System for preparing wire harness production

• US 6,845,553 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Mochizuki, Yasuhiro, Ono, Shuji, Akizuki, Kenichiro, Uchida, Masaya, Asaoka, Eiji, Ishikawa, Takeshi, Ishiguro, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, MINH N
• Application Number:
  US10/262,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 297/49, 297/55, 298/57, 298/66, 298/67, 295/641, 295/646, 29/33.F, 29/33.M, 700/213, 700/95, 700/115, 700/116, 364/468
• US Class Current: 29/749
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49181 by deforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49188 with penetrating portion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4919 Through insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49192 with insulation removal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49194 Assembling elongated conductors, e.g., splicing, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5137 including assembling or disassembling station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/514 comprising means to strip insulation from wire
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5142 and means to sever work from supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5187 Wire working
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5193 Electrical connector or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53217 Means to simultaneously assemble multiple, independent conductors to terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53243 Multiple, independent conductors

Abstract

In preparing a wire harness production, modified wire harness wiring pattern information is generated. The generated information relates to second patterns, in which some parts of a first pattern are altered. Each of the second patterns is simulated for practicality. Where practical, according to the simulation, a first sub-pattern is modified to one of the second sub-patterns to achieve the desired second pattern. Jig arrangement pattern information is generated by applying at least one sub jig arrangement pattern to each of the wire harness path patterns of a standard type vehicle included in wire harness path pattern information. Path decision information is used to select one wire harness path pattern. A jig arrangement pattern selector selects a jig arrangement pattern. A path plan is generated by integrating the modified second sub pattern having the necessary alterations and the selected jig arrangement pattern.

Claims

1. A system for preparing a wire harness production comprising:

standard wire harness wiring pattern information related to a first pattern including parts, electric circuits, and wirings of a standard type vehicle;

a modified wiring pattern generator, which generates modified wire harness wiring pattern information related to at least one second pattern in which at least one of the parts, the electric circuits, and the wirings of the first pattern is altered;

a parts information storage, which stores parts specification information including specifications of the parts, the electric circuits and the wiring included in the second patterns;

a simulator, which simulates whether each of the second patterns is practical while referring to the parts specification information;

a sub wiring pattern modifier, which modifies at least one of first sub patterns constituting the first pattern to at least one of second sub patterns so as to constitute the second pattern judged as practical by the simulator;

wire harness path pattern information related to a plurality of wire harness path patterns of the standard type vehicle;

a jig arrangement pattern information generator, which generates jig arrangement pattern information related to jig arrangement patterns prepared by applying at least one sub jig arrangement pattern to each of the wire harness path patterns;

path decision information, which selects one wire harness path pattern among the plurality of wire harness path patterns;

alternation information which indicates at least one of alternation portions altered from the first pattern;

a jig arrangement pattern selector, which selects one jig arrangement pattern corresponding to the selected wire harness path pattern among the plurality of wire harness path patterns; and

a path plan generator, which generates a path plan by integrating the modified second sub pattern having the alternation portions which is indicated in the alternation information and the selected jig arrangement pattern.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a jig arrangement board plan generator, which generates a jig arrangement board plan in which a three dimensional extend elevation is based on the selected jig arrangement pattern.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sub wiring pattern modifier modifies the at least one of first sub patterns according to at least one of data concerning automatic machine conditions, special construction method verification, production requirements, and optimum circuit study.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a wiring pattern information storage, which stores the standard wire harness wiring pattern information;

and a path pattern information storage, which stores the wire harness path pattern information.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the alteration of the second pattern is at least one of a change to specifications, an addition, and a system change of the at least one of the parts, the electric circuits, and the wirings of the first pattern.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wire harness is wired in a door portion of a vehicle, and wherein the simulator simulates a bending test of the wire harness wired in the door portion.

7. The system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the wiring pattern information storage and the path pattern information storage are placed in a design department for designing the wire harness,

wherein the modified wiring pattern generator, the simulator, the sub wiring pattern modifier, the jig arrangement pattern information generator, the jig arrangement pattern selector, the path plan generator, and the parts information storage are placed in a production department, connected to the design department through a communicator,

wherein the path decision information and the alternation information are transmitted from the design department to the production department through the communicator, and

wherein the path plan are transmitted from the production department to the design department through the communicator.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the design department belongs to a car maker, and

wherein the production department belongs to a parts maker for manufacturing the wire harness.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a storage, which stores at least one of the modified wire harness wiring pattern information, a result simulated by the simulator, the at least one of first sub pattern, the jig arrangement pattern information, the selected jig arrangement pattern, and the path plan.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the simulator simulates an electric characteristic and a durability of the second pattern.