder. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a rubber plug feeder including an air system. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an error code representation. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of another error code expression. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] [Wire harness manufacturing equipment configuration] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wire harness production apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the wire harness production apparatus 1 includes a rubber plug feeder 100, a wire drawing machine 200, a feeding device 300, an electric wire clamping device 400, a cutter device 500, a rubber plug inserting device 600, a crimping machine 700, and a tray 800. The wire drawing machine 200 is a device that removes any curling of an electric wire and straightens the electric wire. The feeding device 300 is a device that feeds out the electric wire. The feeding device 300 is configured to feed out the electric wire, for example, by running a conveyor belt. The electric wire clamping device 400 grips the electric wire. The cutter device 500 cuts the electric wire gripped by the electric wire clamping device 400 and strips the coating material from the end of the electric wire.

[0024] The rubber stopper feeder 100 feeds waterproof rubber stoppers 5 (see FIG. 2) to be attached to electric wires to the rubber stopper insertion device 600. The rubber stopper feeder 100 is configured to align the orientation of the cylindrical rubber stoppers 5 and send them to the rubber stopper insertion device 600. The rubber stopper insertion device 600 inserts the electric wire into the rubber stopper 5. The crimping machine 700 crimps a terminal onto the end of the electric wire after the rubber stopper 5 has been attached. The tray 800 is a box that collects the electric wires after processing.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic, partially cutaway front view of the rubber stopper feeder 100. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the rubber stopper feeder 100, including an air system. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rubber stopper feeder 100 includes a hopper mechanism 10, an escape mechanism 20, a rotary mechanism 30, a control device 50, and an operation panel 60. The hopper mechanism 10, the escape mechanism 20, and the rotary mechanism 30 each constitute one of the functional blocks of the rubber stopper feeder 100, which are divided according to the functions they perform. The hopper mechanism 10 stores a large number of rubber stoppers 5 and lines them up. The rotary mechanism 30 aligns the rubber stoppers 5 and delivers them. The escape mechanism 20 transports the rubber stoppers 5 from the hopper mechanism 10 to the rotary mechanism 30. However, the division of the functional blocks of the rubber stopper feeder 100 is not limited to the above, and various divisions are possible.

[0026] The control device 50 may be a part of a control device for the entire wire harness production apparatus 1 (not shown), or may be independent from the control device for the entire wire harness production apparatus 1. The operation panel 60 is electrically connected to the control device 50, and allows simple operation of the rubber plug feeder 100.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 2, the hopper mechanism 10 includes a cylindrical hopper 11 that extends vertically. The hopper 11 is configured to be able to accommodate a large number of rubber stoppers 5. A conveying path for the rubber stoppers 5 (not shown) is provided at the lower end of the hopper 11. The rubber stoppers 5 are aligned vertically within this conveying path with their axes facing the vertical direction.

[0028] The escape mechanism 20 is provided below the hopper 11. As shown in Fig. 2, the escape mechanism 20 includes a slide plate 21 that is movable in the left-right direction. As shown in Fig. 3, the escape mechanism 20 includes a left-right drive cylinder 23 that moves the slide plate 21 in the left-right direction, and a cylinder drive valve 22 that controls the direction of compressed air supplied to the left-right drive cylinder 23.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the slide plate 21 is formed with an insertion hole 21a into which the rubber stopper 5 can be inserted. The insertion hole 21a penetrates the slide plate 21 in the vertical direction. When the slide plate 21 is in the left end position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2, the insertion hole 21a is located directly below the hopper 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the escape mechanism 20 includes a vacuum device 25 that reduces the pressure inside the insertion hole 21a and draws the rubber stopper 5 into the insertion hole 21a. The vacuum device 25 is configured to allow compressed air to pass through its interior. The compressed air passes through the vacuum device 25 and is ejected from the vacuum device 25, generating negative pressure, which sucks the rubber stopper 5. The compressed air supplied to the vacuum device 25 is controlled by a lower suction valve 24 (see FIG. 3). The lower suction valve 24 is provided in an air supply path that supplies compressed air to the vacuum device 25 and opens and closes the air supply path.

[0030] When the slide plate 21 is moved to the right end position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 by the horizontal drive cylinder 23, the insertion hole 21a moves to a position directly above the rotating body 34 of the rotary mechanism 30 and directly below the push-in pin 31. The rotary mechanism 30 is a mechanism that aligns the orientation of the rubber stoppers 5 by rotating the rotating body 34. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating body 34 has a through-hole 34a that passes through the center. When the slide plate 21 is in the right end position, the push-in pin 31 moves downward to push the rubber stopper 5 in the insertion hole 21a into the through-hole 34a of the rotating body 34. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotary mechanism 30 has a vertical drive cylinder 33 that moves the push-in pin 31 up and down, and a cylinder drive valve 32 that controls the direction of compressed air supplied to the vertical drive cylinder 33.

