Machine comprising an equipping station for equipping connector housings and a placement station having a presentation panel for producing a wiring harness

Abstract

A machine (1) for producing wiring harnesses comprises an equipping station (4) with an arrangement (10) for equipping connector housings (7, 8) with prepared cable ends of cables. The arrangement (10) comprises an equipping panel (11) or two or more equipping panels (11, 12) which can be moved independently of one another, and to which housing holders (9) are attached or can be attached, said housing holders (9) being designed to hold connector housings (7, 8). The installation (1) also comprises a device (6) having a presentation panel (20) for producing a wiring harness. The housing holders (9) are designed as mobile housing holder modules (30) and, for the transfer from the equipping panel or panels (11, 12), can be slid towards the presentation panel (20) via a panel (21) of an intermediate station (5).

Description

[0001] System with a placement station for assembling connector housings and a routing station with a presentation plate for manufacturing a cable harness

[0002] The invention comprises a system with a mounting station with an arrangement for mounting connector housings with pre-assembled cable ends and a laying station for the production of cable harnesses, which includes a presentation plate.

[0003] Wiring harnesses, such as those used in automobiles or aircraft, consist of several cables, each typically fitted with connector housings at its pre-terminated ends. A wiring harness is thus an arrangement of multiple cables, in which the cables are joined together to form a structure with a frequently complex, branching geometry, similar to a tree.

[0004] Arrangements such as those known from EP 1 251 605 A1 are used for assembling connector housings with pre-assembled cable ends. For assembly, the connector housings are held in housing holders, which in turn are mounted on a mounting plate. This assembly station arrangement comprises a mounting unit with a cable gripper, which allows the pre-assembled cable ends to be inserted into the cells of the connector housings. Figure 1 shows such an arrangement with a mounting plate 11 and several housing holders 9, where the housing holders 9 have already been fitted with connector housings 7, 8. For the automated production of cable harnesses, the empty connector housings are mounted on the mounting plate using the housing holders.The placement unit with the cable gripper then guides the cable ends, for example, individual cable tips with a contact element, into the predetermined cell or chamber of the connector housing. The connector housings 7, 8 are arranged on the placement plate 11 in such a way that a placement sequence can be carried out without the placed cables and the cables yet to be placed interfering with each other.

[0005] EP 2 672 490 A2 shows a device forming a cable laying station with a horizontal display plate on which handling elements with U-shaped guide sections, into which cables can be placed, are magnetically attached. A rectangular base section, equipped with magnets, is connected to the U-shaped guide section. A flat friction element is also arranged on the base section to prevent slippage. Instead of handling elements with such guide sections, housing holders could also be attached to the display plate in the same way. One problem with this device is that the handling element is difficult to operate and cannot be easily repositioned on the display plate. Another problem is that it is only suitable for manual operation.Finally, the device is unsuitable for use in a system that still has an upstream arrangement for fitting connector housings with pre-assembled cable ends.

[0006] The demand for complex cable harnesses or those with a very large number of cables has increased significantly in recent years. Consequently, the need for efficient systems for populating connector housings with pre-terminated cable ends is also growing. As the number of connectors in a cable harness increases, so does the complexity and the size of the assembly plate's work area. For existing systems for populating connector housings with pre-terminated cable ends, placement units with cable grippers must be used, which require larger or longer drive axes for vertical positioning to cover the entire area. This increases the moving mass of the placement heads or units, leading to a reduction in dynamic performance.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the known and in particular to create an improved system for fitting connector housings with pre-assembled cable ends and for manufacturing a cable harness, which can be operated efficiently.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by a system with the features of claim 1. The system comprises a placement station with an arrangement for mounting connector housings with pre-assembled cable ends. The system comprises a placement plate to which housing holders are attached or can be attached, the respective housing holders being designed to hold connector housings. The system further comprises a routing station for manufacturing a cable harness, the device comprising a preferably vertical presentation plate on which cables fitted with connector housings can be arranged on a front side of the presentation plate, the housing holders being attached or attachable to the presentation plate.Because the housing holders are formed by mobile housing holder modules, and because the system is designed so that the housing holders can be moved from the assembly station to the placement station by sliding them on plates, the system can be operated more efficiently. Furthermore, this significantly improves the system's flexibility. In a transfer position, the plates, for example, the previously mentioned presentation plate and the assembly plate, can be arranged in the same plane or aligned and connected to each other, so that to transfer from one plate (e.g., presentation plate) to the at least temporarily adjacent plate (e.g., assembly plate), the housing holders can be slid from one plate to the now adjacent plate.

[0009] The system can include or be configured for housing holders formed by mobile housing holder modules. These mobile housing holder modules can be transferred to a presentation plate for the production of a cable harness, on which the cables of the cable harness can be arranged on one side of the presentation plate.

[0010] In one embodiment, the assembly plate can be designed to be directly connected to and detachable from a presentation plate for the production of a cable harness, or indirectly via a further plate of an intermediate station connected to a presentation plate for the production of a cable harness.

[0011] For safe operation, it can be advantageous if the mounting plate of the aforementioned arrangement has a positive locking element for a positive connection to the presentation plate or the aforementioned additional plate. The positive locking ensures a particularly secure connection between the parts, i.e., between the mounting plate on the one hand and the presentation plate on the other; or between the mounting plate on the one hand and the additional plate on the other. The positive locking element can, for example, be formed by a meandering design on one side of the mounting plate. This side can be characterized by a toothed or corrugated edge structure. The presentation plate or the additional plate can accordingly have a complementary positive locking element, at least in sections. Of course, alternatives to the aforementioned meandering design are also possible.Alternatively or additionally to positive locking, other connection types could also be used. For example, snap-fit ​​connections or couplings are conceivable for connecting or coupling the parts in question. Furthermore, the aforementioned parts could be connected to each other, for example, by means of magnets or other devices to create the transfer position.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the assembly station and the placement station can be arranged spatially and preferably control-wise separately from each other within the system. The system can include a mobile transfer device with a transfer plate between the assembly station and the placement station. The housing holders are attached or can be attached to this transfer plate, preferably in the same manner as those attached to the presentation plate and the assembly plate. The transfer device can be moved between the assembly station and the placement station to bridge the spatial separation between them. The transfer device can thus be docked either to the assembly station or to the placement station; consequently, two docking options are possible.Consequently, the transfer plate is one of the aforementioned plates that allows the housing holders to be moved from the assembly station to the installation station by sliding them across the plates. For plate-to-plate transfer, the transfer plate can be connected to and detached from a plate at the assembly station (e.g., the assembly plate itself or another plate associated with the assembly station) or from a plate at the installation station (e.g., the presentation plate or another plate adjoining the presentation plate, or possibly another plate associated with the installation station).In each transfer position, the plates (for example, for one docking position, the presentation plate and the transfer plate, possibly also a second plate adjoining the presentation plate of an intermediate station, which will be explained in more detail later; for the other docking position, which is assigned to the placement station, the placement plate or a plate upstream of the placement plate (provisioning plate) and the transfer plate) are arranged in the same plane or aligned with each other and connected so that, for transfer, the housing holders can be slid from one plate to the adjacent plate. The transfer plate can therefore, for example, be arranged in the same plane as the presentation plate of the placement station in a transfer position and connected to it, so that, for transfer from the transfer plate to the placement station (and vice versa), the housing holders can be slid from the transfer plate onto or towards the presentation plate.

[0013] The mobile transfer device preferably includes a transport device, designed as a sled, cart, or vehicle, for carrying and transporting the transfer plate. The operation of the mobile transfer device is preferably horizontal. For example, the mobile transport unit can be moved by an operator by pushing or pulling it using transport wheels. Instead of such a handcart, it is also conceivable that the mobile transfer device is actively moved by means of its own drive system. For example, the transport device can be designed as an automated guided vehicle (AGV).The transport device, designed as a cart or vehicle, leads to an advantageous logistics system and ensures that the mobile transfer unit, and thus the transfer plate, can be moved in all directions to the desired positions, and in particular to the loading or laying station. Even longer distances can be covered with the mobile transfer unit. A further advantage is that the flexibility of the system can be further improved.

