Abstract:
A method is provided for fitting waterproof seals onto outer peripheries of end portions of electric wires. The method feeds seals along the axis line of the wire and into a seal cavity. A passage forming member forms a feeding passage to feed the seal into the seal cavity with a posture to receive the electric wire. The seal then is locked in the seal cavity. The wire then is moved along the axis line and into the seal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a technology for waterproof seal members substantially cylindrical such as rubber plugs fitting over end portions of electric wires, and more particularly to a technology for waterproof seal members to fit over end portions of electric wires by directly feeding the waterproof seal members successively toward each electric wire at a high speed by pneumatic means such as the compressed air to remarkably improve the efficiency and the yield in the fitting operation. Hereinafter, the waterproof seal members are merely called as “seal members”. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Conventionally, in electric wire connectors of connecting electric wires with each other, an insulative sheath of an electric wire is stripped off to expose a conductor wire, a terminal is crimped to an end portion of the electric wire where the conductor wire is exposed, and then the terminal crimped on the electric wire is fixed in a connector housing. If water or moist is penetrated into the connector housing along the electric wire, the penetrated water may cause short circuit. In order to prevent penetration of water or moist, some connectors have such a waterproof construction that a seal member is mounted on an end portion of an electric wire, and the seal member mounted on the end portion of the electric wire is inserted into a cavity of the connector housing. A seal member, such as a rubber plug is generally a cylindrical-shaped rubber product formed with a lock member passage for passing an electric wire therethrough. The seal member has a multi-step portion on the outer surface thereof. 
   Various arrangements as disclosed in the below-mentioned prior art documents have been proposed to fit seal members over end portions of electric wires. 
   Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. SHO 60-29249, see  FIG. 6 , discloses a supporter of angular shape in cross section having a half cylindrical receiving dent at a side of tip portion to receive substantially a cylindrical part of a seal member in an axial direction of an electric wire. The supporter is moved toward the electric wire in a state that a seal member supplied from a magazine be held in the dent, whereby the seal member fits over the tip of the securely fixed electric wire. 
   Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 5-299149, see  FIG. 3 , discloses a pair of sticks extending parallel to each other. The sticks are moved closer to a seal member supplied from a magazine for insertion into an lock member passage of the seal member, followed by enlarging the lock member passage by moving the sticks away from each other in order to pass an electric wire through the enlarged lock member passage of the seal member, whereby the seal member fits over an end of the electric wire. 
   Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 6-189429, see  FIGS. 4 through 14 , discloses an arrangement provided with a cylinder for inserting a rod into an lock member passage of a seal member by fitting the seal member thereon to supply the seal member to a feeder, means for transporting the seal member held on an end portion of the rod to a holder while pivoting the cylinder by 90°, and a holder for receiving the seal member from the rod to feed the seal member to an electric wire. 
   Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 11-345668 discloses an arrangement for feeding a seal member by compressed air to be mounted on an end portion of an electric wire. 
     FIG. 1  is a partially enlarged view of the arrangement disclosed in the above-referenced Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 11-345668, see  FIGS. 8 through 15 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , a seal feeding hose  4  is extended from a parts feeder (not shown) and connected with a hose supporting block  3 . A seal member  2  to fit over an end portion of an electric wire W is fed inside the seal feeding hose  4  by the compressed air in the direction as shown by the arrow A. A holder supporting block  5  is arranged behind the hose supporting block  3 . A seal holder  6  is attached to the holder supporting block  5 . After being fed into the seal feeding hose  4 , the seal member  2  is seated in a hole  6   a  in the seal holder  6 . At this time, an air suction hose  7  mounted on the other end of the holder supporting block  5  opposite to the seal holder  6  sucks the air inside the hole  6   a  in the direction shown by the arrow B. Thus, the seal member  2  is kept in close contact with the bottom of the hole  6   a.    
   Next, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the holder supporting block  5  is pivoted by 90° in the direction shown by the arrow C to turn the seal member  2  face to a pair of wire guide blocks  8   a  and  8   b . Thereafter, the tip of the electric wire W is passed into an lock member passage of the seal member  2  by moving the electric wire W in the direction shown by the arrow D. 
   After completion of fitting the seal member  2  over the end portion of the electric wire W, the electric wire W can be taken out by moving the wire guide members  8   a  and  8   b  away from each other. 
   However, both of the arrangements shown in D 1  and D 2  are configured such that seal members are supplied by the magazine, which makes it difficult to efficiently mount the seal members on end portions of electric wires. Particularly, in D 1 , it is required to transport a seal member in a state that the seal member is held in the cylindrical receiving dent of the supporter having such a configuration as to correspond to a substantially half part of the seal member. With such an arrangement, it is likely that the held position of the seal member may be inaccurately dislocated during the transportation after the compressed air, thereby lowering the yield in mounting the seal members on the end portions of electric wires. 
   Further, it is required to pivot the cylinder by 90° in order to transport a seal member from the feeder to the holder in the arrangement disclosed in D 3 , which takes a time in transportation of the seal member  2 . 
   The arrangement disclosed in D 4  is capable of feeding seal members  2  at a high speed by the compressed air. However, each seal member  2  is supplied into the hole  6   a  of the seal holder  6 , in place of using the wire guide blocks  8   a  and  8   b . In addition, it is required to pivot each of the holder supporting block  5 , the seal holder  6 , and the air suction hose  7  by 90° each time a seal member is mounted on an electric wire. Such an arrangement reduces efficient mounting of seal members onto end portions of electric wires. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks residing in the prior arts and to efficiently carry out fitting of seal members over end portions of electric wires. 
