System configured to assemble one or more cables in a layout

• US 10,679,777 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2017
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Defence And Space S.A.
• Original Assignee: Airbus Defence And Space S.A.
• Inventors: Torres Moreno, Juan, Perez Barthelemy, Alberto, Hotz Ordono, Josef Ignacio, Ramos Santana, Tamara, Diaz Cruz, Jose Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul D
• Application Number:
  US15/656,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20180025814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2113/16 Cables, cable trees or wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/01209 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/01227 using a layout board
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/01236 the wires being disposed by machine

Abstract

A cable (1) assembly device for producing cabling including: a support surface (2) on which the cable assembly is carried out (1), cable (1) fastening and guide elements (3), said fastening and guide elements (3) comprising a vacuum element for joining it to said support surface (2), a feeder (4) of the cable to be assembled, a computation means that includes a cabling diagram in its memory and the location of the fastening and guide elements (3) on the support surface (2), a storage module (5) for cable (1) fastening and guide elements (3), positioning means (6) of the fastening and guide elements (3) on the support surface (2).

Claims

1. A system configured to assemble one or more cables in a layout, the system comprising:

a horizontal support surface on which cable assembly is to be carried out;

fastening and guide elements for the one or more- cables, said fastening and guide elements are each configured to be attached to the support surface at selected positions on the support surface, and the fastening and guide elements each comprise a vacuum element configured to be attached to the support surface, a single post extending upward from the vacuum element, and a second post offset from the vacuum element and connected to the vacuum element by a cantilever, wherein the first post is configured to guide the one or more cables through a turn;

a feeder of cable configured to be assembled on the support surface;

a computation device configured to access a cabling layout diagram and information indicating the selected positions of the fastening and guide elements on the support surface;

a storage module configured to store the fastening and guide elements; and

a positioning assembly configured to position the fastening and guide elements on the support surface, said positioning assembly configured to receive instructions from the computation device identifying the selected positions on the support surface for each of the guide and fastening elements in the storage module, and a selected location on the support surface for the cable fed from the feeder;

wherein the positioning assembly includes;

a grip clamp configured to grip the second post of a selected one of the fastening and guide elements from the storage module;

an actuator configured to move the grip clamp while gripping the second post of the selected fastening and guide element from the storage module to one of the selected positions which corresponds to the selected fastening and guide element; and

a pneumatic actuator configured to press the selected one of the fastening and guide elements on the support surface such that the vacuum pressure element of the selected one of the fastening and guide elements is pressed against said support surface.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein ft the fastening and guide elements include a caliper bracket configured to group grouping together cables.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the joining device includes a pneumatic actuator configured to push each of the plurality of the fastening and guide elements against the support surface.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the positioning assembly includes a rotary actuator configured to rotate the positioning assembly.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the storage module includes dispensers for each type of the fastening and guide elements.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum element includes a suction cup.

7. A system configured to arrange cables into a prescribed layout for the cables, the system comprising:

a horizontal support surface;

a storage module adjacent the horizontal support surface, wherein the storage module is configured to temporarily hold fastening and guide elements;

the fastening and guide elements are each configured to guide cables or group cables together, and the fastening and guide elements each include;

a vacuum element having a first surface configured to be attached by suction to the support surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface;

a single first post upstanding from the first surface configured to guide the one or more cables through a turn;

a cantilever including a first arm attached to the second surface and a second arm, offset in a horizontal direction from the vacuum element configured to be adjacent the horizontal support surface; and

a second post mounted to and upstanding from the second arm of the cantilever, wherein the second post is offset from the vacuum element in the horizontal direction;

a cable feeder adjacent the horizontal support surface;

a robotic positioning device configured to position the fastening and guide elements on the support surface, said robotic positioning device configured to receive and execute instructions from a computer controller, wherein the robotic positioning device includes;

a grip clamp configured to retrieve a selected one of the fastening and guide elements from the storage module by gripping the second post on the selected one of the fastening and guide element;

an actuator configured to move the selected one of the cable fastening and guide elements from the storage module to a position on the horizontal support surface by moving the grip clamp while gripping the second post on the selected fastening and guide element; and

a pneumatic actuator configured to press the selected one of the fastening and guide elements on the horizontal support surface such that the vacuum pressure element of the selected fastening and guide element is pressed against said horizontal support surface,

the computer controller configured to generate control instructions which cause the robotic positioning device to;

a. actuate the grip clamp to grip the second post of the selected one of the fastening and guide elements from the fastening and guide elements in the storage module;

b. actuate the actuator to move the grip clamp while gripping the second post of the selected one of the fastening and guide elements from the storage module to a location on the horizontal support surface;

c. actuate the pneumatic actuator to attach the first surface of the vacuum element of the selected one of the fastening and guide elements to the support surface at the location by forming a applying the vacuum between the vacuum element and the horizontal support surface;

d. repeating steps a to c for successive selected ones of the fastening and guide elements.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the computer controller causes the robotic positioning device to automatically perform steps a to d.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the computer controller further causes the robotic positioning device to grasps an end region of a cable at the cable feeder, pulls the cable over the support surface and positions the cable along a path conforming to a cable layout retrieved an electronic storage accessed by the controller.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the robotic positioning device grasps the end region of the cable after steps a to d are performed to attached the selected fastening and guide elements to the support surface.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the robotic positioning device positions the cable into engagement with the selected fastening and guide elements while positioning the cable.