JP7000118B2 - Exterior member insertion device and exterior member insertion method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an exterior member insertion device and an exterior member insertion method.

Conventionally, in the manufacturing process of a wire harness, a tubular exterior member such as a corrugated tube for protecting the electric wire is assembled on the outside of the electric wire (see Patent Document 1). In the process of assembling the exterior member, a plurality of corrugated tubes that have been pre-measured and cut in the scale cutting step are manually inserted into an electric wire cut to a predetermined length in an order determined for each product number. There is. That is, after cutting the electric wire to a predetermined length with a lot cutting machine or the like, a jig (cap) is fitted through the tip of the electric wire, and the electric wire is manually passed through the predetermined corrugated tube.
However, the manual work of passing a long electric wire through a corrugated tube that is easily bent is a difficult task, and it takes a lot of time to pass the long electric wire through the tip of the electric wire and fit the jig, or the operator uses a different corrugated tube for the electric wire. There was a possibility that it would be assembled. In addition, since the electric wires cut to a predetermined length are basically produced in lots, there is a problem that the in-process inventory increases.

Therefore, an insertion device for inserting an electric wire into an exterior member such as a corrugated tube has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). In this insertion device, the corrugated tube is sent out by the delivery roller mechanism and supported by the electric wire support portion while the incision portion of the corrugated tube is expanded by the insertion jig that is moved relative to the side separated from the front end portion of the gripped corrugated tube. It is exteriorized by the electric wire. Then, the corrugated tube is cut to a predetermined length by a cutting mechanism.
Therefore, by sequentially exteriorizing the corrugated tube to the electric wire by inserting the electric wire into the corrugated tube through the incision portion, the corrugated tube can be continuously attached along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire. In this way, by mechanizing the work that was conventionally performed manually by the operator, it is possible to improve the work efficiency of mounting the exterior members and improve the productivity in the wire harness manufacturing process. can.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-147183 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-149268

However, in the above-mentioned insertion device, a delivery roller mechanism for sending out the corrugated tube, a relative moving mechanism for moving the insertion jig for attaching the corrugated tube to the electric wire to the side away from the front end of the corrugated tube, and a corrugated tube are provided. It is necessary to provide a large number of drive mechanisms such as a cutting mechanism for cutting, and there is a problem that the structure of the device itself becomes complicated. Further, in the above-mentioned insertion device, it is not possible to insert an electric wire into an exterior member having no incision site.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate complicated manual work when assembling an exterior member to the outside of an electric wire, and to attach an exterior member having a simple structure of the device itself. And to provide a method of mounting an exterior member.

The above object according to the present invention is achieved by the following configuration.
(1) A plurality of electric wire guide portions arranged in a straight electric wire transport path having a linear electric wire insertion groove through which the electric wire is inserted, and
At least arranged between the plurality of electric wire guide portions having a holding groove for holding a cylindrical exterior member cut to a predetermined length on the same axis as the electric wire inserted into the electric wire insertion groove. One exterior member set part and
An electric wire conveying device that feeds and conveys the electric wire drawn from the electric wire feeding device and inserts the electric wire into the electric wire insertion groove and the holding groove.
It is movably arranged along the wire insertion groove of the wire guide portion arranged at the most downstream of the wire transport path, detects the tip of the wire that has been fed and transported, and feeds and transports the wire transport device. And a tip detection device to stop the
An electric wire cutting device that is arranged between the electric wire guide portion arranged at the uppermost stream of the electric wire conveying path and the electric wire conveying device and that cuts the electric wire for which the feeding and conveying by the electric wire conveying device is stopped.
Equipped with
The exterior member setting portion has a second electric wire insertion groove through which the electric wire is inserted on the upstream and downstream sides of the holding groove, and has a groove depth of the second electric wire insertion groove having the same shape as the electric wire insertion groove. Is shallower than the groove depth of the holding groove, and the groove width of the second electric wire insertion groove is narrower than the groove width of the holding groove.
An exterior member mounting device characterized by this.

According to the exterior member mounting device having the configuration of (1) above, the tubular exterior member cut to a predetermined length is arranged between a plurality of wire guide portions arranged in a straight wire transport path. By being held in the holding groove of the exterior member set portion, the wire is held on the same axis as the electric wire inserted in the linear electric wire insertion groove of the electric wire guide portion.
Then, the electric wire drawn from the electric wire feeding device by the electric wire conveying device, being fed and conveyed and guided to the linear electric wire insertion groove of the electric wire guide portion is the central axis of the exterior member held in the holding groove of the exterior member setting portion. It is inserted along. Therefore, the tip of the electric wire inserted into the exterior member is unlikely to be caught on the inner wall of the exterior member, and can smoothly penetrate the exterior member. As a result, it is not necessary to pass the jig through the tip of the electric wire penetrating the exterior member, and the wasted time can be reduced. Further, an exterior member having no incision portion can be easily assembled to the outside of the electric wire.
Further, by disposing the plurality of exterior member set portions between the plurality of electric wire guide portions, the electric wires can be easily inserted into the plurality of exterior members. At this time, the electric wires are inserted into the exterior members determined for each product number while being held in the holding grooves of the corresponding exterior member set portions. Therefore, the exterior is such that the exterior members of different lengths are erroneously inserted or the number of exterior members to be attached to the electric wire is incorrect, as in the case where the difficult work of sequentially inserting multiple exterior members into the electric wire is performed manually. It is possible to reduce setting mistakes of members.
Further, when the tip of the electric wire penetrating the exterior member is detected by the tip detecting device and the feeding and transporting of the wire transporting device is stopped, the wire cutting device cuts the electric wire on the upstream side of the wire transporting path. Therefore, the wire length of the electric wire can be arbitrarily changed by moving the tip detection device along the electric wire transport path and appropriately changing the distance from the electric wire cutting device.
Therefore, it is possible to improve the work efficiency of mounting the exterior member by mechanizing the complicated insertion work when assembling the exterior member to the outside of the electric wire, which was conventionally performed manually by the operator.
Further, the electric wire transporting device simply feeds and conveys the electric wire drawn from the electric wire feeding device to the electric wire insertion groove of the plurality of electric wire guide portions and the holding groove of the exterior member set portion arranged in the electric wire conveying path on a straight line. Well, it can be a simple structure with few drive mechanisms. Further, the tip detection device is movably arranged along the wire insertion groove of the wire guide portion, and only needs to detect the tip portion of the fed and conveyed electric wire, and has a simple structure. Therefore, the structure of the exterior member mounting device itself can be simplified.

