Connector support device

Abstract

To provide a connector support device having a connector-receiving jig suitable for automation.SOLUTION: A connector support device 1 is a device for supporting a connector 13 provided at a terminal of an electric wire 110, comprising a base 2 and a connector-receiving jig 30 rotatably provided at the base 2. The connector-receiving jig 30 has a recessed connector-accommodating part 302 for accommodating the connector 13, and in a state where the connector 13 is accommodated in the connector-accommodating part 302, a drawing direction X1 of the electric wire 110 follows the rotational-axis direction X of the connector-receiving jig 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present invention relates to a connector support device. 【Background Art】 【0002】 Automobiles and the like are equipped with various electronic devices, and a wire harness is routed to transmit power from a power source such as a battery and control signals from an inspection unit to the electronic devices. 【0003】 In a harness production line having a conveyor device installed in a factory and a plurality of wiring boards conveyed by the conveyor device, the wire harness is generally assembled on the wiring board. 【0004】 When manufacturing such a wire harness, with the wire harness installed on the wiring board, the connector located at the terminal of the wire harness is supported by a connector receiving jig and assembled. That is, the wire harness is supported by a connector receiving jig and formed into the same shape as the form in which it is installed in the vehicle (sometimes referred to as the "vehicle assembly shape"), and thus is assembled (see, for example, Patent Document 1). 【0005】 Figs. 8(A) and (B) are conceptual diagrams showing an example of a conventional connector receiving jig. The conventional connector receiving jig A shown in Fig. 8(A) and the conventional connector receiving jig B shown in Fig. 8(B) are connector receiving jigs A and B for supporting a connector 101 having the same shape, and support the connector 101 such that the orientations of the fitting surfaces 101A and 101B of the connector 101 when installed in the vehicle are different. 【0006】 Thus, even when conventional connector receiving jigs A and B support connectors 101 having the same shape, two types of connector receiving jigs A and B are prepared, as shown in Figures 8(A) and (B), to accommodate cases where the orientation of the mating surfaces 101A and 101B of the connector 101 differs when installed in a vehicle, and the wire harnesses 101WA and 101WB are assembled using these jigs. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents] 【0007】 [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-141641 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve] 【0008】 However, when manufacturing wire harnesses 101WA and 101WB using two types of connector receiving jigs A and B, if, for example, a robot arm is used to support the connector 101 in connector receiving jigs A and B, it is necessary to control the robot arm so that the orientation of the connector 101 corresponds to the orientation of connector receiving jigs A and B, which complicates the operation and control of the robot arm. In other words, conventional connector receiving jigs A and B were not suitable for automation. 【0009】 The present invention aims to provide a connector support device suitable for automation. [Means for solving the problem] 【0010】 To solve the aforementioned problems and achieve the objective, the invention described in claim 1 is a connector support device for supporting a connector provided at the end of an electric wire, comprising a base and a connector receiving jig rotatably mounted on the base, wherein the connector receiving jig has a concave connector housing portion for housing the connector, and with the connector housing portion housing the electric wire, the direction of wire exit is along the rotation axis of the connector receiving jig. The device includes an inspection block that is movable in the rotational axis direction and moves toward and toward the connector receiving jig, the inspection block having an inspection terminal that protrudes toward the connector receiving jig, and when the inspection block is in an approaching position close to the connector receiving jig, the inspection terminal approaches the connector terminal provided on the connector and the two are electrically connected, and when the inspection block is in an separated position away from the connector receiving jig, the inspection terminal moves away from the connector terminal and the electrical connection between the two is released.It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention] 【0011】 According to the invention described in claim 1, a connector support device having a connector receiving jig suitable for automation can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0012】 [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a connector support device according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which the connector receiving portion (connector receiving jig) is in its initial position. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the connector support device, where the connector receiving portion is in the rotational position. [Figure 3] This is a plan view showing the first wire harness manufactured using the connector support device described above. [Figure 4] This is a plan view showing a second wire harness manufactured using the connector support device described above. [Figure 5] (A) is a conceptual diagram showing the connector receiving portion in the initial position, and (B) is a conceptual diagram showing the connector receiving portion in the rotated position. [Figure 6] The diagram illustrates the manufacturing process of the first wire harness, where (A) is a plan view showing the first wire harness when the connector receiving portion is in the initial position, and (B) is a plan view showing the first wire harness in a subsequent process after (A), when the connector receiving portion is in the rotational position. [Figure 7] (A) and (B) are diagrams illustrating the manufacturing process of the second wire harness. [Figure 8] (A) and (B) are conceptual diagrams showing an example of a conventional connector receiving jig. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0013】 Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a connector support device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the state in which the connector receiving portion 30 (connector receiving jig) is in the initial position 30P1. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the connector support device 1, showing the state in which the connector receiving portion 30 is in the rotated position 30P2, having rotated from the initial position 30P1. Figure 3 is a plan view showing a first wire harness 10A(10) manufactured using the connector support device 1. Figure 4 is a plan view showing a second wire harness 10B(10) manufactured using the connector support device 1. 【0014】 The connector support device 1 of this embodiment is incorporated into a wire harness manufacturing apparatus (not shown) for manufacturing wire harnesses 10 and is used when manufacturing wire harnesses 10. It is configured to have a checker fixture (C / F). The wire harness manufacturing apparatus uses the connector support device 1 to assemble wire harnesses 10 to be mounted on a vehicle and to perform a continuity test on the completed wire harness 10. In this embodiment, the "completed wire harness 10" refers to the state in which the wire harness 10 is shaped to be the same as when it is routed on a vehicle. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, it is configured to have multiple (pairs) of connectors 12 and 13 at its ends. In this embodiment, the connector support device 1 is provided in pairs (the same number as the connectors 12 and 13). 【0015】 As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the completed wire harness 10 includes a harness body 110 (electric wire) composed of a plurality of electric wires bundled together, a branching portion (not shown) branched from the trunk portion 11, a plurality (a pair) of connectors 12 and 13 provided at the terminal portion of the harness body 110, a fixing member 14 for fixing the harness body 110 to the vehicle body, and binding bands 15 and 15 provided on both sides of the fixing member 14 for fixing the fixing member 14 to the harness body 110. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the branching portion is omitted. Hereinafter, one of the pair (plurality) of connectors 12 and 13 may be referred to as the "one-side connector 12", and the other may be referred to as the "other-side connector 13". In the connector support device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the other-side connector 13 (hereinafter may be referred to as the "connector 13") is supported by the connector receiving portion 30. 【0016】 This connector support device 1 is driven by being supplied with power by a power supply portion (not shown) and is controlled by a control portion (not shown). Also, a robot arm is provided near the connector support device 1, and the connector 13 is held by this robot arm and is adapted to be installed in the connector receiving portion 30 provided in the connector support device 1. 【0017】 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector support device 1 includes a base 2 installed on a wiring board (not shown), a rotation support portion 3 rotatably supported by the base 2 and having a connector receiving portion 30 for accommodating the connector 13 of the wire harness 10, a drive portion 4 for rotating the rotation support portion 3, and an inspection block 5 for contacting and separating from the connector 13 supported by the connector receiving portion 30. 【0018】 Also, in this embodiment, the arrows X, Y, and Z are in directions perpendicular to each other. The arrow X is the direction of the rotation axis of the rotation support portion 3 and is the direction (front-rear direction X) in which the inspection block 5 contacts and separates from the connector receiving portion 30. Also, one of the front-rear directions X (the side of the connector receiving portion 30) may be referred to as the "front X1", and the direction away from the connector receiving portion 30 opposite to this may be referred to as the "rear X2". 【0019】 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 2 includes a leg portion 20 installed on the wiring board, a plate-like base body 21 provided on the leg portion 20 and extending on a plane including the front-rear direction X and the left-right direction Y, a front-side support body 22F (base-side support portion) that stands upright upward Z1 from the base body 21 and is provided facing each other to rotatably support the rotation support portion 3, and a rear-side support body 22B, and a column 23 that stands upright in a columnar shape from the base body 21 and supports the drive portion 4. 【0020】 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base body 21 is formed in a rectangular plate shape with the front-rear direction X as the longitudinal direction, and has a rectangular hole 210 at its central portion. The base body 21 is installed substantially horizontally at a position spaced upward Z1 from the wiring board by the leg portion 20. 【0021】 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front-side support body 22F is provided standing upright in a plate shape at the front end portion of the base body 21, and has a base-side arc surface 220 formed by notching the upper end in an arc shape. The receiving-side arc surface 301B (sliding surface) of the connector receiving portion 30 of the rotation support portion 3 described later is configured to slide on the base-side arc surface 220. 【0022】 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear-side support body 22B includes a standing plate portion 221 provided standing upright in a plate shape at the rear end portion of the base body 21, and a cylindrical support portion 223 that is continuously provided above Z1 of the standing plate portion 221 and has an insertion hole 222 into which a drive receiving portion 32 of the rotation support portion 3 described later is inserted, and rotatably supports the rear end side of the drive receiving portion 32. 