End-processed wire manufacturing apparatus and end-processed wire manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method of a terminal crimped wire that enhance production efficiency and quality in an end processed wire manufacturing including a wire cutting and stripping step, or an end processing step thereafter.SOLUTION: In an end processed wire manufacturing apparatus, a second side clamp 71 comprises: a wire feeding unit for feeding a first side wire W1; a cutting and stripping unit of the fed wire; an end processing unit for end processing an end of the cut and coating-stripped wire; and a clamping and conveying unit for clamping the wire and conveying it to each unit. The front side of the wire cutting and stripping unit is provided with an opening / closing-type wire trembling suppressor 719 for moving toward the side of the wire to suppress trembling of the wire.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for cutting an electric wire and stripping insulation from an end of the electric wire, and an apparatus for crimping a wire terminal after stripping insulation, and more particularly, to an apparatus for manufacturing a terminal crimped electric wire which shortens the tact time for manufacturing one product electric wire to improve productivity, or is improved in removing stripping scraps of wire insulation. [[Background Art]]

[0002] In the wire harness industry, the process of cutting an electric wire to a required length, stripping insulation before and after the cut portion, and then crimp-connecting connector terminals for connection (i.e., cutting-stripping-terminal crimping process) is a basic process with an extremely large amount of work, through which most of the large number of electric wires used for wire harnesses pass. In this cutting-stripping-terminal crimping process, higher production efficiency and quality improvement than those of other processes have been required. In order to meet these requirements, automatic electric wire processing machines have been continuously improved and evolved. The present invention proposes a new technology regarding the structure and operation of a wire cutting blade driving mechanism, a wire guide mechanism, and an air blow mechanism for stripping scraps, as one of such improvements.

[0003] A conventional example of an automatic processing apparatus used for the cutting-stripping-terminal crimping process for electric wires is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-7043. This machine includes a wire feeding unit, a wire cutting unit, a stripping unit for the top end of the electric wire, a turning conveyance unit for a first-side electric wire (an electric wire with a cut front end and a rear end connected to a wire reel), a terminal crimping machine, and the like. The conventional apparatus also aims at improving the production efficiency and quality of the cutting-stripping-terminal crimping process. [[Prior Art Documents]] [[Patent Documents]]

[0004] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-7043 [[Disclosure of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an apparatus or method that can improve production efficiency and quality, or improve various performance aspects such as the discharge performance of wire insulation stripping, in a wire cutting and stripping process, or a terminal crimping process that includes a subsequent terminal crimping process, in the manufacturing process of terminal crimped wires. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In the "Means for Solving the Problem," the "Claims," ​​and parts of the Specification, reference numerals for each part of the attached drawings are indicated in parentheses, but this is for reference purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of rights to those shown in the attached drawings.

[0007] The first wire cutting and stripping device (4) of the present invention is a wire cutting and stripping device (4) comprising a cutting blade (42) for cutting a wire and stripping blades (41 and 43) for making incisions in the insulation of a wire, arranged along the longitudinal direction of the wire, the device comprising: a slide block (45) that is driven to reciprocate in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the wire; a stripping blade holder (441) attached to the slide block (45) for holding the stripping blades (41 and 43); a cutting blade holder (443) mounted on the slide block (45) for holding the cutting blade (42); and a cutting blade drive actuator (44) that drives the cutting blade holder (443) to reciprocate in the intersecting direction, wherein the mechanism for driving the slide block (45) is electric, and the cutting blade (42) cuts the wire and then moves away from the wire, The device is characterized by the following steps: after cutting the wire, moving the wire longitudinally to set the stripping length; then the stripping blades (41 and 43) cut into the wire's insulation; and then moving the wire longitudinally to strip the insulation.

[0008] The "crossing direction" that drives the above-mentioned cutting blade drive actuator (44) is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electric wire, and is typically the vertical direction (direction of Earth's gravity). However, it is not limited to this. The actuator drive direction is generally the same as the drive direction of the slide block (45). However, it is not limited to this. The above-mentioned cutting blade drive actuator (44) is preferably a pneumatic cylinder. Pneumatic cylinders have advantages such as relatively high speed and high acceleration, space saving, low cost, and easy piping.

[0009] The cutting blade has a long stroke for the following reasons: at the cutting completion position, the pair of blades overlap sufficiently, and at the avoidance position (wire feed standby position), the opposing cutting blades, such as a V-shape, must be sufficiently far from the space through which the wire is moving to prevent the blades from unintentionally touching the wire and damaging it. Furthermore, the cutting blade does not require precise positioning (e.g., by motor + ball screw). On the other hand, the stripping blade's cutting position (the position where the pair of blades are close together and overlap) must be precisely adjusted according to the type of wire (diameter and insulation thickness). In accordance with these characteristics of each blade, a preferred embodiment of the present invention combines electric and cylinder drive.

[0010] In conventional wire cutting and stripping devices, a single mounting component, to which wire cutting blades and insulation stripping blades are attached, is provided to slide vertically, and cutting (wire cutting) and stripping (insulation stripping) are performed by opening and closing the upper and lower blades driven by a motor. In one embodiment of the present invention, by independently and at high speed operating the wire cutting blade with a cutting blade drive actuator (44) (such as a pneumatic cylinder), the cutting blade 42 can be moved even when the stripping blades (41 and 43) are stopped or moving in the reverse direction, thus shortening the time for the cutting and insulation stripping process. Furthermore, by combining this with improvements to peripheral devices as described below, the operation cycle time for the entire wire cutting, stripping, and terminal crimping process can be further shortened, improving the productivity of the device. In addition, since only the cutting blade (242) can be independently retracted from the wire path, it is easy to perform processing where the stripping length is longer than the "striping blade-cutting blade distance" (long stripping), as will be described later with reference to Figures 23 and 24.

[0011] Improvement of peripheral devices (1) Reduction of the cutting distance (cutting blade stroke) by pre-lowering the slide block (45) before the cutting blade drive actuator (44) is driven. (2) Arrangement of the coating debris suction port on the side of the crimping machine (90). (3) Process reduction and reduction of unnecessary forward and backward movement (reverse rotation) by improving the trajectory of the wire turning unit. (4) Preventing wire swaying and stabilizing wire feeding using wire swivel guides (160).

[0012] The first terminal crimping wire manufacturing apparatus (1) of the present invention comprises a wire feeding unit (10) for feeding wires, a wire cutting and stripping unit (4) for cutting the fed wires to an arbitrary length and stripping the insulation from the cut ends of the wires, an end processing unit (60) for end processing the ends of the stripped wires, and a clamp transport unit (20) for clamping and transporting the wires to each unit, and further comprises a swivel guide (160) arranged between the wire cutting and stripping unit (4) and the end processing unit (60) along the swivel path of the wire end, having a pair of guide plates (161U and 161B) facing each other in the direction of the intersection of the swivel direction, characterized in that the distance between the opposing pair of guide plates (161U and 161B) is relatively wide on the end processing unit (60) side and relatively narrow on the wire cutting and stripping unit (4) side.

[0013] In the above-described wire end processing device (1), it is preferable that the swivel guide (160) has a forward extension portion (161P) that extends towards the forward direction in the longitudinal direction (feeding direction) of the wire near the wire cutting and stripping portion (4). The forward extension section (161P) guides the wire tip, whether it has been fed at an angle or simply unfed after stopping its rotation and traverse movement. This reduces the shaking of the wire tip extended by angled or simple feeding, preventing feeding problems during wire unfed and damage to the end processing section (terminal).

[0014] The above rotation direction is typically horizontal, but is not limited to this. The above intersection direction is typically vertical, but is not limited to this. The opposing pair of guide plates (covers) restrict the movement of the wire tip (top) and crimped terminals within their opposing space (suppressing shaking, wobbling, and swaying). The wire may also be fed longitudinally (advanced) during rotation (diagonal feed), in which case the rotation guide (160) also guides the wire end in the longitudinal direction. In this specification, "end processing" includes not only terminal crimping, but also end processing such as soldering, electric welding, ultrasonic welding, and insertion into a connector housing.

[0015] When the end processing (terminal crimping) is complete, there is considerable swaying and bending at the end of the electric wire. In this state, the electric wire enters the entrance side of the swivel guide (160). As the electric wire moves through the narrowing swivel guide, the swaying and bending of the electric wire are suppressed and reduced, and it is guided between the opposing pair of cutting and stripping blades at the electric wire cutting and stripping section (4). This suppresses the swaying (swaying) of the top of the electric wire, which has the effect of preventing damage to the end processing parts such as crimped terminals, preventing equipment malfunctions, and shortening the cycle time (described below).

[0016] The end of the electric wire undergoes a rotational motion that includes both swaying in the direction of rotation (typically vertically) and swaying in the direction of travel (left to right). This is due to the residual coiling of the wire on the reel. If the swaying motion in the direction of rotation (typically vertically) is suppressed by the guide plate of the swivel guide, the swaying motion in the direction of travel (typically left to right) will also be reduced. This reduces the time required to wait for the swaying of the electric wire end at the cutting edge to settle down.

[0017] Furthermore, the turning speed of the power line can be increased, which also contributes to a reduction in cycle time. In addition, the retraction dimension of the stripping blade, which is necessary to avoid contact between the power line and the blade when the power line turns and enters the machine, can be reduced, shortening the feed time of the stripping blade, which requires precise feed position control. For example, by suppressing power line vibration, it is possible to reduce the cycle time by as much as 0.01 seconds.

[0018] The swivel guide (160) also has the effect of preventing damage to the electric wires and crimped terminals (end sections). Furthermore, it prevents the electric wires from swaying excessively, thus preventing equipment malfunctions. The swivel guide (160) is preferably made of a material with a smooth surface (such as cold-rolled stainless steel sheet).

[0019] In the above-described end-processing wire manufacturing apparatus (1), it is possible to feed the wire in the longitudinal direction while the wire is rotating within the swivel guide (160) from the end processing section (60) to the wire stripping section (4).

[0020] By suppressing the swinging (vibration, bending, uncontrolled movement) of the leading end portion of an electric wire during the revolving conveyance of the electric wire by a revolving guide (160), troubles associated with oblique feeding (revolving while being fed for length measurement) (generation of scratches on crimp terminals, equipment stoppage due to catching of electric wires and terminals) are prevented. Accordingly, oblique feeding of electric wires can be frequently used stably, the types of electric wires (such as wire diameter and wire length) that can be subjected to oblique feeding can be increased, and the feeding dimension of the electric wire in oblique feeding can be lengthened. As a result, for various types of end-treated electric wires (wire harnesses), the tact time for electric wire cutting can be shortened, and productivity can be improved.

[0021] In a specific example of the "oblique feeding mode", the front-rear mechanism (23) of the first-side clamp (25) and the feeding unit (10) start feeding the electric wire before reaching the cutting and stripping unit (4) (the origin position and the electric wire feeding position) during the return operation of the revolving conveyance of the electric wire after end treatment (crimping of a top terminal). If the electric wire does not extend to a predetermined length only by oblique feeding, the electric wire is fed at the electric wire feeding position until length measurement is completed. In the "standard mode", electric wire feeding is not performed during revolving, and after the clamp arrives at the origin, the electric wire is fed to a predetermined length while the length of the electric wire is measured.