[0014] The transfer plate can be detachably connected to the transport device or be permanently connected, so that after the transfer plate is coupled to the assembly station, the transport device can be moved away empty from the respective station (assembly station or placement station). This coupling to the assembly station can be direct or indirect, for example, if a supply plate is located upstream of the assembly plate. Coupling to the placement station can also be direct at the presentation plate or indirect, if a further plate is provided adjoining the presentation plate.

[0015] With regard to flexibility, it can be further advantageous if the system includes a manual work station, preferably spatially separated from both the assembly station and the laying station, to which the mobile transfer device, i.e., the transport device with the transfer plate, can be moved.

[0016] Furthermore, the transport device can be equipped with a storage aid, for example in the form of at least one freely rotating roller for storing cable harnesses with long cables.

[0017] For reliable operation, it can be advantageous if the transfer plate has at least one inclined docking contour and preferably docking contours on both sides. In the latter case, with two docking contours, the transfer plate can particularly preferably have the shape of an isosceles trapezoid. The docking contours would then correspond to the legs of the trapezoid. The loading station or the laying station can be provided with complementary docking contours.

[0018] For docking the transfer plate, the loading station and the placement station can each be designed such that, preferably in a final docking step, the transfer plate, once moved towards the loading station or placement station, is connected by or after lifting, and that the lifted transfer plate is secured from above by means of securing devices in operative contact with the transfer plate. The lifting motion is clearly a vertical movement perpendicular to the direction of travel. This design also has the advantage that, after completion of the lifting process, the transport device is free and can now be moved away empty from the respective station.

[0019] The system can be further characterized by the fact that the housing holders are assigned to mobile housing holder modules for the production of a cable harness. These modules can be transferred directly or indirectly from the assembly plate or, using the transfer plate described above, to the vertical presentation plate. The respective housing holder can be designed to pivot relative to a base body such that, in a folded-up position for assembly, the housing holder (or more precisely, a housing holder) is horizontally oriented, and in a folded-down position for cable harness production, it is vertically oriented. Securing devices, particularly in the form of a locking mechanism, are provided to secure the folded-up or folded-down position of the housing holders. The locking mechanism can, for example, comprise a spring-loaded ball detent, a locking lug, or locking or snap pins.Besides the locking mechanism, other types of securing devices are possible as an alternative or additional measure. For example, the housing holder could be magnetically secured in the folded-up position.

[0020] Such and other mobile housing holder modules can, for example, be designed to be magnetically attached or attachable to the assembly plate, the presentation plate, and, if applicable, the transfer plate, and are preferably designed such that the housing holder modules can be moved in all directions on the planes defined by the plates (in particular, assembly plate, presentation plate, transfer plate). Magnetic attachment has the advantage that the housing holder module can be reliably attached to the assembly plate and the presentation plate, while at the same time the position of the handling element can be changed quickly and easily. For certain applications, it can also be advantageous to use a pneumatic system to create an air cushion between the handling element and the assembly plate or the transfer plate.The presentation plate allows the mobile housing holder modules to be moved even more efficiently on the assembly plate or the presentation plate.

[0021] The mobile housing holder module can each comprise a front housing holder part and a rear traversing part, wherein the handling part and the associated traversing part are attached to the intermediate assembly plate and, if present, presentation plate by means of magnets, preferably permanent magnets, such that the handling part moves along with the traversing part. If pneumatics are also provided, the air cushion reduces the magnetic holding force between the traversing part and the assembly plate or presentation plate on the one hand, and between the housing holder part and the assembly plate or presentation plate on the other, thus making the movement easy and, in particular, requiring little effort. The device is evidently designed such that the pneumatic system itself operates two air cushions or...An air cushion with two partial cushion segments per housing holder can be generated.

[0022] Permanent magnets can be used for the magnetic attachment of the housing holders, and in particular the mobile housing holder modules, to the preferably vertical plates—i.e., the assembly plate, the vertical presentation plate, and optionally the transfer plate, as well as any other plates. These magnets securely hold the handling elements in the desired position on the respective plate (assembly plate, presentation plate, transfer plate, other plates). Preferably, permanent magnets strong enough to prevent the handling elements from unintentionally detaching from the assembly plate, presentation plate, or any other plate, even under higher loads, are selected. However, it is also advantageous to select permanent magnets strong enough to allow the handling elements to be easily replaced by hand when necessary. Alternatively, the replacement process could be pneumatically assisted.In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned arrangement of the respective housing holder can be freely rotatable with respect to a normal direction defined, for example, by the assembly plate (i.e., rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the assembly plate or the assembly zone, which plane preferably corresponds to the plane of the presentation plate) with respect to a base body, wherein anti-rotation means are provided so that, when the housing holder is in the folded-up position, rotation of the housing holder with respect to the normal direction is blocked.

[0023] To form the anti-rotation device, an engagement element can be arranged on the housing holder, particularly on the housing holder part of the two-part mobile housing holder module, and a corresponding receptacle can be provided on the base body. In the folded-up position, the engagement element is received in the receptacle. In the folded-down position, the engagement element lies outside the receptacle; the engagement to lock the rotational movement obviously only exists in the folded-up position. The anti-rotation device could also be formed by magnetic means, either alternatively or additionally. The engagement element or the receptacle could, for example, have a permanent magnet, so that in the folded-up position the engagement element remains reliably in the receptacle thanks to magnetic force. Instead of the described engagement element, locking bolts or a latch could also be conceivable as anti-rotation devices.

[0024] The respective arrangements described above can be equipped with a fixing device, preferably comprising clamping rails or other means for securing the housing holders or housing holder modules in position during an assembly process. The fixing device ensures that the housing holder, fitted with a connector housing, remains in its position while cable ends are inserted into cells of the connector housing during the assembly process, for example, by means of a placement unit with a cable gripper. Instead of clamping rails, for cable harnesses with few connectors, the housing holders could also be fixed using parallel grippers that are moved towards the housing holders.

[0025] The fixing device can have at least two parallel clamping rails, wherein several housing holders or housing holder modules are arranged in a row and can be sandwich-like clamped between each pair of clamping rails. The fixing device with the clamping rails can preferably be designed so that several rows of housing holders can be secured in position within the fixing device.

[0026] The clamping rails can be operated actively or passively. In the passive case, the clamping rails can be rigid or fixed in relation to the mounting plate. The clamping is achieved by matching the housing holders and clamping rails in such a way that, after the housing holders are inserted into the fixing device, they fit snugly between two clamping rails without any play.

[0027] However, it is preferable if the clamping rails are actively operable. A relative movement of the clamping rails can be generated by means of one or more actuators, whereby the clamping rails are moved towards each other, so that housing holders arranged in a row are sandwiched between the clamping rails.

[0028] The entire clamping rail can be designed to be movable by means of the actuator and directly actuate the housing holders. The clamping rail can have one or more movable rail sections that clamp onto the housing holders. Alternatively, each housing holder can be provided with clamping elements or jaws similar to a punch. These clamping elements or jaws can be integrated into the clamping rail and moved individually or together towards the housing holders by means of one or more actuators to create the clamping effect.

[0029] The respective housing holder can have a flat surface, formed, for example, by a square section or a section with a rectangular cross-section, as the contact surface for the clamping rail for positional securing.

[0030] In particular, if at least one mounting plate is arranged on a vertical plane, it is advantageous if clamping rails run in a vertical or horizontal direction.

