Method and apparatus for sealing a wiring-harness

A wiring-harness sealing-apparatus configured to feed a wiring-harness through a sealing-process, said apparatus comprising:

• a handling-device configured to manipulate the wiring-harness;
• a platform configured to receive a length of a sealing-tape along a longitudinal-axis of the platform;
• a dispensing-device configured to dispense the sealing-tape onto the platform;
• a separation-device configured to separate a plurality of wire-cables within the wiring-harness;
• the separation-device further configured to retain the plurality of wire-cables such that the plurality of wire-cables are generally parallel and evenly spaced;
• a folding-device configured to fold the sealing-tape over the separated plurality of wire-cables;
• a pressing-device configured to press the sealing-tape and separated plurality of wire-cables into a cable-band;
• a coiling-device configured to coil the cable-band;
• and
• a controller-circuit in communication with the handling-device, the platform, the dispensing-device, the separation-device, the folding-device, the pressing-device, and the coiling-device, characterized in that the controller-circuit is configured to:
• present the wiring-harness into the apparatus with the handling-device;
• dispense the length of the sealing-tape onto the platform with the dispensing-device;
• the sealing-tape having a first-surface and a second-surface opposite the first-surface, the second-surface in contact with the platform;
• separate the plurality of wire-cables by placing a portion of the wiring-harness into the separation-device, with the handling-device;
• apply, with the handling-device, the separated plurality of wire-cables to the first-surface of the sealing-tape along a lateral-axis of the platform, the lateral-axis orthogonal to the longitudinal-axis;
• the handling-device placing the separated plurality of wire-cables onto a first-half of the length of the sealing-tape;
• fold, with the folding-device, a second-half of the sealing-tape over the separated plurality of wire-cables such that the second-half overlays the first-half;
• press, with the pressing-device, the second-half of the sealing-tape along a vertical-axis of the platform, the vertical-axis orthogonal to both the longitudinal-axis and the lateral-axis, such that the second-half contacts the first-half between the separated plurality of wire-cables, thereby forming the cable-band;
• coil the cable-band, with the coiling-device, along the longitudinal-axis into a generally cylindrical-shaped seal such that the second-surface of the sealing-tape is in direct contact with the first-surface of the sealing-tape;
• and
• compress the cylindrical-shaped seal isostatically, with the coiling-device, such that interstitial-voids within the cylindrical-shaped seal are reduced in size.