System for the production of electrical wiring parts

• US 4,701,007 A
• Filed: 08/14/1986
• Issued: 10/20/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV
• Original Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
• Inventors: Jonca, Henri V. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John
• Application Number:
  US06/896,277
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.10, 350/96.15, 350/96.24, 254/134.3 R, 339/28, 339/113 R, 339/113 B, 339/113 L, 339/147 R, 339/148, 339/278 R, 364/468, 364/478, 369/53, 369/69, 369/70
• US Class Current: 385/147
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/012 for manufacturing wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/065 Accessories therefor, e.g. light spots

Abstract

A system for producing electrical wiring parts in which every conductor connects two connection devices, each connecting point of at least one of which is transparent, and which comprises a computer associated to a bulk memory storing itmes of information relative to the identification of the conductor and to the addresses of its ends. The system comprises at least one work station for an operator, which work station is connected with the computer and bulk memory, and comprises data input means and an assembly of selectively controllable light points disposed correspondingly to the transparent connection points of the connection device.

Claims

1. A system for producing a wiring part consisting of conductors having ends and of at least a connection device having transparent connecting points for said ends, said transparent connecting points having a preselected distribution in relation to each other, said conductors inside said wiring part being identified by conductor codes, the ends of said conductors being identified by end addresses which correspond to said connecting points of said connection device, and each of said conductors having inside said wiring part a path identified by a guiding through code, said system comprising:

(a) a computer associated with a bulk memory in which are stored said conductor codes, said end addresses and said guiding through codes; and

(b) at least a work station for an operator, connected to said computer and to said bulk memory, said work station comprising;

(i) a frame;

(ii) a rack supported by said frame and provided with notches to receive said conductors;

(iii) a movable member displaceable along said rack;

(iv) data input means;

(v) an assembly of selectively controlled light points arranged according to a distribution similar to that of said transparent connecting points of said connection device; and

(vi) display means,

said data input means, said assembly of light points, said connection device and said display means being fixed to said movable member.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said assembly of controlled light points comprises a single matrix of light points and a plurality of interchangeable bundles of optical fibers, each of said bundles interfacing with the connection device and being constituted of optical fibers, which, at one of their ends, are in registration with at least some of said controlled light points and, at their other end, are in registeration with the transparent connecting points of said connection device, wherein each of said bundles is mounted on an interchangeable sliding unit which can be put in place into said movable member and removed therefrom by sliding.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each work station comprises at least one connection member which, on the one hand, can be connected with a connection device, which is connected to the ends of codductors, and, on the other hand, is connected with a detection device, said detection device being adapted so that an operator can touch at least one of the conductors at the end of the detection device opposite of said connection device, and said detection device indicating to the computer which of said conductors of the wiring part is being touched by the operator at the end of the detection device opposite of said connection device.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein there is a plurality of bundles of interface aids interposed between said connection device of said wiring part and said connection member.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said detection device comprises a matrix of controllable points capable of taking at least two different electrical states, each point being connected with a conductor, means for scanning the state of said controllable points of said matrix, and means for controlling said scanning means.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said matrix of controllable points has optical couplers and the scanning means comprises an astable multivibrator.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein every work station further comprises a magazine divided into a plurality of compartments, each compartment being identifiable by the computer and containing a non-identified conductor.