[0031] Preferably, the respective assembly plate or assembly zone can have vertical clamping rails. Particularly in the case of the assembly plate, at least two or more vertically movable assembly plates can be provided, whereby when the respective assembly plates are moved, the clamping rails and thus the housing holders fixed or secured by them are also moved.Alternatively, particularly in the case of the assembly zone, the vertical clamping rails can be arranged in a plate adjoining a presentation plate or in the presentation plate itself in such a way that the clamping rails are fixed at least in the vertical direction on the aforementioned plate or presentation plate and the clamping rails are firmly connected to the plate or presentation plate for passive clamping, or that for active clamping the clamping rails can be moved towards each other in a horizontal direction.

[0032] Several advantages arise from the fact that the housing holders are formed by mobile housing holder modules, and that at least one assembly plate can be arranged in at least one transfer position in the same plane as the presentation plate, so that for transfer from the arrangement (the assembly station) to the setup (the routing station), and vice versa, the housing holders can be slid or otherwise moved from the assembly plate to or towards the presentation plate, or that the assembly zone is integrated into the presentation plate. For example, this system allows the manufacturing process to be easily automated, enabling the significantly faster and simpler production of cable harnesses in large quantities.

[0033] The installation station with the equipment for manufacturing a cable harness comprises a preferably vertical presentation plate. In addition to the housing holders, further handling elements, such as deflectors for redirecting the cable path or uprights, can be attached to the presentation plate as needed. The presentation plate, on the one hand, and the housing holders and, if applicable, the further handling elements, on the other hand, can be designed such that the housing holders and the handling elements are magnetically attached or attachable to the presentation plate. For example, the housing holders and the handling elements can each comprise a front housing holder part or handling part and a rear traversing part, wherein the housing holder part or handling part is...The handling element and the associated traversing element are attached to the intermediate presentation plate by means of magnets, preferably permanent magnets, such that the housing holder element or handling element can move along with it when the traversing element is moved. For magnetic attachment, the presentation plate can be made of a non-ferromagnetic material. At least one of the parts (i.e., housing holder element or handling element, traversing element) of the respective housing holder or handling element can be equipped with a permanent magnet, and the other part can contain ferromagnetic material or also be equipped with a permanent magnet, but with opposite poles, so that the permanent magnets attract each other. Additionally, the device can include a pneumatic system with which an air cushion can be generated between the housing holder or handling element and the presentation plate, so that the housing holder or handling element...Handling elements can be moved particularly easily and efficiently on the presentation plate. For the latter case, the presentation plate can be designed as a perforated plate, which has a plurality of holes, preferably distributed across the presentation plate, through which compressed air can be passed to create the air cushion between the housing holder or handling element and the presentation plate. Such devices are shown and described in the unpublished International Patent Application with the International File Number PCT / EP2023 / 085871 and the also unpublished European Patent Application with the European Application Number 23194246.7, the relevant disclosures of which are hereby incorporated into the present application. The at least one assembly plate can preferably be designed in the same or a similar manner to the presentation plate, particularly with regard to material and construction.This means the component placement plate can be made of a non-ferromagnetic material and, if an air cushion is to be created, can be designed as a perforated plate. The same applies, if present, to the intermediate station plate.

[0034] One embodiment relates to a system for the production of cable harnesses, which, if it has a vertical presentation plate, is characterized in that the housing holders (in particular housing holder parts) are designed to pivot relative to the base body between a folded-up position and a folded-down position, wherein in the folded-up position the housing holders are horizontally oriented for assembly, and in the folded-down position the housing holders are vertically oriented for cable harness production, wherein locking means, in particular in the form of a locking mechanism, are preferably provided for securing the folded-up position or the folded-down position of the housing holders.

[0035] The system according to this embodiment preferably further comprises an intermediate station in which the housing holders are folded up and down. The intermediate station has a plate adjoining the presentation plate, on which housing holders can be mounted and which is designed such that the housing holders are movable in all directions of the plane defined by this plate (i.e., this plate is generally coplanar to the presentation plate). It includes a folding-up module for folding up the housing holders and a folding-down module for folding down the housing holders. The plate of the intermediate station can be a separate plate that directly adjoins and is rigidly connected to the presentation plate. Alternatively, this plate can be a component integrally formed with the presentation plate, resulting in a single-piece component comprising the presentation plate and the intermediate station plate.Furthermore, the aforementioned plate could also be integrated into the presentation plate and designed as an area within the presentation plate.

[0036] The sliding movement on plates mentioned at the beginning refers to the movement of housing holders from one plate to the adjacent plate. For this to occur, the plates are at least temporarily connected and arranged on a common plane, i.e., flush with each other. Thus, in this transfer position, a housing holder can be moved, for example, from the plate adjacent to the presentation plate to the transfer plate (and vice versa). The housing holder, once moved onto the transfer plate, can then be transported to the assembly station along with the transfer plate. In its next transfer position, the housing holder can then be moved directly from the transfer plate to the assembly plate or, if necessary, onto a staging plate located upstream of the assembly plate.

[0037] From a procedural point of view, it can be advantageous if the flip-up module is arranged in the area of ​​one side, and in particular in the area of ​​an upper side of the plate, and the flip-down module is arranged in the area of ​​an opposite side, and in particular in the area of ​​a lower side of the plate, so that the housing holders can be brought to the assembly arrangement in a horizontal direction through the flip-up module and the housing holders can be brought back to the presentation plate in an opposite horizontal direction through the flip-down module, whereby the housing holders go through a kind of cycle.

[0038] An advantageous system can be achieved if the system includes an arrangement for assembling connector housings with at least one assembly plate that can be connected to and detached from the intermediate station plate to create a transfer position, so that the detached assembly plate, with the housing holders filled with connector housings, can be moved to the aforementioned arrangement for assembly. The assembly plate can be connected to the intermediate station in such a way that, once the connection is established, the assembly plate connects directly and without gap to the intermediate station plate, preferably flush, thus creating an advantageous transfer position in which the housing holders can be moved or transferred easily from the intermediate station plate to the assembly plate (and vice versa).

[0039] Alternatively, the at least one assembly plate can be arranged at an end of the presentation plate or the intermediate station plate extending in a first direction, particularly in a vertical direction, and the assembly plate can be slidably connected to the presentation plate or the plate in the first direction, particularly in the vertical direction. Preferably, a plurality of assembly plates, in particular a plurality of slidable strip-shaped assembly plates, can be provided, each assembly plate being configured to receive a single row of housing holders, such that the assembly plates define paths extending in the first direction, particularly in the vertical direction, along which paths the housing holders can pass the respective assembly plate during the assembly process.To form such paths, the mounting plate can have two clamping rails which, together with the associated mounting plate, define a U-shaped channel.

[0040] For an alternative embodiment of the system, the presentation plate or the intermediate station plate can have a recess in which the at least one assembly plate is slidably mounted between two end positions, wherein the assembly plate in one of the end positions is connected to the presentation plate or the intermediate station plate on one side of the recess to form a transfer position for a loading operation (loading the assembly plate with housing holder), and wherein the assembly plate in the other end position is connected to the presentation plate or the intermediate station plate on a side of the recess opposite the aforementioned side to form a transfer position for an unloading operation (unloading the assembly plate from the housing holder).

[0041] According to this embodiment, at least one assembly plate is slidably arranged within the presentation plate or the intermediate station plate. The assembly plate can be moved back and forth between two end positions. One end position (e.g., when the assembly plate is at the top) can be used for loading with housing holders. The other end position can be used for unloading housing holders. It can also be advantageous if the assembly plate has a positive locking element for positive connection to the presentation plate or the other plate.For another alternative embodiment of the system, the presentation plate or the plate of the intermediate station can be provided as a placement zone to form the placement station, wherein the presentation plate or the plate is equipped with a fixing device comprising preferably clamping rails or other means for securing the housing holders in position during a placement process.