(2) A pair of the electric wire transport paths each formed by the plurality of electric wire guide portions and the at least one exterior member set portion are arranged side by side in parallel with each other.
The tip detection device includes a linear guide arranged between a pair of electric wire guide portions located at the most downstream of the pair of electric wire transport paths and extending in parallel with the pair of electric wire insertion grooves, and a slide along the linear guide. A slide block to be driven, a support arm attached to the slide block and extending in parallel with the parallel direction of the pair of electric wire transport paths, and a pair of electric wire insertion grooves attached to both ends of the support arm in the longitudinal direction. It has a pair of stop sensor units, each of which is arranged inside.
The exterior member mounting device according to (1) above , wherein the pair of stop sensor units can simultaneously detect the tip portions of the two electric wires conveyed along the pair of electric wire conveying paths.

According to the exterior member mounting device having the configuration of (2) above, since the tip detection device can detect the tips of two electric wires at the same time, the electric wire guide portion and the exterior member set portion in the pair of electric wire transport paths arranged side by side. It is possible to insert two electric wires into a plurality of exterior members at the same time by sending and transporting electric wires to each of them. Therefore, the work efficiency of mounting the exterior member for assembling the exterior member to the outside of the electric wire is further improved.

(3) The exterior member setting portion is characterized in that the holding groove moves between an electric wire insertion position where the holding groove is located on the electric wire conveying path and an electric wire taking-out position where the holding groove is out of the electric wire conveying path. The exterior member mounting device according to (1) or (2) above.

According to the exterior member mounting device having the configuration of (3) above, the exterior member setting portion is located at the wire insertion position when the wire is inserted into the exterior member held in the holding groove. Then, after the electric wire is inserted into the exterior member, the exterior member set portion moves to the electric wire extraction position, so that the exterior member in the state where the electric wire is inserted is pulled out from the holding groove and released. Ru. Therefore, when the electric wire to which the exterior member is attached is taken out from the exterior member attaching device, it is only necessary to disconnect the electric wire inserted into the electric wire insertion groove of the electric wire guide portion, and the electric wire can be easily taken out.

(4) In the holding groove of the exterior member set portion arranged between the plurality of electric wire guide portions arranged in the electric wire transport path on a straight line having a linear electric wire insertion groove through which the electric wire is inserted. A setting process for accommodating and holding a tubular exterior member cut to a predetermined length, and
It is movably arranged along the wire insertion groove of the wire guide portion arranged at the most downstream of the wire transport path, detects the tip of the wire that has been fed and transported, and feeds and transports the wire transport device. A wire length determination step in which the tip detection device for stopping is fixed at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire insertion groove according to the predetermined length of the electric wire.
A transfer process in which the electric wire drawn from the electric wire feeding device is sent and conveyed to the electric wire insertion groove and the holding groove and inserted into the exterior member.
The electric wire cutting device arranged between the electric wire guide portion arranged at the uppermost stream of the electric wire conveying path and the electric wire conveying device cuts the electric wire for which the feeding and conveying by the electric wire conveying device is stopped. The cutting process and
A detaching step in which the electric wire inserted into the electric wire insertion groove and penetrating the exterior member housed and held in the holding groove is separated from the electric wire guide portion and the exterior member set portion.
Including
The exterior member setting portion has a second electric wire insertion groove through which the electric wire is inserted on the upstream and downstream sides of the holding groove, and has a groove depth of the second electric wire insertion groove having the same shape as the electric wire insertion groove. Is shallower than the groove depth of the holding groove, and the groove width of the second electric wire insertion groove is narrower than the groove width of the holding groove.
An exterior member mounting method characterized by this.

According to the exterior member mounting method having the configuration of (4) above, since the electric wire is inserted into the exterior member determined for each product number while being held in the holding groove of the corresponding exterior member set portion, the inside of the exterior member The tip of the electric wire inserted into the wall is unlikely to be caught on the inner wall of the exterior member, and can smoothly penetrate the exterior member. In addition, it takes a lot of wasted time to erroneously insert exterior members of different lengths or to insert a jig through the tip of an electric wire, as in the case of manually inserting an exterior member into an electric wire. There is no such thing. Further, an exterior member having no incision portion can be easily assembled to the outside of the electric wire.
In addition, the tip detection device detects the tip of the wire and determines the wire length, and the wire cutting device cuts the wire, so an accurate wire length can be secured and the wire length can be changed arbitrarily. You can also do it.
Therefore, it is possible to improve the work efficiency of mounting the exterior member by automating the complicated insertion work when assembling the exterior member to the outside of the electric wire, which has been conventionally performed manually by the operator.

According to the exterior member mounting device and the exterior member mounting method according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate complicated manual work when assembling the exterior member to the outside of the electric wire, and to simplify the structure of the device itself.

The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the embodiments described below (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. ..

It is an overall perspective view which showed the schematic structure of the exterior member mounting apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the electric wire guide part and the exterior member set part shown in FIG. 1, (a) shows the state before the exterior member is held in the holding groove, and (b) is the exterior member in the holding groove. Indicates the state in which is held. It is an enlarged sectional view of the main part of the electric wire guide portion and the exterior member set portion in a state where the exterior member is held in the holding groove. It is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the electric wire guide part and the exterior member set part shown in FIG. It shows a state in which the member set portion has moved to the electric wire take-out position off the electric wire transport path. It is a flowchart explaining the exterior member mounting method using the exterior member mounting device shown in FIG. 1. (A) and (b) are sectional views of the main part explaining the method of mounting an exterior member using the exterior member mounting device according to the present embodiment. (A) and (b) are sectional views of the main part explaining the method of mounting an exterior member using the exterior member mounting device according to the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the exterior member mounting device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is for mounting a corrugated tube T as an exterior member on the outside of an electric wire W constituting a wire harness used for, for example, an automobile or the like. It is a device of.