[0022] A second end-treated electric wire manufacturing apparatus (1) of the present invention is an end-treated electric wire manufacturing apparatus (1) comprising: an electric wire feeding unit (10) that feeds an electric wire; an electric wire cutting and stripping unit (4) that cuts the fed electric wire into an arbitrary length and strips the insulation from the cut end of the electric wire; an end treatment unit (60, 90) that performs end treatment on the end of the electric wire from which insulation has been stripped; and a clamp conveyance unit (20, 70) that clamps the electric wire and conveys it to each unit, wherein the clamp conveyance unit (20, 70) comprises: a clamp (25, 71) that grips the electric wire; a longitudinal driving means (23, 73) that drives the clamp in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire; and a revolving driving means (21, 75) that revolves and drives the longitudinal driving means, and the longitudinal driving means (23, 73) moves the clamp in the longitudinal direction while the clamp (25, 71) is revolving.

[0023] In the "Mode for Carrying Out the Invention" described below, the "longitudinal driving means (23, 73)" is referred to as "front-rear mechanism 23, 73", and the "rotation driving means (21, 75)" is referred to as "rotation mechanism 21, 75". It should be noted that during rotation, the "front-rear mechanism 23, 73" is in a posture inclined relative to the front-rear direction shown in FIG. 1 and the like, and does not move the clamps 25, 71 in the strict front-rear direction.

[0024] The electric wire gripping mechanism, each driving means and the mechanism of the clamp can be constructed using known components and members such as motors, cylinders, reducers, ball screw nuts, linear guides, link mechanisms, etc. (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-7043, etc.). If necessary, the clamp conveying part (20, 70) and the discharge clamp (81) (described later) may include a lifting mechanism for the clamp.

[0025] In one embodiment of the second end-processed electric wire manufacturing apparatus (1) of the present invention, after the distal end portion of the 1-side electric wire W1 is end-processed in the 1-side end processing part (60), when the 1-side clamp (25) rotates and returns from the 1-side end processing part (60) to the position facing the cutting and stripping part (4), the 1-side clamp (25) can be moved in a direction away from the electric wire feeding part (10) by the longitudinal driving means (23).

[0026] During rotation, the clamp (25) is moved in the direction away from the electric wire feeding part (10) by the longitudinal driving means (23), so that the feeding length of the electric wire can be increased (the electric wire can be fed forward) without changing the protruding dimension of the electric wire from the clamp. Therefore, electric wire feeding (oblique feeding) can be performed during rotation of the electric wire while suppressing shaking and deflection of the electric wire end and the terminal.

[0027] Furthermore, by feeding the electric wire from the electric wire feeding part (10), the protruding dimension of the electric wire from the 1-side clamp (25) can be increased to perform electric wire feeding. By combining the forward movement of the clamp (25) and the protrusion of the 1-side electric wire W1 from the clamp, the feeding amount of the electric wire can be increased.

[0028] In another embodiment of the second end-processing wire manufacturing apparatus (1) of the present invention, the two-ended wire W2, which has been cut and stripped at both ends and fed out from the cutting and stripping section (4), is grasped by the two-ended clamp (71) and transported and rotated to the two-ended end processing section (90) to process the rear end of the two-ended wire W2. Thereafter, when the two-ended clamp (71) rotates in the reverse direction to return to the cutting and stripping section (4), the two-ended wire W2 is passed to the discharge clamp (81), and the two-ended clamp (71) can be moved by the longitudinal driving means (73) in a direction toward the cutting and stripping section (4).

[0029] Before the two-sided clamp (71) receives the wire from the cutting and stripping section (4), the two-sided clamp retracts (extends towards the original side) to meet and receive the wire top as it is fed out from the cutting and stripping section (4). When the clamp receives this wire, the length of the wire end protruding from the clamp is shortened, so the rattling and shaking of the wire end and terminal are reduced. Therefore, the transfer of the wire to the clamp becomes stable. Alternatively, during the rotation to the two-sided end processing section, the two-sided clamp (71) may slide forward (extend the wire) to secure the gripping portion of the discharge clamp between the terminal and the clamp.

[0030] The third end-processing wire manufacturing apparatus (1) of the present invention comprises: a wire feeding unit (10) for feeding wires; a wire cutting and stripping unit (4) for cutting the fed wires to an arbitrary length and stripping the insulation from the ends of the wires; an end processing unit (90) for processing the ends of the stripped wires; and a clamp transport unit (70) for clamping and transporting the wires to each unit, wherein the clamp transport unit (70) comprises: a clamp (71); driving means (73 and 75) for driving the clamp; and an openable and closable wire sway suppressor (719) provided on the opposite side of the clamp from the wire cutting and stripping unit (4), which moves to the side of the wire to suppress the swaying of the wire.

[0031] The wire coming out (being fed) from the cutting and stripping section (4) to side 2 swings in a spiral as it emerges. The wire swing suppressor (719) moves to the side of the wire coming out of the cutting and stripping section (4) to suppress the wire's swing (violence and bouncing), allowing the clamp to receive the wire stably. It also suppresses the wire's swing during wire transport (such as when turning), allowing for stable handling of the wire's end (such as terminal crimping) and stable transfer for wire discharge. Furthermore, it protects the end processing section during wire transport on side 2 (preventing deformation of crimped terminals). For example, it can reduce the vibration of the top terminal attached to the end of the wire W2 on side 2, and is expected to prevent deformation and damage to the terminal.

[0032] The fourth end-processed wire manufacturing apparatus (1) of the present invention comprises: a wire feeding unit (10) for feeding wires; a wire cutting and stripping unit (4) for cutting the fed wires to an arbitrary length and stripping the insulation from the cut ends of the wires; an end processing unit (60-90) for processing the ends of the stripped wires; a clamp transport unit (20-70) for clamping and transporting the wires to each unit; and a discharge unit (81) for discharging the end-processed wires, wherein the discharge unit (81) comprises a discharge clamp (81) for gripping the wires and a driving means (817) for the discharge clamp, and the clamp transport unit (70) on the wire transport 2 side begins preparing for discharge on its way back to the wire cutting and stripping unit (4) after the end processing is completed. The discharge clamp (81) approaches the handover point in a gripping state before the electric wire reaches the handover point. In other words, the discharge clamp (81) begins the operation of receiving the electric wire from the two-side clamp (71) before the two-side clamp (71) reaches the position where the electric wire is to be handed over to the discharge clamp (81).

[0033] The handover time can be shortened by having the discharge clamp (81) approach the handover point in a gripping state before the electric wire reaches the handover point.

[0034] The second wire cutting and stripping device (4) of the present invention comprises a cutting blade (42) for cutting a wire and stripping blades (41 and 43) for making incisions in the insulation of a wire, arranged along the longitudinal direction of the wire, the device comprising: a stripping blade holder (441) that holds the stripping blades (41 and 43) and is driven to reciprocate in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the wire; a wire clamp section (20 and 70) that moves the wire with the incisions away from the stripping blades (41 and 43) to scrape off the stripped insulation residue from the wire; a suction duct (50) located to the side of the stripping blades (41 and 43) for sucking up and discharging the stripped insulation (stripping residue); and a wire located to the side of the stripping blades (41 and 43) opposite to the suction duct (50). It is characterized by comprising an entrance gate (412) that opens and closes the access passage.

[0035] An entrance gate (412) (suction auxiliary component) that opens and closes the passage through which the electric wire enters is attached to the stripping blade holder (441). When the stripping blade is open, the passage for the electric wire is secured, and when the stripping blade is closed, it closes the passage in conjunction with the movement of the blade, thereby narrowing the opening of the space through which the suction duct (50) sucks. This improves the suction of insulation debris and reduces the diffusion of stripped debris.

[0036] In the second wire cutting and stripping device (4) of the present invention, it is preferable that the entrance gate (412) is mounted and fixed on the stripping blade holder (441') and moves up and down together with the holder (441'). In this example, an entrance gate (412) is attached to the stripping blade holder (441), and by utilizing the vertical movement of the stripping blade, an opening for the wire passage is secured when the blade is open, and the passage is closed in conjunction with the movement of the blade when the blade is closed, thereby improving the suction of the coating debris and reducing the diffusion of stripped debris.

[0037] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a terminalized electric wire, comprising cutting an electric wire having a core wire and an outer covering to a certain length, then stripping the covering, and then performing terminal treatment, characterized in that either the cutting and stripping device (4) or the terminalized electric wire manufacturing device (1) is used. [Effects of the Invention]