   According to an aspect of the present invention, a seal cavity for receiving a seal member is defined at a predetermined fitting position on the axis line of an electric wire to fit the cylindrical seal member over the outer periphery of the end portion of the electric wire. The seal member is fed into the seal cavity defined at the fitting position with such a posture as to receive an electric wire by the compressed air. After being fed to the fitting position, movement of the seal member is locked thereat. Then, the electric wire is inserted into the lock member passage of the seal member in the locked state. After the insertion, the movement of the seal member is unlocked. 
   According to the above arrangement of the present invention, the seal member is directly fed into the seal cavity defined at the fitting position by the compressed air. Accordingly, feeding of the seal member is completed in a very short cycle of time. Thereby, the seal member is efficiently mounted on the end portion of the electric wire. Since the seal member is directly fed into the seal cavity defined at the fitting position, there is no need of moving the seal member after the feeding, thereby suppressing positional displacement of the seal member. Since movement of the seal member in the seal cavity is locked, the electric wire can be securely inserted into the lock member passage of the seal member. 
   These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a partially enlarged side view showing a conventional waterproof seal fitting unit as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 11-345668. 
       FIG. 2  is a partially enlarged side view showing the unit in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a partially enlarged side view showing the unit in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view schematically showing an electric wire processing apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view showing a waterproof seal feeding machine as a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a front view showing the waterproof seal feeding machine as the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view showing the waterproof seal feeding machine as the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view showing a state that a seal member is fed in the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view showing a state that the seal member is fixed in the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view showing a state that an electric wire is passed through the seal member in the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view showing a state that the seal member has fitted over an end portion of the electric wire in the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 12  is a side view showing a state that a terminal is crimped on an end portion of the electric wire in the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 13  is a side view showing a state that terminals and seal members are mounted on opposite ends of an electric wire. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view showing a waterproof seal feeding machine as a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  is a front view of the waterproof seal feeding machine as the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  is a plan view of the waterproof seal feeding machine as the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 17A and 17B  are sectional views each showing a passage forming member and a holder in the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 18  is a sectional view showing a passage forming member and a holder in a waterproof seal feeding machine as a third embodiment of the present invention in a seal member feeding state. 
       FIG. 19  is a sectional view showing the passage forming member and the holder in the waterproof seal feeding machine as the third embodiment of the present invention in a seal member fixing state. 
       FIG. 20  is a sectional view showing a passage forming member and a holder in a waterproof seal feeding machine as a fourth embodiment of the present invention in a seal member feeding state. 
       FIG. 21  is a sectional view showing the passage forming member and the holder in the waterproof seal feeding machine as the fourth embodiment of the present invention in a seal member fixing state. 
       FIG. 22  is a sectional view showing a passage forming member and a holder in a waterproof seal feeding machine as a fifth embodiment of the present invention in a seal member feeding state. 
       FIG. 23  is a sectional view showing the passage forming member and the holder in the waterproof seal feeding machine as the fifth embodiment of the present invention in a seal member fixing state. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail referring to  FIGS. 4 through 23 . 
   In the following, substantially equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated description thereof will be omitted. 
   First Embodiment 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , an electric wire processing apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a drive device  11 F, an electric wire retrieving/length measuring device  12  (or simply called as “wire retrieving/measuring device  12 ”), a clamping device  13 F, a cutting device  14 , all of which are adapted to process a front end of an electric wire; a parts feeder  15 F for feeding seal members  2  one by one by the compressed air; a feeding pipe unit  16 F; a waterproof seal feeding machine  100 F; a stripping device  17 F; and a terminal crimping device  18 F. 
   The electric wire processing apparatus  10  further includes a drive device  11 R, a clamping device  13 R, both of which are adapted to process a rear end of the electric wire W, a parts feeder  15 R for feeding seal members  2  one by one by the compressed air, a feeding pipe unit  16 R, a waterproof seal feeding machine  100 R, a stripping device  17 R, and a terminal crimping device  18 R. 
   In order to supply the compressed air, an air compressor AC is connected with the feeding units  100 F and  100 R. 
   Among the aforementioned elements, the drive devices  11 F and  11 R, and the clamping devices  13 F and  13 R constitute fitting means in the first embodiment. 
   The electric wire processing apparatus  10  is operated in such a manner that a seal member  2  is mounted at a predetermined fitting position PF corresponding to a front end of an electric wire W in cooperation with the waterproof seal feeding machine  100 F, followed by stripping, crimping of a terminal TF, retrieving of the electric wire by a predetermined length by the wire retrieving/measuring device  12 , and cutting by the cutting device  14  to a cut wire (size-adjusted wire). Likewise, another seal member  2  is mounted at a predetermined fitting position PR corresponding to a rear end of the cut wire in cooperation with the waterproof seal feeding machine  100 R, followed by stripping and crimping of a terminal TR. 
   The drive devices  11 F and  11 R are provided with a uniaxial robot, for instance, to drive the clamping devices  13 F and  13 R in front and rear directions and in left and right directions of the apparatus  10 . The leading and the rear ends of cut wires obtained by cutting with the cutting device  14  are movable back and forth in left and right directions relative to the wire retrieving/measuring device  12  by way of the clamping devices  13 F and  13 R, and movable back and forth in front and rear directions coaxially along axis lines LF and LR, respectively, while being carried on the drive devices  11 F and  11 R. The axis lines LF and LR are parallel to a wire feeding path PH defined by the wire retrieving/measuring device  12 . 