The electric wire W is a thick electric wire used for transmitting a high voltage current from a power source in, for example, an electric vehicle. The electric wire W is a shielded electric wire having a conductor made of a stranded wire obtained by twisting a plurality of strands, a covering portion covering the conductor, and a shield portion made of a braid or the like covering the covering portion.

The corrugated tube T is formed in a flexible tubular shape (in this embodiment, a cylindrical shape). The corrugated tube T has a bellows shape in which a plurality of irregularities along the circumferential direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface, and the electric wire W is inserted inside the corrugated tube T. The corrugated tube as an exterior member is not limited to a cylindrical shape having a circular cross section, but can be formed into various tubular shapes such as an elliptical cross section and a polygonal cross section.

As shown in FIG. 1, the exterior member mounting device 1 includes a pair of electric wire feeding devices 2 arranged in a pair of arranged electric wire conveying paths, a pair of electric wire straightening devices 3, and a pair of electric wire conveying devices. 4 and a plurality of (four in this embodiment) wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D arranged in a pair of straight wire transport paths, and these wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, It is arranged between the three exterior member set portions 7A, 7B, 7C arranged between the 6Ds and the electric wire guide portions 6D, 6D located at the most downstream side (left side in FIG. 1) of the pair of electric wire transport paths. The tip detection device 8 and the pair of wire cutting devices 5 arranged between the wire guide portion 6A and the wire transport device 4 arranged at the uppermost stream (right side in FIG. 1) of the pair of wire transport paths. , A control device (not shown) for controlling these devices. That is, the exterior member mounting device 1 according to the present embodiment is composed of the wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and the exterior member set portions 7A, 7B, 7C, and is arranged along a pair of electric wire transport paths. The configuration is such that the two electric wires W are each conveyed.

A pair of electric wire straightening devices 3, a pair of electric wire conveying devices 4, and a pair of electric wire cutting devices 5 are installed on the installation plate 13 of the frame 11. Further, on the installation plate 15 of the frame 12, a pair of electric wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, a pair of exterior member set portions 7A, 7B, 7C, a tip detection device 8, and an operation switch 90 are provided. is set up. The pair of electric wire feeding devices 2 are installed on the floor surface.

The electric wire feeding device 2 is a device that rotatably holds the electric wire drum 21 around which the electric wire W is wound, and the electric wire drum 21 rotates due to the tensile force acting on the tip of the electric wire W to send out the electric wire W. can. Therefore, the wire feeding device 2 itself does not have a driving mechanism such as a motor. Each electric wire drum 21 is provided with a brake 23 for restricting rotation due to inertia.

The electric wire straightening device 3 is provided above and below the electric wire W traveling in the horizontal direction, and is arranged in a staggered manner along the traveling direction of the electric wire W. A plurality of vertical rolls 33, which are arranged on the left and right sides of the electric wire W and are arranged in a staggered manner along the traveling direction of the electric wire W, are provided. The electric wire straightening device 3 can straighten the deformation such as bending, meandering, and warping of the electric wire W wound around the electric wire drum 21 by the horizontal roll 31 and the vertical roll 33.

The electric wire transport device 4 sandwiches the electric wire W by a pair of pinch transport belts 41, 41 (see FIG. 6) extending along the transport direction of the electric wire W, and holds the pair of pinch transport belts 41, 41 sandwiching the electric wire W. This is a transport device that feeds and conveys the wire W drawn from the wire feed device 2 to the downstream wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D by being driven by the motor 43.

The upper pinching transport belt 41 in the wire transport device 4 is separated from the pinching position where the wire W is sandwiched between the lower pinching transport belt 41 and the lower pinching transport belt 41 by ascending. It is possible to move between the release position where the electric wire W is released.
Therefore, when the electric wire W drawn from the electric wire feeding device 2 is set in the electric wire transporting device 4, the upper pinching conveyor belt 41 is moved to the release position and the electric wire W is placed between the electric wire W and the lower pinching conveyor belt 41. A work space for arranging can be secured, and workability is improved. Then, when the electric wire W is fed and conveyed, the upper pinching and transporting belt 41 can be moved to the pinching position and the electric wire W can be sandwiched between the upper pinching and transporting belt 41 and the lower pinching and transporting belt 41, so that the electric wire W can be reliably carried. Can be fed and transported.

The electric wire cutting device 5 has a fixed blade 51 and a movable blade 53 arranged vertically across the transport path of the electric wire W. The movable blade 53 arranged above is lowered by a drive mechanism (not shown), and a shearing force is applied to the electric wire W with the fixed blade 51 arranged below, so that the electric wire cutting device 5 cuts the electric wire W. be able to. Of course, the electric wire cutting device is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that various known forms can be adopted.

The wire W transport path between the wire straightening device 3 and the wire transport device 4, the wire W transport path between the wire transport device 4 and the wire cut device 5, and the wire cut device 5 and the wire guide portion 6A. A wire guide 47 made of a cylindrical pipe fixed to the frame 11 is arranged in the transport path of the wire W between the wires W, and guides the inserted wire W for transport.

The electric wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D each have a linear electric wire insertion groove 61 into which the electric wire W is inserted. These electric wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D have the same configuration except that the longitudinal dimensions are different.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the electric wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D made of synthetic resin each have a rectangular cross section and are formed to be long, and an electric wire having a substantially rectangular cross section on the upper surface. An insertion groove 61 is formed.

