Terminal crimping device

A terminal crimping device 1 comprises a terminal cutting device 260 configured to cut off a terminal 130 provided on a band-shaped terminal carrier 140 from the terminal carrier, a terminal carrying unit 270 configured to carry the terminal 130 separated from the terminal carrier 140 by the cutting unit 260 to a terminal crimping work unit 14, a cable carrier 210 for carrying the electric cable 110 to the terminal crimping work unit 14, a crimping device 280 configured to crimp the terminal 130 carried to the terminal crimping work unit 14 by the terminal carrying unit 210 to the tip end of the electric wire 112 of the electric cable 110 carried to the terminal crimping work unit 14 by the cable carrying unit 210.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a terminal crimping device for crimping a terminal to the tip end of an electric wire extending from one end of a sheath of an electric cable.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

A terminal crimping device is known, which is provided with a crimping means for crimping a terminal to the tip end of an electric wire, a terminal carrying means for carrying the terminal to a crimping position where the crimping means is provided, and an electric wire carrying means for carrying the electric wire before the terminal crimping to the crimping position. In order to supply terminals to such a terminal crimping device, a band-shaped terminal carrier may be used. The terminal carrier is for continuously supplying many terminals, and the terminals are arranged at a predetermined interval on one side edge of the terminal carrier.

In some cases, the terminal to be crimped is carried to the crimping position in a state where the terminal is provided on a band-shaped terminal carrier (in a state connected to one side edge portion of the terminal carrier). In contrast, in other cases, the terminal carrier is cut into a predetermined length. The crimped terminal is separated from other terminals before being carried to the crimping position. In the latter case, the terminal separated from the other terminals is carried to the crimping position with a part of the terminal carrier (also referred to as a “carrier piece”) attached thereto. The terminal is crimped to the tip end of the electric wire also carried to the crimping position. The carrier piece is separated from the terminal (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2014-143037(A) and 2016-213029(A)).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

An electric cable is known, which has a structure in which a cylindrical sheath houses an electric wire. When a terminal is crimped to the electric wire in such an electric cable, it is necessary to form the electric cable in advance so that the electric wire extends from one end portion of the sheath. As the extension length of the electric wire from the sheath end portion increases, there is a fear that an adverse effect such as noise easily gets on a transmitted signal occurs. Therefore, it is desirable to crimp the terminal with the extension length of the electric wire from the sheath end portion as short as possible.

However, shortening the extension length of the electric wire from the sheath end portion reduces the space (distance) between the sheath end portion and the crimped portion (the portion to which the terminal is crimped) of the electric wire. Therefore, when the terminal to be crimped is carried to the crimping position in a state where the terminal is provided on the band-shaped terminal carrier or in a state where the terminal is attached to the carrier, the terminal carrier or the carrier piece interferes with the sheath when the terminal is carried, the positional deviation between the terminal and the electric wire makes it difficult to crimp the terminal properly.

The object of the present invention is to provide a terminal crimping device capable of crimping a terminal to an electric wire while suppressing the positional deviation between a terminal and a tip end of the electric wire even in an electric cable having a short extension length of the electric wire from a sheath end portion.

Means to Solve the Problems

Disclosed is a terminal crimping device according to the present invention which has a cylindrical sheath and electric wire housed in the sheath, wherein the terminal crimping device crimps a terminal to the tip end of the electric wire of an electric cable having the tip end of the electric wire extending from one end of the sheath, comprising: a cutting device for cutting off a terminal provided in a band-shaped terminal carrier from the terminal carrier; a terminal carrying unit for carrying the terminal separated from the terminal carrier by the cutting device to a crimping position (for example, the terminal crimping work unit14in the embodiment); a cable carrier for carrying the electric cable to the crimping position; and a crimping device provided in the crimping position for crimping the terminal carried to the crimping position by the terminal carrying unit to the tip end of the electric wire of the electric cable carried to the crimping position by the cable carrier.

The terminal crimping device according to the present invention is preferably provided with an orientation adjuster (for example, the electric wire orientation adjuster220in the embodiment) for adjusting the orientation of the tip end of the electric wire before the crimping of the terminal is performed, wherein the cable carrier carries the electric cable to an adjustment position (for example, the electric wire orientation adjustment unit11in the embodiment) where the orientation adjuster is provided, and the orientation adjuster grips the tip end of the electric wire of the electric cable carried to the adjustment position by the cable carrier adjusts the orientation by swinging the tip end of the held electric wire.

