Automated Cable Laying Device with Displaceable Retention Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable boards are inflexible and require manual operation, making it difficult to automate the production of complex cable harnesses with varied configurations, especially in the automotive sector, as they are designed for a single type of cable harness and lack the ability for partial or full automation.
Innovation Solution
A cable laying device with a laying plane and multiple transport units that can be displaced in an automated manner, controlled by a central or individual control device, allowing for preconfiguration and automated positioning of lines to create complex cable harness geometries, overcoming the limitations of conventional cable boards by enabling partial or full automation of the production process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional cable boards with fixed retention elements are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the adaptability to produce different cable harness types is poor and automation is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The retention elements are made displaceable along the cable board instead of being fixed, allowing their positions to be dynamically adjusted according to different cable harness configurations. This dynamic positioning capability enables the same device to produce multiple cable harness types while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable board is designed with multiple displaceable retention elements that can be repositioned to serve different functions for different cable harness types. This universal design allows a single device to handle various cable configurations, improving adaptability without requiring multiple specialized boards.
2Productivity
If manual laying of lines is used, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity and precision are limited and automation cannot be easily implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The displaceable retention elements are designed to be movable along the cable board, enabling automated positioning systems to relocate them without complex manual intervention. This self-service capability allows automated laying machines to adjust retention element positions according to different cable harness patterns, improving productivity while keeping the overall device complexity manageable.
3Manufacturing precision
If fixed retention elements are used, then the manufacturing precision for specific cable harness types is adequate, but the ability to precisely position lines for different cable harness variants is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The retention elements can be dynamically repositioned along the cable board to achieve precise positioning for different cable harness variants. This dynamic adjustment capability maintains manufacturing precision across multiple cable types while providing the versatility needed for different configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable-laying device for producing wiring or cable harnesses of different types includes a laying plane for positioning lines of a wiring or cable harness, a plurality of transport units which can be moved relative to the laying plane in an at least partially automated manner, and a control device which is configured to control the transport units. A method for producing cable harnesses of different types by using a cable laying device is also provided.