Method and apparatus of folding flat cable

A cable folding member for folding a flat cable at a given folding angle, said cable folding member comprising:

• a mounting table for supporting a flat cable;
• a direction defining portion provided on said mounting table for defining a direction of folding a flat cable;
• a positioning element for positioning the flat cable on said mounting table to define a folding angle of the flat cable in association with said direction defining portion;
• and
• a pressing device provided on said mounting table that presses a portion of the flat cable having a crease folded along said direction defining portion between said pressing device and said mounting table;
• said pressing device being moveable relative to said mounting table between a pressing position where said pressing device presses said portion of the flat cable having a crease to cause plastic deformation in the crease and a releasing position where said pressing device releases the flat cable.

An apparatus for successively folding a flat cable wherein a flat cable is folded at a plurality of adjacent positions to arrange the flat cable in a predetermined wiring pattern, said apparatus comprising:

• a mounting table for supporting the flat cable;
• a first direction defining portion provided on said mounting table for defining a direction of folding a flat cable arranged at a first folding position;
• a positioning element for positioning the flat cable on said mounting table to define a folding angle of the flat cable at said first folding position in association with said first direction defining portion;
• a pressing and securing unit provided on said mounting table for pressing a folded portion of the flat cable folded along said first direction defining portion between said pressing and securing unit and said mounting table and for securing said folded portion to said mounting table;
• a second direction defining portion provided on said mounting table for defining a direction of folding a flat cable arranged at a second folding position;
• and
• a pressing unit provided on said mounting table for pressing a folded portion of the flat cable folded along said second direction defining section between said pressing unit and said mounting table;
• said pressing and securing unit and said pressing unit being individually moveable relative to said mounting table between a pressing position in which each said pressing and securing unit and said pressing unit press the folded portions of the flat cable at said first and second folding positions, respectively, to cause plastic deformation in the folded portions, and a releasing position where each said pressing and securing unit and said pressing unit are spaced away from the flat cable to release the flat cable.

A method for successively folding a flat cable wherein a flat cable is folded at a plurality of adjacent positions to arrange the flat cable in a predetermined wiring pattern, said method comprising:

• positioning a flat cable at a positioning section and disposing the flat cable on a mounting table;
• folding said flat cable along a first direction defining portion, pressing said folded portion of said flat cable disposed on said mounting table with a pressing and securing unit, and securing said folded portion of said flat cable to said mounting table;
• and
• folding said flat cable secured to said mounting table along a second direction defining portion, and pressing the second folded portion of said flat cable with a pressing unit.

A cable holding assembly unit for successively folding a flat cable at a plurality of positions to arrange the flat cable in a predetermined wiring pattern, said cable holding assembly unit comprising:

• a folding apparatus provided at a first folding position for folding the flat cable, said folding apparatus including:
• a cable holding base that receives a flat cable;
• a first direction defining portion provided on said cable holding base that defines a direction of folding a flat cable arranged at said first folding position;
• a first positioning element that positions the flat cable on said cable holding base and defines a first folding angle of the flat cable at said first folding position in association with said first direction defining portion;
• and
• a first pressing and securing unit provided on said cable holding base that presses the folded portion of the flat cable folded along said first direction defining portion between said first pressing and securing unit and said cable holding base and secures the folded portion of the flat cable to said cable holding base;
• and
• a cable holding assembly provided at a second folding position for folding the flat cable, said cable holding assembly including:
• a mounting table that receives the flat cable;
• a second direction defining portion provided on said mounting table that defines a direction of folding a flat cable arranged at said second folding position;
• a second positioning element that positions the flat cable on said mounting table and defines a second folding angle of the flat cable at said second folding position in association with said second direction defining portion;
• and
• a second pressing and securing unit provided on said mounting table that presses the folded portion of the flat cable folded along said second direction defining portion between said second pressing and securing unit and said mounting table and secures the folded portion of the flat cable to said mounting table.

A method of successively folding a flat cable held along an arrangement path and folded at a plurality of adjacent positions, said method comprising:

• inserting the flat cable into a cable folding apparatus provided at a first folding position of the flat cable on the arrangement path so that the flat cable is restrained from moving in a first folding direction;
• forming a first crease in the flat cable by folding the flat cable along a direction defining portion provided in the cable folding apparatus;
• pressing the first crease to cause plastic deformation of the flat cable;
• disposing the flat cable on a mounting table provided in a cable holding assembly at a second folding position of the flat cable on the arrangement path, said mounting table supporting the flat cable so that said mounting table contacts a side of the flat cable, and restraining the flat cable from moving in a second folding direction;
• holding the flat cable with a holding member provided on said mounting table and restraining the flat cable from moving in a direction opposite from said second folding direction;
• forming a second crease in the flat cable by folding the flat cable along a direction defining portion provided in the cable holding assembly;
• pressing the second crease to cause plastic deformation of the flat cable;
• and
• releasing the flat cable from the holding member.