【0023】 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the column 23 is provided at a position adjacent to the left side Y1 of the rear-side support body 22B in the base 2. The column 23 includes a prismatic column main body 231 formed to extend upward Z1, and a column-side guiding portion 232 provided on the column main body 231 and engaged with a drive portion main body 41 of the drive portion 4 described later to guide the drive portion main body 41 in the vertical direction Z. 【0024】 The support column side guide portion 232 is provided on the surface 231a of the support column body 231 that faces the drive receiving portion 32 of the rotation support portion 3, which will be described later, and is provided continuously from the upper end to the lower end of the support column body 231. 【0025】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rotating support unit 3 integrally comprises a rotating unit body 31 having a connector receiving unit 30, and a drive receiving unit 32 that meshes with the gear portion 42 of the drive unit 4 (described later) and transmits the driving force of the drive unit 4 to the rotating unit body 31. 【0026】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rotating body 31 comprises a rectangular plate-shaped support plate 311 located above Z1 of the hole 210 in the base 2, a connector receiving portion 30 provided at the front X1 end of the support plate 311, a rear-side upright portion 312 provided at the rear X2 end of the support plate 311 and facing the connector receiving portion 30, and a guide rod 313 that guides the inspection block 5 to move in the front-rear direction X. 【0027】 On the support plate 311, the inspection block 5, which will be described later, is installed on the surface 311a in the direction in which the rear erection portion 312, which will be described later, is erected from the support plate 311. 【0028】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the connector receiving portion 30 comprises a semicircular (arc-shaped) plate-shaped semicircular plate portion 301 and a connector housing portion 302 provided on the semicircular plate portion 301 for housing and supporting the connector 13. 【0029】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the semicircular disc portion 301 is provided at the front X1 end of the support plate 311, extending in a planar direction perpendicular to the support plate 311 (a planar direction including the vertical Z direction and the horizontal Y direction). 【0030】 The end face of the semicircular disc portion 301 is composed of a flat surface 301A made up of flat surfaces, and arc-shaped receiving side arc-shaped surfaces 301B that are continuous with both ends of the flat surface 301A in the left-right direction Y. The curvature of the receiving side arc-shaped surface 301B is formed to be approximately the same as the curvature of the base-side arc-shaped surface 220 of the front support 22F provided on the base 2, and the receiving side arc-shaped surface 301B is configured to slide against the base-side arc-shaped surface 220. In addition, the front end of a guide rod 313, which will be described later, is fixed to the rear surface of the semicircular disc portion 301. 【0031】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the connector housing section 302 is located in the center of the left-right direction Y on the flat surface 301A. This connector housing section 302 comprises a recess 303 formed by cutting out a rectangular section of the flat surface 301A, a base 304 installed at the bottom of the recess 303 on which the connector 13 can be installed, and a pair of clamping plates 305, 305 provided on both sides of the base 304 to sandwich and support the connector 13, with an opening 306 at the position opposite the base 304. 【0032】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the pair of clamping plates 305, 305 are each provided in the shape of a rectangular plate and are positioned opposite each other in the left-right direction Y. Furthermore, the pair of clamping plates 305, 305 are provided extending backward X2 (in the direction opposite to the direction in which the electric wire is pulled out) from the semicircular plate portion 301. 【0033】 When housing the connector 13 in such a connector housing section 302, with the connector 13 held by the robot arm, the connector 13 is brought close to the opening 306 of the connector housing section 302 and placed on the base 304 between the pair of clamping plates 305, 305. 【0034】 As a result, the connector 13 held by the robot arm is placed on the base 304, positioned between the pair of clamping plates 305, 305, and the connector 13 is housed and supported in the connector housing 302. That is, the connector 13 is supported by the connector receiving portion 30. With the connector 13 supported by the connector receiving portion 30, the connector 13 is clamped between the pair of clamping plates 305, 305, and its movement in the left-right direction Y is restricted. 【0035】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rear upright portion 312 is provided in the shape of a rectangular plate and is erected at the rear end of the support plate 311, facing the semicircular plate portion 301 of the connector receiving portion 30. The rear end 313b of the guide rod 313, which will be described later, is fixed to the front surface 312a of this rear upright portion 312. 【0036】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the guide rod 313 is formed in a rod shape with a constant diameter at all positions from one end to the other. The front end of this guide rod 313 is fixed to the rear surface of the semicircular disc portion 301 of the connector receiving portion 30, and the rear end 313b is fixed to the front surface 312a of the rear upright portion 312. Such a guide rod 313 is inserted through an insertion hole 530 provided in the guide portion 53 of the inspection block 5, which will be described later, and guides the guide portion 53 to move in the direction in which the guide rod 313 extends (front-rear direction X). 