Apparatus and method for automatically, circumferentially wrapping a cable harness

An apparatus for performing a wrapping operation wherein an axially extending cable is automatically and circumferentially wrapped with a wrapping tape in a wrapping plane which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the cable, and for securing the wrapping tape with a fastening element, and wherein the apparatus comprises:

• a gripper device with a first jaw and a second jaw, said jaws are mounted movably to one another such that the first jaw and the second jaw, when in a closed position for wrapping the wrapping tape, encompass a wrapping region into which the cable to be wrapped is placed while the jaws are in an open position, the first jaw and the second jaw including a guide path wherein the fastening element and the wrapping tape can be circumferentially guided around the cable;
• a joining tool operable for joining at least parts of overlapping portions of the tape, when the tape has been wrapped around the cable, and wherein the joining tool is operable to join the tape to the fastening element separately from the cable to be wrapped;
• a first feed device operable for feeding the wrapping tape, which is preferably provided continuously, to the gripper device with an advancing movement, and operable for tautening the wrapping tape with a retracting movement;
• a second feed device for feeding the fastening element to the gripper device;
• and
• a control device which is adapted to locate the fastening element in a predefined circumferential position relative to the cable, and which is further adapted to cause the first feed device to advance the wrapping tape forward relative to the fastening element by a predefined tape length.