[0038] As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides an apparatus or method that can improve production efficiency and quality in the wire cutting and stripping process, or the terminal crimping process that follows in the wire end processing manufacturing process. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0039] [Figure 1] This is a schematic plan view showing the overall configuration of a terminal crimping wire manufacturing apparatus 1, which includes a cutting and stripping device 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the wire cutting and stripping device 4 of the embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a side view showing an enlarged view of the cutting blade 42 and stripping blades 41 and 43 of the wire cutting and stripping device 4 shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 3 illustrates the wire stripping process in the wire stripping device, where (A) shows the wire inserted between the blades, (B) shows the cutting blade approaching the wire during length-setting cuts, (C) shows the state after length-setting cuts (cutting complete), (D) shows the stripping blade in contact with the wire, (E) shows the stripping blade cutting into the wire's insulation and then moving the wire away from the stripping blade to begin stripping, and (F) shows the completed stripping state. [Figure 5] This is a front view of a terminal crimping wire manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the area from the swivel guide 160 to the blade section 140 and the stripping waste suction duct 50. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a front view showing an enlarged view of the device, specifically the outlet section of the swivel guide 160, the blade unit, and the peeling debris suction duct 50. [Figure 7] This is a plan view illustrating the planar shape of the swivel guide 160, and the wire top portion's feed-out during swivel in the oblique feed mode of the wire cutting, stripping, and terminal crimping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a plan view illustrating an example of the operation of the two-sided clamp 71. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view showing the two-sided clamp 71 and the wire sway suppressor 719 attached thereto. [Figure 10] This is a front view illustrating the operation of the wire sway suppressor 719. (A) shows the sway suppressor 719 in the open state, (B) shows the sway suppressor 719 in the closing state, and (C) shows the sway suppressor 719 in the closed state. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view illustrating the configuration and operation of the discharge clamp 81 of the embodiment. (A) shows the discharge clamp 81 approaching the two-sided wire W2, (B) shows the clamp 81 just before grasping the wire W2, and (C) shows the clamp 81 gripping the wire W2. [Figure 12] Figure 11 is a front view illustrating the details of the operation of the discharge clamp 81 receiving the 2-side wire W2. (A) shows the discharge clamp 81 in the wire receiving standby position, (B) shows the 2-side wire W2 approaching the receiving position and just before the clamp 81 grasps the wire W2, and (C) shows the clamp 81 having grasped (received) the wire W2. [Figure 13] This is a front view showing the configuration and operation of the entrance gate 412 of the blade section 140. (A) is the open (downward) state, and (B) is the closed (upward) state. [Figure 14] This is a plan view showing a schematic arrangement of equipment in a terminal crimping wire manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment (non-rotating type, wire parallel lateral movement type). [Figure 15] (A) is a plan cross-sectional view of the main part of a cutting and peeling device 204 equipped with an air blowing means for blowing coating debris SI away from the peeling blades 241 and 243. (B) is a plan cross-sectional view showing a magnified view of the air blowing block 381, the peeling blades 241 and 243, and the details of the coating debris SI. [Figure 16] Figure 15 is a side cross-sectional view of the main part of the device shown. [Figure 17] Figure 15 is a front view showing the vertical movement of the air blow block 381 of the device shown, where (A) shows the upward movement (when the wire is moving horizontally) and (B) shows the downward movement (when air blowing is used for cutting and stripping the wire). [Figure 18]This diagram shows the area around the cutting and stripping section 204 of the terminal crimping wire manufacturing apparatus of the second embodiment in the wire feeding state, where (A) is a plan cross-sectional view and (B) is a side cross-sectional view. [Figure 19] Figure 18 shows the device, specifically the area around the cutting and stripping portion 204 in the clamped state of the two-sided wire clamp, where (A) is a plan cross-sectional view and (B) is a side cross-sectional view. [Figure 20] This is a plan view showing the lateral movement and feeding of the wire from the guide plate 360 ​​to the cutting and stripping section 204 in the case of a wire with a relatively small terminal crimped to the top of the wire. [Figure 21] This is a plan view showing the lateral movement and feeding of the electric wire from the guide plate 360 ​​to the cutting and stripping section 204 in the case of an electric wire with a relatively large terminal crimped to the top of the wire. [Figure 22] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the operation of the cutting blade 242 and peeling blades 241 and 243 when the peeling length is normal (relatively short). [Figure 23] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the operation of the cutting blade 242 and peeling blades 241 and 243 when the peeling length at one end is extremely long (one-sided long strip). [Figure 24] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the operation of the cutting blade 242 and peeling blades 241 and 243 when the peeling length is extremely long at both ends (long strip on both sides). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 1; Terminal crimping wire manufacturing equipment, 4; Cutting and stripping unit (equipment), 10; Wire feeding unit, 20; Clamp transport section, 21; Swivel mechanism (swivel drive means), 23; Front / rear mechanism (longitudinal drive means), 25; Single-sided clamp 40; Blade unit, 41; Peeling blade, 42; Cutting blade, 43; Peeling blade, 44; Cylinder (cutting blade drive actuator) 45; slide block, 47; Ball screw, 50; Stripping debris suction duct, 50d; Plate 60;1-side crimping machine (terminal crimping section, end processing section) 70; Clamp transport section, 71; Two-sided clamp, 73; Front and rear mechanism (longitudinal drive means), 75; Swivel mechanism (swivel drive means) 81; Discharge clamp 90;2-sided crimping machine (terminal crimping section, end processing section) 140;blade, 141·142;tongue 160; Swivel guide, 160d; Left end, 161U; Top panel (information board), 161B; Bottom panel (information board), 161W; Front wall, 161Wm; Boundary, 161x; Right end, 412; Entrance gate, 412b; Rising piece, 412d; Top end, 441; Peeling blade holder, 443; Cutting blade holder, 443g; Blade fixing part, 443k; Extension part, 443y; Rod connection part, 445; Screw, 448; Cylinder rod, 448b; Ring hook section 711; clamp claw, 712; pivot point, 714; claw arm, 715; link, 716; Clamp block; 717; Air cylinder; 719; Wire sway suppressor 811; clamping claw, 812; pivot point, 815; link, 816; clamping block, 817; Air cylinder SI; insulation scrap, W1; wire on side 1, W2; wire on side 2, CW; core wire, TL1: Large single-ended terminal, TS1: Small single-ended terminal 204; Cutting and stripping device; 210; Wire feeding unit; 220; One-side wire transport section (one-side clamp transport section), 221; Traversing mechanism, 223; Front and rear mechanism, 225; 1-side clamp 240; Blade unit, 241·243; Peeling blade, 241b'·243b'; Blade-shaped recess, 242; cutting blade; 250; Stripping debris suction duct, 260; Single-side terminal crimping machine (single-side end processing unit) 269;1-side wire end detector 270; Two-sided wire transport section (two-sided clamp transport section), 271; Two-sided clamp, 271b·271c; Claws, 272; Clamp moving means (arm), 273; Clamping mechanism (front and rear), 274; Traverse mechanism 281; Discharge clamp, 282; Discharge tray 290; Two-sided crimping machine (two-sided end processing section), 299; Two-sided wire rear end detector 341·342; tongue piece 360; Guide plate, 360b; Left end (slope), 360f; Rear side (slope) 360j; Front / right side (plane), 360p; Front extension 380; Air blowing means, 381; Air blowing block, 381b·c; Air blowing hole 381h; air conduit, 381j; air conduit, 383; pipe connection member, 383b; air passage 387; pneumatic tube 390; wire receiver, 390U; top plate, 390B; bottom plate, 390W; left wall 392; wire receiving and moving means, 394; cover 541; peeling blade holder, 543; cutting blade holder [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0041] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Referring to Figure 1, the overall configuration of the wire manufacturing apparatus for terminal crimping (end processing), including the wire cutting and stripping device (part) 4 and terminal crimping machines 60 and 90 of the present invention, will be explained. Each direction in Figure 1 is referred to as follows: Vertical direction in the diagram; wire feeding direction, front-back direction Left-right direction in the diagram; left-right direction, horizontal direction Upward direction in the diagram; forward, ahead Downward direction of the diagram; backward, original

[0042] The terminal crimping wire manufacturing apparatus 1 is installed on a machine base (table) 3 and is equipped with the following main parts. The wire feeding unit 10 is located at the bottom of Figure 1 and feeds wires from a coiled bundle of wires (not shown) upwards in the figure (feeding out the wires in the longitudinal direction).

[0043] The 1-side wire transport unit 20 includes a 1-side clamp (head) 25 that clamps the tip (top) of the fed wire, a forward / backward mechanism 23 that slides the clamp 25 in the longitudinal direction of the wire, and a swivel mechanism 21 that rotates the mechanism 23. The 1-side clamp 25 grips the tip of the trailing portion of the wire that is fed and cut to a predetermined length (the trailing end of the wire is still connected to the reel, referred to as the "1-side wire"), and transports it between the cutting and stripping unit 4 and the 1-side terminal crimping machine 60 (see arrow for transport path). The gripping claws of the 1-side clamp 25 have an open / close structure driven by an air cylinder, and the gripping claws are opened and closed in conjunction with the feeding and unwinding of the wire. The forward / backward mechanism 23 of the 1-side wire transport unit 20 is equipped with a tube (not shown) that guides the unwinding of the wire (see thick arrow).

[0044] The wire cutting and stripping section 4 cuts the wire fed from the feeding section 10 through the one-sided wire transport device 20 to a predetermined length and strips the insulation from the tip (top) and tail (tail) of the wire cutting section. A suction duct 50 is attached to the right side of the cutting and stripping section 4 in the diagram to suck up and discharge the stripped insulation (stripping residue).

[0045] One-side crimping machine (end section) 60; crimps terminals onto the ends of cut and stripped one-side wires. A one-side wire end detector (optical inspection) 69 is attached to the right side of the one-side crimping machine 60 (the side closer to the cutting and stripping section 4). This detector (optical inspection) 69 checks the stripping condition of the wire top, the crimping condition of the terminal, and the insertion condition of the waterproof plug.

[0046] The two-side wire transport section 70 includes a two-side clamp 71 that clamps the rear end (tail) of the wire (referred to as the two-side wire) cut to a predetermined length in the wire cutting and stripping section 40, a forward / backward mechanism 73 that extends and retracts the clamp 71 in the direction of the wire axis, and a pivot mechanism 75 that pivots the mechanism 73. The two-side clamp 71 transports the rear end of the two-side wire between the cutting and stripping section 4 and the two-side crimping machine 90. Near the two-side wire transport device 70, although not shown in Figure 1, there is also a discharge mechanism (discharge clamp 81, see Figures 11 and 12) that dispenses the wire (product) with terminals crimped to both ends.

[0047] 2-side crimping machine (end processing section) 90: Crimps terminals onto the rear ends of the cut and stripped 2-side wires. A 2-side wire rear end detector (optical inspection) 99 is attached to the left side of the 2-side crimping machine 90 (the side closer to the cutting and stripping section 4). This detector (optical inspection) 99 checks the stripping condition of the rear end of the 2-side wire, the crimping condition of the terminals, and the insertion condition of the waterproof plug.

[0048] The wire cutting and stripping section (device) 4 of the embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the section 4. The left and right directions in Figure 2 are directions from the perspective of the viewer and do not correspond to the left and right directions in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows a pair of upper and lower front stripping blades 41·41', cutting blades 42·42', and rear stripping blades 43·43' arranged in the longitudinal direction (wire feeding direction, front-to-back direction) of the electric wire being processed (a so-called tandem arrangement of cutting blades and stripping blades). The collection of each blade 41·42·43 is sometimes called a blade unit.

[0049] Each blade 41, 42, and 43 is a rectangular plate extending vertically, and their bases are fixed to blade holders 441 and 443. A cutting edge is formed at the tip of each blade (opposite the base, the lower end of the upper blade and the upper end of the lower blade). The tip of each blade also has a V-shaped recess in the center in the left-right direction. This V-shaped portion centers the electric wire to the left-right center of the blade when the upper and lower blades intersect and overlap front to back.

[0050] The holder 441 for the peeling blades 41 and 43 is U-shaped in plan view, and each blade is fixed to its front and rear end faces. The right end face of the holder 441 is fixed against the left end face of the slide block 45. The slide block 45 is driven up and down by a ball screw 47 (details will be described later). The recess 441g within the U-shape of the holder 441 is a space in which the cutting blade 42 and its holder 443 move up and down.

[0051] The base of the cutting blade 42 (the part opposite the cutting edge) is fixed to the rear side of the cutting blade holder 443. The holder 443 has a square, thick, plate-shaped blade fixing part 443g on the side of the cutting blade 42, an extension part 443k connected to its upper part, and a rod connecting part 443y connected to its upper part. The connecting part 443y is connected to the cylinder rod 448 of the air cylinder 44, and the cutting blade 42 and holder 443 are driven up and down by the air cylinder 44.

[0052] A feature of the wire cutting and stripping device 4 of this embodiment is that it is equipped with a cylinder 44 that reciprocates a cutting blade 42 and a cutting blade holder 443 that holds the cutting blade, which are mounted on a slide block 45 that is driven to reciprocate in the direction of the crossing direction of the longitudinal direction of the wire (up and down in this embodiment).

[0053] The "intersecting direction" mentioned above is generally the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and is typically the vertical direction (however, it is not limited to this and may also be the horizontal direction). In this embodiment, the slide block 45 is opened and closed by a mechanism that allows for precise positioning, namely a motor (not shown) and a ball screw 47. This is because the pair of stripping blades 41 and 43, which face each other vertically, must stop at a delicate position where, when they are close to each other (closed position), the blade tips do not bite into the core wire of the electric wire, but cut into the insulation to an appropriate depth. Since the diameter of electric wires and the thickness of the insulation vary widely, the stripping blades require precise cutting position control accordingly.