In the terminal crimping device according to the present invention, preferably, the electric wire has a core wire and a covering body for insulating covering the core wire and is provided with a cover stripper (for example, an electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripping device (230) in the embodiment) for stripping the covering body from the electric wire whose orientation has been adjusted by the orientation adjuster. The cable carrier carries the orientation-adjusted cable whose orientation has been adjusted by the orientation adjuster to a stripping position (for example, an electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripping unit12in the embodiment) where the cover stripper is provided. The cover stripper is configured to strip part of the covering body at the tip end of the electric wire of the orientation adjusted cable carried to the stripping position by the cable carrier while holding the tip end of the electric wire.

In the terminal crimping device according to the present invention, preferably, the cable carrier is configured to carry a terminal-equipped cable produced by crimping the terminal to the tip end of the electric wire of the electric cable by the crimping device from the crimping position to a take-out position (for example, the cable insertion unit8in the embodiment), and includes a crimping portion inspection device (for example, the image inspection device240in the embodiment) for inspecting the crimping portion of the terminal-equipped cable by image analysis while the cable carrier is carrying the terminal-equipped cable from the crimping position to the take-out position.

In addition, in the terminal crimping device according to the present invention, preferably, the cable carrier is configured to transport a stripped cable having a part of the covering body stripped from the tip end of the electric wire by the coating stripping device from the stripping position to the crimping position. The crimping portion inspection device is configured to inspect the stripped portion of the stripped cable by image analysis, while the cable carrier carries the stripped cable from the stripping position to the crimping position.

In addition, the terminal crimping device according to the present invention, preferably, is provided a cable retainer capable of holding the electric cable in a state in which the electric wire extends from one side edge portion. The cable carrier has a retainer installation unit (for example, the cable carrier moving body212in the embodiment). The cable retainer holding the electric cable is installed and movable. The retainer installation unit in which the cable retainer is installed is moved to carry the electric cable.

In the terminal crimping device according to the present invention, preferably, the electric cable has a plurality of electric wires. The cable retainer is configured to hold some of the electric wires in a state of being bent toward the other end of the sheath when holding the electric cable.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

According to the terminal crimping device of the present invention, an electric cable is carried to a crimping position by a cable carrier, a terminal provided on a band-shaped terminal carrier is separated from the terminal carrier by a cutting device. The separated terminal is carried to the crimping position by the terminal carrying unit. Then, the terminal separated from the terminal carrier is crimped to the tip end (crimped portion) of the electric wire extending from one end portion of the sheath of the electric cable by the crimping device provided at the crimping position. According to the present invention, even in an electric cable in which the length of extension of the electric wire from the sheath end portion is short, the space between the sheath end portion and the crimped portion of the electric wire is small. The terminal carrier or carrier piece is not attached to the terminal carried to the crimping position. Therefore, there is no possibility that the sheath of the electric cable and the terminal carrier or carrier piece interfere with each other at the crimping position. Therefore, even in such an electric cable, it is possible to appropriately crimp the terminal to the electric wire by suppressing the positional deviation between the crimped portion and the terminal of the electric wire extending from the sheath end portion.

In addition, according to the terminal crimping device of the present invention, an orientation adjuster for adjusting the orientation of the tip end of the electric wire before crimping the terminal is provided at the adjustment position, the orientation adjuster holds the tip end of the electric wire of the electric cable carried to the adjustment position by the cable carrier. Swinging the tip end of the held electric wire adjusts the orientation. The orientation of the tip end of the electric wire extending from the sheath end portion can be adjusted to an appropriate orientation that facilitates the alignment with the terminal to be crimped. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the positional deviation between the tip end (crimped portion) of the electric wire extending from the sheath end portion and the terminal to be crimped with high accuracy and crimp the terminal.

In addition, according to the terminal crimping device of the present invention, by providing at the stripping position a cover stripping device for stripping off a covering body for insulating the core wire from the electric wire whose orientation has been adjusted by the orientation adjusting device, carrying the orientation-adjusted cable whose orientation has been adjusted by the orientation adjusting device to the stripping position by the cable carrier, and stripping off a part of the covering body at the tip end while holding the tip end of the electric wire of the carried orientation-adjusted cable by the cover stripping device, it is possible to strip off a part of the covering body at the tip end of the electric wire extending from the sheath end with high accuracy.