   Although briefly illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the respective axis lines LF and LR are set in plural pairs in correspondence to different kinds of seal members  2 . 
   The fitting positions PF, PR are defined coaxially along the respective axis lines LF and LR. The seal members  2  are fitted over their predetermined respective positions on an electric wire W by passing the electric wire W into the seal members  2  respectively fed to the fitting positions PF and PR one after another. 
   Next, the waterproof seal feeding machine is described with reference to  FIGS. 5 through 13 . Since the respective elements located upstream in the wire feeding path PH are identical to the respective elements located downstream in the wire feeding path PH, the designations “F” and “R” for identifying the upstream elements and the downstream elements are omitted in the description relating to  FIG. 5  and thereafter. 
   The waterproof seal feeding machine  100  includes a passage forming member  20  attached to a support member B 1  of a base block B of the wire processing apparatus  10 . The passage forming member  20  is an integral molded member made of a synthetic resin. 
   As illustrated enlargedly in  FIG. 8 , the passage forming member  20  is formed with an lock member passage  21  coaxially extending along the axis line L defined in the wire processing apparatus  10 , and a feeding passage  22  which is merged into the lock member passage  21  at a downstream end (front end) of the lock member passage  21  in the seal member feeding direction and extends obliquely upward relative to the lock member passage  21  toward upstream in the seal member feeding direction. The lock member passage  21  and the feeding passage  22  each has a circular shape in cross section, and has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the seal member  2 . 
   The waterproof seal feeding machine  100  in the first embodiment is constructed such that seal members  2  of three different sizes are selectively capable of fitting over end portions of electric wires without changing the replace or setup operations in fitting the seal member  2  of a desired size. In view of this, three sets of lock member passages  21  and feeding passages  22  are formed side by side in correspondence to the size of the seal member  2  to be fed. The inner diameters of the lock member passage  21  and the corresponding feeding passage  22  are each formed in correspondence to the size of the seal member  2  to be mounted. Specifically, in  FIG. 6 , the rightmost lock member passage  21  and the corresponding feeding passage  22  each has a smallest inner diameter, the middle lock member passage  21  and the corresponding feeding passage  22  each has a medium size inner diameter, and the leftmost lock member passage  21  and the corresponding feeding passage  22  each has a largest inner diameter. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , a linearly extending rod-like lock member  31  ( 32  or  33 ) having a substantially circular shape in cross section and having an outer diameter generally identical to the outer diameter of the seal member  2  are slidably movable through the corresponding lock member passage  21  along the axis line L. In  FIG. 7 , the lowermost lock member  31  has a smallest diameter, the middle lock member  32  has a medium size diameter, and the uppermost lock member  33  has a largest diameter among the three lock members  31 ,  32 ,  33  in correspondence to the diameter of the corresponding lock member passage  21 . 
   It should be appreciated that since the configurations of the lock members  31  through  33  are identical to each other, the configuration of the lock member  31  is described as a representative of the lock members  31  through  33 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , a hole  31   b , having a bottom, is formed axially along the axis line L in a tip  31   a  of the lock member  31 . The hole  31   b  is, as will be described later, adapted to secure the seal member  2  coaxially along the axis line L in a seal cavity  41   b  defined at the fitting position P when the lock member  31  moves to the fitting position P. The diameter of the hole  31   b  has such a size as to sufficiently enclose a small-diametrical part of the seal member  2 . A small-diametrical opening  31   c  is formed continuously from the bottom part of the hole  31   b  to guide and pass the electric wire W through the coaxially aligned seal member  2  (see  FIG. 10 ). 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , a rear end of each of the lock members  31  through  33  is fixed to a block  37  to be integral with the block  37 . The block  37  is supported on a bed  36  extending along the axis line L. The bed  36  is arranged at such a position as to be reciprocated along the axis line L by a piston rod  35  of an air cylinder  34 . The air cylinder  34  is fixed on the support member B 1 . In this arrangement, each of the lock members  31  through  33  can be reciprocated on the axis line L via the bed  36  and the block  37  by driving the piston rod  35 . 
   In the above embodiment, a locking mechanism in which the lock members  31  through  33 , the air cylinder  34 , the bed  36 , the block  37 , or other component, if necessary, are assembled into one unit constitutes locking means in the embodiment of the present invention. 
   Each feeding passage  22  has a multi-step circular shape in cross section with a large-diametrical part  23  being formed upstream in the seal member feeding direction, and a merging portion being formed downstream (front most) in the seal member feeding direction. The merging portion merges into the lock member passage  21  on the axis line L. The large-diametrical parts  23  of the feeding passages  22  receive respectively downstream ends of feeding pipes  16   a ,  16   b , and  16   c  of the feeding pipe unit  16  (see  FIG. 7 ) extending from the corresponding parts feeder  15  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
   The respective feeding pipes  16   a ,  16   b , and  16   c  have such configurations as to match with the seal members  2  of the different sizes. Specifically, the feeding pipe  16   a  has a smallest inner diameter, the feeding pipe  16   b  has a medium size inner diameter, and the feeding pipe  16   c  has a largest inner diameter in correspondence to the respective feeding passages  22 . 