【0037】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drive receiving portion 32 is configured to have a cylindrical receiving portion body 321 and a gear receiving portion 322 provided on the circumferential surface 321c (cylindrical surface) of the receiving portion body 321, which can mesh with the gear portion 42 of the drive unit 4, which will be described later. The gear receiving portion 322 is provided around the entire circumference of the circumferential surface 321c of the receiving portion body 321. The receiving portion body 321 is provided coaxially with the connector receiving portion 30. 【0038】 This rotating support unit 3 is configured such that the driving force of the drive unit 4, which will be described later, is transmitted to the rotating unit body 31 via the drive receiving unit 32, causing it to rotate between an initial position 30P1 (shown in Figure 1) and a rotating position 30P2 (shown in Figure 2) which is 180 degrees rotated from the initial position 30P1. 【0039】 Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, when the rotating support portion 3 is in its initial position 30P1, the connector receiving portion 30 is provided such that the base 304 of the connector housing portion 302 is located close to the base 2, while the opening 306 of the connector housing portion 302 is located away from the base 2. 【0040】 Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, when the rotating support portion 3 is in the rotation position 30P2, the connector receiving portion 30 is provided such that the base 304 of the connector housing portion 302 is located away from the base 2, while the opening 306 of the connector housing portion 302 is located close to the base 2. 【0041】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drive unit 4 includes a drive unit body 41 that is guided to move in the vertical direction Z and has a locking portion 40 that engages with a support column side guide portion 232 provided on the support column 23, and a gear portion 42 provided on the drive unit body 41 that can mesh with a gear receiving portion 322 provided on the drive receiving portion 32. 【0042】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drive unit body 41 is provided so as to be movable between a lower position 4P1 and an upper position 4P2 on the support column body 231. As shown in Figure 1, when the drive unit body 41 is in the lower position 4P1, the rotation support unit 3 is in the initial position 30P1, and as shown in Figure 2, when the drive unit body 41 is in the upper position 4P2, the rotation support unit 3 is in the rotation position 30P2. 【0043】 When the drive unit 4 rotates the rotation support unit 3 from the initial position 30P1 (shown in Figure 1) to the rotation position 30P2 (shown in Figure 2), as shown in Figure 1, the gear portion 42 provided on the drive unit 4 and the gear receiving portion 322 provided on the rotation support unit 3 mesh together, and when driving force (electricity) is supplied from the power supply unit, the drive unit body 41, which is in the lower position 4P1, moves upward Z1, and the gear portion 42 moves upward Z1 together with the drive unit body 41. As the gear portion 42 moves upward Z1, the gear receiving portion 322 provided on the rotation support unit 3 rotates, and the rotation unit body 31 rotates accordingly. After this, as shown in Figure 2, the drive unit body 41 reaches the upper position 4P2, and the rotation support unit 3 is positioned at the rotation position 30P2. 【0044】 Furthermore, when rotating the rotation support unit 3 from the rotation position 30P2 (shown in Figure 2) to the initial position 30P1 (shown in Figure 1), driving force (electricity) is supplied from the power supply unit, causing the drive unit body 41, which is in the upper position 4P2, to move downward Z2, as shown in Figure 2, and the gear unit 42 moves downward Z2 together with the drive unit body 41. As the gear unit 42 moves downward Z2, the gear receiving part 322 provided on the rotation support unit 3 rotates, and the rotation unit body 31 rotates accordingly. After this, as shown in Figure 1, the drive unit body 41 reaches the lower position 4P1, and the rotation support unit 3 is positioned in the initial position 30P1. 【0045】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the inspection block 5 comprises a rectangular parallelepiped inspection block body 51, an inspection terminal 52 supported by the inspection block body 51 and electrically connected to a connector terminal (not shown) provided on the connector 13, and a guide part 53 having an insertion hole 530 through which a guide rod 313 provided on the rotating support part 3 is inserted, and which slides and guides the inspection block body 51 in the front-rear direction X. 【0046】 The inspection block 5 is installed on the surface 311a of the support plate 311 between the connector receiving portion 30 and the drive receiving portion 32 in the front-rear direction X. The inspection block 5 is also provided to be movable to an approaching position, which is closer to the front X1 (towards the connector receiving portion 30), and a separation position, which is further away from the rear X2 (away from the connector receiving portion 30), according to the control of the control unit. 【0047】 As shown in Figure 1, the inspection block body 51 has a pair of end faces 51F and 51B located at both ends in the front-rear direction X, and a side surface 51C that is continuous with the periphery of the pair of end faces 51F and 51B, and its outer shape is provided in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Of the pair of end faces 51F and 51B, the front end face 51F (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "front end face 51F") of the front end face 51F is provided with a recessed portion 54 formed in the front end face 51F into which the connector 13 is inserted. An inspection terminal 52, which will be described later, is provided protruding toward the front X1 from the bottom surface of this recessed portion 54. 