In addition, according to the terminal crimping device of the present invention, the cable carrier comprises a terminal-equipped cable formed by crimping a terminal to the tip end of an electric wire by a crimping device is carried from the crimping position to the take-out position. The crimping portion inspection device is provided for inspecting the crimping portion of the terminal-equipped cable by image analysis while carrying the terminal-equipped cable from the crimping position to the take-out position, whereby it is possible to accurately inspect whether or not the terminal is appropriately crimped to the crimped portion of the electric wire extending from the sheath end.

In addition, according to the terminal crimping device of the present invention, transporting a stripped cable in which a part of the covering body is stripped from the tip end of the electric wire by the coating stripping device from the stripping position to the crimping position by the cable carrier, and inspecting the stripped portion of the stripped cable by image analysis by the crimping portion inspection device, while transporting the stripped cable from the stripping position to the crimping position, enable accurately inspecting whether or not a part of the covering body is properly stripped from the tip end of the electric wire extending from the sheath end.

In addition, the terminal crimping device according to the present invention is provided with a cable retainer capable of holding an electric cable in a state where an electric wire extends from one side edge portion. The cable carrier has a retainer installation unit where the cable retainer for holding the electric cable is installed and movable. The electric cable is carried by moving the retainer installation unit where the cable retainer is installed, whereby the electric cable can be carried to each position with high accuracy. In addition, providing a plurality of cable retainers enables setting another electric cable in another cable retainer while setting an electric cable in a cable retainer so that workability can be improved.

Further, according to the terminal crimping device of the present invention, when holding an electric cable having a plurality of electric wires, the cable retainer is configured so that some of the electric wires among the plurality of electric wires can be held in a state of being bent toward the other end portion of the sheath, whereby it is possible to prevent the electric wires held in the bent state from coming into contact with a device constituent member such as a crimping device and being damaged during transportation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.FIG.1shows a terminal crimping device1according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, a general configuration of the terminal crimping device1will be described with reference toFIG.1. In the following description, the vertical and horizontal directions are referred to in accordance with the directions indicated by the cross arrows shown inFIG.1. Further, the direction from the rear side of the sheet ofFIG.1toward the front side of the sheet ofFIG.1is referred to as the forward direction. The direction from the front side of the sheet of FIG.1toward the back side of the sheet ofFIG.1is referred to as the backward direction.

As shown inFIG.1, the terminal crimping device1includes an apparatus housing2, an apparatus frame3for supporting the apparatus housing2, a terminal supply frame4arranged on the left side of the apparatus housing2and the apparatus frame3, an operation panel5arranged on the upper portion of the apparatus housing2, an image display monitor6arranged on the left side of the apparatus housing2, and a cable set table7arranged on the right side of the apparatus housing2. The apparatus housing2includes a frame member assembled in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and a plurality of transparent panel members arranged to cover the front surface of the apparatus housing2. An apparatus main unit10(described in detail later) is provided in the apparatus housing2. A cable insertion unit8is provided on the front surface of the apparatus housing2.

The terminal supply frame4is provided with a terminal reel9around which terminal carrier140(seeFIG.3), described later, is wound. The operation panel5is provided with various operation switches operated to start and stop the operation of the terminal crimping device1, various display lamps indicating the operating state of the terminal crimping device1, and the like. The image display monitor6is configured to display images captured in the cover stripping portion inspection and the crimping portion inspection described later. The cable set base7is configured to perform a cable set operation described later.

Next, the electric cable110and the terminal130supplied to the terminal crimping device1will be described with reference toFIGS.2and3. As shown inFIG.2A, the electric cable110has a tubular sheath111, two electric wires112contained in the sheath111, and a shield116disposed between the sheath111and the electric wires112. Each electric wire112comprises a core wire113made of one or a plurality of element wires and a tubular covering body114that insulates and covers the core wire113. Shield116comprises, for example, a mesh net wire. The core wire113and the shield116are formed of conductive material. The sheath111and the covering body114are formed of insulating material.