[0042] If a transfer plate is provided between the presentation plate or intermediate station plate on the one hand and the assembly plate on the other, the transfer plate can transfer the housing holders from the presentation plate or intermediate station plate to the assembly plate. The distance between these two plates is freely selectable, as the transfer plate can have its own transfer transport system. The transfer plate allows for the physical and control-related separation of the presentation plate or intermediate station plate and the assembly plate.

[0043] The transfer plate allows the cable harness to be moved to manual workstations, for example, for manual assembly with special wires, splicing of cable ends, repair of failed assembly, or rejection of defective cable harnesses. The transfer plate can be connected to a logistics system for this purpose. This logistics system can consist of handcarts, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), a rail system, or other transport or conveying equipment. Furthermore, the transfer plate allows the cable harnesses from one assembly station to be distributed across multiple presentation plates. The individual transport units of the logistics system can include storage aids to safely stow cable harnesses with long cables (e.g., 4-8 m) on the transport unit.

[0044] For the variant in which at least one assembly plate is designed to be directly connected to and detachable from a presentation plate or indirectly via another plate of an intermediate station adjoining a presentation plate, it may be advantageous if, in the presence of at least one assembly plate, the at least two assembly plates can form a common assembly and be arranged directly adjacent to each other in at least one neutral position.

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment, if the at least two assembly plates, preferably arranged on a common plane, are arranged on a (preferably common) vertical plane, the assembly plates can be displaceable in the vertical direction or in their height position.

[0046] It is particularly preferred if the at least two assembly plates are slidably mounted relative to a frame or support structure, and especially relative to linear guides, such that the displacement is less than the height of the respective assembly plate and preferably less than half the height of the respective assembly plate. The assembly plates can preferably be identical, at least with respect to their dimensions (width, height). In a top view, the assembly plates can have a rectangular shape, the rectangle being defined by its width and height. For such assembly plates, it can therefore be advantageous if the displacement, and more precisely the maximum displacement, is less than half the height of the respective rectangular assembly plate.The two corresponding assembly plates (of the common assembly) are advantageously positioned in a neutral position with respect to the direction of movement; that is, with vertical orientation and vertical movement, the assembly plates are at the same height in the neutral position. During the assembly process, the assembly plates are selectively moved to the height position so that the two connector housing combs to be assembled are positioned within a narrow assembly lane or even on an optimal assembly line. This eliminates the need for large or long drive shafts for the vertical positioning of the placement heads or units, resulting in a low weight and mass for the placement head while maintaining high dynamic performance.

[0047] According to another embodiment, a charging station can be integrated into the laying station, enabling the laying station to be equipped with new or additional housing holders. To allow housing holders to be removed from the presentation plate in an orderly manner or new housing holders to be added, the charging station can be designed to accommodate a charging plate.

[0048] A charging plate can be connected to the presentation plate or to the plate adjoining the presentation plate in the charging station area. To add new housing holders to the presentation plate, the housing holders are arranged on the charging plate. First, the moving parts are positioned in a positioning aid. The positioning aid has corresponding recesses to accommodate the moving parts. Additionally, the positioning aid has elements for aligning the moving parts. In the simplest case, this can be achieved through a specific fit or pins that allow only one orientation.

[0049] The loading plate is then placed on the positioning aid with the moving parts, and the housing holder parts are positioned on it. The loading plate may have markings to ensure the housing holder parts are correctly coupled to the moving parts. After coupling, the positioning aid can be removed, and the loading plate attached to the charging station. A positioning system moves the housing holders from the loading plate to the presentation plate or the plate of the intermediate station. For removal, the positioning system moves the housing holders back onto the loading plate of the charging station.

[0050] Several transfer plates can be used in the system. To differentiate the individual transfer plates, they can be equipped with a plate identification system (e.g., barcode, QR code, RFID, or similar).

[0051] Furthermore, the transfer plate can also take a finished cable harness from the presentation plate and transport it to another station. These other stations can be a testing station, a packaging station, or an assembly station for immediate installation.

[0052] Further individual features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the drawings. These show:

[0053] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an arrangement for mounting connector housings with pre-assembled cable ends of cables using a mounting plate according to the prior art.

[0054] Figure 2a shows a perspective view of an arrangement with two assembly plates and housing holders mounted on them before the connector housings are fitted with the cable ends, with the assembly plates in a neutral position.

[0055] Figure 2b shows the arrangement from Fig. 2a with shifted assembly plates, Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a system according to the invention with a device comprising a presentation plate for the production of a cable harness (laying station) and an assembly station,

[0056] Figure 4a shows a perspective view of a variant of a housing holder in a folded-down position,

[0057] Figure 4b shows the housing holder from Fig. 4a in the folded-up position,

[0058] Figure 5a shows a side view with partial section of a housing holder attached to a mounting plate in the folded-down position,

[0059] Figure 5b shows the housing holder from Fig. 5a in the folded-up position,

[0060] Figure 6 shows a section of a simplified front view of a system with a presentation plate of a routing station for the production of a cable harness and a mounting plate for a mounting station for the assembly of connector housings with pre-assembled cable ends of cables.

[0061] Figure 7 shows the mounting plate from Fig. 6 in an enlarged perspective view.

[0062] Depiction,

[0063] Figure 8a shows a perspective view of another arrangement for mounting connector housings with pre-assembled cable ends of cables with two mounting plates in a neutral position.

[0064] Figure 8b shows the arrangement from Fig. 8a with shifted mounting plates,

[0065] Figure 9 shows a section of a side view of a system in which the arrangement according to Figs. 8a, 8b is installed.

[0066] Figure 10 shows an alternative embodiment of a system according to Fig. 9, Figure 11 shows a further embodiment of a system,

[0067] Figure 12 shows another embodiment of a system with a laying station, assembly station and mobile transfer device.

[0068] Figures 13a-b show views of the system from Fig. 12 with the mobile transfer device in manual workstations.

[0069] Figure 14 shows an enlarged view of a loading platform for the system from Fig. 12.

[0070] Figure 15 shows a positioning aid for the loading plate from Fig. 14.

[0071] Figure 16 shows another example of a system with a laying station, assembly station and mobile transfer unit.

[0072] Figures 17a to d show a simplified representation of the transport process with respect to the mobile transfer device for the plant in the manner shown in Fig. 16.

[0073] Figure 18 shows a mobile transfer device designed as a cart with a storage aid,

[0074] Figures 19 a, b show further embodiments of a carriage with storage aid, and

[0075] Figure 20 is a perspective and enlarged view of a transfer plate.

[0076] Figures 2a and 2b show an arrangement designated 10 for mounting connector housings 7, 8 with pre-assembled cable ends (not shown). The arrangement 10 has two mounting plates 11, 12 arranged on a common vertical plane. Housing holders 9 are mounted on the mounting plates 11, 12. The housing holders 9 are designed to hold connector housings 7, 8. The arrangement 10 can further form a mounting station by including a mounting unit (not shown) with a cable gripper, with which the pre-assembled cable ends can be inserted into predetermined cells or chambers of the connector housings 7, 8. Instead of a cable gripper, the mounting unit can also have a different mounting head for gripping and inserting the cable ends into the connector housing.The placement unit could also have two placement heads, allowing both ends of a cable to be inserted into corresponding cells of connector housings simultaneously or at different times.

[0077] The arrangement 10 with the two component mounting plates 11, 12 is designed such that the mounting plates 11, 12 are movable independently of each other in the vertical direction. In Figure 2a, the component mounting plates 11, 12 of the arrangement 10 are in a neutral position. The following section illustrates the component placement using an example of a cable harness that has a central connector from which all connections to the other connectors originate in a stem configuration. For this purpose, several housing holders 9, each holding a connector housing 7, are mounted on the component mounting plate 11. The aforementioned central connector is designated 8. This specific connector housing 8 is held on the adjacent component mounting plate 12. A suitable housing holder 9 serves to hold the connector housing 8.