The electric wire insertion groove 61 has a groove width equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the electric wire W so as not to hinder the movement of the electric wire W for insertion guidance. Further, the electric wire insertion groove 61 has a groove depth larger than the diameter of the electric wire W.
Further, tapered guide portions 63 for inserting and guiding the tip portions of the electric wires W to be inserted are formed on the bottom surface and both side surfaces of the electric wire insertion grooves 61 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the tip end portion of the electric wire W guided to the electric wire insertion groove 61 can travel straight and horizontally along the transport path without being caught by both ends in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire insertion groove 61.

The wire guide portion 6A arranged at the uppermost stream of the transport path includes a wire holding device 65 for preventing the wire W from jumping out of the wire insertion groove 61, and the tip of the wire W is connected to the wire insertion groove 61 by any chance. A pop-out detection switch 67 for detecting this when popping out is provided.

In the electric wire holding device 65, the rotary roller 66 arranged above the electric wire insertion groove 61 presses the electric wire W floating from the bottom surface of the electric wire insertion groove 61 to prevent the electric wire from popping out. The rotatable rotary roller 66 does not hinder the movement of the electric wire W when it comes into contact with the electric wire W.

The pop-out detection switch 67 detects pop-out by pressing and urging the detection unit 68 arranged above the electric wire insertion groove 61 against the electric wire W floating from the bottom surface of the electric wire insertion groove 61. When the pop-out detection switch 67 detects the pop-out of the electric wire W, the drive of the electric wire conveying device 4 is stopped and the insertion of the electric wire W is stopped.
The detection unit 68 can use various detection mechanisms such as a limit switch, a micro switch, and a pressure sensor.

These electric wire holding devices 65 and the pop-out detection switch 67 are fixed to the electric wire guide portion 6A as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, but as shown in FIG. 1, the electric wire guide portion 6B on the downstream side, The electric wire holding device 65 arranged in 6C is, for example, a front-back movable type that moves forward and backward in a direction orthogonal to the electric wire insertion groove 61 by a cylinder, and does not interfere when the electric wire W is taken out from the electric wire insertion groove 61. As described above, it can be retracted from the transport path of the electric wire W.

Further, the tip end portion of the electric wire W fed and conveyed by the electric wire conveying device 4 is likely to protrude from the electric wire insertion groove 61 in the most upstream electric wire guide portion 6A to be inserted and guided first. Therefore, it is preferable that the wire holding device 65 and the pop-out detection switch 67 are provided at least in the wire guide portion 6A arranged at the uppermost stream of the transport path. Further, the tip portion of the electric wire W is likely to protrude from the electric wire insertion groove 61 even at the portion immediately before being inserted into the corrugated tube T. Therefore, the wire holding device 65 and the pop-out detection switch 67 may be provided in the wire guide portions 6B and 6C.

The exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, and 7C each have a holding groove 71 for holding the corrugated tube T on the same axis as the electric wire W inserted into the electric wire insertion groove 61. These exterior member set portions 7A, 7B, and 7C have the same configuration.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the synthetic resin exterior member set portions 7A, 7B, and 7C each have a substantially rectangular cross section and are formed in a long shape, and each has a substantially U-shaped cross section on the upper surface. A holding groove 71 is formed.

The holding groove 71 has a groove width equal to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the corrugated tube T so that the corrugated tube T to be held and fixed is not displaced in the radial direction. Further, the holding groove 71 has a groove depth smaller than the outer diameter of the corrugated tube T.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a pair of electric wire insertion grooves 72, 72 having the same shape as the electric wire insertion groove 61 are formed on the upstream and downstream sides of the holding groove 71. Since the groove depth of the electric wire insertion groove 72 is shallower than the groove depth of the holding groove 71 and the groove width of the electric wire insertion groove 72 is narrower than the groove width of the holding groove 71, there is a step between the holding groove 71 and the electric wire insertion groove 72. Is formed. That is, the wire insertion groove 72 has a lower bottom surface of the wire insertion groove 72 than the lower side of the opening edge of the corrugated tube T held in the holding groove 71, and the left and right sides of the opening edge of the corrugated tube T held in the holding groove 71. The groove width of the electric wire insertion groove 72 is configured to be narrower than the width on the same axis. Therefore, the tip of the electric wire W inserted and guided into the electric wire insertion groove 72 is inserted into the corrugated tube T without interfering with the opening edge of the corrugated tube T.

Further, a tapered guide portion 73 for inserting and guiding the tip portion of the electric wire W to be inserted is formed on the bottom surface and both side surfaces at the end portions of the electric wire insertion grooves 72 and 72 located on the opposite side of the holding groove 71. ing. Therefore, the tip of the electric wire W guided to the opening of the corrugated tube T held in the holding groove 71 travels straight and horizontally along the transport path without being caught by the ends of the electric wire insertion grooves 72 and 72. Can be done.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the pair of side wall portions of the exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, and 7C forming the holding groove 71 each have a plurality of slits 75 notched in the groove width direction. The holding grooves 71 are arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction. Then, the metal plate 77 is inserted into a predetermined slit 75 according to the length of the corrugated tube T to be held, and a part of the metal plate 77 is projected from the inner surface of the holding groove 71. Therefore, a part of the metal plate 77 protruding from the inner surface of the holding groove 71 frictionally engages with the recess formed on the outer peripheral surface of the corrugated tube T held in the holding groove 71 to hold the corrugated tube T. The corrugated tube T held in the holding groove 71 is restricted from moving along the longitudinal direction of the holding groove 71 by engaging a part of the metal plate 77 with the recess on the outer peripheral surface.

The exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, and 7C are provided with optical sensors 79, 79 for detecting the presence or absence of the corrugated tube T held in the holding groove 71.
The pair of optical sensors 79 and 79 are arranged on both the left and right sides of the holding groove 71, respectively, and the light emitted by the light emitting element of one optical sensor 79 is received by the light receiving element of the other optical sensor 79. .. When the light emitted by the light emitting element passes through the intermediate portion of the holding groove 71 and passes through the dedicated holes 80 formed in the pair of side wall portions, and the corrugated tube T is held in the holding groove 71. Is shielded by the corrugated tube T held in the holding groove 71. Therefore, the presence or absence of the corrugated tube T held in the holding groove 71 can be detected depending on whether or not the light receiving element of the other optical sensor 79 receives light.