【0048】 The test terminal 52 is electrically connected to the control unit, and the test terminal 52 is electrically connected to the connector terminal provided on the connector 13, so that the control unit can perform a continuity test between the connectors 12 and 13 that make up the wire harness 10. 【0049】 When the inspection block 5 is in an approaching position, the connector 13 supported by the connector receiving portion 30 is inserted into the recessed portion 54, so that the inspection terminal 52 and the connector terminal are electrically connected. 【0050】 Furthermore, when the inspection block 5 is in a separated position, the connector 13 supported by the connector receiving portion 30 comes out from inside the recessed portion 54, and the electrical connection between the inspection terminal 52 and the connector terminal is released. 【0051】 By the way, there are two types of wire harnesses 10 manufactured using the connector support device 1: the first wire harness 10A(10) shown in Figure 3 and the second wire harness 10B(10) shown in Figure 4. The first wire harness 10A and the second wire harness 10B have different orientations of their mating surfaces 130A and 130B. 【0052】 As shown in Figure 3, in the completed form, the mating surface 120A of one side connector 12A of the first wire harness 10A is positioned facing one side (left Y1) in the width direction (left-right direction Y) of the first wire harness 10A, and the mating surface 130A of the other side connector 13A is positioned facing the other side (right Y2) in the width direction of the first wire harness 10A. In other words, the orientation of the mating surface 120A of one side connector 12A(12) and the orientation of the mating surface 130A of the other side connector 13A(13) of the first wire harness 10A are opposite to each other. 【0053】 As shown in Figure 4, in its completed form (when the wire harness 10 is routed to the vehicle), the second wire harness 10B has the same orientation for the mating surface 120B of one connector 12B and the same orientation for the mating surface 130B of the other connector 13B. 【0054】 Next, the procedure for assembling the first wire harness 10A(10) using a pair of connector support devices 1 with the above-described configuration to complete the first wire harness 10A, and then performing a continuity test on the completed first wire harness 10A, will be explained with reference to Figures 5 and 6. In the following, one of the pair of connector support devices 1 that supports one side connector 12A(12) will be referred to as the "one side connector support device," and the other device that supports the other side connector 13A(13) will be referred to as the "other side connector support device 1." The connector receiving portion 30 of each of the pair of connector support devices 1 is positioned at the initial position 30P1. 【0055】 First, the robot arm holds the one-side connector 12A located at one end of the first wire harness 10A, and the one-side connector 12A is inserted from above Z1 into the opening 306 of the connector housing 302 provided in the connector receiving portion 30. As a result, the one-side connector 12A is housed and supported in the connector housing 302. 【0056】 Similarly, the other-side connector 13A, located at the other end of the first wire harness 10A, is held by the robot arm and inserted into the opening 306 of the connector housing 302 provided in the connector receiving portion 30 from above Z1. As a result, as shown in Figures 5(A) and 6(A), the other-side connector 13A is housed and supported in the connector housing 302. 【0057】 As a result, the connector 12A on one side is supported by the connector receiving portion 30 of the connector support device on the other side, and the connector 13A on the other side is supported by the connector receiving portion 30 of the connector support device 1, so that the main body 11, i.e., the harness body 110, is routed in a straight line. 【0058】 Next, in accordance with the control unit's control, the inspection block 5 of the one-side connector support device is moved from its separated position toward the one-side connector 12A, and the inspection block 5 of the other-side connector support device 1 is moved from its separated position toward the other-side connector 13A. 【0059】 As the inspection block 5 of the one-side connector support device moves, the guide portion 53 is guided by the guide rod 313 of the rotation support portion 3, bringing the inspection block body 51 closer to the one-side connector 12A. As the movement continues, the recessed portion 54 of the inspection block body 51 approaches the one-side connector 12A, and the one-side connector 12A is inserted into the recessed portion 54. As a result, the inspection block body 51 is positioned in the close-proximity position, and the inspection terminal 52 protruding from the recessed portion 54 and the connector terminal of the one-side connector 12A are electrically connected. 【0060】 Similarly, as the inspection block 5 of the other connector support device 1 moves, the recessed portion 54 of the inspection block body 51 approaches the other connector 13A, and the other connector 13A is inserted into the recessed portion 54. As a result, the inspection block body 51 is positioned in the close-proximity position, and the inspection terminal 52 protruding from the recessed portion 54 is electrically connected to the connector terminal of the other connector 13A. 【0061】 Subsequently, in accordance with the control of the control unit, the other connector support device 1 moves the drive unit body 41 from the lower position 4P1 to the upper position Z1, and the gear unit 42 moves upward Z1 together with the drive unit body 41. As the gear unit 42 moves upward Z1, the gear receiving part 322 provided on the rotation support unit 3 rotates, causing the rotation unit body 31 to rotate. The drive unit body 41 reaches the upper position 4P2, and the rotation support unit 3 is positioned at the rotation position 30P2 (shown in Figure 5(B)), which is 180 degrees rotated from the initial position 30P1 (shown in Figure 5(A)). 