   A holder unit  40  is provided in front (left side in  FIG. 5 ) of the passage forming member  20 . The holder unit  40  includes three sets of holders  41 ,  42 , and  43  arranged side by side, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The respective holders  41  through  43  oppose to the three rows of feeding passages  22  formed in the passage forming member  20  coaxially along the axial line L. 
   Similar to the three feeding passages  22  of the passage forming member  20 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , the holders  41  through  43  are constructed in such a manner that the rightmost holder  41  is adapted for holding the seal member  2  of a smallest size, the middle holder  42  is adapted for holding the seal member  2  of a medium size, and the leftmost holder  43  is adapted for holding the seal member  2  of a largest size. The constructions of the holders  41 ,  42 , and  43  are substantially identical to each other inasmuch as elements for holding the seal members  2  are concerned. Accordingly, merely the relevant portion of the holder  41  for holding a seal member  2  is described in the following. 
   A pair of holder pair  41 U and  41 L opposing to each other in upper and lower positions relative to the axis line L constitute the holder  41 . The upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L are vertically movable toward and away from each other in  FIG. 5 . When the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L move to a closed state, the seal cavity  41   b  is defined at the fitting position P defined coaxially on the axis line L in the wire processing apparatus  10  (see  FIG. 9 ). The seal cavity  41   b  is opened toward the passage forming member  20  on the axis line L, and is formed into a stepped cylindrical shape with a through-opening  41   a  being formed in an end wall of the seal cavity  41   b  for passing an electric wire W therethrough. In other words, an upper half part (lower half part) of the through-opening  41   a  and the seal cavity  41   b  is formed in the holder member  41 U ( 41 L). 
   The through-opening  41   a  of the seal cavity  41   b  includes a guide surface  41   c  for guiding a tip of the electric wire W. 
   In this embodiment, the through-opening  41   a  formed in an end surface of the seal cavity  41   b  has a rectangular shape in cross section, in place of a circular shape. More specifically, the through opening  41   a  has such a rectangular shape in cross section that a pair of opposing vertices of a square are arranged vertically to each other relative to the axis line L (see  FIG. 6 ). With this arrangement, electric wires having different diameters can be retained and guided along the same axis line L in the seal cavity  41   b  by regulating a clearance defined by the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L in a closest position. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 through 7 , the three sets of holders  41 ,  42 , and  43  are fixed by a pair of upper and lower brackets  51  and  52  constituting a holder driving unit  50  serving as holder driving means in the embodiment of the present invention. 
   The holder driving unit  50  includes a vertically extending guide member  54  fixed and supported on the base block B by a stay  53 , a pair of upper and lower sliders  55  and  56  which are operative to reciprocate slidably and vertically while being guided by the guide member  54 , a screw shaft  57  extending vertically in engagement with the sliders  55  and  56 , and a motor  58  for drivingly rotating the screw shaft  57  in forward and backward directions. A threaded portion  57   a  formed on the upper half of the screw shaft  57  is threaded right-handed, and a threaded portion  57   b  formed on the lower half of the screw shaft  57  is threaded left-handed. With this arrangement, the upper and lower sliders  55  and  56  are movable toward each other by rotating the screw shaft  57  in the forward direction, whereas they are movable away from each other by rotating the screw shaft  57  in the backward direction. 
   The upper and lower brackets  51  and  52  are fixedly supported by the upper and lower sliders  55  and  56 , respectively. 
   In the embodiment, the upper and lower brackets  51  and  52  of the holder driving unit  50  is equipped with two pairs of stripping blades  17   a  and  17   b  of the stripping device  17 , wherein each pair is adapted for stripping off the insulative sheath at the end portion of the electric wire W after fitting of the seal member  2 . In this arrangement, operations of the holder driving unit  50  for driving the three holders  41 ,  42 , and  43 , and driving means for driving the two pairs of stripping blades  17   a  and  17   b  are integrated to thereby simplify the entire construction of the wire processing apparatus  10 . 
   Furthermore, in the above arrangement, up and down movements of the respective holders  41 ,  42 , and  43 , and the respective stripping blade pairs  17   a  and  17   b  are rendered synchronous with each other, whereby processing operation of the end portions of the electric wires can be carried out accurately and efficiently. 
   Next, operations of producing a size-adjusted wire (cut wire) in the first embodiment are described referring to  FIGS. 8 through 13  in the first embodiment. 
   First, referring to  FIG. 4 , upon start-up of the wire processing apparatus  10 , an electric wire W is retrieved forward by the wire retrieving/measuring device  12 . After retrieving the electric wire W by a certain length, the electric wire W is clamped again by the clamping devices  13 F and  13 R, and then cut by the cutting device  14 . With regard to the process of upstream part of the electric wire W, the drive device  11 F drives the clamping device  13 F transversely toward the waterproof seal feeding machine  100 F. Thereby, the upstream part of the electric wire W clamped by the clamping device  13 F is transported to the waterproof seal feeding machine  100 F. 
   With regard to the waterproof seal feeding machine  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the holder driving unit  50  ( FIG. 7 ) drives the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L toward each other to define the seal cavity  41   b.    
   At the movement of the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L toward each other, the control unit  600  ( FIG. 5 ) serving as controlling means for controlling the operation of the holder driving unit  50  controls the holder driving unit  50  to position the respective upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L at predetermined upper and lower positions, so that a small clearance S 1  is defined between the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L. 
   Subsequently, the parts feeder  15  is actuated. As shown by the arrow in  FIG. 8 , the compressed air feeds the seal member  2  through the feeding pipe  16   a , the feeding passage  22  and the merging portion with the lock member passage  21  in this order. Thus, the seal member  2  sits into the seal cavity  41   b , and is retained at the fitting position P in abutment against the end wall of the seal cavity  41   b.    
