Discrete wire harness single or dual operator work center

• US 10,374,400 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2018
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John D. Tillotson Jr
• Original Assignee: John D. Tillotson Jr
• Inventors: Tillotson, Jr., John D
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C
• Application Number:
  US16/133,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20190089136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4188 characterised by CIM planning or realisation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32051 Central control, modify program slave computers as function of production demand from host
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/01 for connecting unstripped conductors to contact members having insulation cutting edges
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/005 for cutting cables or wires, or splicing
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/12 for removing insulation or armouring from cables, e.g. from the end thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A configurable modular work space for a wiring harness assembly system comprises a computerized wire harness system controller and bulk wire supplies associated with a programmable discrete wire inventory retainer.

One or more multiple wire pull-through mass terminators and a sequential wire termination apparatus are positioned proximal to a universal wire harness board, with a programmable mass terminator tooling unit cutting wire to length during a mass termination cycle. The multiple wire pull-through mass terminator leads to a first IDT connector nest, and then onto the universal wire harness board.

A universal wire harness board comprises a floating pin board assembly positioned to interface with a second IDT connector nest, and the floating pin board assembly comprises a plurality of floating pins arranged in an array, which may be individually locked in extended or retracted positions for receiving wires during assembly of a wire harness according to wire harness specifications.

Claims

1. A wire harness assembly work cell, comprising:

a production control computer,

bulk supplies of wire,

a programmable discrete wire inventory retainer capable of cutting and of stripping wires passed through the same,

a table having a sloped surface comprising a lower edge, and a trough affixed to said lower edge,

a shuttle configured to grab at least one wire presented to it by said programmable wire inventory retainer, and to move to a predetermined distance from said programmable wire inventory retainer on command from said production control computer, and

a work bench further comprising

a universal wire harness board,

a programmable mass terminator tooling unit for cutting wire,

a floating pin form board assembly positioned to interface with first and second IDT connectors;

wherein said floating pin form board assembly comprises a plurality of floating pins arranged in an array and defines an extended pin position and a retracted pin position, within which each floating pin may be individually locked in a position.

2. The wire harness assembly work cell of claim 1, further comprising a video display monitor connected to said production control computer.

3. The wire harness assembly work cell of claim 1, further comprising a console for receiving commands for overriding automated assembly steps.

4. The configurable modular work space of claim 1, further comprising a discrete wire termination station configured to process a wire terminal selected from the set of wire terminals consisting of:

an end feed terminal, a side feed terminal, a loose terminal, and a tape mounted terminal.

5. The configurable modular work space of claim 1, further comprising a computerized wire harness system controller.

6. The configurable modular work space of claim 1, wherein said work bench further comprises a side wall having a roller crimp sequential terminator mounted thereon.

7. The configurable modular work space of claim 1, wherein said work bench further comprises at least one receptacle for storing a component selected from the set of components consisting of:

a terminal, a connector, a connector headshell, a screw, a lug, a wire, a tie wrap, and an identification tag.

8. A wire harness assembly work cell, comprising:

a production control computer,

bulk supplies of wire,

a programmable discrete wire inventory retainer capable of cutting and of stripping wires passed through the same,

a table having a sloped surface comprising a lower edge, and a trough affixed to said lower edge,

a shuttle configured to grab at least one wire presented to it by said programmable wire inventory retainer, and to move to a predetermined distance from said programmable wire inventory retainer on command from said production control computer, and

a work bench having at least one side wall attached thereto, and a roller crimp sequential terminator mounted thereon.

9. The wire harness assembly work cell of claim 8, further comprising a video display monitor connected to said production control computer.

10. The wire harness assembly work cell of claim 8, further comprising a console for receiving commands for overriding automated assembly steps.

11. The configurable modular work space of claim 8, further comprising a discrete wire termination station configured to process a wire terminal selected from the set of wire terminals consisting of:

an end feed terminal, a side feed terminal, a loose terminal, and a tape mounted terminal.

12. The configurable modular work space of claim 8, further comprising a multiple wire pull-through mass terminator mounted to said side wall attached to said work bench.

13. The configurable modular work space of claim 8, wherein said work bench further comprises a universal wire harness board and a programmable mass terminator tooling unit for cutting wires to length.

14. The configurable modular work space of claim 13, wherein said universal wire harness board further comprises a floating pin form board assembly comprising a plurality of floating pins arranged in an array within which each floating pin many be individually locked in an extended position or a retracted position.

15. The configurable modular work space of claim 14, with said floating pin form board assembly is positioned to interface with first and second IDT connectors.