Wiring harness assembly cell

A wiring harness assembly cell, comprising:

• an automation zone;
• a robot located within the automation zone and operative to perform one or more automated assembly operations;
• a plurality of wiring harness assembly stations, each comprising one or more wiring harness assembly boards configured to hold one or more wiring harnesses;
• and
• a plurality of manual operator zones located outside the automation zone respectively associated with the plurality of wiring harness assembly stations, wherein each wiring harness assembly station is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which a first wiring harness assembly board faces the respective manual operator zone such that it is accessible to a manual operator located in the manual operator zone, and a second configuration in which the first wiring harness assembly board faces the automation zone such that it is accessible to the robot, and wherein the robot is movable within the automation zone between a plurality of assembly locations corresponding respectively to the plurality of wiring harness assembly stations in which the robot is able to access respectively said corresponding plurality of wiring harness assembly stations, wherein the robot is mounted on a guide rail and is movable along the guide rail between the plurality of assembly locations, wherein the automation zone comprises first and second sides, and wherein the automation zone has a width and a length, the guide rail extends lengthwise along the automation zone and the first and second sides are arranged width wise either side of the guide rail and parallel therewith.

A wiring harness assembly cell, comprising:

• an automation zone;
• a robot located within the automation zone and operative to perform one or more automated assembly operations;
• a plurality of wiring harness assembly stations, each comprising one or more wiring harness assembly boards configured to hold one or more wiring harnesses;
• and
• a plurality of manual operator zones located outside the automation zone respectively associated with the plurality of wiring harness assembly stations, wherein each wiring harness assembly station is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which a first wiring harness assembly board faces the respective manual operator zone such that it is accessible to a manual operator located in the manual operator zone, and a second configuration in which the first wiring harness assembly board faces the automation zone such that it is accessible to the robot, and wherein the robot is movable within the automation zone between a plurality of assembly locations corresponding respectively to the plurality of wiring harness assembly stations in which the robot is able to access respectively said corresponding plurality of wiring harness assembly stations, wherein the robot comprises a body clip applicator configured to apply body clips to a wiring harness, wherein the body clip applicator is configured to apply single piece body clips comprising a body clip head, body clip body and integrated cable tie, and wherein the body clip applicator is operative to wrap the cable tie about a wiring bundle and lock the cable tie thereto to secure the body clip to the wiring harness.