   In this embodiment, since the small clearance S 1  is defined between the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L at the time of feeding the seal member  2 , the air around the seal cavity  41   b  and the air in the feeding passage  22  are exhaled through the clearance S 1  prior to the feeding of the seal member  2 . 
   Further, a clearance S 2  is defined between a front surface  24  of the passage forming member  20  and the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L. This arrangement is likewise advantageous in exhaling the air remained in the seal cavity  41   b , the air in the feeding pipe  16   a  prior to the feeding of the seal member  2 , and the air in the feeding passage  22  through the clearance S 2  in feeding the seal member  2 . 
   In this embodiment, thus the seal member  2  is directly fed into the seal cavity  41   b  by the compressed air and with use of the clearances S 1  and S 2 . 
   Upon completion of feeding of the seal member  2  into the seal cavity  41   b , as shown in  FIG. 9 , the holder driving unit  50  drives the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L in close contact with each other. 
   Simultaneously, the air cylinder  34  ( FIG. 5 ) serving as lock member driving means in the embodiment of the present invention moves the lock member  31  toward the holder  41 . With this arrangement, the tip  31   a  of the lock member  31  pushes the stepped portion between the large-diametrical part and the small-diametrical part of the seal member  2  in a state that the small-diametrical part thereof is wrapped in the hole  31   b . Thereby, the seal member  2  is locked in a state that its axial and radial displacements thereof relative to the electric wire W are prevented. 
   When the seal member  2  is locked, the control unit  600  controls the clamping device  13  serving as wire handling means to advance the electric wire W along the axis line L, whereby the tip of the electric wire W is inserted into the seal member  2  placed in the seal cavity  41   b.    
   At the time of the insertion, since the tip of the electric wire W enters into the small-diametrical opening  31   c  formed in the tip of the lock member  31 , the axial movement of the electric wire W is carried out smoothly. 
   When the insertion of the tip of the electric wire W into the seal member  2  is completed, as shown by the vertical arrows in  FIG. 11 , the control unit  600  controls the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L vertically away from each other to thereby open the seal cavity  41   b . Then, the drive device  11  is actuated to retract the electric wire W with the seal member  2  fitting thereon in the direction shown by the horizontal arrow in  FIG. 11  by way of the clamping device  13 , and the lock member  31  is retracted upstream relative to the merging portion of the lock member passage  21  and the feeding passage  22 , thereby preparing for a next processing. 
   Upon completion of the fitting of the seal member  2 , the control unit  600  is operative to proceed with stripping off of the insulative sheath of the electric wire W and crimping of a terminal (see  FIG. 12 ) in the similar manner as the conventional wire processing system. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 4 , after crimping of a terminal TF at a downstream end of the electric wire W in the wire feeding direction, the electric wire W is returned to the wire feeding path PH of the wire processing apparatus  10 . The electric wire W is then fed downstream by a certain length, and then cut to produce a cut wire (or size-adjusted wire). After the cutting, a terminal TR is crimped at an upstream end of the cut wire in the wire feeding direction in the similar manner as the downstream end crimping. The upstream end crimping of the terminal TR on the cut wire is carried out in synchronism with a downstream end crimping of another terminal TF which is carried out with respect to an electric wire W following the cut wire. In this embodiment, since operations of the holder driving unit  50  of the waterproof seal feeding machine  100 , and the pairs of stripping blades  17   a  and  17   b  are integrated, processing timing at the upstream end of a cut wire and processing timing at the downstream end of the electric wire following the cut wire can be made synchronous with each other. 
   As a result of the above processes, a size-adjusted wire (cut wire) W as shown in  FIG. 13  is produced. 
   The waterproof seal feeding machine  100  in the first embodiment is constructed in such a manner that the seal member  2  is directly fed into the seal cavity  41   b  by the compressed air, thereby feeding the seal member  2  within a very short time. 
   Thus, the seal member  2  can fit over the end portion of the electric wire W with high efficiency. 
   Furthermore, since the seal member  2  is tightly locked in the seal cavity  41   b  by the lock member  31 , the end portion of the electric wire W can be securely passed through the seal member  2 . 
   In case of making the electric wire W of the various diameters without changing the outer diameter of the seal member  2 , generally, it is required to replace the holder pair  41 U and  41 L with another pair of holder pair having a through-opening  41   a  of such a size as to match with the thickness of the electric wire W. 
   In the waterproof seal feeding machine  100  in the first embodiment, on the contrary, the cross sectional configuration of the through opening  41   a  formed in the bottom of the seal cavity  41   b  is a rhombus in place of a circle. With this arrangement, the through opening  41   a  guides and accurately holds the electric wires W in various sizes by adjusting the clearance between the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L. 
   The control unit  600  also controls the holder driving unit  50  to locate the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L to such positions as to match with the outer diameter of the electric wire W in a closest state thereof. More specifically, in case of processing the thick electric wire W, the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L are located at such positions as to maximize the clearance between the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L in a closest state thereof. On the other hand, in case of processing the thin electric wire W, the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L are located at such positions as to minimize the clearance between the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L in a closest state thereof. 