[0031] When a sensor (not shown) (provided in the rotary mechanism 30 or the escape mechanism 20) detects that the orientation of the rubber stopper 5 is in a predetermined direction, the rotor 34 rotates 90 degrees clockwise in FIG. 2. When the sensor detects that the orientation of the rubber stopper 5 is opposite to the predetermined direction, the rotor 34 rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise in FIG. 2. The rotary mechanism 30 aligns the orientation of the rubber stopper 5 by the rotation of the rotor 34. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotary mechanism 30 includes a rotation drive cylinder 36 that rotates the rotor 34, and a rotation drive valve 35 that controls the direction of compressed air supplied to the rotation drive cylinder 36.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 2, the rotary mechanism 30 is provided with a delivery tube 37 through which the rubber stopper 5 is delivered. One end of the delivery tube 37 is disposed on the side of the rotor 34, and the other end is connected to the rubber stopper insertion device 600. When the rotor 34 is rotated 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise from the state shown in Fig. 2, the through-hole 34a of the rotor 34 and the delivery tube 37 are connected.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3 , the rotary mechanism 30 includes a primary injection valve 38, a secondary injection valve 39, and a lower injection valve 40. The primary injection valve 38 injects compressed air into the delivery pipe 37 to move the rubber stopper 5 within the delivery pipe 37. The secondary injection valve 39 also injects compressed air into the delivery pipe 37 to move the rubber stopper 5 within the delivery pipe 37. The secondary injection valve 39 is a valve for injecting compressed air downstream of the primary injection valve 38 in the delivery pipe 37. When the primary injection valve 38 and the secondary injection valve 39 are opened, the compressed air is injected, sending the rubber stopper 5 to the rubber stopper insertion device 600. The lower injection valve 40 is a valve for ejecting the rubber stopper 5 from the rotor 34 toward the pusher pin 31 when changing the type of rubber stopper 5. The lower injection valve 40 ejects the rubber stopper 5 remaining in the through-hole 34a of the rotor 34 from the through-hole 34a by injecting compressed air.

[0034] Of the above-mentioned valves, the lower suction valve 24, the primary injection valve 38, the secondary injection valve 39, and the lower injection valve 40 are air valves that are provided in an air supply passage to which compressed air is supplied and that open and close the air supply passage. When these air valves are opened, an air injection device equipped with these air valves injects compressed air. The air injection device equipped with the lower suction valve 24 is the vacuum device 25. Here, the air injection device refers to one configured to inject compressed air, and is not limited to one that blows compressed air at an object. The lower suction valve 24, the primary injection valve 38, the secondary injection valve 39, and the lower injection valve 40 are valves that control the injection of compressed air and do not drive actuators such as cylinders.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 60 is equipped with a start / reset button 61. The start / reset button 61 serves both as a start button and a reset button for use after an error has occurred. In this case, the start / reset button 61 is an illuminated switch with a built-in lamp 61a that turns on and off. The operation panel 60 is configured to have as few components as possible, and in this embodiment, it does not have a display device such as a liquid crystal panel. The rubber stopper feeder 100 according to this embodiment issues an error message by turning on / off the lamp 61a of the start / reset button 61 and using the sound of compressed air being sprayed by opening an air valve.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 50 of the rubber stopper feeder 100 is connected to the hopper mechanism 10, the cylinder drive valve 22 and the lower suction valve 24 of the escape mechanism 20, the cylinder drive valve 32, the rotary drive valve 35, the primary injection valve 38, the secondary injection valve 39, and the lower injection valve 40 of the rotary mechanism 30, and the lamp 61a of the start / reset button 61, and controls the operations of these components.

[0037] The configuration of the control device 50 is not particularly limited. The control device 50 may include, for example, a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU), a ROM in which programs executed by the CPU are stored, and a RAM. Each unit of the control device 50 may be configured by software or by hardware. Furthermore, each unit may be a processor or a circuit. As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 50 includes an error code storage unit 51, an error code conversion unit 52, and an error operation control unit 53 as control units for transmitting error messages. The control device 50 may include other control units, but illustration and description thereof will be omitted here.