[0078] For component placement, the assembly plates 11 and 12 are moved to their vertical positions so that the two connector housing combs to be populated lie within a narrow assembly band or, ideally, on an optimal assembly line with respect to the centrally located connector housings 8 and 9. For example, assembly plate 11 is moved upwards in the f1 direction and assembly plate 12 is moved downwards in the f2 direction. Figure 2b shows the arrangement with the assembly plates 11 and 12 moved in this manner. The previously mentioned assembly line is indicated by the dashed line 15. Thanks to the ideal positioning of the connector housings 8 and 9, the assembly of the connector housings 7 and 8 with pre-assembled cable ends can now be simplified and optimized.This eliminates the need for large or long drive shafts for the placement heads to adjust their height and insert the cable ends into the predetermined chambers, thus keeping their mass low and their dynamics high. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the height position of one or both placement plates 11, 12 is changed once or several times during the placement process.

[0079] The at least two mounting plates 11, 12 form a common assembly and are arranged directly adjacent to each other, at least in the neutral position. According to the present embodiment, the mounting plates 11, 12 have a rectangular shape in plan view and are identical; in particular, the rectangular mounting plates 11, 12 have the same width and height. The two mounting plates 11, 12 are preferably mounted so that they are displaceably limited relative to linear guides 16, 17, such that the maximum displacement is less than half the height H of the respective mounting plate 11, 12. However, it can also be advantageous if the maximum displacement is less than the height H. Actuators (not shown) can be used to move the mounting plates 11, 12 along the linear guides 16, 17, with which the desired height position of the respective mounting plate can be precisely set.The assembly process can be easily automated using controllable actuators.

[0080] In the embodiment shown in Figures 2a and 2b, the housing holders 9 are attached to the assembly plates 11 and 12 via plug connectors. However, it can also be advantageous to attach the housing holders to the assembly plates in a different way. In particular, with regard to the production of the cable harness, it may be desirable for the housing holders to be mobile, allowing them to be easily moved on the assembly plates. The system shown in Figure 3 below has such mobile housing holders.

[0081] Figure 3 shows a system for manufacturing cable harnesses, designated as system 1. System 1 comprises several stations: a device 6, including a presentation plate 20, for manufacturing a cable harness (hereinafter referred to as the laying station); an intermediate station 5; a mounting station 4 with the arrangement 10 for mounting connector housings with pre-assembled cable ends; and a cable processing machine 3. Electrical or other cables are assembled in the cable processing machine 3. The cable processing machine 3 may include a stripping station for cutting and stripping the cables, one or more crimping stations for applying crimp contacts to the stripped cable ends, and optionally one or more crimping stations.Of course, it is also conceivable to carry out the cable assembly at a separate location and to provide the system with pre-fabricated cables with pre-terminated cable ends. The cable processing machine 3 therefore does not necessarily have to be part of the system 1 described in detail below. The housing holders 9 are formed by mobile housing holder modules that can be attached to the presentation plate 2 and can be moved in all directions on the presentation plate 20. The presentation plate 20 is designed as a perforated plate made of a non-ferromagnetic material, which has a large number of holes distributed across it. The housing holder 9, formed as a mobile housing holder module, is magnetically attached to, or can be attached to, the presentation plate 20.The installation station with the device 6 further includes a pneumatic system with which an air cushion can be generated between the housing holder module and the presentation plate. A positioning system is provided for moving the housing holders 9 into the desired position on the presentation plate, which is preferably integrated into the presentation plate 20, wherein the integrated positioning system is in particular formed by a gantry robot. Figure 3 also shows a processing robot 44 designed as an articulated arm robot, with which, for example, spot tapes can be attached to the cables 2 of the cable harness.

[0082] The intermediate station 5 has a plate 21 adjoining the presentation plate 20, which is designed in the same or a similar way to the presentation plate. The mobile housing holder modules can thus be magnetically attached to the plate 21, which is made of a non-ferromagnetic material and designed as a perforated plate. A separate positioning system, such as a gantry robot, can be provided for moving the mobile housing holder modules on the plate 21. However, it is also conceivable to adapt the system so that the gantry robot used to move the mobile housing holder modules can also be used to move the housing holders on the plate 21.

[0083] A possible process sequence is as follows: The empty housing carriers move from presentation plate 20 to intermediate station 5. At this intermediate station 5, the heads of the housing carriers (housing holders) are folded upwards by 90°. The housing holders have a locking mechanism and a rotation lock for this purpose. In this position, the connector housings can be inserted into the housing holders. Subsequently, the housing carriers are moved onto at least one assembly plate of assembly station 4. After assembly is complete, the housing holders are moved again to intermediate station 5, where they are folded down and then moved further to presentation plate 20, where the remaining steps for manufacturing the cable harness take place. - TI -

[0084] A possible embodiment of a mobile housing holder 9 is shown in Figures 4a and 4b. The housing holder 9 is pivotably connected to a base body 33. A permanent magnet can be integrated into the base body 33, allowing the housing holder 9 to be attached to a component mounting plate via the base body. The housing holder 9 is pivotable relative to the base body 33 such that, in a folded-down position for cable harness assembly, it is vertically oriented (Figure 4a), and in a folded-up position for component mounting, it is horizontally oriented. A locking mechanism 35 is provided at the pivot bearing to secure the folded-up and folded-down positions. The housing holder 9 can be freely rotatable with respect to a normal direction defined by the component mounting plate or a surface to which the module can be attached. The corresponding axis of rotation is shown in Figure 4a.4a is recognizable and labelled 43. The axis of rotation thus runs perpendicular to the plane of the surface, e.g., to the front of the assembly plate.

[0085] However, anti-rotation means can be provided so that, when the housing holder 9 is in the folded-up position, rotation of the housing holder 9 with respect to the normal direction is blocked. In this case, the anti-rotation means are formed by an engagement element 36 arranged on the housing holder 9 and a corresponding receptacle 37 arranged on the base body 33. As can be seen in Fig. 4b, the engagement element 36 lies in the receptacle 37. This engagement to block the rotational movement exists only in the folded-up position. In the folded-down position, the engagement element 36 lies outside the receptacle 37.

[0086] Figures 5a and 5b show a housing holder 9 associated with a mobile housing holder module 30, which is used in the previously shown system 1. As can be seen from the figures, the housing holder module 30 is designed in two parts and consists of a housing holder part 31 and a traversing part 32. The design of the housing holder part 31 with the housing holder 9 corresponds to that shown in Figures 4a and 4b. The housing holder part 31 is located on the front side of the assembly plate 11, and the traversing part 32 is located on the rear side of the presentation plate 20 opposite the front side. In other words, the housing holder part and the associated traversing part are thus mounted on opposite sides (front and rear) of the assembly plate 11. Moving the traversing part 32 on the assembly plate 11 also moves the housing holder part 31.The two parts 31 and 32 are separated from each other by the mounting plate 11, but are in operative connection with each other (by magnetic force) and belong together.

[0087] The mounting plate 11 is designed as a perforated plate and consists of a non-ferromagnetic material. This perforated plate has a plurality of through-holes 45 evenly distributed on the presentation plate. Compressed air can be passed through these holes 45 to create an air cushion between the housing holder module 30 and the mounting plate 11. The sectional view in Fig. 5a clearly shows that the rear traversing element 32 has a pneumatic connection through which compressed air can be supplied. In the same way, the two-part housing holder module 30 can be moved on the presentation plate and the intermediate station plate (see previous Fig. 3). Reference is further made to the as yet unpublished European patent application with European application number 23194246.Reference is made to document 7 of the applicant, from which further details on the design of the magnetically acting and pneumatically movable housing holder and the intermediate plate (there using the presentation plate as an example) can be obtained.