   In the above arrangement of the waterproof seal feeding machine  100  in the first embodiment, even if there is a need of processing of the electric wire W of the various diameters without changing the outer diameter of the seal member  2 , there is no need of replacing the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L with another pair of upper and lower holder pair having a through opening  41   a  of a different size. Furthermore, this arrangement is advantageous in accurately guiding the electric wire W of a different diameter into the seal cavity  41   b  while accurately carrying out coaxial alignment merely with use of the single pair of upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L. 
   Furthermore, according to the waterproof seal feeding machine  100  in the first embodiment, the hole  31   b  is formed in the tip end of the lock member  31 . When the lock member  31  pushes the seal member  2 , the hole  31   b  wraps the tip of the small-diametrical part of the seal member  2  so that the seal member  2  precisely coaxially aligns with the seal cavity  41   b.    
   The seal member  2  is locked in precise and coaxial alignment with the seal cavity  41   b , even if various clearance adjustments between the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L are necessary in a closest state so as to match with the diameter of the electric wire W. 
   Furthermore, since the lock member  31  which tightly locks the seal member  2  in the seal cavity  41   b  is coaxially aligned with the electric wire W on the axis line L, the seal member  2  having a smallest difference between the maximal outer diameter and the minimal outer diameter can be securely locked in the seal cavity  41   b.    
   Moreover, since the stripping blade pairs  17   a  and  17   b  are constructed integral with the holder driving unit  50  serving as holder driving means, the operations of the holder  41  and the stripping device  17  with respect to the rear end (upstream end) of a preceding cut wire and the front end (downstream end) of an electric wire W following the preceding cut wire can be rendered synchronous with each other. 
   Second Embodiment 
   Next, a waterproof seal feeding machine  200  as a second embodiment of the present invention is described in detail referring to  FIGS. 14 through 17B . It should be noted that the second to fifth embodiments described with reference to  FIG. 14  and thereafter are merely examples of the present invention in which each embodiment is applied to the wire processing apparatus  10  in place of the waterproof seal feeding machine  100 . 
   The waterproof seal feeding machine  200  in the second embodiment is constructed such that preparations or a setup operations in fitting seal members of different sizes over end portions of electric wires of different sizes can be carried out efficiently. Specifically, in the second embodiment, a passage forming member  60 , a holder  70 , and a locking drive mechanism  87  serving as locking means are integrally replaceable. 
   As shown enlargedly in  FIGS. 17A and 17B , the passage forming member  60  is formed with an lock member passage  61  for passing a lock member  31 , and a feeding passage  62  for feeding a seal member  2 . 
   A pair of through-openings  64  each extending vertically are formed in a front end of the passage forming member  60 . These through-openings  64  are parallel with each other in vertical direction and are located at the both sides of the lock member passage  61 . A pair of support shafts  65  each extending vertically fit through the respective throughopenings  64 . 
   A pair of upper and lower holder pair  71 U and  71 L constituting the holder  70  are slidably mounted on the support shafts  65  as opposed to each other vertically to be movable toward and away from each other. 
   An upper coil spring  73  is disposed between the upper holder member  71 U and the passage forming member  60 , and a lower coil spring  74  is disposed between the lower holder member  71 L and the passage forming member  60  to constantly urge the upper and lower holder pair  71 U and  71 L upwardly and downwardly, respectively. 
   A clip  66  is attached to each of upper and lower ends of a pair of support shafts  65  to keep the upper and lower holder pair  71 U and  71 L from falling off from the support shafts  65 . 
   With this arrangement, the upper and lower holder pair  71 U and  71 L and the passage forming member  60  are assembled into one unit. 
   Referring to  FIG. 14 , a support member  81  stands on a base block B of the wire processing apparatus  10 . The support member  81  supports a base member  82  having a trapezoidal shape in cross section. The base member  82  is detachably mounted on the support member  81  by a bolt  83  and a fixing block  84 . On the base member  82 , integrally provided are a support column  85  for supporting the passage forming member  60 , and lock member driving means  87  including an air cylinder  86  for reciprocating the lock member  31  along the axis line L. 
   With the above arrangement, the passage forming member  60 , the upper and lower holder pair  71 U and  71 L, the lock member  31 , and the lock member driving means  87  are replaceable as a unit in altering the setup operation in fitting seal members of different sizes over end portions of electric wires of different sizes. Thus, setup operations for preparing another size can be carried out promptly and efficiently. 
   A pair of upper and lower bolts  58  and  59  are fastened on a pair of upper and lower brackets  51  and  52  of a holder driving unit  50 , respectively, with their vertical positions freely adjustable. 
   Referring to  FIG. 15 , the setup operation for preparing fitting operations of seal members  2  of different sizes, a pair of upper and lower sliders  55  and  56  are positioned at their respective positions in such a manner that a lower end of the upper bolt  58  comes into contact with the upper surface of the upper holder member  71 U, and an upper end of the lower bolt  59  comes into contact with the lower surface of the lower holder member  71 L. 
   With the above arrangement, the upper and lower holders  71 U and  71 L move closer to each other by the holder driving unit  50 . The holders  71 U and  71 L move away from each other by urging forces of the upper and lower coil springs  73  and  74  when the holder driving unit  50  drives sliders  55  and  56  (and therefore the brackets  51  and  52 ) apart from each other. 
   Third Embodiment 
   Next, essential parts of a waterproof seal feeding machine  300  as a third embodiment of the present invention are described referring to  FIGS. 18 and 19 . 
   A passage forming member  90  of the waterproof seal feeding machine  300  in the third embodiment is formed with an lock member passage  91  for passing a lock member  31 , and a feeding passage  92  for feeding a seal member  2 . 
