Connector Housing Pallet Circulation for Continuous Terminal Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing terminal insertion units are inefficient as they require sequential completion of terminal insertion into one connector housing before attaching the next, hindering workflow efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A terminal insertion unit with multiple housing pallets and a pallet driving mechanism that allows simultaneous preparation and standby of connector housings, enabling efficient movement along a circulation route for continuous terminal insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single housing pallet is used for terminal insertion, then the device structure is simple, but the productivity is low because only one connector housing can be processed at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple independent housing pallets (first housing pallet, second housing pallet, etc.), each capable of holding and processing connector housings independently. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple connector housings simultaneously, thereby improving productivity without requiring complete redesign of the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-pallet sequential processing approach to a multi-pallet spatial arrangement, utilizing the circulation route to position multiple pallets at different stages (housing supply position, standby position, terminal insertion position, housing removal position). This dimensional expansion enables concurrent operations across different spatial locations.
2Loss of time
If connector housings are processed sequentially, then the device structure is simple, but the loss of time increases due to waiting periods between processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
While one housing pallet is undergoing terminal insertion at the terminal insertion position, another housing pallet is prepared in advance at the standby position by receiving connector housings from the housing supply position. This preliminary preparation eliminates idle waiting time, as the next pallet is ready to immediately proceed to terminal insertion once the current pallet completes its operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation route enables continuous movement and positioning of multiple housing pallets through different operational stages. The pallet driving portion ensures that housing pallets are constantly being prepared, positioned, and processed in a continuous cycle, eliminating idle time and maintaining uninterrupted productive action throughout the system.
3Productivity
If multiple housing pallets are positioned simultaneously along the circulation route, then the productivity improves through parallel processing, but the device complexity increases due to the pallet holding frame and driving mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The housing pallet design is universal and can hold multiple types of connector housings. The same pallet structure is used across all positions in the circulation route, and the pallet driving portion serves multiple functions by positioning different pallets at different stages. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized components for each pallet, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
It is provided to efficiently repeatedly perform a terminal insertion with respect to a connector housing. A terminal insertion unit includes a housing pallet, a pallet holding frame configured to hold two and more housing pallets in a state of being able to move along a circulation route from a housing supply position, a standby position, a terminal insertion position, and a housing removal position in this sequence, and to return to the housing supply position after housing removal, a terminal insertion portion, and a pallet driving portion configured to make housing pallets to move along the circulation route so as to make, during a period from one of the housing pallet receives the housing supply until the terminal insertion at the terminal insertion position is finished, other housing pallets to standby at the standby position.