[0088] Figure 6 shows a system 1 with the arrangement 10 for assembling connector housings with pre-assembled cable ends. The arrangement 10 comprises only a mounting plate 11 to which housing holders 9 are attached or can be attached. In addition to the mounting station with the arrangement 10, the system 1 includes the presentation plate 20 of the routing station 6 for manufacturing a cable harness. The system 1 further includes the intermediate station 5, in which the housing holders 9 are folded up and down. The intermediate station 5 has a plate 21 adjoining the presentation plate 20, on which housing holders 9 can be attached. The plate 21 is designed such that the housing holders 9 are movable in all directions of the plane defined by the plate. The intermediate station 5 has a folding module 24 for folding up housing holders 9 and a folding module 25 for folding down housing holders 9.

[0089] The housing holders 9, formed by mobile housing holder modules 30, can be moved on the respective plates, i.e., presentation plate 20, plate 21, and assembly plate 11, in the manner described above. The assembly plate 11 can be connected to the presentation plate via the plate 21. Figure 6 shows system 1 with the assembly plate 11 detached from the plate 21. To connect them, the assembly plate 11 is moved horizontally in the e-direction. Once the connection is established, a transfer position is created in which the housing holders 9 can be slid from the assembly plate 11 onto or towards the plate 21 for transfer from the arrangement 10 to the placement station 6 (and vice versa). In the present embodiment, the plate 21 is configured for two transfer positions. A first transfer position is above, indicated by the section labelled 26, and the second transfer position is below, indicated by the section labelled 27.The mounting plate 11 can be moved up and down in the f-direction along the linear guide 16.

[0090] The mounting plate 11 has a positive locking element 22 for positive connection to the further plate 21, wherein the positive locking element 22 is evidently formed by a meandering design on one side of the mounting plate 11. In other words, this side has a toothed or wave-like edge structure. The plate 21 has complementary positive locking elements in sections 26 and 27.

[0091] Constructive details regarding the design of the assembly plate 11 according to Fig. 6 can be seen in Fig. 7. This shows, among other things, that the assembly plate 11 is equipped with a fixing device comprising clamping rails 40 for securing the housing holders 9 in position during the assembly process. The clamping rails 40, which run parallel to each other, extend horizontally. Several housing holders 9 can be picked up in a sandwich-like arrangement between two clamping rails 40. For reliable positional securing, each housing holder 9 can have a flat surface as a contact surface for the clamping rail. This contact surface is formed, for example, by a square section or a rectangular section in cross-section, which can be seen in Figures 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b and is labelled 38 there.

[0092] The clamping rails 40 serve to fix or actively clamp the housing holders 9. The housing holders 9 for different connector housings preferably have uniform contact surfaces, so that the clamping rails 40 do not need to be adapted to the size of the connector housings.

[0093] The housing holders 9 also have markings 39 by which they can be optically identified. These markings can also serve to determine the position of the chambers of the respective connector housing. Similar markings are also known to those skilled in the art as "fiducial markers," which are used, for example, on printed circuit boards as optical reference points. In English, fiducial markers are called "fiducial markers" or simply "fiducial."

[0094] In contrast to the arrangement 10 according to Fig. 7 with only one component mounting plate, Figures 8a and 8b show an arrangement 10 with two component mounting plates 11 and 12. Figures 8a and 8b are highly detailed, so that design details for the component mounting plates 11 and 12 can be derived from these figures. This arrangement 10 with the two component mounting plates 11 and 12 has essentially the same functionality as the arrangement according to Figs. 2a and 2b, except that it is designed for the housing holders 9 formed by mobile housing holder modules 30.

[0095] Each assembly plate 11, 12 has several parallel, vertically extending clamping rails 40, enabling each assembly plate to accommodate two vertical rows of housing holders 9. For assembly, assembly plate 11 is moved downwards in the fl direction and assembly plate 12 is moved upwards in the f2 direction. Figure 8b shows the arrangement 10 after such a movement. The dashed line 18 indicates an assembly line for optimal placement of the connector housings 7 according to the assembly plan.

[0096] Figure 9 shows the system 1 in which the arrangement 10 according to Fig. 8a / 8b is installed. This arrangement 1 has a plate 21 with a recess 28. The two assembly plates 11, 12 are each slidably mounted between two end positions, wherein the respective assembly plate 11, 12 can be connected to the plate 21 on an upper side of the recess 28 in one of the end positions to form a transfer position for a loading process (loading the assembly plate with the housing holder), and wherein the respective assembly plate 11, 12 can be connected to the plate 21 on an opposite lower side of the recess 28 in the other end position to form a transfer position for an unloading process (unloading the assembly plate from the housing holder).

[0097] The mounting plates 11, 12 are thus movable back and forth between the two end positions; the upper end position for loading and the other end position for unloading. Arrows ti and tr indicate movements of the housing holders 9 for the loading process, and arrows t2 and t2' indicate movements of the housing holders 9 for the unloading process. The lift-up module 24 is located on the upper side of plate 21, and the lower module 25 is located on the opposite lower side of plate 21, so that the housing holders can be moved towards the mounting arrangement in the horizontal direction ti by the lift-up module 24, and the housing holders can be moved back towards the presentation plate in the opposite horizontal direction t2 by the lower module 25, thus causing the housing holders 9 to complete a cycle.

[0098] Another variant of system 1 is shown in Figure 10. System 1 according to this embodiment does not have assembly plates, but rather an assembly zone. This assembly zone, designated 15, is provided in the plate 21 of the intermediate station 5 to form an assembly station. In the area of ​​assembly zone 15, plate 21 is equipped with a fixing device comprising clamping rails 40 to secure the housing holders 9 in position during the assembly process. The vertical clamping rails 40 are connected to plate 21. The housing holders 9 are moved from top to bottom through the assembly zone defined by the clamping rails 40, with the allocation of the paths taking the assembly plan into account.

[0099] As described in the initial example of the cable harness with a central connector (see Fig. 1, 2a / b), the central connector would be placed on one track and the remaining connector housings on the other tracks. The central connector is moved only slightly during the assembly process, while the other connectors are moved more. After successful connection, the entire group of housing holders 9 required for the cable harness can be moved out of the assembly zone; the remaining steps remain essentially the same. New groups of housing holders 9 can then be processed immediately.

[0100] Figure 11 relates to a variant of an arrangement 10 for mounting connector housings with pre-assembled cable ends, which has a plurality of slidable, strip-shaped mounting plates 11, 12, 13, 14. Each mounting plate 11, 12, 13, 14 is designed to receive a single row of housing holders 9. Each mounting plate 11, 12, 13, 14 has two clamping rails 40 which, together with the mounting plate, define a U-shaped channel. The mounting plates 11, 12, 13, 14 are arranged at a vertically extending end 29 of the plate 21 and are slidably connected to the plate 21 in the vertical direction.Each assembly plate is designed to accommodate a single row of housing holders, defining vertically extending paths along which the housing holders 9 can traverse the respective assembly plate during the assembly process. In this embodiment, the individual paths, along with their associated clamping rails, can be moved independently of one another in height. The housing holders 9 can be moved along the paths and, when clamped, their vertical position can be adjusted by moving the paths. The two target combs for the assembly step can thus be brought into a narrow assembly band or even onto an optimal assembly line.