   A slider  94  is slidable upwardly and downwardly in a slider passage  93  formed in the bottom of the passage forming member  90 . 
   A coil spring  95  is disposed at a lower part of the slider  94  to constantly urge the slider  94  toward the feeding passage  92 . 
   The slider  94  has a main body  94   a  for filling a merging portion of the feeding passage  92  and the lock member passage  91  by the movement into the feeding passage  92 . The slider  94  likewise has a surface  94   b  which defines a feeding passage for continuously connecting the feeding passage  92  and a leading opening of the lock member passage  91 . 
   The slider  94  further has a cam surface  94   c . The cam surface  94   c  receives horizontal force from the tip  31   a  of the fixing member  31  when the fixing member  31  moves toward the holder pair  41 U and  41 L along with the lock member passage  91 . The cam surface  94   c  then changes the direction of the force from horizontal to vertical so that the slider main body  94   a  moves downwardly against the urging force of the coil spring  95 . Thus the main body  94   a  opens the lock member passage  91  so as to allow the fixing member  31  to smoothly push the seal member  2  in the seal cavity  41   b.    
   In the waterproof seal feeding machine  300  of the third embodiment, the feeding passage  92  and the merging portion or the tip of the lock member passage  91  are continuously connected with each other by the surface  94   b  of the slider  94  when the slider  94  lifts into the feeding passage  92  (see  FIG. 18 ). 
   With the above arrangement, the seal member  2  can be smoothly fed into a seal cavity  41   b  defined at a fitting position P from a downstream end of the lock member passage  91  by the compressed air without being affected by the existence of the merging portion of the feeding passage  92  and the lock member passage  91 . 
   Furthermore, when the lock member  31  moves toward the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L, the cam surface  94   c  of the slider  94  receives the pressure from the tip  31   a  of the lock member  31  and therefore the slider  94  moves downwardly (see  FIG. 19 ). This arrangement is advantageous in guiding smooth movement of the lock member  31  toward the upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L without hindrance. 
   In addition, when the lock member  31  is retracted away from the merging portion of the passage forming member  90  in the lock member passage  91 , the slider  94  returns into the feeding passage  92  by the urging force of the coil spring  95 , thereby continuously connecting the feeding passage  92  and the tip opening of the lock member passage  92 . 
   Fourth Embodiment 
   Next, essential parts of a waterproof seal feeding machine  400  as a fourth embodiment of the present invention are described referring to  FIGS. 20 and 21 . 
   The waterproof seal feeding machine  400  in the fourth embodiment is constructed such that a feeding passage  111 , for feeding a seal member  2  in a seal cavity  41   b , is formed coaxially with the axis line L. 
   Further, the waterproof seal feeding machine  400  is formed with an lock member passage  112  which is merged into the feeding passage  111  at a downstream end of the feeding passage  111  and extends downward in an arc-shape in side view. 
   A lock member  113  has a curved rod-like shape having such a curvature as to match with the curvature of the lock member passage  112 . 
   The lock member  113  is so constructed that a tip surface  113   a  thereof extends in a direction orthogonal to the axis line L when the tip surface  113   a  is abutted against the seal member  2 . 
   The above arrangement is advantageous in keeping a seal member  2  having a relatively short length in the axis line L from being tilted relative to the axis line L on the way of feeding toward the seal cavity  41   b  by the compressed air. 
   Fifth Embodiment 
   Next, essential parts of a waterproof seal feeding machine  500  as a fifth embodiment of the present invention are described referring to  FIGS. 22 and 23 . 
   A passage forming member  120  of the waterproof seal feeding machine  500  is merely formed with a feeding passage  121  for feeding a seal member  2 . 
   A pair of plate members  131  and  132  which are so constructed as to be vertically movable toward and away from each other serve as fixing means for fixing the seal member  2  in a seal cavity  41   b  defined by a pair of upper and lower holder pair  41 U and  41 L. 
   The plate members  131  and  132  are respectively formed with enclosing recesses  131   a  and  132   a  for enclosing the seal member  2  held in the seal cavity  41   b  in a closest position of the plate members  131  and  132 . 
   The plate members  131  and  132  are upwardly and downwardly driven by unillustrated dedicated driving means. 
   As mentioned above, in the waterproof seal feeding machine  500 , the passage forming member  120  is formed merely with the feeding passage  121 . 
   The feeding passage  121  is constructed without considering the construction of an lock member passage for passing a lock member. This arrangement is advantageous in securely keeping a seal member  2  having a relatively short length in the axis line of an electric wire from being tilted relative to the axis line on the way of feeding toward a seal cavity  41   b  by the compressed air. 
   The seal member  2  can be securely held in the seal cavity  41   b  under continued supply of the compressed air until the lock members  131  and  132  are actuated by continuously supplying the compressed air after the seal member  2  is fed into the seal cavity  41   b.    
   As mentioned above, the waterproof seal feeding machines according to the respective embodiments of the present invention are described in detail. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, and various modifications and alterations are applicable. 
   For instance, in the foregoing embodiments, the lock members denoted at the reference numerals such as  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  113  each has a rod-like shape. Alternatively, use of a coil spring as a lock member may be advantageous because the coil spring is capable of adjusting the pressing force of pressing the seal member  2  against the bottom of the seal cavity  41   b.    
   In the above embodiments, the passage forming member is made of a synthetic resin. As an altered form, the passage forming member may be made of a metallic material or the like. 
