Multi-Wire Terminal Crimping with Independent Gripper Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wire end processing apparatuses face challenges in crimping terminals onto multiple core wires of a multi-core cable without causing contact issues and without the ability to perform pass/fail determination on individual crimps, while also requiring excessive time for sequential crimping.
Innovation Solution
A wire end processing apparatus with a crimping device and multiple gripping members, each capable of independently moving towards the crimping device, allowing simultaneous gripping and sequential crimping of multiple wires without contact, facilitated by a combination of moving devices and actuators to manage the gripping members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If batch crimping of multiple terminals is performed simultaneously, then processing time is shortened, but pass/fail determination cannot be performed on individual crimps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the crimping process into individual sequential operations for each core wire, with each gripping member handling one wire at a time. This segmentation allows pass/fail determination for each crimp while maintaining efficient processing through parallel preparation of multiple wires.
2Measurement precision
If sequential crimping onto one electric wire at a time is performed, then pass/fail determination can be performed, but processing time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple gripping members grip multiple core wires in advance simultaneously, preparing them for sequential crimping. This preliminary action eliminates the need for wire switching time and allows the crimping device to process each wire individually with pass/fail determination while maintaining high productivity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple gripping members are used to grip multiple core wires simultaneously, then wire contact with apparatus is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple gripping members that can grip multiple core wires simultaneously, preventing non-target wires from contacting the crimping apparatus. Each gripping member is designed with a simple structure that can be independently controlled, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the multi-wire gripping capability.
4Device complexity
If one gripping member is used and wires are switched between crimping operations, then device complexity is reduced, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple gripping members grip multiple core wires in advance simultaneously, eliminating the need for wire switching between crimping operations. This preliminary gripping action allows the crimping device to process each wire sequentially without interruption, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining manageable device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wire end processing apparatus 10 includes a crimping device 20 crimping a terminal 5 onto an end portion of an electric wire 2; a plurality of gripping members 40A through 40J each capable of gripping one electric wire 2; and a moving device 60, 70 capable of moving the plurality of gripping members 40A through 40J toward the crimping device 20 independently from each other, the moving device 60, 70 mounting the electric wire 2 gripped by the moved gripping member 40A through 40J on the crimping device 20.