[0101] A variant of system 1 is shown in Figure 12. System 1 is designed such that the housing holders 9, formed by mobile housing holder modules, can be moved from the assembly station 4 to the laying station 6 by sliding them on plates. According to this embodiment, system 1 has an additional transfer plate 50 for this purpose. This transfer plate 50 is located between the assembly station 4 and the intermediate station 5. As in the embodiments according to Figures 6, 9-10, the housing holders 9 are assigned to mobile housing holder modules (30), which housing holder modules are designed in two parts and consist of housing holder parts and moving parts. The transfer plate 50 transfers the housing holder modules 30 from the intermediate station 5 to the assembly station 4, whereby the distance between the intermediate station 5 and the assembly station 4 is freely selectable.After assembly, the transfer plate 50 takes over the housing holder modules 30 from the assembly station 4 and transfers them back to the intermediate station 5.

[0102] The assembly station 4 and the placement station 6 are thus spatially and preferably control-technically separated from each other in the system 1. The system 1 includes a mobile transfer device 51 between the assembly station 4 and the placement station 6, with the aforementioned transfer plate 50 to which housing holders 9 are attached or can be attached. The transfer device 51 is movable to transport the transfer plate 50 and bridge the spatial separation between the assembly station 4 and the placement station 6, and the transfer device 51 can be docked either to the assembly station 4 or to the placement station 6. Thus, the transfer plate 50 is one of the aforementioned plates, which enables the housing holders 9 to be moved from the assembly station 4 to the placement station 6 by sliding them on plates.For transfer from plate to plate, the transfer plate 51 can be connected to a plate of the assembly station (here assembly plate 11) or to a plate of the placement station (here the further plate 20 adjoining the presentation plate 20). In each transfer position, plates 21, 50 on the one hand and 11, 50 on the other are arranged in the same plane (i.e., aligned) and connected to each other, so that the housing holders can be slid from one plate to the adjacent plate for transfer.

[0103] The transfer plate 50 is mounted on a transfer transport device 52 (e.g., an automated guided vehicle) to move between the intermediate station 5 and the assembly station 4. The direction of travel is indicated by the double arrow w. As part of a company-wide logistics system, the transfer transport system with the transfer transport device 52 can, if necessary, transport the transfer plate 50 to manual workstations 53, where manual work steps can be performed. Figures 13a to 13c show in sequence how the mobile transfer device 51 reaches a manual workstation 53. The manual work steps can include splicing cable ends, adding special cables 54 (Fig. 13b), repairing faulty assemblies, or even discarding defective cable harnesses (Fig. 13c).Manual workstation 53 is preferably a secure location where the necessary manual work steps can be carried out safely. Depending on its location, manual workstation 53 can be located in the same production building as the rest of the plant; however, it would also be conceivable for the mobile transfer unit 51 to be moved to a more distant location or to a different building.

[0104] For better utilization, system 1 can include several presentation platforms 20, with the company-wide logistics system 56 distributing the multiple transfer platforms 50 to the available capacities. Each transfer platform 50 has a platform identification number 55 to enable tracking.

[0105] Figure 12 further shows that the system 1 also has a charging station 58 for adding or removing housing holder modules 30. For this purpose, a charging plate 59 can be temporarily attached to the plate 21 in the area of ​​the charging station 58. Such a charging station 58 integrated into the laying station 6, with the aid of which the laying station 6 can be equipped with new or additional housing holders 9 formed by mobile housing holder modules, could also be advantageous for a system 1 according to the other embodiments and could be used in these.

[0106] Figure 14 shows a loading platform 59. New housing holder modules (30) are arranged on the loading platform 59 by first inserting the (not shown) traversing parts (32) into a positioning aid 60, for which recesses are provided in the positioning aid 60. The alignment of the traversing parts (32) is ensured by corresponding elements (e.g., pin 61, see Figure 15). The loading platform 59 is placed on the positioning aid 60 with the traversing parts (32), and the housing holder parts (31) are arranged on it. The loading platform 59 may have markings that simplify the correct coupling of the housing holder parts 31 to the traversing parts 32.

[0107] After coupling, the positioning aid 60 can be removed and the lowered loading plate 59 inserted into or attached to the charging station 58, from where an integrated positioning system picks up the housing holders 9 or housing holder modules (30) and delivers them to the intermediate station 5. For removal, the integrated positioning system moves the housing holder modules 30 onto the loading plate 59 of the charging station 58, after which the lowered loading plate 59 is removed. The charging station 58 could also be located at the presentation plate 20 instead of at the plate 21.

[0108] At the manual workstations 53, an adapted positioning aid can be used to secure the position of the housing holder modules 30, so that the manual work steps do not have a negative impact on the rest of the automation.

[0109] The transfer plate 50 can also be used to transfer the housing holder modules 30 of a finished cable harness to the final stations. In this case, the transfer can take place on the side of the presentation plate 20 opposite the intermediate station 5 (not shown here) in order not to disrupt the material flow.

[0110] The final stations can include final inspection stations, packaging stations, or assembly stations for timely installation. The transfer plate 50, now containing empty housing holders 9 or housing holder modules (30), returns to the presentation plate 20 or to the intermediate station 5, where the housing holders 9 or housing holder modules (30) can be reintroduced into the cycle. Another system 1 is shown in Figure 16. System 1 has a mobile transfer device 51 for transporting the transfer plate 50 between the assembly station 4 and the installation station 5. In this case, the mobile transfer device 51 includes a transport unit 52 designed as a vehicle for carrying and transporting the transfer plate 50.With such a vehicle, for example an automated guided vehicle (AGV), the transfer plate 50 can be moved to the desired location particularly easily, bridging the potentially large spatial separation between loading station 4 and laying station 6. The transport device 52 could also be passively mobile by means of transport wheels and moved by an operator by pushing or pulling it to form a handcart.

[0111] The transfer plate 50 can be detachably connected to the transport device 52 v, so that after coupling the transfer plate 50 to the laying station 6 the transport device 51 can be driven away empty from the station in question (here laying station 6).

[0112] The assembly station 4 of the system according to Figure 16 comprises a supply plate 46 located upstream of the assembly plate. The supply plate 46 can be used for the temporary storage of empty or already filled housing holders. Similar to the preceding embodiments, the assembly plate 11 can be moved towards the supply plate 46 for the transfer position and temporarily connected to it. The transfer plate 50 thus does not come into direct contact with the assembly plate 11; instead, the housing holder transfer is carried out indirectly via the supply plate 46.

[0113] As can be seen further in Figure 16, the respective docking contour 70 of the transfer plate 50, the intermediate station 5, and the placement station 4 is designed as a slope, which simplifies the required docking movement. For docking, the transfer plate 50 is brought into the transfer area 80. The transfer plate 50 has docking contours 70, 70' that slope on both sides, and the transfer plate 50 is clearly in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid. In Figure 16, the transfer plate 50 is docked to the plate 21 and is thus in a transfer position, so that housing holders 9 can be pushed from the transfer plate 50 onto or towards the plate 21 and then moved further to the presentation plate 20 (and vice versa). For the actual docking of the transfer plate 50, the assembly station 4 and the laying station 6 are each designed in such a way that the components connected to the assembly station or theThe transfer plate 50, which is moved to the laying station, is connected in a final docking step by lifting it. Figures 17a to 17d show how a transfer plate 50 is detached from the laying station 6 and moved to the loading station 4, and finally lifted again and docked to the loading station 4. The respective movements of the transfer plate 50 are indicated by arrows. In Figure 17a, the transfer plate 50 is docked to the plate 21 and thus in a transfer position associated with the laying station 6. After the transfer plate 50 is lowered, it can be picked up by the waiting transport device 52 and moved. Figure 17b shows the mobile transfer device 51 with transport device 52 and the transfer plate 50 temporarily arranged on it, moving towards the loading station 4.Once the mobile transfer unit 51 has reached the assembly station 4 (Figure 17c), the transfer plate 50 can be lifted and fully docked. This position is shown in Figure 17d. Here, the transfer plate 50 is docked to the staging plate 46 and in a transfer position. The housing holders 9 can now be slid from the transfer plate 50 onto the staging plate 46 and then moved further to the (not shown here) assembly plate (11).