The electric cable110is, for example, a high-frequency cable for transmitting a high-frequency signal, and a shield116is provided to reduce noise during signal transmission and improve high-frequency characteristics. As will be described in detail later, in this electric cable110, a part of the sheath111is stripped so that two electric wires112extend from the tip portion of the sheath111. A terminal130is crimped against the tip end of each electric wire112extending from the sheath111. When the extended length of the electric wire112from the sheath111increases, there is a fear that noise may be superimposed on the transmission signal, and the high-frequency characteristics may deteriorate. Therefore, it is preferable to shorten the extension length of the electric wire112from the sheath111.

As shown inFIG.3A, the terminal130is, for example, a terminal housed in a connector housing (not shown) and is provided with an electric connection unit131, which is fitted with a terminal (not shown) housed in a mating connector housing and electrically connected thereto, and a crimping piece portion132which is crimped to the electric wire112of the electric cable110. The crimping piece portion132is configured to include a core wire crimping piece unit133, which is crimped to the core wire113of the electric wire112, and a covering-body-crimping-piece portion134crimped to the covering body114of the electric wire112.

As shown inFIG.3B, the terminals130are supplied to the terminal crimping device1in a state where they are provided in the band-shaped terminal carrier140. The terminal carrier140is for continuously supplying many terminals130. The terminals130are provided at predetermined intervals on one side edge portion of the terminal carrier140. Specifically, terminal mounting pieces141are provided at predetermined intervals on one side edge portion of the terminal carrier140. The terminals130are provided at the terminal carrier140so that the covering-body-crimping-piece portions134are integrally connected to the terminal mounting pieces141. The terminal carrier140has a plurality of engagement holes142and143formed at predetermined intervals on the terminal carrier140for use in moving the terminal carrier140. In the state where they are provided in the terminal carrier140, the core wire crimping piece units133and the covering-body-crimping-piece portions134of the terminals130are bent in advance to have a U-shape when viewed from the front.

Next, with reference toFIGS.4and5, a cable retainer160for holding the electric cable110will be described. As shown inFIGS.4B and5, the electric cable110is supplied to the terminal crimping device1while being held by the cable retainer160. The cable retainer160has a main body unit161and an attachment unit162detachably attached to the main body unit161. A holding groove163extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the upper surface portion of the main body unit161and the attachment unit162. An abutting wall164(seeFIG.4C) formed in a concave shape in a front view is provided at an end portion of the holding groove163on the front end side (attachment unit162side). The main body unit161is provided with a pair of pressing members165that operate to protrude or retract into the holding groove163from both right and left sides of the holding groove163, and a pressing member operating mechanism (not shown) for operating the pressing member165.

An electric cable110is placed in a holding groove163at a predetermined length on the tip end side thereof. It is set and held in a cable retainer160by operating a pair of pressing members165to protrude into the holding groove163. The electric cable110is formed in advance such that a sheath111and a shield116on the distal end side thereof are partially stripped, and two electric wires112extend from the end portion of the sheath111. Shield116is stripped so as to remain longer than the sheath111. After removal, a portion extending from the end portion of the sheath111is folded back toward the sheath111side (see alsoFIG.2B). As shown inFIG.4B, the electric cable110is placed in the holding groove163while the end portion of the sheath111abuts against the abutting wall164. Two electric wires112extend from the distal side edge of the cable retainer160and are set in the cable retainer160.

The setting operation of the electric cable110to the cable retainer160(referred to as “cable setting operation”) is performed manually by an operator on the cable setting table7(seeFIG.1). The cable setting table7is provided with a mounting unit (not shown) on which the cable retainer160is mounted and held, and a pressing member operating mechanism (not shown) for operating the pressing member165of the cable retainer160mounted on the mounting unit through the pressing member operating mechanism. The cable setting operation supplies the electric cable110set to the cable retainer160to the terminal crimping device1from the cable insertion unit8(seeFIG.1) while the electric cable110is held by the cable retainer160.

Next, the apparatus main unit10of the terminal crimping device1will be described with reference toFIGS.6to11. As shown inFIG.6, the apparatus main unit10includes the electric wire orientation adjustment unit11, the electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripping unit12, the inspection work unit13, the terminal crimping work unit14, and the terminal-supply-and-carrying-work unit15, and the cable carrier210for carrying the electric cable110held by the cable retainer160.