   As is obvious from the above description, the waterproof seal feeding machines  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 , and  500  according to the respective embodiments of the present invention are each constructed such that the seal member  2  is directly fed into the seal cavity  41   b  by the compressed air. This is advantageous in feeding the seal member  2  within a very short cycle of time. Thus, a feeding cycle of the seal member  2  can be shortened, and fitting operation of the seal member  2  over the end portion of the electric wire W can be carried out efficiently. 
   Further, since the seal member  2  fed into the seal cavity  41   b  is fixedly held therein by the lock member  31 ,  113 , or the like, the fitting operation of the seal member  2  over the end portion of the electric wire W can be performed securely. 
   Furthermore, since the feeding passage  22  ( 62 ,  92 ,  111 ) joins the lock member passage  21  ( 61 ,  91 ,  112 ) on the halfway of feeding the seal member  2 , the seal member  2  can be securely fed into the seal cavity  41   b  without likelihood that the seal member  2  is tiltingly fed relative to the axis line of the electric wire W. 
   As described in the fourth embodiment and the fifth embodiment, arranging the feeding passage  92  ( 111 ) for feeding the seal member  2  into the seal cavity  41   b  coaxially and linearly along the axis line of the electric wire W is advantageous in securely feeding the seal member  2  having a relatively short length in the axis line of the electric wire W into the seal cavity  41   b  without likelihood that the seal member  2  is tiltingly fed relative to the axis line of the electric wire W. 
   The fifth embodiment provides the arrangement in which the passage forming member  120  is merely formed with the feeding passage  111 . This arrangement is advantageous in securely feeding the seal member  2  of a relatively short length in the axis line of the electric wire W into the seal cavity  41   b  without likelihood that the seal member  2  is tiltingly fed relative to the axis line of the electric wire W. 
   In the foregoing embodiments, in feeding the seal member  2 , the air inside the feeding passage  22  ( 62 ,  92 ,  111 ) which has been penetrated into the seal cavity  41   b  prior to feeding of the seal member  2  is exhaled through the clearance S 1  defined by the holder pair  41 U and  41 L ( 42 U and  42 L,  43 U and  43 L,  71 U and  71 L). This arrangement is advantageous in securely feeding the seal member  2  into the seal cavity  41   b . Further, the holder pair  41 U and  41 L ( 42 U and  42 L,  43 U and  43 L,  71 U and  71 L) are rendered into contact with each other at the completion of feeding of the seal member  2 . This arrangement is advantageous in holding the seal member  2  in the seal cavity  41   b  with the seal member  2  being aligned coaxially with the axis of the electric wire W. 
   Further, in feeding the seal member  2 , the air inside the feeding passage  22  ( 62 ,  92 ,  111 ) which has been penetrated into the seal cavity  41   b  prior to feeding of the seal member  2  is exhaled through the clearance defined by the holder pair and the passage forming member  20  ( 60 ,  90 ,  110 ,  120 ). This arrangement is advantageous in securely feeding the seal member  2  into the seal cavity  41   b.    
   In the second embodiment, in changing the size of seal member  2 , the holder pair  71 U and  71 L and the passage forming member  60  are integrally replaceable. This arrangement is advantageous in promptly altering the setup operation in fitting the seal member  2  of different sizes over the end portion of the electric wire W. 
   Furthermore, the through-opening  41   a  formed in the end wall of the seal cavity  41   b  has a rectangular (rhombus) shape in cross section, and the distance between the holder pair  41 U and  41 L ( 42 U and  42 L,  43 U and  43 L,  71 U and  71 L) in a closest position is adjustable in conformity to the outer diameter of seal member  2 . This arrangement is advantageous in eliminating necessity of replacing the holder pair  41 U and  41 L ( 42 U and  42 L,  43 U and  43 L,  71 U and  71 L) with another pair of holder pair in changing the thickness of the electric wire W without changing the diameter of the seal member  2 . 
   Furthermore, in locking the seal member  2  in the seal cavity  41   b , the lock member  31  ( 113 ) is adapted to position the seal member  2  in coaxial alignment with the seal cavity  41   b . This arrangement is advantageous in holding the seal member  2  coaxially with the electric wire W in adjusting the distance between the holder pair  41 U and  41 L ( 42 U and  42 U,  43 U and  43 L,  71 U and  71 L) in a closest position. 
   Further, the feeding passage  22  ( 62 ,  92 ,  111 ) and the tip opening of the lock member passage  21  ( 61 ,  91 ,  112 ) can be continuously connected with each other by filling a space corresponding to the merging portion of the feeding passage  22  ( 62 ,  92 ,  111 ) and the lock member passage  21  ( 61 ,  91 ,  112 ) with the slider which is so constructed as to reciprocatably and slidably move in and out of the passage forming member  20  ( 60 ,  90 ,  110 ,  120 ). This arrangement is advantageous in smoothly feeding the seal member  2  into the seal cavity  41   b  by the compressed air. 
   Moreover, the compressed air is kept on being supplied into the feeding passage  22  ( 62 ,  92 ,  111 ) after the seal member  2  is fed into the seal cavity  41   b . This arrangement is advantageous in securely holding the seal member  2  in the seal cavity  41   b  by the pressure of the compressed air until the lock member  31  ( 113 ) is actuated. 
   This application is based on Japanese patent application serial No. 2003-012607, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   Although the present invention has been fully described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention hereinafter defined, they should be construed as being included therein.