[0114] The raised transfer plate 50 is secured from above by means of securing devices that are in operative connection with the transfer plate. Reference numeral 82 designates a transfer plate lifter with which the transfer plate 50 can be raised and lowered again. The transfer plate 50 has – as can be seen, for example, in Figure 17a – a T-shaped lifting beam 71, which, according to the present embodiment, engages with a C-shaped gripper 83 of the transfer plate lifter 82. There is sufficient vertical clearance between the lifting beam 71 and the gripper 83 of the transfer plate lifter 82 to accommodate deviations in the vertical position of the transfer plate 50 and / or the transfer area 80. Precise alignment is therefore not necessary. For docking, the transfer plate lifter 82 pulls the transfer plate 50 vertically upwards, while conical positioning pins 84 align the transfer plate 50.Both the transfer plate 50 and the transfer area 80 have further guide elements 72, 85 in fork form to position the transfer plate 50 in alignment with the provision plate 46 of the transfer area 80.

[0115] The transfer plate 50 is preferably transported to the transfer area 80 on a transport device 51 designed as a trolley or vehicle (e.g., a handcart or driverless transport vehicle) which has a transfer tray 91. The trolley or vehicle 51 shown here allows the transfer plate 50 to be docked vertically by means of a telescopic mechanism or by uncoupling the transfer plate 50 from the trolley 90. During transport or movement of the mobile transfer device 51, the transfer plate 50 can be held in position on the trolley 90 by means of securing devices having a (not shown) locking lever. The locking lever can be released manually or automatically when the transfer area 80 is reached; alternatively, a mechanism can be provided to automatically release the locking devices during vertical insertion and close them during retraction (the locking lever can be spring-loaded or utilize gravity for this purpose).

[0116] In a special embodiment for cable harnesses with long cables (e.g., 4-8 m), the cart or vehicle 51 can have a storage aid to stow them securely. Such special transport devices 51 are shown in Figures 18, 19aa, and 19b. The storage aid 100 consists of a freely rotating roller 101, which is moved against the loops of the cable harness held on the transfer plate 50 to fold it (Figure 18). With two or more rollers 101, 102, the rollers 101, 102 are also moved relative to each other, either translationally towards each other (Figure 19a) or in a rotational movement around pivot points (Figure 19b). This folds the cable harness, with the freely rotating rollers 101, 102 minimizing the tensile stress on the cables and ensuring that the smallest permissible bending radii of the cables are not exceeded.

[0117] Figure 18 shows how the roller 101 can be moved into the cables. To simplify loading the transfer plate 50, the roller 101 can also be designed to pivot, with the rollers 101 being moved into their operating position after loading.

[0118] Constructive details for the design of a transfer plate 50 can be seen in Figure 20. For example, it can be seen that the housing holders 9 are arranged in an orderly fashion on the transfer plate 50. The housing holders 9 are grouped in three horizontal rows by means of two parallel, strip-shaped guide elements 72. It is also clearly visible that the lifting beam 71 has a T-shape in cross-section.

Claims

1. Annex (1) with - a placement station (4) with an arrangement (10) for placing connector housings (7, 8) with pre-assembled cable ends of cables, wherein the arrangement (10) comprises at least one placement plate (11) or a placement zone (15) to which housing holders (9) are attached or can be attached, wherein the respective housing holders (9) are designed to hold connector housings (7, 8), and - a device (6) forming a laying station for the production of a cable harness, wherein the device (6) comprises a preferably vertical presentation plate (20) on which cables (2) equipped with connector housings (7, 8) can be arranged on a front side of the presentation plate, wherein the housing holders (9) are attached or attachable to the presentation plate (2), characterized in that the housing holders (9) are formed by mobile housing holder modules (30) and that the system (1) is designed such that the housing holders (9) can be moved from the assembly station (4) to the laying station (6) by sliding on plates (11, 20).

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly station (4) and the laying station (6) are spatially separated from each other and the system (1) comprises a mobile transfer device (51) with a transfer plate (50) between the assembly station (4) and the laying station (6), wherein the transfer device (51) is movable in order to bridge the spatial separation between the assembly station (4) and the laying station (6).

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the mobile transfer device (51) has a transport device (52) designed as a sled, cart or vehicle for carrying and transporting the transfer plate (50).

4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the transfer plate (50) is detachably connected or connectable to the transport device (52), so that after coupling the The transfer plate (50) to the assembly station (4) or to the laying station (6) allows the transport device (51) to be moved away from the station (4, 6) in question.

5. System according to claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the system further comprises a manual work station (53) to which the mobile transfer device (51) is mobile.

6. System according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the transport device (52) is equipped with a storage aid (100) for example in the form of at least one freely rotatable roller (101) for storing cable harnesses with long cables.

7. System according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the transfer plate (50) has at least one side having an inclined docking contour (70, 70') and preferably docking contours (70, 70') having inclined docking contours on both sides.

8. System according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that for docking the transfer plate (50) the assembly station (4) and the laying station (6) are each designed such that the transfer plate (50) is connected by or after lifting and the lifted transfer plate (50) is secured by means of securing means (83-85) which are in operative connection with the transfer plate (50) from above.

9. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the presentation plate (20) is a vertical presentation plate (20), characterized in that the housing holders (9) are pivotably designed relative to the base body (33) between a folded-up position and a folded-down position, wherein in the folded-up position the housing holders for assembly are horizontally oriented and in the folded-down position the housing holders for cable harness assembly are vertically oriented, and that the system (1) further comprises an intermediate station (5), wherein the intermediate station (5) has a folding-up module (24) for folding up housing holders (9) and a folding-down module (25) for folding down housing holders (9), wherein preferably the intermediate station (5) is associated with the laying station (6), wherein the intermediate station (5) comprises a plate (21) which connects to the presentation plate (20).

10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the folding module (24) is located in the area of ​​one side and in particular in the area of ​​an upper side of the plate (21) and the The folding module (25) is arranged in the area of ​​an opposite side and in particular in the area of ​​a lower side of the plate (21).

11. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one assembly plate (11, 12) is arranged in at least one transfer position in the same plane as the presentation plate (20), so that for transfer from the arrangement (10) to the device (6) the housing holders (9) can be pushed from the assembly plate (11, 12) onto or towards the presentation plate (20) or that the assembly zone (15) is integrated in the presentation plate (20).

12. System according to claim 11 and one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the arrangement (10) has at least one mounting plate (11) which is connectable to and detachable from the plate (21).

13. System according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the at least one assembly plate (11) is arranged at an end (29) of the presentation plate (20) or the plate (21) extending in a first direction and the assembly plate (11) is slidably connected to the presentation plate (20) or the plate (21) in the first direction.

14. System according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the presentation plate (20) or the plate (21) has a recess (28) in which the at least one assembly plate (11) is slidably mounted between two end positions, wherein the assembly plate (11) is connected to the presentation plate (20) or the plate (21) on one side of the recess (28) in one of the end positions and wherein the assembly plate (11) is connected to the presentation plate (20) or the plate (21) on an opposite side of the recess (28) in the other end position.

15. System according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that a mounting zone (15) is provided in the presentation plate (20) or in the plate (21), wherein the presentation plate (20) or the plate (21) is equipped with a fixing device comprising preferably clamping rails (40) for securing the housing holders (9) in position.

16. System according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that a charging station (58) is integrated into the laying station (6), by means of which the laying station (6) can be equipped with new or additional housing holders (9).

17. System according to claim 16, characterized in that a charging plate (59) can be connected to the presentation plate (20) or to a plate (21) adjoining the presentation plate (20) in the area of ​​the charging station (58) for the charging process.

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