Further, in the exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, 7C, the wire insertion position (position shown in FIG. 4A) where the holding groove 71 is located on the wire transport path and the holding groove 71 are separated from the wire transport path. It is placed on the elevating plate 78 in the elevating mechanism so as to move between the electric wire take-out position (the position shown in FIG. 4B).
The elevating mechanism moves the exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, and 7C between the wire insertion position and the wire take-out position by raising and lowering the support pillar 74 supporting the elevating plate 78 by a drive mechanism (not shown). Can be done.

The tip detection device 8 is arranged between the wire guide portions 6D and 6D at the most downstream side (left side in FIG. 1) of the pair of wire transport paths.
As shown in FIG. 1, the tip detection device 8 extends along a linear guide 83 and a linear guide 83 extending in parallel with the electric wire insertion groove 61 between the pair of electric wire guide portions 6D and 6D in the conveying direction of the electric wire W. An electric cylinder 87 having a slide block 81 that is slid-driven, a support arm 82 that is attached to the slide block 81 and extends in a direction orthogonal to the electric wire insertion grooves 61 of the electric wire guide portions 6D and 6D, and a length of the support arm 82. A pair of stop sensor portions 85, 85 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) attached to both ends in the direction and arranged in the electric wire insertion groove 61, and each electric wire insertion groove 61 attached to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the support arm 82. A support arm 84 extending upstream along the line and a pair of reduction sensor portions 86, 86 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) attached to the tip of the support arm 84 and arranged on the wire insertion groove 61, respectively. Have.

In the tip detection device 8, a pair of mechanical stop sensor portions 85 and 85 attached to the slide block 81 are movably arranged in the grooves along the wire insertion grooves 61 of the wire guide portions 6D and 6D. At the same time, a pair of optical deceleration sensor portions 86, 86 attached to the tip of the support arm 84 are movably arranged on the groove along each electric wire insertion groove 61. Then, the two electric wires W that penetrate the corrugated tube T and are inserted into the electric wire insertion grooves 61 of the electric wire guide portions 6D and 6D each pass through the deceleration sensor portions 86 and 86, and then the tip portions thereof are stop sensors. It will come into contact with the portion 85.

In the tip detection device 8, the slide block 81 is slid and moved according to the predetermined length of the electric wire W, and the pair of stop sensor portions 85 and 85 are positioned at predetermined positions in the longitudinal direction in the electric wire insertion grooves 61 of the electric wire guide portions 6D and 6D. It is fixed so that it becomes. Therefore, in the tip detection device 8, each deceleration sensor unit 86, 86 detects the tip portion of the electric wire W, so that the tip portion of the electric wire W is predetermined in the longitudinal direction in each electric wire insertion groove 61 of the electric wire guide portions 6D, 6D. Detects that it has approached the position. When the tip detecting device 8 detects the approach of the tip of each electric wire W, the feeding and conveying speed of the electric wire W by the corresponding electric wire conveying device 4 is decelerated.
After that, each stop sensor portion 85 is pressed and urged to the tip portion of the electric wire W so that the tip portion of the electric wire W reaches a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction in each electric wire insertion groove 61 of the electric wire guide portions 6D and 6D. Detect. When the tip detecting device 8 detects the tip of each electric wire W, the drive of the corresponding electric wire conveying device 4 is stopped, and the feeding and conveying of the electric wire W are stopped. At the same time, the inertial rotation of the electric wire drum 21 is also stopped by the brake 23.
At this time, since the feed / transfer speed of the electric wire transfer device 4 is reduced in advance, the tip of each electric wire W can be reliably stopped at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction in each electric wire insertion groove 61.

When the tip of the electric wire W penetrating the corrugated tube T is detected by the tip detection device 8 and the feed transfer of the wire transfer device 4 is stopped, the wire cut device 5 cuts the electric wire W on the upstream side of the wire transfer path. .. Therefore, the wire length of the electric wire W can be arbitrarily changed by moving the tip detecting device 8 along the electric wire transport path and appropriately changing the distance from the electric wire cutting device 5.

If it is desired to lengthen one of the two electric wires W inserted into the electric wire insertion grooves 61 of the electric wire guide portions 6D and 6D, when the feeding and conveying of each electric wire conveying device 4 is stopped. Only the other wire W is cut by the wire cutting device 5.
Then, after moving the tip detection device 8 to a predetermined position on the downstream side along the electric wire conveying path, the electric wire conveying device 4 corresponding to the one electric wire W is driven to send and convey only one electric wire W. When the tip of one wire W abuts on the corresponding stop sensor unit 85 and the tip detection device 8 detects the tip of one wire W, the drive of the corresponding wire transfer device 4 is stopped and the wire One wire W is cut by the cutting device 5 on the upstream side of the wire transport path.
Therefore, in the exterior member mounting device 1 according to the present embodiment, two electric wires W having different electric wire lengths are simultaneously inserted into a plurality of corrugated tubes T by interlocking the tip detecting device 8 and each electric wire conveying device 4. Can be done.

The operation switch 90 includes a work start button 91 for operating the electric wire transfer device 4 to insert the electric wire W into the corrugated tube T, a power switch 93, and an emergency stop button 95.

Next, the operation of the exterior member mounting device 1 having the above configuration will be described.
In the exterior member mounting device 1 according to the present embodiment, the corrugated tube T cut to a predetermined length is placed between the four wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D arranged in the wire transport path on a straight line, respectively. By being held in the holding grooves 71 of the three arranged exterior member set portions 7A, 7B, and 7C, the wires are inserted into the linear wire insertion grooves 61 of the wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D. It is held on the same axis as the electric wire W.

