Wire harness manufacturing system
First Claim
1. A system for manufacturing electrical wire harnesses, comprising:
- an information storage subsystem for storing computer process control data;
a wire segment preparation subsystem for preparing batches of wire segments of predetermined lengths;
a termination subsystem including a plurality of autonomous wire segment termination stations;
a communication subsystem to transfer said control data in batches to said segment preparation subsystem and said termination stations; and
a wire segment transport subsystem for selectively transporting batches of wire segments from said segment preparation subsystem to said termination stations.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The manufacturing system includes a wire segment preparation subsystem and a termination subsystem, each of which operates independently under the direction of local computer controllers. The preparation sybsystem measures and marks wire and cuts it into segments. The termination subsystem processes the ends of the wire segments. A transport subsystem selectively transports batches of wire segments from the preparation subsystem to the termination stations of the termination subsystem. A system controller oversees the operation of the system and transmits batches of computer process control data to the subsystems. The local controllers use the downloaded batches of data to direct the processing of batches of wire segments. The system may be entirely automated, or may include a mix of automated and manual work stations. The segments are preferably loaded in batches in carriers for transport between subsystems and work stations. The carriers may be transported by hand, along roller tables, and/or on conveyors. The subsystem work stations have input and output queues. The wire segments are hung on dividers in the carrier or are individually coiled onto reelettes which are in turn loaded in the carrier.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for manufacturing electrical wire harnesses, comprising:
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an information storage subsystem for storing computer process control data; a wire segment preparation subsystem for preparing batches of wire segments of predetermined lengths; a termination subsystem including a plurality of autonomous wire segment termination stations; a communication subsystem to transfer said control data in batches to said segment preparation subsystem and said termination stations; and a wire segment transport subsystem for selectively transporting batches of wire segments from said segment preparation subsystem to said termination stations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of manufacturing electrical wire harnesses, comprising:
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providing a wire segment preparation subsystem and a plurality of termination stations; communicating computer process control data in batches to said preparation subsystem and said termination stations; in said preparation subsystem, using said control data to independently control preparation of a batch of wire segments; selectively transporting said batch of wire segments to one of said termination stations; and at said one station, using a batch of said control data to independently control processing of end portions of said wire segments. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification