Connector Housing Assembly with Gravity-Fed Cable Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing arrangements for equipping connector housings with ready-made cable ends are complex and not suitable for cables that need to be equipped on only one side, as they require intricate control technology and are limited to processing cable loops with pre-made ends.

Innovation Solution

An assembly arrangement with a housing receiving device and a cable store that can be temporarily accommodated within the device, allowing for easy handling and application of cable ends into connector housing cells, with a holding arm and securing means for mechanical and automated attachment and removal, enabling the processing of cables with connector housings on one side.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rotatable cable storage unit is used to temporarily store cable sections, then cable loops with pre-terminated ends can be processed, but the setup becomes highly complex and requires elaborate control systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to process cable loops with pre-terminated endsVSAvoidcomplexity of setup and control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cable storage function from a complex rotatable unit and implements it through simple gravity-fed cable guides that direct cables from a storage area to the assembly position. This eliminates the need for rotatable storage units and complex control systems while maintaining the ability to process cable loops with pre-terminated ends.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using an active rotatable storage unit that requires control systems to manage cable positioning, the patent inverts the approach by using passive gravity-fed cable guides that automatically direct cables to the correct positions without requiring complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing mounting arrangements are used, then cable loops with pre-terminated ends can be processed, but cables that need connector housings on only one end cannot be processed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capability for different cable configurationsVSAvoidcomplexity of mounting arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal mounting arrangement with a housing receiving device that can accommodate both cable loops requiring connector housings on both ends and single-ended cables requiring connectors on only one end. The same basic structure handles multiple cable configurations without requiring different specialized equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting arrangement is designed to be dynamically adaptable to different cable configurations. The housing receiving device can accept connector housings in various orientations and positions, allowing the system to handle both double-ended cable loops and single-ended cables using the same fundamental mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If connector housings are permanently attached to the housing holding device, then mounting stability is improved, but removal and reuse of connector housings becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of connector housing during mountingVSAvoidease of removal and reuse of connector housings
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary positioning features in the housing receiving device that guide and stabilize connector housings during the mounting process, ensuring proper alignment and stable positioning. After mounting is complete, the connector housings can be easily removed and reused because they were never permanently fixed, only temporarily stabilized during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3035452B1Assembly and method for the placement of connector housings
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 KOMAX HOLDING
  • EP3035452B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3035452B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3035452B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~6c

AI summary

A mounting arrangement (1) for mounting connector housings (6) with pre-assembled cable ends (9, 9') of cables (5, 5') by a mounting unit (2) with which the cable ends (9, 9') can be inserted into cells of the connector housing (6), comprising a housing receiving device (3) for temporarily receiving connector housings (6) for mounting. Along with the temporary receiving of the connector housing (6) in the housing receiving device (3), a cable storage unit (4) holding several cables (5, 5') together can also be temporarily received by the housing receiving device (3). A holding arm (7) on which the cable storage unit (4) is arranged is connected at a right angle to the housing receiving device (3). A insertion opening (13) is provided in the holding arm (7) into which a foot section (14) of the cable storage unit (4) can be inserted.