[0054] In terms of its specific structure, the cutting and peeling device 4 of this embodiment is mainly composed of a vertically extending column 48. A ball screw 47, also vertically extending, is rotatably mounted on the column 48. The ball screw 47 has helical grooves cut in opposite directions at its upper and lower ends. Ball nuts (not shown) inside the upper and lower sliders 459 and 459' are screwed into these helical grooves. With this configuration, when the ball screw 47 rotates in one direction and the opposite direction, the upper and lower sliders 459 and 459' are driven to reciprocate, moving closer to or further away from each other.

[0055] On the other hand, since the cutting blade 42 only needs to completely cut the electric wire, the positioning accuracy of the closed position where the upper and lower blades overlap is not that important. Therefore, the cutting blade is designed so that the opposing pair of blades are driven at high speed by a pneumatic cylinder (cutting blade drive actuator). In the open position of the cutting blade 42 (avoidance position away from the electric wire), if the opposing cutting blades, such as a V-shape, are not sufficiently far from the space in which the electric wire exists and moves, there is a risk that the blades may inadvertently touch the electric wire and damage it. Due to these circumstances, since the cutting blade has a long stroke, it is important to increase the movement speed to shorten the operating time and reduce the cycle time. In this embodiment, according to the characteristics of each blade, electric and cylinder drives are combined. Furthermore, by mounting the cylinder on the slide block, it can be combined with the movement of the slide block by the operation of the electric ball screw, making it possible to shorten the time (distance) until the electric wire is cut. In addition, in terms of arrangement structure and the number of parts, the interference prevention structure with the slide block and the number of components can be reduced.

[0056] Next, with reference to Figures 3 and 4, an example of the operation of the cutting blade 42 and peeling blades 41 and 43 will be explained. Figure 3 is a side view of the cutting blade 42 and stripping blades 41 and 43 set (blade unit 40) and the electric wire W to be cut and stripped. The arrows attached to the electric wire W indicate the feeding direction of the electric wire W. The figure shows the first stripping blade 41, cutting blade 42, and second stripping blade 43, arranged in an upper and lower pair from "rear" to "front". Each blade is driven up and down by the mechanism described above. The state in Figure 3 is where the electric wire W has been fed.

[0057] Figure 4 illustrates the stripping process in a stripping device, where (A) shows the electric wire entering between the blades (retracted), (B) shows the cutting blade 42 and stripping blades 41 and 43 approaching the electric wire, (C) shows the completed cutting state for length determination, (D) shows the cutting blade retracted and the stripping length set, (E) shows the stripping blade cutting into the electric wire insulation, and (F) shows the completed stripping state by pulling the electric wire back and forth (away from the stripping blade).

[0058] In the state shown in Figure 4(A), when the electric wire enters between the blades, the cutting blade 42 and the stripping blades 41 and 43 are retracted from the path of the electric wire W (the upper blade moves upward, and the lower blade moves downward). Although not shown, a terminal is crimped to the front end (tip, top) of the electric wire W in the previous process (the terminal crimped to the tip of the electric wire is called the top terminal T1). The electric wire is then advanced by a length corresponding to the length of the product. From state (A) to state (F), the clamp on side 1 25 and the clamp on side 2 71 grip the electric wire W before and after the cutting and stripping section 4 (not shown).

[0059] Figure 4(B) shows the cutting blade 42 and stripping blades 41 and 43 in a state slightly closer to the electric wire. The movement from (A) to this state (B) is performed by driving a motor ball screw (sliding of the slide block 45). In this state (B), both ends of the V-shaped cutting edges of the stripping blades 41 and 43 are at approximately the height of the axis of electric wire feeding. Therefore, the lateral swaying of the electric wire W is restricted so that it does not extend beyond the stripping blades 41 and 43.

[0060] Figure 4(C) shows the state after cutting for determining the length of the electric wire is complete. The cutting blades 42 and 42' are driven at high speed by the air cylinder 44 from the state shown in Figure 4(B), and in Figure 4(C), the widthwise central portions of the upper and lower cutting blades overlap. As mentioned above, the leading electric wire after cutting is called the 2nd side electric wire W2, and the trailing electric wire is called the 1st side electric wire W1.

[0061] Figure 4(D) shows the cutting blades 42 and 42' retracted away from the wire by the drive of the air cylinder 44. The wire W is also moved longitudinally to match the length of the stripping. That is, wire W1 on side 1 is pulled further back than when it was cut in (C), and wire W2 on side 2 is pulled further forward than when it was cut in (C). The pulling motion of each wire is due to the forward and backward movement of the clamps 25 and 71 that grip the ends of each wire. The stripping blades 41 and 43 are close to the surface of the wire's insulation. In the processes shown in Figures 4(C) and (D) above, by operating the cutting blade 42 independently and at high speed using the pneumatic cylinder 44, the cutting blade 42 can be moved even when the stripping blades 41 and 43 are stopped, and even when they are moving in the reverse direction, thus shortening the time required for the cutting and stripping process. Furthermore, in the cutting and stripping device 4 of this embodiment, it is easy to perform processing where the stripping length is slightly longer than the "striping blade-cutting blade distance". That is, within the range where each wire clamp 25 and 71 does not interfere with the cutting and stripping device 4 and does not bend due to interference with wires on the opposite side, even if the wires on side 1 W1 are moved forward alternately and the wires on side 2 W2 are moved backward after the wire cutting and the cutting blade 42 has been retracted, the front and rear ends of the wires will not come into contact with the cutting blade 42.

[0062] Figure 4(E) shows the stripping blades 41 and 43 in the state where they have cut into the wire insulation. The movement from state (D) to state (E) is performed by driving the motor ball screw (sliding of the slide block 45).

[0063] Figure 4(F) shows the wire after it has been stripped by pulling it back and forth (away from the stripping blade). The pulling motion of each wire is performed by the back and forth movement of the clamps 25 and 71 that grip the end of each wire. The stripped insulation debris (not shown) is sucked into the stripping debris suction duct 50 under negative pressure from the inside of the stripping blades 41 and 43 (on the cutting blade 42 side) and discharged.

[0064] In the cutting and stripping device 4 of this embodiment, the linear motion of the air cylinder and the ball screw are combined so that they can operate independently (simultaneous operation is also possible). As an example of the results, the travel distance of the cutting blade 42 during one cycle (from (A) to the next (A) in Figure 4) is 10 mm, which is 4.5 mm shorter than the 14.5 mm in the comparative example where the cutting blade and stripping blade set operates identically. Dividing this difference in travel distance by the average travel speed of the cutting blade 42, which is 300 mm / second, the time difference is 0.015 seconds. By shortening the time in other wire cutting and stripping processes, and by combining this with the improvements to peripheral devices described later, the overall operation cycle can be significantly shortened, thereby improving productivity.

[0065] Referring to Figures 5 to 7, the configuration for guiding the wire W1 on side 1 from the crimping machine 60 to the cutting and stripping section 4, that is, the configuration from the swivel guide 160 to the blade section 140, will be explained. Figure 5 is a front view (viewed in the wire feeding direction) of the portion extending from the swivel guide 160 to the blade section 140 and the stripping waste suction duct 50 in a terminal crimping wire manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] Figure 6 is a front view showing an enlarged view of the device in Figure 5, specifically the exit section of the swivel guide 160 and the blade section 140. Figure 7 is a plan view of the swivel guide 160 and a cross-sectional view illustrating the wire top portion's feed-out during swivel in the oblique feed mode of the wire cutting, stripping, and terminal crimping device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] Figure 5 shows a swivel guide 160 extending from left to right, a blade section 140 beyond it, and a stripping debris suction duct 50 further to its right. To the left of the left end 160d of the swivel guide 160, although not shown in the figure, is a single-side crimping machine 60, which crimps the top terminal T1 to the tip of the single-side electric wire W1. The blade section 140 is a collective term for the upper and lower stripping blades 41 and 41', and the upper and lower cutting blades 42 and 42'.

[0068] The swivel guide 160 is a guide plate (cover) positioned along the swivel path of the wire tip and guides the wire in the direction of intersection (typically vertical, but not limited) with the swivel direction (typically vertical, but not limited). During wire swiveling, the wire may also be fed (extended) in the longitudinal direction (diagonal feed), in which case the swivel guide 160 also guides the wire tip in the longitudinal direction. The swivel guide is preferably made of a material with a smooth surface, such as cold-rolled stainless steel sheet.

[0069] The swivel guide 160 has an upper plate 161U and a lower plate 161B that are opposite each other vertically, and an upright, planar front wall 161W that connects to the rear (front) ends of both plates in the diagram. The side of the guide 160 facing the feeding section 10 (rear side) is open and has no wall. The front wall 161W extends from the left end 160d of the swivel guide 160 to the boundary 161Wm, which is approximately in the center of the guide, and the right side of this boundary 161Wm is open and has no wall on the rear (front) side.

[0070] The distance between the upper plate 161U and the lower plate 161B of the swivel guide 160 (guide height) decreases (gets lower) from left (side of the crimping machine) to right (side of the cutting and stripping section 4). In other words, when viewed from the front, the swivel guide 160 is trumpet-shaped, with the crimping machine side being wider vertically and the cutting and stripping section side being narrower vertically. The wire W1 with the top terminal T1 attached is guided vertically through this trumpet-shaped space.

[0071] The height HA of the swivel guide 160 on the crimping machine side (left end 160d, wire inlet) is a height sufficient to accommodate the top portion of the wire that is released from the crimping machine and swinging, for example, 40 mm. The height HB of the swivel guide 160 on the cutting and stripping section 4 side (right end 161x, wire outlet) is for example, 10 mm. Note that the above inlet and outlet concepts apply when the wire returns from the 1-side crimping machine 60 to the cutting and stripping section 4 after crimping the top terminal T1. When the wire goes from the cutting and stripping section 4 to the 1-side crimping machine 60, the concepts of inlet and outlet are reversed.

[0072] After terminal crimping, the wire W1 on one side is fed to the cutting and stripping section 4, passing inside the swivel guide 160 while being rotated by the clamp 25 on one side (see also Figure 1), as shown in an example in Figure 7. At this time, the tip of the wire with the terminal attached is fed into the wire feed passage of the blade section 140 with reduced swaying (wobbling / dancing). Since the wire retains its coiled shape from the reel, the top part sways as it rotates, so suppressing the vertical swaying will incidentally reduce the horizontal swaying as well. As a result, the horizontal swaying of the wire fed into the blade section 140 settles down more easily, shortening the time spent waiting for the wire to settle (the time spent waiting for longitudinal wire feeding or wire cutting), and thus shortening the cycle time.

[0073] The details of the blade portion 140 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 3. Figures 6 and 3 are enlarged views of the blade portion 140 and its surroundings, with Figure 6 being a front view and Figure 3 being a side cross-sectional view.