Then, the electric wire W drawn from the electric wire feeding device 2 by the electric wire conveying device 4 and being fed and conveyed together and guided to each of the linear electric wire insertion grooves 61 of the electric wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D is the corrugated tube T. It is inserted along the central axis. Therefore, the tip of the electric wire W inserted into the corrugated tube T held in the holding grooves 71 of the exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, and 7C is hard to be caught on the inner wall of the corrugated tube T, and the corrugated tube T can be smoothly inserted. Can penetrate. As a result, it is not necessary to pass the jig through the tip of the electric wire W penetrating the corrugated tube T, and the wasted time can be reduced. Further, the corrugated tube T having no incision portion can be easily assembled to the outside of the electric wire W. Of course, in the exterior member mounting device 1 according to the present embodiment, a corrugated tube having an incision portion can be assembled to the outside of the electric wire W.

Further, by disposing a plurality of (three in this embodiment) exterior member set portions 7A, 7B, 7C between a plurality of (four in this embodiment) wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, respectively. , The electric wire W can be easily inserted into a plurality of (three in this embodiment) corrugated tubes T. At this time, the electric wire W is inserted into the corrugated tube T determined for each product number while being held in the holding grooves 71 of the corresponding exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, and 7C. Therefore, the number of corrugated tubes T to be erroneously inserted or attached to the electric wire W, such as when the difficult work of sequentially inserting a plurality of corrugated tubes T into the electric wire W is performed manually. It is possible to reduce the setting error of the corrugated tube T, which may be mistaken.

Further, when the tip of the electric wire W penetrating the corrugated tube T is detected by the tip detection device 8 and the feed transfer of the wire transfer device 4 is stopped, the wire cut device 5 cuts the electric wire W on the upstream side of the wire transfer path. Will be done. Therefore, the wire length of the electric wire W can be arbitrarily changed by moving the tip detecting device 8 along the electric wire transport path and appropriately changing the distance from the electric wire cutting device 5.
Therefore, the work efficiency of attaching the exterior member can be improved by mechanizing the complicated insertion work when assembling the corrugated tube T to the outside of the electric wire W, which has been conventionally performed manually by the operator.

Further, the wire transfer device 4 holds the wire insertion grooves 61 of the plurality of wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and the exterior member set portions 7A, 7B, 7C arranged in the wire transport path on a straight line. It is only necessary to feed and convey the electric wire W drawn from the electric wire feeding device 2 to the groove 71, and a simple structure with few drive mechanisms can be obtained. Further, the tip detection device 8 is movably arranged along the wire insertion groove 61 of the wire guide portion 6A, and only needs to detect the tip portion of the wire W that has been fed and conveyed, and can have a simple structure. .. Therefore, the structure of the exterior member mounting device 1 itself can be simplified.

Further, in the exterior member mounting device 1 according to the present embodiment, since the tip detection device 8 can detect the tips of the two wires W at the same time, the wire guide portions 6A, 6B in the pair of electric wire transport paths arranged side by side, The electric wires W can be sent and conveyed to 6C, 6D and the exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, 7C, respectively, and the two electric wires W can be inserted into the plurality of corrugated tubes T at the same time. Therefore, the work efficiency of attaching the exterior member for assembling the corrugated tube T to the outside of the electric wire W is further improved.

Further, in the exterior member mounting device 1 according to the present embodiment, the exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, and 7C are positioned at the wire insertion positions when the wire W is inserted into the corrugated tube T held in the holding groove 71. is doing. After the electric wire W is inserted into the corrugated tube T, the exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, and 7C move to the electric wire taking-out position, so that the corrugated tube T in the state where the electric wire W is inserted is held. It is pulled out from the holding groove 71 and released. Therefore, when the electric wire W to which the corrugated tube T is attached is taken out from the exterior member attaching device, the electric wire W inserted into each electric wire insertion groove 61 of the electric wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D is simply detached. Well, it is easy to take out.

Next, a method for attaching an exterior member according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the following, other drawings will be referred to as appropriate while explaining based on the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the cross-sectional views of the main parts of FIGS. 6 and 7. Further, the exterior member mounting method described below will be described as being executed by a worker manually partially operating the exterior member mounting device 1 according to the present embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the exterior member mounting method is not limited to this. The device 1 may be electrically automated.

First, as a wire length determination step, the operator reads the product number information of the corrugated tube T attached to the electric wire W into the control device with a bar code reader (step ST1).
The control device switches the product number information in the control unit to the product number information read by the barcode reader (step ST2). Specifically, the product number information such as the wire length of the wire W, the type of the corrugated tube T cut to a predetermined length, and the number of mountings can be switched.
Then, the control device moves the tip detection device 8 to a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction in the wire insertion groove 61 of the wire guide portion 6C according to the wire length of the wire W based on the product number information (step ST3).

Next, as a setting process, the control device displays the set position for holding the corrugated tube T corresponding to the product number in the holding grooves 71 of the corresponding exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, and 7C, and informs the operator. Instruct (step ST4). As a display method, various display methods such as displaying an image on a display and turning on a lamp can be used.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6A, the operator accommodates and holds a predetermined corrugated tube T in each holding groove 71 of the designated exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, 7C (step). ST5).

Next, as a transfer step, the operator presses the work start button 91 of the operation switch 90 after setting the predetermined corrugated tube T in the holding grooves 71 of the exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, and 7C (step ST6). ).
At the start of the first insertion work, the electric wire W wound around the electric wire drum 21 of the electric wire feeding device 2 is drawn out and arranged along each electric wire conveying path of the electric wire straightening device 3, the electric wire conveying device 4, and the electric wire cutting device 5. After searching, it is desirable to position the tip of the electric wire W in the electric wire insertion groove 61 of the electric wire guide portion 6A.

When the work start button 91 is pressed, the control device determines whether or not the corrugated tube T is set in each holding groove 71 of the exterior member setting portions 7A, 7B, and 7C (step ST7). Specifically, the presence or absence of the corrugated tube T is determined based on the detection signal received by the light receiving element of the other optical sensor 79.

If it is determined that the corrugated tube T is not set in the holding groove 71, a warning buzzer prompting the setting of the corrugated tube T is sounded (step ST8).
Further, when it is determined that the corrugated tube T is set in the holding groove 71, the control device operates the electric wire conveying device 4 and pulls out the electric wire from the electric wire feeding device 2 as shown in FIG. 4A. W is sent and conveyed to the wire insertion groove 61 and the holding groove 71 (step ST9).

