MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING WIRE HARNESS

• US 3,693,228 A
• Filed: 11/12/1970
• Issued: 09/26/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David J. Logan
• Original Assignee: David J. Logan
• Inventors: Logan, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eager, Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US05/088,922
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 29/23MW,23R,23P,23MM,23D
• US Class Current: 29/56.6
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/01245 using a layout board
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5177 and work-holder for assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53243 Multiple, independent conductors

Abstract

A system is disclosed for the automated assembly of a wire harness from one or more spools of premarked wire. The spools of wire are mounted on a cross-head which is movable in the Y direction on a carriage, movable in the X direction above a surface. A jig board is placed on this surface, and has wire holding devices at preselected locations for receiving the wire. Means is provided for feeding the wire downwardly through a funnel in the cross-head as the head is moved in response to a predetermined program from one point to another on the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'plotting'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' surface. The head includes a tool for inserting the wire into wire retaining slots in the wire holding devices, and a cut-off knife is provided for severing the wire once a particular length has been layed-up.

Claims

1. A machine for laying-up wires to form a harness, and comprising a planar jig board, wire holding devices comprising upwardly open combs defining slots for receiving and holding said wires arranged at spaced locations on the jig board, a carriage spanning the jig board and adapted for movement longitudinally thereof in an X direction, a cross-head slidably mounted on the carriage for movement laterally across the board in a Y direction, spool means on said cross-head for storing wire, and means for inserting said wire into said comb slots as said crosshead and carriage move in their respective directions from one such wire holding device to another.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by means for cutting said wire, said wire cutting means being located adjacent said wire inserting means in said cross-head.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by a funnel through which said wire is fed from said spool means, said funnel having a lower end which defines an orifice adjacent said wire cutting means, said orifice defining portion of said funnel comprising an elbow portion which the orifice is defined in a plane normal to the jig board, and means for rotatably supporting said funnel for movement about an axis in said cross-head which is generally normal to the plane of said jig board.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said wire inserting means comprises a vertically reciprocable bifurcated member having spaced legs which define openings for receiving said wire, and said wire inserting means being mounted for rotation with said funnel.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said wire cutting means comprises a depending member having a guide opening through which the wire passes, and a knife in said depending member for severing the wire at said guide opening, said depending member also being rotatably mounted for movement with said funnel.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by computor means for controlling the path of movement of said cross-head and carriage, and input data for said computor means to cause the cross-head to track a series of predetermined paths over said jig board to form a harness of predetermined configuration.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 6 further characterized by means for pre-marking the wire in predetermined lengths, and sensor means carried by said funnel and responsive to said wire markings to provide successive wire length signals for said wire cutting means.