[0074] This blade section 140 includes tongue-shaped pieces 141, 141', 142, and 142' made of thin metal sheets (one example), as is most clearly shown in Figure 3. The upper rear tongue-shaped piece 141 is inserted from right to left (from back to front of the paper in Figure 3) between the upper first peeling blade 41 and the upper cutting blade 42. Similarly, the lower rear tongue-shaped piece 141' is inserted between the lower peeling blade 41' and the lower cutting blade 42'. Each of the upper and lower front tongue-shaped pieces 142 and 142' is similarly inserted between each of the upper and lower cutting blades 42 and 42' and each of the peeling blades 43 and 43'.

[0075] In the front view, each tongue-shaped segment is cantilevered and connected to the left side of the upper and lower plates 50d and 50d' of the peeling debris suction duct 50, as shown in Figure 6.

[0076] Referring to Figure 7, an example of the movement of the 1-side wire W1 from the 1-side crimping machine 60 to the cutting and stripping section 4 will be explained. Figure 7 is a plan view showing an example of the movement of the 1-side wire W1 (diagonal feed) and the plan shape of the swivel guide 160. The figure shows the 1-side wires W1-1 to W1-4 that are being swiveled and fed in the longitudinal direction, the top terminals T1-1 to W1-4 that are crimped to their ends, and the 1-side clamps 25-1 to W1-4.

[0077] The wire W1-1 shown at the top of Figure 7 is beginning to rotate after terminal crimping. The wire W1 is held by the clamp 25 on one side. The clamp 25 can slide back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the wire on the front-rear mechanism 23, and the front-rear mechanism 23 can rotate by the rotation mechanism 21. The top clamp 25-1 is slightly retracted from its furthest forward position. Note that the front-rear mechanism 23 and rotation mechanism 21 are not shown for the second to fourth wires from the top.

[0078] The second wire from the top in the diagram, W1-2, is slightly curved downwards. Also, wire W1-2 and terminal T1-2, along with the clamp 25-2 that grips the wire, are slightly advanced in the longitudinal direction of the wire (by length S1). Terminal T1-2 of the second wire W1-2 is inside the swivel guide 160, which suppresses its swaying.

[0079] The third wire from the top in the diagram, W1-3, has rotated slightly further downwards. The clamp 25-3 holding the wire has not moved forward from the position of the second clamp 25-2, but remains in the same position along the length of the wire. Meanwhile, the wire W1-3 has been fed out slightly along its length (by length S2) by the feeding unit 10 (see Figure 1), and the protrusion dimension of the top terminal T1-3 from the clamp 25-3 has increased (it is being fed at an angle). However, in this state, the terminal T1-3 is located in the forward extension 161P of the swivel guide 160 near the wire cutting and stripping section 4, reducing shaking and preventing feeding problems and terminal damage even during angled feeding.

[0080] The fourth wire from the top of the diagram, W1-4, rotates further downwards, reaching the cutting and stripping section 4 and entering the blade section 140. The clamp 25-4 holding the wire does not move forward from the position of the second clamp 25-2, but remains in the same position along the length of the wire. In this state, the wire W-4 is fed out along the length of the wire to a predetermined length for cutting.

[0081] In the terminal crimping wire manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in Figures 5 to 7, after terminal crimping, the wire W1 on side 1, which has considerable wobble and bending at its end, enters the entrance side of the flared swivel guide 160. As it moves along the swivel guide 160, which gradually narrows (gets lower), the wobble and bending of the wire are suppressed, and it is guided between a pair of cutting blades 42 and stripping blades 41 and 43 that are opposed to each other vertically in the wire cutting and stripping section 4. The wire end undergoes rotational motion including vertical (intersecting direction of rotation) and left and right (in the direction of travel) wobble (due to the wire's winding tendency on the reel), but if the vertical wobble is suppressed by the guide plate of the swivel guide, the left and right wobble will also be reduced.

[0082] In this embodiment, the swivel guide 160 provides guidance for the 1-side wire W1, and the wire entry guidance at the final stage of swiveling into the blade section suppresses wire bouncing and erratic movement during wire feeding (unwinding). As a result, wire bending and swaying (shaking) of the wire top are suppressed, preventing problems associated with angled feeding (damage to crimp terminals, equipment stoppage due to wire / terminal snagging). Consequently, angled feeding can be used stably and frequently, increasing the types of wires (wire diameter, etc.) that can be fed at an angle and increasing the unwinding length of angled feeds, thereby shortening the manufacturing cycle time for various types of terminal crimp wires (wire harnesses).

[0083] The narrower the gap between the cutting and stripping blades (the clearance dimension) while waiting for the wire to come between the opposing pair of blades, the shorter the dimensions and time required for the blades to cut the wire and cut the insulation, resulting in a shorter drive cycle time. Furthermore, even with a faster rotation speed, if the wire settles down quickly at the blade, it is possible to increase the rotation speed and shorten the waiting time for the wire end to settle at the blade. This makes it possible to achieve a reduction in the cycle time for wire manufacturing (approximately 0.01 sec). In addition, the stripping blade retraction dimension can be reduced, shortening the electric feeding time of the stripping blade. Including the effects of the dual actuators in the cutting unit, we confirmed that the overall cycle time can be reduced from approximately 0.81 seconds to 0.7 seconds in an example of a wire size of 0.5 square mm.

[0084] The operation of the two-sided clamp 71 will be explained with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of the operation of the two-sided clamp 71. The configuration of the two-sided clamp 71 and its wire sway suppressor 719 will be described later with reference to Figure 9.

[0085] The operation of the two-sided clamp 71 in this embodiment is as follows: Before the two-sided clamp (71) receives and accepts the trailing end of the electric wire coming out of the cutting and stripping section 4, the clamp retracts (protrudes towards the feed source side). As a result, the length of the electric wire protruding from the clamp is shortened when receiving the electric wire and during subsequent rotation, so the electric wire swaying, shaking, and flapping is reduced, and the electric wire receiving becomes more stable.

[0086] In the upper left of Figure 8, the stripping blades 41 and 43 and the cutting blade 42 of the cutting and stripping section 4 are shown. The two-sided clamp 71, positioned in front of the cutting and stripping section 4, receives the rear end of the electric wire (with a top terminal T1 crimped to its tip) coming out of the cutting and stripping section 4. At this time, the wire sway suppressor 71 9 (described later with reference to Figures 9 and 10) suppresses the wire's movement, and the two-sided clamp 71 grips the wire. At this point of receiving the wire, the wire has not yet been cut, nor has the rear end (tail) of the two-sided wire been stripped.

[0087] Next, the wire is cut by the cutting blade 42, and then the two-sided clamp 71-1 moves forward slightly (by the forward / backward mechanism 73) to adjust the stripping length (see Figures 4(C) and 4(D)). This state is the state of the two-sided wire W2-1 in Figure 8. Note that the two-sided clamp 71-5, which is drawn in the same position as the two-sided clamp 71-1, represents the clamp in the state where it has finished the series of clamping operations that will be described below and is about to receive the next wire.

[0088] Next, the two-sided clamp 71 moves forward further to strip the wire insulation (leaving the stripped insulation residue behind the stripping blade 43; see Figures 4(E) to (F)). This is the state of the two-sided wire W2-2 and the two-sided clamp 71-2. Note that the forward movement of the two-sided clamp 71-2 does not correspond to the scale of this figure (Figure 8 is a schematic diagram).

[0089] Next, the 2-side clamp 71-2 rotates downward (to the right) toward the crimping machine (90) (driven by the rotation mechanism 75). During the rotation, the detector 99 for the rear end of the 2-side wire (see Figure 1) is used to inspect the stripping condition and other aspects. When the two-sided clamp 71-2 rotates to the position of the crimping machine (90), it advances the wire to the crimping position and comes in front of the two-sided crimping machine 90 (reference numeral 71-3). At this point, the tail terminal T2 is crimped to the rear end of the two-sided wire W2-3.

[0090] After crimping is complete, the two-sided clamp 71-3 begins to rotate back toward the cut and stripped section 4. During the rotation back, at the point where it is being handed over to the discharge clamp 81, the two-sided clamp 71-4 hands over the completed crimped wire W2-4 (product) to the discharge clamp 81. The discharge clamp 81 will be described later with reference to Figures 11 and 12.

[0091] Between the transfer position to the discharge clamp (side clamp 71-4) and the position in front of the cutting and stripping section 4 (side clamp 71-5), the side clamp 71 retracts (protrudes towards the supply side) during rotation. As a result, when the next wire is received, the length of the wire protruding from the clamp is shortened, reducing wire sway, vibration, and turbulence, and stabilizing wire receiving and transport.

[0092] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the configuration and operation of the two-sided clamp 71 and its wire sway suppressor 719 will be explained. Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the two-sided clamp 71 and the wire sway suppressor 719 attached thereto. Figure 10 is a front view illustrating the operation of the wire sway suppressor 719. (A) shows the sway suppressor 719 in the open state, (B) shows the sway suppressor 719 in the closing state, and (C) shows the sway suppressor 719 in the closed state.

[0093] The two-sided clamp 71 has a pair of left and right clamping claws 711 for gripping electric wires. These claws are opened and closed by a link 715 and an air cylinder 717, around a pivot point 712 (see Figure 10) at the upper center of the pair of claws. The claws 711, link 715, and air cylinder 717 are attached to a clamp block 716. The block 716 rotates and moves forward and backward by a forward / backward mechanism 73 and a pivot mechanism 75 (see Figure 1), as shown in Figure 8.

[0094] The base of the claw 711 is connected to the front claw arm 714 (part of the link 715). The wire sway restraint 719 is connected to the front of the claw arm 714 so as to protrude forward. As can be seen in the lower part of Figure 10(A), the wire sway restraint 719 is wing-shaped, spreading out to the left and right when open. The sway restraint 719 consists of a pair of left and right plates. In the closed state shown in Figure 10(C), the sway restraint 719 is shaped like two opposing legs spread apart. The wire sway restraint 719 is located above the front of the clamp claws of the two-sided wire W2 that is fed out from the cutting and stripping section 4.

[0095] The operation of the wire sway suppressor 719 will be explained with reference to Figure 10. In the open state of Figure 10(A) (the state in Figure 9 is the same), the wire is being fed out below the 2-side clamp 71, and the sway suppressor 719, together with the claw 711, is open above the 2-side wire W2. At this time, the wire is still the 1-side wire W1 before cutting and stripping, and it is a long wire connected to the wire reel in the tail end direction. The 1-side clamp 25 (see Figure 1) grips and supports the rear of this 1-side wire W1. Therefore, the tip of the long cantilevered wire sways back and forth and left and right, as shown by the radial arrows in the figure (the wire is fed out while moving in a spiral motion).

[0096] From this point, the wire sway suppressor 719 rotates downward so that its left and right wings close, as shown in Figure 10(B). During this closing process, the wire comes into contact with the lower surface of the sway suppressor 719, suppressing the sway (bending) of the wire. In other words, the wire sway suppressor 719 (wire guide) follows the clamping action, bringing the wire closer to the center. This also suppresses the reaction force of the wire against the claws when the clamp is closed.