[0038] The error code storage unit 51 stores error codes consisting of two or more digits. In this embodiment, the error code consists of three digits. The error code is determined according to the type of error. The rubber stopper feeder 100 notifies the user of this error code by displaying an error message. The user can determine the type of error by deciphering the error code. In the rubber stopper feeder 100 according to this embodiment, errors are detected by sensors provided in the escape mechanism 20 and the rotary mechanism 30. One example of an error is an error in which the slide plate 21 does not move from the left end position to the right end position within a predetermined time. This error is detected by a sensor that detects when the slide plate 21 is at the left end position and a sensor that detects when the slide plate 21 is at the right end position. One type of error corresponds to one error code. Note that the hopper mechanism 10 is not provided with a sensor, and therefore, no errors related to the hopper mechanism 10 are set.

[0039] The error code conversion unit 52 converts the digits of the error code into a combination of the illumination of the lamp 61a and the injection of compressed air based on a predetermined conversion rule. The conversion rule is configured to convert the digits of the error code and the digits into a combination of the illumination of the lamp 61a and the injection of compressed air. Details of the conversion rule will be described later. The error operation control unit 53 controls the lamp 61a and the air valves based on the combination of the illumination of the lamp 61a and the injection of compressed air into which the error code is converted by the error code conversion unit 52. The air valves controlled here are the lower suction valve 24 of the escape mechanism 20 and the primary injection valve 38 and lower injection valve 40 of the rotary mechanism 30. The error operation control unit 53 controls the injection device of the functional block (escape mechanism 20 or rotary mechanism 30) in which the error occurred to inject compressed air. Details of the error message issued by the rubber stopper feeder 100 according to this embodiment are described below.

[0040] [Error message details] In this embodiment, the conversion rule for the error code stored in the rubber stopper feeder 100 is such that a digit in the error code is represented by a jet of compressed air, and the number in that digit is represented by the number of times the lamp 61a lights up. More specifically, the conversion rule is such that when a predetermined specific digit is represented by the number of times the lamp 61a lights up, compressed air is jetted along with the lighting of the lamp 61a, and when other digits are represented by the number of times the lamp 61a lights up, the jet of compressed air is stopped. In this example, the specific digit for which compressed air is jetted is the 100 digit. However, the specific digit for which compressed air is jetted is not limited to the 100 digit.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an error code representation. FIG. 4 shows the error code "103" as an example. As shown in FIG. 4, the error code "103" is composed of one long flash of the lamp 61a accompanied by the sound of compressed air being sprayed and three short flashes of the lamp 61a without the sound of compressed air being sprayed. One long flash of the lamp 61a accompanied by the sound of compressed air being sprayed represents "100." Two long flashes of the lamp 61a accompanied by the sound of compressed air being sprayed represent "200." Which air valve was opened to produce the sound of compressed air being sprayed will be described later, but the sound of compressed air being sprayed was caused by the opening of one of the air valves.

[0042] Furthermore, one short flash of the lamp 61a without the sound of compressed air being ejected represents "1." Three short flashes of the lamp 61a without the sound of compressed air being ejected represent "3," and eleven flashes represent "11." In this embodiment, the digit of the error code is represented not only by the presence or absence of the sound of compressed air being ejected, but also by the length of time the lamp 61a is lit.

[0043] In the rubber stopper feeder 100, the operation panel 60 is configured to reduce size and cost by minimizing the number of components, and in this embodiment does not include a display device such as a liquid crystal panel. Nevertheless, the user can check the error code from the error message displayed by the combination of the lighting of the lamp 61a and the injection of compressed air from the air injection device.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rubber stopper feeder 100 is divided into multiple functional blocks (here, the escape mechanism 20 and the rotary mechanism 30). The ejector of the functional block in which an error occurs (here, the vacuum device 25 of the escape mechanism 20, the primary ejection valve 38 of the rotary mechanism 30, or the lower ejection valve 40) is controlled to eject compressed air. Specifically, if an error occurs in the escape mechanism 20, the lower suction valve 24 of the escape mechanism 20 is opened, and compressed air is ejected from the vacuum device 25. If an error occurs in a portion related to the pusher pin 31 of the rotary mechanism 30, the lower ejection valve 40 of the rotary mechanism 30 is opened, and compressed air is ejected. If an error occurs in a portion related to the rotor 34 or the delivery tube 37 of the rotary mechanism 30, the primary ejection valve 38 of the rotary mechanism 30 is opened, and compressed air is ejected. This configuration allows the user to intuitively understand in which functional block of the rubber stopper 5 the error occurred. If an error occurs in the rotor 34 of the rotary mechanism 30 or in a portion related to the delivery pipe 37, the secondary injection valve 39 of the rotary mechanism 30 may be opened.