A cable carrier210is provided with a cable carrier moving body212provided with a holding member211for holding a cable retainer160, and a moving body operating mechanism (not shown) for operating the cable carrier moving body212to be movable within the apparatus main unit10of the device. The cable carrier moving body212is configured to be movable in each of the forward, backward, left, right, up, and down directions, and the cable retainer160holding the electric cable110can be moved between the cable insertion unit8(seeFIG.1), the electric wire orientation adjustment unit11, and the terminal crimping work unit14. The two arrows of the two-dot chain line shown inFIG.6illustrate the movable range of the cable carrier moving body212in the left and right direction within the main part10of the device.

As shown inFIG.6, the electric wire orientation adjusting unit11is provided with an electric wire orientation adjuster220. The electric wire orientation adjuster220includes an electric wire holder221and an electric wire holder operating mechanism (not shown) for operating the electric wire holder221to be movable and swingable within the electric wire orientation adjustment unit11. The electric wire holder221is configured to be movable in each of the forward, backward, left, right, up, and down directions and swingable in the vertical direction. As shown inFIG.7, the electric wire holder221has three holding pieces: a center holding piece222C, a left holding piece222L, and a right holding piece222R. The center holding piece222C is fixed. The left holding piece222L and the right holding piece222R are movable in the horizontal direction with respect to the center holding piece222C. When the left holding piece222L and the right holding piece222R are moved toward the center holding piece222C, the three holding pieces are closed. When the left holding piece222L and the right holding piece222R have moved away from the center holding piece222C, the three holding pieces are opened.

The orientation adjustment of the electric wire112by the electric wire orientation adjuster220is performed, for example, as follows. First, the electric cable110held by the cable retainer160is carried from the cable insertion unit8to the electric wire orientation adjustment unit11by the cable carrier210so that the two electric wires112of the electric cable110are positioned in front of the electric wire holder221(seeFIG.7A). Next, the electric wire holder221with the three holding pieces open is moved to approach the electric cable110so that the central holding piece222C enters between the two electric wires112so that the left holding piece222L is positioned on the left side of the left electric wire112and the right holding piece222R is positioned on the right side of the right electric wire112. Then, the three holding pieces are closed, and the two electric wires112are held (seeFIG.7B). After the holding, as shown inFIG.7C, the electric wire holder221is swung in the vertical direction so that the two electric wires112are swung in the vertical direction thereof. After swinging, the three holding pieces are opened at a position where the two electric wires112are horizontal so that the holding of the two electric wires112is released, and the electric wire holder221is moved away from the electric cable110. InFIG.7C, the electric wire holder221and the cable holder160are not shown.

The series of operations of the electric wire holder221, as described above, adjust the orientation (redress the orientation) of the two electric wires112. As shown inFIG.2C, the base portions of the two electric wires112after the orientation adjustment extend from the tip portion of the sheath111to spread to the left and right, and the tip portions are substantially parallel to each other and aligned in the left-right direction. Adjusting the orientation of the two electric wires112in this manner can adjust the orientation of the tip end of the two electric wires112extending from the tip portion of the sheath111to an orientation that facilitates the cutting operation of the two electric wires112and the stripping operation of the covering body114after the orientation adjustment. Therefore, the electric cable110having the two electric wires112after orientation adjustment (also referred to as “orientation-adjusted-electric-wire cable110”) enables cutting and stripping operation with high accuracy. After the orientation adjustment of the two electric wires112, the cable carrier210carries the orientation-adjusted-electric-wire cable110held by the cable retainer160from the electric wire orientation adjustment unit11to the electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripping unit12.

As shown inFIG.6, the electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripping unit12is provided with an electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripping device230. The electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripping device230includes a pair of upper and lower cutting-and-cover-stripping members231and232and a cutting-and-cover-stripping member operating mechanism (not shown) for operating the cutting-and-cover-stripping members231and232. As shown inFIG.8, the upper cutting-and-cover-stripping member231has a pair of left and right upper cutting blades233and a pair of left and right upper stripping blades234. The lower cutting-and-cover-stripping member232has a pair of left and right lower cutting blades235and a pair of left and right lower stripping blades236.

The electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripping device230cuts the electric wire112, for example, as follows. First, the cable carrier210carries the orientation-adjusted-electric-wire cable110held by the cable retainer160from the electric wire orientation adjustment unit11to the electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripping unit12so that the two electric wires112of the orientation-adjusted-electric-wire cable110are positioned between the pair of upper cutting blades233of the upper cutting-and-cover-stripping member231and the pair of lower cutting blades235of the lower cutting-and-cover-stripping member232. At this time, the relative positions of the cutting-and-cover-stripping members231and232and the orientation-adjusted-electric-wire cable110are adjusted in accordance with the intended cutting positions of the two electric wires112. Next, the cutting-and-cover-stripping member231and the cutting-and-cover-stripping member232are moved in vertically opposite directions relative to each other so that the cutting-and-cover-stripping member231and the cutting-and-cover-stripping member232approach each other, and the two electric wires112are cut at one time by the pair of upper cutting blades233and the pair of lower cutting blades235. This cutting operation adjusts the length of the two electric wires112extending from the tip portion of the sheath111. In the electric cable110having the two cut electric wires112(also referred to as the “cut-electric-wire cable110”), as shown inFIG.2D, the length of the two electric wires112extending from the tip portion of the sheath111is shorter than the two electric wires112before cutting (seeFIG.2C).

The electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripping device230performs cover stripping of the electric wire112, for example, as follows. First, the cut-electric-wire cable110held by the cable retainer160is carried by the cable carrier210so that the two electric wires112of the cut-electric-wire cable110are positioned between the pair of upper stripping blades234of the upper cutting-and-cover-stripping member231and the pair of lower stripping blades236of the lower cutting-and-cover-stripping member232. At this time, the relative position adjustment between the cutting-and-cover-stripping members231and232and the cut-electric-wire cable110is performed in accordance with the intended stripping positions of the covering bodies114of the two electric wires112. Then, the two cutting-and-cover-stripping members231and232are moved relatively in vertically opposite directions in such a manner that the cutting-and-cover-stripping member231and the cutting-and-cover-stripping member232approach each other, and the pair of upper stripping blades234and the pair of lower stripping blades236cut into the covering bodies114at the tip ends of the two electric wires112, holding the tip ends of the two electric wires112. The two cutting-and-cover-stripping members231and232are moved rearward away from the cut-electric-wire cables110with holding the tip end of the two electric wires112, and the covering bodies114at the tip ends of the two electric wires112are stripped from the positions where the upper stripping blades234and the lower stripping blades236have cut. In the electric cable110(also referred to as the “electric-wire-and-stripped-cover cable110”) in which such a stripping operation of the covering bodies114is performed, a part of the covering bodies114at the tip ends of the two electric wires112are stripped off, and the core wires113at the portions covered by the stripped covering bodies114are exposed (seeFIG.2E). After stripping the covering bodies114in the two electric wires112, the cable carrier210carries the electric-wire-cover-stripped cables110held by the cable retainer160from the electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripping unit12to the inspection work unit13.

As shown inFIG.6, an image inspection device240is provided in the inspection work unit13. The image inspection device240includes a photographing camera241, a pair of left and right upper illumination lamps242for illuminating downward from the upper portion, a lower illumination lamp243for illuminating upward from the lower portion, and a lower surface image analysis unit (not shown). It is configured to perform an inspection (also referred to as an “inspection of stripped cover portion”) of a stripped portion (a portion where the covering body114of the two electric wire112is stripped) of the electric-wire-cover-stripped cable110by image analysis.

The inspection of the stripped cover portion by the image inspection device240proceeds, for example, as follows. First, the cable carrier210carries the electric-wire-cover-stripped cable110held by the cable retainer160from the electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripping unit12to the inspection work unit13so that the two wires112of the electric-wire-cover-stripped cable110are positioned within the imageable range of the photographing camera241. Next, a pair of upper illumination lamps242and lower illumination lamp243illuminate the two wires112. The imaging camera241images the two wires112. The image analysis section analyzes the image data of the two wires112taken and inspects the presence or absence of abnormality in the cover-stripped sections. The image of the two wires112taken is displayed on the image display monitor6(seeFIG.1). After the inspection of stripped cover portion, the cable carrier210carries the electric-wire-cutting-and-cover-stripped cable110held by the cable retainer160from the inspection section13to the terminal crimping work unit14.