[0097] Figure 10(C) shows the wire sway restraint 719 in the fully closed position (the claws 711 are closed and gripping the wire). The plates on both sides of the sway restraint 719 hang down on both the left and right sides of the wire 1 with a gap between them. This gap is sufficient to suppress wire sway without putting pressure on the terminal (preventing deformation of the terminal). In the case of shorter products, the top terminal T1 may be further back than in the state shown in Figure 9 and may be sandwiched between the sway restraint 719. Therefore, when the clamp is closed, a certain distance is maintained between the pair of wire sway restraints 719 (guides) to suppress terminal movement while preventing deformation of the terminal.

[0098] The discharge clamp 81 (dispensing device) will be explained with reference to Figures 11 and 12. Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration and operation of the discharge clamp 81 of the embodiment. (A) shows the discharge clamp 81 approaching the two-sided wire W2, (B) shows the clamp 81 just before grasping the wire W2, and (C) shows the clamp 81 gripping the wire W2. Figure 12 is a front view showing the details of the operation in which the discharge clamp 81 in Figure 11 receives the two-sided wire W2. (A) shows the discharge clamp 81 in the wire receiving standby position, (B) shows the two-sided wire W2 approaching the receiving position and just before the clamp 81 grasps the wire W2, and (C) shows the clamp 81 having grasped (received) the wire W2. Note that the directions "left and right" in Figures 11 and 12 refer to the direction from the viewer's perspective and may not be consistent with the "left and right" directions in other figures.

[0099] The discharge clamp 81 has a pair of left and right clamping claws 811 for gripping electric wires. These claws are opened and closed by a link 815 and an air cylinder 817, around a pivot point 812 at the top center of the pair of claws. The claws 811, link 815, and air cylinder 817 are attached to a clamp block 816. The block 816 moves up and down, rotates, and moves left and right by an up and down mechanism, a forward and backward mechanism, and a rotation mechanism (not shown).

[0100] In Figure 11(A), the two-sided wire W2, to which the tail terminal T2 is crimped, is held by the two-sided clamp 71. The state of the two-sided wire W2 and the two-sided clamp 71 is the same as the state of the wire W2-4 and clamp 71-4 in Figure 8. The claws 811 of the discharge clamp 81 have reached over the wire between the tail terminal T2 and the two-sided clamp 71, and the claws 811 have opened. From here, the discharge clamp 81 continues to descend.

[0101] In Figure 11(B), the discharge clamp 81 has lowered from the state in (A) and is just about to grasp the electric wire W2. In Figure 11(C), the discharge clamp 81 moves further down from the state in (B) (actually moving horizontally from right to left as shown in Figure 14), and the clamp claws 811 grip the wire between the tail terminal T2 of the wire W2 and the two-sided clamp 71. From here, although not shown in the figure, the two-sided clamp 71 opens and releases the wire, and the discharge clamp 81 grips the two-sided wire W2 and carries it to the product tray (not shown, but located in front of table 3 in Figure 1). There, the discharge clamp 81 releases the two-sided wire W2 and dispenses it into the product tray.

[0102] Referring to Figure 12, the detailed operation of the discharge clamp 81 approaching the two-sided wire W2 and grasping (receiving) the wire will be explained. In Figure 12(A), the discharge clamp 81 is in the wire receiving standby position, and below it, the two-sided wire W2 is moving (rotating) from left to right.

[0103] In Figure 12(B), the 2-side wire W2 is approaching the receiving position, and the clamp 81 is about to grasp the wire W2. At this point, the lowering and closing of the discharge clamp 81 begins just before the 2-side wire W2 reaches the receiving position. This shortens the time it takes for the 2-side wire W2 to be handed over to the discharge clamp 81 (a reduction of 0.05 seconds in one example). In Figure 12(C), the claws 811 of the clamp 81 are gripping (receiving) the wire W2. After this, the discharge clamp 81 discharges the two-sided wire W2 into the discharge tray.

[0104] Referring to Figure 13, the suction assist component (inlet gate 412 of the blade portion 140) in the modified example will be explained. Figure 13 is a front view showing the configuration and operation of the inlet gate 412 of the blade portion 140. (A) is the open (downward) state, and (B) is the closed (upward) state.

[0105] The entrance gate 412 is an angle-shaped (inverted L-shaped) member when viewed from the front, and is mounted and fixed on the peeling blade holder 441' below, and is able to move up and down together with the holder 441'. The rising piece 412b of the entrance gate 412 rises straight up from the top surface of the holder 441' at a position close to the left side of the peeling blades 41 and 43 and the cutting blade 42. The width of the rising piece 412b in the front-to-back direction (front-to-back direction of the paper in Figure 13) is approximately the same as the distance between the front and rear peeling blades 41 and 43.

[0106] In the open (downward) state of Figure 13(A), the upper end 412d of the rising piece 412b of the entrance gate is at approximately the same height as the lower end of the swivel guide 160 (both are at approximately the same height). In the closed (upward) state of Figure 13(B), the upper end 412d of the rising piece 412b is at approximately the same height as the upper end of the swivel guide 160.

[0107] Due to the vertical relationship of each part described above, in the open (downward) state of the entrance gate 412 in Figure 13(A), the right end 161x of the swivel guide 160 (the exit point for the wire after terminal crimping) is fully open, and the wire can pass through these parts without obstruction. On the other hand, in the closed (upward) state in Figure 13(B), the right end 161x of the swivel guide 160 (the exit point for the wire after terminal crimping) is closed by the rising piece 412b.

[0108] In this modified version, an entrance gate 412 (suction assist component) is attached to the lower blade block (below), and by utilizing the vertical movement of the stripping blade, an opening for the wire passage is secured when the blade is open, and the passage is closed in conjunction with the movement of the blade when the blade is closed, thereby improving the suction of insulation debris and reducing the diffusion of stripped debris.

[0109] Next, embodiments including an improved example of air blowing of coating debris will be described. Figure 14 is a plan view showing a schematic arrangement of equipment in a terminal crimping wire manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment (non-rotating type, wire parallel lateral movement type). Figure 15(A) is a plan cross-sectional view of the main part of a cutting and peeling device 204 equipped with an air blowing means for blowing coating debris SI away from the peeling blades 241 and 243. Figure 15(B) is a plan cross-sectional view showing a magnified view of the air blowing block 381, the peeling blades 241 and 243, and the details of the coating debris SI. Figure 16 is a side cross-sectional view of the main part of the device shown in Figure 15. Figure 17 is a front view showing the vertical movement of the air blow block 381 of the device shown in Figure 15, where (A) shows the upward movement (when the wire is moving horizontally) and (B) shows the downward movement (when air blowing is used for cutting and stripping the wire).

[0110] The cutting and stripping device (204) of this embodiment is characterized by comprising: a wire cutting blade (242) having a pair of blades arranged along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire (W1·W2) and facing each other in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction; stripping blades (241·243) for making incisions in the insulation of the electric wire; a forward and backward mechanism (223·273) for moving the electric wire in the longitudinal direction (forward and backward direction); a suction duct (250) for sucking up and discharging stripping debris (SI1·SI2) generated by the stripping blades (241·243); and further comprising means (380) for applying air blow towards the bottom of the blade-shaped recesses (241b·243b) of the stripping blades (241´·243´), which are arranged opposite the suction duct (250) via the stripping blades (241·243).

[0111] In the equipment layout diagram of Figure 14, the parts indicated by the same symbols as in Figure 1 (with 200 added) are the same parts as those in the terminal crimping wire manufacturing apparatus in Figure 1. Below, we will mainly explain the differences between apparatus 1 in Figure 1 and apparatus 204 in Figure 14.

[0112] The wire feeding unit 210 is mounted on the front-to-back mechanism 223 of the 1-side clamp 225. The 1-side wire transport unit 220 has a 1-side wire clamp (head) 225 and a traverse mechanism 221 that moves the front-to-back mechanism 223 of the clamp 225 traversely. When traversing, the longitudinal direction (axis) of the wire held by the 1-side clamp 225 is parallel in plan view to the wire feeding direction in the wire cutting and stripping unit 204. The 1-side clamp 225 grips the tip of the 1-side wire and reciprocates between the wire cutting and stripping unit 204 and the 1-side terminal crimping machine 260.

[0113] The wire cutting and stripping section 204 cuts the wire to a predetermined length, as shown in Figure 1, and strips the insulation from the top and tail ends of the wire cutting section. A suction duct 250 is also attached to suck up and discharge the stripped wire. Reference numeral 269 denotes a single-side wire end detector (optical inspection).

[0114] The 2-side wire transport section 270 also has a traverse mechanism 274, similar to the 1-side wire transport section 220. Reference numeral 271 denotes the 2-side wire clamp. Reference numeral 273 denotes a forward / backward mechanism 273 that extends and retracts the clamp 271 in the wire axis direction. The 2-side clamp 271 transports the rear end of the 2-side wire from the cutting and stripping section 204 to the 2-side crimping machine 290. Reference numeral 281 denotes a discharge clamp that discharges the wire (product) with both ends crimped into a discharge tray 282. Reference numeral 299 denotes a 2-side wire rear end detector (optical inspection).

[0115] As shown in Figures 15(A) and 16, the cutting and stripping device 204 is equipped with a blade unit 240 consisting of a cutting blade 242 for cutting electric wires W1 and W2, and stripping blades 241 and 243 before and after it. Each blade is a pair of upper and lower blades that are driven in the vertical direction, moving closer together and further apart, respectively. In this specification, when specifically referring to the lower blade, an apostrophe is added to the reference numeral (e.g., lower rear stripping blade 241'). Reference numerals without an apostrophe may refer to the pair of upper and lower blades, or to the upper blade in particular.

[0116] The wires shown in Figures 15 and 16 have been cut and their ends stripped. As clearly shown in Figure 15(B), the tip (top) of the trailing wire W1 (referred to as the 1-side wire) has the core wire CW1 exposed, and stripped wire SI1 is attached to the front side (cutting blade 242 side) of the rear stripping blade 241. Similarly, the tail (end) of the leading wire W2 (referred to as the 2-side wire) has the core wire CW2 exposed, and stripped wire SI2 is attached to the rear side (cutting blade 242 side) of the front (2-side) stripping blade 242. For the stripping procedure, please refer to Figures 22, 23, and 24.

[0117] The air blowing means 380 for removing insulation debris SI mainly consists of an air blowing block 381 having two air blowing holes 381b and 381c. The block 381 is installed on the left side of the upper part of the blade unit 240 (the side where the 1-side crimping machine 260 is located, see Figure 14) and is movable up and down. The air blowing holes 381b and 381c spray air toward the opposing inner parts of the front and rear stripping blades 241 and 243 (the side where the cutting blade 242 is located). The air blowing block 381 rises when the electric wire W exits the cutting and stripping section 204 to the left and heads toward the 1-side crimping machine 260, and when the electric wire W returns from the 1-side crimping machine 260 to the cutting and stripping section 204. When air blowing is performed, the air blowing block 381 lowers.