The control device determines whether or not there is a deceleration tip detection signal from the deceleration sensor unit 86 of the tip detection device 8 while the wire transfer device 4 is operating (step ST10). The deceleration tip detection signal is transmitted from the tip detection device 8 when the tip of the electric wire W passes through the deceleration sensor section 86.
Then, when the control device receives the deceleration tip detection signal from the tip detection device 8, the control device decelerates the transfer speed of the wire transfer device 4 (step ST11).
Further, the control device determines whether or not there is a stop tip detection signal from the stop sensor unit 85 of the tip detection device 8 while the wire transfer device 4 is operating (step ST12). The stop tip detection signal is transmitted from the tip detection device 8 when the tip of the electric wire W comes into contact with the stop sensor section 85.
Then, when the control device receives the stop tip detection signal from the tip detection device 8, the control device stops the operation of the wire transport device 4 (step ST13).

Next, as an electric wire cutting step, as shown in FIG. 6A, the control device operates the electric wire cutting device 5 to cut the electric wire W for which the feeding and conveying by the electric wire conveying device 4 is stopped (step ST14). ..

Next, as a detachment step, as shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 7 (a), the control device lowers the exterior member set portions 7A, 7B, and 7C by the elevating mechanism and moves them to the electric wire take-out position. Step ST15).
Then, the electric wire holding device 65 arranged in the electric wire guide portions 6B and 6C is retracted from the transport path of the electric wire W by the cylinder, and the operator with respect to both ends of the electric wire W through which the corrugated tube T is inserted. Attach a fall prevention jig to prevent the corrugated tube T from falling off.

After that, the electric wire W is taken out from the electric wire insertion groove 61 by the operator, and as shown in FIG. 7B, the electric wire W penetrating the corrugated tube T is separated from the electric wire guide portions 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D ( Step ST16).
Further, the operator sets the electric wire W to which the corrugated tube T is attached on a hanger or the like for transporting the electric wire W to the subsequent process.

Finally, the worker finishes the work when the electric wire W to which the corrugated tube T is assembled is taken out.
When the electric wire W to which the corrugated tube T is assembled is taken out from the exterior member set portions 7A, 7B, 7C, the control device takes out the electric wire W based on the detection signal received by the light receiving element of the other optical sensor 79. Detect (step ST17).
When the control device detects the removal of the electric wire W to which the corrugated tube T is assembled, the elevating mechanism raises the exterior member set portions 7A, 7B, 7C and moves them to the electric wire insertion position to complete the insertion work (step). ST18).

Next, the operation of the exterior member mounting method having the above configuration will be described.
In the exterior member mounting method according to the present embodiment, the electric wire W is inserted into the corrugated tube T determined for each product number while being held in the holding grooves 71 of the corresponding exterior member set portions 7A, 7B, and 7C. Therefore, the tip of the electric wire W inserted into the corrugated tube T is unlikely to be caught on the inner wall of the corrugated tube T, and can smoothly penetrate the corrugated tube T. In addition, it is wasteful to erroneously insert a corrugated tube T having a different length or to insert a jig through the tip of the electric wire W, as in the case where the difficult work of manually inserting the corrugated tube T into the electric wire W was performed. It doesn't take a lot of time. Further, the corrugated tube T having no incision portion can be easily assembled to the outside of the electric wire W.
Further, since the tip detecting device 8 detects the tip of the electric wire W and determines the wire length of the electric wire W, and the electric wire cutting device 5 cuts the electric wire W, an accurate wire length of the electric wire W can be secured and the electric wire W can be secured. The line length can be changed arbitrarily.
Therefore, the work efficiency of attaching the exterior member can be improved by automating the complicated insertion work when assembling the corrugated tube T to the outside of the electric wire W, which has been conventionally performed manually by the operator.

Here, the features of the above-described exterior member mounting device and the embodiment of the exterior member mounting method according to the present invention are briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [4], respectively.
[1] With a plurality of electric wire guide portions (6A, 6B, 6C, 6D) having a linear electric wire insertion groove (61) through which the electric wire (W) is inserted and arranged in a linear electric wire transport path. ,
A holding groove (71) for holding a cylindrical exterior member (corrugated tube T) cut to a predetermined length is provided on the same axis as the electric wire (W) inserted into the electric wire insertion groove (61). At least one exterior member set portion (7A, 7B, 7C) arranged between the plurality of electric wire guide portions (6A, 6B, 6C, 6D) and
An electric wire conveying device (4) that feeds and conveys the electric wire (W) drawn from the electric wire feeding device (2) and inserts the electric wire (W) into the electric wire insertion groove (61) and the holding groove (71).
The tip of the electric wire (W) that is movably arranged along the electric wire insertion groove (61) of the electric wire guide portion (6C) arranged at the most downstream of the electric wire transport path and is fed and conveyed is detected. Then, the tip detection device (8) for stopping the feed transfer of the electric wire transfer device (4), and
The electric wire arranged between the electric wire guide portion (6A) arranged at the uppermost stream of the electric wire conveying path and the electric wire conveying device (4), and the feeding and conveying by the electric wire conveying device (4) is stopped. The electric wire cutting device (5) for cutting (W) and
An exterior member mounting device (1), which comprises.
[2] A pair of the electric wires in which the tip detection device (8) is composed of the electric wire guide portion (6A, 6B, 6C, 6D) and the exterior member set portion (7A, 7B, 7C) and arranged side by side. The exterior member mounting device (1) according to the above [1], wherein the tips of the two electric wires (W) transported along the transport path can be simultaneously detected.
[3] In the exterior member setting portion (7A, 7B, 7C), the wire insertion position where the holding groove (71) is located on the wire transport path and the holding groove (71) are disengaged from the wire transport path. The exterior member mounting device (1) according to the above [1] or [2], which is characterized by moving between the electric wire take-out position and the electric wire.
[4] A plurality of electric wire guide portions (6A, 6B, 6C, 6D) having a linear electric wire insertion groove (61) through which the electric wire (W) is inserted and arranged in a linear electric wire transport path. A setting process of accommodating and holding a cylindrical exterior member (corrugated tube T) cut to a predetermined length in a holding groove (71) of an exterior member setting portion (7A, 7B, 7C) arranged between them.
The tip of the electric wire (W) that is movably arranged along the electric wire insertion groove (61) of the electric wire guide portion (6C) arranged at the most downstream of the electric wire transport path and is fed and conveyed is detected. The tip detection device (8) for stopping the feed and transport of the electric wire transfer device (4) is fixed at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire insertion groove (61) according to the predetermined length of the electric wire (W). The line length determination process to be done and
A transfer step of feeding and transporting the electric wire (W) drawn from the electric wire feeding device (2) to the electric wire insertion groove (61) and the holding groove (71) and inserting the wire into the exterior member (corrugated tube T).
The electric wire cutting device (5) arranged between the electric wire guide portion (6A) arranged at the uppermost stream of the electric wire conveying path and the electric wire conveying device (4) is based on the electric wire conveying device (4). An electric wire cutting process for cutting the electric wire (W) for which feed transfer has been stopped, and
The electric wire (W) inserted through the electric wire insertion groove (61) and penetrated the exterior member (corrugated tube T) housed and held in the holding groove (71) is the electric wire guide portion (6A, 6B, 6C). , 6D) and the detachment step of being detached from the exterior member set portion (7A, 7B, 7C).
A method of mounting an exterior member, which comprises.