As shown inFIG.6, the terminal-supply-and-carrying-work unit15is provided with a terminal supply unit250, a terminal cutting unit260, and a terminal carrying unit270. The terminal supply unit250includes a terminal carrier transport stage251on which long terminal carriers140(with terminals130) fed from a terminal reel9(seeFIG.1)) is placed, a terminal carrier transport unit252for intermittently transporting the terminal carrier140placed on the terminal carrier transport stage251rightward by a predetermined distance, and a terminal carrier transport unit operating mechanism (not shown) for operating the terminal carrier transport unit252to be movable in the left-right directions within the terminal-supply-and-carrying-work unit15. The terminal carrier transport unit252includes an engaging piece253protruding downward. The engaging piece253engages with the engaging holes142and143of the terminal carrier140to transport the terminal carrier140(see alsoFIGS.9and10).

As shown inFIG.6, the terminal cutter260includes a terminal upper cutting blade member261, a terminal lower cutting blade member262, and a terminal cutting blade operating mechanism (not shown) for operating the terminal upper cutting blade member261and the terminal lower cutting blade member262. The terminal upper cutting blade member261includes a terminal cutting blade (not shown) facing downward, and the terminal lower cutting blade member262includes a terminal cutting blade (not shown) facing upward. The terminal cutting device260operates the terminal upper cutting blade member261to disconnect terminal130from the terminal carrier140(see alsoFIGS.9and10).

As shown inFIG.6, the terminal carrying unit270is provided with a terminal holder271and a terminal holder operating mechanism (not shown) for operating the terminal holder271to be movable in the forward, backward, left, right, up, and down directions. The terminal holder271has a pair of left and right terminal holding pieces272L and272R that can open and close and are movable. As shown inFIG.9, the terminal holder271holds the terminal130that is separated from the terminal carrier140by the terminal cutter260at a stage before the terminal is separated (concretely, the terminal holding pieces272L and272R hold the electric connection unit131of the terminal130), and carries the separated terminal130. Terminal carrying unit270carries the terminal130held by the terminal holder271from the terminal-supply-and-carrying-work unit15to the terminal crimping work unit14.

As shown inFIG.6, a crimping device280is provided in the terminal crimping work unit14. The crimping device280is of a type called a die set. It includes a press machine281, an upper mold283mounted on a cylinder rod282of the press machine281, a lower mold284mounted on a support frame288, a guidepost285provided between the upper mold283and the lower mold284to guide the movement of the upper mold283in the vertical direction, a crimper286provided in the upper mold283, and an anvil287provided in the lower mold284(see alsoFIG.10). A curved receiving portion (not shown) is provided in the upper-end portion of the anvil287to support the crimping portion132of terminal130from the lower side. A pressing curved surface portion (not shown) is provided in the lower end portion of the crimper286to deform the crimping portion132while bending it plastically. As shown inFIG.11, the crimper286includes a first crimper286A for the core wire crimping piece unit133of the terminal130and a second crimper286B for the covering-body-crimping-piece portion134. The anvil287includes a first anvil287A for the core wire crimping piece unit133and a second anvil287B for the covering-body-crimping-piece portion134. The crimping device280crimps the terminal130against the tip end of the electric wire112of the electric cable110(electric-wire-cover-stripped cable110) by moving the upper mold283downward by the press machine281to fit the crimper286and the anvil287together.

The crimping device280crimps the terminal130to the electric wire112, for example, as follows.FIG.11schematically shows the forward and reverse relative positional relationship of the electric wire110, the terminal130, the first anvil287A, the second anvil287B, the first crimper286A, and the second crimper286B at the time of the terminal crimping in the following description (the terminal carrying unit270and the cable carrier210are not shown). First, the terminal130separated from the terminal carrier140is carried by the terminal carrying unit270from the terminal-supply-and-carrying-work unit15to the terminal crimping work unit14, and the core wire crimping piece unit133of terminal130is set to be the receiving portion of the second anvil287A, and the covering-body-crimping-piece portion134of the terminal130is set to be positioned at the receiving portion of the first anvil287B.