【0062】 When the rotating support part 3 is positioned at the rotation position 30P2, the harness body 110 is twisted, and the mating surface 130A of the other connector 13A is oriented to the right Y2. After this, the fixing members 14 are fixed to the main body 11 and branching parts that make up the harness body 110 using a pair of cable ties 15, 15. In this way, the first wire harness 10A is completed. 【0063】 After this, the control unit sends an inspection signal to the harness body 110 of the wire harness 10, for example, via the inspection terminal 52, to inspect the energization status of the harness body 110. In this way, the continuity test of the first wire harness 10A is performed. 【0064】 Subsequently, in accordance with the control of the control unit, the drive unit body 41, which is in the upper position 4P2, is moved downward Z2, and the gear unit 42 is moved downward Z2 together with the drive unit body 41. As the gear unit 42 moves downward Z2, the gear receiving part 322 provided on the rotation support part 3 rotates, causing the rotation unit body 31 to rotate. The drive unit body 41 reaches the lower position 4P1, and the rotation support part 3 is positioned from the rotation position 30P2 (shown in Figure 5(B)) to the initial position 30P1 (shown in Figure 5(A)). As a result, the opening 306 of the connector housing is positioned away from the base 2. 【0065】 Subsequently, the inspection block 5 of the one-side connector support device is moved away from the one-side connector 12A, and the inspection block 5 of the other-side connector support device 1 is moved away from the other-side connector 13A. 【0066】 As a result, the one-side connector 12A disengages from the recessed portion 54 of the inspection block 5 in the one-side connector support device, and the electrical connection between the inspection terminal 52 and the connector terminal of the one-side connector 12A is released. Similarly, the other-side connector 13A disengages from the recessed portion 54 of the inspection block 5 in the other-side connector support device 1, and the electrical connection between the inspection terminal 52 and the connector terminal of the other-side connector 13A is released. In this way, the continuity test for the first wire harness 10A is completed. 【0067】 Next, the procedure for assembling the second wire harness 10B(10) to its completed form using a pair of connector support devices 1 with the above configuration will be explained with reference to Figures 7(A) and 7(B). Hereinafter, one of the pair of connector support devices 1 that supports one side connector 12B(12) will be referred to as the "one side connector support device," and the other device that supports the other side connector 13B(13) will be referred to as the "other side connector support device 1." The procedure for performing a continuity test on the second wire harness 10B is the same as the procedure for performing a continuity test on the first wire harness 10A, so its explanation will be omitted. 【0068】 First, the robot arm holds the one-side connector 12B located at one end of the second wire harness 10B, and inserts the one-side connector 12B into the opening 306 of the connector housing 302 provided in the connector receiving portion 30, approaching it from above Z1. As a result, the one-side connector 12B is housed and supported in the connector housing 302. 【0069】 Similarly, the other-side connector 13B, located at the other end of the second wire harness 10B, is held by the robot arm and inserted into the opening 306 of the connector housing 302 provided in the connector receiving portion 30 from above Z1. As a result, as shown in Figure 7(A), the other-side connector 13B is housed and supported in the connector housing 302. 【0070】 As a result, the connector 12B on one side is supported by the connector receiving portion 30 of the connector support device on the one side, and the connector 13B on the other side is supported by the connector receiving portion 30 of the connector support device 1 on the other side, so that the main body 11, i.e., the harness body 110, is routed in a straight line. 【0071】 After this, the fixing members 14 are secured to the main sections 11 and branch sections of the harness body 110 using a pair of cable ties 15, 15. The rotating support section 3 of the other connector support device 1 does not rotate. In this way, the second wire harness 10B is completed. In the completed second wire harness 10B, the mating surface 120B of the one-side connector 12B and the mating surface 130B of the other-side connector 13B are formed facing left Y1. 【0072】 According to the embodiment described above, the connector support device 1 comprises a base 2 and a connector receiving portion 30 (connector receiving jig) rotatably mounted on the base 2. The connector receiving portion 30 has a concave connector receiving portion 302 for accommodating the connector 13. With the connector 13 housed in the connector receiving portion 302, the pulling direction X1 of the harness body 110 (electric wire) is configured to align with the front-rear direction X (rotation axis direction). As a result, when the connector receiving portion 30 is rotated with the connector 13 housed in the connector receiving portion 302, the harness body 110 pulled out from the connector 13 is twisted. In this way, the harness body 110 pulled out from the connector 13 is twisted by the connector receiving portion 30, eliminating the need to control the robot arm so that the orientation of the connector corresponds to the orientation of the connector receiving jig, as in the prior art, thus simplifying the operation and control of the robot arm. This makes it possible to obtain a connector support device 1 having a connector receiving portion 30 (connector receiving jig) suitable for automation. 