[0118] As clearly shown in Figures 15(B) and 17(B), the air blow block 381 is rectangular in shape as a whole. The width of the block 381 in the front-to-back direction is approximately the same as the outer width of the front and rear peeling blades 241 and 243, and the width in the left-to-right direction is approximately the same as the width of the cutting blade 242. The height of the air blow block 381 is approximately the same as the height between the upper and lower tongue-shaped pieces 341 and 341', as clearly shown in Figure 17(B).

[0119] As shown in Figure 15(B), the air blow holes 381b and 381c are located in two places, at the front and rear. The back of these holes 381b and 381c are connected to the air guide hole 381h. The air guide hole 381h extends in the front-to-back direction within the air blow block 381 and connects to the left-to-right air guide hole 381j at the rear. Its original end is connected to the pneumatic tube 387 (see Figure 17) via the conduit connection member 383.

[0120] The rear blow hole 381b is drilled so as to face diagonally from the center in the front-to-back direction toward the rear and to the right (towards the reverse 1 crimping machine 260 and the stripping debris suction duct 250). The end of the direction in which this hole faces is directed toward the bottom of the blade-shaped recess 241b' of the front, lower, and rear stripping blades 241' when they are almost fully raised (the upper and lower stripping blades 241 and 241' overlap and close). The bottom of the blade-shaped recess 241b' is the part where the roots of the stripped insulation debris SI1 are attached to the stripping blades 241' and 241. In this example, the angle α between the center line of the air blow hole 381b and the plane perpendicular to the wire axis (front of the stripping blade) is 20°, and the inclination angle β of the blade-shaped recess 241b' in plan view is 30°.

[0121] The relationship between the direction of the front blow hole 381c and the front upper and lower peeling blades 243 and 243', and the blade-shaped recess 243b', as well as the relationship between angle α and angle β, are the same as the case of the rear blow hole 381b and the rear peeling blades 241 and 241' described above, but reversed front to back.

[0122] The length of the peeled (coating strip), i.e., the length of the peeled residue SI, is as short as 1.0 mm. On the other hand, the depth of the blade-shaped recess 241b' is 1.5 mm. Therefore, the tops of the peeled residue SI that adhere to the bottom of the blade-shaped recess 241b' may hardly come out of the blade-shaped recess 241b'. For this reason, simply blowing air vaguely towards the peeling blade 241 is not sufficiently effective in blowing away (detaching) the peeled residue SI. Therefore, in this embodiment, the air blow is designed to directly hit and gouge the bottom of the blade-shaped recess 241b' of the peeling blade 241.

[0123] The timing of the air blow is when the peeling blades 241 and 243 reach their upper and lower dead centers (where they are close to each other) and begin to move away from each other (when the upper and lower blades begin to open). Specifically, the air blow is performed when the peeling blades 241 and 243 have moved 0.2 mm from their upper and lower dead centers (opened 0.4 mm). The blowing time is approximately 100 ms. Experimental results showed that this timing and time are optimal in terms of complete removal of peeling debris and reduction of compressed air consumption.

[0124] As shown in Figure 17, the air blow block 381 is fixed to the lower surface of the stripping blade holder 541 and moves up and down together with the holder 541. Figure 17(A) shows the air blow block in the raised position, and Figure 17(B) shows the air blow block in the lowered position. In the raised position shown in Figure 17(A), there is an opening between the lower surface of the air blow block 381 and the guide plate 360, allowing the electric wire W to move freely from side to side in that space.

[0125] When the air blow block 381 is in the lower position, the space through which the peeled debris SI flies is almost completely closed off on the left by the air blow block 381, almost completely closed off at the front and back by the peeling blades 241 and 243, and almost completely closed off at the top and bottom by the tongue-shaped pieces 341 and 342. This prevents the peeled debris SI from flying out. In addition, the smaller the opening area of ​​the suction duct 250, the greater the difference between atmospheric pressure and negative pressure due to the airflow from the gap, increasing the suction force and improving the efficiency of collecting the coating debris.

[0126] The configuration of the air blowing means 380 and its synchronization with the peeling operation (coating stripping operation) can be summarized as follows. Specifically, together with the closing operation of the coating stripping section, the air blowing position moves toward the closed position of the upper and lower stripping blades, and by blowing air toward the vicinity of the position where coating debris is generated when the upper and lower stripping blades are closed, the coating debris removal action is enhanced and the scattering of coating debris is prevented. Specifically, when the tongue-shaped pieces 341 and 342 of the suction port of the suction duct 250 and the upper and lower stripping blades 241 and 243 are in a closed state, air is blown toward the coating debris suction port, improving the collection of coating debris and more thoroughly preventing debris scattering.

[0127] Next, referring mainly to Figures 18 and 19, the structure and operation of the wire transport guide around the cut and stripped section 204 will be explained. Figure 18 is a diagram of the terminal crimping wire manufacturing apparatus of the second embodiment, showing the area around the cutting and stripping section 204 in the wire feeding state, where (A) is a plan cross-sectional view and (B) is a side cross-sectional view. Figure 19 is a view of the device shown in Figure 18, showing the area around the cutting and stripping section 204 in the clamped state of the two-sided wire clamp, where (A) is a plan cross-sectional view and (B) is a side cross-sectional view.

[0128] Another wire end processing device (201) of the present invention comprises: a wire feeding unit (210) for feeding wires; a wire cutting and stripping unit (204) for cutting the fed wires to any length and stripping the insulation from the ends of the wires; a one-side end processing unit (260) for processing the tip of the cut and stripped one-side (rear) wire; a two-side end processing unit (290) for processing the rear end of the two-side (early) wire; and clamp transport units (220 and 270) for clamping and transporting the wires to each unit. The wire end processing device (201) is further characterized by comprising, on the side (left side) of the one-side end processing unit (260) of the wire cutting and stripping unit (204), a guide plate (360) that extends below the wire lateral movement path to receive the downward-hanging wire and guide it to the wire cutting and stripping unit (204).

[0129] Another wire cutting and stripping device (204) of the present invention further includes a wire receiver (390) positioned in front of the wire cutting and stripping section (204) (in the wire feeding direction), extending below the path of the wire being fed (W1) (preferably also above the path and towards the end processing section), which receives the wire hanging down during feeding (preferably also reduces upward and sideways movement of the wire), and a wire receiver moving means (392) that moves the wire receiver (390) between a position closer to the cutting and stripping section (204) and a position further away from the section. The present invention is characterized by comprising means (272, 273) for moving the clamp (271), which retracts the clamp (271) from the wire path when the wire holder (390) approaches the cutting and stripping section (204), and advances the clamp (271) into the wire path when the wire holder (390) moves away from the cutting and stripping section (204). In the embodiment described below, the wire holder 380 is a guide member whose cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wire is U-shaped (open in the direction toward the 2-side crimping machine). By passing the wire (W1) inside the guide member, the movement of the wire during wire feeding is reduced.

[0130] As shown in Figures 18(A) and 19(A), a guide plate 360 ​​is provided on the left side of the cutting and stripping device 204 (the side with the terminal crimping machine 260, see Figure 14), extending below the lateral movement path of the electric wire. The guide plate 360 ​​is roughly L-shaped in plan view. The left end 360b is a sloped surface 360b that slopes downward to the left (see Figure 17(A)), and the rear part is a sloped surface 360f that slopes downward to the rear. Both slopes have the effect of lifting the tip of the electric wire (top terminal T1) upward when it is slightly downward and hits the slopes 360b and 360f. The other parts of the guide plate 360, the front and right sides, are flat surfaces 360j. The height of this flat surface 360j is the same as the height of the upper surface of the lower tongue-shaped pieces 341' and 342', as shown in Figures 18(B) and 19(B).

[0131] In front of the cutting and stripping section 204, there are two clamps 271 and a wire support 390. In the wire feeding stage shown in Figure 18, the two clamps 271 are retracted below the rear end of the wire support 390, and in the wire clamping stage shown in Figure 19, they are raised to approximately the same height as the wire support 390. In the wire feeding stage shown in Figure 18, the wire support 390 is close to the cutting and stripping section 204, and in the wire clamping stage shown in Figure 19, it is moved forward from the cutting and stripping section 204.

[0132] The two-sided clamp 271 has a pair of claws 271b and 271c for gripping electric wires, as shown in Figure 19(A). At the base of these claws is an arm 272 that incorporates a claw opening and closing mechanism (such as a commercially available air chuck). This arm is mounted on a three-axis movable mechanism that allows for tilting, forward / backward movement, and lateral movement. By rotating the arm 272 around the forward / backward axis, the two-sided clamp 271 is raised (Figure 19) and lowered (Figure 18). Moving the arm 272 forward and backward allows for forward and backward movement of the electric wire (such as the stripping operation in Figures 22, 23, and 24). Moving the arm 272 laterally (leftward and rightward) allows for lateral movement between the cutting and stripping section 204 and the crimping machine 290, as well as discharge to the discharge tray. The tilting, forward / backward, and lateral movement mechanism can be constructed using commercially available actuators or linear guides.

[0133] The wire receiver 390 has an upper plate 390U and a lower plate 390B that are opposite each other vertically, and an upright, planar left wall 390W that connects to the rear end (front end) of both plates in the diagram. The right side of the wire receiver 390 (the side of the two-sided crimping machine 290, see Figure 14) is open and has no wall. The rear end of the upper plate 390U is inclined upward and backward, and the rear end of the lower plate 390B is inclined downward and backward. Both inclined ends open in a trumpet shape towards the rear, making it easy for the tip (top) of the electric wire W1 to enter the wire receiver 390 even if it is pointing downward. The height of the upper plate 390U and the lower plate 390B, excluding the trumpet-shaped entrances, is greater than the spacing between the upper and lower tongue-shaped pieces 341, 341', 342, and 342' of the cutting and stripping section 204.

[0134] During wire feeding, the wires and terminals that emerge from the cutting and stripping section 204 enter the wire holder 390 immediately behind them and proceed forward (are fed). This prevents the wires from getting trapped under the cover 394 that slides the wires sideways during lateral wire transport on side 2. The wire holder 390 also suppresses wire movement during wire feeding. Specifically, the function of the upper plate 390U of the wire holder 390 is to suppress upward movement of the wires during wire feeding. The left wall 390W is shifted to the right as it moves towards the front. This suppresses lateral movement in the initial state during wire feeding, preventing collisions with installed equipment, etc., and follows the wire holder 390U, which provides upward support.

[0135] Next, referring to Figures 20 and 21, the conveying and feeding operations of the electric wire W1 from the crimping machine 260 to the cutting and stripping section 204 will be explained. Figure 20 is a plan view showing the lateral movement and feeding (longitudinal wire unwinding) of the wire from the guide plate 360 ​​to the cutting and stripping section 204 in the case of a wire with relatively small terminals (for example, terminals with a pole pitch of 2.54 mm or less for signal connectors) crimped to the top of the wire. Figure 21 is a plan view showing the lateral movement and feeding (longitudinal wire feeding) of the wire from the guide plate 360 ​​to the cutting and stripping section 204 in the case of a wire with relatively large terminals (for example, terminals with a pole pitch of 3.96 mm or more, such as power supply or automotive connectors) crimped to the top of the wire.