[0045] [Effects of the embodiment] The above is a description of the wire harness production apparatus 1 according to one embodiment. Next, the effects achieved by the wire harness production apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0046] The rubber plug feeder 100 of the wire harness production apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a lamp 61a that turns on and off, an air injection device that includes an air valve and injects compressed air when the air valve is opened, and a control device 50 that controls the lamp 61a and the air valve. In this embodiment, the air valve includes the lower suction valve 24 of the escape mechanism 20, the primary injection valve 38 of the rotary mechanism 30, and the lower injection valve 40 of the rotary mechanism 30. The control device 50 includes an error code storage unit 51, an error code conversion unit 52, and an error operation control unit 53. The error code storage unit 51 stores an error code consisting of two or more digits. The error code conversion unit 52 converts the digits of the error code into a combination of the illumination of the lamp 61a and the injection of compressed air from the air injection device based on a conversion rule that converts the digits of the error code and the digits into a combination of the illumination of the lamp 61a and the injection of compressed air from the air injection device. The error operation control unit 53 controls the lamp 61a and the air valve based on the combination of lighting of the lamp 61a and the injection of compressed air, the error code of which has been converted by the error code conversion unit 52.

[0047] With this rubber stopper feeder 100, an error code consisting of two or more digits can be displayed by a combination of the lighting of the lamp 61a and the sound of compressed air being sprayed. Therefore, the rubber stopper feeder 100 does not need to be equipped with a display device for displaying the error code. This makes it possible to communicate the content of the error to the user while reducing the number of components of the rubber stopper feeder 100 and the wire harness production apparatus 1.

[0048] In this embodiment, the conversion rule is configured so that a digit of the error code is represented by a jet of compressed air, and the number of that digit is represented by the number of times the lamp 61a is lit. More specifically, the conversion rule is configured so that when a predetermined specific digit is represented by the number of times the lamp 61a is lit, compressed air is jetted along with the lighting of the lamp 61a, and when other digits are represented by the number of times the lamp 61a is lit, the jet of compressed air is stopped. With this configuration, the digit of the error code can be identified, and the number of that digit can also be identified, making it easy to read the error code.

[0049] In this embodiment, the rubber stopper feeder 100 is divided into multiple functional blocks (escape mechanism 20 and rotary mechanism 30). The air injection device includes multiple injection devices (here, the vacuum device 25 of the escape mechanism 20 and the primary injection valve 38 and lower injection valve 40 of the rotary mechanism 30) provided for each of the multiple functional blocks. The error operation control unit 53 controls the injection device of the functional block in which an error has occurred to inject compressed air. With this configuration, compressed air is injected from the injection device of the functional block in which an error has occurred, making it easy for the user to identify the functional block in which an error has occurred. Note that functional blocks that do not have an error detection function and in which an error cannot occur (e.g., the hopper mechanism 10) do not need to be equipped with an injection device. The functional block here refers to a functional block in which an error may occur.

[0050] In this embodiment, the rubber stopper feeder 100 includes a transport path through which the rubber stoppers 5 pass (the insertion hole 21a of the escape mechanism 20, the through hole 34a of the rotor 34, the delivery tube 37, etc.). The air injection device injects compressed air into these transport paths to move the rubber stoppers 5 within the transport path. With this configuration, the air injection device is used to move the rubber stoppers 5 within the rubber stopper feeder 100, and is not a new air injection device added for displaying error codes. This allows the rubber stopper feeder 100 and the wire harness production apparatus 1 to have fewer components. Furthermore, unlike an air valve that drives an actuator, opening the air valve for injecting compressed air from the air injection device does not drive any actuator. Therefore, problems caused by the actuator operating during an error do not occur. Furthermore, the rubber stopper feeder 100 can be stopped in the state in which an error occurred.

[0051] In this embodiment, the parts conveyed by the rubber stopper feeder 100 are rubber stoppers 5. A method using compressed air is suitable for conveying the rubber stoppers 5, and the parts feeder that conveys the rubber stoppers 5 basically includes an air injection device. Therefore, the technology disclosed herein is suitable for a parts feeder (rubber stopper feeder) that conveys the rubber stoppers 5.

[0052] In this embodiment, the lamp 61a is built into an illuminated switch that constitutes the start button (here, the start / reset button) 61. With this configuration, the number of components of the rubber plug feeder 100 and the wire harness production apparatus 1 can be further reduced.

[0053] [Other embodiments] Although several preferred embodiments have been described above, the above embodiments are merely examples, and various other embodiments are possible.

[0054] For example, in the above embodiment, the conversion rule is that when a predetermined specific digit is represented by the number of times the lamp 61a is lit, compressed air is injected together with the lighting of the lamp 61a, and when other digits are represented by the number of times the lamp 61a is lit, the injection of compressed air is stopped. However, the conversion rule may be configured so that the separation between digits of the error code is represented by the injection of compressed air, and the digits are represented by the number of times the lamp is lit.