【0073】 Furthermore, in the conventional technology, when supporting connectors of the same shape, two types of connector receiving jigs were required if the orientation of the mating surfaces of the connectors differed when installed in a vehicle. However, in this embodiment, even when supporting connectors 12 and 13 of the same shape, if the orientation of the mating surfaces 130A and 130B of connectors 13A and 13B differs when installed in a vehicle, one type of connector receiving part 30 can be used by rotating the connector receiving part 30. In other words, two types of wire harnesses 10A and 10B with different orientations of mating surfaces 130A and 130B can be accommodated with one type of connector receiving part 30. This allows for the standardization of the connector receiving part 30, thereby increasing its versatility. 【0074】 Furthermore, the connector receiving portion 30 (connector receiving jig) has a semicircular disc portion 301 (jig-side support portion) that extends in a planar direction (planar direction intersecting the rotation axis) including the vertical Z direction and the left-right Y direction, and the connector housing portion 302 is constructed by cutting out a concave shape from the semicircular disc portion 301, and the base 2 has a plate-shaped base body 21 and a front support 22F (base-side support portion) that is erected on the base body 21 and rotatably supports the semicircular disc portion 301, and the front support 22F has a base-side arcuate surface 220 which is constructed by cutting out an arcuate edge away from the base body 21, and the semicircular disc portion 301 has an arcuate receiving-side arcuate surface 301B (sliding surface) which slides on the base-side arcuate surface 220. With this, a configuration can be obtained in which the connector receiving portion 30 can rotate relative to the base 2. 【0075】 Furthermore, the connector housing section 302 includes a recess 303 formed by cutting out the semicircular disc section 301 (jig-side support section), a base 304 installed at the bottom of the recess 303 on which the connector 13 can be installed, and a pair of clamping plates 305, 305 provided on both sides of the base 304 to sandwich and support the connector 13. The pair of clamping plates 305, 305 are provided extending from the semicircular disc section 301 in the direction opposite to the direction in which the electric wire is pulled out. As a result, the connector 13 is housed and supported in the connector housing section 302 while its movement in the opposing direction (left-right direction Y) of the pair of clamping plates 305, 305 is restricted. 【0076】 Furthermore, the device includes a rotating support unit 3 that is rotatably supported on the base 2 and has a connector receiving portion 30 (connector receiving jig), and a drive unit 4 that rotates the rotating support unit 3. The drive unit 4 comprises a drive unit body 41 that moves linearly in the vertical direction Z (intersecting direction) that intersects the front-rear direction X (rotation axis direction), and a gear portion 42 provided on the drive unit body 41. The rotating support unit 3 has a receiving portion body 321 that has a circumferential surface 321c (cylindrical surface) provided coaxially with the connector receiving portion 30, and a gear receiving portion 322 provided on the circumferential surface 321c that meshes with the gear portion 42. As the drive unit body 41 moves, the gear portion 42 moves in the vertical direction Z, and the driving force of the gear portion 42 is transmitted to the gear receiving portion 322, so that the connector receiving portion 30 rotates together with the receiving portion body 321. According to this, as the drive unit body 41 moves, the gear unit 42 moves in the vertical direction Z, and the driving force of the gear unit 42 is transmitted to the gear receiving unit 322, causing the connector receiving unit 30 to rotate together with the receiving unit body 321, thereby providing a configuration in which the rotation support unit 3 rotates relative to the base 2. 【0077】 Furthermore, the system includes an inspection block 5 that is movable in the front-rear direction X (rotation axis direction) and moves toward and toward the connector receiving portion 30 (connector receiving jig). The inspection block 5 has an inspection terminal 52 that protrudes toward the connector receiving portion 30. When the inspection block 5 is in an approaching position close to the connector receiving portion 30, the inspection terminal 52 approaches the connector terminal provided on the connector 13, and the two are electrically connected. When the inspection block 5 is in a distanced position away from the connector receiving portion 30, the inspection terminal 52 moves away from the connector terminal, and the electrical connection between the two is released. As a result, since the inspection block 5 is supported by the rotation support portion 3 and is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction X and move toward and toward the connector receiving portion 30, a continuity test can be performed by the inspection block 5 while the connector 13 remains supported by the connector receiving portion 30. This reduces the effort required to move the wire harness 10 and set it in a predetermined position, while enabling the production of wire harnesses 10A, 10B (10). This will improve the production efficiency of wire harnesses 10A and 10B (10). 【0078】 It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes other configurations that can achieve the objectives of the present invention, and the following modifications are also included in the present invention. 【0079】 In the above embodiment, the semicircular disc portion 301 of the connector receiving portion 30 is formed in a sector shape with a central angle of 180 degrees, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The central angle of the semicircular disc portion does not need to be a sector shape that has an angle that allows the connector 13 to be supported and rotated, and it may be formed in a sector shape with a central angle smaller than 180 degrees. 