[0136] In the stage preceding Figure 20(A), after the relatively small single-sided terminal TS1 is crimped using the single-sided crimping machine 260 (see Figure 14), the single-sided clamp 225 retracts to the rear, removing the terminal and wire from the crimping machine so that they do not get caught in the machine when moving laterally. Next, the single-sided clamp 225 begins to move laterally to the right. Figure 20(A) shows the single-sided terminal TS1 on the guide plate 360. After a predetermined time has elapsed since the clamp began to move laterally, the single-sided clamp 225 begins to move vertically forward. This is the state shown in Figure 20(B). At this time, the single-sided clamp 225 continues to move laterally.

[0137] Figure 20(C) shows the point where the clamp 225 on side 1 and the wire W1 on side 1 have reached the lateral (left-right) center of each blade of the cutting and stripping section 204. Also, Figure 20(B) shows the point where wire feeding starts after a predetermined time has elapsed since the clamp 225 on side 1 began to move forward, and the wire W1 on side 1 has been fed forward considerably. Note that when the wire W1 on side 1 begins to enter between the upper and lower blades of the cutting blade 242 and stripping blades 241 and 243, depending on the specifications of the wire and terminal, the terminal TS1 on side 1 may enter between the upper and lower cutting blades 242 and stripping blades 241 and 243, or it may be in front of the front stripping blade 243.

[0138] Next, with reference to Figure 21, the case of a relatively large single-side terminal TL1 will be explained. In this case, the first half of the lateral movement, Figures 21(A) and 21(B), is the same as the case of the lateral movement of the relatively small single-side terminal TS1 already explained, i.e., Figures 20(A) and 20(B). However, the lateral movement of the single-side clamp 225 stops in the state shown in Figure 21(B). Then, in the stage shown in Figure 21(C), only the advancement of the single-side clamp 225 to a predetermined position and the feeding of the single-side wire W1 to a predetermined length occurs. After that, as shown in Figure 21(D), the single-side wire W1 is transported to the cutting and stripping section 204 by lateral movement alone.

[0139] In the case of a relatively large single-sided terminal TL1, it is difficult (and the wire may get stuck) to fit between the upper and lower cutting blades 242 and stripping blades 241 and 243, or between the tongue-shaped pieces 141 and 142. Therefore, to be safe, the large single-sided terminal TL1 is positioned in front of the front stripping blade 243 before the wire is moved laterally into the cutting and stripping section 204. Furthermore, during the latter half of the wire W1 feed process and during lateral movement after the feed is complete, the single-sided terminal TL1 is located inside (above) the wire receiver 390, so even if the wire is bent or tangled, the possibility of problems such as the terminal getting stuck is low.

[0140] In this embodiment, the starting position for wire feeding by the return transport guide 360 ​​and the transport of the wire W1 on side 1 to the suction port 250b are summarized as follows. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the wire guide (reference numeral 160, swivel guide) was used in the swirling motion, but in this embodiment, the wire guide corresponds to the return transport operation (transport of the cutting and stripping section 204 from the crimping machine 160 on side 1) in the lateral (parallel) transport operation of the wire. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, there were guide plates on the top and bottom, but in this embodiment, only the bottom plate is present. Depending on the terminal shape (size, etc.), the starting position for wire feeding (unwinding) is set on the upper surface of the wire guide 360, and thereafter, the wire is guided between the tongue-shaped pieces 341 and 342 of the suction port 250b of the stripped waste suction duct 250.

[0141] Next, with reference to Figures 22, 23, and 24, some examples of the operation of the cutting blade 242 and the peeling blades 241 and 243 will be described. Figure 22 is a side cross-sectional view showing the operation of the cutting blade 242 and peeling blades 241 and 243 when the peeling length is normal (relatively short, for example less than 10 mm). Figure 23 is a side cross-sectional view showing the operation of the cutting blade 242 and peeling blades 241 and 243 when the peeling length at one end is extremely long (e.g., 10-20 mm) (one-sided long strip). Figure 24 is a side cross-sectional view showing the operation of the cutting blade 242 and peeling blades 241 and 243 when the peeling length is extremely long at both ends (long strip on both sides). The arrows attached to the wire W indicate the feeding direction of the wire W. The diagram shows a pair of upper and lower rear stripping blades 241, cutting blade 242, and front stripping blades 243, arranged from "rear" to "front". Each blade is driven up and down by the mechanism described above.

[0142] Figure 22 illustrates the normal wire stripping process, where (A) shows the wire entering between the upper and lower blades (retracted state) of each blade, (B) shows the cutting blade 242 and stripping blades 241 and 243 approaching the wire, (C) shows the state after cutting for determining the wire length is complete, (D) shows the state after the stripping length has been set, (E) shows the state after the stripping blade has cut into the wire insulation, and (F) shows the state after the wire has been pulled back and forth (away from the stripping blade) to strip the insulation.

[0143] In this example, the vertical movement of the cutting blade 242 and the stripping blades 241 and 243 in Figures 22(A) to (F) is performed by driving (sliding) a slide block (similar to reference numeral 45 in Figure 2) with a motor and ball screw. The longitudinal movement of the electric wire is performed from state (D) to state (F) by the clamp 1 side 225 and the clamp 271 side 2 gripping the electric wire W in front of and behind the cutting and stripping section 204 and moving back and forth.

[0144] After the cutting for determining the wire length in Figure 22(C) is completed, the leading wire after cutting is called the 2-side wire W2, and the trailing wire is called the 1-side wire W1 (as described above). In Figure 22(F), the stripped insulation debris (not shown) is blown away by air from the inside of the stripping blades 241 and 243 (on the cutting blade 242 side), and then sucked into the stripped debris suction duct 250 (see Figure 15(A)) under negative pressure and discharged.

[0145] Another wire cutting and stripping device (204) of the present invention comprises a cutting blade (242) for cutting the wire and stripping blades (241 and 243) for making incisions in the insulation of the wire, arranged along the longitudinal direction of the wire, the device comprising: a slide block that is driven to reciprocate in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the wire; a stripping blade holder (541) attached to the slide block for holding the stripping blades (241 and 243); a cutting blade holder (543) mounted on the slide block for holding the cutting blade (242); and a cutting blade drive actuator that drives the cutting blade holder to reciprocate in the intersecting direction, wherein the mechanism for driving the slide block to reciprocate is electric, and after the wire is cut, the cutting blade (242) is moved away from the wire by the drive of the cutting blade drive actuator. The method is characterized by the following steps: after cutting the wire, the cut end of the wire is moved longitudinally beyond the front-to-back position of the cutting blade (242) to set the length of the long strip to be stripped; then the stripping blades (241 and 243) are used to cut into the wire's insulation; and then the wire is moved longitudinally to strip off the insulation.

[0146] Next, referring to Figure 23, we will explain the case of a single-sided long strip (the stripping length of the top of the wire W1 on side 1 is short, and the stripping length of the bottom of the wire W2 on side 2 is long). Up to (D') in Figure 23 (until the wire is cut), it is the same as (A) to (C) in Figure 22. In Figure 23 (D'), the cutting blade 242 is retracted independently away from the wire by a pneumatic cylinder (similar to reference numeral 44 in Figure 2).

[0147] Next, at (E'), the second wire W2 is moved backward until its rear end extends slightly behind the front-to-back position of the cutting blade 242. This is possible because the cutting blade 242 was moved out of the wire passage line at (D'). Next, at (F'), the stripping blades 241 and 243 cut into the wire insulation. Then, at (G'), the first wire W1 is moved backward and the second wire W2 is moved forward to strip the wire insulation. In this way, the cutting and stripping device 204 of this embodiment makes it easy to perform processing where the stripping length is longer than the "striping blade-cutting blade distance" (long stripping).

[0148] Next, the case of a long strip on both sides will be explained with reference to Figure 24. Up to Figure 24(a) (until the wire is cut), it is the same as Figures 22(A) to (C). In Figure 24(a), the cutting blade 242 is retracted independently away from the wire by a pneumatic cylinder (similar to reference numeral 44 in Figure 2).

[0149] Next, in Figure 24(a), the second wire W2 is moved backward until its rear end protrudes slightly behind the front-to-back position of the cutting blade 242, and the first wire W1 is retracted behind the rear stripping blade 241. Then, in (c), the front stripping blade 243 cuts into the wire insulation. Next, in (d), the second wire W2 is moved forward and the wire insulation is stripped. At this stage, the long stripping of the rear end (tail) of the second wire W2 is completed.

[0150] (O) After retracting each blade from the wire path, the wire W1 on side 1 is advanced so that its tip is in front of the cutting blade 242 in the front-rear direction. (Ka) The rear stripping blade 241 cuts into the insulation of the wire W1 on side 1. (Ki) The wire W1 on side 1 is retracted to strip the insulation. (Ku) Each blade is retracted from the wire path. (Ke) The cutting blade 242 is brought closer to the wire path by air cylinder drive. This state is the state in which the wire is waiting to advance to the cutting and stripping section 204.

[0151] As described above, in the cutting and stripping device 204 of this embodiment, by adjusting the operation sequence of the dual actuators for driving the slide block and driving the cutting blade 242, long stripping operations within the dimensional range between the arranged front and rear stripping blades 241 and 243 can be easily performed. Furthermore, as mentioned above, it is possible to prevent debris scattering and a decrease in removal function due to wire insulation debris adhering to the stripping blade. This prevents damage to the core wire caused by excessive cutting depth settings of the stripping blade, etc. It is also possible to prevent problems caused by insulation debris adhering to the stripping blade, such as machine body failure. Moreover, it can contribute to increased efficiency and energy savings in wire harness processing machine production.

Claims

1. A wire feeding unit (10) for feeding the wires, A wire cutting and stripping unit (4) cuts the supplied wire to a desired length and strips the insulation from the end of the wire, A terminal section (90) for treating the end of a stripped wire, A wire end processing device (1) comprising a clamp transport unit (70) that clamps the wire and transports it to each part, The wire feeding section (10), the wire cutting and stripping section (4), and the clamp transport section (70) are arranged from the rear to the front in the wire feeding direction. The clamp transport section (70) A clamp (71) having a pair of clamping claws (711) for gripping an electric wire, A driving means (73, 75) for driving the clamp, The clamp claw (711) is provided with an openable / closable wire sway suppressor (719) that extends forward in the direction of wire feeding, and which moves to the side of the wire to suppress the swaying of the wire. It is equipped with, The aforementioned vibration suppressor (719) consists of a pair of plates that open and close in accordance with the clamping operation, and as the plates close, the vibration of the electric wire is suppressed and brought towards the center. The wire end processing device (1) is characterized in that, with the clamping claws (711) closed and gripping the wire, the plate of the vibration suppressor (719) clamps both sides of the wire with a gap in between.

2. The wire end processing apparatus (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the gap is such that it suppresses the vibration of the wire without putting pressure on the terminal crimped to the end of the wire.

3. A method for cutting an electric wire having a core wire and outer insulation to a certain length, then stripping the insulation, and then performing end treatment, A method for manufacturing a terminalized wire, characterized by using the terminalized wire manufacturing apparatus (1) described in claim 1 or 2.

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