[0055] For example, if the error code is three digits, a burst of compressed air may be inserted after the display of the hundreds digit by a lamp. The lamp may then light up a number of times to display the ones digit (or a two-digit number if the number exceeds nine). The separation between repeatedly displayed error codes can be distinguished, for example, by inserting a fairly long interval. With this configuration, the digits of the error code can be distinguished, as well as the number of those digits. This makes it easy to read the error code.

[0056] The conversion rule may also be configured so that a digit in the error code is represented by the illumination of a lamp, and the number in that digit is represented by the number of jets of compressed air. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the error code "103" is composed of one sound of compressed air being jetted with an illuminated lamp and three sounds of compressed air being jetted without an illuminated lamp. One sound of compressed air being jetted with an illuminated lamp represents "100." One sound of compressed air being jetted without an illuminated lamp represents "1." Three jets of compressed air being jetted without an illuminated lamp represents "3." This configuration also makes it possible to identify the digit in the error code and the number in that digit. Therefore, the error code can be easily read. Note that the digit represented by the illuminated lamp is not limited to the 100 digit.

[0057] The configuration of each part of the rubber stopper feeder 100, the division of functional blocks, and the selection of air injection devices for expressing error codes in the above-described embodiment are merely examples, and are not limited to the above.

[0058] Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments do not limit the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the device that displays the error code number by a combination of lighting a lamp and spraying compressed air was the rubber stopper feeder 100, but other devices may be used. The technology of the present invention can be applied to any device that includes an air spray device that sprays compressed air. For example, the technology of the present invention can also be applied to a feeder 300 that feeds an electric wire. Furthermore, the technology of the present invention can also be applied to, for example, an electric wire payout machine that pays out an electric wire from a bobbin around which the electric wire is wound, or a sorting device that sorts completed wire harnesses by type. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1. Wire harness manufacturing equipment 5 rubber stoppers 20 Escape mechanism (function block) 24 Lower suction valve (air valve) 30 Rotary mechanism (function block) 37 Delivery pipe (transport path) 38 Primary injection valve (air valve) 39 Secondary injection valve (air valve) 40 Lower injection valve (air valve) 50 Control device 51 Error code memory unit (code memory) 52 Error code conversion unit (code conversion unit) 53 Error operation control unit (operation control unit) 60 Operation Panel 61 Start / reset button (start button) 61a Lamps (lighting devices) 100 Rubber stopper feeder (parts feeder)

Claims

1. A lighting device that turns on and off; an air injection device including an air supply path to which compressed air is supplied and an air valve for opening and closing the air supply path, and for injecting compressed air when the air valve is opened; a control device that controls the lighting device and the air valve, The control device a code storage unit that stores an error code consisting of two or more digits; a code conversion unit that converts the digit of the error code into a combination of lighting of the lighting device and injection of compressed air from the air injection device based on a conversion rule that converts the digit of the error code and the digit into a combination of lighting of the lighting device and injection of compressed air from the air injection device; an operation control unit that controls the lighting device and the air valve based on a combination of lighting of the lighting device and injection of compressed air into which the error code has been converted by the code conversion unit, Wire harness manufacturing equipment.

2. The conversion rule is configured to represent a digit of the error code by a jet of compressed air, and to represent the number of times the lighting device is turned on. The wire harness manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. the conversion rule is configured to inject compressed air together with lighting of the lighting device when a predetermined specific digit of a number is represented by the number of times the lighting device is turned on, and to stop the injection of compressed air when a number of other digits of a number is represented by the number of times the lighting device is turned on. The wire harness manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 .

4. The conversion rule is configured to represent the separation between digits of the error code by a jet of compressed air, and to represent the number of times the lighting device is turned on. The wire harness manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 .

5. the conversion rule is configured to represent a digit of the error code by lighting the lighting device, and to represent the number of digits by the number of compressed air injections. The wire harness manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 .

6. It is divided into multiple functional blocks, the air injection device includes a plurality of injection devices provided for each of the plurality of functional blocks, the operation control unit controls the injection device of the functional block in which the error occurred to inject compressed air. The wire harness manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A parts feeder for conveying wire harness parts is included. the part feeder includes a conveying path through which the parts pass; the air injection device injects compressed air into the conveying path to move the component within the conveying path; The wire harness manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The part is a rubber stopper. The wire harness manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7.

9. The lighting device is built into an illuminated switch that constitutes the start button. The wire harness manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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