Next, a cable carrier210carries an electric-wire-cover-stripped cable110held by a cable retainer160from an inspection work unit13to a terminal crimping work unit14, a core wire113part at the tip end of the electric wire112(one of the two wires) of the electric-wire-cover-stripped cable110is set to be positioned at the core wire crimping piece unit133of the terminal130. A part covered by the covering body114is set to be positioned at the covering-body-crimping-piece portion134. Then, a crimping device280is set so that the first crimper286A and the first anvil287A are fitted together, the second crimper286B and the second anvil287B are fitted together, the upper mold283is moved downward by a press machine281, the core wire crimping piece unit133of the terminal130is crimped to the core wire113part at the tip end of the electric wire112. The covering-body-crimping-piece portion134is crimped to the part covered by the covering body114at the tip end of the electric wire112. In this manner, the crimping device280performs the crimping of terminal130on two electric wires112separately. When the crimping of the terminal130on one electric wire112is completed, the cable carrier210moves the electric wire112to be removed from between the crimper286and the anvil287. Next, another terminal130separated from the terminal carrier140is carried from the terminal-supply-and-carrying-work unit15to the terminal crimping work section14by the terminal carrying unit270, and is set in the same manner as described above. Then, the other electric wire112having no terminal crimping is set by the cable carrier210in the same manner as described above, and the terminal130is also crimped to the electric wire112in the same manner as described above.

When the extension length of the electric wire112from the sheath111is short, the distance L (seeFIG.11) from the tip portion of the sheath111to the portion to be crimped (the portion to be crimped with the terminal130) of the electric wire112is also short. Therefore, when the terminal130is carried to the terminal crimping work unit14with the terminal carrier140provided or with the carrier piece attached thereto, the terminal carrier140or the carrier piece interferes with the sheath111or the cable retainer160, and the positional deviation between the terminal130and the electric wire110is likely to occur. In the present embodiment, since terminal130is carried to the terminal crimping portion14with the terminal carrier140completely separated from the terminal carrier (with no carrier piece remaining), there is no such concern. The terminal130can be appropriately crimped against the electric wire112while suppressing the positional deviation between terminal130and the electric wire112. An electric cable110(also referred to as “electric cable with terminal110”) in which terminal130has been crimped against two electric wires112is illustrated inFIG.2F.

After completion of the crimping of the terminal130to each electric wire112, the electric cable110with the terminal held in the cable retainer160is carried from the terminal crimping work unit14to the inspection work unit13by the cable carrier210. At this time, the image inspection device240of the inspection work unit13performs an inspection (also referred to as “crimping section inspection”) of the crimping section (the section where the terminals130of the two electric wires112are crimped) of the electric cable110with the terminal by image analysis. This crimping section inspection proceeds in the same procedure as the cover stripping section inspection described above and inspects the presence or absence of an abnormality in the crimping section. After the crimping section inspection, the cable carrier210carries the cable retainer160, holding the electric cable110with the terminal from the inspection section13to the cable insertion unit8.

A cable retainer160carried to a cable insertion unit8is removed from a cable carrier210(holding member211of a cable carrier moving body112) and is taken out from the cable insertion unit8. Another cable retainer160holding an electric cable110to which terminals are not crimped is attached to the holding member211of the cable carrier moving body112standing by the cable insertion unit8. The cable retainer160taken out from the cable insertion unit8is carried to a cable set base7. The electric cable110with terminals held therein is taken out from the cable retainer160by the operator's manual operation.

Although the electric cable110has two electric wires112, the number of electric wires112in the electric cable110may be one or three or more.FIG.12shows an electric cable110K with four electric wires112and a cable retainer160K to hold the electric cable110K. This cable retainer160K corresponds to the cable retainer160shown inFIG.5, with its attachment unit162replaced by another attachment unit162K. The main body unit161is the same as that of the cable retainer160. The attachment unit162K includes a pair of left and right electric wire holding units167configured to hold two electric wires112out of the four electric wires112extending from one end portion of the sheath111in a bent state toward the other end portion of the sheath111. By holding the two electric wires112in a bent state in the electric wire holding unit167, the electric wires112held in the electric wire holding unit167do not get in the way when the terminal crimping work or the like is performed on the other two electric wires112, thereby improving the workability. In the example ofFIG.11, the electric wires112held in the electric wire holding unit167are not crimped to a terminal, but the electric wires112whose terminals have been crimped may be held in the electric wire holding unit167.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, instead of using the cable retainer160, the electric cable110may be directly installed in the cable carrier moving body212to perform various operations such as terminal crimping. In the above embodiment, terminal130is crimped to one of the two electric wires112. Then the terminal130is crimped to the other electric wire112. However, terminal130may be crimped to the two electric wires112at a time. In the above embodiment, the case in which the electric cable110is a high-frequency cable is exemplified, but the present invention can also be applied to the case where the terminal is crimped to an electric cable other than a high-frequency cable.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This invention claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-008790 which is hereby incorporated by reference.