【0080】 Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the rotation support portion 3 is controlled to rotate 180 degrees from the initial position 30P1 to the rotation position 30P2, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The rotation angle of the rotation support portion 3 may be any angle corresponding to the orientation of the mating surface of the connector 12 (or 13) in the completed wire harness 10, and may be rotated by an angle smaller than 180 degrees or by an angle larger than 180 degrees. 【0081】 Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the drive unit body 41 of the drive unit 4 is configured to move in the vertical direction Z, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The drive unit body may be moved in any direction as long as the gear portion 42 and the gear receiving portion 322 are maintained in a meshed state, and it does not have to be moved in the vertical direction Z. 【0082】 Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the connector support device 1 is configured to be driven by power supplied by a power supply unit (not shown), but the present invention is not limited thereto. The connector support device may be configured to be driven by air drive or an external drive device other than electricity. 【0083】 Furthermore, while the best configurations and methods for carrying out the present invention are disclosed in the above description, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention is particularly illustrated and described with respect to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the embodiments described above in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departing from the scope of the technical idea and objectives of the present invention. Therefore, the descriptions of shapes, materials, etc. disclosed above are illustrative to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. Accordingly, descriptions of components with some or all of these limitations removed are included in the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols] 【0084】 1. Connector support device 2 bases 21 Base Unit 22F Front support (base support) 220 Base side arc surface 3. Rotating support section 30 Connector receiving section (connector receiving jig) 301 Semicircular disc section (support section on the jig side) 301B Receiving side arc-shaped surface (sliding surface) 302 Connector housing 32 Drive receiving section 321c Circumferential surface (cylindrical surface) 322 Gear receiving section 4. Drive Unit 41 Drive unit body 42 Gear section 5 Test Blocks 52 Test terminals 110 Harness body (electrical wires) 13 Connectors X Front-back direction (rotation axis direction) X1 Front (direction of wire exit)

Claims

[Claim 1] A connector support device for supporting a connector provided at the end of an electric wire, Bass and, The base comprises a connector receiving jig that is rotatably mounted thereon, The connector receiving jig has a concave connector housing portion for housing the connector, With the connector housed in the connector housing, the direction in which the electric wire is pulled out is along the rotation axis of the connector receiving jig. The inspection block is provided so as to be movable in the rotational axis direction and moves toward and away from the connector receiving jig, The inspection block has inspection terminals that protrude toward the connector receiving jig, When the inspection block is in a position close to the connector receiving jig, the inspection terminal approaches the connector terminal provided on the connector, and the two are electrically connected. A connector support device characterized in that when the inspection block is in a separated position separated from the connector receiving jig, the inspection terminal is separated from the connector terminal, and the electrical connection between the two is released. [Claim 2] The connector receiving jig has a jig-side support portion that extends in a plane direction intersecting the rotation axis direction, The connector housing portion is formed by cutting out a recessed portion of the jig-side support portion. The base comprises a plate-shaped base body and a base-side support portion erected on the base body and rotatably supporting the jig-side support portion. The base-side support portion has a base-side arcuate surface formed by cutting out an arc-shaped edge away from the base body, The connector support device according to claim 1, characterized in that the jig-side support portion has an arc-shaped sliding surface that slides against the base-side arc-shaped surface. [Claim 3] The connector housing portion comprises a recess formed by cutting out the jig-side support portion, a base installed at the bottom of the recess on which the connector can be installed, and a pair of clamping plates provided on both sides of the base to sandwich and support the connector. The connector support device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pair of clamping plates are provided extending outwards from the jig-side support portion in the direction opposite to the direction in which the electric wire is pulled out. [Claim 4] A rotating support portion having the connector receiving jig and rotatably supported on the base, It comprises a drive unit for rotating the rotating support unit, The drive unit comprises a drive unit body that moves linearly in an intersecting direction that intersects the rotation axis, The drive unit body includes a gear section, The rotation support portion comprises a receiving portion body having a cylindrical surface provided coaxially with the connector receiving jig, and a gear receiving portion provided on the cylindrical surface and meshing with the gear portion. The connector support device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gear portion moves in the intersecting direction as the drive unit body moves, thereby transmitting the driving force of the gear portion to the gear receiving portion, and the connector receiving jig rotates together with the receiving portion body.

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