1 ... Exterior member mounting device 2 ... Wire feeding device 4 ... Wire transport device 5 ... Wire cutting device 6A ... Wire guide section 6B ... Wire guide section 6C ... Wire guide section 6D ... Wire guide section 7A ... Exterior member setting section 7B ... Exterior Member setting part 7C ... Exterior member setting part 8 ... Tip detection device 61 ... Electric wire insertion groove 71 ... Holding groove W ... Electric wire T ... Corrugated tube (exterior member)

Claims (4)

A plurality of electric wire guide portions arranged in a straight electric wire transport path having a linear electric wire insertion groove through which the electric wire is inserted, and
At least arranged between the plurality of electric wire guide portions having a holding groove for holding a cylindrical exterior member cut to a predetermined length on the same axis as the electric wire inserted into the electric wire insertion groove. One exterior member set part and
An electric wire conveying device that feeds and conveys the electric wire drawn from the electric wire feeding device and inserts the electric wire into the electric wire insertion groove and the holding groove.
It is movably arranged along the wire insertion groove of the wire guide portion arranged at the most downstream of the wire transport path, detects the tip of the wire that has been fed and transported, and feeds and transports the wire transport device. And a tip detection device to stop the
An electric wire cutting device that is arranged between the electric wire guide portion arranged at the uppermost stream of the electric wire conveying path and the electric wire conveying device and that cuts the electric wire for which the feeding and conveying by the electric wire conveying device is stopped.
Equipped with
The exterior member setting portion has a second electric wire insertion groove through which the electric wire is inserted on the upstream and downstream sides of the holding groove, and has a groove depth of the second electric wire insertion groove having the same shape as the electric wire insertion groove. Is shallower than the groove depth of the holding groove, and the groove width of the second electric wire insertion groove is narrower than the groove width of the holding groove.
An exterior member mounting device characterized by this. A pair of electric wire transport paths each composed of the plurality of electric wire guide portions and the at least one exterior member set portion are arranged side by side in parallel with each other.
The tip detection device includes a linear guide arranged between a pair of electric wire guide portions located at the most downstream of the pair of electric wire transport paths and extending in parallel with the pair of electric wire insertion grooves, and a slide along the linear guide. A slide block to be driven, a support arm attached to the slide block and extending in parallel with the parallel direction of the pair of electric wire transport paths, and a pair of electric wire insertion grooves attached to both ends of the support arm in the longitudinal direction. It has a pair of stop sensor units, each of which is arranged inside.
The exterior member mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of stop sensor units can simultaneously detect the tip portions of the two electric wires conveyed along the pair of electric wire conveying paths. The exterior member setting portion is characterized in that the holding groove moves between an electric wire insertion position where the holding groove is located on the electric wire conveying path and an electric wire taking-out position where the holding groove is deviated from the electric wire conveying path. The exterior member mounting device according to claim 1 or 2. It has a linear wire insertion groove through which an electric wire is inserted, and has a predetermined length in a holding groove of an exterior member set portion arranged between a plurality of electric wire guide portions arranged in a straight wire transport path. A setting process for accommodating and holding a cut tubular exterior member,
It is movably arranged along the wire insertion groove of the wire guide portion arranged at the most downstream of the wire transport path, detects the tip of the wire that has been fed and transported, and feeds and transports the wire transport device. A wire length determination step in which the tip detection device for stopping is fixed at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire insertion groove according to the predetermined length of the electric wire.
A transfer process in which the electric wire drawn from the electric wire feeding device is sent and conveyed to the electric wire insertion groove and the holding groove and inserted into the exterior member.
The electric wire cutting device arranged between the electric wire guide portion arranged at the uppermost stream of the electric wire conveying path and the electric wire conveying device cuts the electric wire for which the feeding and conveying by the electric wire conveying device is stopped. The cutting process and
A detaching step in which the electric wire inserted into the electric wire insertion groove and penetrating the exterior member housed and held in the holding groove is separated from the electric wire guide portion and the exterior member set portion.
Including
The exterior member setting portion has a second electric wire insertion groove through which the electric wire is inserted on the upstream and downstream sides of the holding groove, and has a groove depth of the second electric wire insertion groove having the same shape as the electric wire insertion groove. Is shallower than the groove depth of the holding groove, and the groove width of the second electric wire insertion groove is narrower than the groove width of the holding groove.
An exterior member mounting method characterized by this.

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