Method for making a wire harness
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDan A. Cross
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In the method of the present invention, a wire routing tool grasps a wire, inserts one end into a connector, routes the wire along a predetermined path to another end connector under the control of a robot, and inserts the second end into that connector. The trailing end of the wire is detected with a circuit using an electrostatic technique. The tool can move the wire along a predetermined linear path to effectuate the connection.
Claims10
A method of routing a wire with a robot into a particular position in a wire harness assembly, wherein the wire harness assembly includes at least one connector having a plurality of pin-receiving points, comprising the steps of:
- (a) cutting the wire to a predetermined length;
- (b) terminating both ends of the wire length, at least one end being terminated with a pin;
- (c) positioning the pin of the wire with a robot adjacent to the connector, including the substeps of:
- (1) acquiring the terminated wire with a tool on the robot;
- (2) moving the robot to position the tool adjacent to the connector;
- (3) identifying a predetermined, pin-receiving point on the connector with the robot;
- and
- (4) positioning the pin end of the wire with the robot in alignment with the predetermined pin-receiving point;
- (d) inserting the pin of the wire with the robot into the first predetermined pin-receiving point on the connector, including the substeps of:
- (1) securing a first point of the wire with a first foot of the tool;
- (2) sliding a second foot of the tool to a second point of the wire removed from the first point;
- (3) securely holding the wire at the second point with the second foot;
- (4) moving the second foot from the second point to a point adjacent the first foot while allowing the wire to slide through the first foot to insert the wire into the connector;
- (e) thereafter laying the wire with the robot into its particular position within the wire harness assembly;
- and
- (f) releasing the wire from the robot.
A method for making a wire harness assembly, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning a plurality of connectors on a form board;
- (b) positioning at least one turn gate on the form board;
- (c) selecting a first wire for the harness;
- (d) marking the wire;
- (e) cutting the wire to a predetermined length;
- (f) pin terminating the pre-cut wire at both ends;
- (g) inserting a first pin end of the terminated wire into a first connector on the form board;
- (h) routing the wire over the form board through the turn gate to a second connector;
- and
- (i) inserting a second pin end of the terminated wire into the second connector, wherein each inserting step includes:
- (1) securing a first point of the wire with a first foot of a robot;
- (2) sliding a second foot of the robot to a second point of the wire removed from the first point;
- (3) securely holding the wire at the second point with the second foot;
- (4) moving the second foot from the second point to a point adjacent the first foot while allowing the wire to slide through the first foot to insert the wire into the connector.
A method for making a wire harness assembly using a robot, comprising the steps of:
- (a) cutting a wire for the harness to a predetermined length;
- (b) pin terminating both ends of the cut wire;
- (c) acquiring the terminated wire with the robot;
- (d) moving the wire adjacent a firt connector with the robot;
- (e) identifying the location of a predetermined pin receiver on the first connector with the robot;
- (f) inserting a first pin end of the wire into the pin receiver with the robot, including the substeps of:
- (1) aligning the pin end with the pin receiver;
- (2) clamping the wire with a first foot of the robot;
- (3) moving a second foot of the robot to a position away from the first foot;
- (4) clamping the wire with the second foot of the robot;
- (5) unclamping the wire with the first foot;
- and
- (6) moving the clamped second foot to a position adjacent the first foot while permitting the wire to slide through the first foot;
- (g) routing the wire to a second connector;
- (h) identifying the location of a predetermined pin receiver on the second connector with the robot;
- (i) inserting a second pin end of the wire into the pin receiver of the second connector with the robot;
- and
- (j) releasing the wire from the robot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.